“Let me close with this Word of encouragement from Isaiah sixty-one, verse one. ‘The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,’” the preacher cried out, nearly making Sophia jump in the hardback pew as he captured her full attention with his commanding voice. “‘He hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound.’ Some of you are in a prison that was forged of something strong. Sin. Maybe it is made of addiction? Or lust?”
He peered down into the congregation and while Sophia couldn’t say for certain, she felt as if he was looking straight at her . . . as if he knew she was so exhausted from her shift that she could hardly keep her eyes open.
“Or perhaps it is a cage of fear, but listen to the Word of the Lord. You are not without hope. He has the key, and He is willing to set you free. All you need to do is trust in Jesus as your Lord and Savior, and He will release you from your prison. Trust in Him, and you will be free. Let us pray.” He bowed his head and lifted his hands heavenward.
The preacher’s ending words and prayer brought forth Carver’s words from that night that seemed so long ago. Lord, have I put myself in this cage of fear? I had thought it was society that placed me in that prison, but they don’t have power over my mind unless I allow them.
Sophia descended the chapel’s steps with the rest of the congregation, feeling renewed as she looked out over the field of wildflowers before the pretty pale blue church. Lord, thank You for revealing this to me today. Remove this fear from my heart and allow me to live in the freedom You have given me. The freedom of a life in Christ Jesus. The hot breeze caressed her cheek, reminding her to open her infamous parasol and shield her nose from the sun.
“Sophia, you coming for lunch?” Jenny grasped Sophia by the elbow, steering her to the edge of the crowd. “Pierre has made a new dessert he wants to test on us before attempting to add it to the specialty list, and I know that if anyone has a refined palate, it’s you.”
“Oh! That sounds splendid.” She glanced toward the grove of scrawny trees behind the church. “But it’s been almost five weeks since I’ve left Charleston—”
Nora slipped beside them, grinning. “Finally! After all this time, you’ve finally let it slip where you are from. Good work, Jenny! I suppose I owe you a dollar.”
Sophia lifted her brow in question. “A dollar?”
“We had a wager going as to who would get you to slip first.” Jenny laughed, glancing behind her at the preacher standing at the church porch bidding his congregants farewell. “But we best not proclaim such a thing after Sunday service.”
Suppressing her laughter, Sophia shook her head. “I’ll be a little late to luncheon. I just need to be under the trees, so I am going to give those cedars a chance to impress me with their unique beauty. I also heard from the girls that there’s a small river nearby, so I may be about twenty minutes before I join you.”
“Don’t be too long, or I will get worried about you. Watch out for snakes and remember, the next train should be here in under two hours, so be sure you only stay away for thirty minutes as you need time to eat, change, and prepare any little details for your table.”
“I will!” Sophia waved to her friends and glided away from the churchgoers and into the shade of the cedar trees. She drank in the fresh air, absent of the stench of horse manure and sweat, and in the serene shade, she lost track of time as she walked in the direction of the river.
She lifted her face heavenward. “Lord, in only a matter of five weeks, this is the second time that Isaiah sixty-one has been brought to my attention. I feel You’re trying to teach me something about Carver. Now that I have recognized I have allowed my fear to govern me, are You telling me it is right to allow myself to love and be loved by Carver, despite how we met?”
A twig snapped behind her and whirling about, her heart caught in her throat at the sight of the lewd giant from the luncheon counter, Mr. Gessler.
“I thought I saw you slip away after the service.” He grinned at her, his eyes roving over her body as he stroked his graying beard.
She sneered at him, offering no Harvey Girl welcome. “Do you even attend Church?”
“On holidays.” He shrugged, strolling toward her, swiping his hat off as if that would put her at ease. “I saw you from the saloon window. Nothing prettier than findin’ a young lady in the woods praying to the Lord.”
“I must be on my way. The ladies are expecting me for Sunday lunch.” She refrained from worrying her bottom lip as she marched around him, giving him wide berth as she tried to pass.
