Chapter 39

“What’s going on, Juan?” Wyatt pulled the bedroom door closed and paused in the hall beside Edwina.

“That preacher is here for his wife. Mr. Reeson is here, too, Mr. Wyatt.”

“Damn,” Wyatt said.

“I guess I better go tell Aunt Callie her husband is here.” Edwina looked sad. “I was hoping he’d wait a while longer.”

“Why, honey?”

“I think I almost had her convinced she didn’t have to live as a slave to him. A few more days, and I could’ve been sure of it.”

“What should I tell them, Mr. Wyatt?”

“I’ll go talk with them. Please see if Dad is in his room and bring him down. The preacher seems to be afraid of him.” He turned and winked at Edwina. “Make sure your aunt takes her time.”

She nodded.

Collecting his thoughts, Wyatt flung open the front door and stepped outside. “Good morning, gentlemen. What can I do for you?”

“I’ve come for my wife, of course,” Hezekiah snapped.

“I guessed as much.” Wyatt forced himself to smile. “I’m sure you miss that kind lady. We’ve certainly glad we’ve had the privilege of her company the past few days.”

“She should’ve been with me, not lazing around here.”

“If we’d left her in your care, she’d probably be dead.”

“How dare you say I don’t know how to take care of my wife.”

“From the looks of her, somebody has done a poor job of it. I don’t think the lady has had a square meal in years.”

“Gluttony is a sin.”

“And starving someone is a crime.”

“Gentlemen, there isn’t any need to be snide with each other. We all want the same thing.”

“And what’s that, Reeson?” Wyatt asked.

“We want everyone to be happy and to get what they want. All Reverend Thorn wants is his family and you have no right to keep him for getting them.”

“The only family he has here is his pitiful wife.”

“Now, Wyatt, you know that’s not so. He wants his niece to go back to Virginia with him, too.”

“Yes, I do. I have a wonderful plan for her to work for the Lord.”

“The only work she has is to be a wife to me and a mother to our child.”

“Mr. Singleton, I’ve tried to explain to you that I signed divorce papers for Edwina. She’s no longer your wife and the child is promised…”

Wyatt started toward the reverend and he backed up. “Don’t hit me!”

“As much as I want to, I’m not going to hit you.” Wyatt paused. “The only thing I want from you is to see you get on the next stage out of town and out of my wife’s life.”

“Well, if you give me what I want, I’ll gladly leave.”

Before Wyatt could answer the door opened and Juan wheeled Ben out on the porch. “If that weasel is here bothering the family again, I can still take care of him with my gun.”

“Why does he have to be here? I don’t think he likes me.” Hezekiah eyed Ben.

“Nobody in this house likes you,” Ben snapped.

“Now, Mr. Ben, where’s your hospitality. I’ve never known you to—”

“Shut up, Thourgood Reeson. Why aren’t you in there talking with your daughter instead of out here with this poor excuse for a man?”

“My daughter? Is Cora Sue awake?”

“She is in there talking with Jeff Bodger right now,” Ben said.

“Then I’m going in there.” He turned to Hezekiah. “You can handle this on your own.”

“But you said—”

“I don’t care what I said. I want to find out who hurt my daughter.” Without further words, he went through the front door.

Wyatt turned back to Hezekiah. “By the way, I get the feeling that you abuse your wife. What kind of man would do that?”

“I don’t abuse Callie. She knows her place and I see that she stays in it. That’s not abuse. That’s a man’s right. The Bible says so.” His voice took on a whiney sound.

“Boy, Son, I’m sure glad Reverend Lambert doesn’t have the warped notion of the Bible this man does.”

“I agree and I’m thankful his crazy teachings didn’t rub off on Edwina. At least Adam won’t be exposed to such nonsense.”

“The people who are getting him didn’t like the name Adam and are calling him Moses. I’m sure he’ll get a good Christian upbringing from these parents. They’ve assured me—”

“I think I will hit him, Dad.”

“Don’t blame you if you do, Son.”

The door opened. Edwina and her aunt stepped outside.

“I’m ready to go, Hezekiah,” Callie said.

“It’s about time, Mrs. Thorn.” Hezekiah reached for her arm, none too gently. He looked at Edwina. “Get your things. You’re coming with us.”

“I think we’ve settled that. She’s not going anywhere,” Wyatt snapped.

“Why don’t you let her decide?”

“I have decided. I’m not leaving my husband, no matter how you try to discredit our marriage.”

“Then may God have mercy on your soul. Let’s go Callie.” He headed down the steps and she turned to Wyatt.

“Thank you for all you’ve done for me.”

“You’re welcome, Ma’am. If you need anything, be sure—”

“She doesn’t need anything from you.”

“Goodbye, Aunt Callie. Remember what I said.”

Callie nodded. “I will, dear.”

They watched as Hezekiah climbed into the buggy and waited for Callie to get herself in.

“I wonder when he’ll remember that Reeson came with him in that buggy,” Wyatt whispered.

Edwina smiled and Ben laughed out loud.

“Shall I tell him, Son?”

Wyatt nodded.

Ben yelled, “By the way, Thorn, shall I tell Thourgood you took his buggy and left him stranded?”

The reverend stiffened. Without looking around, he said, “You may tell him I’ll send the buggy back.”

“Don’t bother,” Wyatt said. “I’ll loan him a horse to get home.”

Without answering, Hezekiah slapped the rear of the horse with the whip and the buggy lunged forward.

“I wonder if that’s the last we’ll see of him.”

“I doubt it, Dad. Men like him don’t give up. It’ll take more than us saying Edwina is going nowhere to keep him away.”

“I don’t care what he says or does, I’m not going anywhere.” She looked up at Wyatt. “I’m happy where I am.”

Wyatt dropped his arm around her shoulder. “You know I’m happy with you here.”

“If a father-in-law can put a word in, I’m happy you’re here, too.”

Edwina leaned down and kissed his cheek. “You can put a word in any time, Ben. You know we love for you to add your wisdom to our conversation.”

For the first time in years, Ben Singleton blushed.