Chapter 25

Terrence ate the breakfast cornmeal mush his wife spooned for each of them. “Did the Singleton woman want you to come back and help today?”

“She said the maid, Dena, is taking a few days off and she said if I wanted to take her place for a while, she’d appreciate it.”

“That’s good. We’re going to have them paid back before you know it.”

“Are we going to get to go back, too, Papa?” Sam asked. “I like helping Mr. Cleveland. He’s nice.”

“Of course you’re going. We wouldn’t leave you boys alone here.”

“Good,” Zach put in. “I’d be scared out here in the woods by myself.”

“I’d be with you, stupid.”

“Don’t call your brother stupid, Sam,” his mother reprimanded him.

“I’m sorry. You’re not stupid, Zach. You’ve just got a lot to learn.”

“Have I, Mama?”

“Yes, Zach. You and Sam both have a lot to learn. He may be two years older than you, but he’s not grown yet.”

“Ah, Ma.”

“I mean it, Sam. You listen to your father and learn.”

“Eat your breakfast, boys,” Terrence said. “We need to get on the way. We don’t want the Singletons to think we’re lazy.”

“It’s not daylight, yet, Pa,” Zach said.

“It will be by the time we get there. Now, eat up.”

They ate in silence for a few minutes. Pushing back his bowl, Sam said, “Pa, if I do a real good job for Mr. Singleton, do you think I could go to school?”

“I want to go to school, too,” Zach added.

“We’ll see about school later. Right now we have a job to do.”

“It would be nice if the boys went to school, Terrence. I’ve taught them what little I know, but there’s so much more to learn.”

“Like I said, we’ll talk about school later. Now, let’s hurry up and be on our way.”

Naomi washed the bowls quickly and within ten minutes the four of them were in the wagon and on their way across the fields to the main section of the Singleton ranch.

It was a cloudy morning. “Looks like it might rain,” Naomi said. “Will you be working outside?”

“Yesterday, Singleton had me repairing some rafters in the barn. There’s still another’s days work there.”

“Good. I don’t want my men getting sick on me.” She smiled at them.

“We ain’t gonna get sick, Ma.”

“Aren’t, not ain’t, Sam.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Look,” Zach said. “There’s a buggy tied up under a tree.”

“It sure is.” Terrence frowned. “I wonder who would be out this early in the morning in a rig like that.”

“Maybe we should check, Terrence.”

“I agree.” He pulled the wagon up about a hundred feet from the buggy. “Hello there,” he shouted.

There was no sound.

Terrence shouted again.

There was still no answer.

“Maybe we should check to see what’s going on,” Naomi suggested.

“You stay here with the boys. I’ll check it out.” Terrence took the rifle from under the wagon bench.

“Be careful, dear.”

“I will.” He looked at his sons. “You boys be quiet and look after your mother.”

“I want to go with you, Pa.”

“No, Sam. You stay here.”

Terrence eased his way to the buggy with the rifle raised to his shoulder. “If you’re there, you better come out. I have this gun trained on your buggy.”

The buggy was empty. Terrence looked around and his heart began to pound when he saw a woman’s legs sticking out from behind a bush.

With the gun still raised he eased over toward the figure. When he rounded the bush, he almost gagged. The woman’s dress was torn and there was blood all over her legs. Her face was swollen and he knew she’d been beaten.

He glanced around and didn’t see anyone. He lowered the gun and dropped to his knees. The woman’s hand was warm and he thought he felt a slight pulse.

He glanced around again and saw a man lying ten feet away. Terrence knew instantly the man was dead.

* * * *

Mildred Reeson couldn’t sleep. She didn’t care what Thourgood said, Cora Sue wouldn’t have spent the night at the minister’s house after volunteering to help decorate the church for her friend Millie’s wedding the following day. Of course, Reverend Lambert did say if it got too late he’d not let her come home alone. He said he’d send the sheriff’s deputy, Rusty, with her. Like everyone else in town, he knew Rusty Palmer had a crush on Cora Sue and would make sure she got home safely.

Mildred wandered to the kitchen where the cook was making breakfast.

“Good morning, Mrs. Reeson.”

“Good morning, Hilda. Could I possibly snitch a cup of coffee?”

“Yes, ma’am. I’ll get you one right away.”

“Everyone should be getting up soon. I think I’ll go on into the dinning room.”

“I’ll be right there with the coffee.”

Mildred took her usual seat at the dinning table as the Reverend and Mrs. Thorn came into the room. They were both fully dressed.

“Good morning,” Mildred greeted them.

