Leah was pointing to cracks in the ground in the grass between the trees. “Look at all those cracks,” she said with some distress. “I’ve never seen cracks here before.”
Montana, Misty, and Mr. Mills came over. Mr. Mills pointed to some plants at the edge of the nearest crack. “Look, all those plants are dead.”
Indiana looked at the plants which usually had deep green leaves and pretty white flowers. They looked as if someone had left them in a fireplace.
“They’re newly dead, too,” Leah said. “They’re green at the bottom, and only the ends are dead.”
Morgan took Indiana’s arm once again. “I don’t think we should stand so close to these cracks.”
At Morgan’s suggestion, everyone moved back a fair distance.
While they were watching, steam suddenly burst through the cracks, causing everyone to jump. Mr. Mills started forward, but Morgan restrained him. “I don’t think we should go close, Cody. We should all stay back. Let’s head back to our picnic spot and have lunch.”
“Mr. Mills and I were going to collect wildflowers near the fountain next to the plum trees,” Misty said.
Morgan put his hands on his hips. “Mind you keep away from the cracks, and watch out for more cracks, too. I’m sure they’re not safe.”
Indiana admired the way Morgan had taken charge. She was looking at him with admiration when he turned around and caught her gaze. Indiana lowered her eyes and looked at the ground.
Morgan, Indiana, and her sisters, Montana and Leah, returned to the place they had chosen to have lunch, and they all sat on the soft grass. The air was sweetly scented with blossoms. Morgan handed a plate to each person in turn.
Indiana felt almost guilty at her enjoyment. She cast a quick glance at her sisters, but they were deep in conversation, and both had their backs to Indiana and Morgan. They’re pretending to look out to sea, Indiana thought. It’s obvious to me that they’re trying to give Morgan and me some time alone, but I hope it’s not just as obvious to Morgan.
After Indiana had consumed a plate of food, she noticed that her sisters had gone.
“Where are Montana and Leah?”
“They’ve just walked over there.” Morgan gestured to the sisters who had moved further away and were still looking off to sea, their backs still firmly turned.
“I had better go and fetch them.”
Morgan stood up. “They’ll come back when they’re hungry for pastries,” he said.
Indiana stood up, too abruptly for the heat of the day, and was momentarily overcome with dizziness. She swayed, and Morgan caught her around the waist to steady her.
The sun was shining around them, and the air was heavy with sweet floral scents. Morgan still had his hands on her waist and he pulled her toward him. Their eyes met and locked. Neither could look away—they were trapped in each other’s gaze.
The sound of running caused the pair to break apart, just before Misty and Cody Mills burst into view. Indiana at once realized that Misty suspected that the two of them had kissed, judging by the expression on Misty’s face, but she didn’t care. She was too elated to have confirmation of Morgan’s feelings for her.
“The fountain’s dry!” Cody exclaimed.
Indiana at once was overcome with a feeling of utmost dread.
* * *
Morgan was on cloud nine. It seemed to him in his heightened romantic state that flowers and butterflies surrounded Indiana as he approached her. He wondered if she had fallen in love with him as certainly as he had fallen in love with her.
When he came to her upon the soft grass, he kneeled down beside her, opening the picnic basket full of culinary delights. He had tried to concentrate on the contents of the basket, but could not keep his thoughts from her milky white skin, flushed by the golden light of the grove. She seemed to him bathed in the colors of honey and milk.
He finally touched her soft face, flushed with the bright heat of the day. He delighted when he saw her love for him reflected in her eyes.
How could he resist kissing her any longer? Her lips were giving and bountiful, and looked like the richest of ripe plums. Oh, how he wished he could be married to her.
Morgan was, however, at the same time concerned by the strange tremors, and the cracks that had newly formed in the ground. What could this mean? Was some strange catastrophe about to descend and shatter his newfound happiness?
