by Molly Jebber
A few minutes later, neighing horses caught her attention. She peered out the window. Her mouth flew open. The bowl slid from her hands, clanged on the floor, and shattered.
Ruth rushed to her side. “Becca, what is it?”
“Gertrude.”
Ruth moved past her and peered out. “Oh no, what are we going to do?”
“I have no idea.”
Becca opened the door. The dreaded day had come. Benjamin’s mamm had come for him. The woman had not written or visited her son in months. Why would she come now?
Gertrude stomped in and bumped into Becca. She searched the room. “Where’s my boy?”
Becca grabbed the door handle and steadied herself. “Why, after all this time, are you here?”
The red-haired robust woman put her hand on her hip and straightened her tall feathered hat on her head. “I came to fetch Benjamin to work on the farm me and my husband bought in Kentucky. My man’s waitin’ in the buggy. We’re goin’ to make money growin’ tobacco.”
Becca glanced at Ruth. Her sister’s lips were drawn in a thin line. She hoped Ruth wouldn’t say anything to Gertrude. She needed everyone to stay calm until Matt arrived. He should walk in the door any minute. Her mind raced on ways to stall them. He would know what to say to Gertrude to stop her from taking Benjamin. “Bring your husband in. It’s too hot for him to wait in the buggy.” He would get impatient and bored sitting outside, and she needed him comfortable.
Gertrude waddled to the buggy with her hips swinging from side to side. She waved to her husband. “Scutter, get yourself on in here. I want ya to meet my boy.”
The man was short, fat, and bald, and his suit fit snugly. His short legs hurried to keep up with Gertrude. She guessed him to be the same age as Gertrude. He entered the house and tipped his hat. “I’m Scutter Grossman. You can call me Scutter.” He pointed to Gertrude. “And this here’s my pretty new wife.”
Becca ushered them inside and motioned for them to sit at the kitchen table. Sheltered from bold and crude people like this couple, she wasn’t sure how to deal with them. She wanted to shout and tell them to leave, but she didn’t for fear they would take Benjamin with them right then. She didn’t want to make things worse. She needed time for Matt to return and help her reason with Gertrude and Scutter. “Ruth, this is Benjamin’s mamm, Mrs. Gertrude Grossman, and her husband, Mr. Scutter Grossman.”
Gertrude put a hand on her hip. “I told you to call me Gertrude. Callin’ me by my last name makes me sound old.” She pointed to Mr. Grossman. “Call him Scutter. When you call him Mr. Grossman, it sounds like I married me an old man. Besides, he likes bein’ called Scutter better anyway. Don’t ya?”
He bowed and tipped his hat. “Yes, Gertrude. You may have these fine ladies call me whatever you would like.”
Ruth clenched her fists and harrumphed.
Becca grabbed her arm. She leaned to her ear. “We need to stall them until Matt arrives. He’ll know what to do.” She filled glasses with lemonade and served the couple.
Benjamin walked into the room. His eyes widened, and he ran to Becca.
She gasped and scooped him in her arms.
Gertrude patted his back. “Benjamin, come and hug your ma.”
He paled. “No. Go away. I want Becca.”
Holding him tight, Becca pulled him onto her lap. She suspected Gertrude had not bothered to hug her son most of his life, if ever. Why would she suggest such an act now? It was ridiculous. He buried his face in her shoulder. “Back away from him. He’s scared.”
Gertrude lunged forward. “Don’t tell me what to do.” She tugged at the child’s sleeve. “Benjamin, I want you to meet your new pa.”
Slamming a plate of fried apples on the table, Ruth raised her voice. “Leave the child alone.”
Gertrude waggled her finger. “You have no legal right to my boy, and he’s comin’ with me. Benjamin, fetch your things and we’ll be on our way.”
Benjamin tightened his grip on Becca’s neck. She willed herself not to yelp. She clung to him. The woman was right. They had no legal right to him, but it didn’t matter. She had to do something. “Gertrude, wait.”
Matt entered the room. “What is going on here?”
A wave of relief flooded her chest. “Gertrude has come to take Benjamin.”
He directed his attention to Scutter. “Who are you?”
