Cole lashed out, his knuckles grazing Riley’s cheeks and then returning for a closer aim at his nose.
“Rand! Thad!” Billie shouted. “Stop them! Stop them!” They had all followed behind Rand when he’d hurried out after the boys. He’d sensed trouble coming, seen it in the bearing of Riley’s shoulders, in the clenching of his fists as he’d followed Cole out the door.
Rand held Riley back; Thad kept Cole’s arms pinned behind him. Blood was dripping from Riley’s nose; Cole’s lip was split and swelling.
“Let me go!” Cole struggled. “Let me go. I’ve gotta tell him something.”
“Not now,” Maggie said. “Just be quiet. There’s been enough damage done.” She reached into Riley’s pocket for a handkerchief to wipe his nose.
“Let him speak,” Mr. Hasegawa said firmly. “It’s time we all knew what they know. Let us all hear, Cole. Riley, only a fool refuses to hear.”
“Riley,” Cole began, sputtering through his swollen mouth, “it isn’t what you think. I didn’t touch her. I met her on the road; she was hitching a ride.” He looked guiltily at his mother. “Anyways, you know how it is with Luana. One thing led to another and I took her to that old line shack. But nothing happened! I didn’t touch her. I told her to get dressed. I saw that her back was bleeding from the crackly split leather on that old couch in the line shack. That’s how her blood got in my car. That’s why her fingerprints were all over the place!”
Riley’s shoulders relaxed. Rand felt the tension leave the boy’s body.
“Believe me, Riley. I’m no more guilty than you are.”
“I do believe you,” Riley muttered. “And I know what it cost you to tell me all this in front of the family. I’m sorry, Cole.”
“So it is East meets West,” Mr. Hasegawa said sagely.
“Sir.” Cole smiled shyly. “Just for once, could we make that West meets East? It’d be nice to get top billing.”
Riley laughed, the first joyful sound they had heard in what seemed an eternity.
The following days were an agony of waiting. The tests had been taken on both boys. Ben Simms had packed up his daughter and their belongings and moved into town. What had happened to Luana was no secret, and Ben aired his hatred of the Colemans at every opportunity.
It was the old Japanese gentleman who put the man’s actions into perspective. “There is no prouder man in the world than the man who can claim an injustice. Mr. Simms is pleased with the attention he is receiving, even for these few days, by being the center of a community’s sympathy. And the more he cries and grieves his daughter’s lost virtue, the more praise he will receive and the purer she is thought to have been. And for his grief, Mr. Simms receives praise from his neighbors for being the perfect father.”
Sunbridge seethed with hostility, directed and misdirected. As Maggie tried to describe it to her mother, “It’s like we’re an accident waiting to happen. Everyone’s temper is short. Everyone has an idea, but no one knows what to do about it.”
“Darling, the ‘accident’ already happened,” Billie said. “Thad and I both believe it’s a question of money. Has Miss Mitchell come up with anything from the private detectives the firm hired?”
“Only that Simms is exactly what he is—a drifter who does handyman work and who goes to church, when he’s in the mood, and who can recite the Bible from one end to the other. They’ve never, ever been in trouble. He has no record anywhere. Not so much as a traffic or parking ticket. The girl is behind in school, but that’s because they move around so much. She’s pretty big on reciting the Bible herself.” She hesitated. “Valentine tells me the psychologist who is treating Luana told her, or sent her a report—I don’t remember which—that said Cole forced Luana to have sex with him. But they aren’t classifying Cole’s actions as rape. Because”—Maggie drew in a deep breath—“he gave her things and money in return for... for her favors. But she’s sticking to the rape story.”
Billie sighed. “There isn’t anything we can do, then?”
“Nothing. If we could just get to the girl, I think one of us could talk some sense into her. The last I heard, and that was in the Crystal City Times yesterday, was that Luana is being watched by some woman, a friend of Simms. I don’t know if she’s a housekeeper or what her function is, exactly,” Maggie said dejectedly. “If only those tests would come in; I know the boys would be cleared.”
“The press has been very unkind. If Seth were alive, this wouldn’t have gotten off the ground.”
