He guided the buggy into a small grove of trees and tied off the reins on a low branch. Then he helped Elizabeth down, showed her where to sit on a fallen log, and grabbed a blanket and basket from the rear of the buggy.
“I’ve been looking forward to this ever since I took you home last night,” he said as he spread the blanket on the ground at her feet. “I never get tired of Mrs. Dempsey’s lunches, and I wanted to spend more time talking with you.”
“You did?” Elizabeth felt her cheeks turn pink. She wished they didn’t do that quite so often—it made her feel young and immature.
“You, Miss Caldwell, have a way of quieting my mind. I appreciate that.”
“I . . . I quiet your mind? Even when I come to you with runaway horses and wanted outlaws and every other sort of problem in the world?” She could hardly believe that.
“Even when you come to me with your problems. There’s something restful about you, something serene. If I could find a way to put that in a bottle and carry it with me, I think I’d feel much better about life in general.”
Elizabeth didn’t know how to respond. Her life was nothing but turmoil—she couldn’t imagine how she would make anyone else feel calm. “That’s a very kind thing to say,” she replied after a long moment of casting about for an answer.
“It’s entirely true.” Mr. Brody turned to the basket, suddenly seeming a bit shy himself. “Let’s see what good things we have to eat.”
He pulled out rolls, freshly churned butter, jam, fried chicken, and a bottle of dandelion wine. “It looks delicious,” he said, spreading out the feast on the blanket. “May I offer you some of everything?”
“Everything but the wine, please,” Elizabeth said. “I’m not much for spirits.”
“Neither am I,” Mr. Brody said, tucking the bottle back into the basket. “It’s too hard to keep my temper when I’ve had something to drink.”
“Do you struggle with that? I’ve never seen you cross,” Elizabeth said, surprised. “Frustrated, perhaps, and I know you were angry about Cleophas’s shoe . . . and everything . . . but I wouldn’t have guessed that you have a temper.”
“Oh, if only you could hear the thoughts that go through my head sometimes. No, it’s best that you can’t. I work very hard to control myself, Miss Caldwell. I can’t stand lazy men or fools, and when I’m faced with one or the other, it’s all I can do to keep myself in check. I feel very fortunate to have found the employees I have for the hotel. You are all quick and dedicated, making my job much easier.”
“And what happens when you come across a man who is both lazy and foolish?” Elizabeth asked, accepting the plate he offered her.
“Heaven forbid!” Mr. Brody rolled his eyes dramatically, and Elizabeth laughed.
They ate in silence for a moment, and then Mr. Brody wiped his mouth with his napkin. “Now that I’ve cleared a spot on my plate, I’d love to try some of your mother’s cake.”
“Oh, of course!” Elizabeth couldn’t believe she’d forgotten. She unwrapped the dish and slid a generous portion next to Mr. Brody’s chicken. “She asked me to apologize if it’s a bit dry. She’s not used to this oven, you see.”
Mr. Brody forked up a piece and tasted it. “She could give Mrs. Dempsey a run for her money. Please tell your mother this is the best cake I’ve ever had.”
“Really?”
“Really. In fact, you’d better put your slice on your plate or I’m likely to eat it too.”
Elizabeth laughed. “You may have it. I had some last night, and there’s plenty left at the house.”
Mr. Brody looked like a hopeful little boy. “You don’t want it?”
“It’s all yours.”
He grinned and held out his plate, and she slid the rest of the cake onto it.
“You know,” he said after several bites, “maybe starting a hotel was selfish on my part.”
“Selfish? What do you mean?”
“It’s one way to ensure that I always have my favorite foods at my fingertips. Aunt Caroline will be teaching you all how to make her recipes, and I hope you’ll share some with her as well. If your mother is up to it, and if she’s willing, I’d very much like to feature this cake on our menu.”
“I’ll ask her,” Elizabeth said, feeling a warm glow flood her chest on her mother’s behalf. Agatha would be very flattered.
