Honeyville (25 page)

‘Oh, he went to Colorado Springs, I think,’ she said. ‘To find a lawyer, or something. Although I dare say there are plenty of perfectly good lawyers in Trinidad. So I don’t really see why he couldn’t manage to find one here.’

It seemed an odd time to go to Colorado Springs. I thought perhaps, more likely, he had buried himself in a den of indecency somewhere right here in Trinidad, and had only mentioned Colorado Springs to put his family off the scent. There were a couple of dives I could think of in town that would have suited him. ‘Perhaps he was feeling lonely,’ I said. Mostly, I think, to gauge her response. ‘And I suppose there is a greater assortment of people to choose from in Colorado Springs. I dare say he wanted a break from us all.’

She looked at me curiously. ‘Lonely? … Do you mean
lonely
,lonely. As in:
amorous
?Is that what you mean?’

‘I suppose so.’

‘Well that’s completely ridiculous,’ she said. ‘This is Trinidad, for heaven’s sake. There are more women available right here in old Snatchville than in the entire American West. You do talk a lot of rot, Dora! Anyway, I wish he
hadn’t
gone. Max says three men were shot dead on that road yesterday.’ She sighed. ‘Of all the times to feel “
lonely
”. In any case, he is due back this evening, he has promised me, and in good time to see Aunt Philippa and Uncle Richard. He better
had
be back in time, or I swear I shall never forgive him.’

I sat on her soft leather sofa, drinking tea, while she buzzed around me, throwing knick-knacks into the trunk: bits and pieces from her spy shop order, and novels, and private journals and my ivory elephant (I was touched to note). It seemed haphazard, to say the least.

‘I suppose you will leave anyway,’ I said, ‘whether or not your aunt and uncle release the trust money? I can see you’re dead set.’

‘Certainly am.’

‘So – what will you do for money? You’ll need to have some, at least. Will Max take care of you?’

‘Max says you can live very cheap in Greenwich Village. He says everyone worth talking to there is as poor as a church mouse. And then there’s a woman called Mabel Dodge. She’s very wealthy. And if she takes a shine – which Max says she will if he asks her to – then she feeds us all. We all feed each other. That’s how it works. You see? We look out for each other.’

‘Gosh …’ I said. It sounded rather wonderful. ‘And who is this Mabel Dodge?’

‘Oh, she is a widow and she is frightfully rich. And she likes to surround herself with poets and intellectuals. Max says that Jack Reed – you know? The small fellow with the pug nose? He was sitting next to Frank – who arrived on the train with Max? Apparently Jack is her current – what did he call it?
Squeeze
. Well, in any case, they’re sleeping with each other. Which is funny when you think of her being so rich, and him being such a crazy little socialist. Max says she gives these wonderful parties, and all the cleverest people in New York come to eat her food and drink her wine and do you know, Dora … I just feel so fortunate. To be leaving Trinidad right now. It’s terrible, isn’t it? That the tragedy out at Ludlow should have led to so much happiness for me. But I can’t help it. Max Eastman has changed everything for me and I am just so terribly grateful and so excited. Why don’t you come with me to New York? You and Xavier? Oh, gosh, perhaps not. I don’t suppose you would really enjoy it.’

Across town, in a room at the Corinado, Max’s dreaded tea party was already taking place. Inez had asked to be present, but Max didn’t want her there. ‘Typical Max,’ she said. ‘Being his extra-thoughtful self. He thought as long as I was present, the ladies would always associate me with the occasion and, knowing that, he said he would be inhibited by his protectiveness towards me when writing the article. Isn’t that sweet? … That little
me
could actually impinge on Max Eastman’s integrity as a reporter and editor. You see? He’s not
such
a monster, is he?’ She giggled. ‘I had to remind him that by the time the article was published, I would be with him in Greenwich Village … It’s quite a motley collection I put together for him, Dora. The worst of the worst. Mrs Chandler and Mrs Stratton … And Mrs McCloughlin and Mrs Howell. You don’t know them, of course,’ she said. ‘Count yourself lucky. They’re the horridest and silliest women in all Trinidad. I should think he’s having quite a time of it.’

She couldn’t pack her clothes, most of which were at her aunt and uncle’s place, until she had informed them of her plans. But in her frantic state of mind, she needed to stay busy. She was determined to get the wretched trunk full, ready to transport to the train station first thing in the morning, when the streets were calmer and safer. ‘Because once I’ve sent the trunk, Dora,’ she said, ‘I shall feel like I am already half on my way.’

