Rebel in Silk by Sandra Chastain

Author:Sandra Chastain [Chastain, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 0553564641
Publisher: Fanfare
Published: 1993-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

The room in which Dallas was spending her convalescence obviously belonged to Jake. There was no furniture except the bed, an armoire, and a straight chair. The fireplace was small but efficient, and it smoldered throughout the cold night.

Stark white walls with no adornment.

Efficient, simple, nothing frivolous. Everything with a purpose.

Just like the man who occupied the room. The man who had vanished since the night they’d drunk straight whiskey and shared a good-night kiss.

Wu and Shadow took turns sitting with Dallas. It was Wu’s turn now. He was telling her stories about building the railroad. He’d come to this country to make his fortune, return to China, and take a wife. But his family had died of a fever while he was away, and there’s been no reason to return to China.

“I’m so sorry, Wu. That must have been hard, making a life in a new country that was so different from your own.”

“Yes, Miss Dallas, but Mr. Jake found me and now he’s my family.”

“Found you?”

“Yes. The last winter we work on the railroad, snows come and never stop. It cover our houses and we not able to get to mountain where we blast. We build tunnels to go from sleeping place to work, never see sky.”

“Oh, my goodness. That must have been awful.”

“One day, very bad. Tunnel fall in. Many men killed. The rail bosses quit looking for workers, but not Mr. Jake. He hear about people buried and bring men to dig. Found Wu. Wu’s life belong to Mr. Jake now.”

“That makes you sound like a slave, Wu.”

“No, not slave!” he said angrily, “Family. Like you, Miss Dallas. Mr. Jake save you, your life belong to him now.”

Dallas started to argue that her life belonged to her and her alone, then lapsed into silence. She could never explain the high price she’d paid for that freedom and how precious it was to her.

For days, Shadow changed the dressing on Dallas’s leg, dosed her with bitter liquids, and brought her food. At the end of the week, Willie even came for a visit, bringing a package of clothing from Miranda.

To Dallas’s surprise, Miranda’s parcel contained the Russian dressing gown with the fur trim. It now lay across the foot of the bed. She couldn’t decide what the gift of the dressing gown meant. Was it simply concern or something else? She didn’t feel comfortable about wearing it until Shadow handed her Miranda’s note.

Elliott and I actually had dinner at Lucy Jarrett’s boarding house. What do you think about that, Dallas? Get well soon. Don’t let Jake drive you crazy.

Miranda

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