Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] (7 page)

Chapter 11

G
avin eyed Angeline suspiciously for a moment, then sighed. “I wondered if you knew about it,” he muttered. “Knew about what?” Angeline questioned, her eyes roaming his face, itemizing his injuries.

“About the men who attacked me.” Gavin’s voice was very grave, and Angeline suddenly realized that he thought she had a part in his injuries.

“Gavin Lucas!” she exclaimed and tried to get up from his lap. “How could you ever believe me capable of hurting you. I could never hurt you. I. . .” Her
mouth snapped shut when she realized that she’d very nearly told Gavin that she
loved him.

Seeming to sense what she nearly said, Gavin gave her a lopsided grin. “No, I never really thought you were in on it, Angel. But it’s good to know how you feel.”

“Let me up,” Angel demanded, feeling herself blushing from head to toe.

“You sure?” Gavin asked, his smile broadening. “I kind of like it like this.”

Angeline pushed away and got to her feet. “You would. Now tell me what happened to you. Who did this?”

Gavin winced as he shifted his weight. “I don’t know the names, but I’d be able to pick out the faces, or what’s left of them.”

Angeline grimaced. “How many?”

“Three,” Gavin said rather proudly. “But they were puny ones.” His words sounded more like an accounting of a poor fishing day than an assault on his life.

Angeline ran a glance the full length of Gavin’s body before she spoke again. “Are you hurt anywhere else?”

Gavin laughed weakly. “You could say that. I’ve got some pretty tender ribs and about fourteen stitches where the knife went through my shoulder.”

“Knife!” Angeline exclaimed and not caring how it looked, she went to Gavin’s side and fell on her knees. Taking his hand she said, “I’m so sorry, Gavin. Oh, if you hadn’t followed me you would never have gotten hurt.”

Gavin was rather taken aback by her reaction.

Gavin tightened his fingers around her hand. “It’s okay, Angel.”

“No, it’s not. I knew the crowds could get violent. It is, after all, my cause. But you had no way of knowing that people could be so set against the suffrage movement. If you hadn’t come to try and talk me into going home, you wouldn’t have had to deal with those crazy people.”

“Angel, those folks who nearly trampled you to death had nothing to do with this.”

Angeline looked up at Gavin, her lavender eyes melting his heart in a single glance. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, the men who attacked me were paid to do so. They were given all the information they needed as to where they could find me, and they were well paid to see to it that I couldn’t interfere with you.”

“With me? But who would care whether you talked to me or not? Who even knew that you were there?” Angeline questioned, her voice raising slightly.

Gavin smiled. “Yes, who knew I was there besides you?”

Angeline thought back to that night. “I told Willa. She saw me after you brought me back to the hotel. She wondered how I’d managed to escape unharmed, and I told her about you.” Angeline paused and shook her head. “Willa would never hire someone to harm you. She’d have no reason.”

“Why not, Angel?”

“Like I said, she’d have no reason.”

“What did you tell her about me? Think hard,” Gavin said softly.

Angeline’s brows knitted together as she tried to remember. “I told her you were a friend of the family. She asked me if you were in support of the cause.”

“What did you tell her?” Gavin’s eyes were intent.

“I told her. . .” Angeline paused, remembering her words with some embarrassment.

“Tell me.”

“I told her that your cause was getting me to marry you.”

“So she’d have no reason to feel threatened. No reason to suspect that I might take you away from her cause?”

Angeline jumped to her feet, mindless of the way she pulled at Gavin’s arm and shoulder as she did. She released his hand indignantly. “I can’t believe that Willa would hire hoodlums to come beat you.”

“Calm down, Angel. As far as I could learn, your friend Douglas Baker is the one who did the hiring.” Gavin got to his feet slowly, and Angeline took a step back.

“I don’t believe you. You’re just jealous, that’s all.”

“Jealous of Baker? Is there something there that merits my jealousy?” Gavin questioned seriously.

“Douglas is a wonderful man, and he isn’t at all the type that needs to resort to illegal activities. He has powerful friends and plenty of money. I don’t think you would threaten him in the least. As for whether he merits your jealousy, well that simply isn’t for me to say.” Angeline moved away, unable to look Gavin in the eye. She knew full well that Douglas was more than a little interested in her as a woman.

“Angel, I overheard one of the men say that Baker expected to get his money’s worth. The others agreed, and that’s when the man behind me stuck his knife into me.”