I asked her how soon she intended to leave town. Very soon, she said. ‘But you know, now that I’ve made the decision, every moment here is purgatory.’ She must have read my expression. ‘Oh, Dora I don’t mean that exactly. I shall miss you awfully. It’s only thanks to you that any of this is even happening. Yes, it is! When I think back to how boring my life was before we met, I almost want to
cry
with gratitude. It’s true! You changed everything. You, Dora, are my greatest friend. Even if that is quite the oddest, most unlikely thing – which it is, when you stop to consider it. And even though Aunt Philippa must
never know
. You’re my greatest friend, Dora. My only friend …’

‘Xavier is your friend too,’ I said.

‘Oh yes. And Xavier too. Of course. Perhaps he will come and see me in New York. He might like it there. Max says there are plenty of gentlemen who dress like him in Greenwich Village.’ She laughed. ‘Imagine that!’ She surveyed her trunk. It was bursting with her arbitrary belongings. She closed the lid and sat on it.

Max, she said, would be leaving tomorrow or the next day, depending on developments. (Anarchy in Colorado could only hold the front pages for so long.) Inez hoped to leave town on the same train.

‘He has a wedding to go to next Tuesday. And he needs to be back in town by then,’ she said. ‘Although of course he doesn’t really think of “marriage” in the way you or I do. For him it’s a lot more sort of … oh,
nuanced.
He believes—’ There was a noise outside. Someone was at the door, fiddling with the lock. She froze, a look of terror on her face.

‘Who is it?’ she whispered. ‘Do you hear that?’

‘There is someone at the door,’ I said. ‘Perhaps Xavier has returned.’ I was about to call out to him, but she grasped hold of my arm.

‘
Shhhh!
’

‘Why?’ But her fear was infectious. God knows, I felt it pounding in my chest too. We stayed still, waiting.

She released my arm. Put a finger to her lips and bent down. On the floor between our feet lay her little spy-purse (never far out of her reach, I noticed). Silently, delicately, she slid out the revolver.

More scratching at the door. The turn of a lock, and a creak …

She stood up and, with steady hand (surprisingly steady), she pointed her gun at the door and pulled back the hammer.

The door pushed open, and there stood Xavier. ‘What in hell?’ he said, indignantly.

With an exclamation, half irritation, half relief, her arm dropped to her side. ‘
Xavier
!’ she said, as if it were all his fault. ‘What are you doing, standing there? You scared the life out of me. For heaven’s sake!’ She slid the gun back into its case. ‘You shouldn’t sneak up on people like that … It could end so badly.’

‘I wasn’t sneaking up!’ he said. ‘I didn’t know anyone was here.’

‘Well you should’ve known.’ And then, realizing how absurd she sounded, she burst into laughter, put her arms around him, and kissed him on his cheek. ‘Where have you been anyway?’ she said. ‘Oh my gosh, darling …’ She pulled back a little, waving a hand under her nostrils. ‘You reek. What is that smell?’

It was opium. I knew it at once, of course. The smell tends to cling for hours after.

‘Well, I must say that’s quite some particular welcome,’ he said, exchanging quick glances with me and ignoring the question. He extricated himself from his sister’s hold – rather irritably – and headed towards the kitchen. ‘Coffee. Is what I’m offering today. Either of you girls want some coffee?’

‘Actually, no,’ Inez said. ‘I have to leave.’

‘What?’ he said. ‘Again? Already? Why are you constantly having to
go
places? You seem to be permanently in some kind of a mad rush.’ He sounded plaintive. ‘It’s ridiculous, Inez. I wish you would calm down, just a teeny bit. Honestly. You worry me …’

‘Well, it’s because I have so much to do, Xavier. You haven’t the faintest idea. I’m leaving town in a couple of days, and I haven’t even told Aunt Philippa or Uncle Richard yet. And I want to get this trunk to the train station for tomorrow morning. And then I said to Cody’s mamma that I would deliver something for her …’

‘What sort of thing?’ asked Xavier. ‘Deliver what? Where? Can’t she deliver the ruddy thing herself?’

‘Oh, it’s nothing,’ Inez replied, fiddling with her coat buttons.

‘Nothing?’ he repeated, more alert now.

‘Nothing much. Something for her brother. And no, she can’t do it herself, poor darling.’

‘Deliver it where?’ he asked again. ‘This “nothing much”?’

‘
Nowhere
. Out at Forbes camp. Nothing. She can’t get out there herself, poor thing. And Cody used to do that sort of thing for her …’

‘Forbes?’ he looked aghast. ‘You can’t go out to Forbes, Inez sweetheart. Not this week. You do realize that, don’t you?’

