[Desert Roses 03] - Beneath A Harvest Sky (11 page)

Maybe too kind. Maybe I need to have a private talk with Mr. Vance.”

Rainy looked up at Sonny and cocked her head to one side. “I don’t know what you’re implying with that comment, but I assure you Mr. Vance has been nothing but a gentleman. He even treated my Indian friends with great civility and open admiration.”

Sonny laughed, but it was Duncan who leaned in to say, “Your defense of Mr. Vance isn’t helping your case at all.”

Rainy pushed away from the table. “You’re both being silly. Phillip has been ver y charming and, well . . . yes, he has shown me some special interest.

But it’s my business—not yours,” she told Sonny. She then looked to Duncan and added, “Or yours.”

She started across the dining room just as Phillip and his entourage rose. “Miss Gordon,” Phillip called and motioned.

Rainy froze midstep. She was afraid to acknowledge him and afraid not to. Finally she looked over her shoulder to where Phillip stood alongside Chester Driscoll. “Do join us. We’re retiring to the Writing Room, where Jennetta has agreed to read us a couple of her poems and I am to do a scene from my last movie. Please say you’ll come.”

Rainy opened her mouth to reply but found Sonny speaking instead. “Is the invitation extended to everyone?” She turned around and found that he and Duncan were only a few paces behind her.

“But of course. The more the merrier. We artists are nothing without our audience to appreciate us,” Phillip replied.

His response was not what Rainy had hoped to hear. She had thought perhaps her invitation was a summons to a private, exclusive time of privilege.

There was just something about Phillip Vance that made her easily forget herself.

She followed with Sonny and Duncan as the growing party moved to the Writing Room. She took a seat toward the back, hoping it would afford her a quick getaway should the need arise. Much to her surprise, Duncan took the seat beside her, while Sonny went up closer to the impromptu stage.

Chester had been appointed the host and soon several other participants had been encouraged to join in showing off their talents.

There were several recitations of speeches that were followed by a bleak soliloquy by Jennetta Blythe entitled, “The Despair That Haunts My Soul.” For Rainy, the despair was that the poem went on for twelve stanzas. Gloom and sorrow dripped from every word. The woman was clearly not a happy person.

Finally Phillip stood and gave a rousing speech from his last movie. The speech dealt with a cowboy’s plea to his dying father to forgive him for past indiscretions. The audience applauded with great enthusiasm and the women rushed to plant kisses on Phillip’s cheeks and lips. Rainy was rather stunned by their reaction. Phillip, in the meantime, seemed quite content with the attention. The situation confused her.

Lord, if you’ve brought him into my life as a potential
husband, then why is he acting like that?
The question surprised even Rainy. She looked at Duncan and found his gaze fixed on her, almost as if he were awaiting some response or reaction.

She got to her feet, unable to figure out her heart in the matter. Duncan had a way of making her weak in the knees, but then, so did Phillip Vance. Duncan’s smile had aroused thoughts of marriage and happily ever after. But then, Phillip Vance had mastered the art of the enticing smile, too.

Suddenly she realized she was still staring at Duncan. “I suppose I’ll retire for the evening.”

“It’s been a rather tiring day,” Duncan said, getting to his feet.

Sonny came bounding toward them, shaking his head. “Have you ever seen such a fuss? I nearly had two different women sitting on my lap as they fought to get past my seat. And all for that,” he said, motioning over his back.

“It was calmer back here. I didn’t have any threat of ladies in my lap,” Duncan replied with a grin. “But I did get a good looking over.”

Rainy felt her cheeks grow hot. “I’m going to bed.”

————

Duncan wasn’t sure what to do with his feelings.

He had thought of Rainy all night as he slipped in and out of sleep. And then when they gathered with the dudes at the car the next morning, he watched her with such intensity that she asked him twice if something was wrong.

He wanted to tell her about the investigation. He wanted to tell her that his feelings for her were getting . . . well, out of control. He wanted to explain everything that mattered and yet knew there was nothing he could say. At least not at this point.

