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Chapter Seventeen
After the newlyweds rejoined the world, Mr.Nogales and his men began building the house. He told them it was too early to estimate when they’d be able to move in due to all the work needed to level the site and set the foundation, but the Randolphs didn’t care that there was no date. They were happy enough knowing the work had begun. Mr.Nogales’s sister, Angelica, owned a brick making operation in Flagstaff and she hired Portia to do her books, too. Carmichael Bookkeeping now had three clients. Mr.Nogales, his sister, and the Fontaine Hotel. Portia was delighted.
“I’ve decided to name the ranch the Duchess Randolph in your honor,” Kent said one morning, walking into her office at the hotel.
“You’re pulling my leg.”
“No and here’s proof.” He showed her a piece of paper that had drawn on it a stylized D over an upside down R. “It’ll be the brand for our cattle. I’ll get it registered the next time I go into Tucson.”
Portia was touched by the tribute. “Can I reward you with kisses?”
“Only if I can get more than kisses later.”
“You have a deal.”
They were in the middle of the kiss when Regan’s voice interrupted them. “Lord. You two are as bad as Uncle Rhine and Aunt Eddy.”
Kent turned Portia loose and headed to the door where Regan stood. He gave his sister-in-law a peck on the cheek. “We love you, too.”
And he left to ride out to the ranch.
Smiling at her husband’s exit, Portia asked, “What can I do for you, Regan?”
“I’m ready to talk to Aunt Eddy and Uncle Rhine. Can you come with me?”
Regan nodded tightly.
To their credit, their aunt and uncle took the news rather calmly, Portia thought, but it didn’t mean they liked it. As Portia had done on her wedding day, they pointed out all the things that could go wrong.
“How do you know this man isn’t lying to you?” Rhine asked.
“I don’t.”
Eddy sighed. “Regan, I love you dearly and you are old enough to make your own decisions but are you sure you want to travel all that way for what might turn out to be fool’s gold?”
“If it is, I promise to come home.”
Rhine said, “I’d feel better about this if he came down to meet us and then escorted you back.”
“I would, too,” Eddy admitted.
“He’s the only doctor in his part of the territory and he doesn’t want to leave his patients alone for the length of time it would take him to get here and go back. Which I understand. That says to me how seriously he takes his profession.”
Or he could be lying, Portia thought to herself.
They spent a few more minutes discussing all the things that might go wrong, but Regan had her mind made up and so stuck to her guns.
Rhine looked upset but there was pain in his eyes, too. Like Portia he was already missing Regan. “When is he expecting you?”
“In a few weeks.”
Eddy looked stricken. “So soon?”
Regan nodded.
“Then let your uncle and me know what we need to do to help you get ready.”
“I will and thank you for not making this harder to tell you. I’ve been worried.”
