[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (17 page)

Their refusal to help clear Rainy of the ridiculous charges against her was the main reason for the falling-out, but Sonny suspected there were other problems as well.

Entering the dining room, where tables and the sideboard stood overflowing with finger foods, Sonny was immediately set upon by Bethel Driscoll.

“Why, Sonny Gordon,” she fairly purred, “I’d know you anywhere.” She reached out to touch him and traced his jacketed arm down to where his hand held the cake tray. She toyed with the back of his hand for a moment, stroking her fingers over his knuckles as she smiled sweetly into his face.

She wasn’t all that pretty, Sonny thought, but there was something about her manner that demanded attention. “My mother pointed you out to me. I understand you’re Dr. Albright’s niece and Chester Driscoll’s wife.”

Bethel laughed. She stepped away and raised her hands as if for emphasis. “I’m also very much my own person. Don’t think to limit my identity to my uncle and husband.”

Sonny nodded, rather mesmerized at the way her silver gown shimmered. She moved again, this time twirling in front of him as an animated child might do.

“I purchased this dress in Los Angeles. Do you like it?”

“It’s very nice,” Sonny answered, not at all sure what else to say.

“My uncle and husband hate it. They said I paid too much for it and that it’s much too revealing. But, as I mentioned, I’m my own person and I make my own decisions. I think women have long been oppressed in being prohibited from choosing their own fashions. Why should our choices be dictated by men? Do you realize that all of the most famous creators of women’s clothing are men?”

“No, I suppose I didn’t.”

She nodded. “Well, I’m sure few people realize that. If so, they probably imagine that these male masters of style are being advised by women, but it simply isn’t true. They choose the fashion and design and have all the say over how it comes together. Women are stuck with wearing whatever men throw their way.

It’s no different for the poor woman whose husband allows her only a few dollars for a new dress and shoes or the wealthy matron who fills her closets with new clothes twice a year. We are all following along under the guidance of men.”

Sonny nodded, still unsure of what she expected him to say. Sometimes conversations with strangers were easy. At those times each person seemed to have an understanding of their lines, and the conversation took place with as much ease as could be mustered between people who had no intention of intimacy.

Conversing with Bethel Driscoll wasn’t that way, however. Sonny felt completely confused. Not only that, but the cake tray was starting to feel pretty heavy.

“I’m afraid,” he began, “that I need to deliver the cake.”

“Of course.” She smiled rather coyly. “We each must do what is assigned us.”

Again he nodded, but he had no idea what she meant to imply. Was she making some kind of subtle comment about clothes again?

“Oh, there you are,” Sonny’s mother said as he came into the living room. “I was beginning to think I’d have to hunt you down.” She smiled and took the tray from him. Sonny couldn’t help but wonder what his mother would have had to say about Bethel’s comments. He looked at her simple navy-colored dress.

She seemed simple but elegant. Bethel just looked . . . well . . . cheap.

“Look at the cake, Uncle Gunther,” Bethel said as she swept into the room to stand at Sonny’s side. “I’ll bet they had this marvelous confectionery made at that little bakery just down the street.”

Sonny’s mother seemed surprised by this statement but said nothing. Sonny felt the need to rush to her defense. “Mom made the cake. She’s quite remarkable in the kitchen. We never feel the need to use the bakery.”

His mother flashed him a look of gratitude as she said, “We hope you are enjoying your party, Gunther.

You’ve been such a good friend to Ray and to me.”

Gunther Albright wasn’t a tall man. He stood only a few inches taller than Sonny’s mother’s five-foot-four-inch frame. But it was the pockmarks on Gun-ther’s face that made him seem more foreboding.

Smallpox had marred him as a teenager, but he seemed hardly concerned with the scars at the age of sixty.

With his snowy hair and bushy white eyebrows, Gunther looked much older than Sonny’s father, yet Sonny knew them to be rather close in age. Gunther, however, wore the weight of his years.

“I can’t thank you enough for the party,” Gunther said, leaning forward to kiss Sonny’s mother on the cheek.

“Hey, now, what is this?” Sonny’s father called out as he joined the party. “I see you kissing my best gal.”