“Yes, it’s a beautiful day. I can’t wait to get to the Singleton ranch and collect our niece and the boy.” Hezekiah looked pleased with himself. “Of course the Lord wants us to start our day with a good healthy breakfast.”

“It will be ready momentarily. Won’t you sit down? Thourgood should be down shortly.”

As if by a summons, Thourgood came into the dining room. “Good morning, all,” he boomed. “I can tell already it’s going to be a glorious day.”

“That’s right, brother,” replied Thorn. He glanced at Callie. “I like a man who knows how to be thankful for the good days God gives him.”

“We should all be thankful,” Callie muttered.

Hilda came into the room with a platter of ham and eggs. She followed it with potatoes and a basket of biscuits. She then poured coffee for the four of them. She brought in a selection of jellies, butter and a big bowl of fruit. Nobody, with the exception of Mildred, thanked her as she slipped back into the kitchen.

When Thourgood started to pick up the platter, Hezekiah said, “I hope you folks will let me have the pleasure of thanking the good Lord for this wonderful food.”

“Of course,” Thourgood said.

Reverend thorn began to pray. And he prayed and he prayed.

Mildred wondered if he was going to name every person he’d met in his lifetime. Then he started on the state of the world. She admitted it needed praying for, but not for as long as Hezekiah Thorn prayed. Finally, he got to thanking God for the food and the day. This went on for several minutes. Mildred couldn’t help thinking that everything on the table would be cold by the time they started to eat. She knew for sure the biscuits wouldn’t be able to melt the butter. And she did love melted butter on her biscuit.

When the prayer ended, nobody said anything, but they began to pass the food. Mildred wanted to ask Hilda to come back and take everything to the kitchen and warm it again, but she knew that would be rude, so they all ate cold eggs.

When his plate was full, the reverend said, “I must say, Mr. Reeson, your cook knows her way around the kitchen.”

“Yes. She’s always been good.”

“It is delicious,” Callie volunteered.

“Now, when do you think that daughter of yours will be home?”

“I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”

“I’m surprised you let her stay out all night like this. It’s not seemly for a young unmarried woman to be out alone.”

Mildred joined the conversation. “She’s at the preacher’s house. His housekeeper is getting married today and they were decorating the church.”

Hezekiah gave her a look of disdain. “That’s a waste. Churches shouldn’t be shrouded with flowers and fancy things.”

“Flowers were created by God. I’m sure He doesn’t mind us putting them in His house.” Mildred would’ve said more, but Thourgood’s boot tapped her toe. She didn’t say anything else, but she did give him a sharp look.

“I’d never allow them in my church. It might take the people’s mind off heavenly things. The plainer the setting, the easier to think of the perfect path to heaven.”

“We do keep it clean,” Callie said.

“Of course, we do, woman. God don’t like dirt of any kind. He’s pure. The purer we make ourselves and the place we worship, the better He likes it.”

“It isn’t easy to be pure,” Thourgood said.

“You’re right about that. I tell my flock all the time they must forget worldly comfort and think of their immortal soul, but many of them are like Edwina.”

“What do you mean?”

“She’s such a willful girl. Always has been. I kept her out of trouble and didn’t let her have anything to do with men. We wanted her to concentrate herself to God. She could do so much good if she’d only follow my instructions.”

“So she did something you didn’t approve of?” Mildred looked at Callie.

“Oh, yes. Many things. Reverend Hezekiah tried so hard to keep her on the narrow path to heaven.”

“I certainly did, but there was too much of her devil mother in her. Her mother is the one who kept my brother from the Lord. Now, the devil has taken up residence in Edwina. She won’t let that little boy be what he’s supposed to be.”

“I know Wyatt Singleton is going to be interested in hearing all of this. I’m sure he’ll put her out of his house when he realizes she’s such a sinful person.”

“He’s not any better himself.” Hezekiah looked at Thourgood. “What do you think of a man who marries a woman, takes her to bed and leaves her the next day?”

“He’s not much of a man.”

“Well, that’s exactly what your friend, Wyatt Singleton did. I finally had to send for divorce papers to rid my niece of the scoundrel. He’ll burn in hell for what he’s done.”

There was a loud knock on the front door. Thourgood frowned. “Who’d be coming this early in the morning?”

“Maybe it’s Cora Sue.” Mildred jumped up. “I’ll see.”

“Let Hilda go.”

“No. I’m going to see myself.”

Hezekiah frowned. “Man, you shouldn’t let her talk to you that way. Why, I’d give Callie a slap across the mouth if she ever dared to say no to me.”

Before Thourgood could answer, Mildred’s loud scream filled the air.