Eleanor placed her hand on his black coat sleeve. “Sorry that you had to be singled out. I’m sure my father would have been happy to escort me.”
Carter shook his head. “I’m happy to be chosen.”
Something in his tone assured her he spoke the truth. Carter never seemed to pretend to be anything more or less than he was. He was always simply himself.
Up and down the full length of the Ashburys’ table the conversation picked up. The man on her left was deep in discussion with another man, leaving Eleanor no choicebut to look to Carter. She caught him gazing at her profile, and he smiled once again when their eyes met.
“I’m glad we have this time together.”
She nodded and rubbed her fingers along her linen serviette. She wanted to ask him why he was glad to have time with her. Especially since almost every conversation ended with some sort of argument. Better to change the subject. “It’s such a well-set table, don’t you think? Such a spread.”
He glanced to the left and then to the right. “Marvella knows how to impress.”
Eleanor met his warm gaze. “By the way, I very much enjoyed having dinner with your parents. Father did as well. I think he figured your father would be all about his profits and money, but said he was quite knowledgeable about conservation and land management.”
“Dad has made it his goal to tend the land as he felt God had called Adam to do. We’ve always tried to nurture the land and care for it in a way that improves it rather than uses it up.”
“I like that.” Her shoulders relaxed a bit. After the stress of meeting the Ashburys’ guests, it was nice to talk to a friend. A friend. Nothing more. “I still don’t understand the need for one person to own so much land, but coming here has caused me to see things from a different angle. It’s clear that wheat is beneficial to all, and we should be thankful for the farmers who are willing to work so hard to grow the crops.”
“A great many people benefit, to be sure.” He placed his napkin on his lap. “So how goes the national park plans?”
Eleanor winced. While things were certainly better between her and Father, she still didn’t understand why hekept her in the dark about his work. “I’m not sure. I think I might have said some things that were contrary to what my father and Mr. Grinnell and Mr. Hill hope to accomplish. They’re less than eager to have me in their conversations these days.”
Carter settled his knife and fork on the edge of his plate and took a sip of water. “What in the world could you have said that would cause them to put you aside?”
“I don’t like the idea of building hotels and concessions in the park.”
“I agree. The area they’ve chosen for the park is my favorite place to go and commune with God. I can’t imagine it being blemished by hotels and such all over the place.” He twirled the stem of his water glass between his thumb and index finger. “On one hand, I appreciate the progress we’ve made in the last few decades. Trains, horseless carriages, industry making all sorts of things easier. But I’m also sad about some of the ways it is changing our country.”
She pulled back and looked at him. Blinking several times, she realized her jaw had dropped. Terribly unladylike of her. “Carter Brunswick, I’m shocked that we agree.”
“Over time, Miss Briggs, I hope to amaze you even more.” He gave her a wide grin and turned back to his meal.
The servants brought in platters and moved around the table to offer their amazing dishes to the guests. Eleanor helped herself to baked salmon and asparagus. Carter did the same. For a time, they ate in silence, accepting or refusing other foods that came throughout the course of the meal. But soon they picked up the conversation right where they’d left off.
The more they chatted, the more Eleanor found that Carter agreed with her on a great many things.
“Attention, please.”
Eleanor turned toward Mrs. Ashbury’s voice, as did everyone else at the table. The older woman had a captive audience.
“I apologize for interrupting your meal. However, I have something important to say.” She glanced at the Judge, and he nodded.
“I’m not sure all of you realize it, but Mr. Briggs and his daughter Eleanor plan to settle down in Kalispell. It’s my hope that they will love our little town, and that was why it was so important to bring you all here tonight. I hope you will all extend friendship to them as they settle in. I believe they will become an important part of our community.” She gave a little chuckle. “And, in keeping with my gifting, I’ve assured Miss Briggs that I am determined to aid her in finding a husband. With her beauty, I’m certain it won’t take long.”
There were chuckles from the dinner guests as they all turned to smile at Eleanor, who had all but dropped her fork. Still, unwelcome attention notwithstanding, she kept her features neutral and even managed a small smile at Marvella. The woman couldn’t help herself. But it would be nice if the older woman would listen to her every once in a while. Surely she knew by now that Eleanor didn’t like having her personal business shared for all to hear.
Besides, marriagewassomething Eleanor wanted someday, but right now she had so many other pressing matters.
Eleanor glanced at Carter, who seemed amused by the entire thing. Her chest burned even more. He didn’t seem tocare a whit about the embarrassment the older woman had caused. Of course he didn’t. He wasn’t the one on display.
“I’d say Carter has the best seat in the house,” someone commented and again the crowd chuckled.
Eleanor forced a smile. If she said or did the things she wanted to do and say, she would cause a scene. She drew a deep breath and refocused on her plate. Shewouldget through this.
Soon enough, the guests turned back to their dinner, and the most critical subject: the railroad services being terminated. Odd that they all seemed to see it as the end of the world. Surely Kalispell had more to offer the community than just a train depot. Albeit a lovely one.
She had to be missing something.