“Hold on there, little lady. I didn’t follow you all the way out here for you to turn around and leave.” Mr. Gessler grunted, closing the gap between them even as he kept one hand in his pocket and the other clutching his worn hat. “You don’t think I caught your hints at the lunch counter for the past three days?”
Sophia stared at him blankly. “That is a load of nonsense. I served you like I serve everyone else.” And if anything, Fannie and I were quite firm with you.
“Yeah, but you didn’t get everyone else a free apple pie for dessert like you did me on that second day.” He grinned, revealing his all too familiar yellow and brown-splotched teeth.
“That is because I didn’t spill hot coffee on anyone else,” Sophia retorted as she closed her parasol and gripped it like a sword.
“Exactly. I was the only one, making me special.”
Is he serious? She would have laughed if she wasn’t so anxious to be away from him. “I really must be going.”
He snatched her right wrist. “And I said I wanted to talk with you.”
“Let me go!” Sophia slapped him across the face with her left hand, raking her nails into his cheek.
Mr. Gessler grunted in pain but held her fast, laughing as he pulled her toward him. “I like my women to have a bit of fight in them. Makes sparkin’ and courtin’ a little more fun.”
“How dare you?” Sophia stomped down on his shin with her ice pick heeled boot. Mr. Gessler cussed and loosened his grip for a second, which was just enough time for Sophia to jerk her wrist away and ram him in the stomach with her parasol’s wooden handle. Hiking up her skirts, she bolted through the grove, weaving around brush and fallen limbs.
“You honestly think you can get away from me?” He cackled after her, his boots crunching the parched grass and cedar twigs as he ran. “Ain’t no use, little lady!”
God, help me! You are my protector, and I will not fear. She prayed as she leapt over a fallen tree. A branch snagged her skirt, ripping the delicate lace, and she tumbled headlong into the arms of Sheriff Kane. “Kane!” She cried out, her chest heaving.
The sheriff tucked her behind him, drew his gun, and shot at Mr. Gessler’ feet. “Move one step closer and you’re a dead man,” Kane fairly growled.
Mr. Gessler raised his hands above his head. “Aw, come on, Sheriff. We was just havin’ us a little fun playin’ tag.”
Without a moment’s hesitation, Kane strode forward and brought the butt of his revolver down across Mr. Gessler’ head, knocking him out. Kane squatted down and withdrew two lengths of rope from his belt, wrapping it about Mr. Gessler’s hands and feet, and secured him with his back to a cedar.
Kane jogged back to her, took her hands, and flipped them over to inspect them for scratches. “Did he hurt you?”
Sophia pulled out of his grasp, her decorum returning. “Apart from a slightly bruised wrist, I am well,” she assured him, but seeing his eyes rest on her trembling hands, she tucked them behind her. “I am well,” she repeated, moving to retrieve her parasol, and stumbled over her skirts.
“You are far from well, Sophia.” He scooped her up in his muscular arms. “I’ll take you back.”
“Please, I don’t want to make a scene,” Sophia’s voice grew tight as she felt the raw power in his arms, remembering how it felt to be in Carver’s arms months ago when she had slipped while skating and then again in the Ashley River. A dull ache filled her as she pressed her hands against his navy plaid shirt, pushing herself away from him. “Please, set me down. I can walk just fine on my own.”
“At least let me carry you to the edge of the grove. You are worn out and I need to get you back and I don’t want to risk you fainting.” Kane’s arms tightened about her.
Sophia shook her head. “If you allow me to lean on your arm, I am certain I can manage fine on my own.”
His face expressed his concern, but he honored her request and gently set her on the ground, leaving his arm securely wrapped around her petite waist. “I didn’t realize how delicate you were until you were in my arms.”
Sophia tucked a stray curl behind her ear and re-pinned her hat before noticing the smear of dirt marring her lovely parasol, inwardly moaning. “I may seem to be on the delicate side, but I can assure you, Sheriff Kane, I can manage to walk home.” She cleared her throat. “But I’m quite glad you appeared when you did. What in the world brought you out this far away from town?”
