Tracie Peterson - [New Mexico Sunset 03] (9 page)

“Let me take you away from here, Angel. You belong with me.”


From the seclusion of his hiding place, Douglas Baker snapped a twig in half. The scowl on his face was enough to distinguish his mood had his actions not already made that clear. He found it hard to believe he was witnessing Angeline in the arms of that Lucas man. Hadn’t he paid well enough to have Lucas out of the picture, permanently?

“I won’t be so gracious next time, Lucas,” Douglas muttered and watched as Gavin kissed Angeline. Dropping his hand from where it divided the brush, Douglas turned back toward the pathway and made his plans. “I’ll put an end to this entire charade, once and for all.” His words were low enough to offer comfort to their speaker, but not loud enough to give away his plans.

“I’ll teach Willa Neal the meaning of respectful response to instructions,” Douglas announced, emerging from the park with a plan already formulating in his mind. “I’ll teach them all.”

Chapter 14

A
ngeline was nearly back to her room when she spotted a red-clad bellhop knocking on her door.

“May I help you?” she asked.

“Are you Miss Angeline Monroe?”

“Yes, I am.”

“Then this is for you.” He handed her a folded piece of paper.

The note read:
Please meet me in the hotel restaurant in fifteen minutes.
It was signed,
Elaine Cody.

“Who is Elaine Cody?” Angeline wondered and folded the note and handed the bellhop a nickel from her skirt pocket.

“Not sure, Ma’am,” the young man replied, “but she said it was urgent.”

“I see,” Angeline said thoughtfully. “Please tell her I’ll be there.” The boy nodded and took off down the hall.

Angeline pulled her key out and entered her room. A quick glance revealed no sign of an intruding Willa or anyone else, and for that Angeline breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed of late that nearly everyone had a way in and out of her room.

Deciding to quickly freshen up, Angeline went to the wardrobe. A survey of the clothes hanging there revealed that Willa had once again meddled in Angeline’s affairs. None of Angeline’s original clothes remained, forcing her to either continue wearing the serge skirt and shirtwaist or give in and utilize the new attire.

Stomping her foot in a private protest, Angeline muttered to herself and fingered through the dresses. Willa had thoughtfully provided for her daytime needs as well as evening wear. Choosing a sedate forest green suit, Angeline didn’t stop grumbling about the interference until she reached the bottom step of the grand staircase.

Angeline was led to the table where Elaine Cody waited. “Miss Monroe,” the woman said, motioning her to take a seat.

Elaine Cody was a simple woman in her thirties. She wore her brown hair short and curled and a simple gown of lavender and cream. “Are you hungry?”

Angeline smiled. “I’ve had such a busy day that I hadn’t even thought to eat.” She took the chair across from Elaine. “I hope I don’t sound rude, but I don’t know why you’ve called me here, Miss Cody.”

“Mrs. Cody,” the woman said sweetly. “I know this is a surprise, but we’ve been trying for several weeks to talk to you, but Willa Neal always managed to put a stop to it.”

“Why would Willa keep us from talking?”

“I represent a less radical approach to the suffrage movement,” Elaine said softly. She paused long enough to allow Angeline to order something to eat when the waiter approached their table. When the man had graciously left the table, Elaine continued.

“Willa Neal and her comrades believe that change can only come through militant action. They’ve caused civil upheaval all across the nation, even the world. On the other hand, our organization believes that a direct but less radical approach is the best.”

“I must say I do agree, Mrs. Cody.”

“Please call me Elaine.”

“And you must call me Angeline.”

“Angeline, Willa Neal does more to harm the cause of suffrage than to aid it. She gives people the impression that all suffrage supporters are violent in nature and care nothing for legal processes. Suffrage is an important, no, a vital issue, but we can win this cause through rational, straightforward behavior and by educating people to the importance of women voting.”

Elaine’s words mirrored Angeline’s thoughts exactly. “I have long felt,” Angeline began, pausing only to accept the lobster salad that the waiter placed in front of her, “that Willa’s approach is worrisome. I was with her in New Mexico when the crowd stormed the stage. It was terrifying. Willa seems to enjoy stirring people up, however, and she won’t hear reason from me.”

“Perhaps you would consider attending one of our functions,” Elaine said with a smile.

