Free Indigo Sky by Gail Ingis Page A

her lips.
    “Why do you let Hank treat you so badly?” he whispered.
    “I-I don’t know. I don’t think it’s your place to pass judgment.” She shoved his chest and wriggled from his embrace.
    He opened his arms. “You’re quite right. I’m sorry.” He bowed and spun on his heel and walked away. He glanced over his shoulder, and his belly contracted. She was watching him. What is that in her eyes ? Is it longing ?

Chapter 9
    New York crackled with tension, and cloying smoke stifled the hot air. Leila stepped onto the wooden platform of the train depot. She pressed a lace handkerchief to her nose.
    Cornelia followed and looked around, a gloved hand covering her nose. “Is New York always like this?”
    Trepidation coursed through Leila, and she shook her head, scanning the low buildings surrounding the depot. “Something is wrong.”
    Rork joined them. “I wonder what that noise is in the distance.”
    “New York is pretty divided about this war. Perhaps people are protesting,” Hank said, taking a long swig from his hipflask.
    “They’re protesting rather violently. Look at that.” Rork pointed at a plume of black smoke mingling with dark storm clouds.
    Cornelia bit her lip. “Perhaps we shouldn’t go to your Tiffany’s, Leila.”
    Hank took Cornelia’s arm. “Well, darlin’, we need to book into the St. Nicholas Hotel, and you girls need to occupy yourselves while we do that.” He flicked one of her golden curls. “Can’t let a little unrest bother your pretty head.”
    Cornelia glared, pulled her arm from his grasp, and moved closer to Leila. “I just think we should be wise.”
    “I agree, but Tiffany’s is on Lower Broadway, far from that smoke,” Leila said, noting her friend’s rejection of Hank. “We’ll hire a buggy.”
    “You can’t go alone.” Rork walked to a four-wheeled buggy and nodded at the driver. “Good day, sir. I’d like to hire your vehicle to convey us to Tiffany’s.” Arrangements made, he returned. “All set. Shall we, ladies?”
    Leila put her hand on Hank’s chest. “Come with us. We can check into the hotel later.”
    Hank pushed her away. “I’ll meet you at the hotel later this afternoon.”
    Leila’s mouth tightened. He always avoided outings involving her. “Shall we go then?” she said too brightly, her smile fixed. She avoided the sympathy in Cornelia’s eyes. Leila slid a glance at Rork as he handed her into the open four-seater carriage. His face was grim. Settling back, she fanned her face. “This heat is oppressive.” She looked across at the ominous, billowing smoke. “That smoke curls around the humidity and makes the air smell like burning manure. It is hot and clammy besides.”
    The carriage took off toward Broadway. Rork sat opposite, next to Cornelia, who leaned forward. “Where are you going from here, Leila?”
    “St. Louis to St. Joseph is the farthest west that train travels. The wagon we need is in Atchison. We must take a ferry or train from St. Joseph for Atchison, the gateway to California. Coach or wagons are the only means of travel to California.” Leila pouted. “Hank doesn’t want me to join him.” She swiped her hand in the air. “Apparently, because I’m a lady I can’t handle the rigors or dangers of a wagon trail.”
    Cornelia expelled a breath. “I know the sentiment all too well.” She smiled. “My father has a similar philosophy. He insists I’m unable to help in the war effort because I am a woman. He would not be persuaded, so I had to take it upon myself to do the right thing.”
    Leila glanced at Rork, who seemed preoccupied with the buildings. She leaned toward Cornelia. “I had to do quite a bit of convincing to get Hank to allow me to come on this trip. He expressed disappointment in my desire to travel with him and insisted that I remain in the Catskills.”
    “How did you manage to convince him?”
    “I simply arrived at the station.” Leila fiddled with her hair, smoothing down