Chapter 6

Whitney

Peter has nerve. Quin just releases Trinity and I just get her home and onto the couch to rest, when he calls me from the damn jailhouse, choosing me as his one and only call. “If you think I’m getting you a lawyer, you’ve got another thing coming.” I say sternly. “I’ve got enough to deal with.”

“I know it, Whitney, and I’m sorry.” He says apologetically, and I believe him. “How’s Trinity?”

“I just got her home from the hospital.”

He sighs, and I can hear the stress in his voice. “Again? Is she okay?”

“She is now. If you and your sorry ass friends hadn’t been caught, she might not have been, since Quin was able to get to her in time.”

“Whitney, from the bottom of my heart, I’m so sorry.” He practically begs. “I…I lost my head. I wasn’t thinking.”

“Clearly.”

“I don’t know what to do. I’ve never even seen the inside of a jail before. Neither have Marty and Sal.”

“Really?” I’m genuinely astonished.

“Really, Whit.” He says. “They’re good boys. They just…did me a favor is all. If I’d asked them to hold up a bank, they’d probably do it. They’re good friends. Known both of them for a long time.”

“Loyalty means weird things to some, I suppose.”

“Yeah.” He pauses. “Whit…I hate to ask you this…but I’m not sure what’s going to happen to me. I’m scared out of my britches.”

“What do you want me to do?”

“Could you get me a lawyer? Please? I’m lost in here. I have no idea what’s going on.”

“They can appoint you one if you don’t have one, Peter.”

“See, now, there’s proof right there…I don’t know anything about this.”

“Well, you should have thought about that before you hired Mutt & Jeff to do your bidding.”

“I know it.” Another sigh. “Look, I’m running out of time, Whitney. Can you please do this for me? I’ll never ask anything of you ever again, I swear to God. Well, that, and don’t tell mama what’s happened to me.”

“Don’t you think she’s going to find out? Hell, word spreads fast around here, and she’s going to notice that you’re not around. Plus, I’m not lying for you.”

“Okay, okay.” He pleads. “I get it. I’ll take my licks. Can you please call me a lawyer? I don’t know what else to do. This place gives me the creeps, and Cranston’s worse than a dang drill sergeant.”

“Good.” I say sternly. “It looks good on you. I hope he and his deputy beat you all to within inches of your lives.”

“I’m sure they’re not done with us yet.”

“Well, you ought to thank your lucky stars that your niece is okay, and that finding her daddy might have paid off after all.”

“You…you mean it? He’s a match for her?” I can hear the joy in his voice, and it melts my heart.

“Quin says he’s in perfect health and so far, everything looks good. He’s just got to run more tests. But he told me that even if Dan isn’t a match, that there’s a good chance that the donor bank has a donor lined up for her.”

“Well, I’ll be damned. Gosh, thank you so much for telling me that, Whitney. You made my day. All things considered.”

“You’re welcome. And I’ll call you a lawyer, but next time I see you I’m going to pound you over the head again…and I’m telling mama about this, so be prepared for another beating.”

“Whitney, do whatever you think. So long as Trinity’s going to be okay.” He says, and I can hear the smile in his voice. “Shoot, I have to go, Whitney.”

“Okay. I’ll let you know.”

“Thanks.”

When he clicks off, I just hang up, and the phone rings again. It’s Quin.

“Good morning.” He says cheerfully.

“Good morning.”

“Trinity’s numbers are looking really good. I just had a look at them. How’s she doing?”

“Great. She’s just sleeping on the couch here.”

“Good.” He hesitates with a sigh.

I pick up on the hesitation. “Is there something wrong?” God help me. I bet you Dan fell through. I bet you the coward decided to jump ship, just like he did seven years ago. But Quin hits me with something completely out of left field, that I would never expect.

“Whitney, I want you to know that I’ve decided to drop the charges.”

My eyes widen. I walk out of the living room, so I don’t disturb Trinity. “What did you say?” I ask, as if I didn’t hear him correctly.

“I’ve spoken to Dan, and we both decided to drop the charges against those boys. Your brother included.”

“Are you serious?” I bark.

“Now, Marty and Sal will have to deal with the weapons charges, but at least the kidnapping one will disappear.”

“And what about him hitting you? Is he going to be charged with assault?”

“Naw, heck, I’m fine. It’s just a scratch.”

The smile on my face is a mile wide. “Gosh, Quin, aside from you telling me that Trinity’s going to be okay, this is the best news I’ve heard all night.”

“Well, I figure, as much as it was the wrong thing to do, it was all done with good intentions. And those boys aren’t criminals. Heck, Dan left without a scratch.”

“And he’s okay with dropping the charges, too?”

“It was his idea, actually.”

“Well, I’ll be damned.”

“Now, you go on and get some sleep. I just wanted to tell you the good news so you’d sleep better.”

