His Rainbow After the Rain

by Grace Clemens

  It had been several days since Philip and Mary had spoken on a lengthy basis. They had time for casual hellos and goodbyes but whenever Mary came to see him after school let out, he was always busy. He was planning another edition of his newspaper and was trying hard to get final approval for all his articles. It was the weekend of the visit from the theater group and they were due to arrive sometime that day.

  Matthew kept the two in touch with each other, passing notes back and forth from school. He had taken to working the morning shift for Philip and going to school for the second half of the day. This pleased his parents, since Philip was willing to pay him a good salary.

  He was seated behind his desk when the mayor came storming in, his usual self, so completely predictable.

  “Jenkins!” the man huffed, moving through the doorway and dropping his massive frame in the chair Mary barely even filled. “I want to talk to you!”

  Philip wanted to mention how red the mayor’s face was and how he should try to take it easy on himself. He was overexerting and that might cause his heart to give out. A big man like him should try not to get too excited. Philip might not be a doctor, but he didn’t have to be to realize that.

  “Well, you’re in here whether I like it or not. What is it, Hanover?”

  “I got a couple things you’re gonna need to do for me.”

  Philip felt a knot forming in his stomach. His heart thudded in his chest like a piece of lead. He didn’t want to do the mayor’s bidding, especially if it was something he cared about. Something Mary cared about. And these days what she cared about was outweighing what he cared about.

  He was okay with that.

  “Well, do tell me what you need me to do for you.”

  Mayor Hanover sat forward, his massive frame shuffling the entire chair as he moved. He leaned on the edge of Philip’s desk, looking him square in the eye. Philip would have looked away if he didn’t care that the mayor would take that as a sign of weakness. But he didn’t really want to look in the older man’s puffy round face, red with exertion, sweaty from just walking in and a touch of the Texas heat.

  “I’m hearin’ talk that Paul Ranyard is tryin’ to run against me for mayor.”

  Philip hadn’t heard talk about that. But he was excited to hear it and struggled not to let that show. A mayoral fight would sell a lot of newspapers. He could present both sides of the matter. The supporters of each could tell their sides, and why they wanted Paul to take over. It would be the first time in his life Philip would have to neutralize himself to give both sides of the story.

  “You don’t say,” he managed to get out without sounding too happy. He allowed himself a small satisfied grin but wiped it off when the mayor glared at him.

  “Don’t sound too happy about it, Jenkins. I’ve still got those back taxes over your head and if you make a wrong move, I promise it’s a debt I’ll make sure is called in. You’ll have to sell your printing press and your newspaper business. I own you. Don’t you forget it.”

  Anger boiled up in Philip’s chest. He scowled at Hanover.

  “What do you want from me now, Mayor?”

  “I want you to make sure you’re printing pieces that keep me in office. I’m not losing my office because some upstart thinks he can run Glenwood better than me. No one can take better care of this town than me.”

  Philip bit his tongue. He was still in danger from Hanover. He had to remember that and just take whatever Hanover doled out with a grain of salt.

  “I can’t only publish articles on one side of the aisle, Hano… Mayor Hanover. I have to be neutral and unbiased.”

  The mayor snorted. “Who says?”

  Philip held his breath for a moment so he wouldn’t shout his response. “My moral ethics? My standards? I will not be a machine for your re-election campaign. My newspaper prints facts, good or bad. If Paul thinks he can do a better job, he needs to be given the voice to say why. It’s called free speech. This country was founded on that principle.”

  The mayor stared daggers at him. “You need to remember who you’re talking to.”

  Philip leaned forward, gathering all his courage. He had to be careful about what he said.

  “I don’t know anything about Ranyard putting his hat in the ring. I will find out whatever I can. But when the time comes, I will need to present facts for both sides, not just one.”

  Hanover leaned toward him. “You still need to send me the articles you plan to print. I’ll let you know which ones can go through and which ones can’t.”

  Philip shook his head. “No, sir. If you reject all of the articles in support of your opponent, I will print them anyway.”

  Hanover lifted his head, his double chin trembling when he spoke. “We will see about that, Jenkins. We will see.” He hefted himself out of the chair. Philip was glad he didn’t have to ask the man to leave.

  He was just settling himself down after the mayor stomped out of his office when Matthew came through the door.

  “Mr. Jenkins, I have a note from Miss Ross. I think she wants you to have lunch with her. That would be alright now, wouldn’t it?” He grinned wickedly.

