Separate Roads (11 page)

“Discretion is one thing, but hiding transactions is another. Is it your intention to keep two sets of books to record Union Pacific activities?”

“Miss Baldwin, you positively amaze me with your imagination. Why not leave it to those in charge? Remember how I told you there are dealings that require the utmost care?” She nodded, and he continued. “Business transactions are often handled in this manner to avoid competition sneaking in to ruin plans. Remember the town of Valley?”

“Yes. It’s the one the UP is putting together just west of Elkhorn. I believe you said it would become a supply center as the railroad builds west.”

“That’s right. There are great plans for Valley. But there are equally great plans for other areas of the territory. You can’t let such details get out, or business competitors, or even common everyday folk who own property, will decide to make it impossible for the UP.”

“But the UP promises revenue and prosperity to the entire territory. It also ensures statehood for Nebraska, as you told me.”

“Yes, but I also told you that bringing Nebraska in as a state has only proven to be a difficult task. The officials are all for it, but the people are less inclined. They don’t understand the bigger scheme of things. That’s why these entries must remain completely privileged information.”

“But these are public transactions. You can’t hope to keep the building of an entire town confidential, if indeed that’s what these transactions represent. It simply doesn’t add up, Mr. Chittenden. Why such secrecy?”

Damon came around the desk and leaned close. His face became solemn, his dark eyes flashed. “You worry too much. Men of power often operate in secrecy.” His voice lowered with intensity, almost resembling a growl. The sound of it gave Jordana a chill.

“Is that why you’re doing this, then?” she asked softly.

A sudden grin flashed as he leaned closer and whispered, “I’m not the kind to kiss and tell.”

“What?”

The word was hardly out of her mouth when Damon closed the space between them and kissed her lightly. It wasn’t an unpleasant experience. In fact, Jordana might have thought it rather nice had his previous intensity not been so fresh in her mind. But the idea of Damon taking such a liberty caused Jordana to jump back in surprise.

“Mr. Chittenden! You have no right to kiss me!”

He looked quite crestfallen. “I’m sorry. It’s just that you got the best of me. Your lips are so red, your smile so sweet. Your mind blazes with intelligent thought and reasoning, and I felt completely possessed. I do apologize.”

Jordana could easily see the sincerity in his expression. “Well, just don’t do it again.” She tried to sound stiff and unyielding on the matter, but Damon would have none of that.

“I truly am sorry. Not sorry for the kiss itself, but sorry for taking untoward liberties.” He smiled and gave her a bold wink. “The kiss itself was actually quite nice.”

Jordana felt her cheeks flame and quickly turned away. “I won’t speak to you if it happens again.”

“Oh, don’t be that way,” Damon said softly. “Come, let’s take our carriage ride and enjoy the beauty of the afternoon.”

Jordana glanced up at the clock. “But it’s only now three. Your father would—”

“My father has obviously seen the opportunity afforded in such a beautiful day. He’s off helping Mother. Why not come and enjoy yourself?”

“But what about the bank? If we close early, word is bound to get back to your father. I wouldn’t want either one of us to get in trouble.”

“My dear Miss Baldwin, I am your employer in my father’s absence. Is that not true?”

“I suppose it is,” she replied, turning slowly to see him collect his papers from where he’d placed them on the counter.

“Then it is an official order. We shall close the bank immediately, and I shall take the opportunity to drive you home. If we should, well . . . let’s just say . . . take a longer route to get to your place, then that’s just the way it will be.”

Something inside her set off a very quiet warning, but Jordana ignored it. She could handle Damon Chittenden. After all, he knew better than to take advantage of her. Brenton had made it quite clear that he’d brook no nonsense from Damon in regard to his sister. And she had threatened him as to what might happen if he tried to kiss her again. Oh, I’m just being silly, she thought, giving Damon a slight smile.

“Very well, Mr. Chittenden,” Jordana said, eyeing the ledger in her hand. She still wanted more answers, but for now she would simply enjoy the day.

10

By the time Brenton saw Damon Chittenden’s carriage stop outside the house, he was beyond worried. He was furious. He’d gone to pick up Jordana from the bank, only to learn that the bank had closed early and that his sister was nowhere to be found. For hours now, he’d worried over her whereabouts, and with the sun fading fast on the western horizon, he had begun to fear for her life. Rumors ran rampant in the small town. Indian wars were threatening, Confederate guerrillas were known to be roaming up and down the Missouri River, and not only that, but Jordana’s position at the bank seemed to make her very vulnerable to robberies and ruffians.

Hearing her laughter as Chittenden helped her down from the carriage only irritated him more. She hadn’t even considered his feelings in the matter. She had apparently given him no thought whatsoever. How could she be so inconsiderate? Without caring how it might appear to the neighbors, Brenton threw open the front door and stormed out onto the walk.

“Chittenden, I want a word with you,” he demanded.

Jordana turned quickly, an expression of worry marring her otherwise beautiful features. Seeing her looking so fetching only made Brenton angrier. She had grown up so fast, and now that he was totally responsible for her, he found the job exhausting. What was he thinking in bringing her here?

“Go inside, Jordana. I wish to speak to Mr. Chittenden alone.”

“What for?” she demanded.

“Go inside.”

