by Kit Morgan
Leora had to stifle a chuckle. “Oh, I see it now. You think she did it out of jealousy?”
“She or her mother. Mrs. Stevens put it into her daughter’s head that I’d be a fine catch for her and had her convinced that we’d marry one day.”
“That won’t happen now. Poor girl.”
“Poor girl, my foot. What she did was abominable, if she is indeed the guilty party.”
“How can we find out? Are you going to question her?”
“Her parents will be furious – unless they were behind this as well. Whichever it is, they’ll reap what they sow. If it was just her, though …” He paused and sighed. “… well, she set out to ruin your reputation, Leora, but she’ll only end up damaging her own.”
“And you don’t want to see that happen?” Leora asked in surprise
“No, I honestly don’t. She’s young, Leora, foolish and inexperienced. If she did this, it was more juvenile stupidity than anything else – and I wouldn’t want to see anyone’s life ruined for something they did before they knew better.” He made a face, thinking some more. “Would you recognize the man that kissed you if you saw him again?”
“It happened quickly, but yes, I believe I would.”
“I’m suspecting it was one of Prudence’s cousins from Grass Valley – that would explain why no one recognized him. The Stevenses go to Grass Valley to visit their relatives, but the relatives rarely come here except during the holidays. They’ve occasionally come to the Christmas play.”
“Maybe we don’t need to have a meeting,” she said. “We should go to Grass Valley and talk with her cousins.”
“The meeting would just be to mend fences here in town. But if one of Prudence’s cousins confesses, then we’ll have our answer.”
“I spoke with the cast members that showed up. They’re going to help alleviate as much of the gossip as they can, so there’s no need for a meeting just yet. But, if these cousins of Prudence’s don’t confess…”
He shrugged. “Then we have a mystery to solve. Hmmm … I have a book of some of my mentor Brother Wingate’s sermons, and he has a rip-roaring one against gossip. Maybe I should haul it out some Sunday. But first things first – tomorrow we’ll take a little trip.”
“But what about play practice?”
“We should be back in plenty of time for rehearsal. And regardless of what we discover, I want to call that meeting. I want everyone to know that my wife is not the type of woman to have trysts with strange men.”
“But Theron, only half of the cast showed up today for rehearsal. What if no one shows up at the meeting?”
“They’ll show up. I would think that by now they’d know us better than that. If I’ve not accused you of any wrongdoing, then how can they?”
“People are people,” she said. “They’re always looking for someone to accuse. Half the people, anyway.”
“Yes, but I’m trusting there are more people in this town that aren’t the accusing type than those that are. Not a 50/50 split. Now I know you’re probably exhausted from the day – let’s go to Mrs. Pleet’s for dinner.”
* * *
The next day Theron and Leora left early for the neighboring town of Grass Valley, four miles to the south. It was a pleasant ride and Leora enjoyed the scenery. She hadn’t been out of Nevada City since the day she arrived. “How are we going to find Miss Stevens’ cousins?”
“That’s easy,” he said. “I’ve met them before, and I know which street they live on.”
“Do you have the exact address?”
“No, but there are only so many houses on a street. I don’t mind knocking on a few doors to find the right one, do you?”
“Not if it means clearing this up. I don’t like the thought of people whispering behind our backs.”
“No one’s whispering,” he assured.
“I saw a few doing so as we passed through town when we left.”
Theron put his arm around her. “Regardless, we’ll get this settled. Today.”
“But what if we can’t find the cousins? Or we do and they don’t confess?”
“All things in due time.” He steered the wagon onto Main Street.
Leora’s stomach felt like it was full of rocks, and the palms of her hands were sweating. But why was she suddenly so nervous? She knew she wasn’t guilty, and Theron hadn’t accused her of any wrongdoing. On the contrary, he’d had only a flicker of doubt, as who wouldn’t? Even though they’d been married only a short time, he trusted her, and that was a great comfort.