“In those days we were the good guys. Today it’s a whole new ball game. They’re raking up all that old stuff on me. I just want to sit down and cry my eyes out. But I have to be strong and take everything they throw at us. I’m dreading the day the other side comes up with the dirt Valentine dug up on Cranston. If she has it, it’s a matter of public record.”
“No it isn’t. Those records are sealed. That’s one good thing about being a Coleman. Seth always had that agreement with the law firm. He paid handsomely to whoever it was in charge. I know that for a fact, Maggie,” Billie added quietly.
“They’re really out to get us, Mam. You must have noticed the phone hasn’t rung once since you’ve been here for anything but crank calls. We’re off everyone’s list. It’s hitting Cary hard. Some of the men actually walked off the job. The real big investors are nervous. If they decide to pull out, he loses everything.”
“I know just the person to step in and help out.” Billie grinned. “Riley’s grandfather. He helped us once before; he’ll do it again. Don’t even think about it. As far as the workers go, all Cary has to do is up the wages and other men will come running from out-of-state.” Billie hesitated, then asked, “Where is ... everyone?”
Maggie knew who she meant. “Sawyer’s down at the barn with the boys.” She smiled. “Adam is over in your old studio, working up a storm. He decided to take on the state of Texas. The muckrakers may be getting in their shots, but he’s retaliating. And the papers are printing his stuff. He’s made quite a name for himself, and he does have some powerful friends in the media. And he’s from Texas, a native son, so they have to pay attention. For now, it’s our only plus. You went to bed early last night, so you didn’t see the eleven-o’clock news. We made it—the wire services, the whole bit. We’re news, Mam.” She shook her head. “I can’t believe this is happening to us.”
“I can. The Colemans have always been news.”
“Let’s talk about something else,” Maggie said. “More coffee?”
“Half a cup. I’m jittery enough without caffeine.”
“How do you think Sawyer looks?”
“Like she’s held together with spit and glue. Dry spit and old glue,” Billie said sadly.
“We’ve had some fairly civil conversations,” Maggie told her. “Of course, they had to do with the boys. It was a little awkward at first with Rand being here, and Adam and all. But I think we’ve managed to put those feelings aside for now. Maybe some good will come of all this.”
“What do the three of them do down in the barn?” Billie asked curiously.
“Talk, I guess. I really don’t know.”
“They’re up to something. Sawyer always was a planner, a master one at that.”
“Maybe that’s what we need, a plan. Action. This sitting around is driving me insane. We should be doing something.”
“There’s nothing to do. Drink your coffee, Maggie. I think I’m going to take a walk.”
“To the cemetery?”
“Yes. Would you like to join me?”
“Yes. Yes, I would.”
Sawyer stared at the boys. They stared back. Her head pounded, but she did her best to ignore the pain. From where she was sitting on a bale of hay, she could see them clearly. They looked so hopeful, so expectant. “Okay,” she said, “let’s go over it one more time. I know you’ve said it three hundred times. Humor me. Once more.” She listened carefully. When they were finished, the only thing it seemed they were in agreement
on was that Luana had been a virgin.
“If she was a virgin when you left her at home around ten, Cole, and when Riley left her at one-forty-five or so, that gives us some time to play with. Simms says he got home at three. That gives us one hour and fifteen minutes. Whoever it was had to have raped the girl in that span of time. Simms says—and this is just his word—that he didn’t find out about Luana until the deputies came to take him to see Luana at the hospital. But he’s lying; we all know that. We also know why. Big bucks. Right now, the only thing you have going for you is the hospital test. So, what we have here is one hour and fifteen minutes or five hours, give or take a few minutes.”
“The cops have gone all over this,” Cole muttered. “So have the lawyers.”
“We’re it, Sawyer,” Riley groaned. “We can’t prove we didn’t do it. It looks like they can prove we did.”
“Unless ...” Sawyer let the word hang in the air. Both faces were so hopeful, she wanted to cry. “Unless, in that hour and fifteen minutes, or in that five hours, give or take a few minutes, Ben Simms raped his own daughter.”