“I’m Gertrude’s husband, Scutter Grossman. Call me Scutter. We came to fetch her son, ’cause we need him to work on the farm we bought in Kentucky.”
Becca gritted her teeth. How could a mamm be so indifferent to her child? She had made it clear she wanted to use her son for free labor and nothing more. She could not imagine what kind of life he would have with these two.
Matt waved the child over to him. “Benjamin, come to me.”
The child ran into his arms.
Gertrude pulled at Benjamin’s sleeve. “Gimme my boy. This ain’t none of your concern, Dr. Carrington.”
Matt stepped back. “Mrs. Grossman, how much money is it going to take for you to leave Benjamin and never return?”
Gertrude scowled at Matt. “Are you offerin’ to buy my son from me, Doc?”
Scutter put his hand on Gertrude’s back. “Maybe you oughta consider Dr. Carrington’s offer. Frankly, I would rather have the money.”
Becca sucked in her top lip and held her breath.
Gertrude stared at the ceiling for a moment with a look of cold greed on her hard face. “I would say a hundred dollars oughta do it.”
Becca searched Matt’s face. A hundred dollars was a lot of money. Gertrude was obviously taking advantage of the situation. It was no secret how much Benjamin meant to them. Becca was sure Gertrude could tell this by their actions. The greedy woman knew she had them at a disadvantage. What would Matt do?
He passed Benjamin to Ruth. “Please take him to his room. I need to talk to Mrs. Grossman.”
Becca listened as Matt directed his attention to Gertrude.
“The judge has an office beside the bank. We are going there first, and you are going to sign documents giving Becca and Ruth legal custody of Benjamin. If all goes well there, we will go to the bank where I will hand you a bank note with the understanding you are not to step foot in this town ever again.”
Gertrude held out her hand to Matt. “You got a deal, Doc. Time’s a wastin’. Let’s go.”
Matt ignored her hand. “Becca, would you like to join me?”
She passed Gertrude and grasped his hand. Benjamin’s mamm was a coldhearted woman. She sold her son. What a heartless act. At least the woman had accepted Matt’s offer. Because of him, Benjamin would be safe and legally theirs. He had come to her rescue again, but it wasn’t over yet. Anything could happen. Gertrude was unpredictable.
Matt held Becca’s hand. His heart pounding and anger hard to control, he stared at Gertrude and Scutter. Their greed and cold attitude toward Benjamin was disgusting. The boy was no more important to his mother than a poker chip in a winning hand. He could not wait to be rid of them.
Gertrude faced them outside. “You can ride with us.”
“Becca and I will walk and meet you there.” Matt waited until they were out of earshot. “You have had such a horrible day, and now this. Don’t worry. Once she signs the paperwork, she will have no reason to remain in Massillon.”
Becca squeezed Matt’s arm. “Before you came, I didn’t know what to do. I wanted to jump out of my chair and shout hooray when you came through the door. It’s hard to believe they’re accepting your money for Benjamin. One hundred dollars is too much to ask you to pay. Is there some other way?”
Matt gently squeezed her hand. Her concern for him was touching. “I am happy to pay them the money, if it means Benjamin will not have to worry about living with his mother ever again.”
Matt gently pulled Becca along with him. He brushed past Gertrude and Scutter at the law office. He opened the door and greeted the distinguished judge. “Hello, Judge
Mitchell, do you have a few minutes to spare? I am sorry to barge in on you like this, but I have an urgent matter I would like handled.”
“Yes, of course. Come in. How may I help you today?” He frowned at the Grossmans.
Matt and Becca stood, while the odd pair sat. “Judge, I would like you to meet Miss Yost, she is Ruth Smith’s sister.”
“Yes, I know Ruth Smith. She is a kind woman and an excellent seamstress. She does all my mending.”
“It’s nice to meet you, and thank you for seeing us on such short notice.”
Judge Mitchell squinted at the Grossmans. “And who might you be?”
Gertrude squirmed in her chair and shook her ample chest at him. “My name’s Gertrude Grossman and this here’s my husband, Scutter.” She pointed to Becca. “I’m givin’ her and her sister custody of my boy.”
