Read Tracie Peterson - [Desert Roses 01] for Free Online

control in the meanwhile. I’d hate to run El Tovar short on tomatoes.”
    Mrs. Godfrey chuckled. “Alex, you’re my best worker. You’re my number one girl, and I don’t want to lose you as I have Michaela. We’re already two girls short. I’ve put in a request for at least four additional girls, especially since the Winthrop party has announced intentions to put on quite a round of entertainment and festivities. They’ll be here at least a month.”
    “Somehow that figures.” The last thing Alex wanted to have to endure was a month of Joel Harper and her father. Two peas in a pod , she thought.
    “Though why they chose July and August to spend at the canyon is beyond me,” Mrs. Godfrey continued. “They’re used to the warmth of the south, I suppose. I understand they own a plantation in South Carolina.”
    Alex no longer cared to hear any more about the Winthrop entourage. “Perhaps they came for the air,” she said, getting to her feet. “Look, I know I’m only filling in for lunch, but I can stay and do supper as well. Just because my father is here is no reason to shelter me like a child.”
    “Nonsense. This was your day off. Had we not fired Melina, it would still be your day off. No, I only need the help with lunch. Then go and take some time for yourself. You need to relax. There will be enough of a burden on you inthe weeks to come. With the Winthrop plans, I’m sure we’ll all be working extra hours. And while I hesitate to mention it, I must say this.” Mrs. Godfrey paused and fixed Alex with a sympathetic expression. “The Winthrop party has specifically asked that you be assigned them on a regular basis—especially for dinners. They’re paying a premium price for a private dining room and feel you are the best on staff. I couldn’t argue with them there.”
    “Wonderful.” Alex’s tone of voice left little doubt as to how she felt.
    “If it helps at all, they’ve already given me a large sum to entice you. This is half your tip money for the month if you will continue to at least be their dinner server when you are on duty.”
    Alex looked at the money, then raised her gaze to Mrs. Godfrey. “There’s at least twenty dollars there.”
    “Twenty-five, to be exact.”
    Alex swallowed hard. Her tips from the Winthrop table would come to more than her monthly salary at this rate. The money could help her get her mother away from Arizona that much sooner.
    Alex sighed and nodded. “I’d better get to it, then.”
    She left Mrs. Godfrey and made her way to the kitchen. Why had the Winthrops asked for her? No doubt Joel Harper was behind all of this. Why did the world have to be filled with Joel Harpers and men like her father?
    The thought of her father left a sour taste in her mouth. For years she had fought a spiritual battle as to what she owed him. She was supposed to honor him—love him. But how? How could she respect and honor a man who did nothing but dishonor his family and reputation?
    Why couldn’t he just disappear and leave her and her mother alone? In fact, perhaps she’d take the train to Williams and visit her mother. Maybe Mrs. Godfrey could give her the next morning off and Alex could spend the night.
    Alex busied herself with her customers. She servedwonderful Harvey creations, including salmon-and-celery salads and spiced herring with potato salad. Most of her fares were interested in the light lunches. The day was already warming up, making some of the customers uncomfortable, and Alex did her best to cool them down. She suggested melon platters and cold roast beef and cream cheese sandwiches. Iced tea was served in abundance, as was lemonade.
    By the time her father strolled into the dining room, comfortably settled between Valerie Winthrop and the senator, Alex had nearly forgotten the scandal of the editorial cartoon. Seeing him brought it all back in a flash, however. Alex thought she might escape unscathed, but her father motioned her to come to him and,