Tenderness

by Dorothy Garlock

  The little toad, Jesse thought. Todd had known that Jody was going to run in the race when he sank down on the steps after running from the starting line.

  With sweat streaming down his face, his arms and legs pumping, Jody passed the house without a glance. He broke the paper streamer to the cheers of Todd, Susan and Mary Sue. The rest of the crowd was silent. Fifty feet behind Jody came the man from Grover who had won the race two years in a row. The rest of the pack followed.

  Jody stood well back from the crowd.

  “You showed ’em, Jody. You beat ’em all.” Todd was dancing with excitement.

  “I’m afraid there’s going to be trouble. I don’t suppose Wade is anywhere around.” Ethan got to his feet and walked rapidly up the walk to where Todd, Susan and Mary Sue were congratulating Jody.

  After all the runners had crossed the finish line, Boyd Harper began to speak from the platform at the side of the street.

  “Ladies and gentlemen. Once again I want to welcome you to Harpersville’s celebration. My granddaddy, Julius Harper, the founder of Harpersville, was one of the first to hold an Independence Day celebration in eastern Tennessee. I’m proud to keep the tradition alive. We have a grand turnout today. People have come from a great distance to enjoy our hospitality. This mile race is the first contest of the day. It is my pleasure to present this silver dollar to the runner from Grover who has won this race for three years in a row. Come up here, young fellow.”

  “No!” Susan shouted as she, Mary Sue and Todd worked their way through the crowd to the platform. “Jody won the race fair and square.”

  “You’re being m-mean ’cause he’s a darkie.” Anger made Todd’s voice shrill.

  “Young man, watch your mouth or I’ll speak to your father.”

  Susan waved a piece of paper. “You said the race was open to anyone. You never said whites only. Jody won.”

  “In all the years since my granddaddy founded this town, niggers have not been allowed to enter the contest.” Boyd’s face was red and his fat jaws quivered. He had not been challenged before and it was humiliating.

  “Why not?” Susan demanded.

  “Well, it’s just not decent, is what it is. We’ve got to keep our celebration… clean for white foiks.”

  “You think that Jody dirtied it?” Mary Sue asked.

  The tall mustached man from Grover elbowed Susan aside. “Hell, yes, he dirtied it. Want to make something of it?”

  Jeff stepped up beside Susan. He looked young and small beside the Grover man, whom he ignored.

  “Mr. Harper,” he said, looking up at the banker, “Jody was more than fifty feet behind the starting line when the race started. He overtook us. This man tried to trip him, but Jody jumped over his foot and took the lead. He won the race and deserves the prize.”

  “That’s right,” one of the men who ran the race called out. “The nigger won. I ain’t never seen anyone move that fast. It was pure pleasure to see him run.”

  “Jeff Stealy,” Boyd Harper looked sternly at the boy, “Your daddy will thrash you good when he hears that you’re interfering in this.”

  “I don’t think so, Mr. Harper. My daddy is a fair man.”

  Mary Sue clung to Jeff’s arm. “My daddy is too.” She flung the words up at Boyd Harper.

  Jody circled the crowd and came to the side of the platform.

  “Keep your dollar, Mr. Harper. I didn’t run in order to get your prize. I ran because I knew I was the fastest runner in this county. I challenge any man here to stay with me in a five-mile race.”

  The crowd was quiet for a moment; surprised by the boy’s dignity and the intelligent way he spoke.

  “Well, what’er you goin’ to do?” the Grover man broke the silence. “Do I get the dollar, or are you going to give it to that nigger?”

  “Jody won fair and square, Mr. Harper,” Susan said and held out her hand. “I’ll give him the dollar if you can’t bring yourself to do it.”

  “All right. But next year the billboard will clearly state, ‘no darkies.’”

  “You’re givin’ it to him?” the Grover man said angrily. “You’re chicken shit, but I’m not.”

  He began to elbow his way through the crowd to where Jody stood with Susan, Todd, Mary Sue and Jeff. Ethan stood a small distance away, watching. Jody had a frown on his face as Susan held out the silver dollar.

