“Doesn’t,” Mary corrected gently. “It’s ‘he doesn’t know’. Not ‘he don’t know’.”
Matthew nodded. “Yes, Miss Ross. He doesn’t know anyone who did vote for Hanover. So we got to thinking maybe he’s a fraud and he ain’t… isn’t supposed to be mayor at all?”
“That’s a good question, Matthew.” Mary was once again impressed by the wisdom the young man displayed. “Come on, I want to go see Philip. Show him my support. Remember what I told you. If you know of any friends who think they can get to the bottom of it, you should talk to them. Someone needs to open up. He couldn’t have pulled something like that off alone.”
Chills returned to light up Mary’s skin. If Hanover had cheated in the election, he’d be banished from Glenwood. She wouldn’t be surprised if he ended up turning tail and running away from town, away from the angry townsfolk. He might have to sell everything he owned.
“We need to find out the truth, Miss Ross. Philip needs his business back. I can’t believe they’re really doing this to him. The other deputies wouldn’t even come. I heard them talking about it earlier.”
Mary frowned, shaking her head. “This is all so ridiculous. We have freedom of speech in this country. We can do and say whatever we want.”
Matthew shook his head, giving her a sad look. “Apparently not in Glenwood.”
That made Mary even angrier. She turned on her heel and stomped over to the porch steps, going up to the arguing men and sliding her body between them, facing the deputy, who was snidely telling Philip he should learn not to go against the mayor’s wishes.
“Listen here,” she snapped, almost tagging on “young man” because she was used to scolding the children in her schoolhouse. She caught herself just in time. “You can’t do this. This violates our freedom of speech. Philip hasn’t done anything wrong.”
The deputy sneered at her, shaking his head. “Nah, sorry, but the only way he can be arrested is if someone makes a complaint and someone did make a complaint. He’s gonna have to come and face trial or go to debtor’s prison.”
Chills covered Mary’s body and she squeaked in fear, picturing the handsome Philip wasting away in prison. If he went to prison, by-golly, she was going with him.
She’d go without food for a week and give him her money so he could pay the back taxes and get the printing press going again.
“Mary, Mary.” Philip put his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. He was gazing at her with admiring eyes. A warm feeling spread through her body, immediately relaxing her. “Stop. It’s okay. I’ve got a plan. Everything will work itself out. But right now, what I need from you is to go on to your schoolhouse and teach those kids a thing or two.” He grinned at her.
She tried to smile back but it was faltering. Worry spread through her like a wildfire, burning her insides and making her furious at the sheriff, the deputies, and the mayor. “They can’t do this to you, Philip. They’re taking apart your press! There’s no reason to do that except out of spite.”
“The press has to be taken apart,” the deputy’s hard voice came from behind her. “So that we know he’s not using it. He can’t get anything printed in the middle of the night if the press is taken down now can he?”
Mary tried her hardest to be patient and understanding. She really wanted to be. But it only took about three seconds before the desire to be ladylike left her. She spun around and slapped the deputy hard across his face, knocking his head to the side.
Philip immediately reacted, grabbing her arms and yelling out, “Whoa!” as if she was a wild horse. He wrapped both arms around her and pulled her away from the deputy, who was giving her the most evil glare she’d ever seen on a man’s face. When it looked like he might be ready to return the slap, Philip moved to stand in front of her, pushing her behind him.
“You don’t want to do that, Deputy,” he said, his voice cold and daring. Mary watched the deputy’s eyes flicker to Philip’s face, likely deciding whether he could take the big man down or not. He must have decided he couldn’t because he stepped back, one hand pressed firmly against his reddened cheek.
Mary felt a sense of satisfaction slide through her. That was the feeling she’d been looking for.
The deputy stepped away. “You’re going to pay your debts, Jenkins. Or you won’t get your printing press back. Pay up! Or get out of Glenwood.” He turned away from Philip and Mary and proceeded to walk inside, telling his underlings to get their hurry on so they could skedaddle.
Mary looked up at Philip. He was giving her the most loving smile she’d ever seen.
“Mary, you are so brave and strong,” he said. “I really admire that in a woman. You have a lot of tenacity. And I really appreciate what you did. But I need you to go to your schoolhouse, teach your children and let me figure this out, okay?”
“But, Philip…”
He shook his head. “If I need something from you, if you can help me in any way, I’ll let you know. I promise. Okay?”
She didn’t want to leave him.
“Are you sure?” she asked weakly.
He chuckled and kissed her forehead affectionately. She closed her eyes, enjoying his lips on her skin.
