So it was starting already. Lady Privilege had gotten tired of living on his earnings and decided to turn into Lady Bountiful. Well, if she thought she could just start throwing her daddy’s money around like leaves in a windstorm, she was about to learn different.
Elthia looked up. At least some of what he felt must have been reflected in his face because her smile faltered and a hand fluttered to her chest. The kids spied him then, and he was immediately surrounded by young bodies.
“Look, Uncle Caleb, a piano.”
“A big old wagon brought it.”
“Did you hear Zoe playing?”
“Aunt Thia says she’s gonna teach me how to play too.”
The exclamations came all at once, and Caleb wasn’t sure who said what. He was aware, though, that Zoe had stopped playing as soon as the commotion started.
Joy transformed his solemn, sad-eyed niece into the spirited pretty girl he imagined she’d been before her parents’ death. With a guilty stab, he remembered Elthia trying to tell him how much music meant to Zoe. He just hadn’t been listening close enough.
Ignoring Elthia for the moment, he smiled down at his niece. “That was mighty pretty, Zoe. You got your momma’s touch.”
Zoe’s cheeks pinkened. “Thank you. Isn’t it beautiful.” She stroked the polished wood surface reverently. “It’s even grander than the one we had in Indiana. And Aunt Elthia says I can play on it every day if I want to, after my chores are done.”
Caleb felt the jaws of the trap snap shut. Much as he wanted to demand Elthia send the piano back where it came from, he couldn’t deny Zoe the pleasure she obviously derived from it. “Well now, I reckon we could all benefit from the sound of music floating through this house. Especially when it sounds as pretty as it did just now.”
Zoe popped up and gave him a fierce hug. “Oh thank you, Uncle Caleb. I promise to do my chores better ’n ever.”
“I don’t doubt it for a minute, sweetheart. Now, you play us another tune while I talk to your Aunt Elthia for a spell.”
He turned to his lip-biting wife. “Let’s go to my office. As you like to say, we need to talk.” Taking her elbow, he led her from the room.
As soon as they shut the office door, Elthia made a grab for the conversational reins. “I’m sorry I didn’t mention the piano to you. It was supposed to be a surprise for the children, but I really did intend to tell you about it before it arrived. It’s just that, with everything else going on… Anyway, Zoe really did need this. It’ll make all the difference for her.”
He let her chattering die down and the silence hang before he spoke. “Are there any other surprises you should let me know about? You going to purchase a zoo for Alex? Build Peter his own workshop? Bring a circus to town for Josie and the twins?”
Elthia tossed her head. “There’s no need for such sarcasm. Of course I’m not going to do any of those things.”
“And why not? I’m sure the cost would only be pocket change for the daughter of Rufus Sinclare.”
She stiffened. “What do you mean?”
He pulled the telegram from his pocket and passed it across the desk to her. “This is what I mean. Why the blue blazes didn’t you tell me about the mansion and the army of servants, your daddy’s obscene wealth, and all the rest that goes with it?”
Elthia barely glanced at the telegram. Indignation blazed from her face. “Did you actually have me investigated?”
Caleb ignored the twinge of guilt at her words and dredged back up his own righteous irritation. “And why wouldn’t I? I sure wasn’t getting any straight answers from you. And that’s another thing, why all the secrecy?”
“Because,” she said through clenched teeth. “I wanted you to get to know me as an individual, not as the daughter of the esteemed Rufus Sinclare or as a bottomless pot of gold.” She poked a finger at his chest. “And another thing. I’ll have you know I will spend my money how and where I please, including occasional gifts for the children. But don’t worry, I’ll scratch you off my gift list if it makes you uncomfortable to be there.” And with that she flounced out of the room.
Caleb leaned back in his chair, wondering how this conversation had ended with her sounding like the injured party.
Elthia stepped outside, hoping the fresh air would cool her anger. How dare he have her investigated. She would have told him the truth eventually. Now she’d never get that chance.
