[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (22 page)
She looked back to Duncan and smiled. “I’m very impressed.”
“So am I,” he murmured. “That’s why I asked you here tonight.”
Rainy was about to ask him what he meant when a voice from her past interrupted the moment. Chester and Bethel Driscoll stood not a foot away.
“I thought that was you, Rainy. We haven’t seen anything of you in weeks.”
“Hello,” Rainy replied, offering nothing more. She kept her focus on the candles at the center of their table.
“We couldn’t help but notice that you’d just arrived,” Chester continued. “I could scarcely believe my eyes. How marvelous that we’re all here together.”
Duncan, who had gotten to his feet, motioned to the table. “Would you care to join us?”
Rainy wanted to throw something at him for inviting them to invade her evening, but she knew it was only polite to offer. Perhaps Chester would have the good sense to realize he was unwanted and leave.
“We’d be delighted,” Chester replied, pulling out a chair for his wife. As soon as he had seated Bethel he snapped his fingers for the waiter. The man rushed to his side. “We’ll have our usual,” he told the man.
Then seating himself, Chester turned to Rainy.
“Jennetta introduced us to this wonderful place. Do you come here often?” He looked from Rainy to Duncan and back to Rainy.
Rainy toyed with her knife. “No,” she answered flatly.
Duncan quickly took up the conversation. “What brings you to Santa Fe?”
“Oh, we’re here to see Jennetta and Phillip,” Bethel oozed.
Rainy stiffened. Phillip was in town and hadn’t bothered to get in touch with her? She said nothing, but her desire to demand answers nearly overwhelmed her good manners.
Bethel leaned forward. “In fact, they were to have met us here tonight, but Phillip had friends arrive from Los Angeles, and Jennetta, after spending much time in meditation, decided to cook for them all. She does that from time to time, don’t you know.”
Rainy wanted to run from the restaurant but instead gave Bethel a forced smile. “Why, no, I didn’t know Mrs. Blythe could cook.”
Bethel laughed like Rainy’s comment was some great joke. “Oh, Jennetta is a mystery. She’s an expert at a great many things but prefers to be known for her writing.”
The food arrived along with a stilted silence. The couples ate and murmured comments about the quality of the meal, but little else was said until the empty plates were cleared away and strong coffee was poured. Chester immediately pulled a silver flask from his pocket and poured a generous amount of amber liquid into his coffee, then offered the flask to Bethel.
Bethel did likewise, then offered the flask to Rainy.
“I don’t use spirits—besides, they’re illegal,” Rainy said, fixing Bethel with a stare.
Bethel giggled. “Well, hopefully not for long.
Uncle Gunther says that given the poor economic condition of this country, they’ll have to repeal Prohibition and give folks something to live for.”
“They could live for God,” Rainy suggested.
Bethel’s amusement faded. “What fun would that be? All those stuffy rules and dour Sunday faces. I would definitely need a drink then.”
Duncan interceded before the conversation could turn ugly. “So what’s the news from Albuquerque?”
Chester stirred his coffee and shrugged. “Not much that would interest anyone. I will say this, however. I had an opportunity to ride up here with one of the railroad officials. It seems those mysterious thefts of artifacts have stopped. It’s been . . . what did he say, dear?” He looked to Bethel. “Over a month now, right?” She nodded and sipped at her coffee. Chester smiled and looked at Rainy. “About the time you went on vacation the whole thing seemed to stop.”
Rainy knew he was goading her. She knew he wanted her to feel uncomfortable. Her eyes narrowed as she met his smug expression. “Well, thank the Lord they’ve stopped. The Indians have suffered enough without someone stealing away important pieces of their heritage.”
“The timing’s strange, don’t you think?” Chester questioned.
Rainy felt her stomach churn. She raised her napkin to her lips and dabbed lightly, trying hard to think of what she should say or do.
Duncan, however, came to her rescue. “Speaking of timing, it’s getting late, Driscoll. I’m afraid I have a tour to drive tomorrow and Miss Gordon also has a tour to direct. You’ll have to excuse us.”
Rainy could have kissed Duncan for his smooth way of dealing with Chester. He didn’t need to make a scene or even acknowledge Chester’s question. He merely dismissed the man.
“But we haven’t even had time for dessert,” Bethel said, sounding like a disappointed child.
“I’m afraid Duncan is absolutely right. I need to get ready for tomorrow. Good evening,” Rainy said without meeting the expression of either Bethel or Chester. Instead, she turned to Duncan and accepted his help as she rose from her chair.
After he paid the bill, Duncan held fast to her hand, showing no sign that he desired to turn her loose. They were nearly halfway back to the Plaza before either one spoke.
“I’m sorry for the way he acted toward you,” Duncan began.
“Is it true that the thefts stopped when Sonny and I were on vacation?” Rainy asked, needing to know the truth.
“They stopped after the oil paintings were taken in Taos. There haven’t been any further reports of missing articles.”
Rainy trembled, but this time it wasn’t from Duncan’s touch—it was from the fear of the obvious connection. “So will I be arrested for the thefts?”
Duncan stopped and turned her toward him. He held on to her shoulders and gazed intently into her eyes. “You aren’t guilty of stealing those articles, so you have no reason to fear being arrested.”
“Do you really believe that?” Rainy prayed it was true—that he truly knew her to be innocent, but her fears from the past were creeping in to haunt her.
Duncan reached up and gently touched her cheek.
“I believe in you.”
R
ainy closed her eyes and leaned back into the front passenger seat of the courier car. She’d given all the regular information needed for the tour and found her dudes were barely paying attention to what she had to say. They were much too caught up with comments and concerns about the economy and the conditions of the world.
