The Charity

by Connie Johnson Hambley

  “Damnation! I know that this girl is Jim Wyeth’s daughter. The way she coaxed that snotty beast of Bleauvelt’s over that ravine and the way she knew that hack could jump back over the ravine just smacks of Wyeth and Gus Adams. And I’ll prove it to you!” The last words were yelled in desperation and as a challenge.

  Three soft knocks were heard on the mahogany doors. Reflexively, the men forced smiles on to their faces and began to laugh at some unspoken joke. The door opened, and an attractive woman in her mid-fifties entered the room carrying a tray. Her face had the fine lines of her Irish heritage etched carefully upon it. Her auburn hair was softly streaked with white, and her nicely rounded figure showed years of living a fine life. She wore a simple but expensively made dress in a soft heather color. She smiled shyly at her husband and bowed slightly to his guest.

  Magnus looked at his wife with love as she set a tray down with a fresh pot of tea and removed the old service. He never thought he could ever take another wife after his first wife died. But Catherine was so earnest in her desire to take care of him. He looked at her approvingly as she exchanged another round of pleasantries with Rowdy. He granted her requested permission to leave.

  A burst of sparks snapped loudly and drifted up the chimney. The soft hiss of the fire was all that could be heard in the darkly lit room. Another cold chill sliced into the back of Rowdy’s neck.

  The old man lifted his head and spoke in the direction of the dark shadows in the back of the room. “It seems that Mr. Howe has an idea in his head that won’t die.” The shadows shifted imperceptibly. “I think we need to reassure Mr. Howe that he is indeed in need of a long rest. I believe you know the questions that need to be answered.” His pipe glowed adding brush strokes of red to his bushy white eyebrows and hair. His eyes were still safely draped in their thick lids.

  The shadows began to pour themselves into a human form. Rowdy felt his bowels drop as the shadows ran up from their deep pool forming legs, then body, then head. The figure gradually stepped into the hated light of the fire. He was dressed completely in black and materialized out of the recesses of the room.

  The figure stood easily in the presence of the old man. His strong body was relaxed and uncoiled. He stared coldly at Rowdy. “So, you think we ought to pay a visit on an old acquaintance, do ya” The words sounded odd to Rowdy’s ears. ‘So, ye tink we ought ‘a pay uh visit on en uld akquaintance do ye?’ Flames seemed to flicker along the smooth line of the scarred cheek.

  Rowdy looked back and forth from the figure to the old man in barely concealed panic. “What! No! I’ll bring back the proof by myself. I don’t need any help.”

  Magnus ignored the plea. “This article says that Miss Tess White has purchased a farm. I think that sounds like a woman who would welcome a visitor or two, especially ones that share such an interest in horses. One settled person is a greater threat to us than an army of soldiers running in fear. They have time to reflect, to put their affairs in order. To us, they become a talking target, wouldn’t you agree?” Sparks screamed from their red nooks and raced up the chimney to escape the prodding of the hot metal rod. The hiss of the fire grew louder, and the flames began to gnaw on more of the logs. “It’s a pity at how dangerous life in the country can be. Why there are any number of unfortunate accidents I hear of each year. Every man knows that living alone invites nothing but trouble to a beautiful girl.” The words were spoken as if he was thinking out loud. “But, enough of my concerns. Mr. Howe, I’m sure you’ll be most happy to escort my friend on a visit to your Miss White. We can put those misplaced ideas of her being an acquaintance of mine to rest once and for all.”

  Electra looked at Jessica with a mixture of amusement and concern. Jessica was busy hosing down a horse after a workout. Dressed in jeans, a pair of leather chaps, cowboy boots and a short jacket, Jessica had slipped in the mud and was covered head-to-toe with black muck.

  “So, this is the Cinderella who came to my ball?” Electra teased.

  Jessica looked at her with mock anger and threatened to turn the hose on her. “You know, you have caused me more trouble than I can think of by twisting my arm to go to your party. I should have just gone home like I wanted to! My phone hasn’t stopped ringing with people who want me to train or are inviting me to some event or another!”

