The Widows of Wichita County

by Jodi Thomas

  Mesquite seeds traveled from South Texas in the bellies of cattle during the cattle drives of the 1880s. They were planted along the trails, stomped into the ground, and today mesquite trees clutter the plains of the state.

  December 3

  Pigeon Run

  Helena Whitworth sat in her favorite chair by the windows, drinking her third glass of wine. She had had a busy day and now wanted to enjoy every moment of the evening with J.D. "You wouldn't believe the way Randi looked when Crystal handed her the keys to her BMW. Oh, J.D. I wish you'd been there."

  He smiled at Helena, seeming to enjoy the hearing of her story as much as she enjoyed the telling.

  "Everyone did their job. Meredith somehow persuaded old Frankie to agree to drop the charges. Anna said she got catalogs for the lamps and color samples for the paint. She even checked the city codes on outside lighting." Helena laughed. "As if we had any. I talked until I was blue convincing Judge Lewis that Randi was no threat to anyone. Only Crystal faltered."

  J.D. told her a story of his army days when one of his young lieutenants hadn't carried through with a field maneuver and almost got them all killed.

  Helena had never loved the war stories, but she did love listening to his voice. Sometimes she would beg to hear a tale again just to enjoy the rhythm of his words. Some men have a knack for telling stories. Her J.D. was a master.

  "Crystal did try," Helena added when J.D. finished. "She had the mechanic lined up and even a body man on standby to fix that tank Randi drives. But Trent Howard got wind of it, and all of a sudden he needed every hand out on the Montano place. Like they were going to rebuild that rig in a day. That young Howard is nothing but a bother. He's doing all he can to keep Crystal from making everything run at Howard Drilling. Thank goodness Elliot is keeping an eye on everything. Trent may think he can get away with something, but my guess is Elliot will stop him every time."

  She took a drink, feeling warm despite the cold outside. She had taken to perspiring lately, even on the coldest days, just like she had done when she went through "the change." Maybe she should take J.D.'s advice and slow down a little.

  "Is it warm in here?"

  J.D. did not answer.

  Wiping sweat from her upper lip, she continued, "Crystid didn't have a choice. She knew how badly Randi wanted to get out of town. The poor girl can't even stay with Crystal and Shelby. It's like every time she sees Shelby, she thinks of her Jimmy, all burned. Randi may have talked about leaving Jimmy because he bored her, but if truth be known he was good to her. That's how it is with some women…no man's ever good until he's gone."

  Helena shook her head. Hard times all around. "Crystal's changing. I'm not sure a few months ago she would have turned loose that toy she calls a car. But this morning she handed over the keys, and told Randi to keep it until she came back at Christmas."

  Helena poured herself another drink. "Oh, I know you think she was trying to guarantee Randi comes back at Christmas. It must get lonely in that big house with all those people around and no one to cuddle with or talk to. Randi needs to keep in touch, as well. She and Crystal were friends long before they were both married to Howards. Now they seem even closer."

  Helena leaned back and relaxed as J.D. talked of doing something for Randi. The cowgirl was not getting any younger, maybe they could jump-start her career. He had a few old army buddies around Nashville, and Helena knew most of the independent store owners. Randi said she had lost yet another job in Memphis. There was nothing keeping her there.

  It was after midnight when Helena crawled in bed. They had discussed every option. Finally, they arrived at a plan to help Randi.

  Helena lay her head next to J.D.'s arm and fell asleep knowing she had something important to do tomorrow. Her store would have to wait another day. For the first time in forty years, she had not been there to open the Christmas season, thanks to Randi's problems. But she left it in Mary's capable hands. It would be all right for one day more.

  At ten o'clock the next morning, Paula called to see if Helena was all right.

  "Of course, dear." Helena tried to sound as if she had been awake when the phone rang. "I'm just a little tired. I thought I'd take it easy today. J.D. is always telling me to take a day off now and then."