Cole’s mouth dropped open. Riley’s jaw dropped just as far as Cole’s.
“Her own father!” Cole gasped.
“That’s ... that’s ...”
“The word you’re looking for is incest,” Sawyer said coldly. “Think about it. In all the years I lived at Sunbridge, we never, ever had anyone come on this land who didn’t belong. Not up to the house, anyway. Somebody would have heard. The barn dogs would have barked. Strangers just don’t pop up, even for a girl like Luana. She might have jerked your strings, but she’d never take the chance and invite someone from the outside here. There’d be a car, a moped, at the very least a bicycle, and I think we have to rule that out. We live twenty-five miles from town. Does either of you think she’d ask someone here?” At their negative nod, Sawyer continued, “That leaves Ben Simms committing the ultimate sin.”
“It makes sense, but why didn’t Miss Mitchell say something?”
“Think about it, Cole. Incest. You can’t accuse a man of something like that. You can’t even dance around it. Look, I’m not pretending to be a wizard or anything like that. I’m sure it’s occurred to everyone, but no one wants to put it into words. If we did that, we’d open ourselves to the biggest lawsuit this state has ever seen. I think we should talk to Adam. I’m kind of tired, so why don’t you guys go get him and bring him here. I’m going to flop down on that straw and see if this headache will go away.”
The boys glanced at each other. “You stay with her, Cole, and I’ll get him,” Riley offered.
Cole nodded and lowered himself to the sweet-smelling straw. “It’s worse, isn’t it?” he asked Sawyer when Riley had left.
“Yeah. I don’t think I would have made it to Hawaii. I was going to give it a hell of a try, though.”
“You’re nuts,” Cole said, not unkindly. “What’s happening to us can’t even compare to what you’re going through. You have to do something.”
“Wave your magic wand and make me better,” Sawyer said nastily.
“That’s bullshit. Tell your surgeon to wave his magic scalpel and take your chances. That’s what I would do.”
“Well, you aren’t me, little brother, so keep your opinions to yourself. If you’re worried about me being around for the final verdict, forget it. I’ll be here.”
“I don’t care about that. If I have to lose you, I want it to be the right way. I want to know you gave it everything you had.”
Sawyer leaned up on one elbow, piercing Cole with her gaze. “And if I don’t make it?”
Cole swallowed hard. “Like Miss Mitchell says, there aren’t any guarantees. Not for me or Riley, and not for you. You aren’t a gutless wonder, so stop acting like one.”
Sawyer groaned. “I’m supposed to be in charge here.”
“Well, shit, if you’re in charge, act like it. Not just for Riley and me, but for yourself. You must be driving Adam fucking crazy.”
Sawyer burst out laughing. “Where’d you learn to talk like that? Maggie would put soap in your mouth.” Cole laughed, too, and then fell back into the hay. They were both laughing and throwing straw at each other when Riley and Adam walked into the barn.
“I wish you’d tell us what’s so damn funny. We could sure use a laugh or two,” Adam said, smiling.
Sawyer leaned up on both elbows, straw sticking out of her hair and ears. When she spoke, her voice was solemn. “My brother here, this pip-squeak, says he’ll put flowers on my grave if I die. He said he’d pray for me. This guy,” she said, pointing to Riley, “said yesterday he’d stay with me through the entire operation. He has one small fear: he’s paranoid about the sight of blood. I have decided to go ahead and have the operation. As soon as this is all wrapped up.”
“No. Now,” Cole said forcefully.
“Wrong. It’s my decision. When this is over.”
“I take it all back,” Cole said coldly. “Now or forget it. We can hang on till this is over. You don’t have the time.”
“I’ll think about it,” Sawyer blustered.
Riley grimaced. “That’s something I’d say. Tell us now, in front of Adam, so he can make the arrangements.”
Sawyer struggled to get to her feet. It was getting worse; who was she kidding? How many more days could she take like the last few? “Okay,” she said, swaying dizzily.
“You get a free ride for this one,” Adam said, scooping her into his arms. Cole noticed that his eyes were wet. Shit, he didn’t care. He felt like he’d just climbed the tallest mountain in the world.
