Deborah Camp (27 page)

“So noted for the record.” Judge Langarten struck his gavel. “Use that hatchet on firewood next time and save us all a lot of trouble, Mrs. Nation. Court adjourned.”

Eric stepped over the low gate and pumped Theo’s hand, then Wilson’s. “Congratulations.”

“Theodore?”

Theo turned toward his mother. “Still speaking to me, I see,” he said.

Bea placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned over the gate to buss his cheek. “I love you and I’ve never been more proud of you than I am today.”

Theo angled back to give her a baffled look. “I didn’t expect that. Mother, I won the case!”

Bea laid a hand alongside his face. “Yes, and you did so with great skill and good heart.”

A lump formed in his throat and he was glad for the press of well-wishers that surrounded him at that moment. He accepted their words of praise
and searched the faces for one in particular. But he couldn’t find her.

Theo clamped a hand on Eric’s shoulder. “Where’s Regina?”

“She’s gone. They’re cooking up a whale of a celebration over at Hatchet Hall tonight. Want to go?”

“I haven’t been invited.”

Eric laughed and punched his arm. “Since when has that ever stopped you?”

“True enough,” Theo agreed. “You’ll come, too?”

Eric nodded, then grinned. “I
was
invited.”

C
arry Nation dug into her black cloth handbag. “You must allow me to repay you for the bail money,” she insisted. “I was ever so glad to be out of that jail cell.”

“No, please.” Bea laid a hand over Carry’s. “There’s no need.”

Regina turned from the kitchen counter where she and Lu were preparing finger sandwiches. “You put up the bail money?”

“Yes, but it’s my son we should thank. I wouldn’t have known about you being put in jail if he hadn’t wired me.” Bea sighed, shaking her head. “He’s a puzzle. On one hand he’s livid because of my W.C.T.U. work, and on the other he wired me about you. I don’t pretend to understand him.”

“He telegraphed you about Mrs. Nation?” Lu repeated, incredulous. “Wasn’t that sweet of him, Regina?” She elbowed Regina.

Regina nodded, stunned to discover that they had Theo Dane to thank for Mrs. Nation’s not having to spend more than a night in jail. Why hadn’t he said something about it to her? Why was he always withholding information instead of sharing? Maybe he’d thought it was unfair of him to contact his mother about Mrs. Nation, since he was
the counselor for her accuser. But he could have said something about it, she argued with herself. Especially when she’d labeled him her enemy.

“After what he did in court today, I’m not one bit surprised,” Mrs. Nation declared. “Bea, you’ve raised yourself a good son.”

“I admit I’m proud of him. The past few years haven’t been easy on him or me, but I’m glad they haven’t hardened his heart. If anything, he’s bent over backward not to be bitter.”

“Why have the past few years been difficult for you and him?” Regina asked.

Bea looked startled for a moment, then she smiled. “I thought you knew. My husband was killed three years ago. Theo’s father.”

“Oh, I’m sorry.” Regina reached out a hand. “I didn’t know.”

A tapping on the back door spun them all around. Dorrie Festerman pressed her face against the screen.

“Dorrie, come on in here,” Mrs. Nation said, hurrying to push open the door. “I hear you’re still working for the Hampfs.”

Dorrie stepped inside, carrying an earthen jug. “Yes’m. Hope you don’t hold that against me.”

“Don’t be foolish,” Mrs. Nation admonished. “I’m glad you stopped by. I want to invite you to our little gathering tonight. We’re celebrating my victory in court today.”

Dorrie frowned. “I heard you lost.”

“I did.” Mrs. Nation beamed. “But I also won. You should have been there. Mr. Dane was magnificent, Sheriff Stu was a saint, and that Tom Wilson isn’t such a bad man after all. Oh, it was grand having them rally around me.”

“The Reverend and his missus aren’t doin’ any celebratin’,” Dorrie said, a mischievous grin twitching on her lips. “Hey, I brung you this jug of
fresh milk. I heard in town that you was havin’ an open house tonight and I figured you could use some extry. My Jersey gives more’n my fam’ly can use.”

“It’s kind of you to think of us,” Mrs. Nation said, taking the jug from her. “And I’m sure we’ll put it to good use. Won’t you come back later and join us?”

“Me and my mister might drop in on ya’. I’m sure glad you ain’t facin’ hardships, Mrs. Nation, but I couldn’t help but think that fancy lawyer would back down once it came down to facin’ that judge.”