Angeline turned, a look of shock on her face. Her hand went to her head. “I can’t believe Douglas would be capable of such a thing. It’s monstrous.”

“If I can give you proof it was Baker, will you realize just how much danger you’re in and come home with me?” Gavin questioned, moving forward to take hold of her shoulders. The effort caused him to grimace, and Angeline stood very still to keep from further irritating his wounds.

“What kind of proof can you give?” Angeline asked softly.

“What if he admits it himself?” Gavin’s fingers played with the wisps of hair at her neck.

“Well of course, that would prove. . . But how in the world are you ever going to get him to just come out and say. . .” Angeline refused to finish. She shook her head. “He couldn’t have been a part of it.”

Gavin’s finger traveled up Angeline’s neck to her jaw. “Angel, you are such a good-hearted woman. So good-hearted, in fact, that it’s difficult for you to believe anyone capable of the kind of evil that lurks in the world.”

Angeline relished his warm touch against her skin. She felt her breathing quicken and wondered if Gavin knew how he affected her. How could he? She was only learning about it herself.

“Angel, I’ll get the proof, but you didn’t answer me. Will you come home with me when I do?”

Angeline was so confident of Douglas’s innocence that she saw no reason to withhold her agreement. “If you can show me, beyond any doubt, that Douglas was responsible for your injuries, I’ll go home with you.” She was lost in his touch and the look in his eyes, but somehow she found the strength to add, “But, if you can’t get your proof, will you agree to go home without me?”

Gavin grinned, his eyes twinkling as though he’d already won. “Of course. If I can’t prove what I said is true, then I’ll leave you to traipse all over the world, and I’ll even explain to your parents why you didn’t return.”

“Deal,” Angeline said softly.

“Deal.”

The clock chimed the hour, breaking the spell. Angeline looked away from Gavin and, for the first time, realized how very alone they were. “You shouldn’t even be here,” she said and pulled back. “If anyone finds you here, you’ll compromise my reputation.”

“That would be a pity,” Gavin chuckled. “I might have to marry you then.”

Angeline wanted to slug him, but she was too painfully aware of his injuries. “Gavin Lucas, you would try the patience of Job himself.”

“So my mother has told me.”

“Mine says the same thing about me,” Angeline couldn’t help but add with a grin. “But even my mother wouldn’t approve of you being here with me, like this.”

Gavin nodded. “Sorry. I had to see you alone, and I didn’t want to risk having Baker see me. Since you two were having such a pleasant dinner, I thought your room would be the safest place to wait.”

“But what if he’d accompanied me back here?”

Gavin frown. “Then I would have had to accompany him back downstairs. He’d better never try anything with you, Angel. You belong to me.”

Angeline felt both hemmed in and pleased at Gavin’s declaration. “I only meant that being a gentleman, he would have seen to my safety and escorted me at least to this floor. Douglas has never tried to impose his will on me. I can’t say the same thing for you.” Gavin took a step towards her, but Angeline outmanuevered him.

“I make no apologies for my actions, Angel. Your folks like the idea of adding me to the family, and my folks adore you. Frankly, I’d appreciate it if you’d give all this up and come home now. I’ve got a great deal of work waiting for me at the ranch, and I’ve already endured more than I bargained for.”

“So go home!” Angeline declared. “You’re the only one stopping you. I have no intention of pretending that I want you to stay.”

Gavin moved faster than Angeline expected. He swept her into his arms and planted a passionate kiss upon her lips. “Tell me again how you don’t want me to stay.”

“I don’t want you to stay,” Angeline said without conviction.

Gavin kissed her again, only longer.

“Tell me.”

Angeline’s lavender eyes met Gavin’s smoky blue ones. “I, uh,” she began and saw the amusement on his face at her confusion. “Go home, Gavin.”

Gavin lowered his lips to hers once more and, this time, Angeline kissed him back. “All right!” she declared and forced herself to step away from him, breathless and flushed. “I don’t want you to go, but I don’t want you to cause trouble, either.”

Gavin laughed, picked up his hat from a nearby chair, and cautiously opened the door. “Good seeing you, Angel. Be careful.” He started to leave, then pulled back into the room and shut the door. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a piece of paper. “This is my room number. I’m just one floor down, so if Willa or your precious Douglas try to move you out of town, I’d appreciate it if you’d get word to me.”

Angeline took the paper and nodded. “Now, go. Please.” She was more disturbed by his kisses than she cared to admit.

