“Because I didn’t ask him where he was going.”
Furious, Duke planted the pole on the ground. “How do you suppose this rod got on my boat, Adam?”
The boy glared at him. “You’re the sheriff, you figure it out.”
Duke’s chest felt close to exploding. Tangling with Archer at the meeting had gotten his blood warm, but finding the fishing rod on his own boat then getting wise-mouthed from Adam pushed his temperature to boiling.
“All right, Adam, I will. I’ll do my job without your help. But you stay in the yard. No wandering in the gorge. No going anywhere but to school. I want Faith to know where you are every minute of the day.”
“Why? I didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I’m your guardian, and your actions reflect on me. Don’t challenge me on this, Adam, or I’ll put you in jail and keep an eye on you myself.”
Faith gasped, her eyes wide with disbelief and disappointment.
“How come nobody ever believes me?” Adam demanded.
“Because you’ve lied to both of us,” Duke said. “This is what happens when you break a person’s trust.”
“I didn’t take that stupid fishing rod!”
As Adam started to bolt, Duke clamped a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “I told you to stay in the yard.”
“You aren’t my father. I can go where I want.”
The boy’s words hit Duke like a bucket of ice water, hurting and startling then infuriating him.
“Maybe not, Adam, but I’m the sheriff in this town and I can confine you to the yard if I see fit. Since you don’t like that idea, I’ll see if a jail cell suits you better.”
He marched Adam across the yard.
“Duke!” Faith hurried after them. “You can’t take him to jail. He’s only a boy!”
“Age has nothing to do with it, Faith. Adam has been caught stealing and lying, and he’s being charged with another theft. I can’t turn a blind eye to the boy’s shenanigans and expect to keep my job. It’s time Adam faced the consequences of his actions. You lie, nobody trusts you. You steal, you go to jail. You mislead people, you risk losing everything.”
“You’re trying to punish me, Duke. I’m the one you’re angry with. I’m the one who lied. I’m the one who misled you. And you’ll never forgive me for burdening your lily white conscience, will you?”
She was crying now, tearing him apart with her tears and words. He turned away, unable to look at her, not wanting to believe she was right, or that he was allowing his anger make him cruel.
Adam tried and failed to jerk his elbow free. “Faith hasn’t hurt anybody!”
Duke kept his grip firm and propelled Adam down the street. “You’d better get all the facts before you pass judgment, Adam.”
“Maybe you should take your own advice. I didn’t steal anything but that brush. And Faith wouldn’t hurt anybody for any reason.”
Duke blocked out Adam’s angry denial, and Faith’s tears, and marched the boy straight to his empty jail cell. He left his deputy to watch the boy then took a walk to cool off.
He strode up West Hill and turned left on Chestnut Street, trying to burn off his anger. All he’d wanted was a truthful and loving wife. Supporting Faith and her large family was a job he’d accepted without complaint or resentment. Being a father to Cora and Adam was as rewarding as it was challenging. And he could understand why Faith hid the truth from him.
But he’d earned her trust. He’d bought her the house she loved. Like an open book, he shared his life and his memories with her, but never pressed her to talk about her own life because he sensed it brought her pain. He gave her his heart and his passion.
She gave him lies.
Yes, he was angry. With himself. In his efforts to protect Faith and her aunts, he was becoming a man he couldn’t respect.
His brothers had accused him of being rigid to a fault, but laws were black and white, and meant to be rigidly adhered to, and enforced with diligence. He should have pursued the parasol theft until he found the thief. He should have charged Dahlia with killing Levens and let a jury decide her guilt. And he should have listened to Radford when his brother warned him to slow down. Because if he’d suspected Faith’s past, he’d have done things differently. He’d have done them right. He’d have shut down the bathhouse, married off those outrageous aunts of hers, and sold the brothel.
Then he would have married Faith—because he loved her.
And that’s why her lack of trust wounded him so deeply. From the minute he met her, he’d wanted her. He’d opened his heart and his life and left himself open to her betrayal. To realize she knowingly misled him was like expecting a kiss only to get slammed in the gut with a hand maul.
