Owen seemed to read her thoughts. “I think we should head back. Today’s a scorcher without any clouds to ease the temperature.” He got to his feet. “I’ll get the horses saddled.”
“I’ll pack up our things here,” Susanna offered.
He reached down to help her to her feet. She stood and was quite content to let Owen hold her and gaze into her eyes. It was a lovely moment.
“I have to tell you that this has been the best day I’ve had in some time,” he said.
Susanna could see the sincerity in his eyes. “It’s been the best for me as well. Thank you for suggesting it.”
He dropped his hold on her. “Thank you for coming along.”
7
The next week Uncle Harrison arrived. He inspected the hotel with Susanna’s father following in close step. Susanna manned the front desk while the two men made their way around the hotel, which at the moment was empty.
Susanna had already stripped the rooms where people had stayed the night before and remade made the beds with fresh linens. Her mother had encouraged her not to change the linens every day—after all, who was to know, unless the sheets were mud-smeared or stained? But Susanna didn’t like the idea of letting different people sleep on the same sheets. She wanted their guests to know the room was completely clean—bedding and all.
“Well, the rooms aren’t as big as I thought they’d be, but the furnishings are good, and if need be, you could fit another bed into most of the rooms,” Uncle Harrison declared as he and Father made their way down the stairs.
Uncle Harrison was a large man who appeared rather imposing to most. He was six foot two and broad shouldered with a thick waist. Susanna had once seen a photograph of Queen Victoria’s son, who was to be king one day. Uncle Harrison was the spitting image of that man and just as intimidating as if he were a king.
“Susanna, how are you, my dear?” he asked. She had been in the back and not quite dressed when he arrived, so she hadn’t yet greeted him.
“I’m doing well, Uncle Harrison.” She embraced him as he kissed her cheek. “And how about you? How was the train ride?”
“Completely without error. I came in my own car, and it was luxury at its best. I cannot complain. And how about you? Is life treating you well?”
“It is. I’m quite content.” She beamed a smile.
“Now, where are your mother and brother?”
Susanna could tell her father hadn’t broken the news of their living elsewhere. She looked to her father, who was quick to look away.
“Mother is no doubt at home in the little adobe house I arranged for them,” Susanna said. “Gary, however, is working for the railroad. He wanted to try his hand at manual labor.”
Her uncle’s scowl was deep. “You aren’t living here at the hotel, Herbert?”
Susanna’s father shrugged. “Gladys couldn’t abide it here. She was a nervous wreck. Susanna found us a little house only a few blocks away, and she manages much better there.”
“That wasn’t our arrangement. Someone must be on the premises at all times.”
“There is someone,” Father hurried to explain. “I come every dawn and stay until evening, except for mealtimes. Susanna is here all evening and night.”
“She lives here alone? That is hardly appropriate. You and your wife were to live here, not your daughter.”
“Yes, well, perhaps you can take that up with Gladys over lunch.”
Uncle Harrison merely rolled his eyes and then fixed his gaze on Susanna. “What about that brother of yours? Can he stay here with you? I don’t want you living here alone. This town hasa reputation of being a bustling place with a lot of strangers. You need to be protected.”
“I’m sure Gary might consider it. We can ask him,” Susanna assured him. She couldn’t imagine why Gary would care.
“Let me see the books,” her uncle demanded. “May we use the living quarters, Susanna?”
“Of course.” She led the way and opened the door to her rooms.
They were exactly as Uncle Harrison had them built. Susanna hadn’t added any personal items to make them her own. She wasn’t sure how long she’d stay or if her family would find it necessary for whatever reason to take back the rooms. In fact, her entire world still felt as if it were turned upside down, and no place felt like home.
Her uncle and father took a seat at the small table while Susanna fetched them coffee. Father had the books open and was showing her uncle the records and then comparing those numbers with the bank deposits. Susanna herself had double-checked his entries and knew they were right, so she had no concerns that her father might have failed in this area.
