Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] (4 page)

Joel took hold of Alex’s arm. She stared down at his finely manicured hand in contrast to her black sleeve. Returning her gaze to meet his, Alex felt overwhelmed with the assurance that this was a man used to getting whatever he wanted. Rich and good-looking, he no doubt played the room with great expertise.

“Don’t be so quick to dismiss me. I’ll speak to you more about this after dinner.” He let her go and turned abruptly to rejoin his dinner party.

He’s just like every other man
, Alex thought.
I’ll have to watch myself around him. No doubt he’s used to having women fall at his feet
. Smiling, Alex went about her work and saw to the needs of her other tables before forcing herself back to the Winthrop party.

Dining at El Tovar was a much more relaxed event than diners experienced at other Harvey restaurants. So many of the Harvey House Restaurants were set up with the sole purpose of feeding large quantities of train passengers in an elegant, but rapid-paced, manner. Alex had experienced an entirely different kind of work routine from the one here at El Tovar while training and serving at the Harvey House in Williams. There, the train had come in and, within thirty minutes, the Harvey Girls would feed and water the train passengers, sending no one away hungry, unless by choice.
Town folk came in for meals as well, but the pacing was always set by the railroad and those passengers who paid to ride the rails. El Tovar, however, was designed for pure pleasure and leisurely enjoyment.

The evening passed in relative ease for Alex. At two of her tables, the guests ate rather hastily and hurried off to stroll the canyon rim. They tipped well, so she didn’t care that they had little interest in her attention. Her other tables had minor problems or needs, but nothing out of the ordinary. Years of serving in a Harvey uniform had taught her that very little couldn’t be handled with a smile and soft word.

She had anticipated trouble from Joel Harper but found him to be a perfect gentleman. He took her service and politely responded when she offered drinks or additional courses.

But while Joel had treated her with respect, Valerie Winthrop was an entirely different matter.

“Miss, this fish is cold. Take it back and bring me something else.”

“Miss, I don’t care for the blend of this coffee, bring me English tea.”

It went on and on. Always she complained, and always Alex tried her best to pleasantly anticipate Miss Winthrop’s needs.

Alex decided she was going to escape without anything too uncomfortable as the party concluded their dinner amidst conversation regarding the retired senator’s return to politics. The men seemed anxious to be outside strolling and smoking and Miss Winthrop seemed somewhat bored and ready to retire to more exciting places, although where that would be, Alex was not entirely sure.

“Winston, we need a man like you for president,” Laird stated as Alex began to clear away the dishes.

“Daddy will make the perfect president,” Valerie added. “He’s so considerate and smart. He’ll know exactly what to do to keep the country strong, and with his experience and backing, he ought to easily be able to defeat President Harding.”

“President Harding would no doubt find you more appealing than Mr. Harper or your father,” Laird said, leering rather suggestively at Valerie’s daring neckline. The feather boa had long since eased its way up around the young woman’s neck, leaving her rather exposed to view.

“That’s true, Val dear,” Joel said rather snidely. “You know the rumors regarding Mr. Harding and his love of female companionship.”

Valerie laughed and leaned forward as if to entice Laird further. “Is it true they’ve created a secret tunnel into the White House so that he can get his women in and out without the public knowing about them?”

“I’m sure it’s well traveled if they have,” Laird replied. “Perhaps if he got the Secretary of the Interior to put in a toll booth, we could write off the debts from the Great War.” Laughter erupted and Alex did her level best to ignore the conversation. She’d actually heard good things about the president, and she hated to have anyone bad-mouth the country’s leader. She remembered her father laughing at a quote President Harding had made. Several years earlier Harding had stated, “It is my conviction that the fundamental trouble with the people of the United States is that they have gotten too far away from Almighty God.” Alex had admired him for that. Of course, she hadn’t known of his philandering ways, but it didn’t surprise her if such a thing were true. She only hoped that Mrs. Harding didn’t suffer to the extent Alex’s mother did.

Alex was so lost in thought that she missed the next round of comments. Apparently the subject had been amusing because once again they were all laughing quite boisterously.

“Excuse me,” Alex murmured, reaching to retrieve an empty dessert plate.

