A Vote of Confidence (31 page)

She was almost to the steps when she saw a movement out of the corner of her eye. There was someone on her porch. Maybe Morgan
had —

“Guinevere, at last.”

Gwen drew in a breath. “Mother?”

“Yes, dear. Believe it or not, I have come.”

Gwen hurried up the steps and embraced her mother. “When did you get here? Why didn’t you let me know you were coming?”

“I packed my bags the day I got your letter. I couldn’t let you plan a wedding without me. It will be difficult enough, living
as you do in the middle of nowhere, to have a proper ceremony.”

“Bethlehem Springs is not in the middle of nowhere, Mother, and we have churches and ministers who perform wedding ceremonies
all the time.”

“Mmm.”

Gwen felt tension tightening her shoulders. “How long have you been waiting?”

“Only an hour or so.”

“If I’d known, I would have left my office and come straight home.” She thought longingly of the cool bath she’d planned to
take. That would have to wait. “Today was the inauguration. I’m the mayor now.”

“So I was told by the nice gentleman who gave me directions to your house.”

“Aren’t you the littlest bit pleased for me?” Gwen hated the pleading note she heard in her voice.

“I suppose if it’s what you want, Guinevere, then I’m glad.”

She wished Morgan were with her. She wished she could see him smile at her as he had earlier in the day, could hear him tell her he was proud of her.

“But I want to hear about your intended. How on earth did Morgan McKinley end up here? And now he’s engaged to you. There
are young women on two continents who wanted to do what you have done.”

“Shall we go inside, Mother? There’s no need for us to remain standing on the porch. And you must be hungry after your journey.”

“No, I do not want to go inside and I am not hungry.” Her mother took hold of Gwen’s arm and drew her to the chairs on the
porch. “Now sit down and answer my question.”

There was no use resisting. Elizabeth Arlington could be as stubborn as either of her daughters. Gwen might as well tell her
what she wanted to know. “Morgan is building a health resort just north of town. He came to Idaho over a year ago.”

“He’s been living here all this time? And you never mentioned it once in your letters?”

“I had no reason to mention him. I didn’t know him.”

Her mother rolled her eyes. “You should have known I’d be interested. His family is held in esteem on both sides of t he Atlantic.
In their day, the McKinley family hosted presidents and kings.” She shook her head. “And to think you almost settled for that
Bryant Hudson fellow.”

I almost settled for him?
Gwen pressed her lips together, swallowing a retort. Her brief engagement to Bryant was her mother’s doing, not hers. How
could her mother forget that?

“Oh, my. I can tell you. My friends are green with envy since I told them who you are engaged to marry. What an achievement!”

“It’s not an achievement, Mother. I didn’t ensnare him or win him. We fell in love.”

“Love.” Her mother waved a hand, as if brushing away a pesky fly. “A woman is far better served finding a husband who can
give her a comfortable life and a secure future. Love can come later, if at all. Women who fall in love first are only asking
for heartache. You will regret it if you go into marriage floating on some silly cloud of emotions. You mark my words.”

About an hour after they’d eaten dinner together, Morgan rapped on the door to his sister’s room. “Daphne? May I come in?”

“Yes, of course. I’m decent.”

He opened the door. “I thought I’d go over to Gwen’s for a while. See how her first day in office went. Care to come along?”

“No, thank you.” She pointed to the open journal on the small desk. “I’m writing down some thoughts. Besides, you don’t need
me along. I’m sure you’d like to be alone with your fiancée.”

“Gwen and I want you to know you’re always welcome, whatever we’re doing.”

Amusement sparkled in her eyes. “Not always.”

He couldn’t argue with her. She was right. He would like some time alone with Gwen. He wanted to take her in his arms and
kiss her breathless. He wanted —

“And before you ask me if I’m sure, yes, I’m sure. You go on and enjoy the evening. Like I said, I’m busy with my writing.
I won’t even know you’re gone.”

“Mother wrote faithfully in her journals all the years that I remember. It’s good one of us picked up the habit.”

Daphne smiled. “I enjoy it. Writing has become a part of me, I guess.” She flicked her fingers at him. “Now go on before I
lose my train of thought entirely.”

This time Morgan didn’t hesitate. With a nod, he backed into the hall, closing the door as he went. Minutes later, he was in his motorcar and driving toward Gwen’s home.

He’d thought of Gwen so often since he left her alone in the mayor’s office that morning. Had the day gone well for her? Was
she loving the work or hating it? Had there been a spare moment in her day when she’d thought of him too?

No matter what, he was certain she’d given her all. That was the way Gwen did everything. At least that was his opinion. Admittedly,
he was biased.

He turned onto Wallula and braked to a stop in front of her white fence. He hopped over the side of the car and strode up
her walk. The front door was open, probably in hopes a breeze would blow through. Beyond the screen he heard two women’s voices.
Someone had beaten him here. Whoever it was, Morgan would run her off in a hurry.

He peered through the screen as he rapped on the doorjamb. “Gwen, it’s me. I came to hear about your first day in office.”

A heartbeat later, Gwen appeared in the doorway to her bedroom. “Morgan,” she whispered. She didn’t look glad to see him.

