It was exactly as Darwin said, survival of the fittest. Conquer or be conquered. Kill or be killed.
He dropped his hand with the thought. How far was he willing to go? Agitated by the mess on his desk, he gathered the scattered essays from his final class and stacked them in an orderly pile. With deft movements, he set the desk to rights, the rhythm of order soothing his frayed nerves.
Murder was a bit extreme. Perhaps he was looking at this situation all wrong. She was in Utah for the summer. There was nothing he could do to stop her here in Pennsylvania. The idea turned in his mind and gained ground. Yes. That was the place to start. Another trip to Utah. To observe her and findways to prove her presence was a disgrace to the scientific community.
Perhaps there was a way to kill two birds with one stone, since things in Wyoming weren’t going as planned.
Shoving a few papers into his leather briefcase, he slipped the leather straps through the brass buckles and secured them with a tug. Smashing his hat on his head, he made his way back to his house. He had summer plans to make.
four
“Almost every day I hear of places where I want to go but cannot as I have no means of conveyance. I want to spend several months, or years perhaps, exploring the country around here.”
~Earl Douglass
SUNDAY, JUNE25, 1916•JENSEN
It had been far too long since she’d arrived in Utah, and Eliza still hadn’t made it to church. Goodness, she should be ashamed of herself. But there had been much to do, and she hadn’t asked about local congregations or a way to get to them. The past two Sundays, she’d overslept and even missed breakfast. Her host family had been long gone by the time she awoke.
Something Grandmama would give her a serious reprimand over, if she knew.
Eliza smoothed a few flyaway hairs into place and stared at herself in the mirror. Her skin glowed with a slight tan. Just one more thing Grandmama would mention. However,out here in Utah, it was nearly impossible to keep one’s complexion pale. She snatched her hat off the end of her bed and meticulously pinned it into place. It would have to do.
What she really wanted to don were her dungarees and loose work shirt so she could get out there and dig. Her fingers itched to pick up her tools and join Mr. Douglass in excavating the quarry. Catching the wayward trail of her thoughts, Eliza shook her head. No. She needed fellowship with other believers far more than anything else.
She hid her yawn with a hand and made her way down the stairs and out the front door. Mr. Adams had promised to leave her a conveyance so she could go to church rather than her riding the horse she usually took out to the quarry.
When she opened the front door, a smile curved her lips. A lovely horse and buggy awaited her.
But as soon as she left the shade of the front porch, the heat of the morning hit her in the face. Gracious, it was hot. The fan attached to her wrist would definitely get a great deal of use today.
As she climbed into the buggy and took hold of the reins, sweat ran down her back. If this was an indication of the rest of the summer here in Jensen, she might have to rethink her clothing choices for work.
While it had been important to dress well for the incoming crowds, the added weight of her fine clothing made the heat almost stifling. But Mr. Carnegie’s expectations were high. Especially since she never knew when one of their visitors would turn up and introduce themselves as friends of his. Wealthy and the cream of the crop of society. Which even though Mr. Carnegie was one hundred percent sold out for his philanthropy and expressed that he didn’t care about people’s class and social status, he still reminded her how important it was to teach the next generation to use their wealth in an upstanding and gracious manner.
So her dungarees were still neatly folded in the trunk. For now. But perhaps, a few layers of her finery could stay at home from now on.
Eliza turned on to the main road that ran alongside the Adams’s property, thankful for the slight breeze against her skin. One of the church options Mrs. Adams told her about was located on the edge of town, a mere fifteen-minute ride. She shifted the reins in her hands, grateful the horse seemed a gentle sort. Sending up a prayer of thanks for the generosity of her hosts, Eliza scanned the horizon, admiring the way the mesas stretched across the land. She’d never seen anything like the red, gray, and white rock that littered the terrain, and the vast horizons that stretched for miles. Back home, there was a lot more lush and green, a lot less dirt and rock. Rolling hills and trees shaped the country outside Pittsburgh, while here, it was rugged and wild. Though she was growing accustomed to the scenery, it still took her breath away.
“Theheavens declare the glory of God;and the firmament sheweth his handywork.”
The verse brought a smile to Eliza’s face. “Today is definitely a day when Your glory is on display, Lord.” She turned her attention back to the road.
Soon, the small white church Mrs. Adams recommended came into view. Nerves bubbled in her stomach. If only Mrs. Adams was with her, but since they had a family event several miles away, they would be gone all day.
Here she was. On Sunday morning. Venturing to church on her own.
Alone.
She’d never had to go anywhere new by herself. To make her own introductions. To try and fit in. Why, even at the quarry, she’d been expected and introduced immediately to Mr. Douglass.
It was unsettling to think about. Going someplace where she didn’t know a soul. But heavens, she was twenty-seven years old. Just because she’d always had the advantage in society to be well-known and chaperoned to all events didn’t mean she couldn’t stand on her own two feet.
There couldn’t be that many people out here anyway.
Farmers? Ranchers? Families from the little town of Jensen? How intimidating could that be?
By the time she reached the small building, her insides were in complete knots. The temptation to turn around and go back to bed was strong.
