Alex could sense her mother nearing hysteria. “Look, why don’t you just let things lie for a time. There is nothing that says you must divorce immediately. Just take a holiday. You’ve come to El Tovar, so let that be the start. Tell Father you need a rest and that you’re going to visit Audra. You could go there and see her and the family, while I square things away with the Harvey Company and find us a new location to live.”
“Yes, but once your father learns the truth about the money . . .”
“We’ll deal with that when it happens,” Alex interjected. “Father is not going to immediately concern himself with such things. He’s with friends—powerful friends—who can give him exactly what he wants. He won’t think about banking matters for a single moment. Today, just rest. Let’s just concentrate on getting through one day at a time and give the rest to God.”
“I’d like that—truly I would.”
A heavy knock sounded at the door, causing Katherine to jump back. “I’ll get it,” Alex offered. “Why don’t you just freshen up a bit?” She didn’t wait for a response but went to the door.
Her father pushed her back as soon as the door opened a few inches. “What are you doing here?” he demanded of his wife. He came in rather like a bull moose stomping and snorting, ready to take on his adversary.
Alex tried to think how she might intercede for her mother and create a story her father might accept, but nothing came to mind. She opened her mouth to comment, but already her mother was pulling something from her purse. With a smile on her face and a cheerfulness Alex knew her mother did not feel, Katherine Keegan handed the card to her husband.
“I came here because the Winthrops invited me to join you here. It seems they have a series of special dinners and gatherings and thought I might like to be a part of their celebration. I even purchased a new gown for the main gala. I knew you wouldn’t want me to look shabby next to you.”
Rufus Keegan grunted as he pulled the invitation from her hand. “You should have stayed home where you belong.” He considered the card for a moment, then glared back at his wife. “I didn’t invite you here.”
Alex stepped forward. “She’s here and to send her back to Williams now would only disgrace you—the Winthrops issued the invitation personally.”
Her father turned on her. “You’d better remember what I told you—I won’t brook any nonsense from either one of you. I intend to see myself in Washington, D.C., working with the new president, and perhaps one day even enjoying that office myself.” He turned back to his wife. “I won’t tolerate your interference or scenes. If you so much as open your mouth to say the wrong thing, you’ll regret it. Do you understand me?”
Alex moved between her father and mother. “Don’t threaten her. She’s put up with enough of your embarrassing games.”
“This is no game, Alexandria. You’d do well to learn that here and now. Your mother knows her place most generally, and it isn’t until she talks to you that she feels compelled to create a fuss. If you want to keep your job here, I’d suggest you learn your place as well.”
Alex straightened her shoulders and leaned toward her father’s face. “You have no power over me here. Of that I have absolute confidence. You cannot see me hired or fired, and that’s the truth of it, so do not pretend to threaten me.”
“It’s not a pretense, and the threat is very real.” His brows drew together as his eyes narrowed. “I fully intend to see my plan through to completion.”
“Please don’t argue,” Alex’s mother said, coming to stand beside them. “Someone might overhear.”
Crumbling the invitation in his hand, Keegan threw it at Alex and stomped to the door. “You mark my words and mark them well. I won’t be kept from my dreams by the likes of either one of you. I have a plan to get me where I want to be, and you’d better stay out of my way. Or else!”
“Or else what?” Alex questioned, unable to keep her mouth closed. “To what extent will you go to silence us?”
At this her father calmed, almost unnaturally so. He rubbed his mustache and actually smiled. The sinister expression on his face left Alex cold and weak-kneed.
“People die all the time, don’t they?”
With that he opened the door and left the room. Alex felt frozen in place, while her mother crossed the room and quickly shut and locked the door.
“Oh, what are we to do?” she questioned. Her pale face contorted in fear and anguish.
Alex barely felt able to draw a breath. “I don’t know. I wouldn’t have believed him to say something so . . . so . . .” She left the words unspoken.
