Edwina's Husband

by Agnes Alexander

  Mildred went to the guest room door and knocked. There was no answer. She knocked again and thought she heard groans from inside. She frowned and opened the door.

  Mildred gasped and hurried into the room. She saw the toppled table and Callie lying on the bed in a fetal position. The woman’s face was bloody and she looked as if she had bruises all over her body.

  “My Lord, Callie. What in the world happened to you?”

  Callie opened her eyes. “I need help.”

  “You certainly do. I’ll try to get you cleaned up.”

  Mildred went to the dresser and poured water into a bowl. Grabbing a rag, she began cleaning the blood from Callie’s face.

  “Oh, that hurts.”

  Mildred put the cloth down. She patted Callie’s shoulder. “The doctor is here with Cora Sue. I’m going to get him to look at you.”

  “No. Hezekiah will be mad.”

  For the first time in her life Mildred Reeson cursed. “The hell with Hezekiah.”

  * * * *

  After Asia treated Callie, he motioned for Mildred to come into the hall. “I didn’t want to talk in front of her, but whoever did this to her should be in jail.”

  “It was that husband of hers.”

  “The one who is going around town acting so sanctimonious?”

  “He’s the one.”

  “You don’t think he’s the one who hurt Cora Sue, do you?”

  Mildred thought a minute. “No. It couldn’t have been him because he was here the evening Cora Sue was hurt.”

  “I see.”

  “Besides, I think his wife is the only one he hurts.”

  “Well, he sure did a good job of messing her up. She has bruises on most of her body. There’s a cut on her side and her shoulder was out of place. I treated the wounds, set the shoulder and I gave her something for the pain.”

  “My heavens, we need to get in touch with Jeff Bodger. That man needs to be put in jail.”

  “I agree, but unfortunately most people look the other way when a wife is beaten. It seems they think the husband has a right to whip his wife.”

  “I think it’s barbaric.” Mildred look disgusted. “Did she say anything?”

  “She kept mumbling something about she had to get to Edwina. I assume she meant Mrs. Singleton.”

  Mildred nodded. “Why don’t you go tell Cora Sue what’s going on? I’ll sit with Callie. Maybe I can figure out what she wants to tell Edwina.”

  “Good. She was getting agitated about it. I gave her something to make her relax and sleep.”

  “I’m sure rest will be good for her.”

  “Yes, it will.” He started down the hall. “By the way, Mildred, we also need to make sure her husband doesn’t get near her. If he were to hit her again it could kill her.”

  “I’ll lock the doors and warn Hilda not to let anyone except Thourgood in the house.”

  “What if the preacher comes with him?”

  “Then I’ll tell her to come get you and me before opening the door.”

  * * * *

  Callie seemed to be sleeping peacefully when Mildred came into the guest room after warning Hilda.

  “How could a man do this to his wife?” she muttered as she straightened the covers. “How could you put up with this, Mrs. Thorn? I’d never take such from Thourgood.”

  Mildred moved to the window and looked outside. The sun was going down and the sky was a mixture of reds and oranges. Everything looked peaceful and serene.

  “Why can’t life be peaceful and calm like this?”

  Shaking her head, she righted the overturned table, then began picking up the items on the floor. Callie’s sampler was in the corner, as was her reticule. Mildred moved with them to the table and pulled at the drawer.

  It didn’t open. Frowning, she tugged at it again.

  When it still didn’t open, she wondered why a guest would lock the drawer. Of course, she felt the preacher was capable of anything.

  She gave it one more tug and the drawer slid open. She started to put the items inside when she saw the papers. She laid the items on the table and reached for them. At that moment Callie began to mumble.

  Mildred shut the drawer and rushed to the bed. “What are you saying, Callie?” she whispered.

  Though the words were slurred, Mildred heard her say, “Get Edwina.”

  “What?”

  “Edwina.”

  “Mrs. Thorn, Edwina isn’t here. I can help you. What do you need?”

  “Need…Ed…win…” Her voice trailed off as she fell back to sleep.

