Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] (8 page)

The room was said to have been a favorite of Teddy Roosevelt. Like other Harvey dining rooms, the furnishings were elaborate and expensive. The table, set for six this evening, could be extended to seat twelve. The fine Irish linens, glistening crystal, and polished silver would have pleased even the most discriminating taste. Even so, Valerie Winthrop appeared unimpressed.

Alex began her routine of collecting the empty plates. She thought of the extra money she was making by working exclusively with the Winthrops and wondered if it was really worth the effort. Inevitably she had to see her father on a regular basis, as well as endure Joel Harper’s attention, so it seemed the money was rather hard earned.

“Bring clean glasses,” her father instructed, “we’re going to have a drink.”

Alex said nothing but quickly retrieved six wine goblets. As she began placing them in front of each person, her father popped the cork on what appeared to be some kind of alcohol.

“No prohibition here,” Joel said, rubbing his hands together. “That’s the first thing we get changed when you’re in the White House, Senator.”

“These are wine glasses,” Valerie said, holding hers up to Alex. “We’re drinking champagne.”

“I’m sorry, but . . .”

“There are fine, Val dear,” Joel interceded with a wink. “They’re bigger, after all.”

Everyone laughed with exception to Alex. She longed only to be rid of the entire bunch. It wasn’t that they were the
first ones to imbibe in spite of alcohol being illegal, but they clearly held little regard for any rules or laws. She’d heard the lawyers who sat on either side of Senator Winthrop advise him on ways to skirt the regulations and rules of politics. She’d heard Joel agree to underhanded plans that would disgrace the opposition. Her own father had agreed to do whatever he could to discredit the senator’s rivals.

They were just starting to toast their plans when Alex turned to exit the room. She would serve their desserts and coffee and hopefully leave them to discuss their futures.

“Wait, Miss Keegan,” Joel said, reaching out to stop her retreat. “Share a toast with us. We’re drinking to the senator’s health and future.”

“I don’t drink champagne,” she said matter-of-factly. Her father eyed her with contempt.

“Surely you can drink one small glass,” Joel encouraged.

“Of course she can,” her father joined in. “If she knows what’s good for her.”

Alex caught the meaning of his words, but stood her ground. “Senator Winthrop, I pray you will have great health and happiness.”

The older man smiled. “Why, thank you, Miss Keegan,” he drawled. “I know you are a woman of prayer, given your father’s descriptions. I will expect that prayer to be offered up.”

Alex shifted the tray of dishes. “You can count on it, sir.” She cast one last glance at her father, who appeared rather confused by the exchange, before leaving the room. Pausing just outside the dining room, Alex took a deep breath and prayed.

Thank you, Lord. Thank you for getting me out of there
.

“We really aren’t that bad of a bunch, you know,” Joel said, following her out of the room.

Alex turned with the dishes and gave Harper what she hoped was a disinterested stare. “Did you need something?”

“I need a moonlight stroll on the rim with the prettiest girl in Arizona . . . I need you.”

Alex backed up a step. “I have no interest in helping you out, Mr. Harper. Now, I must go and prepare your desserts.”

“I could make you happy, Miss Keegan. If you’ll just give me a chance.”

“I am happy. I don’t need you or any other man to help me along that path.”

Joel stepped forward, backing Alex against the wall. He reached out and took the tray from her hands. “I have no desire to see this dropped on my feet.”

“Then mind your distance,” Alex said, hurrying down the hall the moment Joel turned to put the tray on a nearby chair.

“You can’t escape me,” he called after her. “I’m used to getting what I want.”

CHAPTER SEVEN

Luke was in no mood for the Winthrop party’s nonsense. He’d been hired to take them by mule to the bottom of the canyon for an overnight stay at Phantom Ranch. Like other groups of visitors to the canyon, the Winthrop party heard of the tourist attraction and wanted to experience it. At least Joel Harper and Valerie Winthrop wanted to experience it. The stocky senator and Rufus Keegan declined, declaring no desire to spend their day aback a mule.