“Rainy!”

Duncan looked up to find Phillip Vance making his way to where Rainy stood with Sonny. Duncan picked up a road map and ambled toward the threesome, pretending to study the route.

“When I saw the glorious sunrise, I thought of you immediately. Your hair is like the ribbons of color that unfurled across the sky,” Vance said with a smile.

Rainy, who had seemed discouraged all morning, perked up at Phillip’s greeting. “Well, you know what they say. Red skies in morning, sailors take warning.”

“Well, there certainly aren’t any sailors in this part of the world, so maybe there are others who should heed the signs,” Phillip said in a teasing manner. “Anyway, I wanted to catch you before we started out for Albuquerque. We had no time to talk privately last night. Did you enjoy my performance?”

Duncan wanted to laugh out loud, but instead he touched Sonny on the shoulder and held up the map as if to suggest directions be given. Sonny darted behind the map and exchanged a grin with Duncan.

Together they lowered the map just enough to watch Rainy and Phillip.

“I enjoyed it very much,” Rainy told Phillip. “I remember that scene in the movie brought me to tears.”

“Truly? How marvelous!” Phillip declared. “I knew you were a woman of great passion. I have a very poor relationship with my father, and I drew on that to support my character’s reaction. The scene conjured all sorts of memories for me . . . but, of course, such a scene would never be allowed in real life. My father believes in grudges.”

“How very sad.”

Phillip sighed. “You are very understanding of my situation. So often the world leaves little room for honesty, but I find that you are a woman of not only impeccable truth but also incredible beauty.”

Sonny coughed to cover a laugh. Rainy glanced their way, but it was Duncan’s gaze she met. She frowned and looked back to Phillip. “Was there something else I could help you with?”

“Absolutely.” Phillip oozed charm, and Duncan personally wanted to wring his neck. “I know we’ll stay the night in Albuquerque. I wondered if you would be my personal escort and give me an evening tour of the city. I’d love to see all the special places—just you and me.”

Rainy smiled and looked away. Duncan thought she looked rather nervous. “I’d love to,” she told him.

This caused both Sonny and Duncan to drop the map. Duncan knew, from what she and Sonny had both shared, that nights in Albuquerque were always devoted to family. From the look on Sonny’s face, Rainy was acting completely out of character.

“Rainy, what about Mom and Dad?” Sonny asked.

“They’ll understand. Take Duncan home with you.

Give them my excuses.”

Sonny looked to Duncan and shook his head. “I think it’s time to get on the road. You want to drive?” he asked.

Duncan nodded, although he really didn’t feel like taking on the chore. At least it might help to keep his mind occupied. It might—but he doubted it.

CHAPTER EIGHT

I’
ve really enjoyed our evening together,” Phillip said as he strolled with Rainy.

“I have too,” Rainy admitted. She’d known nothing but his complete attention and generosity this evening. Phillip’s genuine kindness and interest in her life and the things around her proved him to be a man of integrity and consideration. Her only real frustration was that she still knew so very little about Phillip Vance, the man. He was openly delighted to talk about his life as an actor, but when it came to anything more personal, he seemed to easily avoid her questions.

“I must say, I’ve learned a great deal about your Indian friends. I think it marvelous that you know so much about them. You’d be a tremendous asset to the movie studio. You really should give it some thought.”

“Move to California? But I don’t know anyone there,” Rainy said without thinking.

“You would know me,” Phillip said, stopping to take hold of her hand. “And by then, well . . . who can say?”

Rainy felt a surge of frustration. These were hardly the kinds of words she wanted to hear. She wanted to know if Phillip had any real interest in deepening their relationship, of course, but she wanted to know much more. Rainy needed to know if he was like-minded—if he honored the truth, honored God. She’d always respected her mother’s admonition to not get involved with nonbelievers. Rainy had worked hard, in fact, to avoid such heartaches. It was definitely something that had allowed her to keep Chester Driscoll at arm’s length.