  Philip smiled back, excitement sliding through him. Seeing her pretty face was the best medicine he could think of right then. He chuckled, taking the note from Matthew. “I suppose it is, young man. Thank you.”

  “I like you and Miss Ross together, Mr. Jenkins,” Matthew said in a joyful tone. “I’m happy for you both.”

  Philip was touched. He put one hand on Matthew’s shoulder and squeezed gently. “Why thank you. I’m hoping things do progress from here. I’m really hoping to be more than just her friend.”

  Matthew nodded, beaming at him. “I know.”

  Philip had never opened up and said something like that before. He was surprised at himself. Matthew turned and Philip followed him to the door, unfolding the note as he went. It was an invitation to lunch, as soon as Matthew delivered the letter, if he could. He was to tell Matthew if he could not because the young man was scheduled to return to the schoolhouse for a few more hours after lunchtime.

  He took his jacket down from the rack by the door, plopped his hat on his head and strapped his gun belt around his waist. Checking to make sure his pistol was secure in the holster, he set out toward the schoolhouse, following Matthew on his horse.

  He only followed Matthew halfway because the young man stopped at the restaurant and dismounted to go inside. One glance inside the restaurant told Philip what Matthew was doing. One of the local girls about his age was sitting at one of the tables by the window, smiling at him as he went in.

  With great satisfaction in his heart, he traveled on to the schoolhouse. As he got closer, he could see Mary standing on the covered porch, her arms crossed in front of her chest. She was gazing out into the distance with an anxious look on her face. When she caught sight of him, she smiled from ear to ear.

  He could tell she was as pleased to see him as he was to see her. He wondered when the awkwardness would go away and they would be able to express their feelings for one another without that terrible fear of rejection that never seemed to go away.

  She looked so beautiful. She was wearing a floor-length dress, a light color behind a floral pattern. The back was held together with two ribbons criss-crossing her back. He saw it when she turned around to go back into the schoolhouse.

  She came out a few minutes later with a picnic basket.

  Philip smiled.

  This was going to be a lovely lunch hour for him.

  The two sat on the steps of the schoolhouse, basking in the warm sun that had quickly dried the Texas ground after the terrible rainstorm.

  He was glad he made her laugh several times. She made him laugh, too, describing the antics of some of the younger children.

  “I’m hoping Mrs. Edwards will begin to loosen up a little. It seems like she’s gotten nothing but more aggravated over the past few months. Do you think having a new mayor will take some of the pressure
off her and she will be nicer to everyone?”

  Philip shrugged. He wasn’t surprised that Mary already knew about the rumors. She was nearly certain they were true. They were in agreement that it would be a good thing for everyone if there was a new mayor running the town, making decisions for the residents of Glenwood.

  “Hanover has got to go,” Mary said in a firm voice. “I think Paul Ranyard would do a wonderful job. Plus, you know his wife will be running things, too.”

  Philip nodded. “She would definitely let me print articles about all types of subjects, even the ones she doesn’t particularly want to read about.”

  Mary also nodded, replying, “Yes, she would. They both would. They would be reasonable, don’t you think?”

  “I do.”

  “It’s a shame you don’t want to stand up to Hanover now, though. If you don’t print articles about Paul, how will anyone know he’s running or what he stands for?”

  Philip shook his head, his chest tightening, sensing an argument coming.

  “I can’t lose my business. If he calls in those back taxes, I’m done for. I won’t be able to print for anyone. I’ll be out of business completely. He’ll sell it to someone who’ll do whatever he wants anyway.”

  “So, you’re just going to give in to him? You’re not going to fight back at all?”

  Philip sighed. She just didn’t understand. How was he supposed to fight back when the mayor seemed to be holding all the cards?

  Chapter 31

  Philip surveyed the first copy of the newspaper he’d just printed. He flipped through the pages, somewhat disappointed in the articles he’d been allowed to print. On one hand, he would please the mayor and keep his paper and printing company. On the other hand, the citizens wouldn’t buy as many and Mary would be disappointed in him.

  He expected just what he got when Mary came in later that morning, holding one of them, a scowl on her pretty face. Even upset, Philip thought she was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen.

  “What is this?” she asked, lifting the paper up to her eye level, but looking directly at him. “When are you going to do the right thing and print the articles that need to be printed?”

  Philip’s feelings were hurt. How could she think he wasn’t trying? Did she think he was spineless, simply because he didn’t want to lose his business?

  He frowned at her. “Mary. You have to stop blaming me because the articles you want printed aren’t being printed. I put your article about the weather in there. That’s not enough to satisfy you?”