“Germany is suffering,” one man began. “I have a friend who lives there. He said that banks are failing there and in Austria. Industry is suffering, and their only hope is to find some way to stabilize the economy. It’s worse there than here.”
Another man chimed in. “I’ve heard great things about that man Hitler. I heard that he blames the bankers—most of them Jews, you know. He feels they’ve been reckless in their business dealings.
They’re all in cahoots with the Bolsheviks, as I hear it.”
“How can they be Bolsheviks and bankers at the same time?” the first man questioned.
“Don’t be foolish; it’s all a plot for world domination. Bolshevism is just a smoke screen. The Jews are using Bolshevism to hide their real intent and confuse things.”
“And what is their real intent?”
Rainy couldn’t help but wonder at this as well. She’d heard a great deal of anti-Jewish sentiment among the wealthy tourists who traveled with the Detours, though she had never understood the great disdain such people held for the Jews. She found herself turning around to view the two men. They gave her perusal no consideration whatsoever.
The heavier of the two men shrugged and bore an expression that suggested the answer was elementary in nature. “World domination through economic control, of course. Look at all the properties that are being foreclosed upon. The bankers are getting wealthy, even if they claim the banks themselves are failing.”
“So you believe this man Hitler has all the answers for Germany?”
“He seems to have a clear understanding of what the Jews are up to—not that others haven’t spoken of the same thing. In fact, I believe Hindenburg knows the truth as well, but he doesn’t have the power to do anything about it. Hitler shows strength as well as courage. That alone will allow him an edge in overcoming the problem. He seems to speak for the people of Germany.”
“We could sure use a man like that here in America. Hoover is a waste in the office of president.”
The man nodded in agreement, but his wife reached out and patted his arm. “Now, dear, must we talk politics? This is our vacation. The first we’ve taken this year.”
The man smiled at his wife and nodded. “But of course, you’re right.” He gave the other man an apologetic nod. “Forgive me if I conclude my thoughts.”
The first man nodded and turned to his own wife. “So where would you like to dine tonight?”
Rainy turned back to watch the road and ignored their chatter about places to eat in Santa Fe. She couldn’t help but wonder if the problems in the world would escalate to make matters in the U.S. even worse.
Maybe the economy would be better in Scotland. After all, farms were very self-sufficient. Her mother and father were beginning to talk with great anticipation about the move. Rainy wanted to get caught up in their excitement, but it was difficult. She still hadn’t decided what she would do.
Ever since Duncan had rescued her from Chester’s accusing comments, Rainy had felt more certain of her feelings for him. He said he believed in her. He didn’t think she’d taken the artifacts or the oils. He had touched her with such tenderness and said that he cared—and not because he was doing a job for Sonny.
Rainy touched her hand to her cheek. Her original longing to know Duncan better resurfaced with the memory of that night. Phillip Vance seemed a distant memory. Apparently Chester had been right on that account. Phillip seemed only to have toyed with her affections. She knew from the Driscolls that Phillip had been in town for over a week now, and still he had done nothing to get in touch with her.
Sonny maneuvered the car into a spot directly in front of La Fonda. Rainy watched him help the passengers from the car, even as she gathered her things. She needed to talk to Sonny and clear the air between them, but she didn’t know what to say. Her own confusion over the problems with the Indian thefts had caused her to take out her anger on him. He was entitled to his own life and she had made such an ugly scene about it.
“Can we talk when you get back from the garage?”
Sonny seemed genuinely surprised at her question. “Why, sure. You mean at the boardinghouse?”
Rainy nodded. “I’ll take our things and walk on over now. I’ll wait for you there.”
She walked the short distance from La Fonda to Mrs. Rivera’s, all the while thinking of how silly she’d been to put Sonny at arm’s length.
I’m trying to protect
myself,
she reasoned.
I’m trying to keep the world at a safe
distance so that I won’t get hurt. But instead, I’m hurt all
that much more
.
Stepping up onto the porch of the boardinghouse, Rainy nearly fell off backward when Maryann came bursting out the front door.
“I’ve been positively dying for you to come home.
You have to come see what arrived for you!” she declared, pulling Rainy toward the lobby. “You won’t believe your eyes!”
Rainy walked into the welcoming cool of the house and found an enormous bouquet of red roses waiting for her on one of the front receiving tables.
“Look! Didn’t I tell you?” the girl at her side commented. “We tried counting them and lost track after the first three dozen.”
Rainy shook her head. “They’re for me?”
“Yes, look at the card.” The girl pulled Rainy to the table and pulled a card from the bouquet.
Rainy took hold of the card and read:
Rainy, I know I’ve been unforgivably delayed in corresponding,
but please know you’ve never been far from my
thoughts. Please have dinner with me at La Fonda tonight
at 7:30. We have much to discuss about the future. I’m
more certain than ever. Phillip
She folded the card and pushed it into the pocket of her skirt. “Well, I must say, he certainly knows how to get a girl’s attention.”
“I’ll get one of the drivers to carry these up to your room,” Maryann said with giddy delight. “They weigh a ton, and you wouldn’t want to risk falling and breaking this lovely vase.”
Rainy noted the exotic vase. Patterned in blues and purples, the Indian-styled piece had an opening of at least twelve inches to accommodate the massive bouquet.
Maryann sighed and leaned into Rainy. “He sure must be in love with you.”
Rainy thought of the girl’s words and frowned.
Phillip Vance was a mystery to be sure, but Rainy seriously doubted that real love was a part of the situation.
Still, the flowers were beautiful and definitely caught her attention. She would join him for dinner and then maybe she’d have the chance to hear him explain his feelings.
“What if he proposes?” Maryann said, dancing around Rainy as a couple of the other couriers joined them.
“Is Rainy getting married?” one of them asked, nearly squealing the question.
“Oh, how exciting! Who are you marrying?”