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“I know you do, and we’re appreciative of it, too.”
“I shall make sure you and Delphia look as nicely put out as Miss Masters. We can’t have her showing you two up, can we?”
“I’m afraid it may be a contest we can’t win.” I explained about the Masterses’ wealth and that Lena probably bought the latest dresses from designers in Paris. “But it needn’t trouble us. Delphia and I know our own minds and what’s important to us. Having the fanciest clothes is not it.”
“Yes, but I do love pretty dresses, don’t you?” Bitty asked, sounding mournful. She brushed a hand down her plain gray skirt.
“I was thinking more of our intellect and talents. Pretty dresses can’t do anything important, can they?”
“No, I suppose not.” She looked up at the ceiling, her brow wrinkling, before returning her attention to me. “All the same, I’ll take extra care with your hair and makeup these next few days.”
“That sounds fine, Bitty. Thank you.”
She scuttled away, her skirt swaying to and fro just above her strong calf muscles. She might not have the prettiest dress, but she had a lovely, curvy figure. I went to the full-length mirror to look at myself. Too skinny, like a board. No matter, I reminded myself. I would think only of my work from here on out and care nothing about my appearance. Or that James was marrying Lena. I would be happy for him and his family. I had to be.
11
JAMES
On the wayhome from the train station, I shared the back seat with Lena. Mr. Masters and Alexander were in the front seat, talking about the train ride out here from the Denver station and how dramatic some of the sights had been and how beautiful it was here. I remembered very well my own reaction to the views that first summer. Today, though, my gaze swept from the terrain to Lena. She peered straight ahead, having told me that riding in cars made her nauseated.
There was nothing at all wrong with her, I told myself. I was lucky to be marrying such a beautiful young lady. She was indeed pretty, with shiny hair the color of a chestnut horse and dark green eyes. A pointy chin and high cheekbones gave her a regal air. She wore a traveling dress in a pale yellow, complementing her tawny complexion, and a floppy cloche hat with a modest blue ribbon.
That cloche hat would not protect her skin here under the Colorado sky. In fact, those types of hats were ridiculous. What purpose did they serve? Nothing, that’s what. The hats Delphia and Addie had worn to the swimming hole, wide-brimmed and made of straw, were practical and smart, like the heads they covered. Now, those were hats with a purpose.
Addie. My stomach ached as if I were homesick at the image of her pure blue eyes gazing at me this morning. She’d tried to encourage me even though I knew it hurt her to know where I was headed. She was good. As good as anyone I’d ever met.
This morning, before we left, I’d gotten a letter from my father. His words had not been surprising, full of gratitude for our luck, saying this marriage had been granted to us by the grace of God.It will be good for all of us, my boy, he’d written. No, I’d thought. It would be good for everyone but me.
“Darling, it’s a little frightening, isn’t it?” Lena rested her gloved hand on my knee for the briefest of moments and leaned closer, perhaps to show me a hint of her cleavage. A flirtatious gesture, sensual in nature, that made my head throb. I couldn’t do this. I shouldn’t have to.
But you do.
“What’s frightening?” I asked.
“The mountains. I mean, look at them. How is it possible they’re so tall? It’s just too-too.”
We turned off the main road from the train station, bypassing downtown. In the front seat, Alexander was telling Mr. Masters about the history of the area. “When I moved here, it was nothing but a ghost town of a place. The gold rush was over by then, as I’m sure you know, and the old spot abandoned. A fire had come through and taken out what was left of the town. Everyone had moved on by then.”
“This is how you were able to buy all this land, then?” Mr. Masters asked. He was a bulky man with a thick mustache. Despite the heat and time of year, he wore a dark suit. A red tie matched the ruddiness of his cheeks. Trickles of perspiration melted into his sideburns. Occasionally, he dabbed at his face with a handkerchief embroidered with his initials.
“That’s correct. Good timing. Isn’t that the American way?” Alexander asked.
“By God, yes.” Mr. Masters smacked his full lips, clearly delighted with himself. “Indeed, I was in the right place at the right time, but you have to be ready to seize opportunity when it presents itself.” He went on to describe to Alexander his investments in various markets.
“And you’ve been able to weather the depression?” Alexander asked.
“I took advantage of it, bought up stocks and everything else cheap.” Mr. Masters picked up his hat and swiped the sweat from his brow. “Is the weather always this humid this time of year?” The rain had ceased earlier, but the air was warm and moist. Flowers along the roadside drooped with the weight of water.
I looked up at the sky from the back seat window. Purple clouds hung low and moody.
“Sometimes,” Alexander said. “Our weather’s a little unpredictable. You’ll see all kinds in the weeks you’re here.”
Weeks? “How long are you staying?” I asked, leaning forward slightly.
“Your father said he and your mother will come to New York for a visit once we have everything settled.”
“Settled?” I asked, unable to keep the tension out of my voice. Alexander caught my eye in the rearview mirror, concern knitting his brow.
