“So, you would use Red to get back at us.”
“Of course I would.”
“He’s using you, too. I hope you know that.”
She smiled wickedly. “Then we’ll have fun using each other. As long as we’re both aware of it, who is going to get hurt, except maybe you and Father?”
Bea just stared at her a long, quiet moment. “You’re wrong in thinking how we feel about you, Elly. We love you. Parents love all their children the same, but show it differently. It’s impossible not to hurt them at times. Circumstances sometimes make it appear they love one child more than another. There are things you don’t understand. If you did—” She sighed deeply. “Never mind. You’re going to do what you think you have to do, and I can’t stop you. If you go through with this, then so be it. Publicly we will cooperate, for appearance’ sake. But privately, I do not want that man in my home, and I cannot let you keep working for K-E if you marry him. But you’re right about one thing, Elly. We won’t disinherit you, because we love you.”
Elly sniffed. “It’s a little late to try to convince me of that, Mother.” She dug into a grapefruit, conducting the entire conversation as though hating her family and carrying on with Red McKinley were nothing. Bea watched her a moment, her heart heavy. She had not wept in years. She was not about to start now, not in front of this ungrateful daughter.
Elly ate some of the grapefruit, aware of the painful silence in the room and loving it. She thought about Chad in Europe with Irene, and it grated on her. What hurt even more was they had gotten word Irene was pregnant again. Oh, how she missed Chad! How she hated the thought of him giving all his attention to Irene!
“I expect Chad and Irene will come back a little sooner, now that they know Irene is pregnant,” she said aloud. “I’ll hold off on the wedding until they get here. I wouldn’t want them to miss it.” She grinned. “I want an even grander wedding than Irene’s—in the new church, with a reception at the Denver Inn. Considering the fact that we’ll be uniting two very big companies, I imagine half of Denver will attend. It will be the wedding of the decade.” She breathed deeply. “For once, I’ll be the center of the society page instead of Irene.”
Bea just stared at her as she finished her coffee. She rose then, leaving the room without another word. She walked on weary legs to the stairway and up to her bedroom to get her hat. She wondered where she had gone wrong. All these years she had worked to build something for her children, and Elly hated her. Her son was an alcoholic, and she had no doubt he also hated her. If not for the other men she hired to help John in Colorado Springs, everything there would fold. She had left him in the job only to help boost his self-confidence, but she was horribly disappointed in him.
Even Irene was different, although she still remained the most loving and grateful of the three children. Irene was stronger, and she was the kind of child who would love her parents no matter what. She worried sometimes that Ramon might have told her the truth about the first time he left Denver, but if he had, Irene had never let on. It was something that still haunted Bea, for it was the only time she had deliberately done something that she knew would hurt one of her children.
Or had there been other times? Why were Elly and John so venomous? She had been a good mother, had given them everything they could ever want or need. She realized she was not the most affectionate person in the world, but surely they knew she loved them. Irene was the only one left who seemed to understand that.
She pinned on her hat and looked at herself in the mirror, realizing how much she had aged. She was forty-four but looked, and sometimes felt, older. Didn’t anyone realize and appreciate how hard she had worked all her life? She hadn’t felt well lately, didn’t seem to have the energy she once had. She attributed it to her busy days, and she said nothing to anyone, wondering if any of them would even care.
She turned away, refusing to dwell on her deeper fears about Red and Elly. She had never forgotten Red McKinley’s words years ago about Irene—“You’d better pray she has white babies.” Irene was pregnant again, and there was always the possibility Irene could have a baby that looked very Indian. Even if she didn’t, would Red someday tell Elly the truth about Irene? Elly hated her sister. She would waste no time letting Irene and all of Denver know that Irene had not only Indian blood, but a brother who was none other than Yellow Eagle.
She decided that if Red married Elly, she and Kirk would have to be as gracious as possible about it. Red McKinley could destroy them. Her only hope was that he still thought the world of Irene. She went down the stairs and outside, where her driver waited to take her to another day at the office. She had gone too far now to turn back, and she wouldn’t if she could. Whether her family hated her or not, she was proud of what she had built in the Kirkland name, proud of her accomplishments. She had never meant for it to cost her her family’s love, but apparently it had. She climbed into the carriage, wondering why she felt so strangely short of breath so early in the morning.
September of 1874 saw the society columns full of news about the Kirklands. Elly Kirkland was engaged to be married to James McKinley. A Christmas wedding was planned. Mr. and Mrs. Chad Jacobs were home from a trip to Europe, and a second child was expected soon after the wedding of Irene Jacobs’s sister. Another article carried the story of Chad and Irene’s tour of Europe.
Ramon read the article carefully, wondering if Irene was happy now. So, she was going to have another child. Perhaps she and Chad were finally truly getting along.
He set the newspaper aside, wishing poor Anna could conceive. His heart ached for her. Her barrenness was certainly not due to any lack of trying. She was sweet and wonderful in bed, and sometimes he thought maybe she tried too hard to please him. Maybe her inability to conceive was simply because she was too upset about still not giving him a child.
