by Alter, Judy
He looked sheepish. “She locked me in my own jail cell. Barged into the office, gun drawn. I didn’t have a chance.” He glanced at David. “He came and got me out.”
“He didn’t answer his phone, and I was desperate. Ran all the way to his office,” David added.
I was still shaking hard. Rick spoke softly, putting one arm around me as though to still my shaking. “David, take her into town and get her some coffee.”
“I need to see Carolyn,” I said.
“She will have been notified, and no doubt she’ll beat us to the hospital.”
Sirens announced not one but two ambulances, just before they roared to a stop, one by us and one by Chester.
“I need to do something for her.”
“Stay out of her way right now. She knows you care. She knows too that Chester was trying his best to protect you. It’s not the kind of thing that happens in Crandall.”
I shook my head. “That’s what she kept saying.”
Rick practically pushed me into David’s arms—was that a symbolic gesture? “Take her and warm her up,” he said enigmatically. “I’ve got work to do. In fact, after you give her coffee, take her back to Wheeler. I’ll get a trooper to bring me. We’ll take her statement later.”
“You sure?” David asked.
“Sure,” Rick nodded. “I bet she wants to go straight to Jess.”
I did, and I suggested we bypass the coffee, so we headed for Wheeler. I knew there would be questions, lots of them, but I was prepared to answer. Gradually my shaking diminished. David turned the heat on in the car, in spite of the warm day. I’m sure he was sweltering, but he never said a thing.
We drove straight to Tom and Donna’s, and I barged in the back door, leaving David to trail behind me, unsure of his welcome. I didn’t care about mine at that point. I went through to the living room, where Tom and Donna hovered over Jess who lay on the couch. Henry and Ava hung back in awkward silence, though Ava came forward and gave me a huge hug, and then Henry followed with a more tentative hug. But, hey, a hug from Henry was an accomplishment.
I rushed to the couch and asked, “Jess, are you okay?”
A quavering small voice said, “Yes, Aunt Kate. Are you?”
“I’m okay, honey. I’m just worried about you.”
She reached out for a hug, and I gathered her in my arms. “I was really scared,” she said. “That lady is mean.”
“She won’t hurt anyone ever again, Jess.”
“You sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. Once she gets out of the hospital, she’ll go to prison maybe for the rest of her life.”
Tom straightened. “I guess we better hear the whole story. Let’s go into the kitchen.” Once there, he got out beer for him and David, poured white Zin for Donna and asked me if I need something stronger. “You have bourbon?”
“Sure.”
“Two fingers, neat, please.” I felt I deserved it, and it would banish the rest of the shakes.
The children had followed us, but Donna turned to them, and in a kind voice said, “We don’t mean to say this is for adults only, and I promise to tell you all we find out. But would you stay with Jess, so she doesn’t feel we’ve all abandoned her?”
“Yes, ma’am,” they chorused.
It struck me that a near tragedy had wrought a change in this family. If I’d been thinking about it, I would have expected Donna to rail at me for putting her child in harm’s way, but she was calm, concerned, and even put an arm around me and said, “I’m so glad you’re all right.”
“Thanks, Don.”
In the kitchen, I recounted the whole story, with occasional comments from David, one to compliment my skill in driving.
When I finished, Tom said, “Damn! I’m sorry I missed all that action.”
“Don’t be,” David said, his tone dry. “My heart was in my mouth the whole time.”
Suddenly I asked, “Did anyone call the café?”
Donna jumped up. “No. Done right know.” I heard her punch buttons and say, “Marj, she’s okay. She’s here at the house.” Pause. “No, I don’t think she’ll be in the rest of the day. But tomorrow.” She looked at me and I nodded. “Yes, she’ll be there tomorrow.” Another pause. “Yes, I’ll tell her. Thank you all for your prayers.” She hung up, but I needed no explanation of the call.
