“Abuelita thinks every girl should learn that first,” Lia admitted. “I could do it when I was just six.”
“I can’t imagine, but the next time you kill one, let me know. I want to come watch so I don’t forget.”
“Watch nothing. I’ll make you do it.”
They all laughed at this.
San Marcial appeared unchanged. The river was up, butthe hotel and town were safe and free of floodwaters. Susanna sighed as she bid her friends good-bye on the depot platform. She wished they could all remain together, but everyone had their own jobs to do. Now would come the hours of accusations from her parents that she had deserted them and forced them to endure more than anyone should ever have to endure.
“Susanna.”
She turned to find her uncle approaching. She smiled. “I see you’re still alive and in one piece.”
He smiled in return. “It wasn’t easy, but to tell you the truth, I think we’ve made headway.”
“What happened?”
“Your father is changed. At least somewhat. He hasn’t admitted to stealing or setting the fire, but he did tell me, with no small degree of sincerity, that he can see how he failed and is trying his best to make amends.”
“Well, that is encouraging.”
Her uncle extended a letter. “I wrote you more in here. Feel free to write me with suggestions for the situation after you assess it for yourself.”
“All aboard!”
“That’s my train.”
“You’re going to El Paso?” Susanna knew the train would continue southward.
“Yes. I have business there. I’m considering another hotel. This time I’ll make it out of adobe.”
She laughed. “I told you so.”
He kissed her cheek, then hurried toward the same passenger car she’d been on just minutes ago. She waited until he appeared in one of the open windows and gave her a wave. She returned the gesture, picked up her suitcase, then started through the depot just as the train began to strain forward.
She supposed it might be wise to read the letter before she saw her father, so she sat down in the tiny depot to open theenvelope. Quickly scanning the lines, she was surprised to hear her uncle speak in a more hopeful manner, though he admitted the change in her father had only been present since he’d awoken that morning. When she’d left for the ranch, her uncle wasn’t at all encouraged, but now he seemed to have a different outlook. What a relief. Perhaps her father had realized he couldn’t continue going down the same road.
The last part of the letter explained that Uncle Harrison was headed to El Paso and would probably be back through in a few weeks. Susanna tucked the letter into her purse and headed for the hotel, feeling a little lighter than she had. If Father truly had seen the error of his ways, she might finally be able to reason with him.
That would just leave Mother to contend with.
Herbert Ragsdale was waiting when Susanna entered the hotel. He actually smiled at her—something he hadn’t done in a long time.
“Good to see you’re back, Susanna. Did you see your uncle?”
“Yes. We passed on the platform. He tells me he’s headed to El Paso. He’s thinking of building a hotel there. Right on the border.”
“I think him quite mad. El Paso has nothing more to offer than San Marcial does. I think he could make a great deal more money by choosing a larger town elsewhere, but I wished him well.”
She smiled and put down her suitcase. “That was kind of you.”
“Do you suppose we will have new guests this morning?” he asked.
“No. I saw no one getting off the train but us. LeRoy and Lia took the boys to the Harvey House for special pancakes, and Owen headed off to his place before work.”
“Good. That will give us some time to talk. The guests I have here now aren’t leaving for several days, so I don’t think they’ll need anything from me. Tina, the girl who helped in your absence, put out plenty of towels and washcloths, so I think they’ll have everything they need.”
“And if not, we’ll just be a few feet away.” Susanna picked up her case again and walked through the open door to the private quarters.
