Grace came to Colorado Springs as an employee of Olive Bray when Olive moved her cattle from Mexico (The Epidemic). With her beauty and sunny disposition, she immediately attracted the attention of Robert E. During the influenza epidemic that swept the town, Grace asked Robert E. to make sure she had a nice casket. He refused, telling her she would not die. From then on, 87%influenza epidemic that swept the town, Grace asked Robert E. to make sure she had a nice casket. He refused, telling her she would not die. From then on, their relationship grew.
As Grace began to settle in, she became known for her cooking abilities and when it was suggested that she open a restaurant, Olive backed her financially. Grace's cafe became a reality. She soon began to develop relationships with the people of Colorado Springs. She and Dr. Mike became fast friends and Grace has proved her loyalty often. She has cared for the children when Dr. Mike has had to leave them to tend to patients. She has even assisted in surgical procedures. She is there as a shoulder to lean on and a giver of advice. She knew Mike was hurting over her relationship with her mother and Grace wisely told her that even though people sometimes disappoint you, you love them anyway (The Visitor). She served as a bridesmaid at Mike and Sully's wedding.
She helped to nurse Robert E. when he was badly burned and stood by him even when he asked her not to. When he asked her never to speak of his children again, she never did. She often brought him food and refreshment and slowly but surely their friendship turned to love. Finally, Robert E. popped the question. When the town rebelled against the idea of Grace and Robert E. being married in the church, Grace refused to knuckle under to their protests, and with the help of Mike and Sully and finally, Reverend Johnson, Grace and Robert E. were married in the town church. Grace does want a family, but in her own way. When Dr. Mike tried to urge Grace and Robert E. to adopt a white orphan, Grace told her that they wanted to wait awhile and then have children of their own (Orphan Train).
Grace's strength shines through again and again. When the bank of Denver tried to reverse the sale of a house in town to Robert E., Grace never backed down. When the KKK tried to intimidate them she fought back. When Robert E. was beaten and she herself attacked she refused to leave town with Robert E. saying that for the first time in her life she was free, she was a part of the town and she was building something meaningful with her life. She absolutely refused to be frightened away from her town, although she was willing to give up the house if it meant Robert E's safety. (First Circle).
When the railroad was trying to break the union, Grace announced that she would no longer buy her supplies from Loren. She would go to Soda Springs until the strike was settled, thereby supporting the workers pleas for safer working conditions and decent pay. She fed Horace and the children when they were quarantined and she argued the injustice of *auctioning* the orphan children. Still, Grace is troubled. She desperately wants a child with Robert E. and they have not been successful. She wrote to a foundling home and never received an answer. When Myra was carrying her baby, Grace exhibited jealousy that Myra and Horace were getting their family and she was not. However, she assisted in the delivery of Myra's baby when Mike was unavailable even though she had been jealous of Myra and her child (Pike's Peace).
-- Susan Baxter [sbaxter@PBI.NET] Sept. 20, 1995