Josiah Reynolds Box Set 4

by Abigail Keam

  By the time I reached the front pasture, Malcolm was still spraying creosote paint on the fences. I put Emmeline in the bouncy seat and left Baby to guard her.

  “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” I said, picking up a sprayer. “I’ve forgotten how much work it is to take care of a baby.”

  “If you say so.”

  “I do say so, and if you’re not careful with the ladies, you’ll be saying it, too.”

  Malcolm grinned. “You think I’m a ladies’ man?”

  “I see you driving around with that souped-up muscle car of yours. Those cars attract the laa-dees.”

  “I got no time for them. Keeping my head down and studying. I want to help Grandpa when he inherits Lady Elsmere’s estate. I’m gonna take animal husbandry and economics at college. Take lots of pre-vet courses.”

  “Want to be one of the big boys in the horse racing business, do ya?”

  “I’m more interested in the breeding aspect of it. I want to breed champions. Another Secretariat. Another Affirmed.”

  “Those kinds of horses are few and far between. Both of them had enormous lung capacity.”

  “I want to establish another racing record like Calumet Farm. My brothers are interested in racing, and I’m interested in providing the fastest horses possible. It’s a win-win.”

  “That’s a big dream, Malcolm.”

  “You think I’m wrong?”

  “I think a young man should have a big dream and go after it. Don’t let anyone stop you, Malcolm. Not anyone.”

  “You’re all right, Miss Josiah.”

  “Let’s get some work done, buddy boy. The sun won’t wait on us.”

  We worked several more hours, with Malcolm taking the lead. Luckily, we got the last section painted before Emmeline began fussing.

  I looked at my watch. Matt would be home soon, and he could take over. I had a little time left to clean up, make a fast dinner, and fall into bed.

  As we were heading home, I sang Itsy Bitsy Spider to Emmeline while planning dinner—something quick and easy.

  Huh! That’s what I thought. Boy, was I stupid!

  20

  Matt and Asa arrived home about the same time. As soon as Matt set down his briefcase, I handed him Emmeline. I was done for the day.

  And before Asa could open her mouth, I gave her a list of ingredients to get from the pantry and instructed her to boil some eggs.

  I took a shower, washing the paint out of my hair, and dressed in clean clothes. After brushing my wet hair, I felt human again and ventured into the kitchen.

  Asa had boiled the eggs and set my Nakashima table. I made some tuna salad, a quick spring lettuce salad, and sliced some fresh tomatoes. It was salad, salad, salad all the way. Something quick and fast to make, but I have to say my tuna salad is very good. Asa pulled hot yeast rolls out of the oven.

  We sat down to dinner. I could tell we were all worn out from the day, and it didn’t help that Emmeline was fussy. She certainly didn’t like the orange gruel Matt was trying to shove into her mouth. Most of it was on Emmeline’s face while Matt pleaded with her.

  I’ve got to tell you, at that moment I understood why crocodiles ate their young.

  “Matt, put her on the floor,” I suggested.

  “That filthy floor where Baby has slobbered?”

  “Believe me, a few germs here and there will only boost Emmeline’s immune system.”

  Asa piped up, “Yeah, Mom used to take me to the riverbank and roll me in the mud.”

  Matt stared at her for a moment. “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Matt, I swear that bullet made you dim-witted,” said Asa before stuffing a roll into her mouth.

  “How was today’s sleuthing?” I asked Asa.

  “People are lying through their teeth, and I don’t know why. Do you know of any relationship between Ashley Moore and Robin Russell?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Is there a special thing between them?”

  “You mean romantically? She’s almost old enough to be his mother.”

  “I saw them having lunch together in Woodland Park this afternoon. She was fondling him, and then she gave Ashley a nice little wad of money.”

  “Define fondling,” Matt said, watching Baby sniff Emmeline.

  Asa thought for a moment. “Caressing his hair. Touching his shoulder. Hugging him. That kind of thing.”

  Matt replied, “That could mean any number of things. Depends on one’s interpretation.”

