A Vote of Confidence (21 page)

Harrison didn’t like this. He didn’t like being left in the dark. If someone like Senator Rudyard was in Bethlehem Springs,
he wanted to know why. Elias Spade should have known about this, should have informed him before his clerk stumbled on the
information.

“What are you up to, McKinley?”

Perhaps Gwen Arlington knew.

A frown furrowed his forehead. He’d heard that McKinley had attended All Saints last Sunday and sat with Gwen. First piano
lessons, then church, and now this. Something had to be done.

Morgan and his three guests had just stepped out of the house when he saw Cleo riding her horse along Skyview Street. He raised
an arm and motioned her over. Cleo obliged, hopping down from the saddle. After she tied her horse to the hitching post, she
strode toward the veranda with that easy gait of hers.

“Gentlemen,” Morgan said when she arrived, “I’d like you to meet Miss Cleo Arlington.”

“By George!” William exclaimed. “You’re a woman.”

Cleo bumped the brim of her hat with the knuckle of her index finger. “So my father told me.” She smiled, as if to show she
was neither surprised nor bothered by his words.

Morgan finished the introductions, then asked, “What brings you to town?”

“I’m campaigning for Gwen this week. But I don’t reckon it would be a good idea to give my little speech to you. Not unless
you’ve decided to drop out like Tattersall.” Her voice rose in question.

Morgan chuckled. “I haven’t thrown in the towel yet.”

“Then I’d best be on my way. More folks to see before the day is done. Gotta make sure they vote for the right candidate.”
She tugged on the brim of her hat, first to Morgan, then to his guests. “Good day to you.” She strode back to her horse, untied
him, swung into the saddle, and waved a final good-bye.

“What a strange young woman,” Jeremiah Hayes said.

Morgan glanced over his shoulder. “Believe me, Senator, the world would be a far better place with more people like Cleo Arlington
and her sister in it.”

Gwen was sweeping her front porch when a motorcar pulled to the curb outside her yard. For the briefest of moments, she thought
it might be Morgan, and her breath caught in anticipation. But it wasn’t his car and it wasn’t him. It was Harrison Carter.

Disquiet replaced disappointment. She wished he would go away. She no longer wanted his support in this election. She didn’t
care for his attitude toward her and, even more, had begun to distrust him, although she couldn’t say why. But she had better keep that to herself. If she won the election, she would have
to work with him at least some of the time. Better they be friendly acquaintances than unfriendly ones.

She leaned the broom against the side of the house and stepped to the porch railing. “Good afternoon, Mr. Carter.”

“Miss Arlington.” He opened the gate and came up the walkway. “I trust you are well.”

“Quite well, thank you.”

“We haven’t had an opportunity to visit since the night of the dinner party. I wanted to inquire if there was anything I could
do for you. Perhaps I could help in some way in preparation for the debate on Saturday.”

“That’s kind of you.” She motioned toward the chairs on the porch. “But I believe I’m as prepared as I can be.”

He sat and removed his hat, setting it on his knee. “Your sister has been campaigning for you, I hear. It might be wise if
you made those calls yourself. Your sister is… well, unconventional, to say the least.”

Gwen’s smile was forced. “Cleo is wonderfully unconventional, sir, and I have complete trust in her as my representative.”

“Miss Arlington” — he leaned forward — “I am more experienced in these things, and I urge you to consider my advice before
discarding it out of hand.” He motioned toward her, indicating her attire. “You are nothing like your sister.”

She bit back a retort. He was rude and boorish, and she wished he would leave.

“I’ve also heard that you’re giving McKinley piano lessons.”

She remained silent.

“Miss Arlington, really. This isn’t wise. Trust me, he has an ulterior motive in hiring you. Have you considered that he might
try to compromise your reputation? You and he alone in his house…” He shrugged. “How does that look?”

Gwen drew a deep breath to steady herself and let it out slowly before answering. “Mr. McKinley and I are not alone in his
house. Mrs. Cheevers is there. We are less alone than you and I are right now.”

“It isn’t the same thing.”

“Isn’t it? Well, you needn’t worry anyway. Mr. McKinley is not that sort of man.”

“You are naive.”

“Perhaps.” She rose to her feet. “But as long as he wishes to take lessons and is diligent in his practice, I shall continue
with his instruction.”

“If it is income you need — ”

“My income is none of your concern.” There was no disguising her anger now. He had to see it in her eyes and the stiffness
of her posture.

Harrison stood. “I’m sorry.” There was nothing apologetic in either his tone or his expression. “I did not mean to offend.”

“I must ask you to excuse me, Mr. Carter. It is time I put dinner in the oven.”

“Of course.” He set his hat back on his head. “I shall see you on Saturday evening.”

She forced herself to say, “Thank you for dropping by.”

