The Bride's House by Sandra Dallas

Author:Sandra Dallas [Dallas, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction, Literary, C429, Extratorrents, Kat
ISBN: 031260016X
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2011-01-01T00:00:00+00:00

Charlie Dumas cut short his trip to New Mexico, because one of the mines he had expected to visit had experienced a cave-in, shutting off the main adit, and he had decided to put off his investment decision until he could inspect it. So, to his daughter’s delight, he returned to Georgetown only days after the women. Pearl longed to tell him about Frank’s proposal. Charlie was the only person in whom she ever confided, although those confidences usually involved business or were observations about people. She did not discuss personal matters with her father for the reason that she didn’t have many. But she would have to tell him Frank’s intentions before the young man sought an interview, because she believed her father would be disappointed if he learned of her future plans from anyone except herself. She had not yet decided when or how to inform him, however.

Charlie arrived in late morning and immediately went into his study to take care of business that had come up in his absence. Pearl and Mrs. Travers unpacked his bags and put away his things. Then Pearl went into the study to take dictation and write her father’s letters for him. There was no time to discuss anything else, and indeed, the girl wanted to wait until Charlie was rested and not overwrought with work before she surprised him with her announcement.

As if to make up for the days she had spent away from her work, Mrs. Travers prepared Charlie’s favorite dishes for supper. She went to the market for a hen, which she stewed with dumplings, boiled and mashed potatoes, opened a bottle of green beans and cooked them to a pulp, with bacon. She baked bread and a Snow Cake, which Pearl iced and set on a glass stand on the sideboard in the dining room.

When Charlie went into the room, he surveyed the feast set out and sighed that if he could help it, he would never leave home again. Between bites of supper, he told the women about his trip, pointing his fork at Pearl from time to time (when Charlie was excited, his table manners reverted to his early days in Georgetown) to emphasize his point about a mine or a smelter he had toured. “You should have seen the amalgamation process, Pearl. The equipment was so clean, you could put it into your kitchen and eat off it.”

“And have you decided to invest in any of the mines?” she asked.

Charlie thought that over. “I wish you’d been with me, since you have a good head. I don’t know. Only the King Mine seems like a good prospect, but there’s something about it.…” He paused with his fork in the air. “I can’t put my finger on it. Perhaps I’m getting old and overly cautious. Besides, since I couldn’t inspect it thoroughly, I’ve put off a decision.”

“You are not old, and your instincts are always good, Papa. Perhaps you should listen to them.”

“I would not want to miss an opportunity as I did with Utah Copper.

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