When the last of the railroad workers left the dining room, Esmeralda called once again for Rachel.
“What are those girls doing?” she questioned.
Rachel turned to see Gwen and two of the other girls stripping the tablecloths from the tables. “They’re taking away the soiled cloths and will wipe down the tables and put on new ones.”
“Seems wasteful,” Esmeralda declared.
Rachel smiled. “Mr. Harvey says that each guest is to arrive to a freshly set table. The Irish linen tablecloths are to be in pristine order.”
“I should speak to this Mr. Harvey about his waste. I have seen the portions of food served by this organization, and it is clearly in excess. Why, one of the steaks took up an entire plate! The man can’t make a profit that way.”
“I don’t believe Mr. Harvey is overly worried about making a profit, Mrs. Needlemeier.”
“Ivy! Ivy, come here at once,” Esmeralda called out upon seeing her niece. She didn’t seem to care about the disruption, nor did she apparently worry about leaving off with her previous conversation.
Ivy approached and kissed her aunt on the cheek. “Why, Aunt Esmeralda, what a surprise!”
Rachel watched their reaction to each other before deciding to slip away and see to the remaining work. Esmeralda, however, would have nothing to do with that.
“I have not finished speaking with you, Miss Taylor,” she stated firmly.
“I apologize,” Rachel replied. “It’s just that I do have responsibilities here and it affords me little time to stand about in discussion.” She wanted to make it clear to the old woman that she might have bullied the Santa Fe Railroad into submission, but she wouldn’t find it quite so easy to control Rachel Taylor.
“I want to speak to you about my niece. I find it abominable that she should live here in such small quarters. In my home, she has a suite of rooms at her disposal and would no doubt be far more comfortable there.”
“No doubt,” Rachel countered. “However, I find it is good for the spirit of the group if they live and work together. There are areas along the Santa Fe where some girls live at home while working for Mr. Harvey, but because Ivy is the only one who comes from this area, I thought it might make her feel isolated to suggest such an arrangement. Together, they come to better understand what it is to be a family, and Fred Harvey wants them to act like sisters.”
“Poppycock!” the woman replied, tapping her cane on the floor. “My niece is not a farmhand, nor is she a soldier. There seems little to be gained by forcing her to bed herself down as one.”
Rachel saw Ivy smile smugly at this declaration. She wondered if the girl had put her aunt up to the task of insisting Ivy be allowed to move back to the Needlemeier mansion. On the other hand, Rachel thought, it just might solve a great many problems. If Ivy were housed elsewhere and merely availed herself for work as her schedule demanded, perhaps she would have less influence over the others.
“Mrs. Needlemeier, I completely agree with your thoughts that the girls are neither farmhands nor soldiers. They are quality workers for Mr. Harvey’s dining rooms, and they are expertly trained to act in accordance with his wishes.” She smiled at Ivy, feeling the girl’s disdain radiate from her dark blue eyes.
“But I see no harm in allowing Ivy to move back home. She would, of course, have to maintain her duties and adhere to the schedule in the strictest manner, but I see no other problem. After all, your estate adjoins the resort gardens, and it is merely a short walk across the footbridge. I see no reason to force Ivy to remain here.” Rachel turned her attention completely to Ivy and added, “If that is what she wants.”
“No doubt,” Ivy whispered none too quietly, “I would be made to suffer for a decision such as that. Perhaps Miss Taylor says it would meet with her approval, but I seriously doubt it does.”
Rachel clenched her teeth and refused to be goaded by the younger girl. Ivy maintained a pose of angelic indifference, while Esmeralda considered her words.
“I would not have you treat my niece with hostility.”
“I wouldn’t dream of it,” Rachel countered. “And I would seriously reprimand any girl who would try. As I told my girls when they first arrived, Ivy is not to be treated any differently, neither because of her inexperience with the Harvey system nor because she is your niece. Partiality would only lead to conflict.”
Esmeralda seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. “Yes. Yes, you are correct. Ivy, I believe it would cause a threat of conflict between you and the other workers. However, you may always resign your position. You don’t have to work here, and you know it better than anyone.”
