Deborah Camp (32 page)

“Because she demands it of you, perhaps. Some women silently insist that their men stand taller, try harder, love deeper.”

“You always demanded those things of me.”

“And of your father.” She rested her hand on top of his. “Ever since your father died, you’ve been trying to find solid ground. I know that, Theo, so don’t try to deny it. Just hush and listen to your mother.” She squeezed his hand and her smile squeezed his heart. “You can’t build a life on the sand of casual friendships and shallow promises. You’ve got to find bedrock, darling. You’re right, you and the world are still young, but are you happy, Theo? When your work is finished for the day, do you look forward to the idle hours?”

He felt as if she’d held him under a looking glass and seen though his layers of concealment. He turned his hand over and held hers for a moment before pulling away.

“Have I overstepped my bounds, Theodore?”

“Of course not.” He grinned to elevate the mood. “I’m glad you’re getting Mrs. Nation out of town.”

“That’s not my objective.”

“I know, but it’s a relief for me and many other citizens here. She’s not the most popular person in Eureka Springs. I hope she understands that the next time she swings that hatchet, the judge and jury won’t be soft on her. She’ll serve time in jail.”

“She’s told me she’s the jail evangelist here and that those cells don’t intimidate her.”

“Preaching to people in jail and being in jail are as different as night and day.” He caught his mother’s gaze and held it. “If you’re her friend, you’ll dissuade her of this saloon-smashing crusade, Mother. Breaking the law isn’t the way to change it.”

“What is the way, Theo?”

“Discussion is always better than violence. You’ve preached that enough to me. Maybe you should heed your own advice. Remember how
you used to tell me that the man who raises his fist in anger lowers his self-worth?”

“But, Theo, we’ve tried talking and it gets us nowhere.”

He shrugged. “Where will jail sentences get you, Mother?”

She stared at him long and hard, then she nodded. “That’s something to consider. I’ll take it up with Mrs. Nation. I sense an ill wind blowing, too. While I was waiting for you, I heard several men talking about forcing Mrs. Nation to leave town. It seems there is a faction in this town that is very angry at the jury’s decision.”

He nodded. “I’ve heard the talk about town. Last night at the Full Bucket they were tossing around all kinds of threats.” He cleared his throat and lowered his voice as he leaned across the table. “Which brings me to the real reason I insisted on seeing you—other than the obvious one.”

“Which is?”

“That I love you very much and enjoy every moment I have with you.”

“That warms this mother’s heart.”

“Mother, I’d like you to carry a message back to Hatchet Hall. Tell whoever you think will use the information to the most benefit.”

“What, Theodore?” She angled closer.

“A meeting is scheduled tomorrow night. A secret meeting. Topic of discussion is Mrs. Nation and how to make her leave Eureka Springs.”

“Oh, no.” Regret entered her eyes. “Has it come to that?”

“I’m afraid so. I was going to tell Regina last night, but things got out of hand and …” He shrugged. “Anyway, I don’t know Mrs. Nation well enough to tell if she might use this information wisely or unwisely.”

“What do you mean? Don’t you think it’s best that she face her accusers?”

“I don’t know. They might not listen to her, no matter how eloquent she is. Perhaps it would be easier for one of the boarders to state her case for her. They might listen out of respect. They have none for Mrs. Nation.”

“It’s tragic, really.” Bea squared her shoulders and swept the crowded café with an icy glare. “Where is the Christian charity in this town?”

“It’s here, Mother, but Prohibition is a touchy subject in any town. The momentum is swinging in Mrs. Nation’s direction, and that’s got her enemies in a panic. A cool head needs to show up at that meeting. A pretty, presentable, cool head.” He smiled. “I know that sounds condescending, but I’m thinking of the men most likely to attend that meeting. They won’t listen to Mrs. Nation, I guarantee it.”

“Who, then? You know the women at Mrs. Nation’s as well or better than I do.”

He hooked one elbow over the back of his chair and pretended to consider the question, although the answer came readily to him. “I heard Regina make a fine speech one night at a council meeting. With that whispery voice of hers, you might think she couldn’t be forceful, but she had that audience enthralled. If she feels passionately about something, the kitten becomes a tiger. Joy Edwards has a way with words, too. Mrs. Edwards might even bring along that deputy sheriff who’s been courting her. The sheriff knows about the meeting, but is staying away.”

