back.
May nudged Al, motioning for him to leave the room with her. "I think it's time we turned in," she said, her motive for leaving the room all too obvious. Tonio stopped them.
"I was hoping to have a word alone with Al."
May shrugged and the two men left the room, retreating to the parlor where they could be heard speaking in urgent, hushed tones.
May spoke as if reading Angelina's thoughts. "He's got something on his mind. Don't worry; he'll come around one of these days."
Angelina nodded but she wasn't so sure.
Later that night Angelina rose from her bed and tiptoed out into the hall. She couldn't sleep thinking of Tonio sleeping in the room next to hers, his breathing deep and even, his body warm and hard. She shuddered remembering the delight of sleeping next to him on the train ride west. It was an image she should have banished.
Tonio's room was empty. Voices rose from the living room. He and Al were still up discussing something with heated interest. Something about dynamite and concentrators and the Frisco Mill.
"They store enough powder at the Frisco to blow up the whole Valley," Tonio was saying. "And it's unguarded, there for the taking. I could make toothpicks out of their concentrator with less."
Al mumbled something in return. Angelina strained to hear his reply. Tonio was talking again. "Baker wanted an armed labor force and that's what he's got, a bloody army. The Bunker may give in and pay scale, but they'll never recognize the union."
Mining matters! That's all he thinks about, Angelina thought with disgust. Well, at least it wasn't other women. She tiptoed back to bed. She needed to do something to get his attention, but what? She fell asleep wondering and scheming.
Angelina was up and in the kitchen early the next morning banging pans around as she prepared to cook one of those big American breakfasts Tonio loved. The clatter woke May up.
"Aren't you up with the chickens!" May's voice startled her. "I thought you didn't go in for big breakfasts?"
"I thought I'd give you a break and cook for the men, May."
"What men?"
"Al and Tonio."
"They aren't here. They left already."
"Already? Where would they be going so early?"
"Al had an early run to make and Tonio said he had errands to run."
"Errands? What kind of errands could he have so early?" Couldn't the man stay home and let her pamper him for one morning? How was she supposed to woo him into wedded bliss if he kept running off?
"Don't know. Tonio's business is his own. You ought to know that by now."
Angelina put the pans away. May never ate much breakfast. "May, I need the kitchen today, do you mind?"
"Not at all. I suppose you'd like Al and me to eat out at the hotel."
Angelina smiled. "You're quick, May."
"Not really. The way to a man's heart is through his stomach, am I right?"
"Be here for dinner, but if you could take an evening stroll before dessert? I don't want to be too obvious."
"Say no more." May headed back to bed.
Tonio wasn't back for dinner. His loss, Angelina thought as she wiped the last dish dry and stacked it in the cupboard. And after all of the work she'd done! The back door slammed open and shut. She turned to find him standing behind her just inside the doorway, an appraising look on his face.
"It appears I've missed dinner."
She leaned back against the sink, dish towel still in hand, and faced him defiantly. "Yes. I hope you had the sense to have a meal elsewhere."
She turned back to the sink. Why couldn't she be nice to him like her mama had taught her? Men fell in love with nice women, not shrews. "It's a shame you missed it. It was my turn to cook." She heard him remove his jacket and toss it over a chair back. "My meals are always excellent."
"Then it would seem that a man couldn't lose around here. May is a very fine cook herself. I'll have to remember to be home in time for dinner tomorrow. Where are May and Al?"
"Walking off their meal." She softened and put on a delicate smile as she turned to face him. She caught him off guard. There in his eyes was the gentle, longing look that so confused and enraptured her. It was gone in an instant as always, but it left her encouraged.
"I saved you some dessert. Let me get you some coffee to go with it."
"No, Angel,