  “I’ve only known them to be professional with each other at the rehearsals. I haven’t noticed anything untoward.”

  “Something’s going on between them, but that’s just part of this. Everyone is saying how fantastic Madison was to work with, and how they loved her.”

  “What do they say about Franklin?”

  “They are very fond of him and grateful to his brother for the use of Wickliffe Manor.”

  “I have no idea what’s going on,” I replied before salting my tomatoes. “It’s a mystery.”

  “Yuck. Yuck,” snarked Asa.

  The doorbell rang.

  Matt asked, “Who can that be?”

  “I changed the codes again. Nobody but people at the Big House and Shaneika have the new numbers.”

  “What about the other horse boarders?” Asa asked.

  “I haven’t told them about the code change yet. Nobody is due. Malcolm and Juan take care of the horses now.”

  Asa wiped her mouth before folding her napkin. “Let me have a look-see.” Baby followed her to the front door.

  Matt picked up Emmeline and took her into the guest bedroom, locking the door behind him.

  Since Meriah’s visit, everyone was on edge.

  I heard Asa open the front door and talk to someone. When she came back, Hunter followed her into the great room. Baby remained in the foyer. We could hear someone talking to him. Then Baby bounded into the great room followed by Franklin. He looked pale and thin.

  “Franklin!” I was surprised but happy to see him. “They let you out of Sing Sing.”

  Franklin gave me a peck on the cheek and sat down at the dining table. “I see we are in time for dinner.”

  “Of course,” I replied, rushing to set two more places at the table.

  “I’ll do it, Mom,” Asa offered. “You relax.”

  I sat next to Franklin while Hunter sat on the opposite side of the table, beaming at his baby brother.

  “Well, give us the details,” I demanded.

  “Hunter sold his Rolls to get me out of jail.”

  I looked at Hunter to gauge his reaction. I knew how much he loved his beat-up Rolls.

  “It was the only thing of value I could sell. I had no idea nobody wanted sterling silver tea sets anymore. They are valuable only to dowagers who still use them and insurance companies who want to insure them.”

  “You couldn’t get a credit line on Wickliffe Manor?” I asked.

  “I can get another mortgage on the farm, but that’s to pay for Franklin’s legal fees. It’s one thing at a time with this.”

  Asa set the table and poured wine into their glasses. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that. I’m making some interesting headway.”

  Franklin asked, “What do you mean?”

  “Everyone is lying, and I mean everyone. I don’t understand why, but I’m close to proving someone was setting your brother up as a romantic lead for Madison.”

  Asa directed her gaze at Hunter. “I took the liberty of having your handwriting and that of the love note analyzed by a professional. She says the love note is not your handwriting and can prove it in a court of law.”

  “I told you I didn’t write it.”

  “And now I believe you. Tuna salad?”

  “Why would anyone try to frame me? I didn’t even know those people.” Hunter looked at us as though expecting an answer, but we had no idea.

  Franklin handed his plate to Asa. “I’ll take some tuna, please. Jos
iah, can you hand me the garden salad and dressing?”

  “Sure,” I replied, handing him a bowl. “What’s next?”

  Hunter answered, “I’ve got a couple of consulting cases out of town, so I would appreciate it, Asa, if you would continue your investigation. I’ll pay you somehow.”

  “This is pro bono, but I have to leave next week. I better find something by then.”

  “What?” I said. “I thought you would stay longer.”

  “Mom, believe it or not, I have a business to run and a living to make. Franklin, I’m sorry, but there it is. After I leave, Shaneika’s PI, Walter Neff, will take over.”

  Everyone groaned in unison.

  Franklin wiped his mouth with a linen napkin. “No problem, Asa. I appreciate what you’ve done so far.”

  “Think nothing of it, kiddo.”

  Hunter and I traded glances but said nothing.

  Franklin scanned the great room while stuffing his mouth and noticed all the baby toys. “We stopped at Matt’s house, but no one was home. Do you know where he is?”

  Here was the question I had been dreading. “While you were in jail, Meriah created quite a ruckus about Emmeline.”

