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“I suppose so. Your father asked it of me, and I did give him my word.”
“Why?”
“Why what? Why did your father ask it of me? Or why did I give him my word?”
“I suppose I know why he asked it. Why did you feel the need to comply?”
Aaron pulled up a chair opposite her. “I respect him greatly. He’s become a mentor to me and has taught me a great deal. Especially spiritually.”
She nodded. “Father has always put great stock in his faith and the Bible.”
“And what about you?” He braced himself for what he figured would be a rant that he had no right to question her about such things. Instead, she surprised him.
“My parents were always religious, so I grew up attendingchurch and learning all of the rules and ways of the faith. I know countless prayers and Scriptures.” She gazed out the window. “I even believe Jesus died for my sins. What I don’t believe is that God really cares about anything I have to say. My prayers have always gone unanswered.”
“Why would God give his people a Savior but then refuse to listen to their prayers?”
She considered the question for a moment. “I don’t know for certain, but being God of the universe, why should He care what I want or need?”
“As our Father, whywouldn’tHe care? Earthly fathers care about the needs of their children.”
“Mine didn’t,” she said, meeting his gaze. She held up her hand to silence him. “I know you think the world of my father, Mr. Bailey. I understand you have affection for him—that he has been good to you. I suppose I should be happy for you, but instead I find it only compounds my own heartache. Then I remind myself that you didn’t have to grow up with him denying you the only thing that ever mattered.” She looked back out to the desert.
She sounded so sad that Aaron had little desire to berate her. He felt instead a strange desire to offer her comfort. He folded his hands and followed her gaze.
“My folks were also strong in their faith, but they were silent about it,” he said. “They weren’t the type to share their thoughts.”
“Pity you aren’t more like them,” she said under her breath. Before Aaron could respond, she continued. “Why did my father really feel the need to send you to fetch me home? Did he fear I wouldn’t come? Was he determined to make me feel like a child—to force his authority upon me?”
“I believe he wanted to make sure you weren’t accosted. Women traveling alone, especially beautiful women, areoften singled out for nefarious purposes. He told me he didn’t want you to be alone in case there was trouble.” Aaron shook his head. “I’m sure he doesn’t know about the gun you carry.”
She arched her right brow. “You sound rather upset with me. I asked a simple question.”
“No, you and I both know there was far more implied.”
Her dark eyes narrowed. “If there is so much danger, then why is he subjecting me to it at all? It seems he cannot care that much about me if he puts me in harm’s way.”
Aaron could see that convincing Isabella of her father’s love was going to be impossible. He leaned back and crossed his arms. “I suppose he could have seen this as a way to get rid of you, but it seems much too questionable. Failure would be too easy, and there’s no assurance that you would be eliminated. Furthermore, if he wished for you to be attacked and removed from his life, he most assuredly wouldn’t have sent me to accompany you.”
She looked momentarily surprised by his sharpness but quickly hid her feelings. “You’re the one who said he cared so much. I’m simply pointing out the flaws in your logic.”
“Yes, you seem quite good at pointing out everyone else’s flaws. Everyone’s but your own.”
A knock sounded at the door, and the porter popped his head into the car. “We’re coming into the station, and you might want to stretch a bit. We’ll be here twenty minutes.”
Isabella nodded. “I’d like that very much.” She rose and headed toward Lupe’s room. “Lupe, bring my parasol.”
Aaron got to his feet and thanked the porter. Already the train was slowing and giving blasts of the whistle to announce its arrival. Isabella disappeared into her bedroom and returned wearing a coat and hat. She pulled on her gloves and cast a quick glance outside.
Lupe brought the parasol from her bedroom. Apparently there wasn’t room to store all of Isabella’s goods in one room. The maid crossed the room, extending the parasol to Isabella as the train came to a complete stop. The action nearly knocked the two women to the floor. Lupe reached out for Isabella to keep her from falling.
Once they were both stable, Lupe giggled. “I’m as bad as my uncle after a night of drinking. My feet know where they want to go, but the floor is unwilling to cooperate.”
“No one asked for your opinion, Lupe.” Isabella snatched the lacy parasol from her maid’s hands.
Aaron smiled. “It will be good to be on solid ground, eh?”
“You needn’t come with us.” Isabella fixed him with a look that might have made a lesser man run for the door.
