Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01]

by Shadows of the Canyon

  He laughed out loud at this. “Indeed we have. Well, Mr. Jastrow, I suppose we could allow you to impose on us just this once. But there must be a provision.”

  “And what would that be?” Jastrow asked. “That you come out and visit us sometime. I know Wyoming is a long ways from Alabama, but a man of your means shouldn’t find it too difficult.”

  Jastrow smiled and when he did, his entire face lit up. “I should say not. I would be most honored to visit you and your new bride in Wyoming. We’ll set up the arrangements in a few months—after you’ve had time to settle into a routine.”

  “Oh, there will never be anything routine about living with her,” Luke said in a teasing tone. “That’s what I like the best.”

  Alex finished with her packing and made her way to the kitchen to say good-bye to everyone. It wouldn’t be easy to say farewell to Michaela or Mrs. Godfrey, or even Bernice. Alex had come to care a great deal about each and every one of the girls, but especially those three people.

  The plan was to return to Williams with her mother and to hold the funeral for Rufus Keegan on Friday. The fact that her father was truly dead still didn’t register or ring true. Alex kept waiting for him to walk through the doors of El Tovar with his latest conquest at his side.

  “I wish you weren’t going,” Michaela told her as she approached the salad preparation area.

  “I know. I’m going to miss you all so much. But you’ll come visit me on your vacations, won’t you? I plan to have a big house with lots of guest rooms,” Alex said enthusiastically. “I want lots of visitors, especially at first, because I know nothing of being a rancher’s wife and everyone tells me it’s very hard and very lonely.”

  Michaela laughed and tweaked Alex’s cheek. “You’ll never be lonely with that cowboy of yours.”

  Alex knew she spoke the truth. She couldn’t begin to imagine herself lonely with Luke in the same house. “Then there’s Brock. We’re adopting him, you know.”

  “I’d heard that, but to tell you the truth, I thought you were crazy.”

  “But he’s my brother—he’s family. I couldn’t send him out to be taken in by strangers. What if they failed to teach him about God? What if they were mean and heartless people?”

  Michaela patted her arm and nodded. “I know. I know. I completely understand. I only thought you were crazy because you’ll have no time to be alone, just you and Luke.”

  “We’ll make up for that,” Alex said confidently. “Alex!” Bernice called, bringing in a tray of dirty dishes. “Are you leaving now?”

  “On the evening train,” Alex replied. “My father’s funeral is Friday and my mother wants to prepare the house in case people stop by.”

  “But of course they’ll stop by,” Bernice said, taking Alex’s hands in her own. “I wish we’d had more time to know each other. I already feel we’re the best of friends.”

  Alex felt a special warmth toward the girl. They’d shared the horrible scene of Rufus Keegan’s indiscretion, yet Alex had never known a gossipy word to come from Bernice on the matter. She valued and trusted the girl.

  “We are the best of friends,” Alex agreed, “and as I was telling Michaela, you must come and visit me soon. I’ll send Mrs. Godfrey my Wyoming address.”

  “I’ve already checked into it,” Bernice admitted. “We can take the train from here to Williams and head to New Mexico and up through Colorado. We have to change trains a couple of times, but then we head to Cheyenne and over to Laramie. It’s really quite easy.”

  Alex laughed. “It sounds like you have it pretty well figured out.”

  Bernice nodded. “I don’t have too many friends, so I’m not about to lose the ones I do have.”

  Alex left them to go in search of Mrs. Godfrey and found the woman in her office. “I’ve come to say good-bye. We take the evening train to Williams.”

  “Yes, I know,” Mrs. Godfrey replied. “I’m going to miss having you here. You’re my number one girl. In the four years since you came to El Tovar, I’ve never had a moment’s trouble with you.”

  “Until the last month,” Alex teased. “No, even then the problems weren’t of your making. You were merely caught up in the games that were played out around you. You were never to blame.” Mrs. Godfrey extended an envelope. “Here is the pay owed you.”

  Alex took the envelope and tucked it in the pocket of the green skirt she wore. “Thank you.”