  Mildred shook her head. “I guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to figure out why you want your niece.”

  Chapter 42

  Roxy Lamont turned her head when the front door opened. “It’s about time you got here. Why the hell are you so late?” she snapped.

  “Oh my, Roxy is in a snit this evening.” The tall man chuckled.

  “You’d also be in a snit if you’d been shut up in this house for days.”

  “It’s only been two days, my dear. You took it on yourself to walk to town the other day, even though I told you to stay out of sight.”

  “I don’t understand why it’s important nobody know I’m in town.”

  “I know you don’t, sweetheart. That’s why I’m in charge of this operation.” He took a seat on the sofa. “Now be a good girl and make me a drink.”

  She moved to the liquor cabinet, poured whisky in a glass and handed it to him. “Here you are, my lord and master.”

  “And don’t you forget that.” He sipped the drink and winked at her.

  She shook her head and poured a drink for herself. “How’s the plan going?”

  “Not well. Leaving the bloody knife for the sheriff was a waste of time. He must not have thought Wyatt had anything to do with the attack on Cora Sue Reeson because nothing has been said about it.”

  “Damn.”

  “I told you nobody would believe he was guilty.”

  “I don’t understand why everybody in this town thinks the man is such a saint! I thought for sure he’d be arrested for the crime.” She sipped her drink.

  “We’ll see if we can’t get him arrested for something else.”

  “Are you going to kill another pretty woman?” She wrinkled her nose at him.

  “Maybe I will.”

  “Be serious. What’s our next move?”

  “Thourgood has placed several ads in the east. I’m sure we’ll start hearing from them soon.”

  “Does Thourgood know I’m here?”

  “Of course.” He eyed her. “Don’t go getting ideas about him though.”

  “Why not? He was awfully nice to me when Ben got hurt.”

  “Well, I won’t have it. As long as you’re here, stay away from him.”

  “My, my. I do believe you’re jealous.” She gave him a pouty grin.

  “I wouldn’t call it jealously.”

  “And why not?” She cocked her head.

  “I only want you to stay focused. If you start messing around with other men, it could cost us.”

  “Are we getting any money now?”

  “Some.” He frowned.

  “When do I get my share?”

  “When we get enough to start sharing.”

  “Honey, a little money is better than no money.”

  He ignored her statement and said, “There is one thing that worries me.”

  “What’s that?”

  “A family showed up and set up camp on Singleton’s land. It didn’t take him long to discover them and run them off.”

  “You said the other day that some of the settlers were getting their land by going to court. Why didn’t this family do it?”

  “I think those people won because they went to court en masse. If this family went, they’d be alone and there’s no question who the judge would believe.” He reached over and patted the seat beside him. “Come sit with me.”

  “Saint Wyatt, of course.” Roxy
moved to the sofa and sat beside him.

  “Of course.”

  “Then we’ll have to think of another way to get rid of Wyatt.” She blinked her eyes. “I know as soon as he’s out of the picture, I can make Ben fall for me again. Then, it won’t take me long to sell that ranch piece by piece.”

  He reached over and rubbed her shoulder. “I’m sure you can do whatever you set your mind to do, my love. You’ve always been able to.”

  “And I’ll continue to do so.” She leaned up and kissed his cheek. “Now, can we drop business talk and eat? I’m hungry.”

  “Have you cooked supper?”

  She frowned at him. “Of course not. I expected you to bring our food in.”

  He chuckled. “I guess that means I have to go back to the café and pick something up.”

  “I guess it does.” She reached up and tickled his ear.

  He sat his empty glass on the table beside the sofa. “Before I go, I think I’d like a little incentive.”

  She giggled. “Honey, nobody gives incentive any better than I do.”

  He pulled her into his arms and muttered as he began kissing her. “You’re right about that, baby.”

  * * * *

  Wyatt knocked on his father’s door. When Ben called for him to come in, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. “I came to help you get ready for bed and I have something I need to tell you, Dad.”

  “Well, let me have it, Son.” Ben turned his chair from the window.