Matt studied Gertrude. The woman had no shame. She had announced her intention to give up her son as if she were talking about the weather. Her indifference toward Benjamin sickened him. Matt would not relax until Gertrude signed the documents. There was no telling how difficult she might make this transaction.
Judge Mitchell removed paperwork from his desk drawer and explained the legal details to Gertrude. She listened and then signed on the dotted line.
Becca accepted a pen and dipped it in the ink then signed.
The judge signed the papers. He handed Gertrude one to keep. “You no longer have legal custody of your son, and you have waived your rights to visit him. Do you understand?”
Gertrude waved her paper in the air. “Yeah, I got it, Judge. We gotta be off, ’cause we got some business at the bank. Ain’t I right, Dr. Carrington?” She didn’t wait for an answer and pushed past him.
The judge passed a duplicate to Becca. “You have full custody of the boy. I don’t see the need for your sister to sign unless you would have a disagreement about Benjamin’s care.”
“Ruth and I are close. I don’t foresee any problems.”
“Congratulations on your legal adoption of Benjamin.”
Matt was relieved Gertrude had signed the documents and had not made any more demands. He shook hands with Judge Mitchell. “I appreciate you letting us meet with you on the spur of the moment.”
Becca clutched her skirt. “Yes, Judge Mitchell, thank you for helping us today. You’ve made us and Benjamin very happy.”
“After meeting those two, I am happy to do it. No little boy should be subjected to a mother like Mrs. Grossman.”
“I feel the same way.” Matt and Becca waved good-bye and found the couple pacing in the bank.
His hand on Becca’s back, Matt approached the bank manager. “Hello, Mr. Campbell. I would like to withdraw one hundred dollars from my trust account.”
“Yes, Dr. Carrington. I will be happy to oblige. How would you like the money?”
Matt raked a hand through his hair. He had never used his trust account. His father set it up when he went into practice and had continued to make periodic deposits since then. He had protested, but his parents had insisted. They would receive an account of his transaction through the mail in about three weeks. He had never cared about them receiving this statement, until today. No matter. Once he explained the situation to them, he was sure they would understand and be glad he used the money to help a child. Or would they? He did not have time to ponder this at the moment. He would worry about their reaction to how he spent this money later. “In the form of a bank note, please.”
The man left and returned with the bank note. He handed it to Matt. “Is there anything else I can help you with today?”
Matt accepted the paper. “This should do it. Thanks, Mr. Campbell.”
Gertrude yanked at Matt’s sleeve. “I believe this here’s mine.”
He jerked his arm free and tightened his grip on the note. “Outside.”
The woman frowned and stomped out with her husband on her heels.
Matt and Becca followed and faced them in the hot sunshine. He handed Gertrude the note. “I don’t ever want to find out you are in this town again. Understood?”
She grabbed the paper and waved it in the air. “Pleasure doin’ business with ya.”
Matt turned his back on the couple and put his arm around Becca. “I am glad we are rid of them. We must tell Benjamin and Ruth the Grossmans are no longer a threat to him. They must be wondering what is going on.” His heart warmed. She had trusted him to solve this problem with Gertrude. Every trial they faced had brought her closer to him.
They hurried to Ruth’s. Benjamin was curled up on Ruth’s lap clutching a corner of the small quilt Margaret had made him.
Matt knelt and put his hand on the little boy’s arm. “Your mother and her husband have left town. She signed a paper giving you to Becca and Ruth. Your mother will not be bothering you anymore.”
Benjamin’s mouth stretched into a wide grin. “Did you hear what Matt said? She’s gone. I don’t have to worry about her coming to get me anymore. Matt said so.”
Ruth wiped her tears with her fingertips. “We have reason to celebrate. Let’s have potato soup and strawberry pie.”
Matt tossed Benjamin in the air and carried him to the kitchen. He was happy to help them. He loved them, as if they were his family. Unspoiled and kind, they had taught him how unimportant material things were in life. He hoped Benjamin wouldn’t grow bitter or angry from this experience. He would spoil Becca, Ruth, and Benjamin with dinners out, fishing, and anything else they wanted to do to help aid in the child’s recovery.
