by Anna Schmidt
“Horses? No one mentioned horses.” Lily looked horrified. She lifted her skirt to her ankles. “Trust me, Grace, these legs were not made for sitting on a horse. They are intended for carriage rides with wealthy gents intent on giving me the moon and stars, should I ask.”
“And just how many such ‘gents’ have you met out here in New Mexico?” Grace teased. “Come on, Lily. Everyone’s going. It will be fun.”
Lily sighed. “I’ll need to go shopping.” She brightened slightly. “I saw a pair of boots in the window at the mercantile. They cost a fortune I’m sure but—”
“I’m sure there’s no dress code.”
“I always dress for the occasion,” Lily announced and returned to the dining room with a dramatic sweep of her hand.
Grace finished her list of chores and climbed the stairs to the third floor. She changed out of her uniform and into a calico dress before lying down on her bed and staring at the ceiling. She closed her eyes but could still see Nick Hopkins grinning at her as he tipped his hat and rode away.
“No!” She let out a groan of frustration before grabbing the last letter she’d received from home and hurrying downstairs to the small room off the lobby where guests and properly attired staff could write letters or read one of the books in the hotel’s collection. She would write her mother and enclose the fifteen dollars she’d set aside from her first paycheck. What did she need money for? Her food, room, and uniforms were provided, and while her personal wardrobe could probably use some improvement, it was serviceable and would certainly do for now. Soon, when the weather turned really cold, she would set aside money for a warm coat and, of course, put aside enough for Christmas presents for Emma, Lily, and Jake, in addition to those she would send her family.
Mentally adding up the expenses she could foresee, she thought perhaps she should heed her father’s advice and not be quite so generous in what she sent home at first. Ten dollars each month for the five months she’d earn a paycheck during her contract would be fifty dollars—money her family could count on regardless of how the crops did or whether taxes rose. And after her contract was up, perhaps Miss K would want her to stay on. Perhaps she would earn a raise—Emma and Lily both made a dollar a month more than she did.
She pulled out a sheet of the hotel’s stationery and dipped the pen in the inkwell.
Dear Mama,
I met the most wonderful man.
She crumpled the paper and tossed it in the waste bin.
* * *
There was no sight more calming and inspiring than a New Mexico sunset, as far as Nick was concerned. He liked nothing better than to sit astride his horse at the top of a mesa and watch the whole show. Streaks of purple and orange filled the western sky as the fiery orb of the sun sank behind the jagged peaks of the Sangre de Cristo mountain range. He stayed until the glow faded and the stars popped out, then clicked his tongue and turned Sage toward home, humming to himself as he rode.
Had Grace Rogers ever found the time to enjoy a sunrise or sunset or anything about this wild and wonderful country? She seemed always to be there behind that counter, the perky white bow that was the signature of a Harvey Girl perched on her hair—hair he had once mentally compared to a New Mexico sunset, with its streaks of gold, and eyes he had once compared to a New Mexico sky at noon. Eyes so full of wonder and innocence that he’d felt driven to make unnecessary trips into town to make sure she was all right.
Who was he kidding? His attraction to Grace Rogers had very little to do with playing the protector. It was a lot more carnal than that. His first thought that morning when the other cowboy had flirted with her had been, Back off, buddy. She’s mine.
At night watching over the herd or lying in his bunk, he saw her perfectly proportioned body, imagined details of her curves beneath that black uniform, thought about rolling down those black stockings to reveal the creaminess of her thighs…
“You’re getting way ahead of things, Hopkins,” he muttered to himself as he rode back to the ranch. Neither Grace nor any of the women who worked for Harvey were meant to be trifled with. They were women of a high moral standard. Women who tended to end up married to men with money, like bankers or ranch owners, not hands. Of course, he was a foreman, and he made a good salary…
Married?