She checked a moment when she realized Peter sat on the steps, a knife and chunk of wood in his hands.
He stared up at her with wrinkled brow. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, managing a smile. “I’m fine. I just thought I’d come out here and sit for a spell. It was getting a bit warm in the house.” That was true enough.
Peter nodded and resumed his efforts. Elthia sat beside him.
He didn’t seem to be carving anything recognizable. His vigorous, jerky movements seemed more of an attack against the wood than a shaping of it. A pile of shavings decorated the ground at his feet, testimony to the intensity of his efforts.
“What are you making?” she asked after a long silence.
Peter shrugged. “I don’t know. Sometimes I just like the feel of the wood and knife in my hands. It helps me think.”
Her smile warmed. “You sound like your Uncle Caleb now.”
Elthia thought she detected signs that he’d been pleased by the comparison. “I want to share a secret,” she said, hugging her knees. “I’m glad you took that contract from my trunk.”
He paused in mid stroke, the blade of the knife still buried beneath a curl of wood. “You are? Why?”
“Well, you see, at first I thought your Uncle Caleb took it.”
Peter finished pulling his knife across the wood. “So that’s why you two were out of sorts with each other the past few days.”
“Uh-huh. It forced us to work through some things we needed to get straight. I think, no I know, we’re better off for it. It might never have happened, or at least not for a long while, if you hadn’t set this in motion.” Though it seems we still have a few things to work out. Like why he won’t open up to me more.
“I’m glad I helped.” Peter didn’t meet her gaze. Instead, he eyed the last cut he’d made, blowing to clear the sawdust.
Elthia’s nose twitched as she tried not to sneeze. “Of course there’s another reason,” she said, once she could speak.
“Another reason?” He kept his gaze focused on his handiwork.
“It allowed you and your Uncle Caleb to clear the air between you.” She risked placing a hand on the boy’s knee, hoping he wouldn’t shake it off. “Now you know you can count on us to be there when you need us. We can put all the distrust and blame aside and work to make this group of Tanners a real family.”
And they would succeed, she silently vowed. They had to. She wouldn’t let anything tear this family apart now that she’d staked her claim on it, found her place at its heart.
Elthia gradually became aware that something was wrong. She felt Peter’s tension, the tautness of his muscles, the rigidity of his control. What was bothering the boy?
He raised his head, and she was shocked at the depth of anguish reflected in his eyes. “I’ve done something terrible.”
She took the wood and knife from him and gripped his hands. “Whatever it is, your uncle and I will help you fix it.”
Peter shook his head. “You don’t understand, you can’t fix this.”
She gave his hands a gentle squeeze. “Why don’t you just tell me what happened, and then we’ll see.”
Peter nodded and took a deep breath. “I was so mad when I found that contract, so angry with how unfair it all was. Uncle Caleb had been forced to give up his traveling life, and you’d been forced to marry a man you didn’t want, all because of us. I just figured we’d be better off with Aunt Liz and Aunt Annie.”
Elthia felt the first prickling of real alarm. What was he saying? What in the world had he done?
Pete
r squared his shoulders, bracing himself. “I sent it to Judge Walters and told him I didn’t think he should leave us with you two, that I wanted to go back to Harvestown.”
No! Elthia’s gut clenched. She had to talk to Caleb, had to hear him tell her they could fix this.
Judge Walters had that infernal contract. What would he do? Surely if they explained… He seemed a fair, reasonable man.
She sent up a silent prayer. Please, let him give them another chance.
Peter’s face crumpled, and she tried to pull herself back together as the little-boy side of him surfaced. He needed her the way she needed Caleb.
“I didn’t know about it not being good for Josie to go back.” His tone and expression pleaded with her to understand. “Or how much Uncle Caleb really wanted us. I just thought that, even if the aunts weren’t wild about having us, at least we wouldn’t feel like we’d ruined their lives if we went to live with them.”
