[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (24 page)

“Or I got mad,” Rainy said, stunned by her brother’s news. At least when she’d thought of him going with their parents to Scotland, there was the possibility of her going along as well. “I’m happy for you, Sonny, but I’m also upset over the matter. You’ll be miles and miles away from all of us—especially if I go to Scotland with Mom and Dad.”

“I know. I’ve already thought a lot about that. I just feel it’s the culmination of a lifelong dream. You know how I love geology. This is the perfect job for me.”

Rainy took hold of his hand and patted it. “Of course it is. You’d be silly not to go. Besides, we’re both a bit old to still be clinging to Mother’s apron strings. I guess our homelife was just such a joy that leaving permanently never seemed like a very good idea.”

“But what about you? I’ll obviously be breaking up our Detour team. What will you do? Will you go to Scotland with Mom and Dad?”

Rainy dropped her hold and looked out across the Plaza. “I don’t know. I’ve prayed and asked God to show me what the future holds—what I’m supposed to do—and I feel that He’s only giving me silence in return.”

“Maybe you aren’t really listening,” Sonny suggested.

Rainy looked at her brother and saw the compassion in his eyes. “Maybe I’m not, but I truly want to. I want to put my selfish desires aside and really heed God in this matter.”

“If that’s the case, Rainy, God will honor your attempt and guide you. You have to trust that to be true.”

“I know.”

“So what did you do about Phillip Vance?” Sonny asked, changing the subject. “I heard about the flowers. Did you have dinner with him tonight? Did he propose as Maryann hinted he might do?”

Rainy laughed. “Maryann is a hopeless romantic.

She had me dressed and down the aisle before I could even consider what was happening. But to answer your question, yes, I joined him and about ten other people for dinner. I thought the dinner would be just between Phillip and me. I had planned to tell him that I couldn’t see him anymore—that there was no future for us because he had no room for God in his life.”

“I see. So you didn’t get a chance to tell him because of the other people?”

Rainy nodded. “But I did make a statement. I’m afraid I wasn’t a very good witness. I got angry and spouted off after one of the men implied that my faith in God was somehow related to my being uneducated.

I told them all just exactly how well educated I truly was, then stormed out of there like a child who hadn’t gotten her own way. I feel ashamed and yet at the same time I can’t bring myself to go back and apologize.”

“Maybe there’s no need. That prideful bunch probably got no more than they deserved.”

“Maybe so,” Rainy said sadly, “but it was my desire to show them the love of Jesus instead of revealing my wounded pride.”

“I’d imagine God understands the desire of your heart. He put it there, after all. Cheer up, Rainy. I’m sure it will be all right. Sometimes people like that won’t listen to anything else.”

“Yes, but my anger was an issue of pride,” Rainy admitted. “All of my problems have stemmed from issues of pride. Being falsely accused of stealing, dealing with Duncan and Phillip, getting mad at you. It’s just a case of prideful nature, and I must learn to control it. Otherwise, I fear that I’ll end up destroying more than I manage to mend or rebuild.”

Sonny chuckled softly. “Everything is changing for us. I’m going to miss these talks.”

“I know some folks think it strange that a brother and sister should be so close, but, Sonny, you’ve always been there for me. When my girlfriends grew bored with me and left for more exciting companions, you were there to comfort me and keep me from feeling too sorry for myself.”

She sighed and shifted just enough to see him better. The streetlights gave off enough of a glow to reveal the compassion in her brother’s expression.

“I will always cherish what we have. You and Mom and Dad mean the world to me,” Rainy declared. “I couldn’t have asked for a better family, and even now that you’re going so far away, I know we’ll still be a family. That won’t change. We’ll have our memories, but we’ll also have the liberty and freedom to be the individuals that God intended us to be. Sooner or later, I’ll have a family of my own—you’ll probably do the same. Together we’ll blend that group to give Mom and Dad grandchildren, and the cycle will go on and on. I know now that I’m not losing anything—I’m gaining a great deal.”