They finished eating and put all the dishes back into the basket, and then Mr. Brody sat next to Elizabeth on the log. She’d ridden behind him on Cleophas and grasped his waist, but this closeness felt different, warmer, more personal. Her breath caught a little in her throat, and she wondered why. She’d never felt this elated and jittery with her husband, even in the first days of their courtship when she was so enamored with him.
“As I walked around the hotel property this morning, I asked myself if we had enough dishes, nice chairs at the tables, if the porch had been repaired. But there was another question I asked myself, and I realized that the only answer must come from you.”
His eyes were so earnest, Elizabeth couldn’t form words for a moment. “What question is that, sir?”
He took off his hat and played with the brim. “Miss Caldwell, as you know, I’ve suffered several losses this last year, one of them being that of my fiancée. That was a great blow to me, and I still feel the sting of it. But you . . . you have come into my life at a very key time, and you’ve stirred my heart in ways I thought were dead. I don’t feel I’m ready to begin courting again—I don’t feel that would be fair to either of us right now—but I would like to spend more time with you and get to know you and see if these feelings turn into something more. Do you have these feelings too, Miss Caldwell? Could there ever be room in your heart for someone like me?”
Elizabeth closed her eyes and inhaled sharply. Her chest felt as though it would explode. Could this moment be real? “Yes, Mr. Brody, I believe so,” she said after a long moment, opening her eyes again to see him looking at her with a combination of curiosity and yearning in his gaze. She wanted to say more, so much more, but he’d only offered a possibility. “I would very much like to get to know you better, and there are things about me, too, that we should discuss.”
He grinned, and his eyes lit up like a thousand twinkling stars. “I want to know everything,” he told her. “Absolutely everything. What you were like as a little girl, what you got for Christmas when you were ten, if there’s a color you absolutely detest—everything. Let’s take it a day at a time and enjoy every minute of it. In the meantime, Miss Caldwell, there’s something I’ve been longing to do, and I wonder if you would permit me.”
“Sir?”
He reached out and tucked a stray ringlet back into her bun. “Just as soft as I imagined,” he whispered.
Elizabeth closed her eyes again and drank in the moment. She didn’t need time to get to know him better. She knew everything she needed to know already. She felt absolutely safe when she was with him, cherished in his touch, adored when he gazed at her. If he needed time, she would give it to him, but her heart was already his.
Chapter Fourteen
Adam couldn’t help but whistle as he drove the buggy back to the hotel. He’d been so nervous to speak to Miss Caldwell of his feelings that he almost hadn’t been able to say the words. Would she think it was too soon, that he was trying to take advantage of her? Maybe he shouldn’t have reminded her about the gun she carried. But the look she had given him was so full of confidence and trust, he felt like he could go wrestle a bear with that kind of woman behind him. Maybe she would change her mind as she came to know him better, but for that moment, the possibilities were endless.
“Afternoon, Tom,” he called out as he pulled the buggy into the yard. “Would you put all this away, please?”
“Sure thing.” Tom took Cleophas’s bridle as Adam jumped down from the buggy and headed inside. He passed one of the Miss Petersons in the hallway—he was still trying to remember which one was which. She was dusting the coatrack b
y the door.
“Miss Peterson, whatever are you doing?”
She jumped and whirled around. “Dusting, sir.”
“Did Miss Hampton ask you to do it?”
“No, sir. I just thought I’d get a head start on tomorrow.”
“Miss Peterson, this is Sunday. Not only that, but it’s the last Sunday before we open for business. Your new orders are to take off your apron and do something relaxing. I don’t care what it is, but it had better not be anything that could be construed as work. Do you understand?”
She seemed surprised, but after taking a moment to compose herself, she said, “Yes, sir. Right away.”
“Good. And don’t ever again let me catch you working when you should be lollygagging about.”
“Yes, sir. Never again.”
Adam left her standing befuddled in the entryway as he walked through his office and into his bedroom. He took off his tie and wiped his neck with a cool cloth, then sat down on the edge of his bed.