“Well, you’re very kind and sweet. Thank you for that.”

“You’re welcome.” He says kindly. “But, do me a favor and let him walk home from the jailhouse. Don’t go pick him up.”

“Oh, you betcha.” I chuckle. “And I’m telling our mama about what he did. That should fix him.”

“Oh, then your mama’s like my mama. She doesn’t mess around with anybody. And with raising the five of us boys, on a ranch no doubt, I think we’re more afraid of her than of Cranston.”

“Peter says Cranston’s pretty scary. But I suppose his treatment of some behind bars is much different than what we’re used to seeing.”

“True. Did Peter call you to bail him out yet?”

“No. But he did call, begging for me to call him a lawyer. I guess Cranston was dragging his heels on posting bail, or the judge, for that matter.”

“I think our boys have been scared straight at any rate. I’m sure that they’ve learned their lesson the hard way after spending a night in jail.”

“Peter says none of them ever saw the inside of one before.”

“With Peter, I believe that, but with those boys, I wasn’t so sure.”

“Same here.”

“Anyway, Whitney, I’ll let you go and get some sleep.”

“You too, Quin. I don’t want my star doctor asleep should I need him again.”

“I’m a doctor. I don’t need sleep.” he jokes. “But yes, I’m home now, and I’m heading off for some shuteye. We’ll go through a diet and some other things tomorrow. I’ll call you.”

“Sounds good.” I smile. “And thanks. I…don’t know how I’ll ever repay you for what you’ve done.”

“Make your brother walk home.” He says flatly, and I can sense the teasing tone.

“I’ll make sure he does.”

 

***

 

The front door opens hours later, as I wake from a few hours of sleep. “Yoohoo! Whitney? Trinity? Peter?” It’s mama. I didn’t even bother to take my clothes off last night, after bringing Trin up to her bed. Her bedroom door is still closed as I scurry down the stairs. Mama is weighed down with bags from the local bakery, something she does when she knows that Trinity’s been sick again, and she knows that we’re home.

“Hi, mama.” I say, coming down the stairs, rubbing my eyes. “How did you know that we were home?”

“Well, a mother knows things.” She says.

“Girdie call you again?” I guess.

Mama smiles. “How’s my granddaughter?”

“She’s fine. Sleeping.” I look at all the bags. “Jesus, mama. There’s enough food here for an army.”

“Well, none of you eat properly, mind.” She states, even though that couldn’t be further from the truth. But mama’s definition of healthy is fat, and since none of us are overweight, she assumes that we don’t eat enough. As a slender woman herself, mama’s a bit of a hypocrite.

“What did Girdie tell you?” I ask, taking the bags from her.

“I’ve got it.” she says, fussing, walking to the kitchen. “Girdie told me that she’d passed out. Says Dr. Quin showed up with a huge gash on the side of his head. Did he explain that?”

“He didn’t have to.” Here it comes.

“And why not? Did you do it?” she chuckles.

“No, but I knew who did.”

She’s unpacking fresh donuts and rolls, and orange juice from the bags. Mama stops, dead in her tracks, and looks at me. “Just what in sam hill are you talking about?” she looks around. “And why didn’t your brother go with you last night? Don’t tell me he took an overnight call. I thought he’d been taken off those on account of Trinity.”

I sigh. “You might as well hear it from me, mama.” I sit down and pat the chair, inviting her to sit with me.

A look of half concern, half ‘quit beating around the bush and tell me whose head needs to be smacked’ crosses her face. “Just what’s going on here, Whitney?”

“Peter found himself in a spot of trouble, mama.” I explain gently but admittedly. “He lost his head over Trinity and paid his work friends to go hunt down Dan so he could donate his kidney to her.”

There is a bowl of fruit on the table. Mama starts rearranging it. This tidying behavior is something she’s notorious for doing when she’s mighty pissed off. Once, Peter got suspended from school for skipping class and drinking behind the gym, and mama cleaned the house until it was squeaky in every nook and cranny. I swear a Molly Maid service couldn’t have done a better job. When mama speaks, her voice is even, and it’s scary. “And did they find Dan?”

“Yes.” I nod. “Quin’s brothers also found Sal and Marty, the kidnappers, and took them down before Cranston got his hands on them. Cranston arrested them, of course, but now Quin and Dan have decided to drop the charges.”

She gives me a look. “Fools. They ought to let those boys rot in jail for pulling a stunt like that.”

“I haven’t heard from Peter since last night. I’m sure he’s terrified to come home. He begged me not to tell you, but I told him that that would be his punishment.”

“Whitney, that boy should be taught a lesson, far more than a beating from me would do. You ought to kick him out. Then, when he comes crawling to me for lodging, I’ll tell him he ain’t welcome.”

