Halley knew the week following Christmas was bound to be miserable. Bootsie and Gid planned to leave to get married on December twenty-sixth, and Kate was off from work without pay until the first Monday in the new year. Pa Franklin made no secret of his displeasure with both circumstances.
He was muttering and fuming Monday morning when Bootsie’s cousin Royce Cox arrived in his car. Royce was taking the happy couple to Calhoun for the wedding. Bootsie and Gid shook Pa Franklin’s hand and hugged the rest of the family before heading out to the car. Their bubbling over happiness only served to further rankle Pa Franklin. He went to the porch with the rest, though his glowering face was enough to dampen all joy.
“Git out of the way, Golly,” he said, kicking at the dog. Golly was sniffing his way toward Robbie, the best source of petting and food.
“Fetch some stove wood, Robbie,” Halley said, to head off trouble.
Pa Franklin grunted. “What little there is to fetch, you mean. Reckon the ones of us staying home where we orta be are near about down to splinters and logs too big to git in the stove.”
Gid laughed. “Pa, I split some yesterday and I’ll split more when I get back.” He opened the car door for Bootsie and bowed. The suit Garnetta Miller had given him from her late husband’s wardrobe was a little big, but Halley thought he looked grand anyway.
Bootsie giggled up at him and smoothed the skirt of her new dress. Then she turned her radiant smile on her future father-in-law. “Turn loose some of that CCC money and hire some help, Mr. Franklin.”
Pa Franklin grunted with disgust. “I don’t have no time to git out and hunt no labor. Not with ever’thing else I got on me.”
At that moment Sukie, the cow, gave out a bellow from the barn. She’d been acting up since the night before. “Hear that fool cow?” Pa Franklin said. “She can’t wait for a warm spell to come into heat. No-siree! She’s got to be took over to Temp Little’s house to be serviced today, when they’s near about ice on the ground.”
Halley caught the look Ma Franklin shot her husband. Things like breeding animals just weren’t discussed in front of women and children. Especially not in the Franklin household.
Royce snorted with laughter. “From what I hear about that cow, preacher, you could just turn ’er loose. I s’pect the old gal would likely find ’er own way over to Temp’s pasture.”
Gid got into the car. He and Bootsie were both laughing behind their hands as they drove away.
“Why does Sukie want to go to Temp Little’s house?” asked Robbie.
Ma Franklin’s face was as red as Kate’s. “Never mind,” they both said together.
“Fetch the wood, like I told you,” said Halley.
They were hardly back in the kitchen when Golly let out another volley of barking.
“Gid and Bootsie musta forgot something,” said Ma Franklin, shuffling toward the front window.
Halley heard footsteps and ran to the door just in time to let Robbie in with a load of wood. “Mr. Gravitt’s here,” he said.
“Again?” said Pa Franklin.
Moments later Bud Gravitt was in the kitchen, shaking Pa Franklin’s unwilling hand. “I’ve brung you a truck load of split wood as a Christmas present,” he said, “and I’ll bring you another load next time I come.”
Ma Franklin thanked him profusely. “Ain’t that just like an answer to a prayer, Old Man,” she said to her husband.
“I reckon,” Pa Franklin muttered. “Much obliged.”
Bud smiled as if he’d received an enthusiastic thank-you. “I’m going to unload it for you before taking Kate over to my sister’s house.”
Pa Franklin stiffened. “Taking Kate where?”
“I’m going to see Bud’s baby,” Kate quickly explained, “Will.”
“Can I go, too?” asked Robbie.
“Sounds like a good idee to me,” Pa Franklin said, but Kate shook her head.
As soon as Kate and Bud Gravitt left, Pa Franklin began criticizing them both. “Looks like Kate’s done lost ever bit of judgment she ever had. As for that long hungry she’s a-going with, he don’t have enough sense to know he ain’t welcome here.”
Ma Franklin ventured a meek defense. “Well, he brung wood.”
“Not enough to pay for half the groceries he puts down. And in the meantime he’s blackening Kate’s reputation.”
“I guess that’s so,” Ma Franklin admitted.
Halley felt her grandfather’s eyes turn in her direction, willing her to say something, compelling her to line up on his side. It was the same almost hypnotic power he used when he asked sinners to come to the altar and repent.
Halley steeled herself to resist. She could not do what he wanted. She would not. Though she had no great affection for Bud Gravitt, she would not be her grandfather’s ally. Not ever.
