Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01]

by Shadows of the Canyon

Luke deliberated for a moment. He wanted very much to ask Alex to walk with him, to spend the quiet of the evening at his side. He’d wanted that for a long time now, but he felt completely at odds as to how he could take their relationship past the point of friendship and into love. If he could just come out with the words—just tell her face-to-face that he was in love with her and wanted to spend the rest of his life with her.

  Alex bid the tourists good-bye and headed toward the place where Luke stood indecisively. “I thought that was you,” she said, smiling as she came to stand before him. She held a small covered basket. “Did you ever get some supper?”

  “No. I just figured to get some fresh air and think a spell.” She smiled, and Luke felt the joy of it spill over him like the water at Deer Creek Falls. “Good. Then we can share my picnic.”

  “What?”

  She held up the basket. “I packed a chicken salad sandwich, Camembert cheese, and sliced apples—instead of the applesauce that I made against the wall of the cooler.” She smiled and continued. “And I have a jar of rather tart lemonade, but we’ll have to share.”

  He smiled, knowing there was nothing in the world he wouldn’t happily share with her. “Sounds wonderful.”

  “I thought so, too,” she said, glancing around. “Where shall we share this feast?”

  A great idea sprang to Luke’s mind. “Let’s borrow a car and get away from the area. Better yet, I’ll get us a couple of horses and we can ride to this wonderful little spot I know.”

  Alex frowned, looking down at her uniform. “I’m hardly dressed for horseback riding. The Harvey Company hasn’t seen their way to outfitting us with split skirts or trousers.”

  “Then we’ll borrow Clancy’s car,” Luke said, knowing his right-hand man wouldn’t begrudge him a few moments of privacy with Alex.

  Alex laughed and nodded, handing the basket to Luke. “I think that sounds marvelous. My feet are sore from working tables all day long, anyway. I’m glad people love the canyon, but I do wish the management would staff more girls to help out.”

  They walked in companionable silence to where Luke knew he’d find Clancy feeding the mules. “Hey, Clancy, can I borrow your car? Alex thinks we need to have a picnic.”

  She playfully poked his ribs with her elbow. “It was his idea to borrow the car, Clancy. I had nothing to do with it. You know I’ve never been fond of the smelly things.”

  Clancy looked up and smiled, revealing a missing tooth. Just last month he’d taken a kick in the face from his favorite mule. He’d been black-and-blue for weeks, and even now the yellowed bruises were still visible in a few places.

  “You can take her, just make sure you bring her back,” Clancy said, straightening from where he’d been bent over the feed trough.

  Luke gave his solemn promise, then ushered Alex to the car. He took them east and down a narrow road. “I know this place where we can sit and watch the sunset,” he told Alex.

  She said nothing but reached up to take the hairpins from her hair to let the breeze blow through her long brown curls. Luke had seen her like this once or twice before, and always it left him with a strange flutter in his stomach. She looked so very alluring with her hair down. He knew she had no idea of how her appearance affected him, and he wasn’t about to tell her for fear she’d stop taking such casual liberties when she was in his presence.

  Luke forced his gaze to stay on the road. In his mind he wrestled with his thoughts. I could tell her how I feel, he reasoned. I could just say that she’s come to mean the world to me and I’d like to court her formal-like. Luke stole a glance and found Alex watching the road ahead. She didn’t appear to have a clue as to how he felt.

  Glancing at his watch, Luke pulled the car over and parked not far from the place he had in mind. “Come on. We’ll walk just a bit, and if your feet are too tired, I’ll carry you.”

  Alex laughed. “Oh, I’m sure after handling mules all day, I’d be a real treat.”

  “More than you know,” Luke muttered under his breath.

  “What did you say?”

  He looked across the car at Alex and shook his head. “Nothing. Come on, we’d better get a move on if we’re going to see all the colors. It’s almost seven-thirty.”

  “That late already?” Alex questioned. “I suppose I lost track of time. Glad I got away when I did.” She started to pull her hair back into a knot, but Luke grabbed up the basket and headed toward the trail.