Her mother reached out and took hold of her. “I’m terrified, Alex. I’ve never seen him like this, not even when he’s hit me in anger.”
“He’s hit you—and you stayed with him?” Alex questioned. Her mother released her grip on Alex and walked to the window. “Alex, a married woman makes many a choice that seems irrational to others. I’ve done what I had to do, just as I’m doing what I have to do now.”
“But, Mother, this has to stop. He must be stopped.”
Her mother nodded. “I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Valerie Winthrop had never known a man she couldn’t conquer. Generally all she had to do was bat her eyelashes, smile coyly, and show a spark of interest and the men came running. But in the case of Luke Toland, that simply wasn’t so. Luke had no interest in her, and that could only mean one thing—another woman.
He had said as much, but Valerie couldn’t find out from Luke who that woman might be. Watching him, however, she’d been able to pretty much ascertain that Luke was in love with Alex Keegan, the dowdy little Harvey Girl. Worse still, the Keegan woman also appeared to have feelings for Luke—although Valerie wasn’t entirely sure the woman knew it yet. Women were such queer creatures at times, and Alex Keegan seemed the strangest of them all. For all Valerie could tell, Miss Keegan was not at all interested in the men around her, in spite of numerous comments of praise and adoration. Although why anyone would praise the creature was beyond Val. She found Miss Keegan quite boring with her spiritual interests and Biblical restrictions.
As she dressed for dinner, Valerie took special care to wear something sensually appealing. She hoped later to slip away to Luke’s cabin. Poor, dear man. His broken wrist was making him quite miserable. Valerie knew just the right medicine to help him heal, and perhaps by wearing this gown, she might actually take his mind off the homely Miss Keegan.
But along with her interest in Luke, Valerie longed to have everyone’s attention fixed on her. She loved the way men came to attention when she entered a room—loved the look of admiration, of longing in their eyes. She was like a prized jewel that everyone wanted, and she enjoyed the position. Her life—on her terms.
Too bad she had to contend with Joel Harper. She had grown bored and weary of his attention. He only wanted the money and power her status could afford him, and he was a bitter man with an agenda to right the wrongs done to him. Had he been even the slightest bit attentive, Valerie might have found him worthy of her affections. After all, he was handsome. He had a sort of Fred Astaire look to him.
She’d even told him so when they’d been in London earlier in the summer and had seen Astaire dance with his sister Adele. Joel had been flattered, unnecessarily so. He’d pressed for her affection after that, seeing her comment as some open door to become more intimate. But her comments had been nothing more than passing thoughts, certainly nothing to suggest she was ready for physical romance with her father’s lackey.
Smoothing down the satin of her Poiret dinner gown, Valerie tried not to think about her fate with Joel. She still had her freedom for a time. A freedom that might see her happily entangled with a certain cowboy, if she could only find a way to capture his attention.
Looking at her reflection in the mirror, Valerie knew she looked rather scandalous. The pale green satin clung to her in a most daring way, while the draped neckline scarcely hid the fact that she
’d chosen to wear very little under the gown. Just let Luke Toland try to ignore her now.
She rubbed her favorite scent on her bare upper arms. It had been her experience that this was most effective in drawing a man’s attention. Lastly, she touched up her makeup and hair.
“Perfect,” she murmured, noting her reflection one last time.
The evening had cooled considerably, but Valerie refused to take a wrap. The look she wanted would be ruined if she were to add so much as a scarf to the ensemble. Making her way to the rooftop garden, where they’d all agreed to meet prior to dinner, Valerie drew appreciative stares from every man she passed along the way. She smiled to herself. It was good to feel their approval—to sense their longing. It gave her a sensation of power.
Reaching the roof, she immediately spotted her father’s stocky frame. Dressed rather uncomfortably in the tuxedo he hated, her father was already playing the room. A consummate politician, Winston Winthrop knew very well how to work the crowd to his advantage. The best thing he had going for him was his ability to listen—really listen. He could pick up details in a conversation that everyone else tended to miss. Using these details, the good senator managed to align himself with the common man. It had worked to his advantage and had seen him through thirty-some years of public office.