“Did they tell you what I came up with?” Sawyer asked sleepily.
“Don’t think about that now.”
“Don’t tell me what to do, Adam. I can still think for myself. While you’re making the arrangements, I want to talk to this family. Get them all together around the dining room table.”
“You’re a real pain, you know that?”
“Yeah, I know. Just humor me and then I’m all yours.”
“Do you mean that?”
“For God’s sake, of course I mean it! When we get to the house, get me one of those green pills and a shot of brandy. C’mon,” she squawked, “what’s the delay here?”
“Just shut up and enjoy the ride,” Adam said. Cole grinned. Riley punched him playfully on the shoulder in return.
Maggie and Billie ran out to the driveway as they saw Adam carrying Sawyer up the walk. “What’s the matter?” Maggie gasped. Billie immediately put her hand on Sawyer’s forehead.
“She wants a meeting,” Adam said. “You boys explain while I get the pill and the brandy. She wants Cary and Amelia here, too.”
Ninety minutes later the entire Coleman family was assembled at the dining room table. “You’re on, Sarah,” Adam called to Sawyer, who was in the kitchen. “This better be a performance worthy of Bernhardt.”
“I have something to say to all of you,” Sawyer announced.” She paused a moment to marshal her strength. ”We find ourselves involved in not one but two crises. I’m the first, Cole and Riley the second. Each is equally important. I could literally die. Their lives could be ruined. In my eyes, that’s the same thing.” Again she paused, this time for effect. ”I’ve agreed to have the operation. At the insistence of Cole and Riley, I’m leaving this afternoon for Sloan-Kettering. Now, if I’m willing to put my head on the block, I want all of your necks on the same block. I want you—us—to accuse Ben Simms of raping his daughter. I think we all know that’s exactly what happened. So put it on the line, just like I am. If I can do it, so can you.” She looked around fuzzily, blinked to regain her vision. But it wasn’t working; the faces were still blurry. Her heart fluttered wildly as she gripped the edge of the table and spoke. ”Maggie? Grand? Amelia? Susan? I want an answer.” She thought she was seeing horror, dismay, fear, when actually all the faces held something she couldn’t see—pride.
“Good girl,” Cary said loudly. “I’m with yo
u and so is Amelia.”
“Me, too. And include Jessie in my vote,” Susan said happily.
“I agree and so does Thad,” Billie said, rushing up to Sawyer. “I’m so glad.”
It was Maggie’s turn. She looked around wildly, tears sliding down her cheeks. Rand reached out to her. Riley handed her his handkerchief. “So, you do know how to fight. You have my vote.”
“One more thing,” Sawyer told them. “If I don’t make it, I want you all to know that ... I ...” She swayed dizzily, then her knees crumpled as she started to slip to the floor. Rand was there first, his arms outstretched. Adam came around the side of the table a second too late. He bent down, his eyes locking with Rand’s. What he saw there made him nod and stand up. It was Rand who carried Sawyer to the waiting ambulance.
Cole stood next to Riley in the driveway. “This is big shit, you know,” he said. “They’re putting everything on the line for us.” He sat down on the garage steps where Luana always sat. “I think we just grew up.”
“My grandfather will assist in whatever way he can. I wish he hadn’t come here though. I see the way he looks at me. I’ve caused him trouble.”
“I saw him look at you, too. He doesn’t believe you did it, and no one else thinks so, either. He’s...” Cole groped for the right word. “Sad.”
“Do you think Sawyer’ll make it?”
“Hell, I don’t know. She did real good in there, didn’t she?”
“She sure did. Maybe we can still go to Hawaii when she’s better.”
“Yeah, maybe,” Cole said glumly.
“I was thinking about something,” Riley said uneasily. “If I ask your opinion, will you give me a truthful answer?”
“Sure.”
“I was thinking about getting my eyes fixed, Westernized. What do you think?” He held his breath, waiting for Cole to answer.
Cole turned to stare at his cousin, looking at him closely from different angles. Finally he said, “Why the hell would you want to do a dumb thing like that?”
Texas Heat Page 49