  “You haven’t got time for that,” he called over his shoulder. “Just leave your hair down.”

  His voice trembled just a bit. Old boy, you’ve got it bad. Better keep quiet or you’ll be making a complete idiot of yourself.

  They made their way down a narrow rocky path, angling ever closer to the rim of the canyon. Luke had a special place he liked to visit, and he knew Alex would appreciate the view, as well as the solitude. Visitors had long since headed back to the hotel and campgrounds, and they’d have the area to themselves, if Luke had judged the situation correctly. Besides, he’d never yet come across anyone who’d happened upon his secret place.

  “Over here,” Luke commanded. “We have to take this path.”

  “There’s a path?” Alex teased. “Looks like a few boulders and some scrub brush.”

  Luke laughed. He appreciated her good mood. “See the ledge to the left?”

  “You don’t mean to tell me that’s the path.”

  “I do.” He paused and looked back at her. “You aren’t going to go skittering back to the car, are you? Lost your nerve?”

  Alex folded her arms against her chest. “I certainly haven’t. You have the food and I’m starving. I’ll follow you anywhere.”

  Her words hit Luke’s lovesick heart like an arrow flying at full speed. “Come on, then.”

  He helped her around the rocks and down the last little bit of trail. Spread out before them was the Grand Canyon in all her colorful splendor. Alex gasped in surprise.

  “This is incredible. How come you haven’t told me about this place before?”

  “It’s always been here,” Luke replied, taking a seat on a rocky outcropping.

  Alex joined him, her gaze still fixed on the canyon below. “I’ve been in this area a hundred times, but I’ve never been down this trail.”

  “My own secret haunt,” he said, taking the cloth from atop the basket. “You want to serve, or shall I?”

  “Let’s ask the blessing first and then I’ll serve you.” Alex bowed her head and began to pray. “Father, thank you so much for calming my spirit with the glory of your handiwork. Thank you for Luke’s friendship and his wisdom in dealing with my father. And, thank you, Father, for this food and time together.”

  “Amen,” Luke offered, trying not to think of her reference once again to their friendship. Surely married folks needed to be friends with each other. He’d try to keep it all in proper perspective.

  Alex handed him half a sandwich and added, “I meant what I said. Your wisdom probably kept me from making a poor situation worse today. I prayed a great deal while I cleaned the storage area.”

  Luke had never been much for prayer or Christian matters until Alex had come into his life. His mother had lived a life full of faith and love of God, but her death when Luke had been only twelve had left him doubting the hope she found in such things. For years he had listened to his older brother and sister espouse their Christian beliefs and faith. Even his father, who died only two years after his mother, kept the family Bible by the bed stand and read it religiously every night before bed. But Luke had felt God a cruel master—a strict judge who stole mothers away from children.

  Alex had changed Luke’s heart—or rather, God had changed it because of Alex’s persistent belief in His goodness and mercy. Even now, after what had transpired with her father, Alex would no doubt speak of God’s goodness. It was a faith that Luke had great admiration for and had been strengthened by.

  “I found it easy to react when I saw my father with
Melina, but I didn’t find it so easy to pray. I’m ashamed to have acted that way in front of Mrs. Godfrey,” Alex admitted. She bowed her head to take a bite of her sandwich.

  “Most folks would have done worse.”

  Alex shrugged. “But I wasn’t a good witness. I didn’t show myself to be guided by God’s spirit. Rather I reacted like—”

  Luke interrupted. “Like anyone else would have, given the circumstance. You were hurt, Alex. There’s no shame in that. Sure, you could have walked away.”

  “Should have walked away.”

  “Or you could have locked them in the refrigerator.” He grinned at her and waited for her reaction. She looked up and smiled. “I see the thought crossed your mind,” he added.

  “Anyway, thanks for understanding. You’re good at knowing what to say to me and just how to help me through a tough moment.”

  Luke wondered if this wasn’t just as good a time as any to share how he’d been feeling. He started to comment, then held back. If she wasn’t of a mind to see their relationship head toward courtship and marriage, it would ruin the best friendship he’d ever had. Was he willing to let that happen?