Chapter 10
After another long, arduous day, Indiana found herself sitting between her sisters in the palatial dining area of the Palace Hotel known as the Tapestry Room. The private dinner party was likely reaching its end, but Indiana would not let that stop her enjoying the fun while it continued. Although her mind was currently preoccupied with thoughts of her future and where she might be living in just a matter of weeks, the chance to put those fears aside for one more night of freedom was too much to pass up.
The conversation around the table was animated and light-hearted, even though she was only really somewhat there in her mind. “Indiana!” her mother said again, her eyes burning fiercely.
“I’m sorry,” she said, snapping out of her moment of contemplation. “I was just admiring the beauty of this room. It’s so fascinating. I love the lamps especially.” Indiana nodded at the fixtures that hung from the walls as she spoke, her smile only fading during the moments when she had consciously forgotten to maintain it.
“I do believe Mr. Walton is asking you a question,” Deborah said, grimacing as she folded her arms.
“My apologies, Mr. Walton,” Indiana said, hoping that Charles would not be offended by her moment of abstraction.
“Oh, it isn’t a bother at all, my dear. I was just asking your mother if any of you have ever traveled west,” Charles said, his smile showing no signs of ire or dismay. “I realize that you can’t get any further west than San Francisco,” he added with a chuckle, “but I mean ranch land, such as Wyoming.”
Indiana breathed a deep sigh of relief, watching her mother carefully. “Unfortunately, I cannot say that I have. Not around parts like where you’re from, at least,” she said.
Charles took a second look. “Really? Well, then that is a complete shame. San Francisco has been very lovely every time I’ve had the pleasure to do business here, but back in Wyoming is where I feel at home. Then again, I don’t deal with the gritty ranch life like my nephew does,” he said with a chuckle, earning a sharp glance from Morgan.
“Uncle, I fear you embellish a little too much sometimes,” Morgan said, glancing at Indiana with a smile that could only be meant for her. “I merely run the business and enjoy the lifestyle. The ranch hands do all the hard work.”
Charles Walton shrugged. “Perhaps, but you’ve been on some of the cattle drives and such, have you not?”
“Every rancher must learn the trade, but I do not think details of such things are of any interest to these fine ladies,” Morgan said, bowing his head as he looked over the table at each of them.
“You might be pleasantly surprised,” Deborah said, her voice loud and authoritative as it tended to be in crucial times. “All my daughters wish to travel and see the world one day. Am I not right?” Without so much as a hint of hesitation, all three women nodded in unison. “See? I am sure they would all desire to hear all about life on a ranch. Am I mistaken?”
Again, all three of girls responded simultaneously. “You are not mistaken, Mother.”
“Good,” Deborah replied, letting out a deep sigh of gratification. She then turned to Morgan and flashed a broad smile. “Please, feel free to tell us all about your ranch. I am sure the country is breathtaking! I don’t know about my daughters, but I myself am more than ready for a change of scenery. We hardly know what life is like outside of Nob Hill.”
“Well, it is certainly a change of pace compared to life out here,” Morgan said. “Take this hotel for example. Could you imagine an establishment like this back in Pioneer Town?”
“Well, we do have our share of fine
hotels and businesses,” Charles said, “but Wyoming is a calm, serene type of place to live. People come to San Francisco for the glitz and glamour, but that doesn’t mean those things don’t exist in other places just because they aren’t as well known.”
Morgan nodded. “Yes, you’re right, Uncle, but I meant that we’re accustomed to a much different way of living than here. It is a life that I would never want to pass up, but I do hope to share it one day, if I were to be so lucky.”
“I am sure you will find a beautiful lady who is well suited for you,” Deborah said, as her gaze suddenly fixed on Indiana.
Indiana glanced back at her mother but didn’t respond. What’s all that about? she thought.
“Alas, I’ve been trying to find him a suitable match for quite some time, but he always refuses to entertain the notion,” Charles said.
“Uncle!” Morgan said, “may we please return to a more appropriate topic?”