It was his own fault for being too sure of himself. He’d known Faith was hiding something behind her smile, but he ignored the feeling because he knew she was the one, the woman he would love for the rest of his life.
His anger burned away and his pace slowed, but he continued to walk. He headed out of town on Water Street then cut over to Liberty Street where the whining sound of the saw at the mill echoed along the gorge and beckoned him closer.
There was commotion in the yard when he got there. His brothers were talking with Patrick and Cyrus, but they looked angry, especially Radford, who swore and slammed his hand axe into a pile of maple logs.
“What’s going on?” Duke asked, closing in on their gathering.
They all looked at him, but Radford got right in his face. “I was just going to come find you,” he said, all tensed up like he was ready to throttle somebody.
“Why?” Everyone was looking at him, but he spoke to Radford. “What’s going on here?”
“You have a brothel operating under your nose, that’s what’s wrong! My daughter walked into that greenhouse you own and saw Patrick and Iris cuddled up and kissing.”
“What?” Duke’s gaze shot to Patrick. “Is that true?”
Patrick gave a shamefaced nod.
Duke’s gut twisted and he and wanted to kick himself for being so blind.
“The greenhouse was closed for the day. We thought we’d be alone,” Patrick said. “We didn’t know Adam and Rebecca would be tromping upstairs.” Pat’s shoulders sagged. “I feel awful, Radford. I thought you should know so you could talk to her.”
“She should have never witnessed that, Patrick.” Radford’s nostrils flared and he turned on Duke. “Whatever is going on at that greenhouse had better stop right now, Duke. If anyone hears about this, it could shred our reputation. You may not mind, but I do.”
“So do I,” Boyd said. “We’ve each got a wife and children to think about.”
“And Mother,” Kyle added. “If she gets dragged into this, Duke, I’ll tear that greenhouse apart board by board and get rid of the problem.”
They had every right to be angry, but Duke was unable to believe what he was hearing. Archer wasn’t just trying to undermine Duke’s bid for election; the man had genuine cause for concern.
“Were you there too, Cyrus?” he asked, figuring he may as well hear the whole disgusting truth.
“Not that day.”
“Not that day. What does that mean?” he asked. “Archer’s wife said she saw you and Tansy kissing at the top of the stairs in the greenhouse.”
“Tansy was accepting my marriage proposal.”
The announcement surprised Duke and left him momentarily speechless. He’d figured Cyrus would remain a bachelor for life. And knowing Tansy’s past profession, Duke assumed none of those bawdy women would ever marry. Did Cyrus know about Tansy’s past? Or was he an unsuspecting fool like Duke had been?
“We’re going to marry tomorrow afternoon.”
So soon? Was there a reason for haste? It wasn’t Duke’s place to share the information with Cyrus. All he could do was try to keep everything from collapsing and burying his family in a mess they had nothing to do with. His mind spun, groping for a way to undo the damage that Faith’s aunts and Cyrus and Patrick had cause
d with their lack of propriety. Then it struck him and he eyed Cyrus. “I want you to marry Tansy in the Common,” he said, an idea forming in his mind.
Cyrus scowled. “The two of us were going to have a private ceremony at Judge Barker’s house. Something quick and simple.”
“You could have if you hadn’t been so careless in kissing Tansy in the greenhouse. You two are the cause of this rumor, Cyrus. If you and Tansy marry in the park, people will think you were just an eager fiancé who was stealing a kiss from your intended. That should silence any rumors the Archers may have started, and it will keep suspicion from being cast on my family.”
“All right.” Cyrus gave him a nod. “I accept the responsibility for that, and I’m sorry for it. I’ll let Tansy know.”
Duke faced his brothers and had never felt so cut off from them in his life. In all their spats, there was never a time when they all stood against him as they were doing now. Duke was the peacekeeper in the family. He was the one who calmed them down and made them see reason. But not today. Because they all had everything to lose. And it was Duke’s poor judgment that had put them in this position. “I’ll shut down the bathhouse and stop the massages,” he said. “But it’ll break Faith’s heart if I make her close the greenhouse.”