  “You ungrateful wench!” Electra threw her head back with laughter. “How dare you speak to me in that tone of voice. You should show your elders some respect or I shall be forced to write about your rude behavior in my column!”

  Jessica leaned forward and summoned all the playful menace she could and glowered. “If you do that, then I shall be forced to take that extraordinary bay stallion of yours, geld him and turn him into a trail hack.”

  Both women smiled warmly at one another. Electra had grown very fond of Jessica in a short period of time. Electra’s stature in town and society made it difficult for people to feel quite at home with her. Heiress to a large publishing fortune, people were wholly intimidated by her stature or tried to get close because of it. Therefore, Electra and her husband were on constant guard against any person with less than honest motives in getting to know her. That never stopped her from throwing lavishly huge parties and inviting nearly everyone of consequence, but it was only a chosen few that she would invite to her home for intimate dinners and talks. Jessica kept a maddening distance from Electra and surprised her by respectfully declining any assistance of her power. It was also Jessica’s irreverent way of talking to Electra that she found so gleefully refreshing.

  Electra leaned her crossed arms along the top rail of the fence and adopted her formal inquisitive tone. “May I ask if one of those phone calls came from a Mr. Michael Conant?”

  Jessica led the dripping mare over to the older woman and paused. “Yes,” she replied with a hint of coyness, “He called me the other day to inquire about a space for a friend’s horse that is going to have a foal soon. He said his friend needed a better facility for the birth. All very business-like.”

  Electra was not fooled by her muddy friend’s cool manner. “I’ve run into him several times. He asks about you and I have it on good authority that he has more than a casual interest in you. My chauffeur dutifully reported back about the kiss the night of my ball.” She was pleased when she saw the color rush into Jessica’s cheeks. “How would you like to come to my home for dinner tonight?” Electra said trying to sound offhand. She had been trying to get the two of them to her home for dinner on several occasions, and she was frustrated that her young friend always fended her off.

  “Tonight? Oh, um, no. I couldn’t possibly. I’m expecting two more horses to be delivered tonight, and I’m interviewing a few people to help out with the basic care of the barn while I focus my efforts on training. Now that word has gotten around about my success at the hunter pace, people are eager to place their most troublesome horses with me. My barn is nearly full, and I’ve become too busy to do everything myself.”

  Jessica paused and looked down at her mud-encrusted clothes. “Besides, it’s going to take me forever to get cleaned up. Thanks anyway for inviting me. Please don’t be offended but you always write about your dinner parties in your column for your daddy’s newspaper, too.”

  Electra gasped then laughed at Jessica’s irreverence. “You disrespectful girl!”

  “I’ve just had enough attention lately,” Jessica continued warmly. “Why don’t you come here after dinner tomorrow for a cup of coffee? I’ve bought some outrageous chocolate thing from the bakery in town.”

  Electra sighed. “You are impossible! You turn each of my invitations to my house into a dessert at yours! Look at me! I’m getting pudgy!” She patted her ample waist. “I had hoped to surprise you, but now my plans are foiled. I think Michael was going to stop by.”

  Jessica gave a sideways glance. “I had that feeling.”

  “Tess! You are maddening! If you keep refusin
g the invitations you are getting, the well will dry up!”

  “Electra, I appreciate all that you are trying to do for me. I’m just not comfortable around a lot of people right now. I’m sure I’ll be ready to be more social later, but right now I need to prove myself to the owners of these horses that I am a serious trainer, not just some lucky twit.”

  Electra smiled in admiration at her new friend. Tess White was someone who wanted to make a name for herself on her own merits, not the coattails of a wealthy socialite like herself. Everything about her intrigued Electra. Her knowledge of horses and her looks were both certainly eye-catching, but she had a noticeable well-bred quality about herself. Electra loved a good puzzle and frequently won a gentlewomen’s wager on the lineage of one newcomer or another, but this one had her duly stumped. Each time she began to probe for background information, her young friend would head her off down another stream of conversation. Always laughing, always bright and pleasant, but never answering the question. The inquiries she made to Utah brought up dead ends. She toyed with the idea of pursing a more investigative approach.

