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JACK DROPPED HIS CANE and caught Alice when her legs buckled.
“You shouldn’t be surprised, dear.” His mother’s voice was cold, sharp as ice. “You should have seen this coming the way you continually embarrass both yourself and Harry with your poor decisions. Your most recent stunt was merely the last straw. And after you promised to behave yourself.”
Jack placed Alice gently against Fin’s shoulder. “Take her outside.”
“Take her to my house.” Lizzie shot his mother a scathing look before following Fin and Alice out the door.
“I always knew you were a hard woman, Mother, but I never knew you could be so cruel.” Jack barely got the words out between his clenched teeth. Was anyone else listening? Was anyone besides his father and aunt watching? Luckily, everyone seemed to be too engrossed in Ollie’s music to notice the scene at the food table. But all that dancing would soon lead to hunger once Fin’s parents brought in the meat currently roasting out back. By the tantalizing aroma, Jack guessed it was almost done.
“I’m a realist, Jack.” She straightened her shoulders and stuck her nose in the air. “The practical matter of it is, Miss Armstrong damaged her own reputation and was taking your brother down with her. Harry was left with no choice but to end the engagement.”
Rage built in him until he couldn’t restrain himself any longer. “What a load of bullshit, Mother, and you know it.” His mother gasped. Her horror over his language, his impertinence, pleased him. He didn’t care if everyone in the room heard. He wondered how many already knew, thanks to her hatred of Alice and devotion toward Harry.
His father sputtered and raised a hand. “Watch your tongue, boy, or I’ll—”
“Or you’ll what, Father? Take me out behind the barn like you did when we were children? Or should I say, when you took me out behind the barn, since I can barely remember a single time you struck Harry. And he always did much worse.” They stared at each other for a moment before his father backed down. That was a first. “Tell me, do you agree with Mother? Do you approve of what your eldest son, your pride and joy, your golden child, did to Alice? Huh?”
“Well, I certainly can’t blame Harry, but I do agree he should have spoken to the girl himself. Come along, Margaret. We’re going home.”
She pulled away when he reached for her arm. “I am not leaving the celebration—despite the distasteful entertainment.” Lips tight, eyes narrowed, she glared at the young people fox trotting across the floor. “Their parents must be so proud.”
“Look closer, Mother.” Jack pointed. “You’ll see most of their parents are out there celebrating with them. Those not eavesdropping on us, that is.”
Indeed, word was spreading about Margaret Barnes and her son arguing. Heads turned. Partiers stopped dancing and leaned in to whisper to each other. And it started when Fred Finley and Lizzie Hudson half carried Alice Armstrong out of the Hall.
“But, then again, you have a reputation of your own, and that’s all right because the townspeople find it entertaining.” He picked up his cane, turned, and stormed out to check on Alice.
Aunt Caroline hurried after him. “Tell Alice how sorry I am for my sister’s behavior. And Harry’s.”
Jack’s anger softened. “You’ve been apologizing for Mother as long as I can remember. Stop. She doesn’t deserve your protection. As for Harry . . .”
“Margaret’s tongue has been getting her into trouble since we were children. I’m her big sister. If I didn’t stand by her, who would? And without her kindness, where would I be right now? A spinster with no income of her own. I apologize for her, and she protects me from the poor farm.”
He leaned over and kissed her on the forehead. “You’ll always have me and Alice, Aunt Caroline.”
She raised an eyebrow. He never could slide anything past her.
“I’ve always said you’re a better fit for Alice than Harry ever was.”
“I agree.” His parents were fast approaching, and he didn’t have the stomach to continue the argument. “I have to go check on her, now.” He left before they could catch up.
His mother yelled after him. “Jack, I’m planning a party for your brother and new sister.”
Was she serious? “We won’t be attending,” he answered over his shoulder without stopping. He wanted to tell her exactly what he thought of her party invitation, but decided it was better if he didn’t.
* * *
NO ONE WAS IN THE FRONT parlor when Jack arrived at Lizzie’s. Fin poked his head from the kitchen.
“I was about to get tea for the girls. Alice is lying down, and Lizzie’s with her.”
“You make tea now?” Jack leaned against the kitchen counter while Fin prepared a tray. Next to the tea pot and cups, he set a sugar bowl, creamer, and a plate with a handful of cookies.
“A guy learns how to do all kinds of things in the army. Although, I must say, it’s a lot easier in a real kitchen than a fox hole.”
“I suppose. Thanks for taking Alice out of there for me.”
“Could it be true? I mean, do you really think Harry married Betty today?”
“Sounds like it. I knew Betty was up to something when she hurried off to Minneapolis, but I never imagined Harry would do something this stupid. Maybe I should have told Alice so she could . . .”