“The greenhouse isn’t my only concern here.” Radford’s scowl darkened, his temper escalating. “It’s that boy Rebecca’s been sneaking around with. She wouldn’t have been there if not for Adam. You keep him away from her, or I’m going to have a talk with him.”
Under the circumstances, Duke didn’t blame his brother for being angry and protective, but it galled him that Radford was dumping the blame on Adam’s shoulders. Rebecca had a mind of her own and was with Adam because she wanted to be.
This wasn’t the time or the place to argue about it, though.
He gave Radford a nod then turned and jabbed his finger against Patrick’s chest. “I suspect the only reason Radford hasn’t throttled you for being such an idiot is because you’re a good friend. But if you and Iris want to meet again, do it on your own property or I’ll beat you myself.”
He walked away before he slugged Patrick for being so careless and stupid, and before he started an argument with Radford over the children.
No one ever told him that being a husband and father would be a continuous exercise in control. Only an hour ago he’d wanted to shake Adam until the boy confessed the truth about the fishing rod. But now he knew Adam was with Rebecca last Sunday afternoon when the rod was supposedly taken, and he didn’t know what to think about the theft. Adam couldn’t have been in two places at the same time.
But if Adam didn’t take the rod, how did it get on Duke’s boat? The dinghy was too well hidden for someone to stumble upon it. So Adam, or someone who knew where Duke kept his boat, put the rod there. Rebecca knew where he kept it, but she wouldn’t steal a piece of bread if she was starving.
His mind spun, gathering facts and sorting details as he walked to the greenhouse. Somehow he would figure out this mess, but his first order of business was to put a stop to the rumors threatening his family.
Chapter Thirty-one
The slam of the greenhouse door startled Faith, and she nearly dropped a jar of balm she’d been scenting with herbs. She looked up to see Duke standing inside the door, his face a mask of fury.
“Do you know what people are saying about you, Faith?” The indignant look on his face assured her it wasn’t good.
Her stomach plummeted and she clutched her fist to her belly, crushing the dried herbs in her hand. “What’s wrong?”
“Are your aunts here?” he asked.
“Everyone except Dahlia. She took Cora to the store with her.”
“Do you have any customers?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Good.” He lifted his chin and his voice cracked through the greenhouse. “Iris Wilde, get out here! Aster and Tansy! Wherever you are, get out here.”
Faith gasped, fearing what was coming.
Tansy flitted out from behind a large cluster of Saint-John’s-wort, her eyes wide. Aster stepped in from the bathhouse, wiping her hands on her apron and scowling like a mother.
“What are you yelling about?” she asked, pushing her way through the plants.
“Where’s Iris?” he asked.
“Right here,” Iris said, descending the stairs with pinched lips and an arched eyebrow. “What are you riled about?”
“I’ll give you a list.” Duke lifted his fist and raised his thumb. “First, Wayne Archer says Doc Milton is bragging about the private treatments Aster is giving him on the second floor.”
“He is?” Aster’s lips tilted in a pleased smile.
Duke’s scowl darkened.
“Second...” He glared at Tansy. “Archer says his wife saw you and Cyrus out here kissing like two overheated lovers.”
“We are lovers,” she said meekly.
“I don’t care!” Duke swatted the bush of lemongrass in front of him. “Do you women realize that you’ve jeopardized my family’s reputation?” He strode five paces then slammed his fist on the counter. Faith dropped the jar she held, and it shattered on the floor.
“My mother and my sisters-in-law put their reputations on the line when they promoted this business to their friends. My brothers spent two weeks pounding nails in that building next door so you women could have a decent place to live. And what do they get for their kindness?” he asked, his voice cracking with righteous anger. “They get put in the middle of a nasty rumor that could shred their reputations. My brother’s daughter saw you and Patrick kissing up there,” he said, directing his anger at Iris. “Now I get the pleasure of being responsible for all of this.”
