Eleanor stared at him, a chill washing over her. Pulling her gaze away, she shifted it to the window. What had Father meant by that? She had no desire for this trip to be one of great consequence. Normalcy and peace were all that she longed for. Putting aside a momentary sense of panic, she drew a deep steadying breath.
“Maybe we should think of settling down this way, Ellie.”
Ah. So there it was.Andanother use of her nickname. What was going on with him? “But why here? I’ve never heard youoncespeak of settling down. You said there was too much work to do.” She hated that she sounded accusatory, but at least it was honest. They’d promised to always be honest with each other.
“Yes, but I am fifty-five years old. I won’t be able to continue this life indefinitely.”
Since when did Stewart Briggs talk of retiring from his conservationist work? Why would he start now? He was still young and able-bodied. Fifty-five wasn’t all that old. She’d seen him climb mountains and raft rivers with the strength of a man half his age.
“We no longer call New York City home, and I truly have no desire to return there. The only thing we left behind was your mother’s grave, and certainly she would admonish us to disregard that matter. As much as I loved her with my whole heart, I know that she never wanted us to spend our days at the cemetery mourning her passing.”
Panic rose further in her chest. She wasn’t attached to Mother’s grave, and what Father said was true. Still, thedirection of this conversation was unnerving. “No. Indeed not. Mother was clear about that.”
“It seems we should probably give some thought to where we might like to settle.” He leaned back in his seat. “You’re at the age where you should take a husband, not continue traipsing around behind your father.”
What?Eleanor turned and faced him, placing her hand on his sleeve. “Where is this coming from?” She shook her head. “You’ve never been one to push me to marry.”
Father’s face tightened and he refused to meet her gaze. “I suppose it was that news about young Andrew. Sometimes I think about your sacrifice to work at my side and wonder if it was the wisest choice I might have made to allow it.”
Eleanor stiffened. “Have I disappointed you? Have I failed in assisting you?”
“Of course not.” As the train slowed, Father leaned closer and covered her hand with his, giving it a pat. “My thoughts were only that I may have kept you from the life you should have had. You might have married and had children by now. Most of your friends have done so.”
That last sentence sliced through her middle like a knife. “I do not regret my choice to work at your side, Father. I hope you don’t regret it either.” She slipped her hand from his grasp and lifted her chin, giving him a pointed look. If ever there was a time to change the subject, it was now.
He didn’t take the hint. “I don’t. I just think perhaps it’s time for an ... adjustment. For now, however, let us explore the area around us and see what George has to say about his strides toward getting the president’s ear on this matter.President Roosevelt is a tremendous supporter of preserving the lands. It would be the perfect end to my career if I should share in the creation of a national park.”
Eleanor clenched the arm of the seat as if she might suddenly be thrown to the floor if she loosened her grip. She forced her hand to relax. Everything would be all right. Father was just having a moment of reflection. He hadn’t really had time to think things through. He wasn’t going to give up his conservation work. He wasn’t going to insist they settle down in one place.
But ... why did that bother her so? Hadn’t she just been abhorring the length of yet another journey?
She was simply tired. Not herself. She squared her shoulders and glanced at her reflection in the window. Her hat was on straight, and her coat lapels lay perfectly flat against the simple collar of her blouse. She was ready for Kalispell and whatever fate it had in store.
The train came to a stop. She stood and collected her bag.
If she was feeling addled and stressed from the treacherous trip the last few hours, then Father might be as well. Maybe that’s where all the retirement conversation was coming from. Too much time to think on the train ride.
But then to bring up marriage! He justhadto remind her that she was a spinster.
Tingles ran up and down her right leg. Then her hat took that moment to come undone, and it flopped down over her eyes.
Reaching a hand up to right it, she fiddled with the cantankerous object until her hand came back full of feathersand ribbon. She took a long, deep breath and refrained from stomping her foot.
All right, so she wasn’t ready for this. Not in the least little bit. In truth, she was a frustrated, overtired spinster with a numb backside and leg, and a hat that was no longer decent or presentable.
2
TUESDAY, MAY10, 1904—KALISPELL, MONTANA
Carter Brunswick leaned against the wall, arms crossed, hat in hand, and listened as one of Kalispell’s leading citizens voiced his opinion. The topic—one that was enough to stop his heart for a moment—the Great Northern Railway’s plan to pull out of Kalispell in favor of making Whitefish, Montana, their divisional headquarters.
Carter had owned the mill for over eight years now. In three months, it would be nine. But if the railroad moved? He might not make it there.
Panic wasn’t going to solve anything. Hopefully the Judge and mayor would have some new information regarding a decision from the owner. He prayed they would. Because the way the discussion was going, it seemed they would need a hefty dose of heavenly intervention for things to not get out of hand.
Jerod McVey had been chosen to speak on behalf of some twenty local sawmills. “First, I’ve been commissioned to address the fact that Great Northern Railway lied to us.Initially, we were told that the railroad wasn’t rerouting. They were just looking for a route north to coalfields. In Canada. Now that the truth has come out, we don’t appreciate what is happening. We ship a lot of lumber out of Kalispell. It’s imperative we have a railroad for our business.
“We can’t afford to freight our goods by wagon to Whitefish to catch the train. Our prices will double, perhaps triple, and that will ruin us. The railroad brought the town here and we all established businesses based on that. Whoever is in charge should probably understand that we’ve conferred with legal representation and are not opposed to suing the railroad if they continue down this road.”