  “Oh, look,” Alex said excitedly, “the entire canyon looks like it’s on fire.”

  Luke turned from Alex and studied the horizon. “I knew you’d like it. See the way the shadows turn all purple and gray?”

  “Almost the color of lilacs in spring,” she murmured. Luke nodded. The last bit of golden sun trailed out across the landscape, touching the rocky towers and outcroppings with a light that seemed to shimmer and glow. Orange-and-red rock below transformed to hues of muted brown, while farther in the canyon the shadows grew dark, swallowing up the last bits of color.

  Glancing back at Alex, Luke felt himself mesmerized by her intent study of the canyon. Her dark brown curls rippled gently in the breeze. Her turquoise eyes seemed to search for some missing piece—some subtle clue as to how it all began, how this canyon should find itself in this place, at this time. Luke leaned closer. Perhaps he’d simply kiss her and let his actions speak for his heart. He took a deep breath to steady his nerves.

  She broke the spell of the moment. “I almost forgot the lemonade. Are you thirsty?”

  “Huh?” He’d barely heard her words.

  “I asked if you were thirsty. Do you want some lemonade?”

  “Sure.” Luke straightened and tried not to appear flustered. “That’d be nice.”

  Alex handed him a Mason jar. “Be warned, it’s a bit sour.”

  “I like it that way,” Luke said, taking a drink.

  Alex picked up the conversation again. “Poor Melina was still crying when I left for the day. I don’t know why women like that get caught up in the actions of men like my father. Mrs. Godfrey was clearly as uncomfortable as I was; yet she handled the matter with such grace and refinement. I guess that’s what I wish I could do. Control my temper and keep a ladylike comportment about me.”

  “I don’t see anything unladylike about the way you reacted. You were acting on your feelings and the love you have for your mother.”

  Alex turned to face Luke. “I feel particularly bad for the way Father treated you.” She paused as her cheeks reddened. “Those lewd comments about . . . well, I won’t repeat them,” Alex said, paying strict attention to her sandwich. “I’m sorry he made suggestions about you and me.”

  Luke nearly choked. He didn’t know what to say. Clearly he couldn’t speak of his love for her on the tail of her father’s obviously inappropriate comments. She might get the wrong idea. Worse yet, she might think Luke felt sorry for her and was only trying to make her feel better.

  “Father can’t understand what you and I have together.”

  What do we have? Luke wanted so much to voice the question aloud. Instead, he turned his attention to the food and let Alex do the talking.

  “I was serious about wanting to take mother away from here. I’ve been saving my money. The wages, the tips . . . all of it. Tips are always good at the canyon, so I’ve got a good bit set aside. Even so, it wouldn’t take us far. I can transfer anywhere on the Santa Fe line. The Harvey Company would find a dozen girls happy to come to the Grand Canyon and work in my place. But . . .”

  “But?” Luke questioned.

  “But my father would take everything from her. He’d never allow her a single dime. I could never hope to support us both,” Alex said with a sigh. “There has to be an answer.”

  “There always is.” Luke handed the jar of lemonade back to her.

  “If she’d just go stay with Audra, at least it would put her out of the reach of the humiliating comments. She can’t even go to church without someone approaching her in regard to father’s behavior. I try my best to encourage her, but it’s just too much for her to bear. And now her health is diminishing. She’s lost so much weight that nothing fits her anymore.

  “If Father only cared. If he cared about her and how she feels, he could never carry on with these affairs. I’ve tried to explain that to him, but he’s not concerned. Politics and money. That’s all he wants to focus on. Not my mother. And certainly not God. He has his friends, and their political power often benefits him financially. He lies. He cheats. He destroys. It’s his legacy.”

  “I guess just about anyone without God in his life would have a similar legacy,” Luke offered.

  “He and his friends find cheating so completely acceptable. I’ve witnessed their tomfoolery with my own eyes. It’s the reason I came to the Grand Canyon from Williams. I’d worked as a Harvey Girl at the restaurant in Williams, but Father was always coming there causing problems for me. Worse yet, his friends started behaving improperly toward me.”