“Could what?” Fin paused in what he was doing. “Harry has always had a bit of a temper. If Betty told him about Black John . . .”
“You know about Black John?”
“Everyone in town does.” Fin slipped a quilted cover over the pot. “I’ll take this to the parlor. Go see if the girls will join us there.”
Jack pointed to the tray. “What is that thing you put on the tea pot?”
Fin puffed up and said in his best British high society accent. “It’s called a tea cozy. Keeps the pot hot until you’re ready for it. Every respectable household has one. Doesn’t yours?”
Jack laughed at Fin’s horrible attempt at mimicry. “Maybe. Never seen one before. I should get Alice one of those for Christmas. She likes tea, and she likes pretty things.”
“Maybe she already has one.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Bet she does.” Fin set the tray on the parlor table. “Get the girls before the tea gets cold.”
“I thought it doesn’t get cold with one of those over it.”
“Get the girls, funny guy.”
“Did someone say the tea’s ready?” Lizzie stood in the archway to the hall.
Alice stepped out from behind and shook her head. “I don’t want any, thank you.” Her voice shook. “Take me home, Jack.”
“After we have a cup of tea. I mean, look at all the trouble Fin went to. He even put one of these cozy things over the pot.”
A weak attempt at a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. “Lizzie, remember when we each bought one at the Minnesota state fair last year? Your mother took us. It was so much fun.”
“You mean, you have one of these?” His heart sank. He’d have to come up with a different Christmas present. There was still the locket he saw at Erikson’s.
“I gave it to Mom. She used it every afternoon when we’d have a cup. You never noticed?”
“Not much of a tea drinker, but I’ll have one with some of these cookies.” He sat down so Alice would have no choice but to join them.
“I’ll pour.” Lizzie pulled the cozy off the pot and filled the cups. “I saved some of the cookies from this afternoon. In case they went so fast we didn’t get any.”
Alice sat in the chair next to Jack and reluctantly sipped at her tea. “Thank you, Fin.”
“He learned how in the army.” Jack winked at Fin. “Every afternoon, promptly at four, all shooting would stop so they could have a proper cup of tea and little finger sandwiches, cucumber, I believe, with scones.” He’d hoped to make Alice laugh, but it wasn’t working.
“I wonder if Harry learned to make tea, too.” She burst into tears, sloshing her tea onto her plate. “I’m sorry, Lizzie. I made such a mess.”
Lizzie jumped to her feet. “I’ll get a cold cloth. Did you burn yourself?”
“No. But I stained your mother’s lace doily. Let me take it home with me. I’ll soak it. I’m certain I can get it clean.” Alice stacked her dishes on the tray and reached for Jack’s. He grabbed her hand.
“You did burn yourself. You’re starting to blister a little.”
“I’m fine.” Alice pulled her hand away. “It hardly hurts at all.”
“It will.” He took the cold cloth Lizzie handed him and wrapped Alice’s hand. “Sit.”
“I have to clean this up.”
“No, you don’t.” Lizzie placed a hand on Alice’s arm. “Fin and I can take care of it.” They gathered up the tray and stained doily and took them to the kitchen.
“How could they do this to me, Jack?” Alice sobbed. “Harry was my fiancé, and Betty is—was—my friend.” Her voice turned hard, and the tears stopped, when she said Betty’s name.
Jack’s heart broke. “Harry’s an idiot marrying Betty instead of you.”
She shook her head. “Lizzie tried to warn me about Betty, but I wouldn’t listen. I knew she was spending a lot more time with Harry. I just refused to believe she was trying to take him from me, would do anything to hurt me.”
Jack lifted the cloth, no longer cold, and examined the burn. “Did you want me to get Doc? He’s probably at the celebration.”
Alice sniffed and shook her head. “No. I have some salve at home. You can help me wrap it after.”
“All right. I’ll pop my head in the kitchen and tell them we’re leaving.”
“Jack?” She stopped him, her voice small and pleading. “Did you know about Harry and Betty?”
His heart broke to hear the pain in her voice. “That they got married? No. Not until Mother said something.”
“I mean, did you know they were seeing each other? That Betty went to Minneapolis?” She paused, waiting. “Tell me, Jack, what did you know?”
“No.” He hated lying to her. She trusted him to always tell her the truth, and he always had. But not this time. How could he tell her he’d seen Betty coming out of the telegraph office? Or that he knew she was leaving on the train to Minneapolis?
She studied his face. He looked away so she wouldn’t see he was lying.
“I’ll never forgive her.” Her voice was hard. It was said without hesitation.
“What about Harry?”
Alice thought a moment. “She must have tricked him in some way.”
“He’s a grown man. He never does anything he doesn’t want to do.”
Alice nodded, fresh tears on her cheeks. “Let’s go home.”