Overhead the night skies twinkled with diamond-like stars. The moon, a lazy crescent, offered little light. Rainy wanted so much to know Phillip Vance’s true self, yet he never seemed able to tell her much more than who he was as an actor or public figure.

Even his interests and concern about the Hopi were more related to his work than to his personality—at least that was how it seemed at times.

“Isn’t it marvelous how God so intricately created the universe—so beautiful . . . so perfect?” Rainy said, hoping perhaps this line of questioning would give Phillip cause to respond and share his heart. She continued gazing into the night sky, waiting for his response.

After a moment he replied, “It’s beautiful here, to be sure.”

Rainy waited for him to say something more, but he seemed completely content to remain silently at her side. Frustration coursed through her veins. “Phillip, you’ve really said very little about yourself. I feel like I know all about Phillip Vance the actor, but what of your personal life? What did you do with yourself before getting into the movie business?” she asked, suddenly breaking the intimacy of the moment. She pulled away and continued their stroll back to the Alvarado Hotel.

Phillip quickly followed. “There really isn’t much to tell. I was born and raised in New York. I went to school and developed an interest in movies from the first time I viewed a silent picture.” He smiled down at her as he again claimed her arm. “I knew then that acting was for me.”

“But surely you had other plans and dreams as a child.”

Phillip grew momentarily thoughtful. “My mother took me to my first play when I was only five. I regularly attended after that—whenever she was to attend.

My father despised the theatre, so we never told him of our destinations.” He shrugged as if he’d said too much. “I suppose there was the thought to become something studious—you know, a lawyer or banker. I believe my father hoped I might follow in his footsteps and help with the family business.”

“Which was?” Rainy asked, finally feeling she was getting somewhere.

“He made tools,” Phillip murmured, as if ashamed. “Jennetta hated our life there and often spoke of moving from New York to California—Los Angeles, in particular. I thought it sounded marvelous.

I knew it would allow me to be exposed to all that I would need to get me into movies. That’s where my real passion lies.”

Movies
. Rainy sighed. So they were back to that topic. How was she supposed to know him better? How was she supposed to know if this was the man God intended for her to marry if he wouldn’t discuss the truly important aspects of life? Still, he seemed so interested in being with her. He could have taken his pick of beautiful women, yet here he was with her.

That had to mean something—didn’t it?

They’d reached the hotel veranda, and Phillip stopped and pulled Rainy around to face him. “I have a surprise. I’ve arranged a carriage ride to take you home,” he said, his expression suggesting he was quite pleased with himself.

Rainy thought the gesture very sweet. “How marvelous. It’s been a long time since I’ve ridden in a carriage. With the Harveycars—well, I guess now that Major Clarkson has purchased the Detours they’re being called courier cars—but nevertheless, with the touring cars I’ve had plenty of non-equestrian transportation.”

“I thought this would be rather . . . well . . . romantic,” he whispered.

“Romantic?” Rainy asked, her voice squeaking a bit. Was this the sign she’d been waiting for? Was God finally going to show her the truth about Phillip Vance?

Phillip laughed and led her toward the carriage. “I think you’re absolutely marvelous.”

Rainy didn’t know what to make of his comment.

Was he laughing at her? Did he think her naïve?
Why
did I have to make that comment?
She moaned inwardly.

He probably thinks me quite immature and completely unsophisticated
.

Rainy allowed Phillip to help her into the carriage.

As a young girl, her family had used horse and carriage exclusively. Her father hadn’t the inclination toward nor the money to spend on an automobile. But the 1930s seemed to demand more and more attention toward change. Horses and carriages were giving way to the motorized car and quicker modes of transportation. Lindbergh had flown across the Atlantic, and air travel was rapidly becoming an acceptable alternative to the slower-paced trains. Automobiles were even more accessible with their makers desiring to produce a product that every American family could afford to buy.