“I came for a couple of reasons. One, I wanted to check on Gary.”
“I haven’t seen him. He must have gone to the house or off to eat with his friends. Why did you want to see him?”
“Mr. Payne moved him from my department today. I wanted to make sure he wasn’t mad at me or upset.”
She looked concerned. “Where did they move him?”
“Parts. We have hundreds of parts for the repair work we do. Invoices come in for parts, and the runners fill the orders and deliver them. That’s what Gary will be doing.”
“It sounds a lot easier than welding boilers.” She smiled and brushed back a wisp of honey-brown hair.
“It should be. I think it will suit him well. Mr. Payne just showed up, however, and took Gary away without warning. I wanted to make sure he knew no one was mad at him.”
“You mean you wanted to make sure he knew that you weren’t mad at him.”
Owen smiled and looked at the floor. “Yeah, well, when you put it that way . . .” He let the words trail off.
She understood. “Like I said, I don’t know where he is, but you’re more than welcome to wait for him.”
Owen looked around. “Where’s your father?”
“Good question. He hasn’t been around much since the fire. He told me yesterday that Mother is much too upset for him to leave her side. She apparently went on and on about how if they’d been living at the hotel, they would have all been killed.”
“Or they would have been there, and the fire never would have happened,” Owen countered.
“That’s exactly my thought. Come on back. I’ll fix something to eat, if you like. It won’t be anything fancy. I haven’t been to the grocer for a while.”
“Why don’t I take you to a little café I know? They have the best Mexican food you’ll ever try.”
“Spicy?” she asked.
He laughed. “Not for the gringos. The food they serve gringos is much milder. They learned they had to prepare it that way. Besides, they’re cousins of Lia. You’ll like them. A man and his wife run the place, and sometimes their children wait tables. They’re up in Old Town.”
“It sounds interesting, but I don’t know that I should leave the hotel. The rooms are full tonight. What if someone needs something?”
“Get Manuel to watch the desk. He can handle it.” He could tell she wanted to say yes. “Better still, I’ll go find him while you get your hat and gloves.”
When she agreed, Owen made a hurried exit, eager to spend the evening with her. He easily found Manuel and gave the boy fifty cents. Manuel’s eyes widened at the sight of the coins. Owen shrugged. “The worker is worth his wage.”
They walked back to the hotel and found Susanna ready to go. Owen liked that she hadn’t bothered to worry overmuch about her appearance. Susanna always looked perfect, as far as he was concerned.
“We won’t be long, Manuel. Just watch the hotel and make sure everyone has what they need, all right?” Susanna pointed to the desk. “I put out some homemade cookies on the desk for you. There’s milk in the icebox if you get thirsty.”
“Gracias, Señora. Gracias.” Manuel eyed the cookies with enthusiasm.
Owen looped his arm through Susanna’s. People were beginning to recognize them as a couple, and he wanted it that way. He might not yet be ready to ask for her hand, but he liked folks knowing he had a claim on her. Even if it was just an unspoken one.
“My uncle is coming next week,” Susanna said as they walked the road to Old Town.
“Because of the fire?”
“Yes. He wants to speak with Father, but he’s not telling him he’s coming. Just me. I’m not sure what he hopes to gain. Father is hardly speaking to anyone, and Mother spends most of her time crying. At least that’s what Gary told me. He’s not saying a lot either. Ever since the fire, he seems to have very little to say. I know it’s only been a day, but it worries me.”
“You think he had something to do with the fire?”
She shook her head. “I don’t know what to think. He just isn’t himself. I suppose it’s possible someone he knows was responsible, but we both know my father had the most to gain. If the place burned down, Uncle Harrison would have to take pity on him and provide a different solution.”
“Or not. He could just ignore him and let him fend for himself.”
Susanna considered this for a moment. “I don’t think that will ever happen. There was some sort of agreement between Uncle Harrison and my grandfather to take care of my father. I think he’s stuck with it. And worse, I think my father knows it. That’s why I don’t think he’ll ever change.”
They arrived at the little café and made their way inside. The man running the place came and embraced Owen as if he were a son. “We have missed you. Where have you been?”
“Working, mostly.” He looked at Susanna. “And making new friends.”
The man laughed and slapped Owen on the back. “I think your amiga takes up most of your time, eh?”
“Juan, this is Susanna Jenkins. She helps with the new hotel in town. Her uncle owns it.”
“Ah, sí. Welcome, señorita.”
“Señora,” Owen corrected. When the man’s eyes widened, he quickly added, “Her husband is dead.”
“Lo siento, señora.” Juan frowned.
“It’s all right,” Susanna replied. “It’s been over a year and, well . . . it’s been over a year.” She seemed uncomfortable trying to explain.
Owen quickly jumped in. “We’re starved and thought you might have some gringo food for us.”
“Of course. Come, I’ll put you at the corner table—that way you can talk.” He led the way through the small, busy café and took them to a tiny table in the far corner of the room. “I’ll bring you food and lemonade.”
“It’s a very interesting place,” Susanna said, looking around. “It smells wonderful—like chiles cooking and fresh tortillas. Lia sometimes comes over after she’s been at Mother’s and brings me tortillas. I love the way they smell.”
“I think you’ll love the food. They use a lot of different sauces. Some are definitely hotter than others, but they’re all good. I think you’re going to enjoy it.”
“I already am,” she replied, giving him a hint of a smile.
She looked so weary and tired, and Owen wanted to help. “I have an idea. You need to get away from here.”
“A vacation? Who has time for that?”
“Well, maybe not exactly a vacation, but a week from next Monday I have to go to Albuquerque to oversee a boiler repair. Why don’t you come with me? I’ll find you a nice hotel room while I stay with the Santa Fe workers. We can explore the town when I’m not working.”
“I . . . well, that seems rather . . . inappropriate.” She sounded nervous, and only then did Owen realize how the proposition must have sounded to her.
“I’m sorry. I hope I didn’t, ah, offend you,” he stammered. “I didn’t mean anything inappropriate.”