  “Oh? Is that why your pinky is trussed up in that metal thingamajig?”

  “Frankly, yes. She came to the Butterfly and demanded to take Emmeline. She even had a cop with her.”

  Hunter asked, “What happened?”

  “We had a tussle, and she broke my finger.”

  Franklin sputtered, “You—you had a girl fight with Meriah?” He laughed. “I would have paid a king’s ransom to witness that.”

  “Franklin, hush. It isn’t funny,” Hunter chided. “Look at Josiah’s expression.”

  “Sorry, but the thought of it tickles my funny bone. Please tell me you whomped Meriah upside the head, but good.”

  “No, Franklin. It isn’t funny. In fact, I’m in a huge custody battle with Meriah now,” came a voice from the hall.

  We all turned to see Matt enter the great room.

  Franklin jumped up and ran over to hug Matt, but Matt kept him at arm’s length. “I need to talk to you, Franklin, about a serious matter.”

  “You mean more serious than my being arrested for murder?”

  “Equally important, and a life-changing event.”

  “Okay, so talk.”

  “Let’s go outside and talk in private.”

  Franklin stared into Matt’s face. “I don’t like your expression. It says ‘I’m about to screw you over, Franklin.’”

  “Meriah has sued for custody of Emmeline.”

  “Why now? She hasn’t seemed very interested in our baby before.”

  “Emmeline isn’t our baby. She’s my baby.”

  Franklin gasped and stepped away from Matt.

  Hunter stood up and threw his napkin on the table, but I reached over and grabbed his hand.

  “Don’t,” I cautioned. “Let them duke it out. This has been coming on for a long time.” I could see the veins in Franklin’s neck throbbing. This was not going to be pretty.

  “How can you say that? I spend more time with her than you. I feed her, change her, clothe her, burp her, worry over her, read to her, take her to the doctor. I am as much a parent to her as you are.”

  “I know, Franklin, but I am fighting for legal rights to my child, and right now, you are an . . . an entanglement I can’t afford. You have been arrested for first-degree murder—a capital offense. That’s not going to look good before a judge.”

  Franklin staggered away and fell into a chair.

  I declared, “Matt, you’re saying things you are going to regret and can’t take back.”

  Matt warned, “Stay out of this, Josiah. This is not your battle.”

  Franklin accused, “You mean I’m an embarrassment, don’t you? I was framed for a murder through no fault of my own, and this makes me an embarrassment. Where’s the support, Matt?”

  “I’ve been advised by my custody lawyer that you pose a threat to keeping Emmeline.”

  “I . . . I pose a threat?” Franklin repeated the words, seemingly dumbfounded. “Are you cutting me out of your life for good?”

  Matt didn’t answer. I could see his jaw muscles clench.

  “I think you want to get rid of me, and you’re using this custody suit to do it,” Franklin argued.

  “That does it,” Hunter groused. “Matt, you have done nothing but make my brother’s life miserable ever since he met you. I have no idea what he sees in you.”

  “Hunter, don’t. You’ll only make things worse,” I said, trying to put a plug in this conversation. Everyone needed to cool off. “Why don’t we all take a deep breath, resume dinner, and talk about this after dessert.”

  Matt sneered, “Here comes the big brother routine. Where were you when Franklin was shot, Hunter? Nowhere, man. He said you called a couple of times and that was it. Where was your brotherly concern then? I’m the one who took care of Franklin—and Josiah, too. I paid for much of Franklin’s medical bills. You didn’t even bother to ask Franklin if he had health insurance to cover all his expenses. It was a bad scene, but you were in London, having a great time.”

  “I was going through a nasty divorce.”

  “You told me your ex-wives were friendly,” I blurted.

  Hunter answered, “They are very friendly now they have all my money.”

  Asa shouted, “EVERYONE SHUT UP! This is getting out of hand. Franklin, Hunter, Matt. Sit down and finish your dinner. All of you are stressed out and tired. Come on, now. This is no way to act.”

  Matt immediately turned and stormed back to his room.

  Franklin sat motionless, shocked, his mouth gaping open, making him look like a hooked fish gasping for air.