“And if I won’t?” Joel Harper questioned, reaching out to still Alex’s hand. He gripped her wrist and grinned up boyishly, as if she might be impressed by his sudden attention.

“I’m afraid I must insist,” Alex said, trying hard to maintain her calm. “I have a great deal of work to do.”

“That’s the black and white of it, Mr. Harper,” Senator Winthrop said, looking as though he thought himself quite clever.

Everyone laughed with the exception of Joel. He appeared intent on keeping Alex from her duties. “Say, Val, you’d look smashing dressed as a Harvey Girl. What do you say?”

“I think they look like nuns,” Valerie Winthrop replied disgustedly. “So chaste and pure.”

“Well, that would leave you out, wouldn’t it, darling?” Joel said, leaning toward Valerie.

Alex happened to be standing between them and found Joel’s presence much too invading. Jerking away and stepping back, she picked up the last of the dinner plates and added them to her stack. Alex had just turned to head back to the kitchen when Joel reached out and pinched her backside. Whirling around to meet her assailant, Alex lost control of her tray and sent china and crystal plummeting to the floor.

Everyone at the Winthrop table broke into laughter. Alex fixed Joel with what she hoped was an icy stare. She didn’t even bother to apologize. Everyone in the dining room looked up to see what had caused the disturbance.

“Is there a problem here?” Mrs. Godfrey questioned, coming up from behind Alex.

“I’m afraid I startled your girl,” Joel replied before Alex could speak. “The damage is my fault. Put it on my bill.”

“Nonsense,” Mrs. Godfrey said with a smile. “Accidents happen. Miss Keegan, see that this is cleaned up.”

“Yes, I will.” Alex tried not to appear flustered as she picked up her tray and squatted down to gather the broken pieces.

Joel leaned over to help and smiled in his dangerous way. “I’m truly sorry. I only meant to get your attention.”

“Well, my name is Miss Keegan. Try that next time.” Alex straightened as she picked up the last piece of china. “It generally works better than your way.”

“Mine’s more fun,” Joel replied with a wink. “Say, why don’t you meet me at the rim just beyond the rock porch. I’d like to find a better way to apologize.”

Everyone watched Alex, as if to anticipate her answer. Alex shifted the tray and shook her head. With a smile she replied. “I’m afraid that would be a bad idea. I might be arrested if I joined you out there.”

“But whatever for?” Joel asked, his voice lowering. “For pushing you over the edge,” Alex replied matter-of-factly before turning to head back to the kitchen. Of all the arrogant and self-absorbed men, Joel Harper had to take the prize.

Laughter rang out from the members of the Winthrop party, and Alex could hear even Joel chuckle at her response.
Let them laugh
, Alex thought.
They’re too unaware of the rest of the world. All they know is their wealth and power
.

CHAPTER FOUR

El Tovar held the honor of being the prize of Harvey Hotels. The company had seen to it that every comfort could be offered. Poised not more than twenty feet from the rim of the canyon at one corner, the hotel blended rustic beauty with European refinement. The porches and supports were native stone to match the area scenery, while the bulk of El Tovar was constructed from Douglas fir logs brought in from Oregon. The four-story structure boasted nearly one hundred guest rooms—some with private baths—as well as steamed heat, hot and cold running water, electric lights, and of course, the wonderful Harvey House meals.

El Tovar was a community unto itself, with its lounges, art galleries, large elegantly set dining room, and rooftop garden. There were clubrooms, recreation rooms, music rooms—it even had its own power plant and fire safety system. The cost of construction was rumored to be upwards of $250,000, but no one seemed to question the expense. It benefited the rich, who could come and stay quite happily for about six dollars a day.

Alex felt privileged to be a part of such a fascinating place. Most of the Harvey Girls worked from around Easter until the end of summer. But some, like Alex, worked year round. There was good money to be made, especially in tips. The bulk of their customers were rich and, for the most part, liked to share the wealth. Alex’s good friend Michaela Benson had managed to set aside so much money that she’d taken an extended leave of absence to travel the country. Alex knew, however, the minute Michaela wanted to come back, the Harvey Company would hire her back. It was that way with most of the experienced, popular staff.

