September Sky (American Journey Book 1) (19 page)

Chuck glanced at the other table to see if the young adults were getting along and quickly saw he had nothing to worry about. Justin and Emily smiled and laughed like old friends having a genuinely good time.

"So how is your research going?" Rose asked. "I haven't seen you around the library for a few days and wondered whether you had written your book already."

Chuck resisted the temptation to ask Rose how
her
"research" was going. Though he didn't know for a fact she was dating Wyatt Fitzpatrick, he suspected as much. He knew they knew each other well enough to exchange intimate details about the writer from California.

"My research is going well. The reason you haven't seen me at the library much lately is because I have moved from bookwork to fieldwork. I've started interviewing subjects for my book, including each of the Fitzpatrick brothers. I met Silas for the first time yesterday and will meet with him again tomorrow."

"Have you seen any of the ships?" Rose asked.

"Indeed I have," Chuck said. "Wyatt gave Justin and me a tour of the SS
Monterrey
yesterday after the passengers had disembarked. He was a gracious guide."

"I'm not surprised," Rose said. "He likes you. He likes both of you."

"He told you this?"

Chuck sipped his coffee.

"He most certainly did," Rose said. "Wyatt and I are friends."

Rose smiled and winked.

Chuck nearly spit out his drink. When he recovered, he glanced at Charlotte and Goldie. The former buried her beet-red face in her hands. The latter stared stoically into space.

"If that's true, then I'm sure Wyatt does like us," Chuck said. "Justin and I like him too. I've found him to be pleasant, helpful, and candid. He's been particularly candid about his family background and his relationship with his brother."

Goldie turned her head.

"Do you plan to put that information in your book?" Goldie asked.

"I didn't at first, but I do now," Chuck said. "Wyatt and Silas Fitzpatrick are fascinating individuals, but they are not well known outside of Texas. I intend to change that with this book. I intend to change that big time."

CHAPTER 28: JUSTIN

When Justin carried his plate from the kitchen to the dining room, he didn't even bother to look at the four older adults at the main table. He made a beeline for the girl he hadn't spoken to since Sunday afternoon. He didn't think Emily was still mad at him, but he wasn't sure and most certainly wanted to find out.

"I hope you're all right with this," Justin said to Emily as he took his seat at the card table. "If you're not, I can go sit in a corner."

Emily smiled warily.

"You're trying to humor me, Mr. Townsend. You're very good at that."

"I'm only trying to be nice."

"I know," Emily said. "And I appreciate it."

Justin put his napkin in his lap.

"So what should we talk about at the children's table?" Justin asked.

Emily tried to stifle a laugh with a hand and failed. She failed again when Justin mouthed the word "children." When she finally collected herself, she looked at him thoughtfully.

"Perhaps we should talk about your performance on Sunday. I never thanked you for coming to my rescue. No one has ever spoken to my father that way. No one has ever risked angering him to defend my views," Emily said. She paused. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," Justin said. "But it's not like it was a chore. I really believe what I said. I think women should have the same rights as men, including the right to vote."

Justin looked at her intoxicating green eyes and saw something he hadn't seen before – or at least since the end of their contentious first encounter. He saw softness, even kindness.

"I know you do. That's why I feel bad about snapping at you the other day. It wasn't my place to judge you for quitting college. I'm sure you had your reasons. I'm sorry."

Justin smiled warmly.

"You don't need to apologize. You just need to sit still and let me look at you."

Emily laughed.

"I should be careful around you."

"Why?" Justin asked.

"You're making me laugh. My mother warned me about men like you."

"I thought she warned you about men who make you smile."

"You're doing both," Emily said. "That makes you twice as dangerous."

Justin laughed.

"All right. I'll stop. I do like making you smile though. Like I said the other day, you have a pretty smile. It's even more appealing than your petulant pout."

Emily turned red.

"Thank you. I think."

Both of them laughed.