The partiers laughed and Gunther smiled. “She’s the prettiest in the room and she cooks like an angel.

I couldn’t let her go without thanking her.”

“Well, I don’t know that angels cook,” Ray Gordon stated, “but I do know Edrea makes the best food I’ve ever eaten.”

“Hear, hear!” Sonny joined in. “It’s one of the biggest reasons I’ve remained at home for this long.” He wanted to take back the words as soon as they were spoken, for he’d inadvertently invited talk of his personal life.

“I wondered why you hadn’t married yet,” Bethel said, moving in for the kill. She lowered her voice so that only Sonny could hear her words. “Had I met you prior to meeting Chester, I might have given his proposal less consideration.”

Sonny stepped back and tried not to look shocked.

“Where is Chester? Is he here tonight?”

Bethel’s expression took on a look of boredom. “I haven’t any idea where he is. He talked of going back to Santa Fe to help my friend Jennetta with a special project.”

“I thought Jennetta Blythe was going to Taos with her brother and some friends. They were hiring a courier car and my sister to guide them.”

Bethel laughed. “Well, perhaps that’s where he went, then.”

Sonny tried not to worry about Rainy, but it was hard. He felt that he was responsible for protecting her from harm.
I should have given up my vacation and
stayed with her. I shouldn’t have given my responsibility over
to Duncan
. He wanted to kick himself. Now he’d just worry about Rainy until he heard that she was safely back at the boardinghouse in Santa Fe.

Sonny heard his mother question Bethel about something, but he paid no attention to the words.

Instead, he chose that moment to move across the room and take up conversation with another of his father’s friends from the university. He wasn’t about to get caught up in another conversation about fashion.

“It’s an outrage if you ask me,” the man declared.

Sonny looked hesitantly at the man. He didn’t want to nose into the conversation and so thought maybe it would be better to leave. He turned, but the man put his hand on Sonny’s shoulder.

“What are your father’s plans?”

“Excuse me?” Sonny said, shaking his head. “His plans for what?”

“The university is planning to eliminate a large number of their staff. They’re asking for the older faculty to retire or step down. I was just wondering what your father planned?”

Sonny looked to where his father stood talking with Gunther. “I don’t know. I can’t speak to the matter because he has not discussed it with me.”

“I suppose I’ve gone and let the whole messy ordeal out of the bag,” the man said, his tone apologetic.

“What mess is that?” a younger man asked.

“Oh, you know. This matter of employment in times of trial and tribulation. The university situation.”

Sonny was surprised to find Gunther Albright suddenly take up the conversation. “It’s ludicrous, that’s what,” he called from the other side of the room.

Sonny’s father took a step back as Gunther continued.

“How dare the university ask its older, more experienced members to leave? I’ve worked hard to establish a good career and to benefit the school with my expertise— and this is how they reward me? By putting me out to pasture?”

Ray Gordon shook his head. “Now, Gunther, I’m sure that’s not what they intended. I would imagine they’re merely considering that younger men might well have families—children to provide for.”

“That’s no excuse. I have plenty of expenses to see to. They needn’t rob me of my income and lifestyle in order to benefit another. This idea that men with families are somehow more deserving of steady work holds no credence with me.”

“So you don’t plan to retire, I take it,” the man who’d brought up the entire matter commented in a rather lame fashion.

“I certainly do not. I will never retire for those reasons. Let someone else step down.”

The somber spirit and intensity of the moment seemed to steal away the party gaiety. Sonny’s mother worked quickly to retrieve the goodwill. “Let’s have some cake. I happen to know that this is Gunther’s favorite.”

Sonny took the opportunity to slip from the room.

If anyone asked where he was going, he’d tell them he was just getting a glass of water, which was exactly what he planned to do. He would not mention that he’d rather go hide in his bedroom and read the government reports on Alaska. If he tried that, his mother would just hunt him down and force his return. So, instead, he stood in the silence of the kitchen trying hard to figure out what was to be done.

“My uncle is a bit of a killjoy,” Bethel announced as she came into the room. “But you have to understand. He lost a good deal of money during the crash of ’29.”