In silence, Halley put the sweet potatoes in the oven to bake for dinner and stirred the turnip greens and beans. Then she returned to the ironing she had begun right after breakfast. All without meeting her grandfather’s gaze. All without saying a word.
Finally, he gave up and spoke. “You’d think Gravitt would consider Kate’s reputation. Fur as that goes, you’d expect Kate to think of it. What kind of example is she setting—strollicking all over the country with a man just widdered, and her own husband barely cold in the ground! Her own husband that she claimed to love. The man her young’uns claimed they loved.”
Halley felt the old man’s gaze again, but Sukie saved her. From the barn came the cow’s insistent bellow, and at last Pa Franklin stood.
“I can tell Temp Little one thing—I ain’t paying him nothing until I see a living calf out of that heifer. And if Sukie proves good at calving, it’ll be the first thing she’s good at.”
Ma Franklin put out a hand to her husband. “Now, Old Man, it ain’t fair to expect ’im to keep the cow three days, and feed her, for nothing. And Temp might not be so willing next time you have a cow needing serviced.”
Pa Franklin seemed as astonished as Halley at Ma Franklin’s boldness. “Who’s boss around here,” he asked, “you or me?”
Pa Franklin left a few minutes later and peace descended on the household. While knitting socks Ma Franklin began talking about when she was young and going to long ago singings and corn shuckings. “Did I tell you about when me and Webb won first prize at a square dance?”
Robbie yawned and nodded.
“I went hunting with him, too, sometimes,” she went on. “One time, I recollect, I held some of the dogs so your grandfather could go look for his lead dog. It was sort of scary being in them dark woods by myself except for the hounds . . .”
Robbie yawned again and headed outside. He slipped a biscuit out of the warming oven and grabbed the knotted keep-away rope from behind the wood box before opening the door, so Halley knew he was going to play with Golly.
While Halley worked her way to the bottom of the ironing pile, Ma Franklin talked on. It seemed to Halley that the young man in the stories was a different person from the one Ma Franklin now claimed as a husband. The young Webb Franklin sounded like fun. Once he had even taken part in a horse race.
“He didn’t make no bets, understand,” said Ma Franklin, looking at Halley over her glasses, “though we did hear tell of other folks gambling on it. And the ones that gambled on my Webb won.” She smiled shyly. “I reckon you might say I won my bet on him, too.”
The arrival of Mr. Calvin and his daughter Lacey put an end to the stories.
“Lacey and me have come to invite Halley to a little Christmas social my girls are giving at our house today,” Mr. Calvin said after an exchange of greetings.
Lacey winked at her, and Halley’s heart lifted for a moment before sinking again. There was no chance in the world she would be allowed to go.
“Me too?” asked Robbie, who had followed the Calvins in. “Can I go?”
Nobody answered Robbie. Ma Franklin’s eyes darted to the chair where her husband usually sat and then to Halley. “I don’t know.”
“Halley’s been working mighty hard,” said Mr. Calvin, “especially since you’ve been ailing.”
Ma Franklin nodded. “That’s so.”
“Me and my wife’ll be there the whole time, and I’ll fetch Halley home by sundown.”
Ma Franklin looked toward the door, shaking her head. “I wish the Old Man was here to say.”
“Please let her come,” said Lacey. “We’re going to sing and play games and make candy. We’re going to play the victrola Daddy got us for Christmas. We may even do some square dancing.”
Square dancing? Halley wondered if that meant boys would be there too? She dared not ask.
“Pa and Ma Franklin used to square dance when they was young,” said Robbie.
Ma Franklin smiled. “I hadn’t thought of it like that. I reckon it wouldn’t hurt.”
“Can I go too?” Robbie asked again.
Ma Franklin shook her head. “I’ll need you to fetch wood and water.”
“And I need you to check the mailbox,” Halley reminded him. Robbie was under strict instructions to put any mail in his pocket until Halley could go through it looking for her answer from Martha Berry.
“You can come over tomorrow,” Mr. Calvin promised Robbie, “or the next day.”
Halley practically danced her way to the far room to change clothes and comb her hair. If only she had known earlier, she could have tried to curl her hair a bit. She pinched her cheeks and bit her lips for color. Minutes later she was in the truck.
Music and singing were pouring out of the Calvin house when they arrived, and when the truck pulled to a stop, young people swarmed out of the house to the porch. Richard was among them. It seemed his smile was for her alone.