  “Take it, Jody. You earned it.”

  “I knew you could do it, Jody,” Jeff said. “I just entered to keep an eye on you. I knew I didn’t have a chance of winning.”

  “Yeah. Jody, you’re the b-best runner in the whole w-world.”

  The Grover man reached them. He put out both arms and shoved the children away from Jody.

  “Where you from, nigger?”

  “Leave him alone,” Susan said.

  The man ignored her. “If you enter another one of my races, I’ll break both your legs.”

  “You touch him and I’ll have Marshal Wright on you. He hasn’t bothered anyone and he broke no rules. You’re just a sore loser.”

  “What do you know? We got us a white girl here cozy with a nigger.” The man looked at Susan with an insulting leer.

  “That’s what bothers you, isn’t it? A colored man beat you. Let me tell you something, mister. Jody is going to run in the Olympics someday. What do you think of that?”

  “I think it’s a pile of horse shit. They’ll not let this black bastard even try out.”

  “That’s enough.” Ethan spoke from behind Susan, then stepped around to stand beside Jody. “Spout any more insults and you’ll get more than you bargained for, mister. If you’re smart you’ll mosey on.”

  “You a nigger-lover too? Shit, this town’s gone straight to hell.” As he spoke he doubled up his fist and swung. Ethan caught his wrist easily and at the same time stamped his heeled boot down hard on the man’s moccasined foot and held it there.

  “E-E-E-ow! Hell and damnation! Get off my foot! You’re breakin’ it.”

  “I don’t think so. Maybe just a toe or two,” Ethan said calmly. “When you get ready to bully someone, pick on someone other than kids. If you as much as speak to them again, you’ll leave town with more than a broken toe. Understand?”

  The man ducked his head and looked back to see that his friends were heading for town. Swearing at the pain in his foot, he hobbled after them.

  Ethan rubbed his knuckles over Jody’s head and grinned at him affectionately.

  “You didn’t do bad for a skinny, ugly kid.”

  “I showed them, didn’t I, Mr. Bredlow? I wish Wade—”

  “He was here. Standing over there by the bridal wreath. He didn’t interfere because he knew I would.”

  Jody’s head swiveled around. “Where is he?”

  “He took off when the Grover man left. It was great to see you run, Jody, and to see the look of irritation on Harper’s face. How is this going to sit with your folks, Jeff?”

  “As I told Mr. Harper, my daddy is a fair man.”

  “Well, let’s get back to the house and eat that picnic dinner the women have been fussing over. I know they are eager to hear all the details.”

  On Monday after the Fourth, Pauline and Ethan stood on the platform with Wade and Jody as they waited for the train to take them to Tuskegee. The boy fidgeted in the shoes Wade had insisted that he wear. On the way they would stop in Chattanooga and buy a complete wardrobe for Jody to take to school.

  It was the first time Pauline had seen Wade since he had so abruptly broken off with Jesse. She was somewhat cool to him.

  “Hello, Miss Anthony. Thank you for coming to see Jody off.”

  “Why wouldn’t I? He was my student.”

  “How… is Jesse?”

  “Miserable.”

  “She’s recovering from the… wound?”

  “Oh, yes. And she’ll recover from her broken heart too. It’ll just take time.” She turned her back on him and spoke to Jody.

  “I know you’r
e going to do just fine.” She tried to reassure the boy. “You’re one of the brightest students I’ve ever taught.”

  “I ain’t… I’m not worried so much about the learning part, Miss Pauline. It’s the other. I can’t hardly remember what it was like not being with Wade.”

  “He’ll be here if you need him. So will Ethan, Jesse and I. You’ll always be important to us. But if you want to help your people, you’ll need an education.”

  “I’m not sure why I want to help them. I’ve not seen one that knew much of anything.”

  “You’ll meet plenty of smart ones where you’re going.” The train whistle sounded. Pauline held out her hand. “Good luck, Jody. Write to us.”

  Jody clasped her hand. “Tell Todd and Susan and Miss Jesse good-bye.”