“Why? I should think he’d want to be there to make sure they don’t turn into a lynch mob.”

“He knows they need to blow off steam, so he’s giving them the chance to do it. It’s good strategy,
when you think about it. But I believe someone should be there to represent Mrs. Nation.”

She nodded and her smile spoke of pride and love. “Thank you, son.”

“It’s nothing. Just promise me one thing.”

“Anything.”

“Don’t tell them where you received this information.”

“Why not?”

“I don’t want their undying gratitude.”

She frowned at him, then sighed her displeasure. “Theo, why? Why do you insist on hiding that heart of yours?”

“It’s not that. I just don’t want to be sucked into the middle of this whirlwind.”

Her smile reminded him of a fox. “Take a deep breath and look around you, dear.”

He glanced around, confused. “What does that mean?”

“You’re in the eye of the storm already, Theo.”

“I decided you were the best one to tell about this,” Bea Dane explained. “Will you go to the meeting?”

“Yes, of course!” Regina paced along the back fence behind her house. “I wondered why you wanted to talk to me alone, but I never dreamed it was anything like this. I bet the Hampfs are behind it. Those people won’t rest until they ruin Mrs. Nation.”

“Did you think I wanted to talk to you about my son?”

Regina stopped in her tracks, but couldn’t bring her gaze to Bea. “Uh … no, why would I think that?”

“I just came from seeing him.”

“Oh?” A thought speared her and she faced Bea. “Did he tell you about this secret meeting?”

“I overheard some people talking in the restaurant,” Bea said. “I was going to tell Mrs. Nation, but I realized that might not be a good idea. If these people are so dead-set against her, they probably wouldn’t allow her to speak.”

“And if she did speak, they wouldn’t listen,” Regina added. She plucked the bodice of her dress away from her skin. The sun was hot. Summer lay on the land like a flatiron. “I don’t relish addressing a roomful of angry people—or people in general—but I must try. This sort of thing can snowball.”

“Yes, it can.” Bea knelt beside a bed of gladiola and sweet william and touched the blossoms. “You have a green thumb, Regina. Perhaps you can sow seeds of goodwill tomorrow night.”

“I wish you could go with me.”

“I already have my train ticket and I’m expected.”

“I understand.” Regina rested a hand on her shoulder. “Meeting you has been most inspiring. Now when I read your wonderful words, I’ll see your face and hear your voice. It will make your message all the more powerful for me.”

Bea stood straight again and embraced Regina for a long, heartfelt hug. She held her away and looked into her face. “We must keep in touch. Will you write me?”

“Yes, of course, if you want. I know you’re very busy.”

“Not so busy that I’m not interested in my friends, old and new.” She placed an arm around Regina’s shoulders and began to walk with her toward the house. “I think you’ll be fine at that meeting, but you could take one of the others for moral support. Or you could ask my son. I’m sure he’d be proud to escort you.”

Regina laughed bitterly. “I don’t agree. He’s avoiding me.”

“You saw him last night, didn’t you?”

“Yes, and I made a complete fool of myself.” She bit her lower lip and shook her head, unable and unwilling to tell Theodore’s mother that she had thrown herself at him and been rejected. “I left my bonnet and gloves at his place last night and he returned them early so that he wouldn’t have to see me … talk with me. I found the bonnet with the gloves in it hanging on the front doorknob.”

“I could tell you were upset last night and this morning. Theo can be exasperating, but he has his good points, too.”

“Oh, I know,” Regina hastened to explain. “I’m no saint myself. We rub each other the wrong way, that’s all. We’re both too stubborn and opinionated. It’s just as well.” She laughed off her stinging feelings. “While your son is quite attractive and will make some lady a fine husband someday, I don’t need a man in my life. I have enough to keep me occupied.”

“That’s where you’re wrong, dear,” Bea said gently. “Perhaps my son isn’t the one for you, but you shouldn’t deprive yourself of the very stuff of life. True love is an infrequent caller, Regina, so don’t shut the door in his face.”

“You wrote that in one of your articles,” Regina said. “You were urging divorced and widowed women not to surrender to their bitterness or their fears. You wrote that love has many guises …”

“But that true love is an infrequent caller,” Bea finished. “None of the women here would want you to sacrifice your chance at happiness for them, Regina.”