‘Don’t be silly, Xavier,’ she said. ‘Of course I must. I have promised. Anyway, you’re one to talk, fresh back from your crazy jaunt. How was Colorado Springs?’

‘I didn’t go to Colorado Springs,’ he said.

‘But you told me—’

He shook his head. ‘You misunderstood. Of course I didn’t go to Colorado Springs – I’m not crazy … But I’ve just been speaking with a gentleman who came in on the road yesterday morning, and he said there were men up in the hills taking pot shots at his motor as he drove by. Twice.
Twice
, Inez, his car was shot at. There are snipers out there. Bands of men hiding out in the hills, planning their next attacks … It’s terrifying. It’s not a joke. He is lucky to be alive.’

But once again Inez wasn’t listening. ‘Don’t fuss, darling. Please. Really. Max says it’s quite safe, as long as you ride with a white flag out of the window, and I just bet your friend forgot to do that … Anyhow, Cody’s ma doesn’t have a car of her own, Xavie. Of course she doesn’t. And she has a great gaggle of children. I couldn’t even count them. And no Cody to help her any longer. So how is she to get out there? You tell me that. And if you saw how heartbroken she was …’

‘But Inez,’ I said. ‘I thought you said you didn’t see her?’

‘What?’ She looked confused for a moment, and then irritable. ‘Well, I did see her. That’s all … And if I don’t make it out to Forbes today, I shall have to go tomorrow or the next day, and I don’t want it hanging over me. On top of which, if you don’t mind me saying it, you two aren’t the
only
people in Trinidad I need to see before I leave. There are other people in town I want to say goodbye to. Friends.’

I asked her if she would say goodbye to Lawrence. I couldn’t resist.

‘I wouldn’t even know where to find him,’ she snapped. ‘Oh gosh, I wonder how we’re ever going to lift that great trunk into the car. It’s awfully heavy …’

Poor man, I thought. Poor Lawrence. Poor Xavier. Poor Aunt Philippa and Uncle Richard. Pity any one of us who loves her. Pity Max Eastman. She takes us up and tosses us aside, but she doesn’t mean it badly. I pictured Lawrence the last few occasions we had met: thin and brusque – missing Inez.

‘Maybe you’d like to send him a message?’ I said. ‘I could pass it on to him, if you like. He might appreciate it.’ I remembered suggesting the same thing to him all those weeks ago.

She blushed. ‘I don’t think so,’ she said. ‘But thank you.’

‘Inez,’ Xavier burst out. ‘I don’t care a hoot about your spurned lovers. But you
must not
go to Forbes. Is that clear?’ I had never heard him so emphatic. ‘Doyou have the faintest idea of the danger?’

‘Of course I do,’ she said. ‘Probably rather better than you.’

‘Of all places, Forbes camp especially. They’ve got the company guards barricaded in with the scabs. They’re all trapped in there. And if anyone tries to get out, the strikers shoot them dead. Night before last, every mule in the camp was slaughtered. Every damn one. They came in the night and slashed the beasts’ throats.
And they didn’t make a sound
, Inez.Nobody heard a thing. These men are lethal … And don’t please imagine they intend to leave it at that. They’ll be back for the scabs and the guards and the women and children tonight or tomorrow. For crying out loud, it’s all anyone was talking about in town last night!’

A beat.

‘Did I say Forbes?’ she said with a little frown. ‘Well, I didn’t mean
Forbes
,did I? Aren’t I silly? I actually meant Cokedale. Cody’s papa is out at Cokedale.’

‘I thought you said Cody’s uncle—’

‘I really have to go. Won’t you please help me get this trunk into the auto?’

Xavier crossed the room, took hold of her thin arms and shook her, gently. ‘Inez, honey, I’ll take the trunk anywhere you want me to take it. I’ll take
you
anywhere you want me to take you. I’ll do anything you ask. Only promise me, whatever it is you want to deliver to Cody’s uncle – father – whatever in hell it is you are up to: stay away from Forbes. Will you?’

She looked into his eyes. I saw her. ‘I am not going to Forbes, Xavie,’ she said softly. ‘I promise.’

He considered her a moment. ‘I don’t believe you,’ he said at last. ‘Why must you always insist on lying?’

But she stuck to her story and left soon afterwards, reminding him one last time about his date with the McCullochs that night. ‘Max and I will be at the door at six o’clock prompt. Don’t you dare to be late, darling. Please. Please, please.’ She kissed him goodbye, leaving him with the trunk, and the task of transporting it to the train station in the morning.