“I’m sure,” he said. “Now go on. Your kids are waiting for you.”
Chapter 39
It was with reluctant steps that Mary went on to the schoolhouse. She expected to see all the children playing outside until she rung the bell to come in, but she didn’t expect to see Sarah among them. She was seated on the steps, watching the little boys and girls in front of her chase each other all around. She was cheering the girls on and then the boys, alternately, praising them all for their efforts. She would make a fine mother someday. Her parents were fine examples.
When Mary was closer, she could see that whatever had brought Sarah to her was not a good thing. She had a look on her face that was much like the way Mary felt right at that moment. She was scared, uncertain and maybe a little angry. That’s how Sarah looked.
She hurried to her friend. “Sarah. What in heaven’s name are you doing here?”
As soon as she spoke, she was met with a chorus of “Miss Ross!” and “Good morning!” from the children in the schoolyard.
She smiled and nodded at the ones who greeted her and patted one boy on the head as she passed him by. His returning grin was adorable and made her heart melt.
She plopped down on the porch step next to Sarah, throwing one arm around her friend’s shoulders.
“Are we going in yet, Miss Ross?” one of the children asked loudly.
“It’s not time yet!” another child responded, or rather, yelled at the top of his lungs as he flew by, both arms out to the sides like wings.
Mary chuckled, watching the boy before turning her gaze back to the questioning child. “No, it’s not time yet. You go ahead and play, Betsy. Just keep your ear out for the bell. I’ll ring it in a little bit. I’m going to talk to my friend for a minute.”
“Okay, Miss Ross!”
Mary turned to Sarah, shaking her head. “Sweet children. Now tell me why you look like I feel and I’ll tell you why you look like I feel.”
Sarah raised her eyebrows. “How can you tell I’m upset?” She put both hands on her cheeks. “I don’t look flushed, do I? Oh dear, I’ll swell up and just look awful!”
Mary couldn’t help but chuckle. “You always look beautiful, Sarah, you know that. Now tell me what’s on your mind or I’ll have to get it out of you by tickling you until you can’t breathe.”
“Wouldn’t very well be able to tell you what’s bothering me then, would I?”
Mary laughed. “You got me there. Please, my dear, tell me what’s on your mind.”
Sarah sighed heavily, her demeanor no long playful at all. Her face sagged slightly in sorrow.
“Oh, Mary. I’m going to have to run away. I don’t want to marry that boy. I just don’t want to marry him!”
“Oh, Sarah.” Mary still had her arm around Sa
rah’s back. She circled the other arm around the front and hugged her friend close. “I’m sorry. I don’t want you to run away. I want you to stay right here and find the man of your dreams in Glenwood.”
Sarah circled her hands around Mary’s arm that was in front of her. “Like you have?” she asked in a soft voice. She smiled at Mary, who thought it was a nice change to the sad expression she’d had.
Mary nodded, feeling oddly shy. “Yeah,” she replied.
“I… I was supposed to go today, Mary,” Sarah’s voice cracked as she spoke. “I couldn’t. I just couldn’t go.”
She covered her face with both hands. For a moment, Mary thought she was crying, but a second later she was smoothing back her blond hair and pulling in a deep breath. She gazed out over the yard, her eyes moving along with the children.
“I don’t know what my parents are going to say. What they’re going to do to me for not getting on the train like I was supposed to.”
“You were supposed to leave? Today? For how long?”
Sarah nodded. “They had me set to go and stay with his family for a few weeks. To get to know him. We’ve been sending letters back and forth and had finally come to an understanding that neither of us wants this. But we can’t do anything to stop it except go against our parents. And… I don’t want to do that. I can’t do that forever. I obey my parents. But this just isn’t right.”
Mary nodded, saying in a reluctant voice, “I really am surprised they are doing this to you. They always seemed like such reasonable people. Taking me in the way they did, your mother teaching me what I needed to know when I was growing up… this just doesn’t make sense.”
Sarah stared out in front of her for a few minutes before shrugging. “I don’t know. I guess there’s always a chance they would be reasonable if both Luke and I were to approach them and let them know how we feel. But I think our best bet is with a united front.”
Mary tilted her head to the side. “If you wanted a united front, you could have done it with his parents first and got them on board. But you didn’t go.”
Sarah shook her head. “No, I didn’t think of this until now. I just… I don’t even want to go there. I don’t want to visit the Andersons and see their horses and ride their horses and eat their food. I just don’t want to.”
Mary was amused by how much her 18-year-old friend sounded like a sulking child. A sweet sulking child; one that made you feel sorry for her instead of getting angry.
