Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] by Shadows of the Canyon Page B

like to bow their heads and close their eyes, but you can pray with your eyes wide open sitting atop a mule. You can pray in your sickbed and pray over dinner. It doesn’t matter where you pray, it’s just important that you do pray.”
    Clancy took the Bible in his hands and nodded. “I’d like to pray. I’ve been real impressed with the way you handle yourself, Luke. And like tonight, I knew in my heart you’d done no wrong with that woman. I knew it ’cause of the way you live your life the rest of the time.”
    “I only live my life that way because God gives me the strength to do so. I’m nothing special on my own, Clancy, but with God, nothing’s impossible. He gives me the strength I need for everything.”
    “Then I want that too. I know you wouldn’t steer me wrong.”
    “It’s not me doing the steering, Clancy. It’s God.”
    Clancy nodded. “That’s good enough for me.”
    Luke smiled and slapped Clancy on the back in a hearty manner. “Then let’s get down to business.”

CHAPTER TEN
    “So they’re planning all these parties,” Michaela told a group of gathered wranglers and Harvey Girls. “I’ve even heard it said that reporters are coming in from as far as Washington, D.C., to watch these rich ninnies fall all over themselves to see who’ll be most favored to get the Democratic nomination for president.”
    “This is just the start. I heard they are all headed on to Los Angeles after this, and then New York,” someone else threw in.
    “It’s all a lot of fuss for nothing, if you ask me,” Luke said, eyeing Alex as she joined the little group.
    “Didn’t look like you minded the fuss too much last night,” one of Luke’s crew said snidely. “I saw that Miss Winthrop over at your cabin. Didn’t look like she was fussin’ much about being fully clothed. Was she campaigning?” Laughter rose up from some of Luke’s crew.
    “Bet she got the boss’s vote for sure.”
    Luke had never suspected that anyone else might have seen Valerie’s visit. He knew he had a confidant in Clancy, but he’d never thought to ward off this topic with the others. Looking up, he caught Alex looking at him with an expression of disbelief and betrayal. Her cheeks reddened as she realized he’d caught her watching him. She walked away from the group and headed up to the hotel without another word.
    “That’s not a good way to keep friends, Luke,” Michaela offered without condemnation. “Come on, Bernice, we’d better get to work.”
    Clancy came to Luke’s rescue, but not in time to help him with Alex. “Miss Winthrop got herself spooked. I took her back to her cabin. That’s all that was about.”
    Everyone looked to Luke as if for confirmation, but all he could think of was Alex. Now she no doubt figured he’dbeen having some kind of clandestine arrangement with Miss Winthrop.
    “Never you mind, Luke,” a redheaded crew member spoke up. “There’s something about the canyon that just makes women throw themselves at men.”
    As if to prove his point, Bernice tripped over her feet and fell into Clancy’s lap. Everyone laughed in amusement at the situation. Everyone but Luke.
    “If that don’t beat all,” Clancy murmured, helping to right Bernice. Her face turned a deep crimson, but she smiled and thanked Clancy before taking her seat in silence.
    “Getting back to the parties,” another Harvey Girl picked up, “I heard it said there will be a big to-do every night. The Winthrops are spending a wagonload of money on the affair. They’ve hired the Harvey Company to put on their best show. That means we’ll be working overtime, but we’ll be well compensated.”
    “Well, I heard . . .”
    Luke only listened halfheartedly as the comments droned on about the coming events. He knew if he’d gotten up to go after Alex, everyone would have had something to say about it. As it was, it seemed wise to stay in his seat and try to catch a moment to talk to her when they could be