  "That's good, Momma. You rest. I'll watch after the store. Pat and I have been helping out where we can."

  "That's nice." Helena could think of little else except hanging up and going back to sleep. The wine must have made her drowsy, and she did not dare tell Paula that she had felt dizzy when she sat up to answer the phone. Her daughter would insist on making an unnecessary doctor's appointment.

  "You are taking your medicine, Momma?" Paula asked. "You've been a little absent-minded since-"

  "Of course," Helena lied before Paula could finish her sentence. "I always take my medicine right after I brush my teeth. I never forget."

  "I'm just worried about you. How about I bring you a plate over for your supper? I'll let myself in and leave it in the fridge."

  "That would be nice." Helena had given up on trying to talk her daughters out of feeding her. If they had their way, she'd be fat as a bear. She had not been eating a great deal lately, but her appetite would come back. "Thank you, Paula," she said, making a mental note to throw away them previous offering before Paula made another delivery.

  "I love you, Momma."

  Helena rarely said those three words to her children. Somewhere over the years, she had stopped and just did not know how to get started again.

  "I love you, too," she finally said, hearing J.D. in the background telling her there was no time like the present to get started on a habit.

  Helena hung up the phone and relaxed onto her pillow. She would dream a few more hours, then she would set Randi's surprise in motion.

  During the early days of oil, change was the only constant from boom to bust. One sign taped to a window in a former boom town read, Don't Bother To Unpack.

  Many men traveled with wives and families. Women worked just as hard trying to build homes at each stop as the men worked to build the rigs. Sometimes the money a wife made as a secretary or doing laundry would cover expenses for getting to the next town.

  December 6

  9:53 p. m.

  Howard House

  Crystal Howard sat alone in the shadows of Shelby's room. The whine of machines blocked out all other sounds. She closed her eyes and dreamed of silence. The odors no longer bothered her. They were now the scent of Shelby. He had gone from having the aroma of cigars and whiskey and oil fields, to smelling of antiseptic, bleached cotton and dying flesh.

  Her life with Shelby before the accident had been a roller coaster, high highs and low lows, but never boring. They would decide to fly to Dallas over breakfast, or have a party at sundown. No matter what the whim, their days and nights were exciting and unpredictable.

  Now, there was a sameness about each day that made her want to scream. With all the people in the house, it was important to follow a timetable, but she had become a slave to it.

  She dressed by seven so she could spend time with Shelby before the office staff from Howard Drilling arrived downstairs at eight-thirty. Then, as the day passed with one business crisis after another, she would run up and down the stairs. Making sure the nurses gave Shelby his medicine.

  Checking to see if he was awake. Delivering messages. Asking advice. The oil game dripped into her blood. The excitement, the gamble.

  The evenings were the only quiet time for her. Months ago she would have passed the time watching TV, but now, sitting beside Shelby while he slept was her only relaxation_

  "Crystal?" Shelby whispered with a scratchy voice that doctors said would never heal. "You still here?"

  She moved to his bedside. "I'm still here, darling."

  "What time is it?"

  "A little before ten."

  His hand covered hers. As days went in Shelby's life, this had been a good one. He had not almost died.
<
br />   "You need to get some sleep, baby."

  "I was just making sure you were resting quietly. I'll tell the nurse to wake me if you have any trouble during the night."

  "Go on to bed. I'll be all right."

  She leaned down and kissed his hand. "Okay. Night."

  She was almost at the door when she heard him whisper, "In case I forget to tell you, baby doll, you're doing a great job. I wouldn't have made it through this without you."

  He didn't see a tear roll down Crystal's face as she left the room. It was the first time he had ever complimented anything but her body.

  She held her head high and walked next door to her room. As she undressed, she thought how Shelby had changed. It was almost as if he were another man behind all the scars and bandages. And tonight, he had proven it once again. He had been grateful, something the old Shelby had never been. He was grateful for her.

  Crystal grinned. Helena said tragedy changes people. Stirs up their hearts, makes them realize what's important and what's not. Maybe Shelb; had found his heart.