“I’m glad you feel that way,” Sonny said, giving her a smile. “Because I feel that way too.”

Rainy nodded knowingly. She sensed his deep commitment to her, while at the same time she knew it was well past time for them both to break from the nest and fly.

“I’ll visit you in Alaska,” she said, tears coming to her eyes.

“And I’ll visit you wherever you end up,” he said, laughing. “Even if you manage to get yourself on the moon. And given your determination—that wouldn’t surprise me in the least.”

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

T
he following morning Sonny came to Rainy with their assignment for the day. “We’re doing an overnight trip to Taos,” he told her as he shoved a strip of bacon into his mouth. He reached to the serving dish for more only to have Mrs. Rivera chide him to sit and eat like a normal human being.

Rainy pushed away from her half-eaten breakfast of bacon and eggs and smiled at her brother. “That should be easy enough. Quick tour of Puye and Santa Clara. Overnight in Taos and back to La Fonda tomorrow, with the rest of the day to ourselves.”

Sonny nodded. “Jennetta Blythe and Phillip Vance are going to be our passengers.” He quickly finished the remaining bacon.

Rainy felt the wind go out of her. “Them?

Again?” She got to her feet and motioned to Sonny.

Grabbing her hat, she paused by the door only long enough to pick up her bag and hand it to Sonny.

Walking to La Fonda, Rainy couldn’t help but voice her concerns again. “Why are they taking this trip again?”

“I don’t know, but that’s not all. They’re bringing a bunch of their obnoxious friends along as well.”

Rainy shook her head. “I don’t know why they do this. For the money they waste on these Detour trips they could buy a car and take themselves.”

“I know. I thought it kind of crazy too. I thought of giving them over to Duncan and his courier, since they’re making a trip to Taos as well, but they’re full up.”

Rainy could hardly believe that she was going to have to spend the next twenty-four hours dealing with those people. What was God up to? Why would He allow her to be forced into the company of Phillip and his sister when they and their friends so clearly despised her values?

“Look, the car’s being serviced. I’ll bring it around to the front in about an hour. We’re supposed to be on our way by ten-thirty. That gives you plenty of time to take care of other things if you need.”

“I’d like to take care of arranging another courier,” Rainy admitted. “Maybe I’ll talk to Mrs. Lehman. She might be able to get us off the hook.”

“It’s worth a try,” Sonny replied.

Rainy walked into the hotel lobby and went in search of Mrs. Lehman. But the meeting gave her no reprieve. The other couriers were already on the road, nine o’clock having been their starting time. Only one other team was left in-house besides Rainy and Sonny, and they were heading to Gallup to pick up some passengers who had requested a customized tour to the Grand Canyon.

“But Sonny and I could take that tour instead,” Rainy protested.

“I’m sorry,” Mrs. Lehman replied, “but you and Sonny were specifically requested for this tour. You know we like to meet the request of the touring dudes whenever we can.”

“Yes, I realize that,” Rainy replied, knowing at that moment that she had no recourse but to follow through with the trip.

Walking back across the lobby, Rainy spotted Jen-netta Blythe. She fervently hoped she might make it outdoors without Jennetta seeing her. Rainy had no desire to even acknowledge the woman, much less suffer any conversation. Not that Jennetta ever seemed interested in talking with Rainy.

Jennetta surprised Rainy, however, by moving away from her friends to greet Rainy as though the animosity at the dinner table the night before had never happened.

“Hello, Miss Gordon. I suppose you know you’ll be taking my party to Taos today?”

Rainy drew a deep breath. “Yes. Although I must say it surprises me. You took this very tour not so long ago.”

“Yes, well, these are friends in from the East Coast.

They’ve never had a chance to see the ruins,” Jennetta replied. “I must say, however, the real reason I’ve stopped you is to applaud your efforts last night.”

Rainy stared at her quizzically. “What do you mean?”