“The common man,” he would say to Valerie, “holds the key to success. For the common man, once influenced for you, will eagerly share what he knows with his neighbors. And, once they are convinced, they will share their opinion with their neighbor and so on. The wealthy not only care little for such matters, but rarely are willing to share their news with each other for fear of their powerful friends becoming even more powerful.” And Valerie knew this to be true, for her father rarely spoke of important matters unless it was to press someone into service on his behalf.
“Daddy,” she said softly, coming up beside the portly senator. She leaned in to kiss his cheek, stopping just before reaching face. She’d learned long ago that her father’s cheek was hardly the place for her lipstick.
Joel stood just to the right of her father. His perusal of her costume seemed to come in a mix of emotions. He liked what he saw, she was sure of that. But she was just as sure that he didn’t like everyone else seeing her that way.
“Sweetheart, you’ll catch your death. Perhaps I should escort you back downstairs so that you can get something to put about your shoulders,” Joel suggested.
Valerie loved that he was disturbed by her appearance. Let him fret and fuss, she thought. I will never let him own me.
“I’m perfectly warm, thank you.” She turned away from him then and met the man at her right. “I’m Valerie Winthrop.”
The man was of no special account. He was just one of the many who followed her father around like a faithful dog. Valerie pitied these men. They were like pack animals seeking out the strongest among them. Sometimes that strength came in the form of intelligence and sometimes in physical stamina, but always they sought it out and aligned themselves accordingly.
When it was time for dinner, they adjourned from the gardens and made their way to the private dining room. There were twelve of them tonight, Valerie noted. Her father had brought in several additional players, including Rufus Keegan’s wife, Katherine. The petite woman was absolutely no threat to anyone. Nor was she of any interest. Mr. Keegan did nothing to hide his open admiration for Valerie, breaking away to whisper obscenities in her ear, promising her things he couldn’t possibly make good on. Valerie knew him to be the worst of philanderers. Several times he had cornered her to suggest they slip away to his suite. She’d never given him serious thought, however. He was old. Much too old. And not nearly as wealthy or powerful as he liked to think. Why, she could have her pick of wealthy men from New York to Los Angeles. There was no reason to settle for the likes of Rufus Keegan.
With the additional people to serve, Valerie found that there were two Harvey waitresses at their disposal. She did her best to keep them both working. Miss Keegan seemed to realize her game, while the stocky little redhead who assisted her seemed as naïve as a schoolgirl.
“This tea is tepid,” Valerie complained to the redhead. “Bring me another cup.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Valerie watched Alex Keegan with a particular curiosity. What was it about her that Luke Toland should find so appealing? She wore no makeup, yet Valerie had to admit her skin was the color of peaches and cream. Her cheeks blushed naturally and her dark lashes needed no paint to make them more appealing. Even her hair, which was dark brown and wavy, had been pinned into a rather attractive style atop her head. Valerie almost envied the fact that Alex had long hair. In the city you seldom saw any woman their age still sporting long hair. Yet, Valerie had seen the men admire those few remaining souls who kept their locks long, almost as if these were the last vestiges of true womanhood. Men could be so peculiar.
Still, Alexandria Keegan couldn’t match Valerie’s beauty. Valerie’s classic looks had been praised from London to Madrid and all across Europe. She had been toasted in New York and New Orleans. She knew the power her looks gave her. So why hadn’t they yet given her the elusive Mr. Toland?
Then it dawned on her. Somewhere between the pear salad and the filet mignon, Valerie suddenly realized the attraction. Luke Toland felt sorry for Alex. His supposed love was born out of pity. The idea churned in her head as she made small talk with her father’s dinner guests, and by the time éclairs and chocolate russe were served, Valerie had it all figured out.
