Echoes of the Heart (10 page)

“What a wonderful
indulgence after all the time on the train.
 
Did you get everything in storage?”

           
“Most
of it, the men are still unloading the rest.
 
Everyone in town will want to come and see what I brought back.
 
I have a whole train car of items people
ordered.
 
I picked them out personally
and I am sure they will want to get their goods as soon as possible.
 
We will be at the store bright and early in
the morning.”

           
“I
can hardly wait to see it, and my work area.
 
I’ll write a letter tonight so it can go back with the train to St.
Louis.
 
I am
sure Mother and Father will be anxious to hear from me.”

She returned to
her room and finished unpacking her things placing them in the chest of drawers
matching the floor to ceiling carved oak armoire.
 
She strode to the mid-sized writing desk in
the anteroom facing a draped window.
 
A
cushioned chair with matching ottoman and a small chaise lounge sat around a
plush hand woven Oriental rug covering most of the hardwood floor.
 

While sealing the
correspondence to her family, the scent of food cooking wafted into the
stairway making her hungry, so she hurriedly dressed tying her hair into a
ribbon, leaving the soft curls flowing down her back. After one last glance in
the mirror, she ran her hands over the folds of her dress and straightened the
low cut bodice exposing creamy white skin enhanced by the clef between firm
jutting breasts.

When she entered
the kitchen, the aroma of food made her mouth water.
 
The roomy area had a small wooden table and
chairs tucked in the corner, and ample pantries along the wall appeared well
stocked.
 
Long wooden counters graced the
sides of a sink with a small water pump and the windows facing the rear porch
held bright yellow curtains accentuating the last rays of sunlight setting in
the west.

           
Sadie
stood at the counter preparing the meal when Raeden entered.
 
“Is there anything I can do to help?
 
Everything smells fantastic.”

           
“Oh,
no, I have everything under control here.
 
Why don’t you go into the reception room and see everyone has something
to drink?
 
We have wine and several types
of liquor or if someone would prefer there is buttermilk in a crock on the
porch.”
 
Sadie continued to work over the
wood-burning stove.
 
The bouquet of
freshly baked bread filled the room, making Raeden ravenous.

           
On
her way to the reception room, she passed through the formal dining area.
 
An ivory candelabrum with twelve crystal
domes reflected off a mirror-finish wooden table lined with carved high-backed
chairs.
 
Thick cushioned seats
upholstered in cream-colored damask woven in a floral pattern matched the
elegant draperies covering bay windows with a view of the mountains casting a
purple-black hue in the twilight.

           
Fine
imported china, crystal goblets and silver flatware adorned each place setting
and a centerpiece of fall flowers softly scented the room.
 
Alongside the china cabinet in the far corner
stood an enormous buffet table holding a silver coffee urn and several freshly
baked pies with dessert plates neatly stacked at the side.
 
She paused for a moment scanning a thick
richly colored Turkish carpet admiring her aunt’s elegant taste.

           
The
parlor held several deep-pillowed settees and overstuffed chairs strategically
placed around one another.
 
A cabinet
with glass insets holding decanters and crystal goblets stood behind a small
bar gracing the wall to her left.
 
Oil
filled sconces hung from each wall ready to illuminate this idyllic room to
entertain guests.

           
Raeden
found matches in the drawer of the cabinet and proceeded to light all the lamps
before the last rays of the setting sun hid behind the horizon.

           
Anxious
to tour the rest of the house, Raeden strolled into the ballroom adjacent to
the parlor.
 
Her dress flared above her
ankles when she twirled across gleaming wood floors surmising how often the
fabulous room held dancers.
 
The entire
house spoke of elegance and comfort not what she had expected so far from
civilization.

           
Diane’s
voice drifted from the kitchen so Raeden joined her, admiring the cream-colored
dress showing off her slim figure.
 
A
strand of pearls encircled her long neck and pearl earrings adorned her
lobes.
 
When she turned to face Raeden, a
smile curved her lips spreading to expose minuscule laugh lines and her clear
blue eyes sparkled with life.

           
Diane
reached out to take her hands.
 
“You look
stunning, my dear.
 
Your dress appears
quite European.
 
I swear your creations
are getting better all the time.”

 
Raeden smiled at the compliment.
 
“Our annual autumn ball is coming up
soon.
 
You must make me something to wear
that will show off your talent.”

           
Raeden
perked at the idea.
 
“There is going to
be a dance?”
 
Her mind already
calculating, perhaps she would be able to contract a few ball gowns for the
occasion.

           
“We
all get together before the bad weather sets in.
 
Traveling is difficult during the winter, so
it gives us all a chance to see each other.
 
Come spring, we hold one at our house and during the summer we have big
barbeques.”

           
“That
sounds delightful.
 
I never thought so
much would happen way out here.
 
I guess
I expected a more rustic environment.”
 
Raeden became restless to begin the evening.
 
“What time will your guests arrive?
 
I will be serving pre-dinner refreshments.”

           
“They
should arrive around
eight o’clock
.
 
I have invited four couples and of course,
Cash.”

           
The
thought of sitting through dinner listening to his abuse made her stomach
turn.
 
“Did you have to invite such a
vile man?
 
He’s so rude.”

