Chapter 6

“What do you mean, I can’t have a new gown made?” Cora Sue Reeson stomped her foot and stared at her father. “I can’t wear an old gown to the party.”

“Old? Child, you had a gown made a couple of months ago.”

“But I wore it to Wyatt’s dinner the other night. He’s seen it and I can’t let him see me in it again so soon. Not if you insist he be the man I have to marry.”

“What difference does a gown make?” He looked confused.

“Oh, Daddy, don’t you understand anything? When a woman is trying to attract a man, she has to always look her best.”

His wife interjected, saying, “My word, you two, the man has a wife.”

“I know that, Mildred. I know Cora Sue can’t openly go after him until he’s rid of her. Of course, you and I both know if she works her charms right, it won’t be long until his wife is out of his life.”

“Daddy, if you insist I go after Wyatt I have to set the ground work and a new dress is part of that. When Wyatt’s free again all the single women in town will be after him just like they always were. He’s known as a good catch, you know.”

In her chair in the corner of the parlor Mildred looked up from her embroidering and spoke again. “What if he doesn’t want to be free, Cora Sue?”

“How can you say that, Mildred? I’m sure he wants the woman gone. Otherwise, he’d have told somebody he had a wife.”

“Mama might be right, Daddy.”

“No, she’s not, Cora Sue,” Thourgood said. “I think the man was as surprised as everyone when she showed up the other night. He hasn’t taken her into town, so I bet he’s been trying to divorce her quietly so nobody would ever know she existed. Anyway, when you work your charm on him, he’ll forget that woman ever existed.”

“What about the baby?” Mildred asked.

Thourgood frowned. “What baby?”

“I heard she had a little boy with her. It must be the reason Wyatt hasn’t divorced her already. I’m sure he would be the type of man who’d take his responsibility of a child seriously. Maybe he doesn’t want to lose his son.”

“When he has me he probably won’t need a son. I’ll keep him happy without children, won’t I, Daddy?” Cora Sue was frowning.

Mildred looked shocked. “Are you saying you don’t want to have children, Cora Sue?”

“Having a child makes you fat and ugly. I don’t want to ever look like that.” She tossed her shiny auburn hair over her shoulder. “If we were married, Wyatt might turn to another woman if I let myself go.”

“I’m sure Wyatt will want an heir to leave his ranch to.”

“Now Mildred,” Thourgood butted in. “You know as well as I do that Cora Sue will change her mind about giving you a grandchild once she’s married. There’s no need to discuss it now. The important thing is to get her married to the right man and Wyatt Singleton is the right man for her.”

“I’m not going to change my mind about having a child. I’ll marry Wyatt because you want me to, Daddy, but you can forget about children.” Cora Sue changed the subject. “Now about that new party dress? The community dance is in a month. I’ve got to get my order in with Miss Sprinkle’s dress making shop if I want to get it made in time.”

“Are you sure a new dress is essential?”

“Yes, Daddy. After all, you’re the one who wants me to marry Wyatt Singleton. To do it, I have to use all the tricks I know to get him and that means a new dress for the party.”

“Do you not want to marry Wyatt Singleton, Cora Sue?” Mildred looked at her daughter.

“Not particularly, but Daddy wants me to and I’ll do it for him.” She grinned at her mother. “Besides as rich as he is, as his wife, I’ll be able to have all the dresses I want.”

“Are you really sure a new dress is necessary, Cora Sue?”

“Yes, Daddy, it is.”

He sighed. “Then I guess you’d better make arrangements to get that dress made. Just don’t be extravagant. I’m a little low this month”

Mildred shook her head and went back to her needle work.

* * * *

Edwina reached over and took Ben’s hand. “I’m nervous. What if he falls?”

“Don’t worry, dear. Wyatt isn’t going to let his son fall.”

“But he’s too little to be riding a horse. He’s not even two years old.”

Ben chuckled. “He’s not riding the horse, Edwina. Wyatt has him in his arms. He wants the boy to grow up comfortable around horses.”

“I know…but…”

He squeezed her hand. “Now relax, honey, and watch them. Wyatt’s riding slowly and he’s talking to the boy all the time. Everything will be fine.”

Edwina tried to calm her fears. Adam did look happy sitting there in Wyatt’s lap. He was laughing and waving his little arms around.

Rosalinda walked out on the porch. She dabbed her eyes with the corner of her apron. “I had to take a peek. I remember when you rode little Wyatt around like that, Mr. Ben.”

“Seems like yesterday, doesn’t it, Rosalinda.”

“It sure does.”

“Oh, where has the time gone?”