Angeline shared her smile. “I think it would be a welcome change, but I’m leaving soon for Washington. Willa has a march on the Capitol planned and a meeting with the president.”

“Yes, I know,” Elaine replied. “Maybe you should reconsider your plans, however.” Elaine grew thoughtful for a moment. “I don’t know how to say this without sounding rather trite, but do you realize that Willa preys on people like you?”

Angeline put down her fork. “What do you mean?”

Elaine shifted uncomfortably. “You have friends or at least your family has friends who can offer Willa and her cause a great deal of support and money.”

“And you believe that Willa’s sole interest in my participation is that I join her with these friends?”

“I’m sorry, but I’ve seen her at work before. You have to remember Colorado has had suffrage for many years. Willa Neal actively pursued the vote for women and, even then, she wasn’t opposed to breaking the law. She uses whomever she can and always she weighs the benefit of each participant before she pulls them into her circle.”

Angeline’s frown and sudden lack of appetite caused Elaine to reach her hand out to Angeline’s arm. “I am sorry, but it is important that you know what you’re up against. Willa is looking for power. Unfortunately, she doesn’t care who she uses, nor what happens to them when she’s accomplished what she’s set out to do.”

Just then the waiter came with a silver tray holding a piece of paper. “Excuse me, but I have a message for Miss Monroe.”

“I’m Miss Monroe,” Angeline said, reaching for the note.

Angeline scanned the note quickly. It was from Gavin, and he requested that she join him immediately in the lobby. How was it that he always seemed to know where she was?

“I’m afraid something has come up, Elaine. A friend of mine has asked me to join him and says that it can’t wait. I hope you will excuse me.”

“Of course,” Elaine replied. “I hope we have a chance to speak again.”

Angeline nodded. “I hope so too.” She turned to the waiter. “Please put this luncheon on Miss Willa Neal’s account.” She winked at Elaine with a knowing smile.

Making her way through the dining hall, Angeline searched the lobby for Gavin. People seemed to occupy every corner of the busy lobby, but Gavin was nowhere in sight.

“Looking for me, Angel?” Gavin whispered from behind her.

“What’s wrong?” she asked in a worried tone. She looked Gavin over in case he’d once again come into harm. Seeing that he was unhurt, Angeline relaxed a bit.

“Nice to know you can come quickly when you’re called.” He grinned mischievously at her and took her arm in his hand. “You look real nice, Angel. More new clothes?”

“Yes.” She sounded irritated, and Gavin raised a brow in question. “Willa took all of my clothes and left me with these.”

“You still have that red one?”

“Burgundy,” Angeline corrected again, but this time she couldn’t help but smile. “You kind of liked that one, eh?”

Gavin’s grin broadened. “Kind of.” He pulled her along with him to a closed, ornate wood door. “Do you know what’s in here?”

“I have no idea,” she replied dryly and added, “but I’m sure you’re going to tell me.”

“This is the men’s private smoking lounge. Women are strictly forbidden entry.”

“How nice,” Angeline said, trying to sound offended.

Gavin pulled her closer. “Baker and his men are sequestered in there. I believe, if I may offer a guess, that they are planning how to force you into marriage. I think perhaps, if I can get you close enough, you will overhear the proof you want of Baker’s guilt.”

Angeline paled only a bit, but it was enough to make Gavin feel concern for the younger woman. “I promise I won’t let him hurt you, Angel.”

“How are you going to get me in there?” she asked softly, steadying herself on Gavin’s arm. “I thought women weren’t allowed.”

“I have a plan,” he said with uncustomary seriousness. “Come on.”

Angeline let Gavin take her along a servant’s corridor. A sense of anticipation and dread seemed to hang over her. Wasn’t this her moment of truth? No, she thought, she’d already come to believe what Gavin had told her as true. She put her hand out to stop Gavin from opening the door.

“You don’t have to do this,” she whispered, her lavender eyes seeking
his.

Gavin understood at once what she was saying. “Just this once,” he said softly and touched his finger to her cheek. “Just this once I will give you absolute proof of what I told you to be true. Then, in the future, when I give you my word on a matter, you will remember this and not doubt me.”

Angeline suddenly felt a cold chill. “No,” she said again, as Gavin slowly turned the doorknob.