Justin couldn't believe his good fortune. He had dreaded coming to this breakfast because he had thought he wouldn't have a good time. Now, he was having the time of his life.

"Do you mind if I ask you a serious question?" Justin asked.

"You might as well. I need a break from your wit."

Justin smiled sadly.

"How come you never finished school? Your mom told me you attended Vassar College in New York last year. She didn't tell me why you dropped out."

Emily sighed and glanced at the other table. When she was apparently convinced that none of the grown-ups were eavesdropping, she answered the question.

"I didn't 'drop out,' as you put it. My father pulled me out. He refused to pay for another year of college – or anything else – unless I seriously entertained a marriage proposal."

"Are you kidding me?" Justin asked.

"I don't kid."

"Whom did he want you to marry?"

Emily glanced again at the others before returning to Justin.

"Silas Fitzpatrick," she whispered.

"Silas?"

Emily cut Justin off by pressing a finger to her lips.

"I can't talk about it – at least not here," Emily said.

Justin nodded.

"I understand. You don't have to tell me anything."

Emily smiled and briefly put a hand on his.

"Thank you."

Justin took another moment to assess the wonder in front of him. If he wasn't smitten before, he was smitten now. The question today was how to proceed.

"Emily?"

"Yes."

"Can I ask you another question? I promise it won't be as bad."

"OK."

"Do you want to go on a date?"

Emily smiled nervously but did not respond.

"I'm sorry for asking," Justin said all too quickly. "That was pretty forward of me."

"No," Emily said. "It wasn't forward at all. What do you have in mind?"

Justin paused.

"I was thinking of something simple, like a walk along the Midway," he said. "We could buy ice cream sundaes or something. I just want to spend more time with you."

"That sounds nice. I'd love to do that."

"How does Saturday sound? I could pick you up at noon."

"That would be perfect," Emily said. "I just have one request."

"What's that?"

Emily smiled sweetly.

"I'd like to bring Anna."

CHAPTER 29: JUSTIN

Saturday, May 12, 1900

Sitting at a picnic table on the edge of the busy esplanade, Justin glanced at the shorter of his two raven-haired dates and smiled. When the shorter of his dates smiled back, he laughed.

"What's so funny?" Emily asked.

"I can't get over the resemblance," Justin said. "She's a mini you."

"We
are
related, Mr. Townsend."

"I know. I know. But even for sisters, you look a lot alike."

"Mama says she broke the mold when she made me," Anna said.

Justin laughed again.

"I believe that."

Anna smiled and returned to her ice cream sundae.

"Thank you for letting Anna join us today," Emily said. "I'm sure you had a different kind of afternoon in mind."

"I did. But I'm happy to have her along," Justin said. He looked at Anna. "Did you hear that? I'm happy to have you along."

Anna blushed and nodded.

"I mean it though," Emily said. "Anna and I spend most Saturdays together. This is our day. She would never have forgiven me had I insisted on going alone."

Justin smiled.

"I thought you brought her along for protection."

"I did. You're a man who makes me smile and laugh, after all."

"You make her angry sometimes too," Anna said matter-of-factly.

Justin chuckled.

"Anna, mind your manners!" Emily said.

Emily, red-faced, turned to Justin.

"She's talking about the time you walked me home from the library."

"I know what she's talking about – and I don't mind hearing about it," Justin said. "You had a right to be angry with me – or at least disappointed."

Justin thought about that day as he looked at his ladies. How long ago it seemed. He had made a lot of progress with Emily since their "Don't touch me! Get away from me!" moment and wanted to preserve it. If slow and steady was the way to win Emily Beck's heart, he would set his cruise control to five miles per hour.

He gazed at the girls a little longer and then shifted his attention to other things. No matter where he looked, he saw something worth noting – from the concession stands and amusements to the trolleys and the elegantly dressed masses that moved slowly down the Midway.

"What do you call that funny-looking building over there?" Justin asked as he pointed toward the water.

Emily turned around.

