Beyond Montana's Sky by Debra Holland

Author:Debra Holland [Holland, Debra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781939813701
Publisher: Debra Holland
Published: 2020-05-31T16:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Sitting in the hotel lobby in the midst of chattering Andersons, Cai eagerly waited to see Edith again. Hoping to spot her, he eyed the crowd flowing into the enormous room, smiling and nodding if he recognized anyone who looked his way.

On one side of him closest to the center aisle, Mormor and Farfar held a quiet conversation, while on the other side sat Bear, whose burly shoulders took up more than his fair share of space. Not wanting to talk, Cai listened to the hum of several hundred voices and inhaled the scents of soap and perfume and horse.

More minutes passed, and the lobby filled.

To contain his impatience, Cai looked around. Aside from a quick peek when the hotel first opened, he’d never been inside. Trips to town usually meant pick up what he needed and then getting back home.

He had to admit, the banker had done an excellent job on the design of the hotel. Large glass windows across the front let in abundant light. Even though the wedding took place in the early afternoon, the electric crystal chandeliers hanging from indented squares in the high ceilings already glowed. A broad staircase draped in flowers and ribbon led to a landing and then twisted up to the railed balcony of the second story.

Today, rows of church pews lined the room, each one already full. A swath of fancy white fabric lined the aisle like a carpet runner, almost covering the blue Persian carpet underneath. He was glad they’d arrived early and taken seats about one third from the front on the groom’s side, for latecomers had to stand in the back and began to crowd along the second-floor railing, as well as down the staircase and on the landing.

In the front, a narrow table covered with a white cloth held the biggest flower arrangement he’d ever seen, taking up much of the surface. The cross, usually resting on the altar in the church, stood next to the flowers. Two towering silver candlesticks held unlit white candles.

A grand piano, the top propped open like a swan’s wing, and a cello and a harp were positioned in the left front corner. He looked forward to hearing the music—a treat he’d missed at Christmas. Aurie had been too ill for them to attend the fancy shindig Caleb Livingston threw for the hotel’s grand opening. But many of the Andersons had gone and didn’t stop talking about the event for days. He’d heard all about the beautiful opera singer, Sophia Maxwell, and harpist, Blythe Robbins—now Mrs. Peter Rockwell—and their angelic-sounding carols.

Cai couldn’t help feeling a pang of missing Aurie. She would have been old enough to wear her hair up and her skirts down and would have badgered him into buying her a new gown. I hope you’re watching from heaven, little sis.

Surreptitiously, Cai pulled out his pocket watch from his vest pocket and checked the time. Fifteen minutes until the start. Impatience buzzed within him, and he took a slow breath lest he start fidgeting and give away his state of mind.

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