  Luke hadn’t heard her talk about this before, and it angered him to think of other men treating her without the respect she deserved.

  Alex shook her head. “That’s why I’ll never marry. I’ll never trust any man to be faithful and honest. I’m not sure it’s possible.”

  “Whoa now,” Luke said, waggling his finger at her. “You can’t go throwing us all in the same pot.”

  Alex seemed to consider his comment for a moment. “Well, I suppose present company is excluded. You’ll make someone a wonderful husband . . . at least I hope you will.”

  “Why do you take that tone with me? Do you doubt my ability to be faithful?”

  Alex shrugged and nibbled at a piece of the cheese. “I’m not doubting your ability so much as my own. I doubt my judgment of people. I’ve been hurt one too many times, believing someone to be genuine and honest only to find out that they’re self-serving and deceitful. I remember the first time a man actually asked to court me. He was all sweet talk and flowers. He doted on me like nothing you’ve ever seen. Then I found out he was far more interested in doting on Father’s ledgers. He figured to marry their fortunes together through me. He admitted that he didn’t really love me, but rather knew it would be a beneficial union. He’d lied to me, and I caught him red-handed.”

  “And you think I would lie to you?”

  “I don’t know what to think,” Alex said, her voice full of irritation. “That’s the problem. That’s why I’ll never let my heart get caught up in such matters. I’m a poor judge of such things. Given the past, if I gave in to my heart, I’d probably end up with a man no better in his actions than my father.”

  “Too bad God isn’t powerful enough to protect you from such a thing,” Luke said sarcastically. He didn’t like her attitude or the way it defeated his plans to offer her courtship and marriage.

  Alex frowned and began gathering up her things. “He didn’t protect my mother, so why should I think I deserve any different? It isn’t that I think God incapable—it’s simply that sinful man will do sinful things and good people will suffer. My desire is to help my mother—to see her through this matter. She may not be willing to impose herself in the life of my married sister, but she doesn’t have that same excuse with me. I’ll make her see reason. We’ll go to Kansas
City or Topeka or even California. We’ll go far enough away that we won’t have to witness my father’s escapades firsthand.”

  She got to her feet and stared down at Luke with an expression that wavered between hurt and doubt. “I need to get back. Will you drive me or shall I walk?”

  Luke got up and dusted off his jeans. “I’ll drive you—that is, if you can trust me to keep my word.”

  “Luke, don’t be like that. I didn’t mean to include you. I was just talking about the men I’ve known in the past. I know you’re not like them. I don’t think of you like that.” She reached out and gently touched his shoulder. “I’ve never seen you be cruel to anyone. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings. Please don’t be angry with me.”

  Luke couldn’t stay mad. He smiled. “Come on. Let’s get you back before they send out a search party.”

  CHAPTER THREE

  “Senator Winthrop, how marvelous you could come to El Tovar!”

  The stocky man smiled in greeting. “Chester Laird, as I live and breathe. If you aren’t a welcome sight for these old eyes.”

  Alex took in the revelry with little interest as she poured glasses of ice water. She was used to parties of the rich and influential. El Tovar seemed the perfect place for their gatherings—a respite in a luxurious setting. Not only the grandeur of the canyon beyond the walls, but the hotel itself had been a masterpiece of design. Styled in the manner of a massive Swiss chalet, the Harvey Company had spared no expense to ensure its beauty and splendor.

  “How do you like our little Waldorf of the west?” Laird questioned.

  “I must say, this resort is far better equipped than I had figured. My aide mentioned it was quite the popular place, very European in nature. Still, when I mentioned to my daughter, Valerie, that we were spending a month in Arizona, you would have thought I’d suggested she sell her jewels and live on the street.”

  “I was sorry to hear about your wife’s passing,” Laird said, sobering rather quickly.

  “Thank you, Chester. The dear woman simply gave out. Life in the political arena was much too difficult. But Valerie does a good job—well, decidedly that! She does a superior job acting as my hostess. Speaking of which, here she comes now with my aide, Joel Harper.”