He shook his head and chuckled. “Who said anything about married?” He had a plan for his life, and marriage would be a part of it eventually, but there were still a lot of steps along that trail. First, he had to pay off the loan so that once he owned the land, he could get himself settled and make sure he could truly provide for a family. Set up a proper house. Have some savings to fall back on. By the time he accomplished all that, he suspected Grace Rogers would be long gone—off to some better position in the Harvey organization or married with a family of her own.
He rode up to the corral and dismounted, slinging the saddle over the split rail fence. “Boys,” he said by way of greeting to the two cowhands leaning against the fence, smoking their cigarettes and talking. The men had finished bringing the herd down from the high pastures for the winter. Some of them had since moved on to other jobs farther north, and the ranch was down to the few hands who had made it their permanent home.
“The boss man was looking for you,” one of them said. “Want me to brush Sage down?”
Nick nodded. “Thanks.” He handed the reins to the cowhand and headed up to the main house.
John and Rita Lombard were sitting near a small fire pit in the courtyard enjoying the night air. “Hello, Nick,” Rita said. “Did you eat?”
Nick smiled. The woman was always trying to feed him. “Yes, ma’am.” He turned to John. “You wanted to see me?”
“I know it’s not your job, Nick,” John began, and Nick tightened his grip on his hat. Every time his boss started out this way, Nick was pretty sure he was going to be asked to do something he’d rather not.
“What do you need, boss?”
“Aidan Campbell has this idea about arranging for a little thank-you outing for his employees this coming Sunday. His plan is for them to head into the canyon near the waterfall for a campfire and picnic supper.”
“Okay.” To Nick’s way of thinking, taking a bunch of people who had rarely, if ever, been on horseback out into the wilderness any time was a bad idea, but clearly, the plan was already under way.
“So he needs a guide.”
“I’m sure I can spare one or two men. You want them to do the cooking?” Nick did a mental roll call of his men. Slim and Smokey would probably be best.
“Well, that and I’d like you to lead the tour. You know this territory better than anybody, and with them setting out late in the day and not returning till after dark—”
A bunch of tenderfoots on horseback after dark is asking for trouble, he thought even as he said, “I’ll set it up. Anything else, sir?”
“Not unless Mrs. Lombard can persuade you to come in for a cup of coffee and a slice of her spice cake.”
“Sounds tempting, but planning out this picnic thing will take some doing. How many will be going, do you think?”
His boss shrugged. “Work with Aidan Campbell on that. Have a good evening, Nick.”
“Good night.” Nick put on his hat and walked back to the bunkhouse. There was always the possibility Grace would not be on the excursion. On the other hand, there was every possibility she would be. He’d need to be sure not to pay her special attention, since her bosses would also be along for the ride.
“What’re you grinnin’ at?” Smokey glanced up from the nightly poker game when Nick entered the smoke-filled room.
“Boys, who would like to go on a little picnic excursion with the staff from the Palace Hotel?”
It took a moment for the men to process the fact that “staff” included the Harvey Girls, and then every hand shot high in the air.
Ni
ck laughed and pulled a three-legged stool up to the table. “Deal me in. Last three to stay in the game win.”
“That include you?” Smokey asked.
“Nope. I’m in already.”
“I figured,” Smokey said, chomping down hard on his cigar. “So that means three spaces up for grabs. Somebody deal the cards, and let’s get this decided.”
* * *
On Sunday, the kitchen staff and waitresses met in the covered walkway that ran the length of one side of the hotel.
“I see you’re all well-prepared for our outing,” Mr. Campbell announced once they were all gathered. Most were carrying an extra coat and a blanket or shawl.
A commotion at the kitchen door drew everyone’s attention as Lily appeared and joined the group. As was her habit in her off-duty hours, she was dressed in an outfit that came closer to costume than regular attire. Grace knew she had spent the last of her paycheck on the boots she’d admired at the mercantile. She wore a beige split skirt in a fabric far too fine for riding in canyons and across desert land, a pristine white blouse trimmed with deep-red piping, and a wide-brimmed hat that hung down her back by its thin leather laces. Her hair was pulled back at the nape of her neck, the white-blond curls cascading over one shoulder. She was a perfect picture, but Grace realized her friend had little idea what a ride over dusty trails and through shrubs with nettles and burrs that could cling and scratch might do to her outfit.
