The Way Forward

by Eliana West

  Reid gave him a sheepish grin. “I couldn’t sleep after you sent me the text about Callie. I made up my mind around three in the morning that I wanted to be here, and I was on the road by four thirty.”

  Dax looked at his brother with surprise. “What about work?”

  His brother avoided his gaze. Wandering over to the windows overlooking the park, he pressed his hand against the glass, craning his neck to look around the town square before he turned back to Dax.

  “The thing is, I’ve been thinking about coming back ever since my last visit. I know it doesn’t make any sense. I swore I would never set foot in this town again but…” he shrugged “…here I am. I have two weeks of vacation and I want to spend it here.” He held his hands up. “Don’t think it’s all about you. Mr. Wallace, Primus, offered to teach me about making bourbon. It’s something I’ve been interested in for a while now.” He sighed. “I need something more in my life than work.”

  “I don’t care what the reasons are, I’m just glad you came home. Will you have dinner with Callie and me tonight?”

  “That would be great.”

  “You’re welcome to stay here with us, if you’d like.”

  “I think I’d better bunk with Uncle Robert, I have a feeling three’s a crowd.”

  “Thanks Reid, dealing with Mom isn’t going to be easy and I’m really thankful that you’re here.”

  “We’re brothers, where else would I be?”

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  Callie glanced up from her desk and Reid’s gaze met hers. “You don’t have to babysit me, you know.”

  Reid turned the page on the book he obviously wasn’t reading. “I honestly don’t mind.” He looked around the room. “I like it here.”

  It wouldn’t be right to say things had returned to normal after the gas leak at her house. She and Dax fought about her going back home, so she compromised and agreed to stay with him for a few days until Isiah had done a thorough inspection on the house. She smiled softly—not that she minded waking up with Dax every morning.

  Callie was surprised that Reid decided to visit, but also happy for Dax. They had dinner together the night before and she loved watching the two brothers reconnecting and forming new bonds. Reid had been at the library all morning. She knew Dax had asked him to check in on her while she was working, everyone had been checking in on her and it was starting to wear on her nerves just a bit but she knew everyone meant well and she was touched by the love and concern everyone showed her.

  Callie got up and pulled another book from the shelf. “Have you read this one?” she asked, handing Reid a copy of Whisky Women.

  Reid took the volume from her hand. “No, I haven’t.”

  “It’s about Elizabeth Bessie Williamson, considered the greatest female distiller, and other women like her who were pioneers in the industry.” Callie smiled. “I noticed you’re reading a lot about distilleries and Dax mentioned you’ve been spending a lot of time with Mr. Wallace. Are you interested in making your own?”

  “There’s an urban distillery in Chicago that had a class. I don’t really have time with my caseload, but if I had the time, I’d like to give it a try someday.”

  Callie pulled out a chair and sat down. “I know how busy you are and I really appreciate that you took the time to come down here. It means a lot to Dax.”

  Jacob poked his head through the door that connected the library to the bookstore. “Hey Callie, I’ve got a question for you. Can you come here for just a minute?”

  “Sure.” She turned to Reid and said, “Do you mind?”

  “Go.” Reid waved his hand toward the bookstore. “I’ll give a holler if anyone comes in.”

  Dax walked into the library to find his brother standing in front of a small framed picture on the wall. “Where’s Callie?”

  “She went next door to talk to Jacob. Have you seen this?” Reid asked pointing at the picture.

  Dax moved to stand next to him. It wasn’t a piece of artwork it was a piece of history. Callie had a copy of her grandfather’s NAACP card framed so that both the front and the back of the card were visible. The front of the card read.

  Richard Colton

  P.O. Box 85

  Colton, Mississippi, 39192

  1954

  Member: $2.00

  “We’ve come so far and yet we have so far to go,” Dax said reading the six points listed as reasons to join the organization.

  1. To educate America to accord full rights and opportunities to Negros.

  2. To fight injustice in Courts when based on Race prejudice

  3. To pass protective legislation in State and Nation to defeat discriminatory bills.

  4. To secure the Vote for Negros and teach its proper use.

  5. To stimulate the cultural life of Negros.

  6. To stop lynching.

  “I can’t imagine what he must have seen in his lifetime,” Reid said.

  “Callie told me her grandfather worked alongside Medgar Evers.”

  “That’s amazing.”

  “I’m so grateful she gave me a second chance. I’m so thankful for the history she’s shared with me.”

  “It’s been nice getting to know her. I like the two of you together. You belong together.”

  “I love her,” Dax said.

  “Over my dead body.”

  They both turned to see their mother standing in the doorway, her face twisted into a mask of rage. “Why are you still here?” she said, staring at Reid.

  “Reid has every right to be here, Mother.”

  She closed the door and walked toward them fingering the pearls at her neck.

  Reid squared his shoulders. “I’m sorry I haven’t come by the house, Mother—”

  “Don’t call me that,” she spat at Reid, interrupting him. “I was never your mother.”

  “I know I’ve never been the son you wanted me to be—”

  Dorothy’s laughed sent a shiver down Dax’s spine.

  “That’s just it,” she continued, “you aren’t my son—”

  “Mother,” Dax cut her short. “Don’t be cruel.”

  “I’m being honest. Reid isn’t my son.” Dorothy’s gaze was riveted on Reid. “Your father never stopped loving her, your bitch of a mother or her kind. That’s why you were his favorite. All those secret visits—your father and son weekends—did you think I didn’t know?”

  Reid’s jaw hardened. “Dad loved you.”