"Do you mean the curio shop?"

"No. I mean the big building right there, the long wooden one sitting on the stilts."

Emily smiled.

"That's the Pagoda bathhouse."

"How come it has two circus tents in the middle?"

Emily laughed.

"I don't know. I guess its owners want it to look different than the others."

"You mean there's more than one?" Justin asked.

"There are three – the Pagoda, O'Keefe's, and Murdoch's. You can see O'Keefe's to the east and Murdoch's to the west."

"Have you been to one?"

"We've been to all three, but we typically go to Murdoch's," Emily said. "My parents rent a space there. That's where we keep most of our bathing suits."

"So the bathhouses are basically a cluster of changing rooms."

"That's exactly what they are, though they have other amenities, such as observation decks, amusements, and restaurants. O'Keefe's has a really nice restaurant."

"How often do you go swimming?" Justin asked.

"We rarely go in the cooler months, but we go at least once a week in the summer. Anna and I usually wait until June to go in the water. You should join us if you're still around."

"I just may," Justin said.

"I think you
should
," Anna said. "'May' is a weasel word."

Justin laughed.

"OK then. I will. I
will
go swimming. Is 'will' a weasel word?"

Anna smiled and shook her head.

Justin looked at Anna like she was Shirley Temple. He couldn't believe so much cuteness could be packed into a four-foot-high frame. When he returned his eyes to Emily, he noticed that she seemed distracted by something or someone in the distance.

"What is it?" Justin asked.

"It's just an unwelcome distraction," Emily said. "Will you excuse me for a moment?"

"Of course."

Emily left the table and walked toward two men standing by the curio shop.

Justin recognized each of the men by face and thought he knew the name of one. He didn't know what the two had in common, other than an apparent interest in an irritated young woman.

"Is that Levi MacArthur?" Justin asked.

Anna nodded.

Justin watched intently as Emily walked up to the prosecutor and gave him an earful. The other man, the one Justin did not know, looked on with apparent detachment.

"Your sister doesn't like Mr. MacArthur, does she?"

"Nope," Anna said.

"Does she like
me
?" Justin asked.

Anna fidgeted in her seat.

"I think so. She says you're different."

"Different?"

Anna nodded.

"She said you were 'different' the other day. She never calls Mr. MacArthur 'different.' She just says he's 'difficult.'"

Justin laughed. He was ready to adopt Anna as his little sister.

Justin began to ask another question but stopped when he saw Emily throw up her arms, turn around, and walk back his way. When she finally reached the table and took her seat, he offered a friendly smile.

"Looks like you had your hands full," Justin said.

"It was nothing I couldn't handle," Emily said.

Justin glanced at the curio shop and saw that the men had left.

"Was he threatening you?"

"No. He was spying on me."

"Why?" Justin asked. "You're not doing anything wrong."

"Sure I am. I'm living my life without him."

"Does this have anything to do with me?"

"Of course it does," Emily said. "You're kind. You're considerate. You're spending time with me. All three are crimes in this town. I'm sure Levi can't wait to prosecute."

Justin looked at Emily and saw that she was rattled. Then he took a closer look and saw moisture in her eyes.

"Emily, are you OK? If you're not, I can take you home."

"No!"

Justin looked away for a moment to collect his thoughts. He returned his attention to Emily when he felt a soft hand touch his.

"I'm sorry for snapping," Emily said. "I'm just tired of men controlling my life and telling me what to do."

Justin offered a reassuring smile.

"I understand."

Emily thanked him with her eyes and then turned to her sundae – or what was left of it. Her ice cream had turned to mush.

"I guess I'm not the only one having a bad day," Emily said as she laughed through tears.

Justin chuckled.

"Would you like another one?"

"Yes."

Justin glanced at Anna and noticed that she had finished her concoction. She had reverted to form by putting her chin on her hands and staring at her new big brother with awe.

"Anna, would you like to earn a dollar?"

The girl nodded.