Epilogue
When it was all straightened out, Bonnie Smith faced two charges of murder, two charges of aggravated kidnapping (Jess and me), assault of a police officer, assault with a deadly weapon, endangering a child. The list seemed endless. The gun with which she threatened me was a match for that used on both Sara Jo and Sally, which led me to believe she wasn’t a smart murderer—or hadn’t thought things through. She had a fractured ankle and a broken wrist and was under guard in the hospital at Canton. Rick told me he doubted she’d get the death penalty—in spite of a couple of notorious cases, Texas was still leery of executing women. But she’d probably get concurrent life sentences for premeditated murder and other sentences for the lesser charges, which were still serious.
I endured hours of questioning by Sheriff Halstead and the sheriff of Kaufman County where Crandall was located. I was completely exonerated, and I don’t know how they did it—perhaps threatening to charge Cary, but Bonnie confessed with even more detail than she had told me.
Roger and Cary came into the café several nights later, after the crowd, and asked if I would join them for supper. The both looked exhausted, even haggard, as though they hadn’t slept in nights. They probably hadn’t. I did join them, eating a hamburger, which was a rare indulgence for me, and wishing we had a beer and wine license.
“Cary and I talked it over,” Roger said slowly, “and we’re going to stay in Wheeler, at least for the time being. It wasn’t an easy decision, but he wants to finish school with his friends. When he goes to college, I may move to Tyler to get rid of the commute.”
“Will you be embarrassed, Cary?” I asked bluntly.
He ducked his head and thought for a moment. “No. My friends are cool about it. They just don’t talk about any of it. Sure, I sometimes feel that it’s almost awkward the way they dance around what happened and pretend not to know. But they mean well. I’m okay.” He honestly looked less worried than he ever had before, and I sensed somehow that he was relieved. Awful as the circumstances were, Bonnie had taken a great burden off him by removing herself from his life. Did he love her like a son should a mother? We’d never know, but I doubted it. Maybe he always sensed she wasn’t really his mother—she tried too hard. And maybe Sally Vaughn was a problem to him too. Maybe he’d gotten in over his head and didn’t know how to extricate himself. “I’m glad,” I said. “With you two batching it, you must come to the Blue Plate more often.”
Roger laughed a little too heartily. “I’m used to a home-cooked meal, and I doubt Cary’s going to provide that….”
“I can heat pizza,” the boy exclaimed.
Roger rolled his eyes as if to say, “See what I mean.” Then he said, “I expect you’ll see a lot of us in here. I’d have been here before, but Bonnie didn’t like to go out. Wouldn’t go to church either, and that’s something we’re going to do. And I’ll find some kind of men’s group I can join.”
“I’m sure my brother-in-law will help you,” I said.
I had a good feeling about them when they left. They were going to claw and climb their way to a normal life, something neither one had had.
****
Tom and Donna went to Dallas and spent two days seeing doctors and two nights, while I kept all the kids. It went smoothly from my end, and as I found out, smoothly from their end as well. The internists prescribed antidepressant medication for Donna and gave her a weight-gain diet to follow, telling her he wanted her to gain at least twenty pounds by the next time he saw her. Telling me about it later, she said, “I’ll be fat as…well, I don’t know what. Bet I’ll have to wear those oversize clothes—muumuus and tent dresses.
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“I bet you’ll be a perfect size ten instead of a size four,” I said. “And I’ll still be jealous.”
The doctor warned that the medication would take three-to-four weeks to take effect and we shouldn’t expect instant results. But Donna already seemed calmer to me. Maybe happy would come next.
Tom reported the doctor had also recommended a counselor in Canton, and Donna had agreed to go for joint counseling. “If she decides not to go, I’m going myself,” he said resolutely.
Tom later told me they stayed at The Mansion on Turtle Creek, had dinner in the formal dining room, and the last night they were there they went to Fearing’s, the great restaurant run by renowned chef Dean Fearing, who had been at The Mansion for years. Tom said that he deliberately avoided the Adolphus, where Irv used to take Donna and Ava, but he said, “I know Donna enjoyed it. It’s that upscale world she’d like to live in. Lord knows, I can’t afford it very often, but I’m resolving to take her for a weekend every once in a while. Tell David to find me some other hotels.”