But what if they couldn’t find the culprit? What if they never did? Would her husband’s reputation suffer? As to her own reputation, well, almost no one in Nevada City knew her well enough to know she’d never cheat on her husband. What a mess.
Theron turned onto a side street, followed it for a block, turned again. “This is it,” he announced as he parked the wagon. “The cousins live in one of these houses.” He set the brake, hopped down and helped Leora do the same. “Why don’t you start on that side of the street and I’ll start on this one,” he suggested.
“Okay,” she said with a nod and started to cross the street. “Wait a minute,” she said as she reached the other side. “What’s their name?”
“Stevens, naturally,” he called back.
“Just checking!” It could have been different, after all. With a sigh she went to the first house and knocked on the door. No answer. She knocked again, then glanced over her shoulder at Theron.
He was speaking with a man on his front porch, who pointed across the street at a house three down from where she stood. “Thank heavens,” she muttered. No more knocking on doors, and no having to explain why they were looking for the Stevens family. It was bad enough that she knew why.
Leora waited for Theron to come back across the street. “They’re on this side then?
“Yes, the gray house down there. Let’s go.”
When they reached it they went up the walk and straight to the front door. Theron had just raised his hand to knock when they heard a noise come from the rear of the house. A young man suddenly appeared off to one side, took one look at them – and began running.
“Aha!” Theron yelped and took off after him.
Leora watched her husband catch up to his quarry and hit him with a flying tackle worthy of a rugby player. Both men went down and rolled a few times across a front yard, finally stopping under an oak tree. “Oh dear!” she said as she hurried over to them.
By the time she reached the tree Theron had straddled the young man, pinning him. “Well, well, I know you,” he said. “What’s your hurry, Charlie?”
Leora gasped. “That’s him! That’s the man who attacked me in front of the mercantile!”
“I figured as much,” Theron said. “The guilty tend to run.”
“I didn’t mean nothing by it!” Charlie squawked. “But I needed the money!”
“And whom, may I ask, paid you to kiss my wife in public?” Theron asked, even though he already knew.
“Pru!” Charlie grumbled. “That durn cousin of mine … should never listen to her. I had no idea she was yer wife, Pastor Drake!”
“Didn’t you? I would think it was obvious.”
“Honest, Pastor Drake,” Charlie said. “Pru had to point her out to me. She never said who she was, just that she deserved it!”
“You mean she was with you?” Leora asked in shock.
“Uh-huh. We was across the street. First she dared me to do it and I told her no. Then she said she’d pay me. I got some debts, so … aw, I’m sorry. I really am!”
Theron got off him, stood, then held out a hand to help him up. “So she did it on a whim, eh?”
“Yeah, that’s Pru for you. Does stuff like that all the time.”
“And how often does she pull you into these things?” Theron asked.
Charlie gave them a sheepish look. “Well … a few times. But nothing like this. Again, I’m awful sorry, Pastor Drake. I hope this hasn�
�t caused you no trouble.”
“It’s caused some,” Leora said, unable to help herself. Her earlier nerves had been replaced by anger – all she could think about now was getting her hands on Prudence Stevens. “Tell me, would you have done that if you knew I was Pastor Drake’s wife?”
“Aw, hel … er, heck no, ma’am. I wouldn’t think of doing suchlike to him. Besides, I want to see the Christmas play. We were planning on going this year – Pru invited us.”
Theron looked at Leora. “Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” he quoted.
“So what do we do now?” she asked.
“What else? Clean up the mess.”
* * *
They lingered in Grass Valley long enough for Theron to confirm the details of the stunt Charlie Stevens had pulled at his cousin Prudence’s behest. According to him, she’d been waiting for an opportunity to exact her revenge on the man who spurned her, even though there was nothing to spurn. She and Theron were never courting.
