Chapter 32

Edwina smoothed her hair, which she was wearing down and tied with a blue ribbon matching the blue skirt and blue striped ruffled blouse she wore. She knew her uncle wouldn’t approve of her outfit. For the first time in her life, she didn’t care.

She opened the door and stepped outside.

Hezekiah started toward her, but Wyatt shoved him backward. “You stay away from her.”

She moved close to Wyatt and he put his arm around her shoulder.

“Edwina, Edwina, look at how you’re dressed. Just like a Jezebel. How can you turn your back on all the good and truthful things I’ve taught you over the years?”

“I’ve learned that much of what you tried to force me to believe is a lie.”

“Oh, how that must hurt your precious aunt! You know she wanted you to grow up to do the Lord’s work and here you are living with a man you’re not married to and dressing to attract men’s attention.”

“I am married to Wyatt. Even you witnessed my wedding.”

“But it has been dissolved. I took care of it. Don’t you know how that hurts the woman who was a wonderful mother to you?”

“If she’s so wonderful, why have you left her there in the hot sun to suffer, while you stand on this shady porch?” Wyatt eyed him. “No decent man would treat his wife in such a manner.”

“I…well… She can get down if she wants to.”

“You should help her down and see that she’s comfortable in a chair. That’s what I’d do for Edwina. I’d never treat her worse than I would treat my dog. I’d even see the dog got water after a long wagon ride.”

Hezekiah looked perturbed. “My wife is of no concern of yours, Singleton. It’s your whore I’m—”

Before he could finish, Wyatt had him by the shirt collar. “I told you if you insulted my wife again, I’d smash—”

Edwina took his arm. “Don’t hit him, Wyatt. His words can’t hurt me. They used to make me quake, but no more. Now I realize what a sad and foolish man he is. All I want is for him to get back on the stage and leave Cool Wood forever so I’ll never have to see him again.”

Wyatt let him go. “Did you hear her? She wants you gone and I think it would be wise for you to leave quickly.”

“All right, I give up on asking you to return to your home and the people who care for you.” He stared at Edwina. “Bring me the boy and I’ll leave Cool Wood today.”

“Are you crazy? There’s no way I’ll give you my child.”

“He’s not your child, Edwina. He belongs to the Clarks. I promised him to them and I have to make good on my promise.”

Wyatt interrupted. “I’ll be damned if you’ll ever get your hands on my son. You and your evil teachings have done enough harm. We don’t want or need your kind in New Mexico. We already have enough rattlesnakes.”

The door opened and Juan rolled Ben’s chair to the porch. Anger was clear in Ben’s face and tone as he spoke. “I back up everything my son and daughter-in-law say. You’re not wanted around here.”

“It looks like God has already punished you for your sins,” Hezekiah said. “If you’ll repent I’ll be willing to pray the devil out of you and you’ll be able to walk again.”

“You fool. God never punished me. A damn wild horse slammed me against a fence and tangled my legs in the boards and began trampling me, breaking every bone in my lower body. It was my foolishness, thinking I could break a horse at my age. If God wanted me punished, He would’ve killed me.”

“But it was all in God’s plan. If you’ll repent—”

“Shut up, you idiot. I’ll not allow you to talk to my father that way.”

“I’m so sorry for you people. I know you don’t like me, but I will pray for your souls, though I’m sure it’ll be a lost cause.”

“I don’t need—”

“Aunt Callie!” Edwina screamed and headed down the steps.

Callie Thorn had slumped over and was falling out of the wagon.

Wyatt jumped off the porch and was beside the wagon before Edwina reached it. He swooped Callie up in his arms and carried her up the steps.

“Leave her be,” Hezekiah said. “I’ll pray for her and she’ll be all right.”

“You pray all you want to, but in the meantime, I’m going to get this woman some water. It looks like she’s had a heat stroke.” Wyatt went inside with Edwina at his heels.

In the parlor Wyatt put Callie down on the sofa. Edwina ran to the kitchen and returned with a pitcher of water. Dena followed her with a towel.

“Dena, go upstairs and watch Adam and send Rosalinda down here,” Wyatt said. “Don’t come out of Adam’s room and don’t allow anyone in until I call you.”

“Yes, sir.”

Hezekiah came into the room. “Is she awake yet?”

“What do you care?” Edwina snapped. “You’ve always treated her like a slave, so don’t pretend you care now.”

“The Bible says a woman should submit unto her husband.”

“Yes, it does,” Ben said as he came in. “Do you know the next verse?”

“Of course I do.”

“Then why don’t you believe and practice it?”

Hezekiah stared at Ben. “I believe and practice every verse in the Bible.”