“Oh, Peter, you must never let yourself believe you’re a burden to us. We love you and your siblings.”
“I should have told Uncle Caleb right away, after we had our talk this morning. But I couldn’t make myself do it.” His Adam’s apple bobbed. “Do you think if I explained to the judge that it was all a big mistake and that I really do want to stay with you now that it’ll fix things?” he asked.
Elthia struggled to tamp down her own panic. Peter needed reassurances, and her mental hand-wringing wasn’t helping. “I don’t know, but we’ll think of something. Let’s go talk to your uncle.” She gave Peter’s hand another squeeze as she stood and managed what she hoped was a convincing smile. “Don’t worry, we’ll work it out.”
But as Elthia turned toward the house, she gave in to her own doubts and fears, saying a silent, fervent prayer that it would work out. Caleb had tried to explain to her how that contract could be used against them, but she’d insisted he sign it anyway. How would she ever be able to live with herself if it was used to tear this family apart? How would Caleb ever be able to look at her with other than feelings of betrayal?
Predictably, they found Caleb in his workshop. “We need to talk,” she announced, as she ushered Peter in ahead of her.
He still had that glower of irritation, but to her relief, he let go of it as soon as he saw Peter was with her. “What is it? Has something happened?”
Elthia gently pushed Peter into the chair across from Caleb. “Go ahead,” she encouraged. “Tell him what you told me. It’ll be all right.”
Caleb gave Peter his full attention as the boy repeated his story. Only a slight tightening of his jaw betrayed what he might be feeling as he listened.
“I see,” Caleb said, leaning back when Peter reached the end of his tale. “First thing we need to know is when?”
“Sir?”
“When did you send the letter?” he elaborated.
Elthia was impressed by Caleb’s calm demeanor. She could feel her own stomach churn with nervous concerns.
Peter frowned in concentration. “Let’s see, I sent it on that trip to town just after your birthday.”
Caleb nodded. “That puts it at a little over a week. So we can expect a visit from Judge Walters any day now.”
Elthia’s breath caught. Merciful heavens, there was so little time to prepare, to figure out how to fight this.
“I’m really sorry, Uncle Caleb. Can we set it all right?”
Caleb moved around the table, giving Elthia’s arm a squeeze as he moved past her. She took some comfort in the gesture. He seemed to have put his previous irritation with her behind him.
He placed a hand on the boy’s shoulder. “We’re gonna try. And remember, no matter what happens, you did what you thought was right, and there’s no need to ever hang your head for that.”
Peter sat a little straighter, though he didn’t look any happier. “Yes sir. And thank you, sir.”
Caleb flashed an everything’s-gonna-work-out smile. “Now, I think there’s some chores waiting for you. And get rid of the long face. You don’t want to worry the others, do you?”
Once Peter was gone, Caleb raked a hand through his hair. He picked up a small dowel and idly tapped it against the tabletop.
Elthia, unwilling to be shut out, placed both hands on the table and leaned forward. “Well, how do we fix this?”
Caleb stilled his hands, looking as if he’d forgotten she was there. He shrugged. “Not a lot we can do. Just hope the judge gives us a chance to explain. Then we tell the truth and trust his sense of what’s right to decide him in our favor.”
Elthia plopped down in the seat Peter had vacated. She tried to match his air of calm, but it was no use. “I’m scared,” she admitted in a voice that cracked slightly.
Caleb sat beside her, drawing her to his side. “I know.” He didn’t say anything else, merely tucked her head under his chin and held her close.
She drew comfort from his nearness, from his quiet sharing of her fears. She nestled against him, inhaling his woodsy scent, absorbing his comforting warmth. But it didn’t chase away her worries. “I don’t like simply waiting for the ax to fall. Isn’t there something we can do?”
Caleb kissed the top of her head and stood. “Just don’t try mopping the kitchen floor in the next day or two.”
