Blue Bloods of Bois D’Arc (32 page)

Chapter 75

The race is on

Cass threw her suitcase-size purse on the couch as she moved quickly to the kitchen. She dropped her car keys on the counter by the wall phone and dialed Rod’s private number. As his phone rang, the excitement got the baby moving too and suddenly she made a beeline to the bathroom. Cass stretched the long cord to the half bath in the hallway behind the kitchen. She wrestled down her slacks with one hand while holding the phone in the other, waiting for Rod to pick up.

“Hello, this is Rod,” the voice on the other end of the line said, but heard no response. “Hello, is anyone there?”

“It’s me. I’m having a hard time holding the phone. Don’t ask. Have I got good news for you! Gramps and Dad are both on board. Can you believe that?”

“What’s that noise?”

“Never mind the noise. Did you hear what I said? Gramps and Dad are working together on something outside the bank for the first time ever. It was amazing, Dad stood up to Gramps and Gramps was actually excited about it. He said he’d been waiting for years for Dad to do that. Is Jack on board with you running the campaign?”

“He agreed Earl needed to get rid of that crew of thugs, but he wasn’t thrilled with the prospect of me running the campaign full time.”

“Maybe you won’t have to. Dad stepped up and will help with the organization and running of the campaign. You can contribute as a consultant part-time. How’s that sound?”

“Sounds great. I think Jack will be happy with that and he’s all for a company PAC as long as it contributes to candidates requested by employees. He, of course, thinks Earl is a deserving candidate.” A loud whoosh sound echoed off the walls of the powder room when Cass flushed the toilet. “Where are you? I keep hearing strange noises.”

“My bladder couldn’t wait another second after I dialed your number, okay?”

Rod chuckled. “Spare me the details. I’ll be home by five.”

“I’m so excited about giving Earl the good news. I can hardly wait until he gets here at six.”

“Good job. I’ll see you in a little while. What’s for dinner? Never mind, I think I can guess. I love you.” Cass’s phone went silent.

Campaign boiler room

Cass had cleared the dining room table and had a stack of yellow legal pads with plenty of pens handy. A commercial-size coffee pot was perking and a large pizza was in the oven by the time Earl arrived.

“Welcome to our campaign boiler room,” Cass greeted Earl as Rod led him into the dining room.

“I think you have already taken ownership of my campaign, Cass. This looks great, complete with a white board. You can’t know what a relief you guys are. I told DeAndre and Lamarque they were off the campaign and I had a complete new staff ready to go. They were really pissed. I wasn’t sure I was going to get out of there alive. They threatened to sabotage the campaign and smear me in the press and on TV. They even said I was a fool if I thought a bunch of rich white people would help elect a nigger to Congress. That did it. When I shoved DeAndre out of my way, Lamarque pulled his gun and drew down on me. I just kept walking and here I am. That coffee smells good. And is that pizza I smell?”

“Yeah, thought we would need a little something to keep us going. It’s going to be a long night.”

“Sounds great, but first I need something stronger than coffee after that little dust-up in Dallas this afternoon.”

“What’s your flavor?” Cass asked.

“Bourbon and water, easy on the water,” he said.

“Coming up.”

Rod and Earl sat on either side of the long table. Cass delivered Earl’s drink and coffee for her and Rod. The large pizza sat within easy reach of everyone in the middle of the table. Cass settled down at the head of the table, establishing her as a fully vested member of the campaign effort. She and Rod gave Earl the good news about how the day’s events had gone.

“Dad’s right, Earl, we’re in for a fight. Bubba’s as redneck as they come and through dumb luck, the family farm he inherited was sitting on top of one of the biggest oil finds in this area. Needless to say, he can outspend us. But you have great name recognition, actually better than Bubba in the other counties in the district. Our best bet to beat him is to build a grass-roots network in the three-county district.”

“Agreed, but how?” Earl asked. “All TV comes from the big three Dallas stations, which is expensive. And you know he’s going turn the campaign into a race issue.”

“We have to take the high road. We don’t want to turn this into a black-against-white race. Radio ads are cheap and we can run them often. Yard signs and bumper stickers are good, but one of your best resources will be through the churches. I think we can count on the black and Hispanic community vote, don’t you?” Cass paused, reflecting on what she just said. “I guess we can’t avoid the race issue, can we?”

“I’m sure I can carry their vote—I can even speak a little Spanish. Don’t worry about it, Cass, I’ve dealt with it all my life,” Earl said with a smile.