“I must be the only one who was flabbergasted by his actions,” Regina said, feeling guilty. “I had no idea he had such a soft heart. Dorrie, did you know that the judge ruled that Mrs. Nation had to pay the attorney fees and Theo Dane waived his? It was quite a magnanimous gesture.” Regina took the jug from Mrs. Nation. “I’ll put this in the cool cave for later.”

“I don’t know about mag—whatever, but I done seen his soft heart,” Dorrie said, winking. “When he sent over them dresses for y’all, I seen what he was made of.”

Regina would have dropped the milk jug if Lu hadn’t steadied it and her.

“Th-the cotillion dresses?” Lu asked.

“Yes’m.”

“Dorrie, you told me those dresses had been given to the poor,” Regina said, her voice shaking.

“They was … sort of.” Pink bloomed in her cheeks. “Mr. Dane talked them saloon women into givin’ up them dresses for y’all. He said y’all needed somethin’ pretty to wear to the cotillion and them saloon gals had some older dresses they could do without. Then he told me to bring them here and what to tell y’all.” She shrugged. “I
’spected y’all had figured it out by now. Especially you, Regina. Mrs. Hampf told me that you and him have been keepin’ time with each other.”

“What does she know about what I do with my time and who I share it with?” Regina said hotly. Lu’s shocked expression flung her back on track. “Dorrie Festerman, are you telling us that it was Theo Dane’s idea to give those dresses to us?
That’s
what you’re telling us?”

“Yes’m. I don’t know why you’re so surprised. Shoot! Why would anybody give up them dresses to the poor? Even saloon gals got more sense than that.”

Lu slumped against the counter. “Yes, who would have believed that concoction?” She looked at Regina with sadness. “We should have seen through that, Regina. At the time we were amazed that those women would give away such lovely things.”

“It never entered my mind that he …” Regina shook her head, feeling dazed. She noticed that Mrs. Nation and Bea looked even more dazed. “Dorrie brought us some used dresses to wear to the cotillion,” she explained. “I told you about that, Mrs. Nation. We were paid to provide and serve refreshments.”

“Oh, yes. Certainly,” Mrs. Nation said, bobbing her head.

“And my son arranged it?” Bea turned toward Dorrie. “He talked saloon girls into this, did he? Sounds just like him. He could convince a saint to give up her halo.”

“He’s a charmer,” Dorrie agreed. “Wulp, I gotta get back home. It’s my day off and I got laundry to get off the line. Thanks for the invite, Mrs. Nation. If I can get that husband of mine into a clean white shirt, we’ll stop by later.”

“You do that, Dorrie.” Mrs. Nation opened the
back door for her. “Invite anyone else you come across! Everyone’s welcome!”

“Regina, are you all right?” Lu touched Regina’s arm. “You’re awfully pale. Of course, it is a shock.”

“What’s shocking is that we—all of us—didn’t smell a rat. Saloon girls giving up their frocks to the poor?” She laughed, feeling like a fool. “We should have known better.”

“Maybe so, but who would have guessed that Theodore Dane would be behind such a gesture?” Lu insisted. “I like him, but I had no idea he was so thoughtful, so generous.” She looked at Bea. “Mrs. Nation is right. You have raised a good son, Bea.”

“Now all I have to do is find a good woman for him.” Bea squared her shoulders. “It’s time he settled down, and I’m ready to be a grandmother.”

Feeling uneasy with the turn of topic, Regina clutched the milk jug. “I’ll take this across the street now.” She escaped outside and breathed deeply to clear her head and assemble the facts that had been thrown at her. She had totally misjudged Theodore Dane. True, he had withheld information that would have shed light on his character, but she was more to blame for deciding he was a scamp and being blind to anything otherwise. All the time she had accused him of having a heart of stone and lining up against her and everything she held dear, he had been trying to make her life easier and even giving Mrs. Nation a helping hand when he could.

There was only one thing to do, she told herself as she crossed the street to the cool cave. She’d swallow her pride and tell him tonight that she had been wrong about him and ask his forgiveness.

At least this new information made her feel better
about her heart’s choices, for her heart had taken to him right away, while her head had told her not to trust him.

Of course, this didn’t completely dispense with the problems between them. He had known her as a saloon singer … saloons. He must have a penchant for saloon girls, she thought, ruminating about those dresses he’d wrangled from the Full Bucket barmaids. He was good pals with Emerald O’Brady, and his mother had even mentioned that he had a soft spot for saloon girls. She suspected that he’d become interested in her because he remembered her from the Gold Star. If so, he would tire of her eventually, when it became apparent that the Gold Star girl had been an illusion.

