In the Shadow of the Mountains by Rosanne Bittner

Author:Rosanne Bittner
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: e9781682303283
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2016-01-14T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Twenty-two

Most of downtown Denver was washed away. Again, the city suffered tremendous devastation, and again its people pulled themselves up by the bootstraps and determined they would not let this latest disaster make them give up or leave. They had overcome the fire; they would overcome the flood. They had been sorely tested, tempered and honed hard by fire and water—but they were fighters. They dug in and began cleaning up and rebuilding.

This time the Denver Inn had been spared, but another Kirkland warehouse had been washed away, as well as a Kirkland supply store. The store had literally vanished without a trace. The same fate was suffered by Bill Byers and the offices of the Rocky Mountain News. A three-thousand-pound steampowered printing press Byers had imported from the East was nowhere to be seen.

By the time Irene and Chad arrived, people were still milling about in shock, astonished at the power of water. Bea welcomed Chad and her daughter, too distraught to notice Irene’s loss of weight, the circles under her eyes, her pale skin. Irene reasoned that if her mother did notice, she probably thought it was due to Irene’s worries over the flood.

“You two should have gone on to Europe as planned,” Bea fussed. They stood outside the new offices of Kirkland Enterprises, which had been spared. “Oh, I wish you had already been on your way when this happened. I hate to see your honeymoon ruined!”

“Bea, you know we wouldn’t leave you to handle this alone, especially with Kirk gone.” Chad patted her arm and she quickly embraced him, then embraced Irene.

“I’ve wired Kirk that we can handle things here. As long as he’s already in Georgetown, he might as well go on to California,” she told them. “There is so much there to be done. He’ll have some supplies sent in from the coast.”

“How bad are our losses?” Chad asked.

“Bad enough, considering the fire, then all the rising prices and the bottoming out of mining investments. We have so much to talk about, Chad. I want to know how things are going in the south. It’s more important than ever.” She quickly kissed Irene’s cheek. “Have the driver take you to the house, Irene. John is still there. He’ll be coming down soon. I’d like to borrow Chad for a while, if it’s all right.”

“Yes, Mother,” Irene answered quietly. I need to talk to you, she wished she could say. I’m so unhappy, and I don’t know what to do. Chad leaned down and kissed her lightly.

“Go home and get some rest,” he told her. “I’ll be along.”

Irene entered the carriage, feeling numb. A honeymoon to Europe was not likely now, and she didn’t even mind. She reasoned since she was home, she would feel better, especially once they could move into their own house. One thing she did love was her house, the warmth of the rich wood floors and paneled walls, the beautiful stained-glass windows. Being in that house, surrounded by Ramon’s work, would be like having Ramon near her, watching over her.

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