Ivy frowned, seeming to sense that the tables were starting to turn against her. Rachel smiled pleasantly and leaned closer to Esmeralda. “I’ll leave the decision to you and Ivy. After all, we want our girls happy. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I must see to my work.”
Rachel took herself away from the ordeal, a smile still playing on her lips as she walked into the solid form of Jeffery O’Donnell.
“Jeffery!” she exclaimed, then glanced around her. “I mean, Mr. O’Donnell. Please excuse me, I wasn’t paying attention.”
Jeffery laughed. “It’s quite all right, Miss Taylor.” He emphasized her title and gave her a wink. They had been on very informal terms in Topeka, and would be again in moments of privacy, but for now they carried the formalities for the sake of the organization.
Rachel smiled. “How is your wife?”
“Bearing up as well as she can. These first few months are said to be the most trying.”
Rachel nodded, a twinge of jealousy coursing through her heart. Simone O’Donnell had become a dear friend during her training in Topeka as a Harvey Girl. Her marriage to Jeffery and their move to Morita had seemed to coincide nicely with Rachel’s promotion to house manager for the resort’s restaurant. She had even intended for Simone to be her head waitress. That is, until Simone had become pregnant shortly after their wedding. Jeffery wouldn’t hear of her working in her condition.
“So what brings you here today?” Rachel questioned.
“I have brought the new hotel manager. You two will work closely together to control every aspect of this resort, so I want you to get to know the man well. You should both have a clear understanding of each other’s jobs and responsibilities.”
“I see,” Rachel replied, looking behind Jeffery but seeing no one.
“And where is he?”
“He’ll be right along,” Jeffery replied, turning to look outside the dining room doors. “Looks like he’s been stopped by Mr. Smith, one of the top men from the Santa Fe offices in Topeka. He happens to be here to see to some of the details of the grand opening. He had several things to share with our new hotel manager. Ah, here he comes now.”
Rachel couldn’t yet see the man, but she immediately smoothed down the lines of her black serge skirt. No sense in making a bad impression, she thought. She looked down to make certain she had no food stains upon her clothes and, feeling confident of her appearance, raised her gaze to meet that of the new hotel manager.
“Braeden.” She whispered the name almost reverently, but the shock sent a ripple through her body that nearly knocked her backward. Their eyes met, and Rachel found it impossible to draw breath.
“Do you know Mr. Parker?” Jeffery questioned, turning back in surprise.
Her heart felt as though it had come to a complete stop. For all of her pretenses that the past held no power over her, seeing Braeden Parker standing before her now quickly dispelled that hope.
“I … I …” She could only stammer. There were no words.
She lost herself in his gaze. He appeared unaffected. Calm, selfassured, not at all surprised by her appearance. His tanned face was more handsome than she’d allowed herself to remember, and when he smiled in greeting, his thick blond moustache moved ever so slightly at the corners.
“Miss Taylor, it’s so nice to see you again.”
&nbs
p; FOUR
RACHEL FELT IMMEDIATELY PUT OFF by the smug expression on Braeden’s face. She tensed and looked at Jeffery, as if expecting some form of explanation.
“I had no idea you two knew each other,” Jeffery said, grinning from ear to ear.
Braeden chuckled, breaking the spell for Rachel. Emotions and longings from the past blended with fears and worries. Why was he here? What could it mean?
“Well, I imagine this will make things much simpler,” Jeffery added.
“Don’t count on it,” Rachel muttered, crossing her arms against her breasts. Her reaction caused everyone in the room to immediately take note. Seeing Braeden here, his countenance suggesting that he knew he’d find her here, as well, caused a spark of anger to ignite within her. She clung to it in hope of ignoring the longing stirred deep within her.
“No,” Braeden said matter-of-factly. “As I recall, nothing with Miss Taylor is ever simple.”