The Brysons settled in to learning to be a family again, and Donna came back to the café for more cooking lessons. Benny groaned, but I told him she’d be coming in the afternoons for dinner prep, and I’d handle teaching her.
“Thanks, boss. I’ve done all I can with her about breakfast.”
“Her husband tells me she’s fixing pancakes and sunny side up eggs for them and quite proud of herself.”
Benny paused after flipping an egg and looked at me with a grin. “That’s good news.”
Business at the B&B seemed to pick up, since Donna had relaxed some about it. She had two or three couples every weekend, and with the end of school looming, she had several family bookings for a week. At my suggestion, she compiled a list of area attractions. “Great idea, Sis. I’ll get right on it.” And she did.
One day she wandered in for coffee and asked, “You still want to take over the books?”
Not really, but I will. Aloud, I said, “Of course. When do you want me to start?”
“This morning,” she said, and pulled up a bag of files and papers and a ledger. “It’s all right here.” And with that, no further explanation, she left.
It took me three long evenings to make heads or tails of her entries, but I finally did and found she was doing better. I’d have to teach her about quantity ordering and the like, but she was on her way.
****
I went to see Chester and Carolyn Grimes, with forewarning, of course.
Carolyn said, “Oh, Kate, please do come. I can’t bear having this grumpy man to myself anymore.” But there was a lilt of laughter in her voice, and I knew she was glad to have him any way at all after his close call.
When I got there, Chester was grumping about the house, complaining a man on crutches can’t do “a blasted thing. Jesse James and his gang could come roaring through Crandall, and I couldn’t do anything.”
“It isn’t going to happen, Chester,” Carolyn said serenely. “I don’t have a dread in my bones anymore. I know now what it was—I was afraid for you and for Kate. Now you’re both safe, and I can relax.”
“Maybe you can, but I can’t with this cast on. It itches.”
Carolyn turned a deaf ear to his complaints and poured us each glasses of a light white wine. Looking at Chester, she said, “No beer. Doctor has you on a diet. Says you’ll walk better on that leg if you lose weight.” She served us tuna salad with raw vegetables—carrots, broccoli, celery on the side.
“Bread?” Chester croaked. “To go with this rabbit food.”
She shook her head.
I left cheered to see them back to normal, bickering as usual. Carolyn was in her element when she could boss Chester around. They’d be fine. Carolyn promised they’d come see me as soon as Chester got a little less grumpy, and he harrumphed and then, balancing on his crutches, gave me a big bear hug.
I nearly sang all the way back to Wheeler.
****
A few nights later, I wondered why Rick didn’t come in for supper. But he showed up at eight thirty, just like he did when he thought I was in danger.
“Came to walk you home,” he said.
“That will be a nice treat.”
He ate a chicken-fried steak while he waited, and about nine thirty we headed for my house.
“Wait? I have to get something out of my car.”
I noticed he was in his own car tonight but didn’t think it important. What he got out of his car turned out to be a really good bottle of wine.
We walked quietly, occasionally brushing shoulders. At the house, I unlocked the back door, grateful that I locked it and could avoid a scolding. Huggles greeted us with leaps of joy and wet kisses and then darted out the door.
“It’s such a relief to be able to let him run,” I said. “Do you think she really would have hurt him?”
“Don’t know. But I’m sure she really would have hurt you without your fast thinking. ’Course,” and now he drawled, “you’re lucky you didn’t kill her and yourself.”
“I calculated pretty carefully,” I said.
“Then you’re a damn fine driver, and I salute you.” He was opening the wine, getting out two glasses. He poured a generous serving in each.
“Got to talk,” he said.
It was unlike Rick Samuels to talk seriously. He had only unburdened himself to me once, so I was puzzled about what was coming.