“Where’s your spunk, Angel?”

The room was dimly lit, and the low rumbling of male voices rose up with the assaulting cigar smoke. Gavin held Angeline tightly to his side and moved slowly through the storage room where crates of whiskey were carefully concealed in wooden boxes marked “Medical Supplies.”

Angeline’s eyes gradually adjusted to the light, and she took in her surroundings with a great deal of interest. The room was paneled in a dark walnut with brass fixtures and emerald green draperies. “So this is where men come to get away from women,” she mused. “What do they talk about when they get here?”

Gavin chuckled low. “Women, of course.” Angeline started to giggle, but Gavin quickly clamped his hand over her mouth. “Shhh.” He lowered his hand and pointed to where a massive plant blocked a clear view of the occupants behind it. “Baker.” Angeline’s eyes widened as Gavin pulled her further behind the plant and held her close.

“You took your time getting here,” Douglas was saying. Angeline could
n’t
see who he was talking to, but she was very much aware of Gavin’s arm
around her waist.

“We’re here, ain’t we? What’da you want?”

“Yeah,” a second voice chimed in. “What’da ya want?”

“We have a particular matter that I want taken care of,” Douglas began. “It’s a problem I thought I’d rid myself of in New Mexico.”

“One of those pain-in-the-neck women?”

“No,” Douglas replied. “A man. His name is Lucas. Gavin Lucas. I hired some local thugs to put him out of my misery, but they failed to do the job right.”

Angeline nearly gasped at the casual way Douglas spoke of trying to have Gavin incapacitated, but she caught herself in time and put her hand over her mouth.

“So you want us to finish the job?”

“That’s right. I thought it could be dealt with, without having to be permanent, but I was wrong. He’s staying here in the hotel. I have his room number and a pass key. Take care of it tonight.”

“Sure Baker, but it’ll cost you extra.”

“You’ll have your money when the job’s done,” Douglas replied. “After Lucas is out of the way, we’re going to put an end to Miss Neal’s planned Washington trip. The last thing we need is a bunch of addlebrained women marching on the Capitol.”

“Thought you supported their votin’ cause,” one of the men said with a laugh.

“I’m the only cause I support. Giving women the right to vote is like giving them a purse full of money. They won’t know how to handle it properly, and they’ll only ask for more once that’s gone.”

Angeline forgot herself and pushed away from Gavin to confront Douglas. “How dare you! How dare you sit here plotting to end a man’s life and ruin the efforts of an entire movement!”

Douglas’s eyes registered his surprise, but his tone indicated nothing out of the ordinary had happened. “Angeline, you would have been wise to stay out of this.” He sounded like a parent scolding a child. “And you, Mr. Lucas, you should have learned your lesson in New Mexico.”

Angeline hadn’t even realized that Gavin had joined her. “You leave Gavin out of this. He was only doing what my parents asked him to do. You had no right to interfere in my life that way, Douglas.”

“I had every right. Now if you’ll calm down, perhaps we could discuss this more privately. Say upstairs.”

“I don’t want to discuss this with anyone but the appropriate authorities,” Angeline stated angrily. She felt strengthened by Gavin’s presence, certain that no harm could possibly come to them here.

The seclusion of Douglas’s table worked to his advantage. No one
seemed close enough to be able to overhear the commotion, and even if they could, people here weren’t given to interfering in one another’s business. With a nod at his companions, rough looking characters who made Angeline take a step back, Douglas got to his feet.

“And what proof will you offer?” Douglas questioned, staring intently into Angeline’s eyes.

“My word will be good enough for starts. I’ll call on Jefferson Ashton, and he’ll help me in whatever I need.” She turned to ask Gavin to take her to her room, but Douglas stopped her with an iron-like grasp on her arm. Gavin reached out to free Angeline, but Douglas pushed something cold and hard into his ribs. “I have a gun trained on your young man, Angeline. Please tell him it would be wise to do things my way.”

The two men with Douglas stood up and produced their own weapons. Angeline turned ashen and nodded her cooperation, while Gavin gritted his teeth and stared daggers into Baker.

“Good,” Douglas said when he saw they were going to cooperate. “Now let’s go upstairs and talk about this like rational adults.”

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