Six weeks later, Matt sat in his favorite chair at home reviewing kidney research. A rap on his door caught his attention. He peeked out the window and groaned. His parents stood on the porch. Their faces looked stern. They must have been traveling and returned to find his trust fund statement in the mail.
They marched in the moment he opened the door. His mother sat, and his father remained standing. “What is the meaning of the large sum of money you withdrew from the bank?”
Matt motioned for his father to sit. “Would either of you like something to drink?”
Horace shook his head. “No.”
“Answer your father.”
Matt told them how Becca and Ruth came to know Benjamin and why he paid the boy’s mother to give them legal rights to him.
His mother got up, reached for a glass, and poured water from a matching pitcher on Matt’s table. “I cannot believe you let yourself get involved in this mess. Benjamin is not your son. You should have stayed out of this situation.”
“Your mother is right. You should not have interfered.”
Matt pinched the bridge of his nose. Their disapproval of Becca was bad enough, but to not want to help this little boy, after what he told them, was mean and selfish. “When did the two of you become indifferent toward those less fortunate? You donate money to help those in need in your community. Why are you opposed to helping this one sweet child? Is it because you are not handing a bank note to someone at one of our fancy parties in front of your friends? I am ashamed of you.”
His mother slammed her glass on the table. Matt expected it to break. “You mind your tongue. You are letting Becca ruin you and turn you against us. The issue is not whether we wanted to help this child or not, it is your involvement with this Amish simpleton and the urge to solve all her problems. You made a fool of yourself bringing her to our party. She was at a loss about how to dress or act or what to say to our friends. Worse, she has gotten mixed up with a saloon trollop. Stay away from her and mind your own business. She is trouble.”
Matt rose. “You could both learn a lesson from her on how to treat people. Benjamin is a defenseless little boy who is fortunate to have Ruth Smith and Becca Yost to take care of him. I don’t regret my decision to pay Mrs. Grossman to sell her child and go away, and nothing you say will change the way I feel about Becca.”
His father placed his hand on Matt’s shoulder. “You have a big heart. Life is not fair and Benjamin had a bad moth
er. I understand why you helped the child, but you need to reconsider choosing this Amish woman as a potential wife. We don’t want you to make a mistake you will regret someday. When you have children, you will understand our actions in trying to protect you.”
“Your father is right. Parents are needed to guide their children at all ages. Your father and I shall stop your trust fund until you come to your senses and cease to involve yourself in this woman’s life.”
He searched his father’s eyes.
“I agree with your mother.”
Matt raised his voice and fisted his hands. His parents had crossed the line this time. “I resent your interference in my life, and you can do what you want with the trust fund. I never wanted it in the first place. I am going to continue courting Becca Yost, whether you like it or not.” He was through listening to their insults and moved toward the front door.
Horace Carrington reached inside his coat pocket and pulled out his pipe. He filled it with tobacco and lighted it. “We will not make any changes to the trust fund, but you are to use it as it was intended.”
His mother straightened. “As for Becca Yost, what trouble will she get into next? Do yourself a favor. Let me find someone else for you to court.”
Matt clenched his teeth. “I am done with this conversation.” He opened the door and stepped aside.
His father puffed on his pipe and sat. “Sit. Nothing is worth sacrificing our relationship. I am sure you agree.”
His mother opened her mouth to speak, but his father put up his hand.
“I expect the two of you to welcome Becca into your lives. This is nonnegotiable if you want a relationship with me.”
His mother faced him. “You cannot force us to like her because you do. I do not understand your attraction to her, but as your father stated, we will not go on about this. You have made your decision. We will see what the future holds.”
Matt rubbed his chin. Had his mother finally listened to him? Was this a positive or negative statement coming from her?
Chapter Eleven
Becca dried the last dish and reflected on her time with Benjamin and Ruth at the pond earlier. The child had chased squirrels, ducks, and butterflies until he tuckered out. Since Margaret’s death and his mamm’s stressful visit, he had bounced back to his happy self these last few weeks. Earlier, she had thanked God for answering her request for a quick recovery for the little boy.