“That’s where you come in,” he went on. “My spies tell me that O’Hanlon’s leases run out soon. I want you to talk the landowners into renewing their leases with us instead of him. That way he’ll be out of business and deep in debt. And don’t worry, I have people down there who can show you the ropes.”

“I won’t need much help,” I lied. “I’m a very quick learner.”

He stood up, beaming. “Let’s drink to our partnership.”

We clinked our glasses together. The evening had gone better than I could ever have expected. Maybe the whiskey had given me Dutch courage, but no matter; I’d have my way to Texas paid for, a job, and my chance to find Delia. It couldn’t have worked out better. And James Sullivan had been all business. He’d made no advances at all. All in all, I was very glad I had come. We agreed that I would come back the next night to go over the details, like what and how I’d be paid and where I’d live.

When I returned to the hotel I was hoping against hope there might be a message from Dom telling me I’d misunderstood about Kathleen and begging me to come back again. But there was nothing. I fought back tears.

You may put him out of your head for good, I told myself. Stop the waterworks; there’s no use crying over spilled milk. You’ve got James Sullivan now, and he’ll get you to Delia, and in the meantime give you a chance to earn some money.

But, in spite of all this, a thought nagged at me. I didn’t like the idea of ruining Aidan O’Hanlon. What if it hurt Delia? I’d no notion whether she liked him or despised him. If she liked him and found out what I was doing, it would surely turn her against me. But what else was I going to do? Sullivan had thrown me a lifeline and I had no choice but to take it.

Humboldt Ranch - 1913

Humboldt Ranch

1913

Delia

Delia

Mayflower and I arrived at the ranch after dusk. I got out of the car and looked around, but everything had disappeared beneath dark shadows, except for the glow of lamps in the windows. I was reminded of lamps people set in windows of houses in Donegal to welcome pilgrims home. Mayflower led me up the steps to the front porch. I jumped at a squeaking sound, thinking maybe it was some animal.

Mayflower laughed. “Them’s just our ole rockin’ chairs,” she said. “Many a night Hans and me just set here looking up at the stars.”