Grace glanced at Emma, who raised her shoulders slightly as if to say “too late now.” Emma and Grace were more appropriately dressed in split skirts suitable for riding, sensible shoes they’d worn enough to shape comfortably to their feet, calico blouses that had seen many washings, and hats that, like their shoes, were well-worn and more serviceable than stylish. Like the others, they had brought coats and blankets. As they left the room, Emma had grabbed Lily’s coat as well.
“This way,” Mr. Campbell instructed as he led them around the side of the hotel to the rear yard where three cowboys were posted next to a line of horses and two burros loaded with supplies. Grace felt a bubble of excitement knowing she would finally have news to fill the pages of her letter home. Lately, her days had all been so much the same that it was hard to come up with anything to write about. She’d tried describing her customers, especially the regulars, but her mother had written that while they enjoyed hearing about Grace’s roommates, they’d just as soon hear no more about these strangers. She’d said nothing about the money Grace had sent.
Tonight, she would have something to tell them, she thought as she joined the others in mounting up. She looked up to see Nick Hopkins watching her from his position at the front of the line. She still hadn’t told her mother anything about Nick. She had gotten as far as writing that she’d met someone—a true gentleman who stopped by the hotel often to make sure she was doing all right. But she’d thrown that letter away as she had her first attempt. After all, it had only been six weeks since her arrival in Juniper, and Grace understood that in her mother’s eyes, that was far too little time for Grace to be going on about some handsome ranch hand who made her heart beat faster every time she thought of him.
* * *
As he led the party away from town, Nick tried his best to remain professional. He made a point of moving Sage through the group, talking to different Harvey employees. Most he knew, and a few he didn’t. But somehow, Grace always seemed to be within range. He was aware of her even when she was behind him. He could pick out her voice from the general chatter and found that he often lost the thread of the conversations he might be having, trying to hear her words. Whatever she might be sharing about herself with someone who wasn’t him.
She was an experienced rider—that much he’d gleaned from watching her mount without help. He liked the way she leaned forward when they stopped at a creek to let the horses drink. She stroked the horse’s neck, combing her fingers through its mane. Unconsciously, he removed his hat and combed his fingers through his thick hair as he watched her from several yards farther downstream.
“You look real pretty, Hopkins,” Smokey teased.
Nick slammed his hat back in place and turned his horse away from the creek. “Let’s head out, folks,” he shouted. “Got a fair way to go.”
He urged Sage to the head of the line, passing Grace without looking her way, but it didn’t matter. He was aware of her even when she was somewhere else. Determined to focus on his job, he mentally ran through the logistics of the trip before climbing the steep trail that would lead them to the entrance to the canyon. He caught up to the cowboy handling the burros. “Slim, you go on ahead and set up the campfire. I’ll bring the supplies.”
Slim nodded and took off, glad to be rid of herding the sometimes stubborn burros along the narrow trail.
“I got this, boss,” Smokey said, coming alongside. “One of the ladies back there is having a little trouble with her horse.”
Nick glanced back and saw Lily Travis struggling to get her horse moving forward. He also saw Grace next to her, offering advice.
“Stop pulling on the reins, Lily,” she was telling her friend when Nick got to them. “If you do that, the horse thinks you want to go backward, not forward.”
Lily looked frankly terrified, and Nick realized she’d probably never been astride a horse in her life. He brought Sage up alongside her. “How about you just hold onto the saddle horn there and give me the reins, Miss Travis?”
“And then what?” Lily asked, her voice trembling.
“Then I’ll lead you along the path until we reach the campsite. On the way home, maybe you and Gr—Miss Rogers can switch mounts. Paint there is a good deal more docile and knows the way back to town.”