“Do you have a visitor?” He stepped inside, made uncertain by Gwen’s expression. “I thought I heard another voice.”

“You did.” A woman — a stranger to him — appeared in the bedroom doorway, smiling broadly. “I’m Elizabeth Arlington. And you
must be Morgan McKinley.” She moved toward him, her right arm outstretched. “What a pleasure it is to meet you, dear boy.”

Morgan’s first impression of Gwen’s mother was that she was an undeniably handsome woman. However, he saw little resemblance
to her daughters. Elizabeth’s hair was auburn rather than blonde, and her eyes were a watery green instead of blue. Perhaps
Gwen had the same chin and Cleo the same nose.

He shook hands with his future mother-in-law. “The pleasure is mine, Mrs. Arlington. I assure you.”

“I could not believe it when I received Guinevere’s letter, telling me of her engagement to you. But Mr. McKinley, I cannot
fathom why you chose to move to this godforsaken town when you have such beautiful family estates in the East. Surely that
would be a more appropriate place for you and Guinevere to live and raise a family.”

Obviously Elizabeth Arlington knew more than just his name. He’d wager she knew his entire history and the extent of the McKinley
fortune as well. That would explain her haste to reach this town she so despised. He wasn’t completely surprised. Gwen had
given him some warning about her mother. And of course he’d known other women like Elizabeth Arlington.

His gaze returned to Gwen. Her internal conflict was written in her eyes. The Gwen he knew best — the one who wasn’t afraid
to run for mayor, the one who could stand up to the disapproval of her neighbors and who could live independently — had disappeared
from view.

Elizabeth clapped her hands. “But now I am here and we can begin to plan a proper wedding.”

Gwen closed her eyes. If only the floor would open up and swallow her whole. She never should have mentioned Morgan’s name
in her letter. If her mother had thought she was marrying a man of humble means, she might not have come for the wedding at
all. But Gwen had wanted her here. Just not like this.

Another knock sounded at the door, and she looked to see who it was, glad for any intrusion.

Fagan Doyle stood on the other side of the screen. “Morgan, I need to speak with you.”

“W hat is it? ” Morgan pushed open the screen door and stepped onto the porch. “Trouble?”

Fagan lowered his voice, but not enough that Gwen couldn’t hear him. “One of the guards found dynamite not far from the bathhouse.
In the forest just below it.”

“Dynamite?”

“I’m thinking someone brought it there with plans to use it. Maybe he got scared away by one of the guards. Maybe it was left
there until a better opportunity.”

“It’s escalating.”

“Aye, it is that.”

Gwen moved toward the door. “What’s escalating?”

“Someone doesn’t want the spa to get finished.” Morgan looked at her through the screen. “We’ve had a few cases of vandalism,
but until now it hasn’t put anyone in danger. It’s just cost us time and money.” His jaw clenched. “This is different.” He
faced Fagan again. “Carter’s gone too far this time.”

“Carter?” Gwen pushed open the screen door. “Harrison Carter?”

“Yes.”

She stepped outside. “You think
he
has something to do with the vandalism. But why?”

“He’s made it clear he doesn’t think the spa will be good for the town.”

“I know that. But it doesn’t mean he would destroy property or try to dynamite the spa. That’s absurd. Where is your proof?
You can’t accuse him without proof of some kind.”

Morgan’s gaze was hard as it met hers. “He’s a dangerous man, Gwen.”

“Oh, Morgan. I know you don’t like him. He isn’t my favorite person either. But dangerous?”

“I can’t explain it. It’s something I feel in my gut. Carter’s failed to buy me out or force me out so far, and now he’s getting
desperate. There’s no telling what he might do next.” Morgan took hold of her shoulders. “Steer clear of him, Gwen.”

“How am I to do that? He and I will be working together on — ”

Morgan’s fingers tightened on her shoulders. “Stay away from him. Stay home if you must. I have a bad feeling about this.”

“I’m the mayor.” Anger sparked inside her, and she jerked free of his grasp. “I intend to do my job.”

“And I’m telling you it isn’t safe. I want you to stay at home until I can make sure you are.”

She couldn’t believe her ears. She was the mayor. She had duties and obligations. And because he suspected Harrison Carter
of some misdeed, Morgan now expected her to ignore those duties — because he said so. What gave him that right? She didn’t
need his protection. She certainly didn’t need him to tell her what she could or could not do.

“I think you and Mr. Doyle should go,” she said softly. “It sounds like you have important things to do.”

“Gwen — ”

“Just go. I need to get Mother settled in for the night. She’s exhausted from her journey, and I’m feeling tired myself. It’s
been a full day.”

“All right. We’ll go. But promise me you’ll — ”

“Please go, Morgan. I’m too tired to argue with you.”

“I didn’t mean for us to argue.”

He leaned in to kiss her on the lips, but she turned her cheek to him at the last moment.

“Good night, Morgan.”

Gwen was right, of course. Morgan had no proof that Harrison Carter had been behind any of the troubles they’d experienced
at New Hope. He’d had his suspicions almost from the start, but without proof, there hadn’t been anything to say or do. Besides,
he’d thought once Harrison saw the spa succeeding, once he saw it bringing prosperity and progress to the town, he would give
up, go away, leave things alone.