“You loved your husband very, very much. I can tell.”

“Oh, yes, and as much as I believe in this fight
for Prohibition, if Clayton were still here and he asked me to please stop and devote myself to him, I would.”

Regina stared at her, not sure she believed Bea. Then Bea turned her head and she saw truth in her eyes. “You would, wouldn’t you?”

“Yes, because nothing in this world was more important to me than loving and being loved by Clayton Dane.” She wrinkled her nose. “Oh, I know how puritan that sounds, but Clayton would have done the same for me. More importantly, neither one of us would have asked the other to give up something that important.” Her smile brimmed with confidence. “That, my dear Regina, is true love. Not asking that which would bring unhappiness or unfulfillment into the union. Being secure enough to disagree without issuing decrees. Take my son …”

Regina held her breath, wondering if she wanted to listen to this next bit of advice.

“He might not be everything you might want him to be, but he
would
be one important thing if you win his heart.”

Regina released her breath to snap at the bait. “What?”

Bea smiled. “Your champion. Now if you ask me, that should be enough for any woman.”

B
itsy burst into the kitchen where Regina was sitting with Lu. They’d set up the quilting frame and were bent over a half-finished double wedding ring quilt they hoped to sell at the county fair come September.

“I stopped by the post office and look what was there for us!” Bitsy waved an envelope that had been opened. “A letter from Adelaide Smith!”

“Adelaide?” Lu repeated, smiling. “What does she have to say? Read it to us.”

“Where is she now?” Regina asked.

“Springfield, Missouri.” Bitsy sat down at the table and pulled out the single sheet of cream-colored paper. “She writes: ’Dear Sisters, I felt you should know that I am doing well and am happy. My husband has not touched a drop of whiskey since I returned to him.’”

“Thank the Lord,” Lu interrupted.

“‘Little James is growing like a weed,’” Bitsy continued reading. “‘He looks more and more like his father every day. We are living on my father-in-law’s property. We have our own house and are farming. Times are hard, but we have food and shelter and peace. I learned yesterday that I am with child again. We are all happy about that. I think of you all so often. I was so sad when I came
to you, but my staying at Mrs. Nation’s made my husband realize that I wasn’t coming back to a drunk. It scared him and he chose me over liquor. I am so very proud of him. He is a strong man.’”

“He is indeed,” Regina noted. “She should count herself lucky. Most men choose liquor over their women.”

“It must be wonderful to have a man who loves you so much that he’ll fight off demons to win your favor again,” Lu said with a wistful sigh. “Any woman would be just bursting with pride.”

Pity welled inside of Regina as she looked at her sweet, sad sister-in-law. When Lu met her gaze, Regina smiled and reached out to pat her shoulder in commiseration. “What else does she write?” Regina asked Bitsy.

“‘Please give Mrs. Nation my thanks for the time I stayed in her home. Good wishes for you all. I will try to write again in a few months. You all can write me, too. I want to hear how all of you are getting on. God Bless You, One and All, Mrs. Adelaide Smith. P.S. If it’s a girl, we’re naming her Joy Regina.’”

“How nice!” Lu said.

“I’m honored.” Regina repeated the name in her mind and smiled. “I hope it is a girl.”

Bitsy folded the letter and replaced it in the dog-eared envelope. “Mrs. Adelaide Smith,” she said, her voice all soft and sentimental. “Having ‘Missus’ in front of your name and being pleased about it is a wonderful thing.”

Lu nodded. “I’m so happy for her.”

“I’m relieved,” Regina admitted. “I’ve been wondering whatever became of her. I just knew that her husband would go right back to drinking and treat her badly again.”

“That’s because you think the worst when it comes to men,” Bitsy said, so matter-of-factly that
it took a few moments before Regina’s feelings were hurt over it.

“That’s not true,” Regina defended herself. “I don’t think the worst of anyone. I’ve just been around enough drinkers to know that they rarely have enough good sense about them to discover, before it’s too late, that they’re ruining their lives.”

Bitsy fanned herself with the envelope. “I don’t mean to get your goat, Regina. From what I’ve seen, you don’t trust men.”