“Oh, Lily, let’s just switch now,” Grace said.
Nick noticed she didn’t look directly at him but kept her focus on her friend. Ever since he’d stopped by to assure her he wouldn’t do anything that might cause her trouble, they’d been shy with each other, exchanging sidelong glances and half smiles whenever he came to the counter.
“No,” Lily decided, handing Nick the reins before gripping the saddle horn with both hands. “I’m hoping it’s not that much farther?”
“Maybe twenty minutes,” Nick said.
Lily groaned.
“Twenty-five if we don’t get going,” he added.
Grace expertly positioned her horse next to Lily’s on her other side. “I’m right here, Lily.”
Lily nodded to Nick. “Lead on,” she said with a dramatic sigh.
All chatter had stopped around them, everyone waiting to see how the scene would play out. As soon as Nick clicked his tongue and Sage started walking slowly up the trail, the others relaxed. Nick led Lily’s horse to the head of the group, and behind him, he heard laughter and talk pick up once again. He was aware that Grace had followed, and he had to admire the way she kept up a running conversation with Lily in an attempt to ease her friend’s fears.
“I wasn’t more than seven or eight when my father set me on a horse, and I remember thinking how I would never get the hang of being astride something so large. But once you understand that the animal is looking to you for direction—that you are in charge—”
Nick glanced over his shoulder. Judging by the stiff set of Lily’s body, Grace was only making matters worse. “Miss Travis, do you know any camp songs?”
“Camp songs?” Lily repeated.
“Yeah. Songs folks might sing around a campfire?”
Lily snorted a laugh. “I’m from Chicago. I’ve sat around a campfire about as often as I’ve been astride a horse, Mr. Hopkins.” After a pause, she added, “If you know any such tunes, however, I’m always willing to learn.”
Nick smiled. Lily couldn’t help herself. She was a natural-born flirt, and she was definitely flirting with him. Well, where was the harm? Especially if it took his mind off Grace.
“Oh, give me a home,” he sang, raising his voice so those following him could hear, “where the buffalo roam…”
He wasn’t much of a singer. In fact, his men often teased him about his off-key renditions when they were out with the herd. But to his surprise, from his position riding in a buggy with Miss Kaufmann, Aidan Campbell took up the tune. The hotel manager had a strong baritone and urged those around him to join in, coaching them in the words until everyone was singing the chorus.
“Home, home on the range.” Their voices ricocheted off the rocky cliffs, and when he looked back, Grace caught his eye and nodded toward Lily. The woman was swaying in the saddle in time to the music, completely relaxed. Grace smiled at him, her eyes sparkling with gratitude.
He tipped two fingers to the brim of his hat and eased Sage to a walk as they started their descent into the canyon. Her direct smile had completely unnerved him. It was a private moment between just the two of them, one she clearly did not regret. He had thought her attractive before, but now he saw just how beautiful she was. And he also realized how much trouble he was in if he allowed himself to dwell on that fact. For with that came the logical next thoughts—that smile, her lips meeting his, his fingers trapped in her sunlit hair, his—
“Hey, boss!” Slim was riding up the trail toward him and was practically in front of him before he realized it. “Want me to start the cooking right away or wait till—”
Nick cleared his mind of thoughts of Grace. He was in charge of this expedition, after all. “Start now, and build up the fire. Once the sun goes down, we’ll need the warmth.” He turned in his saddle and addressed the others. “Okay, folks, almost there. Keep an eye out on your left for your first glimpse of the falls. In the late-afternoon sun, it’s quite a sight.”
He knew the exact moment the first of the group saw the falls—a cascade of pulsating water iridescent in the sunlight, spilling over a high granite cliff into the narrow and deep canyon below. Their gasps and whispered comments were unmistakable. Nick smiled, more than a little pleased with himself for having planned the route and timing with just this moment in mind. He looked back at Grace.