“Well, I was beginning to have serious doubts about you being a suitable wife for Phillip. You seemed so mousy and weak-willed, never standing up for yourself and such. Phillip’s world demands a woman who is strong and capable—one who won’t shrink away from challenges. Until last night, I thought you completely incapable of such fire and endurance. I’m ready to concede that I misjudged you. You very well may make Phillip the perfect wife. It won’t be easy for you to stand up to the crowds and parties required of Phillip, but at least I know you’re made of something more than I previously thought.”

Rainy stood speechless as Jennetta walked back to her friends. She supposed Jennetta somehow believed herself to have paid Rainy a compliment, but Rainy certainly didn’t see it that way.

How dare she assume that I plan to marry Phillip. What
in the world has he said to her to bring her to such a conclusion?
Rainy walked outside the hotel and paced the strip of sidewalk in front.

Jennetta certainly didn’t apologize for her attitude last
night. In fact, she apparently saw nothing wrong with the
way she and her friends acted,
Rainy seethed.
They insult
me and think nothing of it—certainly not enough to warrant
an apology.

Then, as if that weren’t bad enough, Jennetta presumes
upon the kind of life I would have if I married her brother.

She has it all figured out in her mind. She probably has the
wedding planned and the caterers hired and . . .
Rainy forced herself to calm down. She drew a deep breath and leaned back against the cool stone wall.

Why am I so upset? Those people have proven themselves
to be rude and insensitive. They have their world and ways
and I have mine. The two do not mix, but I already knew
that. So why should I be so upset just because Jennetta wants
to presume upon a relationship that will never be?

Rainy smoothed down her purple velvet tunic and straightened her silver concha belt. Calm was gradually returning.
I’m just being silly. I’ll find a chance to talk
to Phillip later, and then I’ll set everything straight
.

An hour later they were on their way north. Phillip had tried briefly to get Rainy away from the crowd, but she refused. She also encouraged the seating so that Phillip would be at the far back and she’d be free of him during the trip. She wasn’t about to try to explain herself to him in this crowd.

They left a trail of dust behind them as they headed out across the desert land. Rainy talked of the history of the area, giving her standard speech. She spoke of the Indians who had lived in the area for hundreds and hundreds of years, and while her guests didn’t interrupt or try to talk over her, Rainy could see they were bored and indifferent.

They stopped first at the Santa Clara Pueblo, where the Tewas, a gentle Indian people, were going about their affairs. Rainy explained that for the brief visit they should be mindful of their manners. Rainy remembered that it hadn’t been so long ago that one of the other tours had a mishap that found some of the dudes climbing on the pueblos. Rainy quickly explained the houses were off limits and rounded her people up after only fifteen minutes. Not long afterward they stopped for lunch and exploration at the Puye Cliff Dwellings, and after a couple of hours there they were on their way once again.

The heat of the day made Rainy wish she could wear a lightweight cotton blouse instead of her tunic.

Even Sonny had it better, as his shirt was cotton and his white hat tended to reflect the sun rather than absorb it. She fanned herself lightly as the temperature inside the black Cadillac climbed.

By the time they pulled into Taos, Jennetta was already instructing her friends about their evening.

“Have a nice cold bath first and then we can gather for dinner. I know some marvelous places to eat, and we can get anything we want to drink,” she advised. “The only place in town that doesn’t sell some form of liquor is the church.” Her friends laughed and commented on the sensibility of the town ignoring the laws that robbed them of a pleasant time.

Rainy helped Sonny to pull out the luggage and recognized Phillip’s touch the moment he reached out to tap her shoulder. She looked up and met his somber expression.

“Are you angry with me?” His tone sounded concerned.

“I don’t really have the time to discuss it right now,” Rainy said softly, almost shyly. It was almost like the first day they’d met—all awkward and uneven, not quite knowing how to treat the situation. She didn’t want to say things in front of Sonny or the others who still lingered near the car. Humiliating Phillip wasn’t her desire. “We could talk later this evening.”