Chapter 36

“It looks like I’ll be able to take Cora Sue home in a few days, Graham. The doctor says she’s improving.”

“That’s good news, Thourgood.” The banker leaned back in his desk chair and slid his pipe in his mouth. “Now about the money.”

“I’m working on it. I received some yesterday and I’ve brought it in.”

“How much?”

“A thousand.”

Graham Calhoun nodded. “It’s a start. When do you expect the rest?”

“The letter said it would be about three months.”

“That sounds good. Did you hear from anyone else?”

“Not yet, but I expect more soon.”

“In the meantime—”

“I know. I’ll keep you posted.”

Again, Calhoun nodded. “You know, Reeson, I think it might be a good idea to see how we could use that wild preacher man to our advantage. He’s still spewing the word that Singleton and his niece aren’t married. If he says it enough people are going to start believing it no matter what Wyatt says or does.”

“I hadn’t thought of it that way. I was only thinking of how I could get Cora Sue married to Singleton.”

“You may be able to do it yet.”

Thourgood eyes grew large. “Do you really think so?”

“Sure. If the preacher can convince enough people.”

“Then I guess I have to keep putting up with the Reverend Thorn.”

Graham Calhoun chuckled. “Looks like you’re going to have to do just that. In the meantime, I’m working on a plan I think will be of benefit to both of us.”

* * * *

Edwina was on the back terrace rocking Adam. She looked up as her aunt came through the door. “Are you sure you should be up, Aunt Callie?”

“I should have been up days ago. Hezekiah’s going to be furious. I’m surprised he hasn’t come to fetch me yet.”

“I’m sure he wanted to, but Wyatt wouldn’t permit it until the doctor said you were no longer in danger.”

“I don’t understand your husband, Edwina. He can be so violent about some things and yet I see him being gentle with you and the baby.”

“He’s only violent with those who try to harm his family.”

“But, Edwina, don’t you understand? Your uncle and I are your family. He had such high hopes of you becoming his follower and helping him lead people to the Lord. You’re mostly sweet and kind—”

“Don’t you see, Aunt Callie? I could never do the horrible things Uncle Hezekiah does.”

Callie looked shocked. “What do you mean, horrible?”

“Look at my son. Who, but an evil man, would try to take a child from its loving mother?”

“He explained that, Edwina. You’re the vessel—”

“Oh, Aunt Callie! How dense can a woman be? You’ve let your husband push you around and fill your head with so much garbage, you don’t have a thought of your own.”

“But a woman should—”

“I know the words. ‘Submit unto her husband.’ Uncle Hezekiah has drummed that into your head until you’ve become his slave. He couldn’t possibly love you the way a husband should love his wife. You’re not a wife any longer, you’re just someone to serve him.” Edwina glared at her aunt. “You may have loved him at one time, but I doubt you do now. You’re only afraid of him.”

“I…I…” Callie couldn’t finish her sentence. She began to sob.

Edwina got up and shifted Adam to her hip. She put her hand on Callie’s shoulder. “I’m sorry. I’ve said too much.”

Adam patted Callie’s bent head. “Cry,” he said.

She was startled, the sobs stopped, though tears still ran down her cheeks. Callie looked up at the little boy. As if in slow motion, she reached up and took hold of his leg. “You sweet boy,” she muttered.

Edwina hesitated, then asked, “Would you like to hold Adam, Aunt Callie?”

She nodded and Edwina put Adam in her aunt’s arms.

For several minutes, neither woman said anything. It was if they were waiting for Adam to make the first mood. He did.

“Rock,” he said and laid his head on Callie’s breast.

“He wants me to rock him.”

“Yes. He thinks if you sit in a rocking chair you’re supposed to rock.”

Callie began to move the chair back and forth. Adam smiled and she said, “I have to admit, he’s a nice-looking little boy.”

“Why can’t you call him Adam, Aunt Callie? After all, he’s your grand-nephew.”

There was another stretch of silence, then Callie looked down at him and said, “Hello, Adam. I’m sorry it’s taken your Aunt Callie so long to get acquainted with you.”

Edwina smiled, but didn’t say a word.

* * * *

“What do you mean, Thourgood Reeson came by?” Wyatt passed the potatoes to Edwina.

“He heard in town that Cora Sue was getting better and he came by to see her, Son.” Ben cut into his steak. “Don’t worry I was here all the time to see that he didn’t say anything out of the way to Edwina.”

“Actually, he was civil,” Edwina said. “He didn’t stay long, but did say the doctor told him he could move Cora Sue home in a couple of days if she kept improving as she is now.”

“Have you heard from…I mean…”

“No, Wyatt. We haven’t heard from Uncle Hezekiah.”

“I’m surprised he hasn’t come for me,” Callie muttered.

“Now, Miz Callie, don’t you worry. He’ll be here sooner or later,” Ben said.

“Eat.” Adam reached for his plate, but Edwina slid it back in time.

“I’ll feed you, sweetheart. Let’s try to keep our hands out of the food.”

“Eat,” Adam said again and Edwina mashed a carrot and stuck it in his mouth.

“He eats well, doesn’t he?” Callie said.

“He’s like his daddy. He loves Rosalinda’s good cooking,” Wyatt said.

“Ossie.”

Rosalinda was coming through the door. “Listen to that. Adam likes Rosalinda’s cooking, too.”

“You know you have him spoiled, Rosalinda.”

“What do you mean, Miz Edwina? I treat him the same way I did Mr. Wyatt when he was little.” She sat the extra bowl of corn on the table.

Edwina raised an eyebrow and grinned at Wyatt. “I can’t add anything to that. Look at him now. He’s still spoiled.”

He winked back at her. “Of course I expect you to take over where Rosalinda left off.”

“You do, do you?”

“Yes, but of course, I’ll be loving you all the more for it.”

Callie blushed.

“Miz Callie, don’t let them embarrass you. They carry on like this all the time. I’ve already gotten used to it.” Ben laughed. “Of course, sometimes they pay so much attention to each other that they forget how quickly Adam can get his hand in his plate.”

Edwina whirled around to see Adam smearing more potato and gravy on his face that he was getting in his mouth. “Oh, baby, look at you.” She grabbed a napkin and began to wipe his mouth.

“Eat.”

Wyatt laughed. “That’s right, Son. You eat all you want.”

Rosalinda came to Adam’s aid. “Why don’t you come with me and I’ll get you cleaned up.”

He reached his arms up to Rosalinda.

“Are you sure you don’t mind?”

“Not at all Miz Edwina. I’ll see he gets all he wants to eat.”

“Before you give him a cookie?”

Rosalinda chuckled. “Of course.”

As soon as the door closed behind them, Edwina said, “She’ll probably stuff him full of cookies and he’ll be up with a stomach ache all night.”

“Then I’ll help you rock him until he goes to sleep.”

“Thank you, dear.”

Ben laughed and Callie only stared at her niece and the man she’d married.