Elizabeth. Her name came to his mind unbidden, but it certainly wasn’t unwelcome. He smiled as he remembered the way her hair felt against his fingertips, the way she closed her eyes when he touched her, even if it was just a whisper. He couldn’t be in love yet—he couldn’t possibly be. He knew nothing about her. He’d never met this mysterious mother who made cake like the angels would eat. He didn’t know what schools Elizabeth had attended or what she most desired in her life. All he could hope was that someday, she would come to desire him.
* * *
Adam hadn’t slept much at all the night before. He’d gone to bed early, knowing how important this first day would be, but he’d done nothing but lie there hour after hour. His thoughts circled through his head like a kaleidoscope. Would his father be proud of him? What would Vivian have thought about this hotel? Had they ordered enough meat? Would his mother have liked the tablecloths they chose? Was Elizabeth’s skin as soft as her hair? There was this little portion of her neck he longed to touch, right below her earlobe and above her collar. No, it was better to think about the hotel.
He rose long before the sun and bathed, then dressed and headed outside. A light in the barn told him Tom was also up, so he headed out that way.
“Morning, Tom,” he called out as he entered the barn.
“Oh, mornin’, boss.” Tom’s legs appeared coming down the ladder, and then the rest of him. He didn’t bother to climb down the last three rungs, but instead, he dropped the rest of the way. “You’re up early.”
“I couldn’t sleep. Too much on my mind. You?”
“I’m always up this early. Just my nature, I guess.” Tom’s wide smile took over his face. “I’m ready to get this thing going.”
“I am too.” Adam stepped back outside and looked toward the train station. In just a few short hours, a train would come rumbling to a stop, their first chance to start their business off right. He knew it would take several months to know if their hotel would be a success, but he couldn’t hope but pin some dreams on this morning. If they had a rough first day, it might be hard to feel motivated to go on. He would much rather start off with a bang, but that was probably just wishful thinking on his part.
Tom stepped up beside him. “It’s going to be a great day,” he said quietly. “There’s a feeling in the air, you know? Like something really good’s going to happen.”
Adam could feel something, but it was more like nervousness, and maybe just a little bit of nausea.
“Do you want me to fetch Miss Caldwell, or did you want to do that this morning?”
At the mention of Elizabeth’s name, Adam’s heart jolted. It was the most pleasant feeling he’d had that morning. “I’d better send you,” he said, even though he wished that wasn’t so. “I need to be on hand in case anything goes wrong with the preparations.”
“I’ll be glad to do it.”
Adam nodded and headed back inside. The dining room was still and dark. He tried to imagine it full of customers, laughing and talking, enjoying the good food. Maybe some would rent rooms. That’s where the real profit would be made.
“Planning to help me peel the carrots and potatoes?”
He turned at the sound of his aunt’s amused voice. “Morning, Aunt Caroline. Just getting my bearings.”
She reached out and put a hand on his arm. “Everything’s going to be all right. You’ll see. We’ve created a wonderful hotel, the staff is ready to go, and your vision will come true.”
Adam took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Thank you. Your faith in me means everything.”
“You have it. Now, are you going to scoot out of my way, or are you going to come in here and help me with the vegetables?”
He chuckled. “I’ll leave the food to you. I’m not quite done walking around and worrying about everything.”
“Frankly, I think it’s a waste of time, but if that’s what it takes to get you ready, by all means, go ahead.” Caroline disappeared into the kitchen, and Adam turned back to the dining room. This was the stage where everything would play out. He hoped for encore after encore after encore.
* * *
Mr. Hoover, the station manager, nodded to Adam as he stepped up onto the platform. “Good day, Mr. Brody. All ready for the train, I see.”
Adam leaned forward and shook his hand. “I am. It just remains to be seen if the train is ready for me.”
Mr. Hoover laughed. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised. Most of the people who get off this train are hot and tired, and they don’t want to walk through town to get to another establishment. If you’ve got cool drinks and something to eat, they’ll flock to you in droves.”
