Hidden in a Whisper (6 page)

Rachel tried to be unaffected by her presence, but the icy blue of Esmeralda's eyes chilled her. The old woman was difficult at best to relate to, but she was nearly impossible to understand. Rachel had tried to extend a warm welcome on many occasions, but inevitably Esmeralda held her at arm's length.
No,
Rachel smiled to herself,
she keeps me at a far greater distance than an arm's length
.

Jeffery O'Donnell, stationmaster for the Santa Fe in Morita and a very dear friend from Rachel's past, had told her that the old woman was key to the success of Casa Grande. She owned most of the land upon which the town surrounding the resort sat, and she appeared to be highly esteemed by the board of directors for the Santa Fe Railroad— especially given that additional negotiations were still in the works. Jeffery had explained that the Santa Fe was dependent upon her good graces since she owned the passageway from the depot to the resort. She also owned the omnibus company that would transport passengers along that same passage.

Rachel thought it rather amusing that one tiny old woman could cause the mighty Santa Fe Railroad to come to its knees. She glanced up and found Esmeralda frowning in her scrutiny of the operations.

She was dressed in black bombazine from the tip of her high-collared jacket to the hem of her skirt. Her snowy white hair had been pulled back in a tight bun, its severity only altered by the application of a rigid black felt hat and veil. Her widow's weeds were reverent attire in the memory of her dearly departed Hezekiah, or so Rachel had been told.

Jeffery explained to Rachel that if they should harbor any ill feelings at all, it should be toward that stately gentleman. Having never sired a child, the man turned his attention instead to siring a town.

Morita was that town, and in spite of being located along the Santa Fe Railroad, its close proximity to Albuquerque seemed to keep it from becoming a major stopping place. It was only after Hezekiah Needle-meier's death that Esmeralda took up the issue and went to work to bolster the fledgling town.

When the last of the railroad workers left the dining room, Esmeralda called once again for Rachel.

“What are those girls doing?” she questioned.

Rachel turned to see Gwen and two of the other girls stripping the tablecloths from the tables. “They're taking away the soiled cloths and will wipe down the tables and put on new ones.”

“Seems wasteful,” Esmeralda declared.

Rachel smiled. “Mr. Harvey says that each guest is to arrive to a freshly set table. The Irish linen tablecloths are to be in pristine order.”

“I should speak to this Mr. Harvey about his waste. I have seen the portions of food served by this organization, and it is clearly in excess. Why, one of the steaks took up an entire plate! The man can't make a profit that way.”

“I don't believe Mr. Harvey is overly worried about making a profit, Mrs. Needlemeier.”

“Ivy! Ivy, come here at once,” Esmeralda called out upon seeing her niece. She didn't seem to care about the disruption, nor did she apparently worry about leaving off with her previous conversation.

Ivy approached and kissed her aunt on the cheek. “Why, Aunt Esmeralda, what a surprise!”

Rachel watched their reaction to each other before deciding to slip away and see to the remaining work. Esmeralda, however, would have nothing to do with that.

“I have not finished speaking with you, Miss Taylor,” she stated firmly.

“I apologize,” Rachel replied. “It's just that I do have responsibilities here and it affords me little time to stand about in discussion.” She wanted to make it clear to the old woman that she might have bullied the Santa Fe Railroad into submission, but she wouldn't find it quite so easy to control Rachel Taylor.

“I want to speak to you about my niece. I find it abominable that she should live here in such small quarters. In my home, she has a suite of rooms at her disposal and would no doubt be far more comfortable there.”

“No doubt,” Rachel countered. “However, I find it is good for the spirit of the group if they live and work together. There are areas along the Santa Fe where some girls live at home while working for Mr. Harvey, but because Ivy is the only one who comes from this area, I thought it might make her feel isolated to suggest such an arrangement. Together, they come to better understand what it is to be a family, and Fred Harvey wants them to act like sisters.”

“Poppycock!” the woman replied, tapping her cane on the floor. “My niece is not a farmhand, nor is she a soldier. There seems little to be gained by forcing her to bed herself down as one.”

Rachel saw Ivy smile smugly at this declaration. She wondered if the girl had put her aunt up to the task of insisting Ivy be allowed to move back to the Needlemeier mansion. On the other hand, Rachel thought, it just might solve a great many problems. If Ivy were housed elsewhere and merely availed herself for work as her schedule demanded, perhaps she would have less influence over the others.

“Mrs. Needlemeier, I completely agree with your thoughts that the girls are neither farmhands nor soldiers. They are quality workers for Mr. Harvey's dining rooms, and they are expertly trained to act in accordance with his wishes.” She smiled at Ivy, feeling the girl's disdain radiate from her dark blue eyes.

“But I see no harm in allowing Ivy to move back home. She would, of course, have to maintain her duties and adhere to the schedule in the strictest manner, but I see no other problem. After all, your estate adjoins the resort gardens, and it is merely a short walk across the footbridge. I see no reason to force Ivy to remain here.” Rachel turned her attention completely to Ivy and added, “If that is what she wants.”

“No doubt,” Ivy whispered none too quietly, “I would be made to suffer for a decision such as that. Perhaps Miss Taylor says it would meet with her approval, but I seriously doubt it does.”