           
Diane’s
eyes flickered with amusement.
 
“Well,
Cash is sort of the town rake but he will mind his manners while he is
here.
 
I want you to meet some of our
friends.
 
The ladies are sure to notice
your attire.
 
It might give you the
chance to update their wardrobes.”

           
The
two women walked toward the reception room.
 
“Tomorrow we will get things set up for you at the store unless you
would rather rest for a couple of days.”

           
“Heavens
no, I want to help.
 
I’m getting up early
anyway to take Arte out to stretch his legs after such a long train ride.”

Nine

           
Hearing
footsteps on the porch both turned their attention to the door.
 
Raeden followed Diane when she opened it
welcoming the first guests to arrive.
 
“Hello, Jane, and how are you, Bill?
 
Come in and let me introduce you to my niece.”

With a graceful
turn, she reached for Raeden’s elbow drawing her close.
 
“Raeden, I would like you to meet our friends
Jane and Bill Winters.
 
They own the
hotel and also run a small ranch outside town to the east.”

           
Raeden
greeted the couple allowing Bill to take her hand.
 
He appeared strong and confident, handsome
with his dark hair silvered at the temples.
 
“So this is the niece we have been hearing so much about.
 
I must say you favor your beautiful aunt.”
 
Raeden felt her cheeks warm.

           
Jane,
a pretty woman in a country sort of way, healthy and hardy, moved closer.
 
Raeden noticed her dress somewhat
outdated.
 
“You are such an attractive
girl and your dress is lovely.
 
Is it
imported?”
 
A genial expression illuminated
her face while she admired the gown.

           
Raeden
puffed with pride while she made a turn to allow Jane to view the gown in its
entirety.
 
“I design my own clothes.
 
It’s sort of a passion of mine.
 
May I serve you a drink while we wait for the
others to arrive?”
 
She led them toward
the parlor then reached for glasses in the cabinet.

           
“I
would love a glass of wine.
 
How about
you, Bill?”

           
“Whiskey
will be fine.”
 
He stood next to Diane
and they began discussing the latest shipment in from St.
Louis.

           
Raeden
poured a glass of wine for Jane and herself then some scotch whiskey from a
crystal decanter.
 
“Would you care for
something, Aunt Diane?”

           
Diane
halted the conversation and glanced toward Raeden.
 
“A glass of wine would be nice.
 
Thanks so much for being such a gracious
hostess.”

           
Passing
out the beverages she handed Diane the glass of wine she had poured for herself
then filled another.
 
It most likely
would take more than one glass of wine to get her through the evening once
that
man arrived.

           
“Where
is Mike?”
 
Bill inquired taking a taste
of his drink.
 
“Don’t tell me he is still
at the store.
 
I noticed you had an
entire trainload when I picked up our furniture for the new addition to the
hotel.”
 
He downed another swallow of whiskey.
 
“Good thing you built the new addition.
 
By the way, I’ll be by tomorrow to settle my
account.”
 
Finishing his drink in one
last gulp, Bill stood to refill his glass.

           
“Mike
is upstairs getting dressed.
 
We should
see him any minute now.
 
And there is no
big hurry on your account.
 
You can stop
by anytime.”
 
Her eyebrows curved upward
as she cocked her head slightly to one side.
 
“Just don’t leave town.”
 
They
both chuckled and turned toward Jane bringing her into the conversation.

           
Hearing
footsteps outside, Diane rose to greet her guests.
 
Raeden’s heart pounded in her chest when she
heard Diane speak.
 
“Hello, Cash, come
in.
 
I’m so glad you could make it.”
 
With her hand tucked into his arm, they
entered the reception room.

“Rae will be happy
to pour you a drink.
 
You certainly
deserve it after the long day you spent helping us unload.”

When he entered
the room escorting Diane with a hand on the back of her waist, Raeden noticed
him dressed in formal attire.
 
The dark
blue western suit offset his dark eyes.
 
A black felt hat rimmed with a silver band held in hand allowed her to
observe the full head of thick coal-black hair.
 
He stood straight as a mast and his presence filled the room.
 
White teeth shone through a scant smile.

           
Nearing
Raeden, a look of admiration glinted from piercing eyes sending waves of heat
through her entire body.
 
She stood
unable to remove her eyes from the skin below his neck appearing beneath the
white shirt left unbuttoned at the collar.

His smile curved
into a devilish grin making her back stiffen, and she held her head high
waiting for a mocking gibe to emit from his perfectly formed mouth.
 
“What may I get you to drink, Marshal
Rydell?”

She did not
attempt to hide the sarcasm in her voice, but her eyes traveled the length of
his torso then glanced down his long well muscled limbs.

           
He
returned her derision.
 
“I’ll have
whiskey, Miss Newell, unless you rather I pour it myself.”
 
His hard stare slowly raked down the length
of her body then back up to rest a moment on breasts rising above her
bodice.
 
A blush burned her cheeks while
she turned to pour his drink.
 
Her hand
shook when she reached to hand him the glass.

           
His
fingers softly brushed the side of her hand sending a shock wave up her arm and
she prayed he would stop staring as if she stood naked.
 
When he turned to join the others, she gulped
down wine to ease her distress and her shoulders sagged slightly, relieved to
be no longer on display.