Regina entered the cool cave and set the jug of milk on one of the lower shelves built along the moist, cool walls. She smiled, recalling how dashing Theo had looked during the trial in his three-piece brown suit, dazzling white shirt, and striped tie. Mostly she remembered him turning to look at her before he’d announced that he would waive his fee. He’d done it for her. Not for Mrs. Nation. But for her.

She had to thank him, no matter that he might think himself attracted to a girl who didn’t exist anymore. She had wronged him by thinking the worst and she had to make things right. Her heart yearned for his forgiveness, his understanding, and she was determined to listen to her heart this time. She only hoped it wasn’t too late.

By ten o’clock it was obvious he wasn’t coming to the gathering. Disheartened, Regina sought out Eric. She found him sitting on the front porch swing with Lu.

“Excuse me,” Regina said, hating to interrupt them. She would like nothing better than for Lu to
accept Eric’s gentle courting. Having Eric to lean on would make it easier for Lu to end her marriage to Jack. Regina was more certain than ever that Jack wouldn’t change enough to become a good husband and father. In fact, she very much doubted that he’d change at all.

“Yes, Regina?” Lu said, sitting up straight, as if she’d been caught breaking a golden rule. “We were … do you need me to help do something inside? We can wash up some of the dishes now and not have so many to do later when—”

“No, Lu, no.” Regina laughed, motioning for her to settle back in the swing beside Eric. “I just wanted to ask Eric about Theo.”

“He’s not here yet, is he?” Eric said, pulling out his pocket watch. He hunched over it, trying to read its face in the inadequate light. “It’s getting long in the tooth.”

“It’s past ten,” Regina said. “I suppose he’s not coming and I want to talk to him … apologize to him.”

“Apologize?” Eric echoed. “There’s no need for that, I’m sure.”

“No, I must. He’s responsible for several good deeds that I just learned of today, and I want to right things with him.”

“Waiving his fee was generous,” Eric allowed, “but I don’t think he expects profuse gratitude from any of you. He wanted to do it.”

“Yes, but he sent those dresses over and arranged it so that Mrs. Nation’s bail was raised …”

“Whoa there.” Eric held up both hands, palms out, then lowered them slowly to clasp his knees. “What’s this about bail money?”

“He wired his mother about Mrs. Nation being put in jail and his mother paid her bail.” Regina smiled ruefully. “Just as he knew she would. And he talked the barmaids over at the Full Bucket into
sending over some gowns for us to wear to the cotillion.”

“Well, I’ll be.” Eric laughed and shook his head in wonderment. “I had no idea. That old softie.” He draped an arm nonchalantly across the back of the swing. “Maybe he didn’t want you ladies making a fuss over him and that’s why he stayed away.”

“Well, his ploy won’t work. Could you give me directions to the house you share with him? I’m going over there.”

“Now?” Eric asked. “Not alone.”

“I’ll ask Jebidiah to go with me. It’s not far from here, is it?”

“No. You know Harding Springs? Okay, the Waverly Hotel is there and our house is two doors to the south of the Waverly. It’s a white two-story with a porch that goes all the way around it. This isn’t necessary, Regina.”

“Let her go,” Lu said, resting a hand on his arm and smiling at Regina. “A talk will do them both a world of good. Tell him he missed a wonderful evening, Regina.”

“I will.” She left them to their quiet talk and went back into the house and toward the kitchen, where she found Jebidiah. He looked up from the bowl of milk and cornbread he was eating. “Jebidiah, be an angel and drive me over to Harding Springs.”

“Now? You got a hankering to go to the spa now? It’s done closed at this hour of the night, Miz Rose.” He scraped the bowl and then tipped it up and drank the last of the milk.

“Yes, I know that. I’m paying a call on Mr. Dane. He lives near there. You hitch up Gardenia and I’ll run upstairs for my bonnet. I’ll meet you out front in a few minutes.”

“I don’t think you should be calling on a gentleman
so late, Miz Rose. He might think you got no manners.” Jebidiah put a hand to the side of his mouth to whisper, “He might get the wrong idea ’bout your intentions, Miz Rose.”

“Don’t worry, Jebidiah. I can take care of myself. Just bring the buggy around, thank you.”