  When she sat on her side of the bed, the message machine on her private line blinked at her. Crystal punched the button.

  "You're not going to believe what happened, Crystal!" Randi's voice came through loud and clear. "Frazier's Deportment Store just called. They want to add live entertainment over the holidays, and they want me to be the lead singer. Just think, Crystal, every night I'll be singing, and everyone in Nashville shops at Frazier's around Christmas. I'll be sure to get other gigs from it. And the best part is they're paying me a thousand a week plus a clothing allowance to spend in the store. Imagine that."

  Randi's laughter came through the line. "My last night is the eighteenth, then I'll be heading home. Thanks for letting me borrow your car. Spread the word to the other girls. I'm on my way. I can feel it."

  Crystal smiled. Randi needed a bit of good luck. She was tempted to go see if Shelby was still awake and tell him. He had always liked Randi. He used to tease about her talent, or lack of it, but he had always wished her well.

  A light tapping sounded before Crystal could make up her wind. The night nurse poked her head in as she did every evening after she ran a vitals check. "Mr. Howard is resting nicely. Don't worry about him tonight."

  "Thanks." Crystal liked the way the nurses from Dallas were so polite, so professional. "Good night."

  She leaned back thinking of all that had happened today. One day at a time Trent was cooperating with the workings of the company. He seemed to have given up fighting with her and decided to work her to death to get her out of the way. New bids were going out every day along with more work crews than Shelby had ever kept going at one time.

  Ten minutes passed. Crystal had lifted the remote from her nightstand, but hadn't bothered to click on the TV. The light tapping came again, startling her this time.

  "Mrs. Howard?" The nurse opened the door a few inches. "I saw your light still on and hoped you wouldn't be asleep already. I have a phone call. Would it be all right if I took it downstairs? I won't be long."

  "Sure." Crystal pulled on her robe. "I'll stay with Shelby 'til you get back."

  When Crystal entered Shelby's room, she was surprised to find him awake and restless.

  "Where's the night nurse?" he asked.

  "She went downstairs."

  "Good. I was just thinking about you."

  She moved to the machines. "Is everything all right?"

  "Everything is fine. Come over here," he said sounding angry and frustrated. "Closer, baby doll."

  Crystal thought of the night he had tugged at her gown and made her open her top. She hesitated.

  "Come here," he ordered in his low voice. "I don't bite."

  She crossed to the side of his bed. "If you want me to strip, I'll do it, but I have to lock the door first. I don't want the nurse seeing me."

  She closed her eyes, afraid he might say he didn't care who saw her. But he didn't say anything. Before the accident her stripping had been almost a nightly ritual. Sometimes she didn't mind, telling herself he enjoyed it, but mostly, she hated being groped, knowing the man she loved thought of her as just a body. And she hated the way he'd brag about the details of their private life to anyone who would listen.

  When she looked up, he was watching her.

  "I'd like…" He sounded tired. "I'd like you to lie down next to me. As close as you can get without having to touch me.

  "But…"

  "Just do it, Crystal."

  Cautiously, she stretched out along the side of the bed as best she could. Her fingers trembled as she gripped the sheet to keep from tumbling off. There was no room for her beside him, but she tried.

  "What do you want?" She forced any fear from her voice.

  "I don't want to be by myself anymore. I just want to know you're next to me until I fall asleep."

  Slowly, she relaxed. His breathing slowed. He made no move to touch her or demand anything.

  "Thanks," he whispered just before he fell asleep.

  "You're welcome," she answered just as softly.

  When the nurse returned, she followed Crystal out into the hall. "You really shouldn't be…"

  Crystal looked at the nurse and raised her chin slightly, ready to fight.

  The nurse lowered her gaze. "Oh, never mind. If you like, Mrs. Howard, I could order a bed that's a foot wider. It wouldn't make any difference with his care, but it might make you more comfortable."

  "Order it then."

