Part 14 (1/2)
When their gazes met, Gwen said, ”Good morning, Kitty.”
Kitty gave her a slight smile that must have taken all her energy. The woman always looked exhausted. Her life was not an easy one, caring for her three children and for her husband, Patton, who had been injured in an accident at the sawmill three years earlier. To support their family, Kitty sold fresh eggs, worked as a seamstress, and took in laundry. Patton did odd jobs, as he was able - which wasn't often enough.
”It's a beautiful morning, isn't it?” Gwen said, wis.h.i.+ng she could help ease her neighbor's burdens. Kitty was only six years Gwen's senior, but she looked twenty years older. ”It won't be long before true summer is upon us.”
Kitty nodded. ”I hope it won't get too hot too soon.”
”I hope so too.” She s.h.i.+fted the basket to her other arm. ”I wanted to tell you how well Owen is doing with his piano lessons. You must be so proud of him.”
Another little smile, this one staying a fraction longer. ”I am.”
”Do you go with him when he practices at the Evans's house?”
Kitty shook her head.
”Then come with him to his next lesson. I know you'd be blessed by his progress.”
”I'll try.” She sighed. ”I'm just grateful his hands weren't injured when he fell yesterday. They could have been.”
”His hands? What fall?”
”Owen had an accident on his bicycle yesterday. The wheel was bent up. It's ruined, far as I can tell. Heaven knows when there will be any money to repair it or replace it.”
”You say his hands are okay. Was he otherwise injured?”
”He sc.r.a.ped his knee but nothing serious. Mr. McKinley saw the accident and drove him home in his automobile. Owen loved that part. He's never had the opportunity to ride in a car before.”
Gwen recalled the sound of the motorcar pa.s.sing her house the previous day. Not once but twice. That must have been where he'd gone. To take Owen home.
”He's a very genial man, isn't he?” Kitty continued. ”He was so kind to Owen. But I told him you would have my vote.”
Gwen patted Kitty's hand where it rested on the handle of her basket. ”I appreciate your loyalty.”
”After all the kindnesses you've shown my family, how could I do otherwise?”
Her neighbor's reply took her aback a little. ”I hope you think I will make a good mayor. I wouldn't want to be elected for any other reason.”
Whatever Kitty might have said next was interrupted by the appearance of Bert Humphrey from the back of the store. ”How can I help you ladies?”
”I've brought you some eggs, Mr. Humphrey,” Kitty answered as she walked toward him.
”He's a very genial man, isn't he?”
Indeed. Mr. McKinley was genial - and too much on her mind.
To distract his thoughts from the lovely Gwen Arlington - and to remove the temptation of going to see her uninvited once again - Morgan drove to the building site late on Monday morning. The workers had made noticeable progress since his last visit.
f.a.gan greeted him with a cheery ”Halloo!” as he strode across the yard. ”Sure and I didn't expect to be seeing you again this soon.”
”I'm surprised myself. It's a hard habit to break, being up here every day. But it looks like I'm not needed. No more vandalism, I take it.”
”One of the guards thought he heard someone moving around the bathhouse a couple of nights back, but if anyone was there he was scared off. No sign of him come morning. No mischief done.”
Morgan nodded, not happy to hear there might have been another trespa.s.ser prowling around the site. Still, as there'd been no damage - ”Stonemasons ought to begin their work inside the lodge next week.”
”What about the prayer chapel?”
”The men have made a good start on it. Sure and I'm thinking it won't take long to finish.”
”Good. I want the chapel given high priority, f.a.gan.”
”I'll pa.s.s that word along to Christopher. He'll see to it.”
The two men walked side by side toward the lodge. Once inside the enormous lobby, Morgan stopped and breathed in the scent of lumber that filled the air. In his mind's eye, he saw the room completed and fully furnished. He imagined guests of all ages and of all cla.s.ses sitting throughout, visiting, laughing, their faces s.h.i.+ning with improved health. In the dining room, he pictured guests drinking tea in the afternoon or eating a delicious, healthy meal in the evening.
With everything that he was, everything he believed, he was convinced the New Hope Health Spa was supposed to be here, on this land, in this place. He couldn't allow Harrison Carter and his political cronies to impede the completion of this resort.
Ask Rudyard.
Morgan turned toward f.a.gan, but his friend was inspecting the doorframe and obviously had not spoken to him.
Ask Rudyard.
The words tugged at him, insistent on being understood.
Rudyard... Rudyard...
His eyes widened. Of course. Senator William Rudyard. A long-time friend of his mother's. Was it possible he could be of some help? The senator was a man of influence, both within Idaho and beyond. Yes, he just might be able to help Morgan - with his problems with the commissioners and and with winning the election. He would contact him immediately. with winning the election. He would contact him immediately.
Maybe it was time for him to arrange for a dinner party. The reason for hiring a household staff was so he could entertain, to build rapport with other citizens of Bethlehem Springs, and as a result perhaps win their votes in the election. He couldn't depend upon the debate to bring him all the votes he would need to win.
Trouble was, whenever he pictured himself sitting down at the long dinner table with a room full of guests, he always imagined Gwen seated at the other end.
Cleo was full of excitement when she arrived in the early afternoon. ”Have you heard?” she asked Gwen as she led her horse toward the small stable at the back of Gwen's lot. ”Tattersall withdrew from the race for mayor this morning. Now it's between just you and Morgan.”
”Yes, I heard.”
Gwen didn't know whether to feel worried or glad. If everyone who'd planned to vote for Tattersall - surely there couldn't be very many of them - chose to vote for Morgan, it could mean he had the edge. On the other hand, it was a relief to know there was no chance that a known drunkard would be their next mayor.
”How did you hear about it so quickly?” she asked as Cleo removed the saddle from her gelding and led the animal into the second of two stalls.
”I saw Charles Benson as I rode into town, and he told me.” Cleo pushed her hair away from her face. ”He asked after you.”
”I hope you told him I was well.”
”Poor Charlie. Do you suppose he'll ever give up on winning your heart?”