Eliza giggled and dabbed her lips with her napkin. “They are large, aren’t they, Mabel?” She shrugged. “But I love hats. My dearest friend in all the world back home often tells me that my hats are monstrosities. But he doesn’t understand how much women love their hats.”
“Is that your beau back home?” Mrs. Adams raised her coffee cup to her lips.
“No.” Eliza lifted her fork and knife once again. “His father was my private tutor, so we grew up together. He loved English. I loved science. We both hated math.”
The two middle Adams daughters laughed along with her.
There. That was just what she’d hoped for. To see them relax in front of her. Eliza’d had enough stiff and stuffy meals to last a lifetime. “I take it you two don’t like math either?”
The taller—Adelaide ... or was it Eleanor?—scrunched up her nose as she shook her head. “Mama often has me help her with the sums for her shop. I don’t like it at all. But I do like your hats.”
The younger of the two bobbed her head up and down so much that her ribbons flapped. “They’re not monsters ... monstrosery—”
“Monstrosities.” Louise helped her younger sibling.
“Monstro ... sities.” The girl held her chin up after saying it all by herself. “When I grow up, I want to wear one just like your green one.”
Mrs. Adams looked ready to interject at any moment, so Eliza leaned toward the little girl and grinned. “It’s my favorite too.”
The older woman sent her a soft smile and then turned to her daughters. “Girls, it’s time to take care of the dishes.”
“Yes, Mama,” they chimed in unison.
The four young ladies from age eighteen down to six stood and began to clear the table.
“You are very kind to indulge them.” Mrs. Adams’s voice was low as she laid her napkin to rest on the table.
Eliza wasn’t ignorant to the fact this family had opened up their home to a friend of Mr. Andrew Carnegie himself and that it probably brought a great weight on their minds. “I don’t see it as indulgence at all.” She blew out a slow breath and looked from Mr. Adams—who hadn’t said a word the entire meal—back to his wife. “You have been wonderful, gracious, and so very kind to host me for the summer. But rest assured, my expectations aren’t ridiculous. For me, it is a blessing to simply have the opportunity to spend time with such a loving family. I’d love to be looked at as another member of the family. Nothing more. No special treatment.”
The clock chimed and it was the perfect reason to exit. Mrs. Adams seemed to be speechless while Mr. Adams’s mouth hung open. It all became clear. Grandmama had a hand in this. No doubt sending pages of instructions and requirements for her granddaughter’s accommodations.
No wonder the family had done everything to the point of perfection since her arrival. “I best be off to the quarry. Thank you so much for another lovely meal.” She hurried from the table, gathered her things, and strode out to her waiting horse. Every day, it had been saddled and waiting for her at the hitching post.
She’d have to come up with something clever and creative to thank this sweet family. Over time as she got to know them, surely she would learn their personalities and tastes. By the time her summer was over, the Adamses would be her second family.
The ride to the quarry was uneventful, and she made her way to the tent that had become her office of sorts. A place to get out of the intense sun and spread out maps and papers without the wind whisking them to Colorado.
It would be magnificent if Earl would invite her to be a partof the dig. Only time would tell if that would happen. He was a man who had high expectations. Everyone had to give their very best. Truth and honesty were of utmost importance to him.
She winced. What would he think if he found out that she’d written all those papers under a man’s name? To Earl, that would be a lie. She couldn’t bear the thought of disappointing a man she respected so deeply. Grandfather’s frustration with her chosen profession, though he’d finally relented, was still palpable.
Eliza gnawed at her lip, her chest tightening. No. It was best if none of it came to light.
She’d simply have to work extra hard and do her very best. Whatever she could do to help him do this work and see his dream for this area come alive, she’d do it.
“Miss Mills?” A wife of one of the other workers peeked into the tent.
“Good morning. Mrs. Hawkins, is it?” One thing she prided herself on was remembering the spouses of the workers. “What can I do for you?”
“I just came to chat. I heard Earl telling my Jim about your work for Carnegie back in Pittsburgh. It’s fascinating that you do this work too.” She stepped toward Eliza and bit her lip.
Eliza caught that inquisitive glint in the woman’s eyes. A thrill shot through her. She recognized that look. “Does paleontology interest you as well?”
The woman nodded. Then strode forward and held out her hand. “Please call me Deborah.”
“Eliza.” She shook the woman’s hand and then perched on the edge of the makeshift table. “I love that you are excited about this science too. May I ask what brought on your interest?”
The younger woman’s eyes sparkled. “Back in 1908, I was fifteen. I remember Mr. Meyer coming to town all excitedbecause he and one of his hands found a bone that couldn’t belong to any living creature we know of today. It was fossilized in the rock, he said, but clear as day. For some reason, I wanted to go find it and dig it up myself. I had this little thrill inside just thinking about it. The community buzzed about it for a while, but then, you know, the tragedy that happened to their family overshadowed his excitement and most people forgot about it, I guess.” She shrugged. “But then the next year, Earl found this. That same insatiable desire inside me sprang to life. But by then, my parents wouldn’t allow me to do anything of the sort. Told me my duty was to get married first.”