He grasped her hand and guided her around a fallen branch. “I asked Miss Ray if you had attended service because I didn’t see you afterwards, and she said you had gone for a walk . . . which is not a good idea to do alone in these parts.”
“So, you came after me?” Her cheeks heated for having wandered too far away from the path and needing to be rescued.
“And I am glad I did.” He held out his elbow to her at the churchyard. “May I see you home?”
Thinking of Nora’s reaction to the parasol, she had no desire to repeat the quarrel over the man of Nora’s affections. “I’ll be fine on my own. Thank you again.”
He lifted his Stetson to her. “Any time, Miss Bird.”
Checking her watch pin, her heart faltered that she had not only missed luncheon, but she had precious little time to change for the train. In a flurry of petticoats, Sophia dashed to her room and changed, tying her apron strings as she hurried into the Castañeda, her heels clicking against the red and white tiles.
“Heard you had a nice walk with Sheriff Kane.” Dolly stood at her station with her arms crossed, and before Sophia could explain what happened, she continued. “He has been flirting with me for the past six months and has been courting me off and on, so I would suggest that you would be respectful of his attentions to me and not throw yourself at him, like Nora.”
“Excuse me?” Sophia asked. “I am certainly not throwing myself at him. I was merely walking by myself when he joined me. I never once sought him out.”
“It’s all over town how you come from money, so now he’s just interested in you for your wealth.” Dolly unfurled the linen over the table, smoothing it out with such vigor that she could wear a hole in it. “If you have any self-respect you will drop his suit.”
“What do you mean all over town?” Surely, Nora hasn’t been telling tales? “I have done nothing—”
“Oh, come off it,” Dolly thumped down each piece of silverware. “You are flaunting your wealth to everyone with your fine dresses bedecked with lace and well, everything.” Dolly examined the tablecloth and rubbed out any wrinkle, real or imaginary. “You lost any pretense of attempting to hide your wealth when you bought that parasol Nora has been wanting for over three months now. She has told every single one of the girls how much she has been saving and how eager she is to get that parasol and you up and buy it the minute you have a day off.”
“We resolved that issue at once. Obviously, I didn’t know! Otherwise, I would have never bought the fool thing,” Sophia retorted, her pulse teeming. “Besides, you were quick enough at asking to borrow it.”
Dolly lifted her nose at that remark. “You are her roommate, so how could you not know?” She fired back. “You aren’t the only girl with money. Kane just thinks you have more, but you are probably a girl whose family has fallen from wealth, which is why you must work for a living. Once the fashions change, the secret will be out because you probably can’t afford to keep up appearances like I can.” Dolly scowled as she inspected the glasses for any spots.
“If you’re so wealthy, why don’t you quit your job, play the lady, and lure Sheriff Kane with your own money?” Sophia scraped a chair into alignment.
“Because I enjoy earning my own keep. I am dependent on no one, and I can decide my future for myself,” Dolly snapped as she put the finishing touches on the table. “I’m not here out of necessity, but rather out of choice, and that is why I am next in line to be head Harvey Girl because I have the passion it takes to make this place run and not the desperation of a girl who has nowhere else to go and is only here because she is out of options.” She glared at Sophia. “I don’t have time for all this nonsense. Just mind you stay away from the sheriff. I’m not like Nora. I won’t let you have my ‘parasol’ without a fight. The sheriff is mine.” She stood back and took in the tables. “Jenny, Sophia is to serve tables with you from now on. You are both to help Fannie fill her drink orders. Oh, and I’ve decided to split your shift.”
“And what gives you such authority?” Jenny interjected.
Dolly raised a single brow. “When Harriet is off, I am on call and in charge.” She turned on her heel, calling over her shoulder, “Sophia, you will work until six o’clock and then take a break. Tonight, you are needed at the lunch counter from eleven o’clock to five o’clock in the morning. Now, get to work and pull your weight or I will recommend to have you fired faster than you can blink if you don’t quit on your own before then. The night shift can be a bit challenging.”