Leora almost felt pity for the girl, though not totally. Misguided by her mother into thinking she and Theron were sure to marry, she’d lost her heart to her would-be husband, only to have him brush it off as a silly crush. But that crush had done a lot of damage as far as Leora was concerned. Especially when only five people showed up for play rehearsal that afternoon. “This is terrible!”
“Now don’t panic,” Mrs. Pleet said, though she was wringing her hands together. “I’m sure folks are just running late.”
“Practice should have started ten minutes ago,” Leora reminded her.
“Oh. Well …”
“They’re not coming. They think I’ve done some horrible thing and they’re sending a message that they don’t like it.”
“They’re a bunch of fools, is what they are,” Mrs. Pleet said. “And the only one they’re going to hurt is themselves, not to mention the play.”
“Christmas Eve is two days away!” Leora lamented. “What am I going to do?”
“I’ll tell you what you’ll do!” Ophelia Rutherford came striding up the center aisle.
Leora sighed in relief. “Ophelia! Oh, thank goodness you’re here!”
Mrs. Pleet’s eyebrows rose at her words – and shot to the ceiling when she watched the two women hug. “Ophelia?”
“Martha,” she greeted, then turned back to Leora. “I hear you have a problem.”
“Hear it?” Leora said, then motioned to the few people in the pews. “You can see it.”
“I mean regarding what happened. The gossips in town have been spreading rumors like wildfire.”
“You ought to know,” Mrs. Pleet huffed. “You …”
“Mrs. Pleet, please!” Leora said. “Ophelia is here to help.”
“That may be so, but …”
“… but I’ve been in the middle of such gossip in the past, I know,” Ophelia finished for her. “But now I see how petty it was. Not to mention damaging. I regret every rumor I’ve latched onto and spread. Rumors are wicked, nasty things and people are far too eager to scatter them about.”
“Right you are,” Leora agreed. “Thank you for understanding.”
“Did you find out what happened?”
“Yes. Prudence Stevens is the one behind this – she paid her cousin Charlie to accost me in public because she felt spurned by Theron.”
“That ridiculous girl,” Ophelia said with a shake of her head. She glanced around the church. “Just look at what it’s done.”
“And the play is in two days,” Leora said. “The dress rehearsal is tomorrow! What are we going to do?”
“You leave it to me,” Ophelia said. “I’ll take care of this!”
“Oh, but Ophelia,” Leora said. “I don’t want you to … I mean … please don’t force people to come.”
“I’m not reverting to my old ways, if that’s what worries you. No, I’ll convince people to come. After all, they made a commitment to this play and to you. They ought to know better.”
“But they don’t know me,” Leora lamented.
“That’s because they haven’t taken the time to. So far they’ve only used you as a means to an end – my end, really. They’ve been so busy trying to use you to replace me that they never took the time to see what kind of a person you are.”
Mrs. Pleet glanced between them. “As much as I hate to admit it, she’s right.”
Leora blew a stray wisp of hair off her face. “Yes, I suppose she is.” She looked at the few people gathered. “I guess we’ll have to call off play practice and hope for the best come tomorrow.”
“Don’t you worry,” Ophelia Rutherford said. “Just leave everything to me.”
Fifteen
The day before Christmas Eve, Leora felt sick to her stomach. She was nervous as a cat and kept imagining the worst. She hadn’t heard anything from Ophelia since speaking to her the afternoon before and was becoming more worried by the minute.
“Will you stop that?” Theron said as he entered their bedroom. “She said she’d take care of it, so … she’ll take care of it.”
“But what if she doesn’t? What if she’s reverted to her old ways and lets everything fall apart?”
“I’ll be out there today repairing the damage as well, you know that. Now calm down. Have a cup of tea and read your book.”
Leora glanced at the huge tome on the desk, then gave him a tiny smile. “I couldn’t read at a time like this.”
“No? What if I let you in on a little secret?”
“A secret?”
He went to the desk, picked up the book and handed it to her. “Yes. What if I told you I was acquainted with C.I. Sayer?”