As best as Luke could tell, a constant gathering of supporters for the senator’s presidential campaign had been pouring in throughout the week, and it was a collection of those men and women who took his time and attention now.

Luke gave his routine speech cautioning the riders of the arduous task ahead of them. “There are places,” he warned, “where the narrowness of the path allows no room for error. The mules know their jobs and heed my commands. I’ll expect no less from you.”

A few of the party nodded solemnly, but Joel Harper chuckled and Valerie Winthrop merely batted her eyes in a flirting manner.

“The mules are generally good-natured with our guests,” Luke stated, bringing his speech to a close, “but if you’ll take a look at Clancy Franklin here, you’ll understand that they can be dangerous.” Clancy smiled broadly for the group while Luke continued. “About a month ago, Clancy’s favorite mule gave him a swift kick in the face. The blow could have killed a lesser man—but Clancy here is hardheaded.” Some of the group laughed. Luke shook his head and slapped Clancy on the back. “Clancy just lost a tooth and had his nose broke. Unless you want to follow his example, I’d suggest you do exactly as you’re instructed.”

With that, Luke ordered his crew to assist the travelers to
their mounts. He gave a cautious glance to the entire group, for Alex had implied there had been difficulties with the Winthrop party, and Luke took that very seriously. She told him that Joel Harper pinched her backside, and then last night she’d mentioned ever so casually that Joel had been demanding her attention and seeking her for private walks. Clancy had been among the group when Alex shared her woes. He’d laughed and said that someone as pretty as Alex should expect that kind of thing. The group had teased Clancy about being sweet on Alex, and the blond-haired man had blushed a fiery red.

Luke tried not to give it a second thought, for Clancy didn’t seem like competition for Alex’s affections. And Alex had never implied or mentioned an interest in Clancy. Luke figured that if she had thoughts in that direction, she would have enlisted Luke’s help. No, Luke was more worried about Joel Harper. He worried that there was more to this than Alex was saying. He could tell she’d been greatly disturbed by the entire matter. It wasn’t like her to get her nose out of joint over a little attention, but since her father was tied to the group, Luke put it off to her distaste of Rufus Keegan. After all, she’d shared with him often enough for Luke to know that Keegan was the low-life type of scum who would sell his daughter out to the highest bidder.

He gripped the reins hard and realized his attention wasn’t focused where it needed to be. His mule was surefooted and knew the trail well, but Luke knew the folly in brooding or daydreaming over Alex. He needed to keep his attention fixed to the path ahead.

“Let’s head out,” he called and signaled the trip to begin.

At their first rest stop, Luke waited until the entire group had stretched and gotten a drink from their canteens before giving them a bit of canyon history.

“We left temperatures of around eighty-two degrees up on the rim,” Luke began. “We’ll find the canyon floor to be as
hot as one hundred ten degrees, and that’s why it’s important to keep drinking.”

“Drinking is always important, eh, Val?” Harper teased.

“I meant water,” Luke threw out sarcastically. The group laughed, with exception to Joel. Valerie grinned and left Joel’s side to come to Luke.

“Please ignore him, Mr. Toland, he can be a bit of a bore.” She lowered her head just a bit. Looking up at him with huge green eyes, she smiled prettily and batted her lashes.

Luke ignored her and continued to speak to the group. “You’ll see for yourself as we descend, the canyon is a series of layers. With each layer you’ll see a good many changes. The canyon is a blend of limestone to sandstone to shale and so on. The plant life changes with the layers, as does the animal population. On the rim you might have seen gambel oaks, piñon, sagebrush, and juniper. As we head down into the canyon, this is going to change, and you’ll see more yucca and mesquite, and down by the river you’ll even have cottonwood and desert willow.”