  Hunter grabbed Franklin’s arm and hauled him up from the chair. “Let’s go, Franklin. There’s nothing for us here.”

  “Wait a minute,” I snapped. “That’s not true.”

  “Do you agree with Matt?” Franklin asked me.

  “No, Franklin, I don’t, but I do understand his fear of losing his daughter. That type of fear makes parents do irrational things. Please, please, don’t go like this.”

  “I HATE YOU, MATTHEW GARTH! I HATE YOU! DO YOU HEAR ME?” screamed Franklin as Hunter dragged him out of the Butterfly. Hunter slammed the front door.

  “Jumping Jehoshaphat! I need a stiff drink,” I said, holding my stomach. It felt like I had a ton of rocks churning in my gut.

  Asa sat down and resumed eating dinner. In between bites, she mumbled, “Well, that was certainly dinner and a show.”

  I plopped down beside her and put my head in my hands. “Matt is unkind to Franklin. He’s always been a flirt and a philanderer, but he’s never been bone mean to anyone, except to Franklin. And I’ve never understood it, because I know Matt loves him.”

  “Man kills the thing he loves.”

  “Stop being flippant, Asa. This is very serious.”

  “I am serious.” Asa paused, deep in thought before speaking again. “Very serious, and I think I just solved the case. All I need is proof.”

  “Really?”

  “Yes, but right now, I’m going to have a bowl of blackberry cobbler with ice cream and go to bed. What time will you be up in the morning?”

  “Early. Eunice is coming to go over some bookings at the Butterfly.”

  “I will brief you then, but I have a little chore for you to do tomorrow.”

  “Can’t you tell me now?”

  Asa rubbed her hands together and cackled like the Wicked Witch of the West in The Wizard of Oz. “All in good time, my pretty. All in good time.”

  21

  “GO AWAY!”

  You know me. I opened the door and strode in.

  Matt was standing over the crib, watching Emmeline sleep.

  “You want to talk?”

  “No.”

  “Too bad. I have a few things to say.”

  Matt snarled, “I don’t want to hear the
m.”

  “Matt, you’ve got to forgive yourself.”

  Startled, Matt glared at me. “What for?”

  “You’ve always felt guilty about what happened to Franklin, Baby, and me. There was nothing you could have done to prevent what happened. In fact, you would have gotten yourself killed.”

  Tears spilled out of Matt’s eyes and streaked down his cheek. “If I hadn’t taken so long to park the car that night, I could have stopped him.”

  We both purposely didn’t mention the perpetrator’s name, but you know of whom we spoke.

  “No, you couldn’t have. He would have taken you out first, because you were the strongest. Since that night, you have behaved like a jerk toward Franklin.”

  “We’ve had this conversation before.”

  “And you still haven’t straightened out.”

  “I can’t be what he wants me to be.”

  “Which is?”

  “Monogamous, for starters.”

  “Ever use self-control for once? Heterosexuals have those urges, too, but if we love our mates, we try to steer clear of affairs. Some of us even manage to do so. Sooner or later, your looks are going to fade. Offers will be fewer and fewer. I’ll be dead by that time, of course. You will have chased Emmeline off due to your embarrassing sexual escapades with her ‘uncles,’ and you’ll end up all alone.”

  “That’s my future?”

  “Pretty much, at the rate you’re going, or you can sow seeds for a happy future. Sacrifice is a handy word you might try wrapping your mind around.”

  “Are you saying I should stay with Franklin?”

  “I’m saying that whatever you decide, quit being cruel. If you are going to cut Franklin out, use a sharp, clean knife. Quit calling him when you need help or feel lonely. He’s a good man. He deserves a better friend than you.”

  “Ouch. That hurts, Josiah.”

  “Real friends tell the truth.”

  “Are you still my friend?”

  “George Bailey, I’ll love you till the day I die,” I quoted from It’s A Wonderful Life, one of my favorite movies before reaching out to Matt.

  We held hands as we stood gazing at Emmeline sleeping the sleep of the innocent.

  22