She hurried to the door and stepped out onto the porch, but as the carriage came to a stop, she found it to be empty, save the driver and luggage.
“Jim, where is my father?”
He jumped down and tipped his hat. “He remained in town. They all did and sent me home with the luggage and the instructions to pick you up and deliver you to the celebration. You are to wait for them at the luncheon table.”
“Let me get my hat and gloves.”
She hurried back inside. Her things were waiting for her on the foyer table. Ellie settled a simple straw boater on her head and secured it with a hat pin. She was just pulling on her gloves when Jim showed up with the luggage.
“I’ll be with you in just a moment, miss.” He hurried past her and up the stairs to deliver the suitcases and bags.
Ellie stepped back outside, not bothering to close the front door. Why hadn’t Father thought to send for her sooner? It was bad enough that he’d abandoned her for his short trip, but now it seemed that he wasn’t even concernedwith seeing her right away. It would seem Kalispell had changed them both.
Jim returned, pulling the door closed. He hurried down the steps and awaited Ellie. She let him hand her up into the surrey and settled on the backseat. Her thoughts were a jumble.
She couldn’t imagine her father casting her aside, but he had been put out with her when she had questioned Mr. Grinnell about the alterations he wanted in the national park. There had also been other times when she had spoken to her father about other issues, and he had no patience for her views on the matter. Goodness, had they been growing apart all the time, and she hadn’t noticed? Would it cause further grief to their relationship when she announced that she wanted to return to the Lord and wanted him to return as well?
It was hard to imagine him shutting her out. She loved her father. He was all she had left in the world. Ellie bit her lower lip. What if they moved into the rambling Hennessy house and simply resigned from each other’s company?
People were increasingly present on the walkways, and by the time Ellie reached the city center, the crowds were everywhere. There was an exuberant buzz among the townspeople. They appeared to be more than fervent in their desire to celebrate the Fourth.
Jim slowed the surrey to accommodate the traffic, but finally he managed to maneuver them to a place near where tables for distinguished guests had been set in place by the grandstand. Most of the folks would eat picnic style on the ground unless they brought other means. To the back there were long tables set up with what looked to be hundreds ofdishes of food. Ellie had heard from Sarah that several pigs had been roasted for the festivities. It looked like those were being carved up at the far end of the food tables.
Ellie’s foot had no sooner touched the ground than she saw her father. He was speaking with several men, and the Judge was at his side. She made her way to them and was relieved when her father looked up and smiled.
“Ellie. How good to see you. I’ve missed you.” He hugged her in an uncharacteristic show of affection.
“I missed you, too. I have been counting the minutes until you returned.” She pulled back and looked at his tired face. “You haven’t been resting well.”
He chuckled. “Ever the worrier.” He looked to the other men. “Where would we be without women to take care of us?”
The other men agreed and laughed. Father turned her toward the gathering. “This is Ellie, my daughter.” The men tipped their hats and names were given, although she wasn’t of a mind to remember them.
She laid her hand on Father’s arm. “I was hoping we could talk, but I see the day is much too busy.”
Her father leaned close. “Let’s go for a walk after the luncheon and speeches. We can talk then.”
At least he hadn’t dismissed her. She looped her arm through his. “How was the trip?”
“Wonderful. Mr. Hill joined us for a short time and brought us to town on his private train car. We were able to work out many of the details we hope to propose regarding the national park. We’ve all agreed to head to Washington, DC, in August to meet with the president. It’s an election year, however, so he may not have much time to considerour proposal, but we hope by being there he will feel obligated to at least hear us out.”
“Washington. Well, that may require new clothes. I’m not sure what we have is fine enough for that.”
Her father patted her arm. “I won’t be taking you along, Ellie. Louis is providing transportation, and it will just be us gentlemen. I’ll explain more when we’re alone.” The last of this he said in a barely audible voice.
As though he hadn’t just stunned her, he walked across the grass, chatting with his companions.
So. It would seem Father had teamed up with his friends and no longer needed her. She pressed a hand to her heart, but the pain there remained.
What was she to do with herself? There was, of course, Mrs. Ashbury and her ladies’ club, but that could hardly occupy all of Eleanor’s time. She’d gone to school, but how could her studies from Vassar in bookkeeping and history land her a job doing anything but what she’d done for her father? Tears pooled and threatened to spill over onto her cheeks.
She turned from the joyful gathering and walked past the tables. She slipped behind a large tree and wiped at her face.
Letting her thoughts spin out of control wasn’t helping anything. Besides, her father said they would talk. Instead of jumping to conclusions, she needed to hear him out. She let out a long breath, no longer on the verge of crying. Though her head was starting to pound.
Straightening her shoulders, Eleanor walked back to the tables in search of a friendly face. Her father and his friends had returned to the tables, chatting with the Judge and Marvella. Conversations were going on all around them, andchildren seemed to appear from every corner, racing after each other. She pressed her fingertips to her temples. The myriad noises only made her headache worse.
“Have you taken too much sun, Ellie?” Father appeared beside her.
