I nodded. I wanted to say goodbye to her, but maybe it was better this way.

Mayflower looked at me intently. “And where are you fixin’ to go, missy, at this time of the evening?”

“I’ll take the trolley to Dallas, and book into a hotel there. Not the Adolphus, of course; I don’t have the money for that. After that I’ll sort out what to do. One thing I know for sure, I’ll be staying in Texas.”

A huge grin crossed Mayflower’s face. “Good for you, darlin’. You got more spine than I gave you credit for.” She paused for a moment. “And I’ve got me an idea.”

I was wary. Mayflower’s last idea hadn’t worked out so well.

“I’ll take you out to my ranch. You can stay there as long as you like.”

“Ranch?”

“My daddy’s ranch over in Van Zandt County. I inherited it after he died. Hans and I go there to get some peace and quiet. It’s between here and Shotgun City, so it’s often easier for Hans to meet me there instead of our house in Dallas.” She tilted her head and winked at me. “We’re like two lovebirds when we’re alone over there, lovin’ on each other like we was still young’uns.”

I blushed and Mayflower laughed.

She walked toward the door. “Well, come on now, before it gets dark.”

Without waiting for an answer, she strode outside, pulling me with her to the car. It all happened so fast it was a blur. I couldn’t think quickly enough to come up with a reason not to go with her. I got into the car and Manuel started the engine. I looked back at the house for the last time. A small figure stood at the window of the bedroom under the eaves, her arm arcing back and forth in a wave. I waved back.

“Goodbye, Lily,” I murmured.

New York - 1913

New York

1913

Nora

Nora

I booked into the same hotel near the docks where I had stayed before I sailed for Donegal. I was grateful to be back on dry land. I wanted to go to see Dom right away, but I was exhausted from the journey, so I decided to wait until the next morning. I deliberately hadn’t written to him that I was coming because I wanted it to be a surprise. I was dying to see the look on his face when I showed up at his door.

The next morning I set off for his lodgings, following the directions given me by the hotel clerk. The sun was shining and I was in better form than I’d been for weeks. Dom was renting a room in a boarding house in Hell’s Kitchen, over in the west part of the city near the Hudson River.