Chapter Twelve

The next morning Robert begged off his daily ride with Sophie so he could revisit his analysis of future prospects. This time he factored in having a safe place for Sophie at the academy, and it made all the difference. Once he assessed the value and condition of his Castaño properties and made any necessary repairs, he could get some tenants and accept the prestigious communications position with the federal government. Since it was an appointed position, there was no need to worry that someone would try to take it from him if he was delayed, and Robert had every confidence that he could make it a success.

With hard work and a little luck, maybe he could even put himself back to where he might have been had he not gone to Kentucky. Of course, he had lost forever the chance to help write the constitution or negotiate the final treaties with warring factions and neighboring countries, but he could still leave his mark on his new country and build a legacy that he and his daughter could be proud of.

And this arrangement would give Sophie more opportunities, too. In spite of his encouraging words, there was nothing for her in Castaño, any more than there had been for him when he was a boy. Already, she was more worldly wise than most of the people in that town, having traveled more and been exposed to a broader variety of people and cultures. Castaño would bore her.

The only question, of course, was whether Sophie could be led to either suggest staying at El Cid Academy, or be persuaded that this was the best solution for them both. Robert was thinking the matter over, making notes on possible ways to address the situation, when Amalia found him.

"More analysis, I see."

Robert pushed the ledger across the table toward her. "I'm considering your offer. It certainly makes the numbers work out better."

Amalia dutifully looked the paper over. "Yes, it's definitely an improvement."

"Santa Fe isn't so far away, only a day by train, and they have excellent communications. Maybe I could use my new position to get a phone line run up here. Sophie and I could talk every day."

"It's good to see you excited about something." Amalia handed the ledger back. "I've been a little worried about you."

"The world is a distasteful place when all your best options are closed."

Amalia sank into a chair and sighed. "Yes, I certainly know that feeling. First the Resource Wars, then the civil wars...there were times I became very bitter. But if life has taught me anything, it's that there's always another green valley on the other side of the mountain. Some of my best opportunities came out of what seemed at the time to be dead ends."

"But don't you sometimes wish it had all turned out differently, that you could've had the career, the husband, the home, without having had to lose so much along the way?"

Amalia appeared to consider the question seriously. "The problem with your reasoning is that it assumes we could have gained the same sort of wisdom any other way. Do you think, for example, that you and Diana would have had so many happy years together if she had been that same callow girl you met in San Eusebio? You may have fallen in love with her then, but it was all those bad decisions followed by a long journey of self-discovery that made her the sort of woman who could be a true partner."

Robert gathered up his ledger and pencils. "I'm sure you're right." He made to get up, but Amalia's hand on his arm stopped him.

"Quit trying to run away, Robert."

"I've always been a coward. You know that."

"You've used that as an excuse for as long as I've known you. If you had been less of a coward after the girls were attacked in the woods, you wouldn't have lost Diana to Will, and you wouldn't have had to lose your career to get her back."

Robert's eyes narrowed. "Is there a point to this conversation?"

"Yes." Amalia pulled him back into his seat. "You're going to quit putting me off and tell me how Diana died."