  Mary’s face fell and she looked solemn. “I appreciate that you put that in. It was more of a story of heroism.”

  Philip lifted his eyebrows. “Heroism?”

  Mary frowned deeper at him. “Did you not read the article? Did you not read how Paul and the others ran out to see what had happened and make sure it was safe to go outside?”

  Philip pressed his lips together. “I suppose it did shed some light on Paul, didn’t it? I should have added that he’s running for mayor. After Hanover looked at it. He probably wouldn’t even notice.”

  “Until someone pointed it out to him. And then you would probably bow to him and…”

  As she was speaking, Mary tossed the paper on the floor as if it was trash. Philip was immediately offended, frowning back at her. Is that what she thought of all his hard work? That it belonged on the floor to be trampled on? He was about to lean down and scoop it up when John came out of the supply room, carrying one of the larger wheels he was repairing.

  Philip watched in horror as John stepped on one of the papers that had fluttered away from the rest and came to land on the floor right in front of him. John’s foot slipped right out from under him and he went down on his side. Because of the weight of the wheel he was carrying, he was pushed backwards and hit his head on the ground as well.

  Mary shrieked and reached out to him as if she could catch the larger man and save him. She was immediately apologetic but all Philip could think was that she should have been more careful. She shouldn’t have thrown his paper down on the ground like trash anyway.

  “Look what you’ve done!” he barked. “You come in here throwing your opinions in my face, throwing my hard work on the ground and then cause my employee to hurt himself. He’s the mayor’s son! Do you know what this could do to me? His pa might just take his revenge on me financially. I’ll lose everything! Is that what you want?”

  While he was yelling at her Philip was helping John to his feet, taking the wheel from his hands and setting it aside on the floor. He held out one hand, which John took, and pulled his friend to his feet. John groaned and let out a little yelp, bending over at the waist, his face riddled with pain.

  “I think I better go see the Doc,” John said, wincing and pressing one hand against his lower back. “Think I might have hurt myself.”

  Philip scowled at Mary, deeply, not seeing the anguish on her face.

  “I’m so sorry, John. I… I wasn’t thinking.”

  “Damn right you weren’t thinking,” Philip said, sternly. “You were trying to throw your weight around. I really don’t think we need you here right now, Mary. Why don’t you go back to your school and call it a day? It’s Saturday. Maybe some of your children will be there for you to play with. You aren’t wanted here. Matthew, go fetch the doctor. Tell him to get here as soon as possible. John, you’re coming with me. I’ve got a comfortable couch you can stretch out on. I don’t want you walking around when you might have hurt your back.”

  Mary whimpered that she was sorry once more but Philip wasn’t listening. He turned his back on her as he helped his friend into his office. He hoped she was leaving. He didn’t want to see her. She’d cut him to the core throwing his newspaper on the floor, arguing with him, and accusing him of being spineless when all he wanted was not to lose his business. He would deal with Hanover as he saw fit. Eventually, the man wouldn’t be mayor anymore.

  Hopefully soon. Paul Ranyard would be a great mayor, if he could get his name out there and let the three thousand plus residents of Glenwood know of his existence. Some did, but mostly people in the south side of town. That’s where he lived and did most of his business. There were two banks in Glenwood and Paul was the head manager at one of them. He was a smart man, capable of making strong business decisions.

  Philip was willing to bet Paul would run the town just like one of his businesses. And if he was as successful with Glenwood as he was with his business and running the bank, the little town would thrive.

  He didn’t come back out of his office to see if she’d left after getting John in there. He could see how uncomfortable his friend was.

  “Can I get you something? I can get a chunk of ice from the icebox and wrap it up if you want to put it on your back. I’ve got a hot water bottle, too. I can heat up some water in the kitchen and you can borrow that. The doc will be here soon. Hopefully you’re not real hurt.”

  John shook his head. “I’m sure I’m fine, boss. She didn’t kill me. I’ve just got pain in my back.”

  “I don’t like to hear that, though,” Philip replied, shaking his head. “I hate to see you down and out.”

  John smirked, resting slowly back on the couch until he was stretched out. He cried out softly and Philip grabbed a cushion from one of the other chairs, shoving it up under John’s back so he was propped up some. John attempted to get comfortable while he said, “Ah, you just want me healthy so I can run around this place working your printing press. I’m not a writer so my presence here would be useless without me fixing your printer and putting the letters together, filling in the ink wells, turning the levers.”