an anarchist manipulating the masses? Or a mad scientist profiteering weapons of war? The two hardly seemed compatible. And why the compartmentalization? Ms. Lloyd had referred solely to the politics while Lickter spoke to the rest. Could the timing of the auction and the strikes be coincidence?
Holding Daisy’s gloved hand, the couple waited for Sheriff Lickter to unfurl his lengthy frame from the cramped carriage and replace his hat.
“How come the bigger the city, the smaller the carriage?”
“Don’t be such a grump, Sheriff. It’s a party after all.” Ms. Lloyd’s voice made Starr shiver. She glided up to greet them. “Miss Lickter, I hope these barbarians have told you how dazzling you are.”
Starr swallowed. “It’s hard to find the words.”
Ms. Lloyd tutted.
“They’ve both been perfect gentlemen, Ms. Lloyd. But I believe my father has been saving his poetic fervor for describing your unrivaled beauty.” Daisy cleared her throat.
“Unlike these impetuous youths, age has given me both humility and wisdom.” Lickter bowed toward Ms. Lloyd while still working the kinks out of his legs. “Both of you have beauty and grace beyond description, so I think I’ll get us some drinks. Starr?”
“I don’t drink. Not anymore.”
Lickter shrugged before addressing his daughter. “And nothing for you, missy.” He offered his arm to Ms. Lloyd, and the two of them took their leave.
Starr scanned the faces of the partygoers nearest them, imagining them as killers or spies, each maintaining their own web of lies. Why would an anarchist auction his military inventions to these people? Oleg’s words suddenly squeezed his brain. Think about this question tonight at fancy party among corrupt and wasteful men and women of power . At the time Starr hadn’t even been invited to the party, or known what Oleg had been talking about.
Dangerously, everyone knew more than him. He didn’t even know the answer to the question Oleg had posed. What would I do if I were governor?
“Shall we go smell the money?” Daisy nudged him with her elbow, concern in her eyes.
“Sorry.” He gave her a weak twinkle. “That bit you said earlier today, about being a confidant.” She nodded, squeezing his arm. “Good. There’s some stuff I need to process out loud. But first,” he pulled his arm away from her embrace, “and believe me, I hate to do this. But I need a minute to untangle my thoughts. I know you’ve been looking forward to this party—”
“Nonsense. I’ve been looking forward to you.” She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, the warmth of her breath a single spark of restoration.
“Thanks, Daisy.” It was the first time he’d called her by her first name and it helped loosen the tightness in his chest. “I’ll meet you by the refreshments in a few minutes.”
SEVEN
Back to the Beginning
“Renaissance Revival.”
“Ma’am?”
“The architectural style. And don’t worry your pretty little head, Senator Starr. Revival will come to Texas soon.”
Without dropping his gaze from the sunset-red granite of the Austin Capitol Building, James Starr addressed the woman who’d recently caught his life up like a twister through a cotton patch. “Me, worry?” He’d smelled Ms. Lloyd’s sandalwood perfume seconds before she sidled up beside him, stopping just outside his peripheral vision. She snorted, an auditory version of rolling her eyes. It was a talent he’d noted in many of Austin’s elite.
“A party like this after the day you’ve had. Let me see. You’re asking yourself if your parents would approve—if you’ve betrayed your roots.”
He’d actually been working out how much of the truth he could share with Daisy without putting her at risk, but Ms. Lloyd’s statement uncoiled a spring in his gut. “Do you know, ma’am, what every boy’s guilty fantasy was on the farm where I grew up? For me, the Mexicans and the rest of the Anglos, it was all the same. The dream we’d
Holding Daisy’s gloved hand, the couple waited for Sheriff Lickter to unfurl his lengthy frame from the cramped carriage and replace his hat.
“How come the bigger the city, the smaller the carriage?”
“Don’t be such a grump, Sheriff. It’s a party after all.” Ms. Lloyd’s voice made Starr shiver. She glided up to greet them. “Miss Lickter, I hope these barbarians have told you how dazzling you are.”
Starr swallowed. “It’s hard to find the words.”
Ms. Lloyd tutted.
“They’ve both been perfect gentlemen, Ms. Lloyd. But I believe my father has been saving his poetic fervor for describing your unrivaled beauty.” Daisy cleared her throat.
“Unlike these impetuous youths, age has given me both humility and wisdom.” Lickter bowed toward Ms. Lloyd while still working the kinks out of his legs. “Both of you have beauty and grace beyond description, so I think I’ll get us some drinks. Starr?”
“I don’t drink. Not anymore.”
Lickter shrugged before addressing his daughter. “And nothing for you, missy.” He offered his arm to Ms. Lloyd, and the two of them took their leave.
Starr scanned the faces of the partygoers nearest them, imagining them as killers or spies, each maintaining their own web of lies. Why would an anarchist auction his military inventions to these people? Oleg’s words suddenly squeezed his brain. Think about this question tonight at fancy party among corrupt and wasteful men and women of power . At the time Starr hadn’t even been invited to the party, or known what Oleg had been talking about.
Dangerously, everyone knew more than him. He didn’t even know the answer to the question Oleg had posed. What would I do if I were governor?
“Shall we go smell the money?” Daisy nudged him with her elbow, concern in her eyes.
“Sorry.” He gave her a weak twinkle. “That bit you said earlier today, about being a confidant.” She nodded, squeezing his arm. “Good. There’s some stuff I need to process out loud. But first,” he pulled his arm away from her embrace, “and believe me, I hate to do this. But I need a minute to untangle my thoughts. I know you’ve been looking forward to this party—”
“Nonsense. I’ve been looking forward to you.” She stood on tiptoes to kiss his cheek, the warmth of her breath a single spark of restoration.
“Thanks, Daisy.” It was the first time he’d called her by her first name and it helped loosen the tightness in his chest. “I’ll meet you by the refreshments in a few minutes.”
SEVEN
Back to the Beginning
“Renaissance Revival.”
“Ma’am?”
“The architectural style. And don’t worry your pretty little head, Senator Starr. Revival will come to Texas soon.”
Without dropping his gaze from the sunset-red granite of the Austin Capitol Building, James Starr addressed the woman who’d recently caught his life up like a twister through a cotton patch. “Me, worry?” He’d smelled Ms. Lloyd’s sandalwood perfume seconds before she sidled up beside him, stopping just outside his peripheral vision. She snorted, an auditory version of rolling her eyes. It was a talent he’d noted in many of Austin’s elite.
“A party like this after the day you’ve had. Let me see. You’re asking yourself if your parents would approve—if you’ve betrayed your roots.”
He’d actually been working out how much of the truth he could share with Daisy without putting her at risk, but Ms. Lloyd’s statement uncoiled a spring in his gut. “Do you know, ma’am, what every boy’s guilty fantasy was on the farm where I grew up? For me, the Mexicans and the rest of the Anglos, it was all the same. The dream we’d
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