can go.”
They and everyone else in town knew all too well. Bowen Drake had a gift that bordered on the miraculous – and at times had some emotional side effects
Liam looked at his father, then Doc Drake. “He’s going to be all right?”
“The only thing ailing your father, Liam, is old age. Hard work will do that. And I know with Caleb gone there’s only the two of you to do the work of three men. My suggestion is your father slow down a little.”
“But the farm …” Liam objected.
Doc Drake shook his head. “There are other things you can do to support the farm – or not have to. I’ll talk to you about it.”
Liam glanced worriedly at his father, then nodded at the doctor. “Very well.”
Adele glanced between the men. Did this mean Liam would have to work harder? Or had the good doctor come up with a way he could still leave Clear Creek and his father could handle the farm? That was probably the case. Doc Drake was a smart man in more ways than just doctoring. The thought made her heart sink. “Grandma?”
“Yes, child?”
“I take it you don’t need any help with the pies?”
“No, I’m fine. Irene thinks I’m getting feeble and weak in my old age. Ha! What does she know?”
Adele smiled. Grandma was old, no doubt, but still sharp as a tack. “I’m glad to hear it. What about the other refreshments?”
“It’s all the same stuff we do for other functions, child. Everyone brings a little something, you know that.”
“Yes, of course.” Adele caught Liam looking at her. “You’re probably ready for lunch.”
“Pa?” Liam said.
Mr. White rubbed his belly. “I’m never one to turn down lunch at the hotel. Especially when my son’s buying.”
Doc Drake laughed. “I’ll let you get to it.” He patted Liam on the shoulder. “You and I will have that talk soon.”
“I look forward to it, sir.” Liam headed for the front hall. Adele and Mr. White followed as Grandma and Elsie waved goodbye.
They walked to the hotel in silence and, once seated in the dining room, Adele breathed a little easier. She was relieved Mr. White would be okay, knowing how much it troubled Liam. She was sure Doc Drake could give Liam a way to run the farm without making a lot of extra work for himself. But would he still leave? That was the nagging concern, and if Liam was determined …
“Do you know what you want to order?” Liam asked her.
She forced a smile and looked at the menu. Rosie and Mrs. Upton the hotel cooks had expanded the selections to three choices per meal. Before, you got what they decided to cook on any given day. But with the train bringing occasional visitors used to seeing more than one item available – used to seeing menus, for that matter – they’d decided it was time for a change. “I’ll have the chicken sandwich.”
“Me too. Pa?”
“I’m going to have the ham salad.” He set his menu down and smiled. “Well, you two have been spending a lot of time together. How goes the preparations for the dance?”
Liam sighed as if the subject was tiresome. “Let’s talk about something else, shall we?”
Adele smiled. Nice to know she wasn’t the only one.
Chapter Twelve
The conversation during lunch was light, and Liam was delighted to let Adele and his father do most of the talking. Pa asked after her family and her relatives abroad. “What a different world England must be.”
“It is indeed, sir,” she said. “I hope to visit soon. Mother will speak to Father about it.”
That got Liam’s attention. “You’re going to England?”
She seemed to be forcing a smile. “I plan on it.”
His heart dropped to his toes, much to his surprise. “When?”
She fingered the rim of her water glass. “Not right away. These things take time to arrange.”
“What I wouldn’t give to see another country,” Pa commented. “Your family’s lucky to have relatives there, though it must be hard to be separated from them.”
“It is. I miss my brother and his wife terribly.” She sipped her water.
“England is so far away.” Liam smiled at her. “I might even miss you while you’re gone.”
She frowned at him, perplexed.
Pa laughed. “You two. Does a day go by you don’t exchange barbs?”
“No,” they said at once. All three of them laughed.
When they were done with lunch, it was time to take Pa home. “Come out to the house with us, Adele,” Pa said. “Lucy’d love to see you.”
“She would?”
“Of