“You’ll be in my prayers, Angel.”

“Thank you,” she whispered. “And you’ll be in mine.”

When Gavin had gone, Angeline sighed and leaned heavily against the door. Her mind raced with thoughts. Could Douglas really have paid to have Gavin beaten? She’d never known Gavin to lie, and he’d have no real knowledge of Douglas Baker, otherwise.

“Oh, Lord,” she whispered the prayer, “what am I to do? Who can I trust?” Her mind quickly referenced a verse she’d memorized from childhood. Proverbs three, verse five. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart,” she recited, “and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

“Everyone is running my life, Father,” she said, going to stare out the window. “Gavin comes here with his plans and dreams. He insists I marry him and won’t take no for an answer. Willa tells me what to do and say. She makes me read horrible things and tells me what I should feel. She plans my days out in complete detail without ever considering my needs.” Angeline smiled to herself when she thought of Gavin’s surprise arrival. “Of course, Willa didn’t plan on Gavin.” Then a thought crossed her mind. She mustn’t say anything to give away Gavin’s presence. If she told Willa, and Douglas had been responsible for Gavin’s attack, she’d end up being the cause of him being hurt further.

With a heavy sigh, she let go of the drapes. “Oh, God, please keep him safe. Please don’t let them hurt Gavin again.”

Chapter 12

T
he dry, warm days of mountain summer caused Angeline to think of home. She remembered her father and mother with such fondness that she ached at the thought of the distance between them. Despite their differences, they had always shared a closeness that Angeline cherished. It was that obvious void in her life that began to make her rethink her devotion to the cause of suffrage.

Twice she’d made her way to the lobby telephone, but both times she’d
stopped herself. If Gavin found the proof he was seeking, then she’d be head
ed home in a few days anyway. If he didn’t find something substantial to prove Douglas’s involvement in his attack, then Angeline would give her folks a call and let them know about her trip to Washington D.C.

But Gavin remained mysteriously absent. Angeline had assumed he would spend some time with her now that he was here in Denver. She’d even imagined romantic evenings at the theater or opera with Gavin on her arm. But he never called on her or even so much as sent a message. After nearly a week of this, Angeline began to wonder if he’d admitted defeat and gone home.

“Maybe he couldn’t find his proof,” she said aloud to herself one day. “At least he could have said good-bye.”

The hotel room was more confining as the days passed and Angeline decided an outing was in order. Pulling on her well-worn blue serge skirt, she
gave serious thought to her wardrobe. If she stayed on with Willa, she’d have
to send for more of her things. Trying to look the part of a smart, young suffragette was most difficult when you had to alternate between three or four changes of clothes.

A knock came at her door, and Angeline found that her heart skipped a beat. Maybe Gavin had come to talk to her again. If so, she’d ask him to accompany her across the street to the lovely park she’d watched for days from her window.

“Who is it?” she called, unlocking the door.

“It’s Willa, open up. I have a surprise for you.”

Angeline opened the door and greeted her friend. “You certainly seem excited about something. Come on in and tell me all about it.”

Willa entered the room with little flair or grace. Instead, she more or less took over a room as a general would claim a piece of ground. “We leave for Washington in two days. The march is already scheduled, and the president has agreed to receive us in the White House.”

“Two days?” Angeline questioned, uncertain that she could manage on such short notice.

“Yes, is that a problem?”

“Well, I was just considering my clothes,” Angeline replied. “You see, I never planned to be away from home more than a week or two. I only have four outfits at best and they are becoming a little worn.”

“Umm,” Willa said, surveying Angeline intently. “Yes, it would be appropriate to clothe you better.”

“I have a vast wardrobe at home in Bandelero, but I would need to send for my things and there’s no real way of knowing whether my folks would send them or not. I have some money, but it certainly isn’t enough to refurbish my attire.” Angeline’s words were straight to the heart of the matter.

“You can’t very well show up as one of our best speakers and look unkempt. I’ll work on the matter immediately. In the meantime, I’ve brought you these.” Willa pulled out a stack of papers from her valise-styled bag.

“What are these and what do you mean ‘best speaker’?” Angeline questioned, taking the papers from Willa.

“You have a gift, Angeline. I’ve already made up your agenda. You will give three speeches while we are in Washington. You will speak first at a small reception where there will be several representatives from each of the forty-eight states. You will speak no longer than ten minutes.” Willa motioned Angeline to the table at the far side of the room. “For that occasion, you will give this speech. I just finished writing it for you about an hour ago, so you will need to memorize it and make it characteristically your own.”