Iris braced her hand on the railing. “You’re overwrought, Sheriff—”
“You bet I am!” He jabbed his finger toward her. “You’re the worst offender, Iris! My niece, an innocent little girl should not be witness to adult passion!”
“We just kissed, sheriff.”
“I don’t care, Iris!” He slammed his fist on the counter again. “I’m fighting the urge to send you packing.”
The smell of the resinous balm that was splattered on the floor and across Faith’s feet rose to her nose. Nauseated, she looked at her aunts, and not one of them would meet her eyes. They were guilty of every sin Duke accused them of. It was over with him, and over for them, and there was nothing she could do to stop it.
“I’ll leave.” Iris descended the last few steps and crossed to the counter. “You’re right to be angry with me for what happened with your niece. My carelessness and inconsideration are unforgivable. I should never have come here.”
“You can’t leave.” Faith reached across the counter and grasped her aunt’s hand. “You’re my family. Adam and Cora love you. You can’t leave us.”
“She’s not going anywhere.” Anger etched deep grooves in Duke’s face. “But all this bathing and massaging and philandering upstairs stops, and it stops right now. Not one more person outside this family uses that bathtub. Not one man climbs those stairs or enters the bathhouse.” He looked at Aster. “That includes the doctor.”
Aster nodded. “I presume that will change when the doctor becomes my husband?”
Faith was as surprised by Aster’s announcement as Duke seemed to be, but his eyes narrowed as if Aster said something extremely important. “Are you marrying the doctor?”
The woman nodded. “Paul asked. I said yes.” She whacked dirt off her apron as if they were discussing plants and not her future, but Faith saw a happy spark in her aunt’s eyes.
“Would you marry him tomorrow?”
They all gaped at his odd request.
Duke looked at Tansy. “I asked Cyrus to marry you in the Common tomorrow. A public wedding should silence the rumors about why you two were kissing in the greenhouse.” He pinned Aster with his stony stare. “I’d like you and Doc Milton to do the same.”
“Makes no difference to me whe
n or where I marry the man,” Aster said. “I didn’t realize his visits were causing trouble or I’d have stopped them myself. I’m sorry. I’ll go talk to Paul now.”
“I’m sorry, too,” Tansy said, plucking at her apron. “I was so overcome when Cyrus said he hadn’t been in the war and asked me to marry him, I kissed him like a darn fool.” She lowered her lashes. “I didn’t mean to start any nasty rumors.”
“I don’t fault your intentions, but I am holding each of you responsible for your actions.” He turned to Iris. “As long as you and Patrick conduct your romance in private and away from this business, you can stay”
And with that, he blew out the door like strong wind, leaving everything in his path trembling.
And that was that. Faith’s fist was still pressed against her stomach, where nausea returned full force. Her husband had just walked out, without a word, without a tender glance, without a single assurance that he would ever forgive her. She’d ruined everything for him and for their marriage. She’d married a tender, considerate, passionate man, and she’d single-handedly killed those parts of him, the best parts of him.
Duke unlocked the door to his holding cell, regretting his harshness with Adam and with Faith and her aunts. Faith would never forgive him if Iris left. Adam probably wouldn’t forgive him either.
“Come on out,” he said, swinging the door wide.
Adam stalked out, chin high, eyes blazing with anger.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were with Rebecca last Sunday afternoon?”
“It wasn’t your business.”
“There’s more at stake than solving the mystery of the stolen fishing rod, Adam. Rebecca is a beautiful young lady, and I can see why you would like her,” Duke said, “but there are consequences for giving your heart away when you’re too young. Ask my brother Kyle. What if Rebecca changes her mind about you someday?”
“We haven’t made any promises,” Adam said.
“Good.” Duke closed the door and leaned against it. “I’m not condemning you for caring about Rebecca, but you’re causing trouble between her and her father. Radford has forbidden her to see you, Adam. You either respect his wishes and stay clear of Rebecca, or I’ll put a stop to it myself.”
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