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Against all odds, we’re together again. Surely that means something.”
    She shook her head. “It only shows me how different we are. You believe we have a chance. I know if I let you in, I’ll be setting myself up for heartache. I won’t do it. I can’t afford to. I won’t survive another one.” She picked up her skirts and hurried up the stairs.
     
     
     
     

5
     
    The ballroom of the Metropolitan Hotel sparkled like a million diamonds. The cut glass chandelier hanging from the ceiling twinkled. Massive mirrors mounted on the walls between the glass lamps caught the reflections and bounced them back. Crystal and polished silver, carefully situated on the pristine white tablecloths, finished the effect of sparkling diamonds scattered throughout the room.
    The wealth of the new hotel and its ballroom reflected the desired status of many of Bodie’s residents. Rich. Growing richer and waiting to be noticed.
    It made Alex uncomfortable. Pausing before he entered the room, he pulled at the tight collar of his crisp white shirt. Maybe he was uncomfortable because wearing tails reminded him too much of his uniform. Or maybe the real reason was that none of these ostentations really mattered. Not anymore.
    This was the life he’d been born to on his family’s Georgia plantation. It was the life he’d earned again with his own two hands in California and should have been able to share with his wife, should have been able to give to his daughter. Instead, it had all been swept away by war, even the two things he valued most.
    Now that he’d found them again, they were the only people who mattered. All these pretty trappings might as well have been sawdust for all they meant to him.
    “Alex! Glad you could make it!” Andy walked towards him, his hand extended.
    Alex smiled lightly and extended his left hand. He was luckier than most men. He still had an arm, but with his stiff movements, shaking hands wasn’t one of his best efforts.
    Momentarily flustered, Andy smiled, and then grasped Alex’s left hand with his. “Sorry,” he said, as he patted Alex’s arm. “Forgot for a moment.”
    Alex nodded. He was used to it. It didn’t bother him as much as it did others. In fact, he found it useful in his business. He learned quite a bit about a man in those first awkward handshaking moments.
    A woman in a pale blue gown walked towards them. Her lovely blonde hair was piled on top of her head and curls dangled on one side in the latest fashion.
    “Mr. Marsden! What a delight to finally meet you,” she said. “Andy has told me so much about you, I already consider us friends.”
    “If you haven’t guessed, Alex, this is my bold wife, Christine.”
    “Bold?” She tapped her husband with her fan. “Oh, all right, bold.”
    She opened her fan and leaned in closer to Alex. “My husband is a wonderful judge of character, Mr. Marsden. If he likes you, then I know I will, too. There, I’ve been bold again.” She had a kind smile and love in her eyes for her husband.
    It pleased Alex to see it. “If it is bold, ma’am, then I’m guilty of the same since it seems he’s made an excellent choice in his wife.”
    She laughed, a sweet, pleasing sound. “And charming, too! See, I knew we were going to be friends. But we’ll have to get better acquainted later. Andy has been anxious to show you off, so I won’t keep you a moment longer.”
    Andy bent to kiss his wife’s forehead. “Bold and brilliant,” he murmured.
    Christine laughed and pushed him on his way.
    It took the better part of an hour for Andy to move around the room.
    Alex had met most of the influential businessmen in the growing town of Bodie. Land owners. Mine owners. Engineers. Lawyers. There was one last enclave standing near the back of the room.
    As they made their way in that direction, Alex saw a dark-haired man in the middle. He’d met him last night.
    His name was Daniel Holloway and it seemed as if he was holding court. The other men