Before Charles could speak, a server approached the table, pulling his attention away from what he was trying to say. The man held a large platter of drinks atop his hand, balancing it steadily. “I hope I’m not interrupting, sir. I was waiting for you to finish before I disturbed the conversation.”
“No, thank you,” Deborah said, her gaze not nearly as friendly toward the man as Charles’s was. “We are in the midst of a private conversation.”
Indiana almost felt bad for the server, but he seemed to be well-equipped to handle the attitudes of high society. Before she knew it, he was gone, and several new glasses of sparkling liquid lined the table’s surface.
“Morgan, I believe you were about to tell us all about the ranch and your home before we were interrupted such,” her mother said crossly.
“Yes, of course, Mrs. White. For starters, the weather is a bit more temperate than it is here. During summer, the nights cool off rapidly.”
“That sounds fascinating,” Leah said. “We’re so accustomed to the heat that we get here most of the year.”
“Not all of Wyoming is like that, though,” Cody Mills said, adding his take on the topic. “We have quite a few mountain ranges and plains located throughout the state, so depending on where you visit, it could be fairly cold even during the warmest times of year. That’s partly why the population is so low, I’m sure.”
“Yes, but that’s what makes what you gentlemen do so profitable right now,” Charles said.
How interesting, Indiana thought, having never really wondered about what life might be like in another part of the country. Even though her marriage agreement to Cade Hollway was all but set in stone, she had not given any thought to how life would be on his ranch in Texas. Her focus had instead been centered on the man with whom she would have to share it.
“Getting back to how things would be on my ranch,” Morgan said, “we have lots of land, acres and acres. There’s a beautiful creek down by the house, but it’s mostly just a nice, peaceful spot where I go to think when the day’s been too long.”
“That sounds absolutely stunning,” Montana said, gasping. “Do you have a rose garden? I’ve always wanted to start my own, but Mother says playing in the dirt is for servants and peasants.”
“Actually, a rose garden is something that we don’t have. I suppose you could attribute that to my lack of a woman’s input,” Morgan said, his voice vibrating with laughter. “But there is a field of wildflowers about half a mile from the creek I was just talking about. Sometimes the cattle graze out there, creating the most beautiful setting you will ever see when the sun sets behind them,” he added.
In her mind, Indiana was painting the picture exactly as he described it. She could see the orange hues of the sun overtaking the pale blues of the evening sky. While cattle were never of course seen in Nob Hill, the gentle beasts looked like close friends of hers as they grazed in the grassy knoll of her thoughts.
“How remarkable that sounds. Please, tell me again why all the people run off to Texas instead of Wyoming,” Deborah said.
Unable to silence the words before they left her tongue, Indiana said bravely, “Mother, perhaps they were made to go to Texas. Not everyone gets a choice—at least, not in my experience.”
Deborah shot her a furious glare but said nothing. After the awkward silence settled over the room and threatened to end the dinner party, the sound of glasses tapping against each other removed the tension from the room. As she turned toward the noise, Indiana saw Charles standing with a glass raised in his hand.
“I propose a toast. We will be traveling back to Wyoming once our business here has reached its conclusion, but at least we were able to spend this delightful evening together,” he said, making sure to hold eye contact with each of his guests briefly as his gaze circled the room. “To my nephew, Morgan, and his friend, Cody. And let us not forget the lovely Mrs. Deborah White. I want to thank you and your lovely daughters personally for attending our dinner party and being such gracious guests, as always.”
“Of course, Charles,” Deborah said, rising to contribute words of her own toward the honor. “Here’s to the future, for Mr. Chase, Mr. Mills, yourself, and my daughters.”
“And let us not forget the man who couldn’t join us tonight,” Charles said, his voice breaking as he spoke. “I am sorry. This toast is in honor of all of us here, but most importantly, my late friend, your husband.”
Just then, the chiming of glasses and chatter rose up around Indiana as she fumbled for her glass so she could take part in the toast. Charles was talking about her father, and she had known where it was going from the moment he picked up his glass. She missed him too, but the mess that his passing left behind made grieving even more difficult than it already had to be.