Now that was a lie if ever she’d spoken one.

“This was a mistake,” Gwen whispered to her reflection in the mirror.

“Balderdash,” Cleo said from the bedroom doorway. “You’ll turn all the men’s heads tonight. Those senators won’t know what
hit ’em once they lay eyes on you.”

Gwen turned to face her sister. “That isn’t why I’m going.”

“Land sakes, Gwennie. It doesn’t hurt to use what you’ve got. Didn’t God make you this way? Both smart
and
pretty. Pretty as sunrise on the prairie, that’s what you are, and nothing you do is going to change that.”

Gwen swallowed a sigh. Better she drop the subject than argue with Cleo. She would never win. Her sister could be as stubborn
as the day was long.

“I’ll go hitch the horse to the buggy. You should’ve accepted Morgan’s offer to come for you. Then neither one of us would
have to take care of Shakespeare when you get back. It’s likely to be mighty late.”

“Mr. McKinley has other guests to see to without worrying about me. I’ve unhitched my horse from the buggy late at night before.
I’m not helpless, you know.”

“Yep. I know.”

As soon as her sister left the room, Gwen sank onto the stool before the dressing table and massaged her temples with the tips of her fingers. Her head was beginning to throb. Perhaps
she should send Cleo with her regrets. She could crawl into bed with a cup of tea and a good book and forget about making
small talk with strangers.

But of course she couldn’t do that. She had an election to win, and that meant being polite and glad-handing one and all.

“At least Mr. Carter won’t be there.”

Thinking of the man brought a frown. Look how he’d reacted to the piano lessons. Just imagine how upset he would be once he
learned she’d attended a dinner party at Morgan McKinley’s home. He’d be livid.

Poor Susannah Carter. Gwen didn’t doubt that Harrison’s wife would bear the brunt of his ill temper. He seemed that type of
man. The dictatorial sort who believed women should stay in their place, be seen but not heard, right along with his children.

Which made her wonder why he’d backed her for mayor.

Harrison Carter was also a good reminder of why she’d chosen to remain unmarried. She would rather enter old age as a spinster
than allow herself to be joined to a husband who might treat her as a possession. And maybe as mayor, she would help others
realize that women were not second-class citizens, that their thoughts and opinions had value.

Her confidence and resolve restored, she rose from the stool, checked her appearance one last time, then turned and picked
up her wrap from the foot of the bed. It was time to leave, lest she be late. Gwen hated to be late.

Morgan saw William Rudyard’s eyes widen and heard the older gentleman’s intake of breath, and he knew Gwen had arrived. He
turned toward the parlor doorway.

There she was, a vision in a pale-blue gown the same shade as her eyes, the bodice and skirt accented with white Venetian
lace. Her upswept hair was dressed with pearls to match the simple strand of the same that encircled her throat.

“Excuse me, Senator.”

Morgan crossed the room, no doubt smiling like a complete fool. He couldn’t help it. The world seemed a brighter and better
place when he was near Gwen. He hadn’t seen her since his lesson, and the days had dragged by from then until now.

“Good evening, Miss Arlington. I’m glad you could come.”

Her smile was polite but slightly guarded. “Good evening.”

“Come with me.” He offered the crook of his arm. “I want to introduce you to Senator Rudyard and his friends.”

“Meeting them is why you invited me, is it not?”

That might be her reason for coming, but it wasn’t his reason for inviting her. That had only been his excuse, a way to get
her to agree to come, a reason for him to spend an evening with her, to offer her his arm and have her accept it, the way
she did now.

He escorted her across the room filled with guests and stopped in front of William. “Senator, may I present Miss Gwen Arlington.
Miss Arlington, this is Senator Rudyard.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.” Gwen offered her hand.

William took it. “The pleasure is all mine.” He studied her with an assessing gaze before releasing her hand. Then he looked
at Morgan. “I can see why you’re worried about winning the election. This young woman is made of sterner stuff. I can feel
it in her handshake and see it in her eyes.”

“Indeed,” Morgan answered.

“Are you enjoying your stay in Bethlehem Springs?” Gwen asked the senator.

“We are. Morgan here is a fine host. Yesterday we drove up to the site of his new health resort. I had no idea it would be so impressive. I venture to say it will be a boon for your town
and for all of Idaho. Have you been up there, Miss Arlington?”

“Yes. Mr. McKinley was kind enough to give me a tour of the building site. Like you, I was surprised and impressed.”

William leaned closer to Gwen. “Then I expect you will want to lend your support to its timely completion.”

Morgan placed his fingers against the small of Gwen’s back. “Billy, you are dangerously close to talking politics before we
have dined. I’m going to rescue Miss Arlington. She has yet to meet my other guests.”

William winked at Gwen. “We shall talk more of this, my good woman.”