  “And this is a little something from the girls and me,” Mrs. Godfrey said, pushing forward another envelope. “We all wrote a little note to you so that when you feel the need for company you can open this letter and have all of us with you.”

  “Thank you,” Alex whispered, her voice cracking. Tears slid down her cheeks. “I’ll cherish this. You truly were my family here.”

  “How is your mother taking all of this?” “She’s doing remarkably well. Who would have guessed that there was such a bold, adventurous woman buried beneath that tiny frame? She’s already contacted a real estate company in Denver. She’s to look at four estates the week after next.”

  “When do you plan to marry?”

  Alex grew thoughtful. “I didn’t want to do anything that seemed disrespectful to my father. I figured to wait several weeks, but my mother insisted we go forward with the wedding as soon as possible. We’ll probably marry in Denver, although I wish it could be here with all of you. What a very special ceremony that would be.”

  “It will be special no matter where you have it,” Mrs. Godfrey insisted. “We’ll all be with you in spirit, if nothing else.”

  The clock on the wall chimed and Alex realized the hour was getting away from her. “I’d better go. I need to find Luke and make sure he knows how to find us in Williams. He won’t be able to join us until tomorrow.”

  Mrs. Godfrey got to her feet and came around the desk to give Alex a hug. “God be with you, child, and if you ever want to come back to work for Fred Harvey Company, you know you have a job.”

  “I’ll remember that,” Alex said, kissing the older woman’s cheek. “Thank you. For everything.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY

  “Goodness, Mother, I’ve never seen you so worried about catching the train,” Alex said as her mother bustled around the room. “Where is my traveling dress? I laid it out before I went downstairs.”

  “I packed it away. I have a special dress for you to wear,” her mother said, pulling a box from under the bed.

  “Mother, is this new?” Alex questioned. She opened the box to reveal a beautiful creation in crepe. Pulling the dress out, Alex gasped. “Mother, this is incredible. Where did you get it?”

  “I have my sources,” she said smiling. “I just think it would be to our benefit to look our best when we return to Williams. We’ve lived in shame for too long. Now we can return with our heads held high.”

  “But what about Father and mourning? This gown is the palest lavender I’ve ever seen. It’s almost white. And silk hose and matching shoes! I can’t believe it. This is far too rich for the likes of me.”

  “Nonsense. You’re a Keegan, and your financial situation is not such that you should dress as a pauper. Now, hurry. I want to be ready to leave in exactly half an hour.”

  “But, Mother, that will put us waiting at the station for at least an extra thirty minutes.”

  “I don’t care. That’s the way I want it. Now you dress. I need to finish with my jewelry. Brock is sleeping, so he shouldn’t be a problem for either of us.”

  Alex nodded. There was nothing else she could do. Her mother had made up her mind and Alex hadn’t seen her this animated in a long, long time. Maybe never. Putting the gown back into the box and taking it with her into the private bath, Alex began the transformation.

  Peeling off her old blouse and skirt, Alex took up the new dress and marveled again at the silky feel. The delicate handkerchief hemline was scalloped and trimmed with a fine lace. Alex pulled the dress on over her head and marveled at the feel of it against he
r skin. She adjusted the top and smoothed the low waistband across her hips. Looking in the mirror, Alex thought the color was marvelous. The pale lavender reminded her of the orchids that sometimes were brought in to grace the Harvey tables.

  “Arrive in style, eh, Mother? Well, we will certainly be doing that.”

  Alex added the hose and shoes of the same color, then wondered about what she should do with her hair. Pinning it carefully, she looped and twisted her wavy curls until she had managed to pile it all atop her head. She would have to wear a hat, of course. No decent woman would travel with her hair bare, and this style would allow her to wear even the closest-fitting hat. Then it dawned on Alex that she didn’t have a hat worthy of this dress.

  Running her hand down the material of the long sleeve, Alex smiled. She had planned to locate Luke and tell him good-bye. He would be so surprised to see her in this. The smile stayed on her face even as she came into the bedroom. “Well, how do I look?”

  Her mother turned from where she was fussing with the baby. “Oh my!” She put her hand to her mouth.

  Alex twirled around in a circle. “I don’t know how you managed this, Mother, but thank you. It’s lovely.”

