Tenacious Love (Banished Saga, Book Four): Banished Saga, Book Four by Ramona Flightner
Authors: Ramona Flightner
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orphanage, they don’t even have afternoon tea.”
Jeremy and Melinda shared a confused stare before grinning at each other. “Why should that be important? Besides missing out on some delicious tea and cakes.” He winked at Melinda, who giggled.
“It’s where the women gather to share the important gossip. If you aren’t hosting teas and attending those teas, you don’t know what is truly occurring in that world.” Savannah sighed, her face momentarily crinkled in thought. “So what are you two cooking us for dinner?”
“Fried chicken and boiled vegetables.” Jeremy rose from the table. He finished chopping the potatoes and vegetables, placing them in the large cast-iron pot filled with water. He went to the icebox, removing the chicken he planned to panfry.
“Thank you, darling, for making dinner,” Savannah murmured.
“Anything for you, love,” Jeremy whispered as he stepped near to kiss her forehead before returning to finish dinner preparations.
Melinda chattered about school, her friends, the joy of the upcoming summer vacation and any thought that entered her mind as they prepared their meal and then sat to eat.
* * *
A fter dinner and quiet time spent in the family parlor, where they all read their favorite novels, Savannah ensured Melinda went to bed by nine. “Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day, my darling girl,” Savannah said as she coaxed her daughter through her bedtime routine. After speaking with her about her dreams and saying their prayers, Savannah eased from her room, leaving Melinda’s door ajar.
Savannah met Jeremy in the hallway, as he peeked in to see Melinda already asleep. “Settled for the night,” she whispered to him.
He watched her with an ardent tenderness as he raised her hand and kissed her palm before leaning forward and kissing her mouth.
She sighed into him for a moment, before abruptly pushing him away. She reached down, grabbed his hand and led him along the hall toward their bedroom. “Show me how much you’ve missed me,” she whispered as she quietly shut the door behind them.
7
Butte, Montana, May 1913
“ S ullivan ,” Samuel Sanders called out. “Let’s call it a day.” He nodded toward the door as he pulled on his gray coat. He ran a manicured hand over his immaculate smoky-blue tie, his pale-blue eyes lit with impatience as Patrick rose and grabbed his jacket off the hook by his desk.
“Why the rush?” Patrick asked as he followed Samuel out and down the stairs of the Hennessy Building.
Their office was on the sixth floor, and they clattered down a hallway lit by windows. They exited by a side entrance onto Granite Avenue, through an ornately carved brick door, and Patrick took a deep breath.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me that your cousin was Lucas Russell,” Samuel groused as they walked the short distance to the Amalgamated Copper Company’s club in the Thornton Hotel.
They nodded to the doorman, smiled at the man guarding the reception and walked into the private club. The parquet floor gleamed, while the soothing mahogany-paneled walls gave the room the feel of an Old World study. A finely carved black-walnut bar along one wall was attended by two men, one behind the bar, the other running drinks to members scattered throughout the room seated in leather chairs. A haze of cigarette and cigar smoke hung in the air.
Patrick rolled his shoulders, sidling up to the bar. He nodded to the barman, who pulled two pints. “I wasn’t sure he’d recognize me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him.” Patrick’s gaze became distant for a moment. “Or anyone from Boston.”
“I know how that is. I’ve not seen my family since the Panic.”
Patrick watched as his friend paused upon mentioning the Panic of 1907. He recalled the run on the banks, the fear that Wall Street—and the entire financial system—would collapse. He shook his head at the irony of realizing the Panic had begun due to a failed
Jeremy and Melinda shared a confused stare before grinning at each other. “Why should that be important? Besides missing out on some delicious tea and cakes.” He winked at Melinda, who giggled.
“It’s where the women gather to share the important gossip. If you aren’t hosting teas and attending those teas, you don’t know what is truly occurring in that world.” Savannah sighed, her face momentarily crinkled in thought. “So what are you two cooking us for dinner?”
“Fried chicken and boiled vegetables.” Jeremy rose from the table. He finished chopping the potatoes and vegetables, placing them in the large cast-iron pot filled with water. He went to the icebox, removing the chicken he planned to panfry.
“Thank you, darling, for making dinner,” Savannah murmured.
“Anything for you, love,” Jeremy whispered as he stepped near to kiss her forehead before returning to finish dinner preparations.
Melinda chattered about school, her friends, the joy of the upcoming summer vacation and any thought that entered her mind as they prepared their meal and then sat to eat.
* * *
A fter dinner and quiet time spent in the family parlor, where they all read their favorite novels, Savannah ensured Melinda went to bed by nine. “Tomorrow will be another fun-filled day, my darling girl,” Savannah said as she coaxed her daughter through her bedtime routine. After speaking with her about her dreams and saying their prayers, Savannah eased from her room, leaving Melinda’s door ajar.
Savannah met Jeremy in the hallway, as he peeked in to see Melinda already asleep. “Settled for the night,” she whispered to him.
He watched her with an ardent tenderness as he raised her hand and kissed her palm before leaning forward and kissing her mouth.
She sighed into him for a moment, before abruptly pushing him away. She reached down, grabbed his hand and led him along the hall toward their bedroom. “Show me how much you’ve missed me,” she whispered as she quietly shut the door behind them.
7
Butte, Montana, May 1913
“ S ullivan ,” Samuel Sanders called out. “Let’s call it a day.” He nodded toward the door as he pulled on his gray coat. He ran a manicured hand over his immaculate smoky-blue tie, his pale-blue eyes lit with impatience as Patrick rose and grabbed his jacket off the hook by his desk.
“Why the rush?” Patrick asked as he followed Samuel out and down the stairs of the Hennessy Building.
Their office was on the sixth floor, and they clattered down a hallway lit by windows. They exited by a side entrance onto Granite Avenue, through an ornately carved brick door, and Patrick took a deep breath.
“I still can’t believe you didn’t tell me that your cousin was Lucas Russell,” Samuel groused as they walked the short distance to the Amalgamated Copper Company’s club in the Thornton Hotel.
They nodded to the doorman, smiled at the man guarding the reception and walked into the private club. The parquet floor gleamed, while the soothing mahogany-paneled walls gave the room the feel of an Old World study. A finely carved black-walnut bar along one wall was attended by two men, one behind the bar, the other running drinks to members scattered throughout the room seated in leather chairs. A haze of cigarette and cigar smoke hung in the air.
Patrick rolled his shoulders, sidling up to the bar. He nodded to the barman, who pulled two pints. “I wasn’t sure he’d recognize me. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen him.” Patrick’s gaze became distant for a moment. “Or anyone from Boston.”
“I know how that is. I’ve not seen my family since the Panic.”
Patrick watched as his friend paused upon mentioning the Panic of 1907. He recalled the run on the banks, the fear that Wall Street—and the entire financial system—would collapse. He shook his head at the irony of realizing the Panic had begun due to a failed
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