  Electra gave a throaty laugh. “I dare say, child, that you are considered to be far from a twit. Although if someone had only seen you in that sheath of a dress you were almost wearing at my ball, without my expert guidance as to your character, they might think ‘twit’ was too easy a word for you.”

  “Electra!” Jessica squealed with a flash of embarrassment. “You have no idea how self-conscious I felt in that dress. Lainely was right when she said I wouldn’t fit in it.”

  Electra gave Jessica a cat-like grin. “Well, judging from the way even she was looking at you that night, I would wager that she’s going to buy all of her gowns a size too small.”

  Their banter was interrupted by the sound of a motor laboring up the last part of the road to Jessica’s farm. A Ford F150 pickup truck pulling a Kingston two-horse trailer turned up Jessica’s drive. The other occupants to the barn began to whinny excitedly at the arrival of yet another horse.

  Michael stepped out from behind the wheel and sauntered up to the women. He was wearing a battered pair of blue jeans, work boots and an oilcloth barn coat. His slate eyes cast a vicious gleam as he looked at Jessica in her filthy clothes. “Hard to tell who won that battle.”

  Jessica tried to keep herself composed. She gave Electra a slanted glance and suspected that she was being out-maneuvered by a professional. Jessica raised her chin and looked at Michael with a playful show of bravado. “I won, of course. But you should see the other guy.” Electra roared with delight and settled back to watch the scene with keen and unabashed interest.

  Michael jabbed the toe of his boot into the hardening ground. “I brought that mare, Snugs, I told you about.”

  “How is she?”

  “She’s doing fine, I guess. But they say a bad storm is coming in the next day or so. I don’t know much about horses and their ways, but I’ve heard that more animals are born in a storm than in the sunshine. She’s not due for another month or so, but you never know. I wanted to get her to you as soon as I could.”

  “You’re right. It’s better for her to get to know her surroundings before her time comes.”

  Michael stuck his hands in his pockets and shrugged his shoulders against the building chill as he looked skyward. “The animals are growing thick winter coats. The old farmers and the almanacs agree that this is going to be a bad winter.

  “I’ve heard that, too,” replied Jessica.

  He looked around the property and watched the sun creep toward the horizon. The farm had a wide-open view of Perc’s valley and several others beyond it. Each ridge was etched in gradually fading shades of blue and gray. The sky was beginning to cast orange and yellow hues over the mountains. The sun beamed directly into their eyes from its slot between two dark clouds.

  “You sure do have a beautiful spot, Tess. I can’t think of a better view of the valley than right here.” Michael looked at Jessica in earnest.

  “Yeah. I often spend my evenings out on my patio just listening. It is blissfully quiet out here.” Jessica smiled and looked around the farm with pride.

  She had done a lot of work to it, and it responded gracefully to her care. The barn was nearly full of horses; the house was cleaned up but still needed a few repairs. She flinched when she thought of the horrible avocado green cabinets still in her kitchen. They will come down in time, she thought. She loved exploring the nooks and passages of the rambling farmhouse. She repaired and painted walls and prepared rooms for the furniture she would eventually buy. Even though she shuddered at the thought of the colors in her kitchen, she realized that the place was beginning to feel like home.

  Sudden barking and whimpering could be heard coming from the truck. “Oh! Right. One more thing!” exclaimed Michael as he quickly returned to the truck. He momentarily stuck his head in through the door and emerged with a rather large and shaggy black dog in his arms. He placed the dog down on the ground, and it wagged its tail so vigorously that its entire body shook. He held on to the leash and walked over to the fence.

  “Wow! He’s cute!” exclaimed Jessica. She swung herself over the fence to get a better look. “What’s its name?” she asked as she briskly rubbed the dog’s ears.