  “I’ll get us a drink.”

  “That bad, humph?”

  “Yes, it is.” He poured two glasses of brandy and handed his dad one.

  “That damn preacher hasn’t talked Edwina into going back to Virginia, has he?”

  Wyatt chuckled. “Not on your life. Edwina’s not going anywhere.”

  “Good.” Ben sipped his brandy. “What is it, then?”

  “Jeff Bodger told me he thought he saw Roxy in town the other day.”

  “Hell and damnation. What’s she doing back?”

  “I don’t know, but I thought you had a right to know.”

  “I’m glad you told me. It’d be just like her to show up here.”

  “That’s what I was afraid of.” Wyatt took a deep breath and added, “Do you still…”

  “No, Wyatt. I don’t want her back. As I said before, I don’t think I ever loved the woman. I just thought I did. I was glad for her to be out of our lives. Now I hate the thoughts of her trying to come back into our family.”

  “As long as you don’t want her, I’ll have no problem getting rid of her again.”

  “Do what you have to, Son.”

  “Thanks for your permission, Dad.”

  Ben set his glass on the table. “Now if you’ll help me get out of this thing, I’ll try to get a good night’s sleep.”

  “I’m sorry I had to give you upsetting news.”

  Ben laughed. “It’s not that, Son. I’m still mad at the man who thinks he’s God and wondering how he’s treating that sweet wife of his.”

  “You’ve got a point, Dad. I’ve wondered about her myself.”

  Chapter 43

  Mildred awoke to a banging on the front door. She jumped out of bed and grabbed her robe. She met Hilda in the hall.

  “I’m glad you got up, Hilda.”

  “I wanted to be sure it was Mr. Reeson, Ma’am.”

  “I hope it is.” Mildred opened the door.

  “Why the hell was this door locked?” Thourgood demanded.

  “Are you alone?”

  “Yes, I’m alone. What does that matter?”

  “Then, come in.” Mildred stood aside.

  “What’s going on, Mildred? The door was locked and you want to know if I’m alone. I need an explanation.”

  “I’ll go back to bed, Mrs. Reeson.” Hilda backed away.

  Mildred nodded. “Thank you for coming down, Hilda.”

  The maid slipped back up the stairs and Mildred turned to her husband. “Come into the parlor and I’ll explain what’s happened.”

  Thourgood followed her and took a seat on the sofa as she lit a lamp. She turned and began to explain about finding Callie.

  “You mean he beat his wife?”

  “He almost killed her, Thourgood.”

  “Then, you’re right. We can’t let him back in this house.” Thourgood frowned. “I never dreamed he’d be that mean.”

  “Do you know where he is?”

  “Yeah. Michael Donavan was in Andersons when the Colley boy came running in and told him his father fell off the barn roof and was not breathing good. Hezekiah was concerned about his soul so he demanded the doctor take him along.” Thourgood took a drink of the whiskey his wife served him. “I’m sure they’ll be out there for the rest of the night.”

  “Good.” Mildred took a deep breath. “If Asia thinks she’s able, we’re going to take Callie back to the Singleton ranch in the morning.”

  “I think that’s a good idea. I’m not sure I can keep him away from her the way Wyatt can.”

  Mildred frowned. “I’ll keep him away if I have to resort to using a gun.”

  Thourgood laughed. “I can see you with a gun, my dear. You’d probably shoot yourself.”

  “You might be surprised.” She stood and reached for his hand. “Now, let’s go to bed. We have to get up early in the morning.”

  “I want to look in on Cora Sue. Is she doing all right?”

  “She’s as good as we can expect since you insisted on moving her today.”

  “I wanted my daughter home. I thought I could talk her into forgetting about that Walker man.”

  “She’s going to marry Asia, Thourgood. You might as well accept it.”

  “I don’t want to, Mildred.” He sighed. “I only want her to realize that we’ll be ruined if she doesn’t marry Wyatt.”

  “How many more times does one have to tell you that she’ll never marry him. He’s married and he’s going to stay married to Edwina. They love each other, Thourgood. Can’t you understand that?”