“Perhaps that was due to the company I kept,” Rachel countered. Her anger gave her strength. She refused to back down, even as the Harvey Girls gathered a little closer. “Mr. Parker has proved difficult to work with in the past. I’m uncertain as to why you would bring him on for something as important as Casa Grande.”
Jeffery’s confusion was evident in his expression. “Mr. Parker came with the highest of references. His reputation in Chicago precedes him.”
“That’s putting it mildly,” Rachel said sarcastically. “Though I’m certain there are plenty from that wonderful city to vouch for his, shall we say, many talents. It seems to me that people were always willing to share news of Mr. Parker.”
Braeden, too, stood his ground. “Yes, indeed, Miss Taylor. And it seemed not to matter much whether those opinions were stated out of fact or fiction.”
Rachel smiled a tight, fixed smile. “Ultimately we are judged by the fruit which we bear,” she stated.
By this time even Esmeralda had gotten to her feet to edge her way closer to the trio. Rachel glanced up to see all gazes turned toward them. Jeffery apparently saw this, too, for he reached out and took hold of Rachel’s elbow.
“I would like for us to adjourn to your office, Miss Taylor. There is much to be discussed regarding the resort and the grand opening.”
Rachel nodded. “That would be perfectly acceptable, Mr. O’Donnell. Allow me to meet you both there. I need to see to my girls and make certain they know their duties.”
Jeffery dropped his hold. “Very well. Mr. Parker and I will meet you in your office.”
Rachel refused to look at the men as they departed. Instead, she went immediately to Gwen. “You shall be in charge, Miss Carson. I will expect each station to be spotless when I return.”
Gwen nodded and her gaze seemed to express sympathy. Perhaps she had some instinctive idea what Rachel was about to face.
“Ladies, I will expect you to give Miss Carson your utmost respect and attention. I will be inspecting your stations upon the conclusion of my meeting.”
With that, she left them to talk amongst themselves about what they’d just witnessed. She hated being the subject of gossip and speculation. Hadn’t she suffered enough from the suppositions of others?
She thought to follow Jeffery and Braeden’s path by exiting the dining room into the lobby, then changed her mind. Her office actually contained three doors. One entrance from the lobby, one exiting door into her private living quarters, and one door that entered in from the dormitory hall. It was the latter that she chose to make her entrance. It afforded her a few more moments of calming distance. Plus, she reasoned that Jeffery and Braeden would be expecting her to appear from the lobby entrance. She smiled, thinking that this arrangement would allow her the upper hand. She would keep Braeden off-center by taking unexpected actions, and in doing so, she would safeguard herself against his plans—whatever they might be.
She hurried through the kitchen, ignoring Reginald Worthington as she passed. He appeared somewhat concerned, as if someone might have explained the scene to him, but she refused to stop and tell him of her situation. Reginald was just one more Harvey employee as far as she was concerned. They’d certainly not had enough time to become the kind of friends who shared confidences.
She entered the parlor and closed the door behind her, leaning against it heavily for a moment. Seeing Braeden had robbed her of all strength.
Dear Lord, she prayed, why in the world has he come back into my life? She looked to the ceiling, as if expecting God to be there smiling down. For as long as she could remember, she’d looked upward in anticipation of some visible sign of God. And for just as long, she’d not received anything to bless her sight … but much to bless her heart.
“Weren’t things difficult enough here?” she questioned aloud. “I don’t know how to deal with this. The man is to be my partner here at the hotel. How in the world am I suppose to manage this?”
She tried to regulate her breathing before pushing on toward the hallway. She stared down the long, well-lit corridor at her closed office door. The glow from electric lights, a real novelty in rural New Mexico and a feature that was bound to attract eastern visitors for the sense of convenience, reflected on the polished wood floors. They seemed to beckon Rachel forward. He was there. Just beyond that closed door sat the object of her longing and affection. Her heart ached at the thought.
“I can do this,” she told herself. “It’s been six years, and everything is settled between us. I can simply deal with this as a business arrangement.” But in her heart she understood the irony of her statement. Who was she trying to fool? If she couldn’t be honest with herself, then she might as well pack up her things and leave now.