“Then you must have forgotten this particular passage. To refresh your memory, it says a man is to treat his wife the way Jesus treats his church. I never read where Jesus let his disciples pass out from heat stroke because he only cared for his own comfort. I think it was the opposite. He never lifted himself above anyone. In fact, He made sure those around him were comfortable before he thought of Himself.”

Rosalinda came to the door where Hezekiah stood. “Get out of my way. I’m going to try to help this poor woman.”

“How dare a servant talk to me like that?”

“I’ll have you know Rosalinda’s not a servant. She’s a member of this family as well as an employee. I’ll not have you trying to lord it over anyone in my household.” Ben pointed his finger at Hezekiah. “You’ve now proven my point about the Bible. You think you’re something special when all you are is a despicable individual.”

“I’m a servant of God and God alone,” Hezekiah screamed. “We have a special relationship.”

Wyatt turned toward Hezekiah. “If you can’t keep quiet, you can wait outside. I’ll not have you acting the fool in my house.”

“Then, while you’re messing with her, why don’t I go find the boy and get him ready to leave?”

Ben reached inside the bag that hung on the side of his wheelchair. He pulled out a gun and pointed it at Hezekiah. “I keep this with me in case I have to shoot a rattlesnake that’s crawled up on the veranda when I’m sitting outside. You remind me of one of those evil varmints, so if you don’t sit down over there and keep your mouth shut, I might let my finger fold around the trigger and shoot you.”

Hezekiah’s eyes grew wide. “You wouldn’t.”

“Do you want to test me to find out?”

Callie moaned.

“Good. She’s coming around. We’ll leave and come back for the boy.” Hezekiah pushed Edwina away and moved to the couch.

Wyatt grabbed his arm. “You shoved my wife, you despicable man! Nobody gets away with doing that.” Holding Hezekiah by the arm, he marched him to the front door, across the porch and threw him into the yard. “If you ever come back in this house again, I’ll let my father shoot you for target practice.”

Wyatt then turned, went back into the house and slammed the door, leaving a dumfounded Hezekiah sitting in the dust.

* * * *

“Oh, my. Where am I?’ Callie looked around the room with its pink flowered bed cover and pink walls.

Edwina moved to the side of the bed. “You’re in one of our extra bedrooms, Aunt Callie.”

“What happened?” Her eyes grew big.

“You overheated sitting in the sun and you passed out.”

“Dear, me. The reverend must be upset. What did he say?”

“He’s all right.”

“I must get up and go.” Callie had been the object of Hezekiah’s temper before and she didn’t want to be again.

“He’s gone, Aunt Callie. The doctor was here and he wouldn’t let you go. He said you needed a couple of days in bed.”

“Oh, my Lord, child. Hezekiah will never allow that.”

“Be prepared for a shock, Aunt Callie. Hezekiah can’t do a thing about it. Wyatt threw him out and he’s gone to the Reeson ranch.”

Callie Thorn put her hand on her chest, panic in her eyes. “Oh, my goodness. Oh, my dear. What’ll he do when… I mean… Oh, Edwina, he’s going to be furious.”

“Don’t you worry about it. Wyatt will see to it that he doesn’t lay a hand on you.”

“He wouldn’t…I mean… Sometimes I know I hold him back and… Well, he has to do his Christian duty.”

“Aunt Callie, open your eyes. Hezekiah Thorn is a bully and—”

“Oh dear, please don’t say those things. He’s always reading the Bible and getting revelations from the Lord. He only does what God tells him to do. He’s a saint, and—”

“He’s no saint, Aunt Callie. He’s a man who thinks more of himself than he does of anyone else in the world. You, me, Adam or anyone. He only wants to rule people’s life. He doesn’t care what we want or need.”

Tears rolled down Callie’s cheek. “No, Edwina. You’re wrong. You have to be wrong. I couldn’t have lived all those years with him if…” She slumped back on the pillows.’

“I’m sorry, Aunt Callie. I’m so sorry. Please don’t get so upset.” Edwina ran to the door and called, “Rosalinda.”

Rosalinda came on the run. “What is it, Miz Edwina?”

“I’ve upset my aunt. I think she’s having another spell.”

Rosalinda walked over to the bed. “Miz Thorn, are you all right?”

“I’m afraid God will punish Edwina for what she’s saying about Reverend Thorn. I want her to do right because I don’t want the girl to be punished. I—”

“It’s fine, Miz Thorn.” Rosalinda turned toward Edwina. “If you don’t mind, Ma’am, please go have Dena or Mrs. Kerr bring your aunt some tea. I want to have a little talk with her.”

“I’ll be right back.”

“You don’t have to rush. I have a lot to say to her and we may need a little time.”

Edwina looked puzzled, but only nodded and left the room.