Leora stood. “What? You know him?”
Theron shrugged as he smiled. “After a fashion …”
“How? Have you met him?”
His smile broadened. “Trust me when I say, I’m very familiar with this author.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “You read penny dreadfuls too, don’t you? How else would you know him?”
Theron shrugged and she could tell he was trying to hide a smile. “I might have read a few in my younger days. But enough of that – my parents will be here today, remember?”
“Oh no,” she groaned. “I mean, not that it’s a bad thing. It’s just with everything else going on … well, what are they going to say about it?”
“The same thing I did. That it was a silly prank done by a foolish girl.”
“Are you going to speak with her parents about it?”
“I’m still deciding. I think we ought to speak with Prudence herself and leave her parents out of it. If word gets out she did it, no one in this town will want to marry her.”
Leora fought down a stab of anger and frowned.
“I know you’re angry with her. So am I, but I also don’t want to see her hurt by her rash behavior.”
“Maybe it’s the only way she’ll learn,” Leora said.
“Maybe, but I also believe in giving second chances.”
“I’m afraid you’re much more charitable than I am,” she confessed.
He smiled. “Said the woman who’s been busy redeeming Ophelia Rutherford.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “Come – let’s go to the office and see what work we can get done before my parents arrive.”
They left the house, went to the church and had just got started with the day when someone knocked on the door.
“Do you think it’s Ophelia?” Leora asked.
Theron didn’t answer her, but did answer the door. “Hello, Mother.”
“Hello, dear. Surprised?”
“I thought you weren’t arriving until this afternoon.”
“We took an earlier train,” Dr. Drake said, peeking over his wife’s head.
“Oh, I see,” Theron muttered. “Come in.”
“Something wrong?” his father asked as he followed his wife into the office.
“No … well …”
“Yes,” Leora stated.
�
��I knew it, I knew it!” Mrs. Drake exclaimed. “Didn’t I tell you, Bowen? I said something wasn’t right and here it is.”
Dr. Drake rolled his eyes. “You had no idea it was here.” He turned to Leora. “My wife, your mother-in-law, gets these … feelings. Unfortunately, they’re maddeningly non-specific.”
“Never mind about that,” Mrs. Drake said. “I know when something’s not right somewhere. And now we know where. So, what happened?”
Theron and Leora exchanged a quick glance. “We’re taking care of it,” Theron said. “No need for either of you to worry.”
“Come now, you know us better than that,” his mother told him. “What is it?”
Theron sighed. “She’s going to pester us until we tell her.”
Leora swallowed hard. “But we’re handling it.”
Mrs. Drake’s eyes darted between the two. “It’s bad, isn’t it?”
Leora swallowed again. “No,” she squeaked. “Not at all.”
Mrs. Drake’s eyes widened. “Good heavens, it’s worse than I thought!”
“Mother!”
“Don’t you ‘Mother’ me, Theron – just look at your wife’s eyes. She’s positively terrified!”
“Of what you’ll do,” Theron shot back.
“No,” Leora said. “It’s not that.”
Dr. Drake stepped forward and studied her. “Someone’s hurt you.”
Leora’s eyes widened. “They … tried.”
“Tried what?” Mrs. Drake probed. And that did it – the whole story gushed out of Leora as if Theron’s parents had opened a floodgate.
Afterward, Mrs. Drake stood in shock. “Mrs. Rutherford? You mean to tell me you’ve left it up to that woman to fix this?”
“She’s not what you think she is,” Leora said wearily. “She’s changed.”
“A lot has happened since you were here last, Mother,” Theron said. “Do us a favor and stay out of it.”
“I’ll do no such thing!” Mrs. Drake said.
“Elsie,” Dr. Drake warned as he took his wife by the arm. “Your son is a grown man. Respect his wishes and let he and his wife work it out themselves.”
Mrs. Drake opened her mouth, shut it, then straightened as her cheeks flushed red.