“It’s Halley!” Clarice said.
Then they were all in the Calvin parlor and Halley was singing with them. It had been a long time since her heart felt so light and happy.
The happiness continued through dinner. When they were finishing their apple pie, Clarice said, “Richard learned ballroom dancing in Atlanta.”
A murmur ran around the table. “Atlanta!” “Ballroom dancing!”
“And as big a flirt as you are, I know you charmed ever’ woman in the ballroom,” Eva said.
Everyone laughed while Richard shrugged and put on a “who me?” face.
“Richard promised to teach us ballroom dancing,” said Lacey.
Richard smiled modestly. “I’ll show what little I know.”
Back in the parlor a short while later, Clarice’s boyfriend, Homer, wound up the victrola while Clarice chose a record from the collection stored in the bottom of the cabinet.
“The main thing is to listen to the music and let it tell you when and how to move your feet,” Richard said as everyone circled around.
“It won’t tell me anything,” said Halley.
“Yes, it will.” Richard reached for Halley’s hand. “Let me show you.”
At his touch Halley felt the same warmth and wanting she had felt the week before—and the same fear. She also felt clumsy and awkward. She didn’t want to embarrass herself in front of everyone. She pulled away, folding her arms. “I can’t dance.”
Clarice nudged her forward. “Come on, Halley. Don’t take it so serious. None of us know, either.”
Unwillingly, Halley allowed Richard to take her hand and pull her to the center of the room, facing him. His right hand encircled her waist and his left hand took her right. “Put your left hand on my shoulder,” he instructed.
Halley became very aware of the smell of shaving soap and hair tonic and starch. She was aware too of how damp and sweaty her hands had become, and how hot her cheeks were.
The music started. “Step-step, slide.” Richard said, maneuvering Halley to move with him. “Step-step, slide.”
Halley lurched and stepped on his foot. “Sorry,” she said as she stepped on his foot again. She felt as stiff as a two-by-four.
Richard smiled encouragingly. “Step-step, slide.”
“Sorry,” Halley said again, her face burning. “Sorry.”
“Stop apologizing,” he whispered. “Step-step, slide.”
“I’m going to sit down,” Halley whispered, trying to tug her hand free.
“No, you’re not,” Richard answered, tightening his grip. “Step-step, slide. Step-step, slide. You’re getting better.”
Sure enough, she’d moved several times without stomping on his feet. Some tension inside her began to loosen. Then Clarice and Homer began dancing beside them, and Halley relaxed more, and then a little more. Suddenly it did seem as if her feet were learning from the music where to go. She and Richard were moving mostly together around and around the room. Step-step, slide. Maybe someday they would dance together in Atlanta and she would wear a long gown then. Richard would wear a tuxedo, of course. Step-step, slide.
Time passed, and the record changed, but Richard asked no one else to dance. She could feel the other girls in the room looking at her with envy. She heard, without really hearing, the Calvin dogs barking out in the yard, the front door opening, heavy footsteps coming down the hallway.
Then a loud voice demanded, “What is going on here?”
Halley swung around to see her grandfather standing in the doorway. His face was furious. Halley backed away from Richard. If only she could disappear.
The older Calvins came running from the kitchen. “The young folks are just dancing,” said Mr. Calvin.
“I seen what they’re doing with my own eyes,” said Pa Franklin. “The devil’s work! I don’t know about your girls, but my granddaughter ain’t going to take no part in such doings.”
He stopped and looked hard at Richard. “Who are you?”
Mrs. Calvin stepped forward and put one hand on Richard’s shoulder. “This is Richard Bonner—a fine young man. He and his father hire people to tuft bedspreads.”
“And you’re letting him carry on with my granddaughter!”
Mr. Calvin’s face turned to stone. “I don’t call this carrying on.”
“We were dancing,” Halley said.
Richard stepped forward. “Sir, you don’t have a thing to worry about. Halley and I are just friends. I have a sweetheart already, and I’m not looking for another one.”
Halley felt her face blaze. She’d made a bigger idiot of herself than her grandfather had. She shoved her way by Richard, her grandfather, and Mr. and Mrs. Calvin. Grabbing her coat from the bench in the hallway, she rushed out the front door into air so cold it stung her cheeks. She didn’t care. She wanted to be cold.
Her grandfather caught her at the edge of the yard. “Hold up, young lady,” he bellowed. “You’re not getting out of my sight. You done proved you can’t be trusted.”