He swirled his wine, made a show of sniffing the bouquet, swirled a sip in his mouth like a wine connoisseur, and finally spoke. “I’ve accepted the position of chief of police in Longview. Violent crimes and crimes against property there have risen sharply, and they’ve hired me to do something about it.”
“You’re leaving Wheeler?” I’m not sure if there was disbelief or dismay in my voice.
“Your fault. You created two violent crimes in a town that hasn’t had any in years. Gave me a great chance to show off what I can do. ’Course they don’t know you solved both of them, and I’m not telling.”
I smiled tentatively. “Was that another compliment?”
“Yes, ma’am, it was. But please don’t make a habit of creating crimes so you can solve them. The next police chief may not be as tolerant.”
“I’ll wrap him around my finger, just as I did you,” I joked.
“You probably will. Chester Grimes has applied for the position, and I’ll back him. Of course, he can’t begin until he gets that cast off.”
“Chester and Carolyn in Wheeler? You’ll miss all the fun.”
He sobered, “I know. And I’ll come back. But, Kate, we weren’t going anywhere, were we? Not that I could tell.”
Now it was my turn to avoid his eyes, play with my glass until I decided that wasn’t fair. “No, I don’t think we were. If it was meant to be, it would have happened before now. Both of us should move on.”
“I can’t help asking: will you move on right into David’s arms? I know he’s sweet on you, but you’re hard to figure.”
“I don’t know. I find him attractive, but I find you attractive too. I don’t know what will happen.” And that, honestly, was the truth.
Over the rest of the bottle, we talked about his new job. He’d begin in two weeks, and he’d go to Longview this weekend to look for housing. He didn’t need much, but I hoped he’d find something better than the tiny place he lived in now. He was truly excited about the prospect of a challenge.
“Wheeler was a good transition for me, but all I do is paperwork and I want action. Not that the city is a hotbed of crime.”
The only other person he’d told was Tom, when he submitted his resignation. Tom agreed to fill in during Rick’s absence both this weekend and in the interim before a new appointment. He’d talked to Tom about Chester, and Tom said he had to open the applications publicly and bring all before the council, but he’d keep Chester in mind.
I wondered if I could lobby. Really not much usually went on in Wheeler. Chester could handle it.
<
br /> When he left, leaving an empty wine bottle behind, Rick put his arms around me, kissed me gently, and said, “I’ll miss you a whole lot, Kate Chambers. May I come calling now and then?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t. I’ll miss you too, miss saving you a sticky bun, miss wondering what you’ll order for dinner, miss having you scold me for messing in your business and being foolhardy.”
“Was I that bad?”
“Yeah, you really were.” I punched him lightly.
A kiss on the forehead and he was gone. I called Huggles in, put the wine glasses in the sink for tomorrow, threw the bottle away and then, on second thought, rinsed it to save. Then I went to bed without even brushing my teeth. Gram would be horrified. And I had myself a good cry. I would miss him. Would he have stayed in Wheeler for me? I’d never know. And I’d probably never know if I’d made a huge mistake or not. Just as I was about cried out and wondering if between tears and wine I’d wake with a pounding head, Gram spoke.
“The Lord moves in mysterious ways, child. You can’t change things that were meant to be.”
“Did the Lord tell you that personally?” But of course, she was gone.
****
David and I had our much-delayed dinner at Currents in Tyler that weekend. Our talk was light, for which I was grateful. The talk with Rick had about done me in. David did say he’d taken on a partner in Dallas and expected to be working from his cabin on Callendar Lake at least half the time. He was tired of Dallas. And he’d volunteered to do some legal work for the city of Wheeler on a pro bono basis.
“You’ll get tired of seeing me,” he teased.
“I doubt it,” I said and raised a glass in a toast.
Maybe Gram was right.
THE END
RECIPES FROM THE BLUE PLATE CAFÉ
Salmon croquettes
1 14.75-oz. can of pink salmon (Pick the bones out if you can, and discard the black skin.)
One small onion, chopped