Nobody Says It's Easy

14

"Father is suspicious," Emily said.

She'd reined in her horse near the old barn at the abandoned Hudderly farm. Handsome had been waiting just inside, and as she dismounted, he appeared in the sunlight. She fell into his arms, kissing him deeply.

"He knows I have a beau," she said.

"Something you let slip?" he asked. "A careless word that put him on my trail?"

"Of course not," she said. "But Father knows me. He reads the feelings in my face. He's always been like that. I said nothing, I swear, but Father knows just the same."

"We have to be careful," Handsome said. "If he discovers it's me, he will disown you."

"I don't care," she said. "We won't be paupers. You own the bank."

"Ah," he said, "but the Colonel could make our lives miserable. He would see that we are run out of Durmonth. He wouldn't rest until he destroyed us both for betraying him."

"What are we going to do?"

"Put him on the scent of another gent. Somebody who is more you age. Someone he does not despise," said Handsome.

"But who? You are the one I love. You are the only man in this valley who is man enough for me."

"How about my assistant?"

"Are you mad?"

"Am I?" said Handsome. "The boy's your age. He's better than most of the hicks I run into daily."

"But he's ... a ... a nobody."

"Precisely. The Colonel is sure to be appalled by the fact that the fellow is, to say it delicately, fatherless. He'll be so worked up, he won't even notice what is going on between us."

"I don't like it," she said. "It's dishonest."

"And being seen with a Corbett is likely to soil your reputation. Is that it?"

"Handsome, that is exactly what I was thinking. I find it detestable, despicable, and deplorable that you would even suggest such a ruse."

"Trust me, my love. It will work. I promise. You must do this. For us. In a couple of years, you will come of age. You will be in control of your legacy. Then, we will wed. I promise you, Durmonth will have a ceremony the likes of which no one has ever seen."

"But when will I see you?"

"We will work that out. I will send you letters daily. The Corbett boy will think he is delivering business correspondence to the hotel. He'll never know. It will give you two a chance to meet, and for all appearances, form a bond. Act the part, my darling. Make them think you are smitten by his charm. It is the only way. We must be patient. This is truly a perfect plan."

That afternoon, Handsome Curst instructed Colt to deliver several letters to the Divinely Sinful Hotel.

"Be sure these are given to Miss Mackelvaney and no one else. She is in a bind, Colt. I know the Colonel and I are not on the best of terms, but I feel sorry for her. It is my Christian duty to help this one in her in her hour of need."

Colt didn't care what his boss's reasons were. This was hardly what he'd call work. Being a delivery boy was an easy way to keep food in his family's mouth. 

He rode the mule across the railroad trestle. He would have much rather driven his boss's fancy car. He decided to tie up the beast behind some brush and walk up to the hotel.

When he arrived, he was sent right up to Miss Mackelvaney's suite. It was weird, he thought. Almost like he was expected. For months, he delivered small parcels and letters to her.

"You're early, Colt," she said as he walked up to give her the small brown-paper parcel.

"Yes, ma'am."

"Will you stop sayin ma'am? I'm not your mother. We're the same age."

She told him she was having trouble with her car. Did he drive? He shook his head 'no.' That was fine, she told him. She'd teach him.

It was the beginning of many long drives they shared that spring and summer.