He got up from his desk and walked to a window, looking across a now-thriving Denver toward Kirkland Hills. Irene was back. If she was going to have a baby, it was unlikely she would soon get back into the business or into fund raising. He knew what her wishes were, though, and he had worked hard while she was gone. He and his church had organized several fund-raising events, and a school was planned for the coloreds. Food and clothing had been donated for the jobless, whose numbers were growing. He decided perhaps he would pay her a visit and let her know how much had been accomplished in her absence.
He turned then at the sound of solid footsteps and rustling skirts. He felt a strange heat come into his face and neck at the sight of Bea Kirkland standing in the doorway of his office. Their eyes locked in mutual hatred. “I usually have people announced before they come barging into my office,” he told her, surprised at her presence.
Bea held his eyes squarely. “Your secretary is away from her desk.” She looked around his office, obviously not caring for its Spanish decor. “I am here on business,” she announced.
Ramon sighed, moving back behind his desk. Bea glanced at the newspaper that lay there, seeing it folded to the article about Irene and Chad. She met Ramon’s eyes. “I see you keep track of my daughter’s personal life.”
He did not flinch. “The Kirkland family life is practically a public matter,” he answered. “What do you want, Señora Kirkland?”
She stiffened. “I am here to tell you that you have won one small battle you have waged against me. If you think I don’t realize you helped Red McKinley close my lumber business, you’re wrong.”
“Quite the contrary. I wanted very much for you to know I was a part of it.”
She sniffed. “One lumber company cannot make or break K-E. At any rate, what I am referring to is your battle to prove you could be worth something. You have done very well, and now that you are happily married and successful on your own, I wish to congratulate you.”
He let out a sarcastic snicker, sitting down in his chair. “I would like to accept your congratulations, but I know you better than to think you would come here just for that. You are no fonder
of me now than the day you told me to stop seeing your daughter, so why don’t you tell me the real reason you are here?”
She stepped closer. “All right.” She looked around the office again. “I have decided to build a new home, an even bigger one than what we have now. I want the grandest mansion in Denver.” She met his eyes again.
“You already have the biggest house in the city.”
“It isn’t grand enough. Denver has grown considerably since that house was built. We entertain some of the most important people in the country, and I want something that shows the wealthiest of dignitaries just how important Denver is, that this is a place in which a man can wisely invest, that Denver is a place for success and progress. Besides, our home is surrounded now by others. It doesn’t stand out as much as it used to. I have chosen a site slightly away from the other houses, one that is a little higher.”
“And you want me to design your new home?”
“Yes. I won’t come crawling on hands and knees. I am a businesswoman and I understand when we have to face what is practical. You are considered the finest builder in Denver. It wouldn’t look right if I asked someone else to build it. Being a Kirkland, I am expected to hire only the best. I am sure it delights you that it irks me to have to admit it, but you are the best, and I am hoping you will set aside your hatred of me long enough to do the job.”
He grinned slightly. “I am expensive. How do you know that in your case I won’t make myself even more expensive?”
“Because you also have a reputation for being honest and fair.”
He nodded, watching her closely. “Things seem to have come full circle, señora. I believe we started out this way twelve years ago.”
Their eyes held. “Why didn’t you ever tell Irene the truth?” she asked then.
Ramon glanced at the article, then back to Bea. “Because no matter how much I hated you, you were her mother. I loved her, which was something you never understood. I could not bring myself to tell her the kind of person her mother really is. Some things must remain sacred. Motherhood is one of them.”
She quickly swallowed back the ache in her throat. “Well, for that much I thank you, and because of it, I am willing to forget the past and call a truce.”
He shook his head, smiling sadly. “I will not forget, señora. You destroyed the only real happiness Irene and I could have had. She is not happy and never will be. I have a good wife, and I love her; but a part of me died when Irene married Chad Jacobs, and I will not forget. I will build your home, if something so big can be called a home. If you wish to flaunt your wealth for all of Colorado to see, it is your decision. It will give me great pleasure to take your money.”
“I’m sure it will. If you will meet with me tomorrow morning at our present home, I will take you to the site I’ve chosen and explain what I want. You can draw up some blueprints and come up with a price.”
He nodded. “I will be there at nine o’clock.”
Bea clutched her handbag. “Fine. I will be expecting you.” She turned and left, seeming nearly as tall and wide as the doorway. Ramon watched her leave, his heart pounding with hatred.
“I will build your castle,” he muttered. “And you will walk about your empty house alone!” Every time he saw her it brought back the memory of that day. He never should have left! If it hadn’t been for his grandfather…for his own youthful ignorance…He picked up the newspaper again. “Mr. and Mrs. Chad Jacobs Return from Europe,” the headline read. He threw it in the wastebasket.
It was one of Denver’s biggest weddings. The church was overflowing with guests, friends and associates of K-E and its many branches, as well as railroad executives who knew Red, and people from the many other businesses with which he was associated. Red and Elly had deliberately invited anyone and everyone they had ever known, both of them having reason to flaunt their marriage.