“Mama, I can’t kick him out. If it wasn’t for him, we wouldn’t have found Dan. He’s willing and able to donate a kidney to Trinity. That’s the truth. He said so himself to me last night.”

“You saw him?” Mama is shocked.

“I did.”

“And he’s really willing to give for Trinity?”

“He said so to me, and he was at the hospital with Quin for some time last night, doing tests.”

“I’ll be damned.” Mama bites her lip. “I suppose a man can change, after all.”

“He’s got two small boys, mama. He got married and has a family of his own. I guess I just wasn’t the one for him is all.”

“The right one or not, he still had responsibilities that he shirked, baby.”

“Only because I didn’t want anything from him, mama.”

Mama places her hand on top of mine. “I know that you didn’t want him around if he didn’t truly want to be around, honey. I get that. But even though you didn’t ask him to pay child support, he never as much as called to see how his baby was doing. Especially knowing how sick his little girl was. Now that’s shameful, darlin’.”

“But doesn’t him wanting to donate for her sake count for something?”

“Well, sure it does, Whitney. It’s about damn time, and that’s my point.”

We’re quiet for a moment, and I get a little smirk on my face. “What are you going to do to Peter?”

“Quin’s the one who got the brunt of this, Whitney. So, I say we let Quin’s family get some benefit out of Peter’s mistake.” she taps her finger on her face. “I’m sure they could use a hand over at Hedger Ranch. We’ll let Peter shovel horse shit for a while. Help out around the stables. That ought to fix his wagon.”

“And what if he refuses?”

“Oh, he won’t. I know my Peter. He meant well, but he’s scared shitless of me. Why, I bet when he sees me, he’ll damn near climb out of his own skin.”

“He is pretty scared.”

“And if that doesn’t work, I’ll threaten to take him out of the will.”

“That’ll do it.”

 

***

 

Trinity comes downstairs, rubbing her eyes, and mama trots over to her. “Hi, baby. How are you feeling?”

“Hungry.” She says.

Mama’s face brightens. “Oh, darlin’, I’ve got just the thing.”

Seeing all the food laid out on the counter, Trinity’s eyes bulge. “Meemaw! My goodness!”

Mama laughs. “And that’s exactly why I do it. This child…her reactions are priceless.”

I smile and look at my little girl. She’s completely unscathed. Dr. Quin is a godsend. He knows exactly how to make my baby well. God bless him. “Mama, you stay with Trin. I’m going to go get showered and changed.”

“You go on, sweetheart. I’ll make sure she’s filled right up.”

The shower feels amazing and getting into clean clothes feels even better. As I come downstairs, I hear a knock at the front door. Since I’m right there, I answer it. “Oh, hi Quin. Come on in.” I smile, taking a step back, letting him in the door.

“I said I’d call, but I was making a house call just up the street, so I figured I’d stop by. I hope that’s okay.”

Mama, overhearing from the kitchen, rises from her chair. “Oh, Dr. Quin! Please come in! Eat! We have plenty!” Mama’s in her glory. Mama has come with me many times for Trinity’s appointments, and she’s accompanied me to the hospital for her dialysis treatments hundreds of times, so Quin is a face the whole family knows.

“Come on in.” I close the door behind him. “Mama knows about Peter.”

“And he didn’t make it home yet?”

“He’s afraid.” Mama explains. “At least he’s showing some brains after that episode.”

Quin and I head to the kitchen. I gesture for him to have a seat, and mama starts bringing him over some rolls. “I hope you’re hungry.” She says.

“I’m starved, actually. This is great.”

“I’m so sorry about what Peter did to you.” Mama says. “I told Whitney that we’ll get him slopping the stalls over at your ranch. You think your mama would mind? He ought to pay back in some way.”

“I’m sure she’d love it.”

“If she wants to beat on him a bit, too, that’s okay.” Mama is flippant, but I can’t help but feel like there’s a grain of truth to her offer. “Oh, geez, look at that.” she tuts, inspecting the gash on his face.

“Oh, it’s nothing. It’ll be gone in a few days.” Quin waves, taking a bite out of a cruller.

Trinity is stuffing her face, but picking up on the conversation. “Meemaw, how come Uncle Peter has to pay Dr. Quin back?”

Mama goes over to her and starts fussing with her hair. “Now, don’t you make any mind, Trin. You needn’t worry about what us adults discuss sometimes.”

“Then maybe you shouldn’t discuss adult things in front of her, mama.” I point out.

“You’re right.” Mama points at me. We hear the front door open, and Peter appears in the foyer. “Why don’t you take your treats out into the living room, darlin’?” Mama says to Trinity, eying the look on Peter’s face when he enters the kitchen, and feeling the immediate tension in the room when the two men look at each other.

“Hi, Trin.” Peter says, and the happiness on his face at seeing his niece safe and well…it just does things to me. “How are you feeling, sweetheart?”