  He didn’t answer, but headed up the stairs and down the hall to Cora Sue’s room. Opening the door, he looked inside and saw Cora Sue fast asleep.

  He closed the door, and turned back to his wife. “As soon as I get back from taking Callie to Singleton’s in the morning, I’ll talk with her.”

  Mildred didn’t argue with him, but she knew no matter what Thourgood said, Cora Sue had already made up her mind.

  * * * *

  Rosalinda and Juan were in the kitchen cooking breakfast when they heard the wagon in the front yard. They both went to the front door.

  “My goodness, Juan. It’s Mr. Reeson and Doctor Asia.”

  “They have somebody in the wagon.” Juan stepped off the porch. “It’s Miz Callie.”

  “I’ll get Mr. Wyatt.” Rosalinda turned and ran up the stairs. She knocked loudly on the bedroom door.

  “What’s going on?” Wyatt came out of the room, buttoning his shirt.

  “It’s Miz Callie. She’s been hurt.”

  Wyatt hurried down the stairs and out on the porch.

  Edwina caught up with Rosalinda. She was tying the sash around her robe. “What’s wrong with Aunt Callie?”

  “I don’t know, honey, but she looks pretty bad.”

  By the time Edwina and Rosalinda reached the top of the stairs, Wyatt was coming up with Callie in his arms. Asia and Thourgood followed.

  “I’ll ready her room.” Rosalinda went to the room Callie had used before.

  Edwina followed her and waited beside the turned-down bed as Wyatt gently laid her aunt in it.

  Callie moaned, but didn’t wake up.

  “If you gentlemen will please wait outside, I’ll make sure she made the trip over all right,” Asia said.

  Rosalinda stepped back and said, “Come to the kitchen and have some coffee while he’s busy with his patient.”

  Wyatt and Thourgood followed her out of the room.

  “Asia, what’
s wrong with Aunt Callie?” Edwina looked at him.

  Bent over his patient, he looked up and removed the stethoscope from his ears and shook his head. “She told Mildred that her husband beat her, Mrs. Singleton.”

  “Oh, no. I was afraid he’d hurt her one day.”

  “I think she’ll be all right with good care.”

  “Will moving her…”

  “I tried to get her to stay at the Reeson ranch, but she insisted on coming to you. I knew she’d only fret and worry if we didn’t get her here.”

  “I’m glad she wanted to come to me, but I hope it didn’t bother her recovery.”

  “Mildred put a mattress and pillows on the bed of the wagon and I sat back there with her. Thourgood did a good job of missing most of the ruts.” He smiled at Edwina. “I don’t think it’ll hamper her recovery.”

  “That’s good. I know we’ll take the best care of her we can.”

  “To be honest, Mrs. Singleton, I felt the trip was worth it. I think Callie will be safer here with you. I’m not sure Mildred or Thourgood could keep her husband away from her.” He smiled. “I know Wyatt will be able to.”

  “Yes, I’m sure he will.” She looked around.

  “I didn’t doubt that.” Asia stood. “Let her sleep for a while. When she wakes up, I think some light soup would be good. She’s hasn’t been eating enough, but I’m sure Rosalinda will soon take care of that.”

  “She will.”

  “I’ll go join the men now, Mrs. Singleton.”

  “Please call me Edwina. Cora Sue and I are friends and she told me you were going to marry. I think it would be easier to be on a first name basis.”

  “I agree. Thank you, Edwina.”

  “I’m sure Rosalinda has the men in the kitchen. I’ll be down as soon as I check on my son.”

  * * * *

  Mildred couldn’t sleep after Asia and Thourgood left with Callie. She was sure Hezekiah would come back to their ranch today. She wanted to be sure he didn’t get back into her house.

  Going to the room he’d been using, she found his worn carpet bag. It didn’t take long to pack all his belongings in it. Remembering the papers she’d seen in the table drawer, she pulled it open. She figured they were something the reverend had hidden from his wife.