Red was reasonably happy. He was sure he had managed to tame his new young wife enough to trust her, and he knew that marrying would mean Kirk and Bea would have to eat crow.
The organ music started, and Red walked out to stand at the head of the aisle to wait for his bride. He glanced at Bea Kirkland, and the look on her face was all he needed to feel the ultimate revenge for the insult she had inflicted to his pride ten years ago. Kirk walked his daughter down the aisle, his eyes riveted on Red in a warning look.
As Elly came down the aisle, she glanced at Chad. She wanted to laugh at everyone there, to shout to them that just last night she had sneaked out of the house and met Chad in the stables for one last hour of passion before going on her honeymoon. Since Irene was big with child, poor Chad was having a time getting all the sex he needed, and he had been unusually amorous. She thought how she would miss their liaisons, which would have to be even fewer now. How she wished it was Chad who was waiting for her, waiting to slip a ring on her finger and take her home to his bed.
Still, Red was exciting, and he doted on her. He could at least openly give her all his attention, and he made her feel pretty. He was excited to be marrying someone so young, even more excited that his wife would be a Kirkland. She noticed the anxious look on Chad’s face. She had assured him Red was not nearly as wonderful in bed as he, but she knew with secret delight that Chad was upset she was marrying, even though they both knew that was the best thing she could do.
She moved her eyes to Irene, who stood near the end of one of the front pews watching her. Irene could not be in the wedding party because of her swollen belly, and Elly was glad for the excuse not to have to ask her. She held her chin proudly as she approached Red, thrilled that she was having a much bigger wedding than Chad and Irene had had ten years before, when Denver was much smaller, and the Kirkland name was not as well known in the Territory and even in other parts of the country as it was today. She hoped Irene was swimming in jealousy.
She turned her attention to Red then, who beamed with pride and victory. She wondered if she would still be relatively young when the man passed on and she inherited his estate all for herself. After all, there would never be any children with whom she would have to share it.
Irene watched her sister pass. She didn’t know whether to be happy for her or upset with her. It was obvious she was doing this to spite their mother, but she and Red did seem happy together. She liked Red, and was more worried about him than about her sister. She hoped the man knew what he was doing.
As soon as Elly and Kirk moved past her, she could not help glancing at Ramon, who sat on the other side of the aisle, on the side reserved for Red’s friends and associates. He met her eyes, and the old pain returned. It should be them walking down the aisle, at least it should have been them ten or twelve years ago. Now it could never happen. His eyes dropped for a moment to her pregnant belly, and her cheeks felt hot. It was more obvious than ever that she was in this marriage to stay. If she could never be truly happy with Chad, she would at least have her children to love and to love her back.
She tore her eyes from Ramon’s, watching the wedding party take their places in front of the church. Two of the bridesmaids were secretaries from K-E whom Elly had befriended, another the daughter of one of K-E’s most prominent attorneys. The maid of honor was Mary Brown, the very plain old-maid daughter of Sigmund Brown, one of the original attorneys for K-E. Elly hardly knew Mary, and Irene wondered if she had chosen her simply because she was far from beautiful. Next to her, Elly actually looked pretty, and Irene thought that she truly was pretty today. She seemed happy. Whether it was because she was marrying Red or because she was exacting sweet revenge on her family, no one could be sure.
She glanced at Chad, thinking how ten years ago, they had done this. She had been so happy, so trusting, so in love. Chad met her eyes and cast her a smile, and she thought how he had been right about Europe being good for their marriage. For once she had had him all to herself, without the intrusion of K-E and a hundred other things that got in the way. He had been attentive and amorous, almost lovable, except that she
still sensed the empty, dispassionate man who dwelled within the handsome outer body. Still, he had at least given her the life that moved inside her now. There was no doubt this time that this was Chad’s baby.
She listened to the wedding vows, keenly aware of Ramon standing across the aisle from her. She wished John had come, but he had refused, saying he could not leave the K-E southern branch right now. Irene knew he simply wanted no part of Kirkland family functions, and it broke her heart. She had no idea Elly had written to tell him she didn’t want him there.
The ceremony was soon over, and Red planted a kiss on Elly’s lips. Irene thought how her sister’s wedding night would not be the disaster her own had been. In fact, she suspected the two of them had already shared a bed. She was not proud of her sister’s conduct since she had returned from school, and she was as glad as Bea to see Elly settle down with one man.
Everyone moved through the reception line, hugging, kissing, shaking hands. The entire procession and guests climbed into their various fine coaches and buggies and made their way to the Denver Inn for a huge sit-down dinner, to which only the most important people had been invited; and an orchestra began playing. Everyone watched the newlyweds dance, people clapping and smiling, Bea and Kirk forcing a look of delight.
“At least she seems happy.” Irene tried to console them.
“You know good and well Red married her just to spite us,” Kirk answered.
“It’s done now, Father. We have to accept it.”
The partying began then, with drinks flowing heavily. Irene watched Chad dance with several other women, realizing she was in no condition to dance. She saw how they still looked at him, how easily he could cast his spell on them. She tried to ignore it, told herself he was just being Chad and just being sociable.
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