Maggie's Journey (McKenna's Daughters) by Lena Dooley Nelson Page B

looking at her, Joshua fiddled with the lace doily on the lamp table beside his chair. “You know she will, in good time.”
    What did he find so fascinating with that bit of lace? He’d seen it thousands of times. Why wouldn’t he look at her?
    “I didn’t say she wouldn’t. She’s just dragging her feet about everything I’m trying to accomplish.” She huffed out a breath. He always took the girl’s side about everything. Just once, why didn’t he see things from her perspective? “I’ll try to find her and talk to her about it.” She started to rise.
    He stopped her with a gentle hand on her arm. “Just sit with me a bit. We do need to talk about our daughter.”
    She slumped back into the chair and stared at him. This must really be serious. “Why? What has she done?”
    Leaning forward, he clasped his hands between his knees and studied the design in the Persian carpet as if he had never seen it before. “She hasn’t done anything wrong, if that’s what you mean. But we’ve got to make a decision about the journey she wants to take.”
    The words felt like heavy blows to her chest. She had hoped everyone would forget Margaret’s whim about going to Arkansas. Even with the railroad, the trip would be long and hard. And Florence didn’t look forward to going. She didn’t want to be away from home for several weeks. That last trip she and Margaret took to visit her sister, Georgia, in Portland had seemed endless. She didn’t like being away from her own domain, and she had to admit she had missed dear Joshua as well, in spite of all his faults.
    “I think maybe this is what’s bothering her, Florence. She wants to visit with your mother, and we should let her go.” His words held a firmness he seldom used with her.
    “Let her go. Do you mean you’d let her go without us?” Florence straightened her back like a ramrod. “You don’t want us to go with her? She surely can’t go alone.”
    “Maybe if we let her go without us, when she comes back, things will be better between the two of you.” His eyes pleaded with her to understand, but she didn’t.
    Does he blame me for what’s happening? She hoped not. Their girl could be so exasperating. She’d tried hard to be a good mother, but Margaret never understood that. She always bucked like a wild horse against anything Florence suggested.
    Before she could voice her objections, he continued, “Your sister will be here for the party. She could stay and go along with Maggie. I’m even thinking of asking Charles to accompany them. Be their protector. We can make our plans for the business before they leave, and I can oversee the work while he’s gone. If I need to communicate with him, I can always send a telegram. Communication is easier than it was when we came west on the wagon train.”
    Florence let those words sink in without a comment. What can I say? If she didn’t agree, the misunderstandings between her and Margaret would escalate. Perhaps Joshua was right. Her refusal would even affect her relationship with her husband. And heaven knows she didn’t need any more trouble between them.
    “I’ll think about it.” That was the most she could give him at this time. “Really think about it.”

Chapter 5

    Maggie had looked forward to her eighteenth birthday party for almost a year. But now that the time had arrived, she had a hard time working up enthusiasm for the festivities. Too many things pushed them to the back of her mind, not the least being her discovery in the attic several days ago.
    A soft knock sounded at the door. She opened it for Ingrid, her personal maid, who also was Mrs. Jorgensen’s granddaughter.
    “Miss Maggie, Grandma sent up tea and finger sandwiches. She said you should eat something before I help you dress. You hardly touched your lunch.” Ingrid set the tray on the table beside the window. “Should I pour you a cup?”
    Maggie wasn’t hungry, but she didn’t want Mrs. Jorgensen to keep worrying