She made a face at him, knowing he was trying to lighten the mood. But she knew her effort wasn’t any more convincing than his had been. Realizing he wanted some time alone, she stood. “I guess I’ll go see about supper.”
Caleb nodded absently and went back to work. Elthia felt a sliver of resentment for his seeming detachment. Keeping this family together was every bit as important to him as it was to her, she’d bet her life on it. But he hadn’t said one word about his own concerns, not even after she’d admitted hers. Would he ever trust her enough to share his deeper thoughts and feelings?
Too much had happened too fast; so many emotional highs and lows to face in the past twenty-four hours. She wasn’t sure she could face this new crisis as stoically as he seemed to.
As she crossed the room, her stomach pitched and everything seemed to shift slightly out of focus. She placed a hand on the doorframe, suddenly needing the support it provided.
Caleb’s arm slipped around her waist. “Are you all right?” His words, warm and full of concern, steadied her. They could get through this, as long as they held together.
She met his gaze with a smile. “I’m fine. Just a touch of this Texas heat getting the best of me.”
Her words only seemed to etch the worry lines deeper in his brow, so she reached down for the hand at her waist and gave it a squeeze. “Honestly, I’m okay. Just worried.”
Caleb stared at their linked hands, lightly stroking her palm with his thumb. Enjoying the moment of closeness, Elthia stood quietly and allowed her gaze to follow his.
Her acquaintances back East would be aghast at the state of her hands. No longer soft and white, they were tanned from the sun and had roughened from her efforts to learn cooking and cleaning skills. She felt a stab of pride at the sight, viewing it as a medal earned on the battlefield of domestic training.
Finally Caleb looked up. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure this all works out for the best.”
His confident words and tone should have reassured her.
So why did she suddenly have this nagging feeling that something wasn’t quite right?
Caleb sat on the porch, whittling by moonlight. The house was quiet. He imagined even Elthia had gone to sleep by now.
The last letter he’d received from Annie, creased and wrinkled, lay on the step beside him. Next to it lay the telegram he’d received today. He refused to look at them, to face their mute calls for him to “do the right thing.” Not that his ignoring them mattered. He knew the contents by heart now.
Annie’s letter made it clear he was no longer the only choice for the kids. And after today, it had become painfully clear he might not be their best choice either.
Peter had felt unwanted. If not
for Elthia, he might still feel that way. And once this latest disaster had run its course, the boy would likely feel some guilt for it as well.
Zoe had mourned the loss of her piano along with that of her parents but had been too guilty about her “selfishness” to say so. Again, it had been Elthia who’d seen and answered the need.
And there was no denying he’d messed up Elthia’s life in a big way. He wasn’t her only choice or her best choice—truth be told, he hadn’t been her choice at all. She didn’t belong here. If the telegram he got today hadn’t been proof enough of that, there was the way she’d almost swooned from the heat earlier and the roughened skin and calluses on hands that were silky soft and flawless only weeks ago.
He couldn’t ask her to stay here. And without her, he couldn’t keep the children. Not just because of the edict from Judge Walters, but because he’d proved himself incompetent.
And it wasn’t like she had to worry about her father marrying her off to that cur Baxter any longer. Even if she hadn’t still been married to him, he had every confidence that her brother would look out for her now that he knew the extent of her determination.
His sisters had been right—he had no business thinking he could take on six kids and a stranger for a wife all at once. It was time he let go of his selfish desire to create a family for himself and let these people he cared so much about get on with the rest of their lives.
Only problem was, Elthia and the kids were good, honorable people. They wouldn’t give up on this family easily, even if it was in their best interest to do it.
So it was gonna be up to him.
Caleb’s knife slipped and sliced his thumb. It stung, but it wasn’t deep. He watched the blood well up.
One drop, then two more, fell to the ground at his feet.
Like teardrops.
CHAPTER 24
“Uncle Caleb! Aunt Elthia!”
Caleb looked up from his coffee as Peter appeared in the kitchen doorway, breathless and white-faced. So, it was time.
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