  Pauline, touched by the tears in the boy’s eyes, turned a hostile glare at Wade. “He’s… scared,” she snapped.

  The train screeched to a stop; the wind blew the thick smoke back toward them. Wade picked up his suitcase.

  “Bye, Ethan, Miss Pauline. Thank you for coming.”

  Wade and Jody walked back toward the end of the train where people of color were hanging out the windows and standing on the coach steps. Pauline and Ethan were still standing there when the coach passed. Wade and Jody were sitting on a seat together.

  Wade was the only white man in the “Colored Only” coach.

  CHAPTER

  * 24 *

  Several weeks of lonely days passed slowly. Jesse, fully recovered, had taken up her duties in the surgery. The renewed friendliness of the people who had shunned her when she was walking out with Wade irritated her. She worked hard and seldom left the house. She wanted to leave Harpersville soon, but she could not bring herself to tell her father and kept putting it off.

  She was lancing a large boil beneath a drayman’s arm and wondering how he had managed to drive the team all the way from Fredrick when a boy came to the surgery with a sealed note from Dick Efthim, the postmaster, asking her to come to the store. His wife had had a shock, he said, and he was worried about her and the baby she carried.

  Jesse finished with the drayman and went to find Mrs. Klein to tell her that she was leaving for a while. She looked for her straw hat and, not finding it on the hall tree, picked up her parasol, left the house and walked quickly up the street toward town.

  When she reached the store, Patricia was sitting in the back room with a cloth in her hand to dry her tears. She hadn’t combed her hair, and evidently she had come the half block to the store in an old wrapper.

  “Pat, what in the world is the matter?” Jesse knelt down beside the woman while her husband hovered near by.

  The bell on the door jingled and Dick had to leave the room.

  “Pat, tell me,” Jesse urged.

  “It was… it was… that man. Dick went to meet the mail train about four o’clock this morning. After he left, I dozed off and the next thing I knew… he had covered my eyes and my… mouth.”

  “Oh, my God! That beast has got to be stopped. Did he hurt you?”

  “Not really. He stripped me naked and looked at me. He said he wanted to see my… stomach and touch it. He rubbed his hand on it and felt the baby kick. I was so… scared.”

  “Of course you were. Did you see any part of him? Do you have any idea who he is?”

  “No. But his face was smooth. He rubbed it on my… stomach. Oh, Jesse, I was afraid he’d do something to harm my baby.”

  “But he didn’t?”

  “No.”

  “Did he put his fingers inside you? If he did we must tell my father.”

  “No. But he asked a lot of questions.”

  “About what?”

  “He wanted to know if the baby could hear in there. And he asked if the baby would… split me when it came out.”

  “That’s all?”

  “He wanted to know if I like it when Dick… when Dick and I—”

  “It’s all right. I know what you mean. Are you going to tell the marshal?”

  “I’d die of embarrassment. Please don’t tell.”

  “I’ll not tell anyone but my father. He should know because he’ll deliver your baby. You can trust him not to say a word to anyone.”

  Jesse stood. “This pervert has got to be someone who knows that Dick leaves early to meet the train.”

  “Everyone knows what time the mail train comes in. Do you think he saw me… at the ball game?”

  “He could have. But you don’t have to be afraid now. I’ve not heard of him visiting a place twice.”

  Dick came back and went straight to his wife and hugged her. “Is she all right?” His worried eyes looked up at Jesse.

  “She’s distraught as any woman would be who has gone through what she has. But I don’t think there is any permanent damage to her or the baby. She needs to get back in bed and rest.”

  “I’m not going back there by myself,” Pat protested.

  “You don’t have to, love. I’ll send for the Johnson girl to stay with you. I’ll tell her that you’re tired and that Miss Jesse suggested that you rest in bed today.”

  “I’m sorry that I’m not much help to you.”

  “Don’t worry about it. You’re my sweetheart and I love you… and our baby. Miss Jesse, will you walk her home? I can’t lock up and leave just now. People are coming in for their mail.”

  “Of course, I will, and I’ll wait until the Johnson girl gets there.”