  “Well, actually, I did have some help. I hope you don’t mind. The dress has never been worn, but it did belong to someone else—Valerie Winthrop.”

  Alex paused a moment and waited for some ill feeling to surface. But there was none. Smiling, she shook her head. “I don’t mind at all. I hold Valerie no malice. Especially now that she will be working with you on the house in Denver. No, my only regret is that I don’t own a decent hat to wear with it.”

  Her mother went to the far side of the bed and held up a hatbox. “You do now.” She smiled. “I hope you don’t think me silly, but I really wanted things to be perfect.”

  Alex laughed and pulled out the cloche hat of the same pale color. It dipped low on one side and flared out ever so slightly on the other. “Oh, it’s charming.” She hurried back to the bath where she tried the hat on while looking in the mirror. “It’s perfect, Mother.”

  “Wonderful. Now we really must hurry. I have the baby ready to go. I’ve asked Michaela to come and help us.” A knock sounded at the door and her mother hurried to answer it, even as Alex came from the bath. “And here she is.”

  Michaela took one look at Alex and began to clap. “My, but don’t you look marvelous. The picture of grace and elegance.”

  “My mother gave me this wonderful outfit. Believe it or not, it’s one of Valerie Winthrop’s. Apparently she purchased it, but changed her mind.” Alex twirled in girlish delight. “Mother said it’s never been worn.”

  “Until now,” Michaela replied. “And worn quite well. Luke’s eyes will pop out when he sees you.”

  “Well, that’s provided I can find him. I looked all over for him earlier. He promised to come to the station with us.”

  “Then I’m sure he will,” Michaela declared. “Here, Mrs. Keegan, I’ll take baby Brock.” She took the baby in her arms and cooed at him. Brock seemed captivated with her murmurings and watched her silently.

  “I can carry him,” Alex said, reaching out for the baby. “You’ll get to play with and carry him all the time,” Michaela replied. “It’s my turn for now.”

  Alex laughed. “I thought you weren’t interested in children.”

  Michaela jostled the baby in her arms and replied quite seriously, “I can’t imagine what you’re talking about. I’ll probably have at least ten.” She giggled then and stuck her tongue out at Alex. “Oh, you’re right. I’ll probably never have any, but I don’t mind carrying Brock just now.”

  “What of the luggage, Mother?” Alex asked.

  “The bellboy was coming up right behind me,” Michaela replied. “So we needn’t worry about that. Come on. I’ll walk with you.”

  Alex chatted with Michaela and her mother about the days to come. Michaela promised to come to the funeral and offer her support, and Alex blessed her for her concern. They descended the stairs, Alex knowing in her heart it would probably be the last time that she’d do this. She looked around her as if to memorize every feature.

  “Funny,” she told her companions, “I’ve lived here for four years and never really thought about the day I’d leave.”

  “Will you be sad?” her mother asked, her tone quite serious. Alex shook her head. “No. Not at all. I’ll have Luke and the baby, and one day we’ll have children of our own. I’m bound and determined to prove myself a good rancher’s wife. I’ll buy books or take lessons or whatever it takes so that I’m just as useful to Luke as I can be.”

  Michaela laughed. “Oh, you’ll be useful to him. On those bitterly cold Wyoming nights, he won’t even need to take a hot water bottle to bed with him.”

  They laughed at this and proceeded through the lobby to the porch. “Well, this is it,” Alex said as they descended the steps. She turned to say something else and forgot her words as she gazed across the lawn to the south rim and found Luke and a multitude of others gathered.

  “We wanted to surprise you,” her mother said when Alex turned a questioning gaze upon them. “I didn’t want you to have to wait for a funeral in order to have a wedding.”

  “I don’t understand,” Alex said, looking from her mother to Michaela.

  Michaela laughed and shifted the baby. “This is your wedding, silly. We hope you don’t mind that we took liberties, but what’s done is done. You can’t leave the man waiting at the altar, so pick up the pace.”

  Alex looked across the lawn again and met Luke’s gaze. He was dressed impeccably in a dark blue suit that she didn’t recognize. Maybe it, too, was compliments of the Winthrops.