“I have no intention of speaking, Willa. I’m too new to this,” Angeline protested.

“Nonsense. You’ll do as you’re directed and you will do quite well at it. The next speech will be given at a luncheon for our suffrage association. This again, will last about ten minutes. Here is the speech for that occasion.” Willa pointed out the paper and pushed it aside. “Lastly, during our rally at the Capitol, I want you to speak similarly to the way you did in Santa Fe. I tried to recapture the mood and the gist of what you told those people. They were moved to tears there, and you will no doubt capture the hearts and minds of many in Washington. You might even catch the national paper’s eye and that would truly be a boon to our cause.”

Angeline couldn’t believe the way Willa had it all planned out. “Do I get any say in this?”

Willa stared at her in mute surprise. “Of course not. I am your mentor, I will teach. You will listen. The time is right for a young, beautiful woman to step forward and help open the eyes of the nation.”

“But I’m not even old enough to vote, if we had the vote,” Angeline declared.

“It is unimportant. Now you read these over and memorize each and every line. I will get to work on clothing you and will come back this afternoon to see what progress you’ve made. Don’t bother going downstairs for lunch. I’ll tell them to send something up.” Willa got to her feet and moved to the door. “It is very important to the cause, Angeline, that each of us be prepared.”

Angeline remembered Douglas’s words about preparation. “I don’t mind being prepared,” Angeline muttered, “I’d just like a say in what’s being prepared for me.”

“Pshaw!” Willa denounced her concern. “You’re just a child, Angeline. What would you do differently?” Angeline’s blank expression gave Willa the fuel she needed to continue. “You know nothing about what is necessary to plan a march or a rally. I have the experience and you don’t. It’s that simple.” With that, Willa was gone before Angeline could even open her mouth to reply.

Angeline did as she was told, although her heart was far from in it. She read the speeches over and over, wondering if she believed any of the words. Women’s suffrage had seemed an important cause, but now Angeline just felt used. Used? Wasn’t that what Gavin had said they were doing to her?

“Oh, Gavin,” she whispered and sighed heavily. “Where are you?” She thought instantly of the hotel room number he’d given her.
Perhaps I should check on him,
Angeline thought to herself.
After all, he was injured. Maybe he’s taken a turn for the worse.
She had just gotten to her feet, intent on finding out, when Willa barged in without bothering to knock.

“Well?” she questioned the surprised Angeline. “Have you memorized the speeches?”

“No,” Angeline replied in a rather stilted manner.

Willa frowned. “Why not?”

“I haven’t had the time for one thing. For another, I’m just not sure I can give these,” Angeline said and held up the papers. “They aren’t my words. They aren’t the way I feel.”

“No one needs to know how you feel, except that you demand equal rights for your sisters. Angeline, we’ve been all through this before.”

Angeline plopped down unladylike into the nearest chair. “Willa, I don’t even know if I’m going to Washington.”

Willa was genuinely taken aback by the younger girl’s response. “Of course you’re going.”

Angeline frowned. “Willa, I’ve tried to be patient about this but I feel like everyone is telling me what to do and no one cares about my feelings. I have parents who are no doubt worried about me and love me. I know they want me to return home, and I believe I can remain here and still help suffrage. After all, I have good connections in New Mexico and can write letters. . .”

“Write letters, bah!” Willa interjected. “You need someone like me to teach you. Angeline, you can’t keep your head buried in the sand forever. The world is an ugly, cruel place out there, and this is war!”

“Yes, exactly,” Angeline stated, quieting Willa. “I have two brothers who are in the army. The entire world is waiting to see how the United States will respond to the sinking of the
Lusitania
and the atrocities in Belgium. It is war and while it very well may be a European war at this point, it could easily become an American interest as well.”

“It doesn’t matter,” Willa protested.

“It does to me! You and Douglas both seem to think you can lead me around on a chain and I will perform like some type of circus animal. Well, I have news for both of you.” Even though Angeline spoke Douglas’s name, she also thought of Gavin’s pushiness. “I have a good mind of my own, and I will make my own decisions.”

Willa eyed Angeline suspiciously, then gave her a tight-lipped smile.
“You’re just overtired. Douglas is a good man, and he is quite attracted to
you. You could do far worse.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I think you know very well what I’m talking about,” Willa answered. “You are falling in love with Douglas and it frightens you. Douglas would make an excellent husband, so stop fretting.”