“Well, now that you’ve thought about it, maybe you should go get on the next train and talk to him about it when you get there. I know you. You’re brave enough to say you need to speak to him alone. Then tell him what you think. It’s not like you have to go into another room. Just go away from the parents but stay within sight.”
Sarah looked contemplative. Mary could tell she was listening attentively.
“Tell him exactly what you’ve told me, that the two of you need to stand with a united front against your parents. If he has another woman he’s interested in, it might be time to bring it up. Tell them you and your future husband will invest in the Anderson companies or something. That way the families can still merge, just not this way.”
Sarah nodded. “I like that. I could probably do that. I can be very convincing. And when his parents see that I don’t care he has a woman already, they might back off easier.”
“I’d hate to think what your parents would think of him if they found out he already has a sweetheart.”
The corners of Sarah’s lips pulled down. “I think they would be very upset. We might want to leave that part out. Maybe I will say I have another lover.”
Mary laughed at the thought. It wasn’t that Sarah couldn’t have a man if she wanted one. But the thought of her having a “lover” was too funny not to laugh at. She was a respectable young woman who was worthy of the best marriage, husband and family possible. Even if she could be a bit haughty every now and then. What rich girl wasn’t?
She waited a moment to see what Sarah would say next. She seemed to be thinking hard about it.
“I… I think I will.” With sudden confidence, Sarah sprang to her feet, releasing herself from her friend’s hands. Mary stood up with her, giving her a curious look. “Yes.” Sarah’s voice was determined. “I will. I will tell his parents. I will tell him to fetch his sweetheart and the three of us will have a talk and then confront his parents.” She gave Mary a wondering look. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”
Mary grinned. “I’ve never had an opportunity where I had to confront my or someone else’s parents with a third party there. This is not something I’ve been through before. I really can’t tell you a hundred percent. But I can say, from my point of view, it sounds like a good idea to me.”
Sarah laughed; a sound that made Mary feel ten times better. “You could have just said yes. Typical schoolteacher. Jam as many words in there as you can.”
Mary laughed, delightedly. She pulled her friend close for a tight hug.
“Oh, I’m going to miss you, Sarah. You’ve done so much for me. You mean a lot to me, you know that?” She looked directly in her friend’s eyes. “We’ve been like sisters. I’m only a little older than you and we look so much alike. Your ma and pa gave me a place to live when I needed it the most. You all mean so much to me.”
Sarah tilted her head to the side, smiling warmly. “I’ll miss you, too. I love you, Mary Ross. I’ll never have another friend like you.”
Mary’s heart thumped and she hugged Sarah one more time. “I’m going to miss you, too, Sarah Marrow. You are my best friend. You always will be.”
Tears clogged Mary’s throat as she pulled away. Her eyes were moist, and she had to blink to see clearly.
“You will write to me?” she whispered, swallowing hard.
Sarah nodded. Mary watched tears fall from her friend’s eyes. “I’m only going to be gone for a few weeks,” Sarah said softly.
Mary shook her head. “Maybe this time, Sarah. But everything is changing. I don’t think we’re going to be this close ever again, unless you do find a husband here in Glenwood.”
“And you have Philip now,” Sarah supplied. Mary nodded. “Well, just remember I love you, Mary. Just remember that.”
Mary nodded. “I will. I love you, too, Sarah.”
Chapter 40
Philip couldn’t have been more pleased at the reaction to the issue of his paper. He and Mary had worked hard to make sure both the mayoral candidates got as much coverage as the other. He’d held out hope that Hanover would be satisfied with the dual coverage.
When the deputies met him outside his building Monday morning, he felt his heart sink into his stomach. He should have known. They were either paid off or forced to do what they were doing. Regardless of the reason, they were there to shut him down.
When they told him they would be dismantling his press, he almost lost his temper. It was hard to hold himself back. If Matthew hadn’t already gotten there, he might have taken to beating those deputies off. But then he’d have been arrested and his problems would have been twice as bad. That was the last thing he needed. Things were looking bad enough as it was.
He did the best he could to keep himself calm. He had to keep reminding himself that even if he couldn’t put the press back together himself, John knew how to do it. Philip wouldn’t be surprised if John could put the thing together even if they took it apart piece by piece.
It still hurt to know they were doing it, so he turned his back. When Mary showed up, he thought his heart would come out of his chest. She would likely feel responsible, at least partially, since she was the first one to insist he start changing his tactics and not catering to the mayor.
His Rainbow After the Rain Page 24