“Then the next thing we have to do is make sure they vote. We have to organize carpools to take people who don’t have transportation to the polls. The district is about evenly split between whites, blacks, and Hispanics. I’ve already recruited some of my Junior League friends and they are really good at organizing projects and volunteering their services. Organizing a carpool on Election Day will be no sweat for them. Gramps and Dad have contacts with banks and businesses in our county and the parts of Sabine and Green Counties that are in our district. Rod, what do you have for us?”

Rod shrugged. “Outside of the company PAC, that’s about it. I think you’ve already got a good handle on the grass-roots effort, Cass.”

“Earl, besides the Black Panther money, where have your contributions come from?” Cass asked.

“I was never privy to that information, but what I know about was mostly mine and from players on the Rams and other NFL teams.”

“Do you think your team members will go for a PAC and have a fundraiser?”

“I don’t know about that, I’ll have to check with the NFL Players Association. I’m not sure if it’s legal, but I know I can count on a lot of guys in the league for contributions.”

The meeting went on into the middle of the night, but when it ended, they had worked out an organization plan on the white board. Fundraising events were tentatively planned. An aggressive grass-roots door-to-door campaign complete with literature and bumper stickers and yard signs was mapped out. All they needed now was money.

“Earl, I think we’re looking at your new campaign chairman, and it isn’t me,” Rod said, looking at Cass. “You’ve done a hell of a job tonight. There’s enough information here to get your dad and granddad moving. I’m proud of you, but what if you have the baby in the middle of the campaign?”

Cass gave him her I-can’t-believe-you-just-said-that
look. “I’m having a baby, not a heart transplant. Dad can handle things for a few days, and I’ll be back in the saddle in no time. Let me worry about that. You get the company PAC cranked up and bringing in money. I’ll handle the rest. And the first thing I have to do is send a disclaimer press release to the
Dallas Herald
. We have to make sure the voters understand you were unaware of your campaign team’s association with the Black Panther organization, and that you immediately fired them and no longer have anything to do with their organization.”

“Sounds good. I don’t know what to say. You guys are lifesavers. How can I ever thank you enough?”

A sleepy-eyed Rod, who had to get up and be at work in a few hours, suggested, “You can start by adjourning this meeting. Sorry, guys, I’ve got to get to bed. We have a program staff meeting first thing in the morning, which is only five hours away.”

Everyone stood and stretched the kinks out their cramped muscles. Thanks and hugs went all around, and the night was over. Now the fun would begin in a race that had already attracted statewide attention—and notice from the politicians in Austin.

Chapter 76

The primary election

After the Black Panther story appeared in the
Dallas Herald
, TV media coverage flocked to Bois D’Arc to cover the volatile Fourth Congressional District campaign circuit. Bubba McGee gave lavish rallies with free barbecue for his followers while he slammed his opponent as a rookie in government affairs who didn’t know the political party line from the twenty-yard line.

Earl’s campaign rallies were less grand but drew large crowds. The grass-roots door-to-door visits were getting results as Earl pressed flesh with constituents and explained his goals if elected. The campaign was coming down to the wire. Poll numbers showed the race almost a dead heat, with Bubba holding a slight edge.

Earl took advantage of Rod’s knowledge of world affairs and foreign policy as Rod tutored him from his broad experience as a POW and vice president of an international company. But his pride and joy was his Kidbackers of America program to help the underprivileged to a better education and better life through self-help programs run by volunteers in an effort to cut government spending. Earl hammered away at Bubba’s proposed tax increase and was getting through to the voters as the campaign headed into the final days.

In addition to his personal attacks on Earl, Bubba ran a negative campaign on the current administration’s failures. He offered no substantive new programs or incentives to help boost the economy other than to raise taxes to pay for the deficit left by the former administration. The social programs he proposed to counter Earl’s volunteer program were supported as part of the large umbrella-tax package he proposed. The voters were wary and weren’t buying into it.

Election Day finally arrived with a flurry of activity at all the district polling places. The culmination of months of hard work by candidates and volunteers was finally over. All that remained was the long wait for the courthouse staff to count the ballots coming in from the outlying precincts of the two adjacent counties. The heavy voter turnout caught the polling centers unprepared without enough ballots. More were printed and poling times were extended, which prompted the election judge to predict a late announcement of the winner.

“We’ve done everything we can do,” Earl said to his campaign volunteers gathered at Cass and Rod’s house. “I want to thank all of you who had faith in me, especially in light of the situation with the Black Panther issue and the short timeframe you had to pull off a miracle.”

While Earl went around the room, thanking each person individually for their contribution to the campaign, Cass reached over and tugged Rod’s arm.

“I hate to say it, but I think it’s time. My water just broke.”