“It ain’t gone nowhere, sir. It just went by as we were floating through life, not noticing it was slipping away.”

He smiled up at her. “As smart as you are, woman, I don’t understand why you’re not out there somewhere running part of this country instead of waiting on an old man like me and an ornery boy like Wyatt.”

“I guess putting up with the two of you is all the challenge I can handle.”

Edwina looked at Rosalinda and smiled. “You’ve done a wonderful job with both of them.”

“Thank you, honey, but now you’re here and I’m gonna turn part of the job over to you. I’ll help some. Especially with that precious little Adam.”

“Adam will benefit from your guidance, Rosalinda. I’m so glad you’re here to help him.”

“Well, here comes the boy. He looks happier than a bear with a newfound honeycomb.” Ben was all grins.

Wyatt reined his horse up at the porch. Slinging a leg over the saddle, he dismounted without even jostling his son. He was grinning almost as much as his father. “I think he liked it.”

“From the look of that smile on his face, I know he did, Son.”

Edwina took an easy breath. “I, for one, am glad to see Adam come back to the house.” She glanced at Wyatt. “I do thank you for doing it, though. It was probably good for both of you.”

Wyatt nodded. “Yes it was. Thank you for letting me take him.”

“He’s your son, Wyatt. You have a right to do things with him, but you’ll have to accept that I’m an overprotective mother. That gives me the right to be nervous.”

“I don’t think you’re any more overprotective than you should be. In fact, I can tell already, you’re a good mother. Adam is lucky to have you.”

“I agree, Son. Maybe you should teach Edwina to ride. That way she could see that it’s really not a dangerous thing to do.”

“That’s not a bad idea, Dad.” Wyatt sat Adam down and started to leave, but the little boy grabbed his arm and began babbling.

“Da’s got to go back to work, Son,” Wyatt squatted beside him and said softly. “I’ll be back for supper and we’ll play with your horse.”

Again when he started off, Adam held his arms up to his daddy and began to cry.

“Come on, Adam. Let Rosalinda find you a cookie.” The housekeeper reached for the little boy and he looked torn.

Before he could start crying again, Rosalinda scooped him up and hurried into the house.

Ben followed, saying, “Maybe grandpa will have a cookie with you, Adam. Old men like cookies, too.”

When they were alone, Edwina said, “I do declare, Wyatt. You have stolen my baby’s heart. And so quickly.” He started to say something, but she went on, saying, “Uncle Hezekiah said you didn’t want him, but I knew the minute you met him you would want your son. I’m so glad I was right. Now, he’ll never be able to take him away from us.”

Wyatt frowned. “What do you mean, he’ll never be able to take him away?”

“I’m sorry I said that.” She looked frightened. “Why don’t you go on back to work and I’ll tell you about it later?”

“Tell me now.”

She shook her head. “I’d rather do it later.” She thought he was going to argue and she added, “It’s a long story and I want to tell you when nobody can hear us.”

“All right, I’ll wait.” He smiled at her. “I’ll be back for supper around six. I hope you won’t leave me to eat alone.”

She gave him a shy smile. “We won’t. We’ll all be in the dining room waiting for you. Mr. Walker said he didn’t mind at all bringing your father downstairs.”

“Good. Asia Walker has been a great help since he came to work here. I still wonder why since he’s trained as a doctor.” He tipped his hat to her, mounted his horse and rode off toward the pasture.

* * * *

When Dena heard the family coming into the house, she hurried out of the room Edwina shared with Adam. She hadn’t been able to do a thorough search, but she hoped what she did find would be a help to Cora Sue. If she didn’t keep the woman happy, her family would suffer. She stuffed the note in her dress pocket and closed the door quietly.

It wasn’t that Dena didn’t like Miz Edwina. The woman had been nice to her and she was very little trouble, but she didn’t know her well enough to be loyal to the point of risking the repercussions her family would feel if she didn’t carry out Cora Sue Reeson’s instructions.

Lord, she hoped Cora Sue would finally get what she wanted and Dena could go home to her family. Working for the Singletons had been a good job, but she wanted to get back to Cool Wood and marry Clem Dockery. She and Clem had been friends since they lived on the same street and their fathers were both sent to prison for bank robbery. Clem vowed one day he’d find a good job and neither of their mothers would have to take in washing to put food on the table. So far, it hadn’t happened. She worked here to help out her mother and six younger brothers and sisters. Clem’s job at the feed store was what kept his mother and his five brothers and two sisters from going hungry.

Dena headed for the back stairs leading to the kitchen when she heard footsteps in the hall. She hurried around the corner, hoping nobody saw her rushing to get away.