Luke loved the canyon for its variety and beauty. He loved to share the information he’d learned in his years at the Grand Canyon, but he could also read a group of tourists like a book. This book was clearly bored with the information. They were city folk who were used to fast-paced lives and nonstop entertainment. Asking them to slow down to the point of recognizing the differences between sagebrush and snakeweed was expecting too much.

Valerie Winthrop took hold of his arm. “So what’s the ranch like?”

Luke nodded and tried to disentangle himself from her hold, but Valerie would have none of that. Giving up so as not to make a scene, Luke looked to the group.

“Phantom Ranch is a real treat. It’s going to be as welcome a sight as your own home, especially after a day on mule back. We’ll have a good meal for you and cabins for your comfort.
The night ends up being pretty short, given how tired you’re going to feel.”

“Oh, surely you cowboys don’t get tired,” Valerie whispered.

Luke looked to her and nodded. “Even cowboys get tired, Miss Winthrop.”

The rest of the trip was much the same. Luke found that anytime he stopped the group to rest, Valerie was right beside him. Harper scowled from a distance, as if trying to assess the threat and deciding what needed to be done.

“You simply must come to New York sometime,” Valerie insisted. “Have you ever been there?”

“No. I’ve never been there.”

“Then you don’t know what you’re missing,” she gushed. Luke continued checking the cinches on the mules. “I thought you were from South Carolina.”

“I am, but I prefer the fun to be had in New York. The parties there are so incredible—why, you’d positively think you’d died and gone to heaven. And this nonsense of prohibiting liquor is hardly a bother at all. In fact, it can be quite exciting. Sometimes the police come and we all scramble like madmen out the secret passages. They have false fronts for the bar and everything. It’s truly marvelous—you’d love it.”

Luke looked up and studied her for a moment. “I don’t think you know me well enough to know what I might love or detest. Because of this, I have to tell you you’re very wrong. I wouldn’t love it. I detest drinking—and drunks.”

The look on Valerie’s face suggested complete and utter surprise. Having finally rendered her speechless, Luke took the opportunity to move away from her to talk to Clancy.

“Well, my dear, you don’t seem to be making much progress with our cowboy leader,” Joel said snidely. “Good thing, too, as I specifically remember telling you to leave his type alone.”

Valerie turned to meet Joel’s gaze. “I’ll do as I please. I
don’t need you telling me what to do or offering unsolicited advice.”

“The only advice I’ve come to give is to remind you that I’ll not brook this nonsense any longer. Your father agrees with me. You’re much too flighty and out of control. We’ve been discussing your possible liability to his campaign.”

“I beg your pardon?” Valerie was stunned. How could this man make her so completely miserable and still expect her to feel passion for their union?

“You heard me,” Joel said, taking hold of her. He led her away from the others, tightening his grip on her arm as he did. “Don’t cause a scene with Toland,” Joel continued. “If you do, you’ll be sorry.”

“I couldn’t be more sorry than I am now,” Valerie snapped.

“That’s where you’re wrong.”

“You wouldn’t risk everything you have with Daddy.” She worked hard to keep her voice steady, for Joel absolutely terrified her, especially after she heard of how he had beat up a Washington prostitute. Her father’s secretary had told her all the gory details, ending the tirade by telling Valerie it wasn’t the first time Joel had committed such an act. She worried that it would be only a matter of time until he tried the same heavy-handed manner with her. She’d tried to talk to her father about the situation, but he’d assured her that Harper was harmless.

“Let him take out his aggressions elsewhere,” her father had said, which was maddening and very much unlike her father.

That was when Valerie had begun to dig for as much dirt on Joel Harper as she could possibly find. She’d learned a little about his past, although his present was much easier to figure. Either way, she’d use it all to threaten his future.

“You don’t know what I’ll risk and what I won’t. But I’m telling you here and now: Stay away from the men. You need to start appearing the docile little darling that everyone needs you to be. That means no more booze, no more wild parties, and no more men.”