Galveston: Between Wind And Water (A Historical Literary Fiction Novel Filled with Romance and Drama) by Rachel Cartwright Page B
Authors: Rachel Cartwright
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evening. I know it’s short notice but we would enjoy your company.”
Caden paused for a moment before clasping Bret’s hand. Exchanging a short, vigorous handshake revealed much of what he wanted to know.
Mr. Bret McGowan was a strong man, perhaps as strong as he, but there was also something else, the underbelly of a secret weakness he was trying so hard to conceal. And what would that be?
Bret glanced at Gabrielle. “It’s one of the most popular gala balls of the Galveston society calendar, isn’t that right, Miss Caldwell?”
Gabrielle offered up a brittle smile. “Without a doubt. That’s all some people have been talking about all week. That is, those who have nothing better to do.”
Bret chuckled. “So what do you say, Doc?”
Caden examined a framed portrait propped on the desk of Arley Caldwell as a young Confederate regimental sergeant. “That is very hospitable of you, Mr. McGowan, but I’m afraid we have too much business to attend to these days. Perhaps another time.”
Bret seemed relieved. “I understand. But if you should reconsider . . .” He tipped his head in silent acknowledgment. His strained features became noticeably more relaxed.
Caden stepped with confidence back to Miss Caldwell’s side. “I’m glad that we’ve cleared up whatever misunderstanding there may have been between us, Mr. McGowan.”
Bret stuck his hands in the side pockets of his suit as if searching for a cigar or something he hoped to find and so draw attention away from the crisp flush in his cheeks. “I . . . I’m surprised that I’ve never . . .” he removed his hands, letting his arms hang at his sides, “Met you or any of or family in town before.”
“The Society keeps us busy with constant travel, Mr. McGowan.” Caden examined the brim of his hat. “And as for our dedicated young women, some still believe in Euripides’s maxim but I, for one, do not.”
Bret looked at Gabrielle. “Forgive me, but classical studies were never of great interest. Perhaps you can help educate your less sophisticated friend here, Miss Caldwell?”
Gabrielle frowned at him and politely cleared her throat. “‘Women should keep within doors, and there converse.’ When I was at Vassar College I thought it would have been so interesting to have lived in fourth century B.C. Greece so that I could have conversed with one of the great dramatists.”
She glanced at Bret for a moment. “And then he would have known exactly what we talked about behind those doors. I daresay he might have found more inspiration for his play writing.”
Mr. McGowan laughed and slapped his thigh. “A man would have to be a glutton for punishment or just plain stupid to try and keep you cooped up. He’d never hear the end of it.”
Gabrielle turned back to Mr. McGowan. “And I suppose you think that’s funny? Driving women to idle distractions and malignant gossip all because men refuse to treat us as equals and thus lock us way from the real affairs of the world?”
The smile on Mr. McGowan’s face fell and he shook his head. “You know I’d give you the vote tomorrow if I could, dear Miss Caldwell, I was just having some fun. We can still do that, can’t we?”
Gabrielle let out a long breath that seemed to calm her. “Don’t condescend to me, Bret McGowan. That’s the thing about men that irritates me the most. You always think you have to give us something.”
She turned and stared at the bureau desk with the papers on top. “Really, sometimes I don’t know what to think. You test the limits of respect and friendship.”
Caden considered their heated conversation and looked away for a few moments. He resented this insufferable McGowan braggart’s ability to distract Gabrielle so easily. Caden lifted his gaze. He approached Gabrielle and touched her on the shoulder. “Time is coming when every man will have to take a new account of women and I, for one . . .” He took her hand in his. “. . . will be the
Caden paused for a moment before clasping Bret’s hand. Exchanging a short, vigorous handshake revealed much of what he wanted to know.
Mr. Bret McGowan was a strong man, perhaps as strong as he, but there was also something else, the underbelly of a secret weakness he was trying so hard to conceal. And what would that be?
Bret glanced at Gabrielle. “It’s one of the most popular gala balls of the Galveston society calendar, isn’t that right, Miss Caldwell?”
Gabrielle offered up a brittle smile. “Without a doubt. That’s all some people have been talking about all week. That is, those who have nothing better to do.”
Bret chuckled. “So what do you say, Doc?”
Caden examined a framed portrait propped on the desk of Arley Caldwell as a young Confederate regimental sergeant. “That is very hospitable of you, Mr. McGowan, but I’m afraid we have too much business to attend to these days. Perhaps another time.”
Bret seemed relieved. “I understand. But if you should reconsider . . .” He tipped his head in silent acknowledgment. His strained features became noticeably more relaxed.
Caden stepped with confidence back to Miss Caldwell’s side. “I’m glad that we’ve cleared up whatever misunderstanding there may have been between us, Mr. McGowan.”
Bret stuck his hands in the side pockets of his suit as if searching for a cigar or something he hoped to find and so draw attention away from the crisp flush in his cheeks. “I . . . I’m surprised that I’ve never . . .” he removed his hands, letting his arms hang at his sides, “Met you or any of or family in town before.”
“The Society keeps us busy with constant travel, Mr. McGowan.” Caden examined the brim of his hat. “And as for our dedicated young women, some still believe in Euripides’s maxim but I, for one, do not.”
Bret looked at Gabrielle. “Forgive me, but classical studies were never of great interest. Perhaps you can help educate your less sophisticated friend here, Miss Caldwell?”
Gabrielle frowned at him and politely cleared her throat. “‘Women should keep within doors, and there converse.’ When I was at Vassar College I thought it would have been so interesting to have lived in fourth century B.C. Greece so that I could have conversed with one of the great dramatists.”
She glanced at Bret for a moment. “And then he would have known exactly what we talked about behind those doors. I daresay he might have found more inspiration for his play writing.”
Mr. McGowan laughed and slapped his thigh. “A man would have to be a glutton for punishment or just plain stupid to try and keep you cooped up. He’d never hear the end of it.”
Gabrielle turned back to Mr. McGowan. “And I suppose you think that’s funny? Driving women to idle distractions and malignant gossip all because men refuse to treat us as equals and thus lock us way from the real affairs of the world?”
The smile on Mr. McGowan’s face fell and he shook his head. “You know I’d give you the vote tomorrow if I could, dear Miss Caldwell, I was just having some fun. We can still do that, can’t we?”
Gabrielle let out a long breath that seemed to calm her. “Don’t condescend to me, Bret McGowan. That’s the thing about men that irritates me the most. You always think you have to give us something.”
She turned and stared at the bureau desk with the papers on top. “Really, sometimes I don’t know what to think. You test the limits of respect and friendship.”
Caden considered their heated conversation and looked away for a few moments. He resented this insufferable McGowan braggart’s ability to distract Gabrielle so easily. Caden lifted his gaze. He approached Gabrielle and touched her on the shoulder. “Time is coming when every man will have to take a new account of women and I, for one . . .” He took her hand in his. “. . . will be the
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