Rachel clenched her teeth and refused to be goaded by the younger girl. Ivy maintained a pose of angelic indifference, while Esmeralda considered her words.

“I would not have you treat my niece with hostility.”

“I wouldn't dream of it,” Rachel countered. “And I would seriously reprimand any girl who would try. As I told my girls when they first arrived, Ivy is not to be treated any differently, neither because of her inexperience with the Harvey system nor because she is your niece. Partiality would only lead to conflict.”

Esmeralda seemed to consider this for a moment before nodding. “Yes. Yes, you are correct. Ivy, I believe it would cause a threat of conflict between you and the other workers. However, you may always resign your position. You don't have to work here, and you know it better than anyone.”

Ivy frowned, seeming to sense that the tables were starting to turn against her. Rachel smiled pleasantly and leaned closer to Esmeralda. “I'll leave the decision to you and Ivy. After all, we want our girls happy. Now, if you'll excuse me, I must see to my work.”

Rachel took herself away from the ordeal, a smile still playing on her lips as she walked into the solid form of Jeffery O'Donnell.

“Jeffery!” she exclaimed, then glanced around her. “I mean, Mr. O'Donnell. Please excuse me, I wasn't paying attention.”

Jeffery laughed. “It's quite all right, Miss Taylor.” He emphasized her title and gave her a wink. They had been on very informal terms in Topeka, and would be again in moments of privacy, but for now they carried the formalities for the sake of the organization.

Rachel smiled. “How is your wife?”

“Bearing up as well as she can. These first few months are said to be the most trying.”

Rachel nodded, a twinge of jealousy coursing through her heart. Simone O'Donnell had become a dear friend during her training in Topeka as a Harvey Girl. Her marriage to Jeffery and their move to Morita had seemed to coincide nicely with Rachel's promotion to house manager for the resort's restaurant. She had even intended for Simone to be her head waitress. That is, until Simone had become pregnant shortly after their wedding. Jeffery wouldn't hear of her working in her condition.

“So what brings you here today?” Rachel questioned.

“I have brought the new hotel manager. You two will work closely together to control every aspect of this resort, so I want you to get to know the man well. You should both have a clear understanding of each other's jobs and responsibilities.”

“I see,” Rachel replied, looking behind Jeffery but seeing no one.

“And where is he?”

“He'll be right along,” Jeffery replied, turning to look outside the dining room doors. “Looks like he's been stopped by Mr. Smith, one of the top men from the Santa Fe offices in Topeka. He happens to be here to see to some of the details of the grand opening. He had several things to share with our new hotel manager. Ah, here he comes now.”

Rachel couldn't yet see the man, but she immediately smoothed down the lines of her black serge skirt.
No sense in making a bad impression
, she thought. She looked down to make certain she had no food stains upon her clothes and, feeling confident of her appearance, raised her gaze to meet that of the new hotel manager.

“Braeden.” She whispered the name almost reverently, but the shock sent a ripple through her body that nearly knocked her backward. Their eyes met, and Rachel found it impossible to draw breath.

“Do you know Mr. Parker?” Jeffery questioned, turning back in surprise.

Her heart felt as though it had come to a complete stop. For all of her pretenses that the past held no power over her, seeing Braeden Parker standing before her now quickly dispelled that hope.

“I … I …” She could only stammer. There were no words.

She lost herself in his gaze. He appeared unaffected. Calm, selfassured, not at all surprised by her appearance. His tanned face was more handsome than she'd allowed herself to remember, and when he smiled in greeting, his thick blond moustache moved ever so slightly at the corners.

“Miss Taylor, it's so nice to see you again.”

  
FOUR
  

RACHEL FELT IMMEDIATELY PUT OFF by the smug expression on Braeden's face. She tensed and looked at Jeffery, as if expecting some form of explanation.

“I had no idea you two knew each other,” Jeffery said, grinning from ear to ear.

Braeden chuckled, breaking the spell for Rachel. Emotions and longings from the past blended with fears and worries. Why was he here? What could it mean?

“Well, I imagine this will make things much simpler,” Jeffery added.

“Don't count on it,” Rachel muttered, crossing her arms against her breasts. Her reaction caused everyone in the room to immediately take note. Seeing Braeden here, his countenance suggesting that he knew he'd find her here, as well, caused a spark of anger to ignite within her. She clung to it in hope of ignoring the longing stirred deep within her.

“No,” Braeden said matter-of-factly. “As I recall, nothing with Miss Taylor is ever simple.”

“Perhaps that was due to the company I kept,” Rachel countered. Her anger gave her strength. She refused to back down, even as the Harvey Girls gathered a little closer. “Mr. Parker has proved difficult to work with in the past. I'm uncertain as to why you would bring him on for something as important as Casa Grande.”

Jeffery's confusion was evident in his expression. “Mr. Parker came with the highest of references. His reputation in Chicago precedes him.”

“That's putting it mildly,” Rachel said sarcastically. “Though I'm certain there are plenty from that wonderful city to vouch for his, shall we say, many talents. It seems to me that people were always willing to share news of Mr. Parker.”

Braeden, too, stood his ground. “Yes, indeed, Miss Taylor. And it seemed not to matter much whether those opinions were stated out of fact or fiction.”

Rachel smiled a tight, fixed smile. “Ultimately we are judged by the fruit which we bear,” she stated.