“I’m sure he feels quite threatened,” Sonny replied, wishing Bethel would go back to the party and leave him alone. He poured himself a glass of water and drank.

“Yes, well, he needn’t worry. I have enough money to keep him in cigars and brandy until he dies. He’s a dear man who’s cared greatly for me over the years. I could never let anything bad befall him.”

Sonny toyed with the glass for a moment. “Yes, family should take care of each other. That’s what the Bible says.”

“Oh, so you’re one of those stuffy Christians who has a list of rules and regulations a mile long,” she commented, moving closer. “Don’t you ever want to just have some fun?” She walked her fingers up his arm.

“I have lots of fun, Bethel, but it never conflicts with how I feel about serving God.”

She feigned a pout. “But you could have so much more fun if you just pretended that God wasn’t looking.”

Sonny shook his head. “Nope, I don’t think I could. You see, I know God is looking. He’s always with me, no matter where I go or what I do. He’s in my heart because I asked Him to be there. I want His company no matter the journey.”

She shook her head and moved away. “A real man wouldn’t need a governess to watch over him.”

Sonny chuckled. “No, indeed, but a real man can always benefit by looking to his father for direction and companionship.”

————

Later that night, after the party had dispersed and the cleanup had been completed, Sonny sat alone in the living room. He thought about the evening and about his father and Gunther Albright. How terrible to have depended on a job—to have expected that job to last a lifetime—only to have it stripped from you.

“You seem deep in thought, my boy. Anything you care to discuss?”

Sonny looked up to find his father standing in the archway. “I guess I’m just concerned for you and Mom.”

His father studied him momentarily before taking a seat in his favorite blue brocade chair. “And why is that?”

“Well, you heard the discussion regarding the university. Why didn’t you say anything to me about this?

I mean, I know you don’t owe me any explanations, but I care what happens to you. Are you going to retire?”

His father seemed to consider the questions for a moment before leaning back and lacing his fingers behind his head. “I’ve given it a great deal of thought, and I’ve talked it over with your mother.”

“And?” Sonny hated that his father was dragging this along at such a slow pace, but it was his father’s way.

“And I believe I will retire. There are hard times coming, son. I have a bit of money saved—money that

I managed not to lose when so many others lost everything. It’s not a lot, but enough. I also have the property in Scotland and your Uncle Sean would like to see us come back. He’d like help with the farm. And since you’re moving to Alaska to work with your friends, we’ve decided we might as well go.”

“Scotland? Truly? What about Rainy?”

His father nodded slowly. “That has been a concern of ours, but we trust God to work out the details.

Rainy is welcome to come with us. Aye, in fact, she’d be quite good company for your mother. If I know Sean, and well I do, he’ll have me working from sunup to sunset, and your mother could grow quite lonely.”

“I worry about Rainy. She’s so vulnerable.”

His father leaned forward at this. “How so?”

Sonny shrugged. “I suppose I don’t even know the answer to that as well as I’d like to. She’s caught up in her feelings. She thinks God is leading her to marriage, but she doesn’t know which man is the one God has picked out for her. She fancies that movie star Phillip Vance. But she also likes Duncan Hartford.”

“Tell me about this movie star. He must have been pretty special for her to go canceling on her mom and me.”

“He’s smooth, that’s for sure,” Sonny said. “He’s too smooth. He’s all glitter and glamour. Women flock to him and girls adore him. He’s shown Rainy a bit of extra attention and she seems quite intrigued. I’m sure I don’t understand what she’s experiencing, but . . .”

“No, there aren’t any ‘buts’ in this matter. You can’t know your sister’s heart. As close as you two have always been—finishing each other’s sentences and always seeming to know what the other one was thinking— you can’t know her heart. Rainy is a woman, and that will always stand as a mystery between you two.”

“But she isn’t making sense. Duncan Hartford cares for her and his interest in archaeology is exactly what Rainy desires. He’s caught her attention and she finds him handsome, intelligent, and in general what she’s looking for. At least she did until Phillip Vance came to town. I’m just afraid that Vance will sweet-talk her into giving up the things most dear and precious to her, and then he’ll hurt her.”