‘It’s no use going back to yesterday because I was a different person then.’ He hadn’t thought of that line from the book for at least five...no...it must be close to six years now.
Scott remembered the first time he laid eyes on “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.” It happened on a day that began very much like every day since his return home after the war - drifting through the rooms of his grandfather's brownstone while attempting to recover mentally and physically. Wanting solitude from the overwhelming concerns of others, he sought sanctuary in the study. There on the side table, he spied a book which, at first, didn’t appear remarkable. In fact, with its red leather cover trimmed in gold leaf, it blended right in with the likes of Emerson and Whitman.
“A place for everything, everything in its place.” The words were more than a quote from Ben Franklin - they were an ingrained Harlan Garrett rule. Without thought, Scott picked up the book to replace it on the shelf. A glance at the title revealed it to be a children's book authored by a man named Lewis Carroll. Looking over his shoulder, he expected to see a small boy or girl seeking out someone to read the next chapter.
Scott turned to the first page in hopes of finding a bookplate identifying the owner but instead was greeted with the first of many illustrations which captured his interest. Sitting down in an overstuffed leather chair, he began to read. By the evening when he finished the final passage, he decided it was indeed the most unusual children’s book he’d read - a book filled with metaphors and hidden meanings.
Evidently, some of the more notable quotes still rattled around in Scott's head randomly invading his thoughts today while he sat at his father's desk. Wrestling with the figures in the ranch’s ledger was a task Murdoch felt solely responsible for in the past but apparently, no longer. The logs, along with other appointed duties, were now on Scott’s agenda. Frustration. A five cent difference between two columns. “Dammit.” Five lousy cents and he couldn’t find the mistake. ‘A place for everything, everything in its place, Scotty.’
Stacked next to the ledger’s disagreeable numbers were correspondences defining Scott’s next few weeks. First, a trip back to Boston - alone - followed by revisiting the Westcott winery later in the month. His gaze shifted back and forth between the two piles of responsibilities. Ledger. Letters. Ledger. Letters.
He leaned his head back, closed his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. ‘But it’s no use now, to pretend to be two people. Why there’s hardly enough of me left to make one respectable person.’ Sighing, he voiced a directive. “Shut up, Alice.”
“Who’s Alice?”
Startled, Scott sat up to discover Kinsey had ventured into the room. Embarrassed to be caught talking to himself, he aimlessly shuffled a few loose papers. “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Ever read it?”
With crossed arms in a self-hug, his cousin stood in front of the massive wooden desk. "No, I wasn't permitted. My parents insisted on squelching my adventurous nature through the study of Latin poetry.”
Scott grinned. “They may have momentarily stifled it but, trust me, your adventurous nature is far from squelched. Stay and talk to me. I need the distraction.” With a sweep of his arm, papers were pushed aside. “And when it comes to distraction, Kinsey Rose, you excel in the Art of Interrupting.” Pointing to the cleared spot on the desk, he gave a nod. “Sit.”
Murdoch hated someone using his desk as a chair. However, Scott didn't mind at all. And considering who spent more time here staring at paperwork...well…watching his cousin claim her seat gave him great satisfaction. Nope. Scott didn’t mind Kinsey sitting on the desk...not one bit.
“I'm glad I can offer you an interruption because I did want to talk to you. Actually, ask for your permission…”
“My permission?” Scott raised an eyebrow.
“Well...to have a discussion...with you. His cousin’s hands began to flutter about - usually a warning sign of things to come. “I mean...I know I don’t need your permission to talk to you. That would be silly.” The fluttering graduated to expressive flapping. “Yes. A discussion first...and then ask for your permission...but definitely a discussion...absolutely...a discussion is required before the permission. Actually, an explanation of why the discussion -”
“Kinsey.”
“Yes?”
“You’re about to take flight.”
Her hands grasped each other to safely land in her lap. “Yes. Of course.” Taking a deep breath, she began again. “Do you remember the name Lucy Stone?”
Lucy Stone? Did he remember? Hell, the woman made headlines in every major newspaper on a regular basis. Forgetting the name of the crusader of women’s rights would be impossible.
Scott maintained a pleasant neutral expression. “Yes. You met her in Boston. She was a guest at the party Grandfather held in your honor.” An uninvited guest if Scott’s memory served him well.
“Correct!” Kinsey beamed. “Such an extraordinary woman. Riveting conversationalist.”
“I'm certain she is.” He held on to his smile. ‘Why do I feel I'm about to plunge down a rabbit hole?’
“She has fascinating opinions on women’s equality.”
“Along with radical views on marriage, equal pay, acceptable fashion, free divorce… According to the papers, Lucy Stone’s list of controversial opinions is rather long.”
“Well, it depends on the paper and if you’re reading a factual headline or an editorial written by a closed-minded man. Wouldn't you agree?”
“Touché, little one.” Scott laughed. ‘Yep. It's a rabbit hole.’
“She’s lecturing in San Francisco and I would like to attend.”
Scott’s laugh dwindled to a chuckle which ended in a clearing of his throat. “I see. So…what’s the dear Mrs. Blackwell lecturing on?”
“The Aristocracy of the Sexes. And she prefers to be acknowledged as Lucy Stone, not Mrs. Blackwell.”
“Ah.” Scott grinned. “I must have picked up the wrong newspaper.”
“You’re insufferable.” Kinsey’s voice failed to hide its smile.
“When’s her lecture?”
“She’s visiting San Francisco in two weeks.”
Scott slowly exhaled with a slight shift in his seated position. “I’ll be leaving for Boston in two weeks. Kinsey, I can’t tell Grandfather my visit needs to be postponed.” Especially for a lecture given by a woman who his grandfather despised with every bone in his body.
“I know, Scott. You absolutely must go.”
“And if you’re asking for my permission to travel to San Francisco without an escort -”
“No. I’m not…”
Scott waited for the inevitable ending to his cousin’s response.
“...even though I’m quite capable of doing so, I’m well aware this is not an option.”
He crossed his arms and stared at the ledger. Unlike his grandfather, Scott didn’t despise Lucy Stone. However, much of what he read about the woman he found disagreeable. Yet, it would mean so much to Kinsey… “Maybe Murdoch -”
“No. He’s committed to a meeting in Sacramento. I asked. Teresa is accompanying him to visit family friends.”
Scott felt guilty but relieved his father couldn't assist. Truth be told, he didn't want his cousin’s head filled with Stone’s rantings. “Freckles, I’m sorry but I can't have you traveling alone. Maybe a later date -”
“Johnny offered to take me to San Francisco.”
Scott hit the bottom of the rabbit hole with such a thump, it left him speechless for a moment - and then all his mind could muster was one word.
“What?”
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