Angeline’s mouth dropped open and, for a moment, she couldn’t say a word. Willa took that as confirmation of her statement. “Douglas Baker is a wealthy, powerful ally, and to have you aligned with him in marriage could be quite beneficial to all concerned.”

“I have no intention of marrying Douglas Baker!” Angeline exclaimed. “Willa, you must stop this at once. You may look upon me as a child with no will of my own, but my own mother could very well set you straight on that.”

Willa held her angry reply and crossed to the door. “Memorize the
speeches, Angeline. I’ll return in the morning and we will go over the mate
rial.”

Anger raged up inside of Angeline, and as Willa closed the door, she couldn’t help but hurl her shoe against it. Unable to think clearly, she took herself to her bedroom and threw herself across the empty bed in order to decide what she should do next.

❧

Angeline never realized how very tired she was. When she awoke the next morning, still fully dressed from the day before, she began to calculate the toll that Willa and the cause were taking on her. She’d barely had time to wash her face and fix her hair when noises sounded from the sitting room, bringing Angeline to investigate.

Willa instructed several bellhops where she wanted them to put the boxes they carried and quietly ushered them from the room with a handful of change to share between them.

“I have your new clothes,” she announced unceremoniously. “Try them on and make certain they fit.” The order didn’t set well with Angeline. Especially in light of the way she’d spent the night.

“Willa, would you please leave. I’m afraid I just woke up and need some time to bathe.”

“Nonsense.” Willa was already pulling open boxes. “Try this first,” she said and tossed a burgundy gown to Angeline.

Angeline caught the heavy satin and held it up to inspect it. “The style is much too old for me,” she muttered.

“Your manner of dress is too childish. I want to present a beautiful, sophisticated woman of the world. I want to mold you into an image that women will strive to emulate. Beauty and grace should be synonymous with the suffrage cause, and with your help, it will be.”

Angeline felt hostile, and there was little charity in her words to follow. “You could benefit by your own advice, Willa. You aren’t an ugly woman, yet you dress in a mannish style, and you wear your hair entirely too severely to look feminine.”

Willa was unmoved. “I dress as I do because I have too little time to waste on frills and pampering. You, however, can draw a new generation. These younger women will look to you as a role model. Now go try on the dress.”

Angeline did as she was told, quite unhappy that Willa was unwilling to listen to reason.

The gown rustled lightly as Angeline pulled it over her head. The graceful princess lines of the dress were accentuated with painfully narrow stays that would barely allow Angeline room to breath. The cut of the neckline
draped alluringly across the bodice and left little question as to the feminini
ty of Angeline’s form.

“Come, let me see,” Willa called from the sitting room, and obediently, Angeline did as she was told.

Willa nodded in approval. “You look most lovely. There are shoes to match in one of these boxes. You may wear this to the reception.”

Angeline could take no more. “Willa, the dress is beautiful, but it isn’t me. I would like to have a choice in my clothes and in my itinerary. I want a say in where I go and what I do, not to mention with whom.”

“Angeline, we’ve discussed this before. Now, why don’t you try on this white dress?” Willa tried to ignore the fire in Angeline’s lavender eyes.

“No!” Angeline stared hard at Willa and put her hands to her hips. “I am not a child to be ordered about. If you want my cooperation in any matter, then you will discuss it with me as an adult. If you do not see fit to treat me in a respectful manner and include me in the planning of situations that involve me, I will return home and forever leave the cause of suffrage behind me.”

Willa paled just a bit, but not enough to make Angeline believe she’d taken her seriously. “I mean it, Willa! Stop trying to run my life or I’m going to leave!”

With that Angeline fled from the room and stormed down the hotel hallway, uncertain as to where she would go or what she should do. Dressed as she was, Angeline drew appreciative stares from the men on the staircase and it wasn’t until she’d made it all the way down to the lobby that she knew she had to return to her room and change.

Grudgingly, she turned and made her way back upstairs. What was she going to do, and how in the world could she convince Willa Neal that she was not an ignorant child?

“Lord,” she whispered, “I know I’ve put You alongside as one of my many causes, but I’m starting to see a real need for a better walk with You. I need a deeper understanding of what You want for my life.” Shaking her head and continuing the hushed prayer, Angeline wished most adamantly that she could speak with Gavin.