  Jesse went directly from the Efthim house to the marshal’s office. On the way she encountered James Crane, the schoolteacher. She felt a little guilty thinking of him as Old Ichabod. Susan had good reasons for her nicknames usually, but this poor, shy man should not be ridiculed. He glanced up, nodded and lowered his head. He walked as usual with his long stride and awkward gait. His arms held several books. Poor man, she thought, books instead of friends. She was going to have a talk with Susan about him.

  Edsel Harper was standing in the doorway of the bank when she passed.

  “Miss Jesse, I’m glad to see you looking well again… and so pretty. I declare. You’re the prettiest girl in Harpersville.” His eyes swept over her as if he were looking at a horse to buy.

  “What you mean is, I’m not tainted anymore and my reputation has been restored now that I’m not seeing Wade Simmer.”

  “Now, I didn’t mean—”

  “Yes you did!”

  “Miss Jesse, I—”

  “Oh, shut up, Edsel,” Jesse almost shouted and kept walking.

  She found the marshal at his desk.

  “Mornin’, Miss Jesse.”

  “Morning.”

  “What brings you out so early? You look as mad as a hornet.”

  “I am mad. Something has got to be done to catch that mangy polecat who’s stripping women. He did it again early this morning.”

  “Who?”

  “I promised I wouldn’t tell. The poor woman has been humiliated enough.”

  “How will I ever catch him if the women don’t cooperate?”

  “I can tell you as much as she can. I’ve talked to four of the women. He uses the same pattern every time. He knows when the women will be alone so he must be someone who lives or works in town. He gets in and out of the house without being seen. Does that tell you anything?”

  “Sure. It tells me that he’s no dumbbell. What we need to do is set a trap for him.”

  “You mean let it be known that some woman will be alone and lie in wait for him?”

  “I don’t know of any other way.”

  “Hmmm… that might work.”

  “It would take some doing. If one word got out, it would be all over town.”

  “I know that. I’ll think on it and get back to you.” Jesse paused. “I’d like to be the bait.”

  “Your pa wouldn’t allow it. Wade would be mad enough to kill me.”

  “What I do is none of his business.”

  “How are you two getting along?”

  “We’
re not and you know it.”

  To her surprise the marshal laughed. “I’ll be at your wedding.”

  Jesse looked directly into his eyes. “You’ll not live that long,” she replied and went out.

  Jesse passed the bank with her nose in the air knowing that Edsel sat at his desk looking out onto the street. Damn him, why was he always watching her? Now that Wade had stopped coming to town to see her, Edsel seemed determined to pursue her again. He was so darn sure she would be unable to resist him.

  Three days later, Jesse went again to the marshal’s office.

  “Miss Jesse, come in. You just missed Wade.” Dusty noticed the color leaving Jesse’s face on hearing Wade’s name. “He was telling me that Jody has settled in at the boarding school. He had a few bad moments at first, but things worked out or Wade wouldn’t have left him there.”

  “I came to talk about The Looker,” Jesse said frostily.

  “Yeah. Well, sit down. What’s on your mind?”

  “Mrs. Pennybrook’s daughter, Martha, wants to go to Knoxville for a few days. The problem is her mother. The old lady is deaf as a stone and Martha is reluctant to leave her alone. She asked my father if he knew of someone who would spend a few days and nights with her. I volunteered.”

  “And—?”

  “Don’t you see? It’s a perfect setup. We can have Ralph put a small news item in the paper about Martha leaving town and that I will be staying with her mother. The Looker is bound to see it. If he comes, you can be nearby to catch him.”

  “What does your father say to this?”

  “He doesn’t like it. But I’m of age. I want this man caught.”

  Dusty looked at the girl across the desk from him. Jesse had lost weight, but more than that she had a hard, cold look about her that she hadn’t had before. Her breakup with Wade had had as much effect on her as it had on him. Dusty knew, although he hadn’t mentioned it to Wade, that the man came to town purposely to find out how Jesse was doing. He had been here this morning and had asked a half-dozen questions about her before he had even sat down.