She still loved him. That had never changed.
The tightness in her chest seemed to increase. How could she look into his eyes again and not tell him everything? How could she sit there calmly discussing Casa Grande affairs and not beg him to understand that she had never stopped caring for him—that every day her thoughts somehow always found their way back to him?
She reached out for the handle of her office door and bit her lip. Six years. It should have been enough time to prepare her for this moment. But somehow it had failed miserably, and Rachel knew that if it had been twenty years instead of six, she’d still feel the same way.
She opened the door without any announcement or regard for where Jeffery and Braeden had positioned themselves. She refused to even look at the men until she had taken a seat at her desk.
“Gentlemen,” she said, finally glancing up to where they had risen to their feet. “Shall we continue?”
Jeffery nodded and closed the lobby door, while Braeden took his seat. He looked at her as though he wished he could say something.
Rachel thought it might be her imagination, but she would have sworn his expression was almost apologetic. The look softened her resolve.
“I’m sorry, Mr. O’Donnell,” she began, deciding that directing her apology to Jeffery would be easier than dealing with Braeden. “Your actions took me by surprise. I realize that’s no excuse, however—” “Rachel,” Jeffery said rather sternly, “would you please explain what’s going on here? Apparently you both know each other well enough to share a feeling of animosity, and I would very much like to know what it’s all about. Mr. Parker refuses to speak on the matter, suggesting that I consult you.”
Rachel bowed her head. “It isn’t important, Jeffery. I assure you it won’t affect the affairs of Casa Grande. It simply startled me.” She looked back up, giving Jeffery a pleading glance. At least she hoped her expression appeared pleading, for she sincerely wanted him to drop this subject.
To her absolute horror, Braeden seemed to take up a protective response. “Miss Taylor was once a dear friend. We were unable to keep up correspondence with one another and had no idea where the other had taken themselves off to. I do apologize for my part in this.”
Jeffery studied them both for a moment, as if trying to decide whether to pursue the matte
r or leave it be. He ran a hand back through his brown hair, pursed his lips together for a moment, then nodded. “Very well.” He took his seat and waited for a moment before continuing. “Since you two know each other, I suppose we can do away with the formalities of detailed introductions. Mr. Parker came to us highly recommended by another railroad company in Chicago, and with his accounting background, I believe he will be the perfect man to run the hotel portion of this resort.”
Rachel nodded, forcing herself to listen and say nothing. She felt almost sick to her stomach and wondered if she’d end up making a scene before it was all said and done. She glanced quickly at the door to her living quarters, grateful that she’d remembered to close it this morning before heading out to oversee the dining room progress.
“Casa Grande, as you know, is only one of two resorts of this type. The other, located near Las Vegas, has been hindered by many problems, including the fact that the place has burned down twice. Some folks believe it to be cursed, but of course we don’t hold with that theory. Financially speaking, we believe it to be simply based on logical conclusions. Namely, there is very little to entice a person to stay more than one night in Las Vegas, unless they are there to take advantage of the curative waters and hospital facilities available. So while the place does quite well for itself at times, we hoped for better.
“Casa Grande, however, is positioned closer to Santa Fe and Albuquerque. Also, the scenery is more enchanting with the mountains in the background, and our own hot springs and baths offer the same advantage and curative features.”
“I understand that nearly every type of diversion is offered here for the entertainment of our guests,” Braeden interjected.
Rachel heard the rich timbre of his voice and immediately felt light-headed. This is ridiculous, she told herself. I’m not a schoolgirl, all swooney and silly. But it did little good to argue with her heart.
“Casa Grande will offer it all. Later, during our tour of the grounds, you will see for yourself,” Jeffery replied. “But for now, let me tell you some of what you can expect. We have a theatre room with seating for two hundred. This will be available for concerts, operas, plays, or even lectures. There is a ballroom more grand and glorious than any New York has ever seen. The chandeliers were shipped from Tiffany’s, and the decor will enchant even the most hardened heart.”
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