“Your timing is incredible,” Rod said. “We can slip into the bedroom and get your suitcase and go out the back door without disrupting things here.”

Cass and Rod were sitting at the bar in the kitchen behind the den full of volunteers. They thought they could slip out unnoticed. But the minute they tried to leave, Earl caught their movement in the corner of his eye.

“Where are you two going? I was coming to you next.”

“Save it. We have an appointment with the stork,” Rod said.

“Congratulations! Call us as soon as it arrives. We’ll probably be here all night.”

Midnight came and went. The stork hadn’t arrived and neither had the election results. The unprecedented voter turnout was further delayed because the extra ballots had to be hand-counted.

Cass’s contractions had stopped and she was miserable.

Dr. McCombs was called into the delivery room. “It looks like your little one isn’t in any hurry to get here,” he said. “I’m concerned about the reduced amount of activity. I think we need to give your baby a little nudge.”

“Why, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing’s wrong. I just think it will be best for the baby if we restart your labor and get the baby out.” He turned and instructed the nurse to begin the procedure. “Nurse, start the Pitocin IV.”

“I’m so tired, I just want to get it over with,” Cass said to Rod, who’d been sitting at her bedside holding her hand for more than five hours.

“Doc said the IV should get things moving again. Just be patient.”

“Easy for you to say. You’re sitting there in a comfortable chair and I’m spread-eagled in this contraption with nurses coming in checking every two minutes to see how much I’ve dilated. I’ll trade places with you anytime.”

“Come on, Cass, that’s just pain talking. They say childbirth is one of the most painful experiences you’ll ever have and the one you forget the quickest.”

“Right, but they
aren’t here, I am, and my back is killing me. My head hurts. Hell, my whole body hurts. Nobody told me it would be this painful.”

“You mean your mother never talked to you about what you could expect?”

“Are you kidding? My mother never even told me about starting my period—Essie did. She taught me all the female things I had to go through that any mother should tell her daughter. But not my mom. Essie and my girlfriends taught me all about feminine hygiene and sex. Ouch! Did you see that? The baby is moving again.”

Dr. McCombs returned to the room.

The nurse said, “The contractions haven’t restarted. There’s only been minimal movement, doctor. I think the baby’s in distress.”

Dr. McCombs examined Cass. “The baby is in breach position, Cass. We’re going have to do a C-section. Nurse, prep her. We need to start right away.”

“Is the baby okay? Is there something wrong? You’ll tell me if it isn’t normal, won’t you?”

“Everything is fine. You need to relax. I’m going to give you an epidural so you won’t feel a thing, but you’ll be conscious for the procedure. Rod, I think it best if you wait in the outer waiting room. I’ll come get you as soon the baby is cleaned up. Now go, we have to hurry.”

There were two other fathers-to-be already in the waiting room. Rod saw the coffee machine and got a cup of hot brew. He took a seat and tried to drink the coffee, but it tasted like it was mixed with Drano instead of cream. He couldn’t concentrate on reading the three-month-old magazines. So he just started talking to anyone that would respond.

“This is my first. How about you guys?”

The oldest of the three, who looked like he might be a farmer, spoke up, “This is my fourth. Still trying to get a girl. Hope this one’s it ’cause it’s going to be the last one no matter what it is. I’m getting a vasectomy next week.”

“What about you?” Rod spoke to the bearded man dressed in a dark blue suit and tie with shined shoes, reading a book. He didn’t look up from his book. Rod shrugged at the farmer and took another sip of the awful coffee.

“I saw the face you made drinking that machine coffee,” the farmer said. “The cafeteria keeps fresh-brewed coffee going all the time. It’s just down the hall and to your left.”

“Thanks. Can I get you anything?”

The farmer shook his head.

Rod thought he would give the guy in the suit one more chance and walked over to him. “Hey, I’m going to the cafeteria. Can I get you anything?”

The man with the Jesus beard and long hair raised his head, but he didn’t answer right away. “I’m going to the cafeteria. Can I get you anything?” Rod said again.

The man finally spoke. “Unless you’re blind, I think you can see I’m reading.” He lowered his head and went back to reading his book.

Stunned, Rod said, “Fine, suit yourself.” He turned and left for the cafeteria, wondering what that guy’s problem was. After getting some good coffee, he returned to the waiting room and settled in for the long wait. The time dragged by slowly. He leaped to his feet when the double doors opened. It was the farmer’s doctor.

“Congratulations, Mr. Owens. You have a beautiful, healthy baby girl.” With a broad smile, the farmer looked at Rod and exclaimed, “There is a God!” He left with the doctor to see his wife and baby girl. Rod decided she would no doubt be spoiled rotten and called out his congratulations as the doors to the swung shut.

