Breathless(68)

“Agreed.” She decided then and there that because Kent Randolph always seemed to have her best interests at heart, she’d just become the happiest woman on earth. As they went back to discussing the house plans, she reached over and gave his hand a grateful squeeze and he shot her a wink.

Later that evening they were sitting outside enjoy the evening breeze and the beautiful sunset.

“Thank you,” Portia said to him.

“For what?”

“For requesting an office be built into the plans. Because you did, I may have my very first client.”

He eased her closer into his side and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. “You’re welcome, but you would’ve thought of the office eventually and found your first client.”

“But now, I don’t have to wait for eventually.”

“Have you picked out a name for your business?”

“Yes. Carmichael Bookkeeping,” she replied proudly.

“Simple and to the point.”

“Sort of like me.”

“Nothing simple about you, Duchess. You’re smart, tough, focused, kind.”

She drew back to look into his face. “When have I been kind?”

“You introduced Ruth to James.”

She settled back against him. “I suppose you’re right, but it was also to point him at another woman, so maybe not so kind.” She heard his chuckle rumble in his chest.

“And you’re honest, I like that, too.”

“They say love is blind.”

“Love is also patient,” he added quietly. “Love is kind. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, and endures all things. Love never ends.”

Portia was so moved by his words, her voice came out as a whisper. “Did you make that up yourself? That’s beautiful Kent.”

“No. It’s from the Bible. First Corinthians. Chapter thirteen verses four to eight.”

“The Bible?”

“Yes. It was the only thing we were allowed to read when I was in prison. It didn’t make me a preacher but after three years I knew it pretty well.”

“I’m marrying a Bible-quoting cowboy. What else is hidden inside you, Kenton Randolph?”

He kissed her. “You’ll have the rest of our lives to find out.”

The next day, true to his word, Mr. Nogales returned and to Portia’s surprise he brought his wife. She was a petite woman with long dark hair and a ready smile. While he and Kent went out to tour the ranch property, Portia and Luisa sat in Portia’s office to talk over the transfer of their ledgers. “How long has your husband had the business?” Portia asked taking notes.

“Ten successful years and I’ve been doing the ledgers. It’s now time for someone to take them off my hands.”

“Your husband told us about the baby your daughter is expecting. Congratulations.”

Her face lit up. “Yes. I’m going to be an abuela.”

“Is this your first?”

“Yes.”

Then they got down to business. For the next hour Portia asked questions about payroll, suppliers, the operating structure, and how they handled their banking. Luisa answered each question succinctly and expanded the explanations when it was warranted. By the time the men returned, Portia had a good handle on all she needed to know. With Mr. Nogales in the room, they then discussed rates. Portia envisioned having to negotiate what she felt would be fair compensation but she was surprised when they offered a figure that exceeded her expectations.

Mrs. Nogales explained why. “Because of bigotry it’s sometimes difficult for us to find someone we trust to provide us the service you’re offering. The reason I’ve handled our ledgers all these years is because those we hired in the past either treated us with contempt or thought we were too ignorant to know they were bent on cheating us.”

Her husband added, “If you do as good a job as I think you will, Miss Carmichael, you’ll be worth every dollar we pay you and we will spread the word, not only to the people we know but to the Chinese businessmen and women facing the same prejudices. Don’t be surprised when they come courting, too.”

Touched by that, Portia said, “I’ll do my best to honor the faith you’re putting in me. Thank you very much.”

“You’re welcome,” Luisa said. “And congratulations on your wedding.”

“Thank you for that, too.”

The couple stood. In parting, Mr. Nogales said, “I’m looking forward to building the house for you and your husband. I’ll see you soon.”

After their departure Portia sat at her desk and thought about the conversation. Would she be embraced because of she was a person of color? Truth be told, she’d never envisioned filling such a niche, but thinking about it, she supposed it made sense considering the times and mood of the country. It meant her business could be all she imagined, and maybe more.

Kent and Portia had a late afternoon appointment in Tucson with Reverend Cordell to receive wedding counseling, a service he offered to all couples as a condition of his conducting the ceremony. In the buggy on the way there, Kent looked over from his seat behind the reins and noted Portia’s quietness “Penny for your thoughts, Duchess.”

“The reverend is not the most progressive thinker so I’m trying to prepare myself.”