Walking as fast as she could, Halley let him rant until he was so out of breath he could not talk. When they passed the church, Halley saw Theodora Langford’s truck parked off to one side. Theodora had her camera set to photograph the cemetery with its leaning stones and wooden crosses.
“Reckon you aim to turn out like her,” Pa Franklin said, jerking his head toward the photographer.
“I could do worse,” Halley answered, “and it would be a pure relief to quit worrying about what people say.”
Her grandfather made no reply, but by the time they reached the cut off to the Franklin place, he had started preaching again. “You can forget about going to the store anymore,” he said, stopping at the mailbox. He reached in and came out empty handed. Halley rejoiced in his disappointment that the CCC check still hadn’t come.
“You can’t be trusted to go to Belton,” he went on.
“Fine with me,” Halley said.
“You’re not going to the Calvins no more either.”
“Fine.” Halley didn’t want to see the Calvins any more—not after they’d seen her humiliated by both her grandfather and Richard.
When they reached the edge of the Franklin yard, Halley saw her grandmother waiting at the kitchen window. The old lady’s eyes were red and her entire body downcast. For a moment Halley forgot her own anger and embarrassment.
“Don’t fuss on Grandma anymore,” she begged. “I’ll take all the blame.”
“Ain’t you free-hearted?” her grandfather said sarcastically. “You’ll take whatever blame I say. You ain’t the boss around here.” He swung around toward the pasture where Halley suddenly realized Robbie and Golly were running. Robbie had the keep-away rope in his hand, holding it out behind him. The two behaved as though racing the wind, their feet barely touching the ground. Then Golly wheeled about and spotted his master. He halted at once and his tail drooped. Suddenly he was an old dog again.
“How many times do I have to tell that boy to leave Golly be?” Pa Franklin said. “He’s turning my guard dog into a lap pet.” Cupping his hands to his mouth, he bellowed, “You, boy! Git to the house.”
On entering the kitchen Halley saw her mother had returned. Kate was starting supper. With a fresh audience, Pa Franklin found a new burst of indignation. “Your daughter went out strollicking. Good thing I went after her,” he said. “This girl here was hugged up to that boy that puts out the bedspread work.”
“Mr. Bonner’s son,” Halley explained. “We were only dancing.”
Kate said nothing and neither did Ma Franklin.
“Dancing?” Pa Franklin mocked. “Oh, is that what they call it now?”
“You danced when you were young,” Halley said, “and you raced horses and . . .” She broke off at the sight of her grandmother’s face. She’d gotten her grandmother into deeper trouble. Pa Franklin turned on his wife.
“You been running your mouth,” he said. At that moment Robbie burst into the kitchen and went straight to Halley. Digging into his pocket, he brought out two letters and handed them to her.
Before Halley could look at what she held, Pa Franklin snatched them from her hand.
“’Bout time that CCC check come,” he said, slapping that letter on the table. “What!” he said. “Why’s that Berry woman writing?”
“That’s my mail,” Halley protested as her grandfather ripped it open. “Mama, tell him he has no right.”
Kate said nothing.
Her grandfather pulled out a folded sheet of paper and let the envelope flutter to the floor. Halley snatched it up. The return address said Berry Schools! Martha Berry had answered her. Was the answer “yes” or “no”? In her eagerness to know, she forgot her mother and grandmother. She tried to look at the letter as her grandfather read, but he pushed her away.
“Are they going to accept me?” she begged.
Pa Franklin wadded the letter and tossed it into the wood box. “Oh, she wants to accept you all right.”
Halley was joyful. “She does? She really does?”
“That old maid can accept you all she wants and it won’t make no difference. You’re staying right here just like Gid when she wanted to take him. You ain’t going nowhere but to the well or the barn. I’ve been entirely too easy on all of you. Well, I’m through being easy. For one thing, that piano is going out of this room.” He looked around as though for some other privilege to take away. His eyes fell on the water bucket. “We need some water.”
Turning, Halley grabbed her letter out of the wood box and then she got the water bucket. Robbie was right behind her as she headed through the dogtrot.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t know he would take your letter.”
“Then you’re stupid,” Halley said, setting the water bucket on the well housing and then heading for the main road.
“Please don’t go away,” said Robbie, still right behind her.
Halley turned on him. “Don’t follow me,” she yelled.
“Where are you going?” he asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. And she didn’t. She only knew she had to get away from this place.