“I’m fine, if you’d all stop talking about grown-up things.” She says, and we all snort out a laugh. I try to stifle mine but fail miserably. Trinity gives us looks like we just told her that her underwear is hanging out, when she knows for a fact that it’s not. The child thinks we’re all nuts, but she goes into the living room, anyway. Bless her.

Peter looks at Quin. Quin has the grace to hold his hand up. “No need, Peter.”

“No, he needs to.” Mama counters.

“I’m real sorry about all that…that happened yesterday. I never meant for it all to go down like that.” Peter says, and his face is so sullen, I feel like giving him a hug. God must have graced me with incredible powers of forgiveness, because I tend to move on fast enough from strife.

“It’s okay, Peter. I know that you meant well.” Quin nods.

“You’re going to slop the stalls at Hedger Ranch for a while to make up for it, and you best do a good job, or else.” Mama states firmly.

“Yes, ma’am.” Peter bows his head, still with the sullen look on his face.

“And your friends can help out, too, and tell them that I said so.” Mama adds.

“Yes, ma’am.” Peter repeats.

“I hope Sheriff Cranston let you rot all night.” Mama says. “And I hope you walked home, too.”

“Actually, we called a friend from work to pick us up.” Peter admits apologetically. “And thank you kindly, Dr. Quin, for dropping the charges.”

I interject. “You’ll need to thank Dan, too, Peter. Quin says that it was his idea in the first place.”

“If I have a way to get in touch, I sure will.” Peter says.

“I can get you in touch.” Quin says.

Peter changes the subject. “So, is Dan going to donate a kidney to Trinity?”

“Well, we don’t now for certain, yet.” Quin says.

“But Dan’s in perfect health. That’s what Quin says.” I add, and mama gives me a look that I can’t decipher.

“I’ve got tests in the works right now. Shouldn’t be too long.” Quin states. “But we do need to get Trinity on a special diet on account of her blood being a bit weak.”

“Is that why she was in the hospital last night?” Peter asks, concern registered all over his face.

“Yes. She passed out shortly after you left last night.” I tell him. “Quin gave her a transfusion, and he’s got to put her on a special diet to strengthen her blood up some, but other than that, she’s fine.”

Mama gives me another look.

“And Dan’s really going to donate if he can?” Peter asks.

“Sure is.” Quin says. “He’s signed a waiver and everything. He says that he wants to get this going as quickly as possible.”

I’m stunned. “Really?”

Quin turns to face me. I’m sitting next to him at the table. “Yes, darlin’. I think that the man is a different person than the one you would expect. Maybe his wife’s changed him or his kids, but either way, he’s willing to help out as much as he can.”

I’m skeptical. “Until he talks to his wife, that is.”

“I spoke to him earlier. I’m assuming that he already has, because he hasn’t retracted a thing.”

“You think he did it because of last night?” Peter asks me.

“I’m not sure. I don’t know the man anymore, Peter, and that’s the truth.” Well, except for his smooth talk, but I leave that part out. It still gives me disturbing chills, recalling how I ended up getting into trouble with him in the first place. I will never fall for a smooth-talking man like that ever again. Lesson learned the hard way.

Quin’s phone starts to ring. “Shoot, I’m sorry. I have to take this.” He says, walking into the foyer for privacy.

“Well, you’re home now. You might as well eat.” Mama says to Peter.

“Mama, I’m not even a little bit hungry. I didn’t sleep a wink all night.”

“Then go on and have a rest. I’ll leave this with Whitney.”

“Thanks, mama.” Peter says, and he gives her and I a peck on the cheek, before walking into the living room, to give Trinity a kiss, too.

Seconds later, Quin rejoins us in the kitchen. “Sorry about that. I’ve got to head back to the hospital.”

“Certainly. I understand.” I say to him.

“I’ll call you later with that diet for Trinity. For now, just get her some organ meats; liver is best. And give her foods rich in iron, like spinach.”

“She’ll love you for that.” mama says facetiously.

“I’ll find a recipe that she’ll love.” I counter.

“Okay. Thank you for the breakfast. It was delicious.” Quin says.

“Oh, you’re very welcome. It’s the least we can do.” I say, walking him to the door.

“I’ll call you later.” Quin winks at me, and then he addresses Trinity. “You take it easy, darlin’.”

“I will.” Trinity smiles at him. She’s got jelly donut on her face and looks adorable.

He looks at me again, and there is something in his eyes that I can’t fathom. It’s like he wants to hug me or something. “You take care, now, too.” He says warmly.

“Oh, I will.”

I watch him walk out the door and down the steps to his car.

“Fine man, he is.” Mama says, coming up behind me. I don’t answer her. Then she says something that takes me completely by surprise.

…“Since when are you on a first name basis with him?”