  Her hands trembled as she turned to her mother once again. “You planned all of this for me?”

  “I’m sorry if I’ve overstepped my bounds. A woman should plan such things for herself, but I couldn’t bear the idea of a hurried wedding in Denver. Your friends are here. Why not have it here?”

  “I’m delighted. Stunned. But nevertheless, delighted.” They made their way across the lawn, and Alex found Mrs. Godfrey nodding in approval and wiping tears from her eyes as Alex joined Luke before the preacher.

  “You look . . . well . . . there aren’t words,” Luke said as he took hold of her hand. “I’m completely captivated.”

  Alex smiled. “I’m rather taken aback, myself. You cut quite the figure in that suit.”

  Luke pushed back his sandy hair and grinned. “The collar itches. I can’t wait to get out of it. It’s sure not what I’m used to.”

  Alex giggled. “Me neither. The Harvey uniform was good enough for me.”

  “Shall we begin?” the preacher asked. “Yes, we have to hurry,” her mother said, coming to stand beside her daughter. “The train leaves in thirty minutes.”

  Alex looked to Luke. “It’s not what we planned, but do you mind?”

  “I don’t mind at all. This way I know you’re mine—I know you won’t change your mind before I can join you in Williams.”

  “I wouldn’t change my mind anyway, Luke Toland. You’re stuck with me through thick and thin.”

  “Just the way I want it.”

  The sun had moved to the west, but it still shone across the canyon in a glory of color. Alex marveled at the wonder of it all. The way the clouds played across the blue skies, the way the shadows below danced in and out of the crevices. Alex knew that as long as she lived, she would always stand amazed at what God had done here.

  “Are you ready to do this?” Luke asked. She nodded, feeling the thrill of his smile go clear to her toes. He turned to the preacher. “Let’s get to it.”

  Twenty minutes later Alex was announced as Mrs. Luke Toland. Everyone pelted them with rice as the first warning whistle sounded from the train in the station.

  The party moved en masse toward the station but held back, giving their good-byes before reaching the platform. When only Luke remained, he took Brock from Michaela and crossed the pl
atform with Alex at his side. Katherine took the baby from his arms and moved to board the train.

  “I’m blessed to have you for a son,” she told him as he helped her aboard the train.

  “I’m blessed to have you for a mother,” Luke replied in turn. “Mine has been gone for a very long time, and I think it will be pretty nice to have you around from time to time. Are you sure you don’t want to come and stay with us for a while?”

  “Not just yet. There’s so much work to be done. I want to stand before the Lord and feel I did my best for Him.”

  “That’s all any of us want,” Luke agreed. “I have a feeling you’ll more than satisfy the Lord in your love for others.”

  Katherine smiled. “I have no doubt the same will be true for you. I know what you did for Valerie. She told me about your kindness to her, talking to her about God despite her brazen actions toward you. You have a good heart, Luke.” She smiled at Alex, who stood only a few feet away, listening to their exchange. “Now, you go give your wife a proper good-bye and we’ll see you on Friday.”

  Luke nodded. “Yes, ma’am.” He tipped his hat and waited until Katherine had disappeared before turning to Alex.

  “You said some very sweet things to my mother,” she told him as he took her in his arms. As he pulled her close, Alex put her hands on his chest. “Behave yourself—we’re in public, Mr. Toland.”

  “Yes, Mrs. Toland, but I’m a newly married man and I won’t be able to hold my wife again until . . . well, it seems like it will be forever. As soon as I finish showing the new crew the ropes, I’ll be back, and then I’ll never have to let you go.”

  She smiled and lifted her hand to touch his face. “I know. I feel the same way, even if it is only until tomorrow.”

  He kissed her sweetly on the mouth, then trailed kisses on her cheek and nose and eyes. “Don’t forget me,” he whispered just before he kissed her mouth again.

  Alex pulled back and smiled. “I could sooner forget to breathe.”

  The train whistle blasted and the conductor called the final board.

  “I have to go,” Alex said, pulling away from Luke’s protective hold. “I’ll pick you up at the station tomorrow. Don’t miss the train.”