Luke doesn’t really love her, she told herself. He sees how poorly her father behaves and knows the shame she’s endured. He no doubt has befriended her thinking her a sweet, naïve young woman who would never do anyone harm. But I can change that. After all, Valerie already knew of Joel’s interest in adding the elusive Miss Keegan to his list of conquests.
As the dishes were cleared away and the coffee served, Valerie excused herself, mindless of Joel’s scowl, and left the room. She had told her father she needed to powder her nose, but in truth, she knew this would be her chance to visit Luke.
Her strapped heels were hardly the proper footwear for the rocky and uneven path to the cabin, but Valerie guarded her steps. Her thoughts, however, ran away with her, suggesting all sorts of scenarios.
“First, I’ll tell him I was worried about his recovery,” Valerie mused. She wished she’d thought to bring him one of the chocolate-glazed éclairs. Her mother had often told her that a man’s affection could often be roused with food.
She neared the cabin and smiled at the hint of light coming from behind the pulled curtains. Then I’ll pace a bit in front of him, letting him see every curve and line. That should warm his blood considerably.
Reaching the cabin porch, Valerie slipped off her shoes and placed them on the top step. She wanted her approach to be quiet, because as a final thought she decided she wouldn’t so much as knock. She’d simply walk in on him and catch him unaware.
Reaching for the doorknob, she smiled when it turned easily in her hand. She pushed open the door and found Luke rather stunned, sitting on the couch.
“What are you doing here?” he asked gruffly.
“I thought you could use some company.”
“No, I’m afraid not. Clancy’s coming back in a minute—he’s gone to get a chessboard. We have a game to play.”
“I’d be more fun to play with than Clancy.” “I doubt it. Clancy is pretty good at chess,” Luke said rather dryly.
Valerie knew she’d have to act fast. Crossing the small room, she positioned herself between Luke and the fire. The warmth felt amazingly good. “That’s not what I mean and you know it.”
“I’m never sure what you mean, Miss Winthrop. I’ve never been able to figure women out. Seems to me they play a lot of games, and chess just isn’t one of them.”
Valerie smiled, hoping the coy look she’d perfected would give Luke reason to send Clancy packing. “I can learn to play whatever ga
me you’d like.”
“I’d like for you to leave,” Luke said, getting to his feet. His broken wrist seemed to be of no consequence, and he seemed completely capable of fending for himself.
Valerie backed up a step, suddenly feeling uncertain of her plan. Luke took hold of her arm and practically dragged her to the door. “I don’t know why you came here, but don’t come back. I have no interest in your kind.”
Anger rose up in Valerie. “What do you mean, my kind?”
“You know exactly what I mean,” Luke replied. “You know exactly what you’re doing and what you’re planning on getting, but you won’t be getting it here—with me. Good night.”
With that he shoved her out the door and locked it behind her. Valerie stood in dumfounded shock for several moments. How dare he treat her like a common trollop? Dismissing her like one of his crew members.
“You’ll wish you’d played the game with me, Mr. Toland.”
Valerie picked up her shoes and made her way back to the hotel. Her confidence was slightly damaged by Luke’s rejection, but she pushed her feelings aside. Pausing to put her shoes back on, Valerie was taken aback when Alex Keegan came out the door.
“Good evening, Miss Keegan,” Valerie said, straightening.
“Oh, hello.” Alex started to walk past, but Valerie reached out and stopped her. “I’m so glad we have had a moment alone. I must tell you that despite substandard food from time to time, your performance has been remarkable.”
Alex eyed her suspiciously, but Valerie knew very well how to lull her into a false sense of security. “I’m simply amazed,” Valerie continued, “that you can remember what everyone has ordered and keep it all straight. You must be a very smart woman.”
Alex shook her head. “No, I credit the training. Having been here for four years, the job is second nature.”
“Four years? My, but that’s a long time. I know when Luke told us he’d worked here for over ten years, I found it hard to believe. Of course, Daddy has great new plans for Luke, and I’m sure it is only a matter of time before his years at the Grand Canyon are behind him.”
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