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His father studied him. “The Garcia lawyer is leaving tomorrow. I think it would be good to send you out of town. After you speak with the sheriff, of course. There’s going to be plenty of talk, and without you here causing trouble, it will die down faster.”
“Then, if you might allow me, I’d like to accompany him. I’m sure Isabella will need me by her side. A trip there will allow me to ask for her hand in person and to help Mr. Garcia with anything he might need done at this end.”
“There is nothing much to be done. Their personal items will be packed and shipped. The livestock have already been arranged for, as have the grounds.”
“Yes, she told me the estate was sold last year. Do you know who bought it?”
“I did.” His father’s tone was matter-of-fact. “If you spent any time with me and your brother, helping to run this place, you might have known that for yourself.”
“Isabella doesn’t know about it.”
“I’ve no doubt that’s true. Josephina didn’t want her to know. She figured her brother should tell Isabella when she returned to Silver Veil.”
“I see.” But Diego didn’t see at all. Why all the secrecy? Why hadn’t he realized what was happening right under his nose? “Do we know yet when the funeral will be?”
“Señorita Garcia long ago made her wishes known withher lawyer. The mortuary drove out this afternoon and took her body to town. The funeral is the day after tomorrow.”
“But the lawyer is leaving tomorrow. That makes it very difficult. I know Isabella will need me, but I know too that she’d want me to be at the funeral.” Diego shook his head and gave a heavy sigh. “But my place is at her side.”
To Diego’s surprise, his father hadn’t given him a hard time about leaving. He hadn’t attempted to put him from the house or even to refuse the money Diego needed for travel. He was totally convinced that sending Diego away would help the entire situation, and that served Diego’s plans perfectly.
The sheriff’s brief questioning had been nothing to fret over. Diego told him exactly what had transpired that day, right up to the moment Señorita Garcia walked him to the door. Diego assured the sheriff that he had left her with a smile and a wave from the back of his horse. She had been perfectly fine. The sheriff made notes, then got up and left, seeming less than convinced, but there was nothing he could do. Diego was the son of a man who held great power in the valley, and he had absolutely no reason to harm Isabella’s aunt. He confided to the sheriff that they were soon to be family, and Josephina Garcia had been instrumental in seeing that come about. He loved her as dearly as if she were part of his own family.
No need to share that he hated his family.
The train trip to Silver Veil was a disappointment, to be sure. They weren’t even in first class, and Diego found that appalling. There were people packed all around him and the shabby lawyer.
Mr. Charles Williams sat opposite Daniel with a book in his hand. He was a man of fifty or so, with graying blond hair parted down the middle and slicked back on the sides. He had a thick bushy mustache, as many men of the day sported, and wore small gold spectacles that made him seem scholarly. He was a man of few words and had spent most of the time on their trip reading.
When night fell and Diego asked about their sleeping arrangements, it became clear that Williams had been completely remiss in their travel needs when he arranged passage to include tickets for Diego. They were to go directly from California to Albuquerque without stopping for the night or even having the benefit of a Pullman car. When Diego appealed to the porter, he was told there were no sleeping berths available. Diego had voiced his dismay more than once, but the lawyer seemed unconcerned. Perhaps Father had told him to ignore Diego, that he was of no importance. Diego seethed.
The final night on the train, however, Williams delivered good news. Tonight they would arrive in Albuquerque and stay in a hotel, the Harvey House hotel called the Alvarado. The one-hundred-room hotel was said to be one of the finest of Fred Harvey’s establishments, and Diego was quite happy with the arrangement, even if it did mean extra cost. He wanted to be completely refreshed and looking good when they arrived in Silver Veil the next day.
It was imperative that he impress Daniel Garcia. The more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that he and Isabella should marry as soon as possible. After all, once she heard about the sale of her home in California, she would be devastated and hate her father more than ever. Diego figured once they were married, with any luck, he could convince his father to allow them to live at the Garcia house. He couldoffer to work for his father from that location, and it would win Isabella’s absolute devotion. He smiled to himself and caught his reflection in the train window. All he had to do was convince Daniel Garcia that he was worthy of marriage to his daughter.
The telegram had arrived the night before, leaving Daniel and his wife bereft. Daniel Garcia had always presumed he’d die before his sister, and yet here he was, reading of her death.
Charles Williams, the family lawyer, said only that she had died and that he would arrive on the Thursday train with more information and a copy of Josephina’s will.
Daniel picked up a framed photograph of his sister and shook his head. How could she be dead? She was healthy and well-off. She’d said nothing about sickness or other complications. He sighed. They’d always been so close, and to imagine her dead was nearly impossible.
A quick glance at the clock confirmed that Daniel should head to the depot. The train would soon arrive from Albuquerque. He and Mr. Williams would go over the terms of his sister’s will, even though Daniel was sure he already knew what she had to say. She had told him on more than one occasion that she would leave half of her holdings to Daniel and half to Isabella. If Daniel preceded her in death, it would all go to her niece. Her jewelry and other personal items would go to Isabella immediately, while the money would be held in trust until she married or turned thirty, whichever came first. He wondered if she’d ever discussed it with Isabella.
Daniel walked to the window, and a coughing jag took hold of him. When he withdrew his handkerchief from his mouth, he wasn’t at all surprised to find it speckled withblood. Well,speckledwasn’t exactly accurate. The bleeding was increasing, and so too was the feeling of weakness and being unable to draw a decent breath. The doctors were now suggesting it was a cancer rather than tuberculosis. The dry air of New Mexico had helped buy him time, so perhaps in the beginning it had been neither one. The doctors had no idea. They argued among themselves, and by the time they settled on cancer, it was clear the disease was terminal.
From his window, Daniel could look down on the city of Silver Veil. It was his greatest contribution to the world besides Isabella. When he’d first become sick, it had made his own mortality a reality. He had given much thought to his life and what he had and hadn’t accomplished. His biggest desire was to do something good—to invest in the lives of others and give them the opportunity for real change. Silver Veil and his success with the mine had given him that chance. Of course, when silver had been devalued, it had been hard on everyone, but they’d made it through, and their little town found other ways to be productive. With Aaron Bailey’s help, Daniel had invested in the railroad and used his profits to create new opportunities for the townspeople to make money. There were now a group of jewelry makers who worked with turquoise and silver, several artisans who wove the most beautiful rugs, and a guild of silversmiths who created elegant silverware and tea services.
He frowned. Who would take care of the people after he was gone?
Aaron was the one he felt most inclined to choose, but the young man seemed wholly devoted to the railroad. Daniel knew Aaron was a good man, a trustworthy and godly man, but Aaron showed little interest in changing his position.
Daniel couldn’t help but fear what the end might bring. Most of the people in Silver Veil were unschooled and illiterate.He feared all were susceptible to being cheated. More than once, card sharps had shown up and taken advantage of his people. For that was how he saw them: they were his people, his family. He was like a patriarch to them all.
The clock on the mantel chimed the hour. He had wasted too much time. Making his way to the foyer, he found Helena just coming down the stairs. She was beautiful, as always. Her eyes seemed to light up at the sight of him, and a smile edged her lips. How she had filled his life with joy.
“Are you ready, my love?”
“I am. I hope this won’t be too hard on you.” She reached the bottom step and paused for a moment to study him. Finally, she stepped down and came to his side. “You aren’t feeling well today. I can see it in your eyes.”