Jordana opened her mouth to protest, but Brenton narrowed his gaze and pointed to the house. “Now!” he said firmly.

She gave him a look that suggested she’d see to him later, and no doubt she would, then bid her companion good-evening and did as her brother had asked her. Then, standing there face-to-face with Chittenden and realizing Jordana was safe from harm, Brenton began to calm a bit. It wasn’t at all like him to grow so angry, but of late everything seemed to irritate him. It was impossible to explain it or hope that anyone else might understand, especially when he himself didn’t.

“Where have you been?” Brenton asked Damon in a tone of forced calm.

“We closed the bank early and went for a carriage ride,” Damon replied. “I’m sorry we didn’t consult you first, but Jordana indicated that you would be hard to find. We figured we could easily make it back before you missed her.” He gave Brenton an uneasy smile and added, “Jordana said you were occupied with some business transaction. I hope it worked out well for you.”

Brenton recognized that Chittenden was a master at changing the subject. If he hadn’t known it for himself, he would have known it from Jordana. Refusing to be caught up in explaining his own situation, Brenton frowned.

“Chittenden, I’m not at all pleased you would risk my sister’s life and reputation by taking her out unchaperoned and without my permission. As you are no doubt aware, there are constant concerns with the Indians, conflict with the riffraff who are pouring into town in great numbers, and conflict with a looser standard of ethics, which suggests that because we live far from the civilization that birthed such rules of conduct, they are no longer necessary to live by.”

“I assure you, Mr. Baldwin, risking your sister’s life or reputation was the furthest thing from my mind. We only sought to enjoy the day. And I should point out that we only traveled in areas under the observation and protection of the army.”

“It’s not good enough, Chittenden. She’s only eighteen and under my guardianship.” He adjusted his wire-rimmed glasses and took a deep breath. “I’ve not given you any reason to believe that I would disapprove of her accompanying you, if she so desired. I simply ask that you would come to me first. I was very worried.” He took another deep breath and forced himself to relax.

Chittenden nodded. “I am sorry, Mr. Baldwin. It was not my intention to worry you. In fact, when calmer times prevail, I would very much like to discuss the possibility of taking my acquaintance with your sister to a higher level.”

Brenton felt his calm returning. Jordana was safe. Nothing else mattered. “Are you speaking of courtship?”

Chittenden nodded. “That I am. But we can leave this for another time.” He tipped his hat and smiled. “Once again, please accept my apologies.”

Brenton nodded. “Good evening, Mr. Chittenden.”

With Chittenden regaining his seat in the carriage, Brenton turned back to face the small white clapboard house. Now he would have to deal with Jordana, and he already knew that would be no easy task. She was rapidly becoming harder and harder to handle. He supposed most of it was his own fault. After all, he’d given in to her whims so often, she’d come to believe it an acceptable practice. How could he explain that she needed to conduct herself more properly? It was bad enough for her reputation that she worked in a bank. She knew as well as he did that the other women talked about her behind her back. She knew herself to be snubbed on occasion at church or social events by the ladies of society. But while the women kept their distance, the men did no such thing. And it was this more than anything that worried Brenton. Jordana was naïve. She couldn’t see the problems that lay in store for her future.

She spoke openly and commonly with men as though it were the most natural thing in the world. And if truth be told, Brenton figured her to prefer their company over that of her own gender. He’d tried to talk to her about the impropriety of it, but Jordana had defended herself, saying that here in the West there was no time or place for eastern etiquette. He knew that was true to a degree. Women had to work hard to exist in this harsh land. There were few comforts and often the necessities were just as absent, but he hated seeing Jordana lose the gentility that their parents had worked so hard to instill in her.

He sighed heavily and moved toward the house. Life in Omaha was rapidly losing its charm. He had given great consideration to returning to New York, but with the war continuing to drag on, he feared someone might try to force him into service for the Union, and then he’d be left having to explain not only to them but to his parents how he had been forced to sign a letter of agreement refusing to bear arms against the South. No, the smarter thing would be to get Caitlan on to California.

He reached the tiny porch and stopped. Caitlan was a whole different issue, and one that was also getting completely out of hand. Brenton could hardly bear to live under the same roof with her anymore. Not because it brought him any displeasure, but because he felt the situation was becoming quite inappropriate. When they had first begun their travels, they had merely been brother- and sister-in-law. It was innocent, and no one thought anything improper about their keeping company. But that was before Brenton realized he’d fallen in love with the woman. Now, seeing her late into the evening, then upon rising first thing in the morning, as well as any other time that they were all gathered in the house together, Brenton had begun to think of her not as a sister but as a desirable woman. The stress of it all was beginning to severely alter his personality, and often Jordana chided him for being moody or out of sorts.

And he was.

Shaking his head, he knew the matter wasn’t going to resolve itself while he stood there reviewing the past. Reaching for the door, he braced himself for the angry woman, possibly
women,
he would find inside.

Sure enough, Jordana paced in front of the fireplace like a lioness about to pounce on her prey. “How dare you embarrass me like that!”

Caitlan stepped between Jordana and Brenton. “Ya’d do better to calm down before takin’ up this fight.”

Brenton held up his hand as if to silence them both. “I was worried about you.”