  “His last owners didn’t give him a name. But he seems to respond to Pete.” Michael leaned forward so that his face almost touched Jessica’s. Electra was enjoying the show.

  “How can you not name a dog? He’s such a good fella, aren’t ya.” Pete sniffed at her nose.

  Michael’s face creased with concern. “I promised someone I would do a favor for them, and the next thing I knew, I was supposed to take him to the pound. The owners just can’t take care of him anymore.”

  “The pound! That’s awful! No one wants a full-grown dog if they go there to adopt a pet. Everyone wants puppies! This poor guy is lucky he found you!” Jessica looked up and smiled at Michael. She let her gaze settle for a moment before looking away.

  “Well, that’s the other thing I wanted to talk to you about.” His eyes again swept the farm. “When I was up here the other night it struck me that you have such a big place here, and you don’t have any neighbors, I was wondering if you would want to take care of him?”

  “Here? Me? A dog?” Color rushed to her face and any composure she thought she was clinging to vanished.

  “Yes.” Michael moved closer to her. He was captivated by the red light of the sunset streaking her honey colored hair. “It would work well for you and Pete. A dog like Pete could have plenty of room to run. And he could keep an eye on the place while you were riding.” He bent down on the other side of Pete and stroked the long fur of the dog’s back. The action brought him to eye level with Jessica. Her clear blue eyes reflected caring and intelligence. He let his hand briefly touch hers as they stroked the dog. “How about it?”

  Jessica felt the touch of his hand and understood the look in his eyes. She knew that Michael shared the same love of animals that she did, and he did not want to surrender the dog to a certain fate. The dog looked up under shaggy brows at the trio of humans. Sensing that it was no longer in any danger and among friends, he burrowed his muzzle under Jessica’s arms and gave a contented sigh.

  Jessica was no match for the soft touches of Michael and his best friend. “Yeah, sure. I have plenty of room around here. But what would I feed him?” She stood up, and the dog shadowed her move. She placed her hand on top of the dog’s head and gave him another pat.

  Michael rummaged in his truck and produced a large bag. “Where do I put this stuff?”

  Jessica looked at Electra in amazement and back to Michael. “You knew all along that I was a sucker for a furry face! You brought dog food and dog dishes? You are absolutely incorrigible.” She smiled and did not bother to conceal her delight. “Well, I think Pete has himself a new home.”

  “Great! I woul
d have hated taking that dog to the pound. Now I don’t have to worry about you so much up on this ridge.” His eyes dropped as he spoke his concern. He didn’t say so, but he recently made it a habit to drive past her farm on the way back to his place at night. The road that led up the mountain from the valley passed her farm and continued on upward until it connected with some rougher roads. After that it crisscrossed back down the other side of the mountain, out of the National Forest and into his valley. It took him almost an hour to negotiate the dirt roads, and each time he passed her farm he noted how quiet it was there. He shared her love of the quiet on the mountain, but was concerned about her nevertheless. He had seen too much to be comfortable with her isolation.

  Sensing that three was beginning to be a bit crowded, Electra said her good-byes. She had watched her two friends with interest as they settled Snugs and got to know Pete better. Electra happily noted that the more time Tess and Michael spent with one another, the more relaxed they both became. When she got the opportunity, she pulled Michael to the side and said that Tess had refused her offer for dinner tonight and that Michael should just stay there as long as he wanted. They could all dine together on another day. She smiled at the mannered way Michael had understood her intent.

  Jessica had forgotten what a mess she was. As soon as she got involved in bringing another horse to the barn, she became focused on the animals. Michael’s easy manner with the nervous mare helped her forget that she was once nervous around him too. She began to feel that they were beginning a friendship on her own terms, and it felt good.

  Jessica put the feed buckets away in the tack room and made journal entries of what each horse was eating and its condition. She did not look at Michael as she spoke. “I thought you had a dinner engagement tonight? I heard that it’s not nice to keep a woman of her standing waiting.”