That was also why Alex didn’t worry about getting a transfer to another part of the country. Having a job, and even
arranging for quarters, would be the easy part of solving her dilemma. Convincing her mother that it was the best alternative would be the difficult part. However, looking at the newly arrived Williams newspaper, she wondered if her task had just gotten easier. There on the editorial page, a cartoon once again poked fun at her family and exposed their shame.

Keegan Chooses Wrong Mount
, the caption read, while a caricature of her father had been drawn alongside a mule with the branding GC, for Grand Canyon. He was running his hand over the mule’s backside, while in the opposite corner, a thoroughbred mare, marked KK for Katherine Keegan, stood with her head in a haystack. The mare was contentedly ignorant of the injustice. Alex’s mother would not have that luxury.

“This makes me so mad!” Alex said, flinging the paper down on Mrs. Godfrey’s desk.

“I know you’re not pleased to see yet another example of the paper’s lack of propriety, but perhaps—”

“I’m sorry, Mrs. Godfrey,” Alex interrupted, “but the paper is only drawing attention to my father’s indiscretion. It’s hardly their lack of propriety that disturbs me as much as everyone’s lack of concern for my mother’s feelings.”

The older woman nodded. “I simply thought you should know about it before you had to serve luncheon. Your father is among the Winthrop party today, so I put Bernice on that table and freed you to work elsewhere. I’m sorry for the awkwardness of this situation.”

“I’m the one who should apologize,” Alex said, pausing at last to collapse in the chair opposite her mentor. “I have asked Father to stay away, but he refuses. Says his money is just as good as the next man’s and that he helped to popularize this place. He avidly supports Winthrop’s desire for the Democratic nomination for president and hopes to land himself a nice comfortable job in Washington.”

“Oh, my.”

Alex nodded. “Exactly. I have no desire for my mother to
bear any more pain, so I must tell you that I’ve contemplated the idea of putting in for a transfer so that I might take her away from this.”

Mrs. Godfrey didn’t appear surprised. Instead, she smiled. “But, Alex, dear, you wouldn’t want to rush into anything. After all, if your father is given a position in Washington, that would solve your dilemma. Perhaps he could go and your mother could remain here in Arizona.”

“But that’s over a year away.” Alex shook her head. She’d thought all of this through more than once. “I’ll just have to keep praying that God will help me to keep my temper under control in the meanwhile. I’d hate to run El Tovar short on tomatoes.”

Mrs. Godfrey chuckled. “Alex, you’re my best worker. You’re my number one girl, and I don’t want to lose you as I have Michaela. We’re already two girls short. I’ve put in a request for at least four additional girls, especially since the Winthrop party has announced intentions to put on quite a round of entertainment and festivities. They’ll be here at least a month.”

“Somehow that figures.” The last thing Alex wanted to have to endure was a month of Joel Harper and her father.
Two peas in a pod
, she thought.

“Though why they chose July and August to spend at the canyon is beyond me,” Mrs. Godfrey continued. “They’re used to the warmth of the south, I suppose. I understand they own a plantation in South Carolina.”

Alex no longer cared to hear any more about the Winthrop entourage. “Perhaps they came for the air,” she said, getting to her feet. “Look, I know I’m only filling in for lunch, but I can stay and do supper as well. Just because my father is here is no reason to shelter me like a child.”

“Nonsense. This was your day off. Had we not fired Melina, it would still be your day off. No, I only need the help with lunch. Then go and take some time for yourself. You need to relax. There will be enough of a burden on you in
the weeks to come. With the Winthrop plans, I’m sure we’ll all be working extra hours. And while I hesitate to mention it, I must say this.” Mrs. Godfrey paused and fixed Alex with a sympathetic expression. “The Winthrop party has specifically asked that you be assigned them on a regular basis—especially for dinners. They’re paying a premium price for a private dining room and feel you are the best on staff. I couldn’t argue with them there.”

“Wonderful.” Alex’s tone of voice left little doubt as to how she felt.

“If it helps at all, they’ve already given me a large sum to entice you. This is half your tip money for the month if you will continue to at least be their dinner server when you are on duty.”

Alex looked at the money, then raised her gaze to Mrs. Godfrey. “There’s at least twenty dollars there.”