Sophia’s nails dug into her palms at Dolly’s outburst, jumping at Jenny’s touch on her shoulder.
“Didn’t you hear the gong? The train has arrived.”
Sophia scurried over to her tables and stood with her hands delicately folded in front of her, determined to put the ugly business with Mr. Gessler out of her mind. She greeted the guests as Harriet had instructed her to do as each one took their seat and began to claim their orders of soup or salad. A Harvey Girl is to always look friendly and fresh and never flustered and flushed, she recited in her head as she continued to smile and take orders from each guest. Who cares what Dolly thinks is going on with Sheriff Kane and me? I have never encouraged the man and do not intend on doing so.
Sophia smiled as she asked a guest at her table, “Coffee or tea, ma’am?”
“My dear, I would love some tea,” the elderly lady sighed. “Finally, a place that is civilized enough to offer a beverage besides water or whiskey!”
Sophia flipped the china cup upside down in the saucer. “We aim to please at the Harvey House, ma’am.” She moved down the table for the rest of the orders as Jenny followed behind her with a pot of tea and coffee in each hand.
When Sophia reached the other end of the table, she realized that Jenny was no longer behind her, so she hurried over to the counter and grasped a coffee pot and tea pot and began to fill her tables’ orders as well as the orders at Jenny’s table. She leaned over the left shoulder of the last guest at the table to pour coffee when someone from behind bumped her elbow. The pot slipped in her grip and the spout poured directly onto the man’s lap.
“What the—” He scrambled back, knocking the wooden chair over in his haste to rise.
Sophia gasped, mortified. “I am so very sorry, sir!” She dabbed his shirt with her apron. Even his shirt is burning hot! Oh, I hope I didn’t hurt him.
“Sophia?” He breathed, his voice sending his chest under her hand vibrating.
She jerked back, gasping as she found his dear face. “Carver?”
“Sophia, I can’t believe I actually found you!” He took in her appearance, his grin spreading. “Never would I have guessed you decided to become a Harvey Girl. You look lovely in black and white.”
She smoothed out her coffee drenched apron, her cheeks flushing at her appearance and at being found out by the man she loved. “What are you doing here?”
“Searching for you, but I was only following the trail you left behind and never thought I’d actually find you this quickly,” Carver explained, his face betraying his shock in seeing her and his concern for her wellbeing. “I feel like my chest may explode. Are you well? After I discovered your disappearance and received your letter in New Orleans, I’ve been searching New Mexico. I only got this far because of the postmark.”
She ached for him to confess his love for her—to be wrapped in his arms, but she glanced about and found every eye in the hall on them. Now was certainly not the time for such declarations.
Dolly bustled out from the kitchen, followed by Fannie. “Miss Sophia, what has happened here?” she whispered as she reached the table, grasping Sophia by her arm and drawing her to her side. “Sir, I am so sorry about all of this. Normally Miss Sophia is supervised, but I thought she could handle herself. Apparently, she cannot. The meal will, of course, be on the house, and we’ll give you a few future dinner tickets for your trouble.”
“Miss Bird.” Miss Trent joined them with her hands folded so tightly that her knuckles were turning white. Keeping her smile plastered on her face to disguise her ire, she hissed, “Your apron is unsightly. Go change immediately and finish your tête-à-tête with this gentleman after you have seen to the rest of our guests and finish serving dinner.”
“Of course, Miss Trent,” Sophia curtsied, her gaze darting hungrily back to Carver.
He gave her a small bow, his eyes locking on hers. “Miss Bird, I look forward to finishing our conversation and catching up on a few things.”
Sophia could hardly contain her smile, her cheeks warming under his gaze. “Indeed, Mr. Ashton. Please excuse me while I make myself presentable.” She wove through the guests and dashed across the street to her room. Closing her bedroom door, she leaned against it with an elated, yet heavy, sigh. God, please don’t let it be too late for us. Please don’t let me have ruined my chances with Carver because of my fear.