Past Forward- A Serial Novel: Episode 15 (15 page)

“
He told me he might call you in for a deposition
,
but he doesn
’
t think he
’
ll need you in court
.”

Shaking her head, Willow protested.
“
I don
’
t want to do that
.”

“
Well, you won
’
t have a choice if they subpoena you
.”

“
What do you mean,
‘
won
’
t have a choice?
’
I don
’
t want to go to court.
I don
’
t want to talk about it
.”

“
Well,
”
Chad hadn
’
t realized that Willow didn
’
t understand this part of the law.
“
They can compel you to come and testify
.”

“
How?
Will they torture me?
What kind of country is this?
I thought we had protection from this kind of tyranny!
”
Tears of frustration filled her eyes and threatened to overflow.
She brushed them away impatiently.
“
I don
’
t want to have anything to do with it
.”

“
They
’
ll find you in contempt of court.
You
’
d be fined and probably jailed.
” Chad lowered his voice, running a finger along her cheek.
“It’ll be okay, lass.
The D.A. said he didn
’
t think he
’
d need you in court.
He just wants a deposition
.”

A stubborn look filled her face.
“
Then I
’
ll pay the fine and sit in jail until they realize that they can
’
t make me testify
.”

“
They can keep you there until you do.
Which means,
”
he added with the slightest hint of an edge to his voice,
”
that I
’
ll be left without a wife, doing all the work around here, your crops will die, the animals will suffer, and we won
’
t be prepared for next winter
—
if you
’
re even out of jail by then.
You
’
ll have a criminal record which
,
in this area
,
would probably kill any chances of my becoming an elected sheriff
.”

“
It
’
s just not right!
”
Willow
’
s eyes flashed as she realized the helplessness of the situation.
“
I don
’
t want to get involved
.”

Chad slipped his hand in hers and led her slowly back to the barn.
“
You may not be.
We don
’
t know
.”
He paused by the kitchen door and wiped away a stray tear with his thumb.
“
On a brighter note, your grandparents want us to come to dinner on Sunday.
Joe switched with me so we could go
.”

“
But you
’
ll miss church then!
”
Willow
’
s eyes looked confused.
“
I don
’
t understand you.
One day church isn
’
t an option and the next it is
.”

“
Family is important too, Willow.
Your uncle and his wife and daughter will be there.
I don
’
t know about the boys.
I said I
’
d call this afternoon if we can make it
.”

“
Well, we can make it
,
but
—”

“
Good.
I
’
ll call them right now.
Are you guys going to work on that wool after the soap?
”

Willow shook her head.
“
I thought about it
,
but then I remembered Jill saying something about soap sleeves
,
so I think we
’
ll drag out the paper and paints and things and make covers for the soap.
We can work on wool tomorrow
.”

“
But Josh is coming
—
remember?
”

“
Well, he can watch while we talk.
You guys can go fishing or something if he
’
s not interested
.”

Chad
’
s laughter startled Becca as she poured soap into molds.
“
Willow, I don
’
t think Josh is the fishing kind of guy.
I think he
’
d find it pretty disgusting
.”

“
Who wouldn
’
t like fishing?
”

“
Guys like Josh are um
—
well they
’
re more interested in artsy things.
Some don
’
t like the outdoors much
—”

“
Oh, so Josh is like Bill.
I see
—”

“
Um…
”
Chad hesitated.
Should he even bother explaining?
“
Let
’
s just say that Bill wouldn
’
t find that a very flattering comment.
I
’
ll show him your books and craft room and maybe take him on a tour of the town if he
’
s not interested in wool.
I can see him being very interested in spinning so who knows
.”

“
Chad?
”

“
Hmm?
”

Willow reached up, pulled his face closer to hers
,
and met his eyes.
“
Sometimes you make no sense
.”

He kissed her nose and opened the kitchen door.
“
Why don
’
t I go bring down that paper stuff for you while you guys finish the soaps?
”

“
So what does Chad do all day?
I mean when he
’
s not working?
”
Becca suddenly felt stupid.
He worked all day or night
—
what else did the guy need to do.

“
Well, when he
’
s home, he takes care of the animals most of the time.
Anything I need harvested he
’
s good at
,
and he did the new field plowing for me.
He
’
s probably going to be the woodworker around here too
.”

“
So will you do more of your own animal breeding and butchering now that he
’
s around?
”

This wasn
’
t something Willow had ever considered.
The problem with having a predictable routine was the inevitable tendency toward a rut.
“
I don
’
t know.
I
’
ll have to talk to him.
Perhaps he
’
d rather do that
.”

“
I was thinking this
’
d be a cool place for school field trips.
You know, the kids
could
come and see you make soap and candles, milk a goat, spin some wool, bake bread in a woodstove, can food
—
it
’
d be
almost
like one of those living museums
.”