  The nurse smiled. "You understand it wouldn't be wise for you to fall asleep. If you rolled or swung your arm while that close to him…" She didn't have to say more, Crystal had not lived every day around him without being aware of what might happen.

  "I understand. I just want to make him feel less alone."

  The nurse nodded her understanding. "Good night, again, Mrs. Howard."

  "Wake me if…"

  "I will. Try to get some sleep."

  Saturday, December 11

  12:30 p.m.

  Helena's Choice

  Helena unfolded from her car and headed for her first day of work since before Thanksgiving. She and J.D. decided she needed to take a few days off and rest. After all, the store could get by without her for a while. It had been great fun to sleep in and then watch movies all afternoon. They went for drives to nowhere and talked until dawn once. She finally laughed and said she had to go back to work to get some rest. No one would believe what a time they had enjoyed.

  As Helena locked her car door, she noticed Anna's new white Range Rover circling, looking for a place to park. Helena stood and watched. It was always grand when the lot was full.

  The Rover, after running over the curb, landed in a spot by the street. Meredith Allen and Anna Montano climbed out laughing.

  Helena could not hide her smile. "What have the two of you been up to?"

  "We've been picking out poles for Frankie's place. Which would have been a challenge even for Martha Stewart." Meredith tried to straighten up but a giggle crept into her voice. "The man's not only hairy, he's color blind. It's hard to talk paint with someone who only sees gray. At one point he was sure he wanted purple."

  "It-it is not as easy as one might think choosing j -just the right lamp pole for a bar parking lot." Anna hooked her arm around Meredith's. "I-I was lucky to have help."

  Meredith's eyes sparkled. "At one point, we were standing in the lot all acting like poles so Frankie could decide how far apart he wanted us."

  Anna agreed. "I-I got-" she hesitated, looking for the right word "-hit on."

  Helena could not think of any two people who would look less like they belonged in the local dive. Anna, in her black wool, calf-length coat and fine silk scarf. Meredith, with her jingle bell earrings and white bulky sweater that made her look like a polar bear.

  "She did!" Meredith answered Helena's frown of disbelief. "If I hadn't been there to fight him off, some trucker from out of town would have found him a `good buddy' t
oday. Anna would probably be halfway to the state line by now."

  Both women burst out laughing.

  Anna pretended she was lifting a huge belt around her waist. "I reckon," she tried to sound like a local, but was hopelessly lost. "I-I could take you for a ride, little lady. I will even let you blow the horn."

  The women folded over in pain from laughing so hard.

  "Have you two been drinking?" Helena found that hard to believe, but their behavior warranted her asking.

  Meredith looked so guilty it would be a waste of time for her to lie. "I'm not due back at the courthouse for another half hour. I'll sober up by then."

  Anna patted Meredith's arm. "We had to accept Frankie's offer. It would not have been polite to turn him down."

  Helena pulled them inside and up the back stairs before half the town saw them. "Mary will have a pot of black coffee. You can drink it while I order sandwiches delivered from next door. That should sober up you barflies." She could not hide a smile as she thought of how she would tell J.D. tonight. He had learned all about Anna and Meredith from Helena. He told her once that Kevin Allen spoke of Meredith with respect, as if the little schoolteacher were the anchor in his life.

  Helena followed as Meredith and Anna giggled all the way into the office, having a great time trying to imitate the voices of everyone in the bar. Helena could not believe the little schoolteacher and the fine lady were crazy enough to drink what Frankie gave them. She was tempted to stomp into his place and give him a piece of her mind. Maybe while she was there, she could pick up the two brains Anna and Meredith seemed to have left behind. They could not even tell her what they drank, only that it was green and tasted like frozen key lime pie.

  The pair giggled their way through three cups of coffee and a sandwich each before they finally calmed down. Helena tried to look over her mail while she listened to them talk. Meredith promised to go out to Anna's place and see her art. Anna agreed to help Meredith paint a wall of her classroom to look like a forest.