“That’s what I’m counting on.”
The train’s whistle blew in the distance, and Adam took up a position near the edge of the platform. Tom was nearby, ready to lend a hand where needed, holding a sign that advertised the hotel. It gave Adam comfort to know that Caroline was waiting for him next door and that the waitresses were ready—one waitress in particular. He hadn’t seen Elizabeth yet that morning, but Tom had reported that she’d been collected, and Adam could hardly wait to see her. He hoped she hadn’t changed her mind after their conversation the afternoon before. Maybe a good night’s sleep had made her see the error of her ways and she’d realized that it wasn’t wise for her to become involved with a dreamer, a risk taker like him. But then he remembered again the way she’d closed her eyes when he touched her face. She must feel the same way he did—there was no other explanation.
The train puffed into view, and Adam watched with anticipation as it pulled up to the platform. As the passengers alighted, he stepped forward, introduced himself, and invited them to go over to the Brody Hotel. Then he moved on to the next couple or group, repeating the invitation. The train wasn’t filled to capacity, but he figured he’d made his little speech twelve or thirteen times when all was said and done, and he did see some people making their way through the hotel’s front gate. Tom followed after a moment, carrying a couple of satchels, and Adam exhaled with relief.
“You have the copy of the train schedule I gave you, so you know you can’t keep these folks very long, right, Mr. Brody?” Mr. Hoover reminded him.
“I do. Thank you for all your help.” Adam tipped his hat and walked back over to the hotel, eager to see how many they’d be serving for this very first meal.
When he entered the dining room, he saw that Caroline had seated the travelers at five tables, and the young ladies were busy taking orders. His gaze flicked around the room until he saw Elizabeth. Just the sight of her calmed his heart. She wore a dark dress and a crisp white apron, and she listened attentively while her customer explained what he wanted. Then she turned toward the kitchen and caught Adam’s eye, and she smiled. His chest warmed until it felt like a pair of slippers on a snowy day.
The staff moved efficiently from the dining room to the kitchen, carrying trays of food and refilling water glasses. Adam tried to keep an eye on things without looking
like he was being nosy or trying to interfere. Truth be told, Caroline had things so well in hand, he wasn’t needed at all except to make an appearance as the owner and hopefully to create a good impression.
When everyone had eaten their fill, they left the hotel and filed back to the train station. Caroline closed the door behind the last one and smiled. “We did it, ladies and gentlemen. Our first meal served.”
Adam clapped. “Well done. I couldn’t be more pleased.”
Caroline rested against the door for a few seconds, then straightened. “Now we’ll see what kind of a mess was left for us.”
Adam walked into the dining room with her to find the four waitresses already clearing the tables and pulling off soiled linens. They looked a little tired, but they also looked triumphant, exactly the way he felt. This would be a success—now he sensed that excitement in the air Tom had been talking about.
Chapter Sixteen
The evening meal was prepared with the same speed and efficiency as the meal earlier in the day. This time, Mr. Dupree, the conductor who had helped deliver their shipment from New York, was one of their guests, as was Mrs. Dempsey.
“I decided I’d better come see what was going on down here on this end of town,” she said by way of greeting as Adam met her near the door. “If I’m going to recommend you to other folks, I should make sure I have my facts straight.”
“Welcome to the Brody Hotel,” Adam said with a wink, motioning her toward her table.
He stood in the corner of the dining room and counted the heads. This time, they had twenty guests, and that encouraged him greatly. When one couple indicated that they’d like a room, he was even more encouraged.
Mr. Dupree seemed to be paying some special attention to Caroline. He waved her over to the table and asked her a question, and to Adam’s surprise, she laughed and seemed genuinely amused. Adam took a closer look at Mr. Dupree. He was neatly dressed in a crisp conductor’s uniform, his hair was trimmed, and he seemed polite. Of course, as a railroad employee, he was taught to be polite as part of his job. Was he just as polite when he was off the clock?
A New Beginning Page 10