The other guy never looked up from his book. Rod was thinking,
This guy won’t make a very good father. He’ll be too preoccupied to pay any attention to his new baby. With that kind of personality, how did he even get his wife pregnant in the first place?

Unannounced, Dr. McCombs burst through the double doors into the waiting room. “Rod, she’s beautiful. Looks just like Cass did when I delivered her. Come on, I’ll take you to her.” Rod followed the doctor and felt pity for the man still reading his book.

He entered the room. Cass was holding the tiny infant, naked under a blanket, against her bare chest and beaming from ear to ear.

“How are my girls doing?” he asked.

“Happy, but exhausted,” Cass answered. “She just snuggled up against me. Do you want to hold her?”

“Is it okay? I’m not wearing scrubs. I don’t want to give her anything.”

“It’s okay.”

Rod gently took the tiny baby wrapped in a pink blanket and cuddled her under his chin. “I can’t believe she’s so small.” Already he was thinking of where she’d go to college, what she would study, and how he wouldn’t let her date until she was eighteen.

He reluctantly handed her to the nurse, who took her to the nursery, then leaned over and gave Cass a gentle kiss. “How are you feeling?”

“I’ll be okay in a few days. This scar will sure ruin my bikini figure next summer,” she said, smiling.

“When can you and Nicole Noel come home? Which one do you like?”

“I like Nicole and want her middle name to be Worthington.” She looked for Rod’s reaction with apprehension. “I know it will be unusual for a girl, but I think it will please Gramps.”

“Not exactly what I had in mind, but if that’s what you want, fine.”

“Dr. McCombs says I need to stay for a day or so to let this incision begin to heal. I’ll need some help when I get home. He says I need to stay off my feet for a week or so.”

“Don’t worry. Mom is chomping at the bit to come and stay as long as you need her.”

“Great, I’d like that. By the way, did Earl win?”

“Oh my God, I forgot all about the election results. I’ll go down the hall to the nurses’ station and call him. I can’t believe I’m a father,” he marveled. “We’re parents. It sounds so strange. Do you think we’ll be good parents? It’s kind of scary, isn’t it?”

“Now
you tell me you’re scared of being a father. Relax. You’re a natural. I saw how tenderly you handled her. We’ll be great parents. Now go find out if we won.”

Cass’s true feelings about being good parents weren’t as strong as she stated. She had the feeling she was going to be doing most of the child rearing while Rod continued to spent long hours at work.

“Be right back.”

Rod called home. The phone rang several times before Earl finally picked up. “It’s a girl. Her name is Nicole
Worthington Miller.
We’re calling her Nicole,” Rod said before Earl could speak.

“I can hardly hear you for all the noise. You can fill me in later. We won!” Earl shouted into the phone. “Can you believe it? We won by only one percentage point!” Earl said, still shouting.

“Congratulations, man, that’s great. You deserved it. Cass won’t be home for a couple of days. She had a rough time and finally had to have a C-section. But she and the baby are doing fine. You guys hang out at the house as long as you want. There’s plenty of room and food if you want to sack out for a while. I’ll call you later. I need to get back to Cass.”

While Rod was on the phone, Cass was moved to a recovery room. He entered the room and broke into a big smile when he saw Cass already nursing baby Nicole. Cass looked up, all smiles and pleased with her progress.

“The nurse brought her in all cleaned up and laid her on my chest for some more bonding time. Then she latched on to my nipple on her first try. She’s going to be a genius. I’m glad she’s so hungry. Look, she’s already finished with the left one. Now she wants to start on the right one. I’m really enjoying this.”

“I’m glad to hear that,” said the nurse who had stayed to help her if she needed it. “Most newborns nurse every hour or two twenty-four hours a day for weeks. Best you try and get some sleep between nursing times.”

Cass tried to sit up in her bed after she had finished to hand Nicole to the nurse. “Oh, damn!” She fell back into bed holding her stomach. “That really hurt.” Her face twisted in pain.

The nurse admonished her to stay flat in the bed and let other people do the lifting.

She regained her composure. “I’m not used to having someone do everything for me.”

The nurse smiled. “You better enjoy it while you can. It doesn’t last long.” She left to take Nicole back the nursery full of newborns.

“I’m so happy for Earl,” she said to Rod. “He really deserved to win after all he went through. I think we did a hell of a job on such short notice.” Cass closed her eyes and breathed a heavy sigh. “Do I really have to stay another day? I want to take Nicole home now,” she pleaded with Rod.

“Sorry doctor’s orders. We’ll be home before you know it, I promise.”