“Again, thank you all for coming,” Charles said, as Indiana turned her attention to Morgan.
He approached her slowly, extending his hand to help her from her chair. “May I?”
“Thank you, sir,” she said, her chest heaving.
Around them, the others were also preparing to leave, finishing their beverages and saying goodbye to each other. In that moment, however, Indiana wanted to focus on nothing other than Morgan. His strong, alluring charisma was something that she just could not ignore whenever he was around.
“Permit me to escort you out,” he asked, his eyes gleaming.
“I would be delighted,” Indiana said. “Thank you kindly.”
The doors that led out to the streets of San Francisco sat just a short distance away from the courtyard. Charles and her mother led the way, most likely locked in small talk and gossip.
“So, what did you think of dinner?” Morgan asked her.
“It was lovely,” Indiana said. “I am delighted to have your company for dinner.”
“As am I,” Morgan said.
Just as she was about to reply, Indiana noticed someone standing off in the distance, far beyond where Morgan stood. Concealed behind a large pillar, she could see the curious eyes of a man, but little else. As her chest tightened and the sound of her heartbeat rang in her ears, she realized who it was.
Moments later, Cade Hollway was gone, leaving her paralyzed and unable to speak.
Chapter 11
Morgan stepped inside the Palace Hotel, finally shielding himself from the dry heat outside. As he approached the grand reception desk, he peered up at the massive clock that sat at its center. Its hands currently pointed at 10:47, reminding him that he still had a long day ahead of him.
While heading toward the hallway back to his room, Morgan noticed Mrs. Deborah White sitting at one of the circular tables, her demeanor stoic and serious. She sipped at a cup that steamed when she moved her lips away from it. Uncle Charles had not mentioned anything about her being at the hotel that day, so he wondered what her appearance might mean. “Good morning, Mrs. White,” he said with a polite smile as he approached.
“Good morning, Mr. Chase. Won’t you please join me?” Deborah asked, her voice sweet and kind despite her emotionless face.
“I would be honored,” he replied, pulling out a chair and sitting down.
Mrs. White smiled. “How are you faring?”
“Well, thank you. How are you and your lovely daughters?”
Deborah ignored his question. “There is something specific that I wish to discuss with you,” she said, her eyes never blinking or looking away from him.
Morgan was completely caught off guard by the revelation, at once wondering what she needed to talk about. It must have been rather important if she showed up at the hotel, without being announced, for the sole purpose of speaking to him about it. “Is something wrong?”
“I suppose you could say that,” she said. “I do not know how much you have heard about my family’s situation. My husband’s inheritance has gone to our nephews, and we have but little time to put our affairs in order before we must leave,” she explained. Tears formed in her eyes, but she quickly wiped away her display of emotion with one hand.
“That is a most unfortunate state of affairs,” Morgan said, wondering what the matter had to do with him. His thoughts quickly filled with images of Indiana.
“May I speak frankly, Mr. Chase?”
“Of course, Madam,” Morgan assured her. He wanted her to come to the point quickly, as curiosity had gotten the better of him.
“There is but one option open to someone in my situation. I must procure suitable husbands for my daughters, starting with the oldest, Indiana,” she said. “Actually, that is why I came here.”
Morgan was utterly confused.
“I have come to speak to you about Indiana,” she added.
“Oh,” he said, still unsure what it all had to do with him.
Mrs. White appeared embarrassed, yet determined. “I found Indiana a man to marry from Texas, but she is refusing to agree. I fear she doesn’t understand the gravity of the situation.”
Morgan was delighted that Indiana had refused to marry the man. Perhaps there was an inkling of hope for him, after all. He had only known her for a short time, but his heart leaped at the very mention of her name. Morgan glanced up at the arched ceilings that lined each of the doorways in the lobby. It made him think of stories about kingdoms far beyond the sea that were read to him as a child.
Indiana Goes West (Mail Order Brides of Pioneer Town, Book 1) Page 4