  Dorothy shook her head. “No. We were already engaged when I caught the two of them together. He swore it was over. We had to go through with the wedding—what would people think?” She smiled, wistfully. “It was a beautiful wedding, everybody said so, and for a few months I believed he could learn to love me, but he couldn’t stay away from her.” She twisted her lips and focused on Dax. “She lured him, the same way that whore has tricked you into carrying on with her. Why can’t they settle for their own kind?”

  “I don’t care,” Dax said. “Reid is my brother.”

  “Half brother,” she corrected. “And now I’m going to take care of this.” She reached into her purse and pulled out a gun. “I’d hoped to get rid of her but I’ll start with this mongrel and then take care of the other one later.”

  The door opened and the sheriff walked in. “Dorothy,” he said. “I’ve been looking for you.”

  She flashed him a distracted smile. “Oh Jeb, thank goodness you’re here.”

  “Dorothy, my love, put the gun away.”

  “No.”

  “You don’t want to do this,” the sheriff said, moving carefully toward her until he was close enough to rest his hand on her shoulder.

  She briefly nuzzled his hand before adjusting her grip on the gun. Her eyes flickered toward Dax for a second before glaring at Reid again. “Jeb was the only one who understood what it was like for me. When your father forced me to raise this mongrel child. The shame of it was so terrible. I’d heard whispers, but I never imagined someone like your fa
ther would sink so low.” She smirked. “I guess that’s why they call it jungle fever, except in your father’s case it was incurable. He was always hanging out, picking up the wrong kind of girls at that juke joint.”

  She waved the gun at Reid. “We were only married for a month when he told me he got some whore pregnant. She was going to get rid of it, but he begged her to keep it. He didn’t know I was already pregnant.” A tear rolled down her cheek. “We weren’t living here. I moved to Memphis to be with your father while he finished law school. She gave birth right after I miscarried. She didn’t want you either. You were light enough your father brought you home and begged me to pass you off as mine.” She sniffed and her face twisted into a mask of hate. “As if you could ever replace a child of my own.”

  She glanced at Dax. “Thank goodness I had you.”

  Dax flinched. “He was just a baby—it wasn’t his fault.”

  Dorothy sneered at Reid. “When someone told me that they saw you kissing a boy, I wasn’t surprised. I never wanted you, and I wasn’t going to have a deviant living under my roof. It gave me the perfect excuse to send you away. Dax,” she swung her attention back his way, “sweetheart, can’t you see now how much I sacrificed for you? I saved you from this filthy boy.”

  Dax pressed his lips together and shook his head.

  Jeb began to reach slowly for the gun. “Yes, sweetheart, they’re ungrateful children. They don’t deserve to have a wonderful woman like you for a mother,” he said in a placating tone while he wrapped his hand over hers. “We’ll figure out another way, but you can’t do this. I can’t see my love go to jail.”

  Dorothy’s eyes grew wide. “They won’t send me to jail. I’m a pillar of the community.” She looked at Jeb with confidence. “You’re the sheriff. You won’t let them.”

  “Darling, look around, there are witnesses.”

  “Dax won’t say anything, deep down he knows I’m doing what’s best. He’ll thank me later.”

  Dax took advantage of the brief moment of distraction and knocked the gun out of her hands.

  “No,” Dorothy howled.

  Dax tackled Jeb before he could reach for his gun, pinning him to the floor.

  “Don’t touch me,” Dorothy screamed as Reid held her.

  Jacob rushed in and pulled the handcuffs off the sheriff’s belt. “I’ve got this,” he said cuffing his hands together. Dorothy wrestled out of Reid’s arms and ran over to the sheriff. She reached up and cupped his cheek. “My darling, Jeb, why didn’t you kill her when you had the chance?”

  “You fucking bitch, this is your fault,” she spit at Callie as she came in behind Jacob and rushed into Dax’s arms.

  “Shut up,” Dax growled.

  “I’m the law here—you can’t do nothin’ to me,” Jeb sneered.

  Nate came in and grabbed Dorothy just as she let go of Jeb and lunged at Callie.

  “Take your hands off me.” She spat on Nate’s face while he wrapped her hands in soft restraints.

  Nate wiped the spit from his cheek. “I’ll be happy to add assault and any other charges that are made against you. Not that adding assault to your attempted murder charge will make much of a difference.”

  Jacob yanked the sheriff to his feet.

  “You’ll pay for this,” the sheriff said.

  “Come on,” Nate jerked his head toward the door, “let’s get them over to the jail.”

  *

  The rest of the afternoon passed in a blur for Callie. It was horrible having to relive watching Dorothy point a gun at Reid. When she first heard Dorothy’s voice she started to go back toward the library but Jacob held her back, putting his fingers to his lips and shook his head. When they saw the gun, Jacob pulled her aside and crouched by the door waiting. Everything played out in slow motion—watching Dax disarm his mother and then attack the sheriff before he could reach for his gun. She shuddered thinking of what could have happened if Dax hadn’t been successful.

  “Are you okay ma’am?” the officer taking her statement asked.

  “Yes, I’m sorry it’s just…I still can’t believe it.”

  The officer nodded and looked over his notes again. Callie had gone back to the library and retrieved all of the threatening notes she’d received. The officer put them in a manila envelope. “That should be all for now, we’ll let you know if we need anything else.”

  “Thank you.”

  Dax and Reid were finishing up their interviews as well and they all followed Dorothy and the sheriff as they were led outside in handcuffs.

  Dorothy had pleaded for Dax to help her, her tone swinging wildly between cajoling and threatening. By the time she was taken to the patrol car she was belligerent, her head held high. “Don’t you know who I am?” she declared. “This town will not survive without me.”

  By now word had spread and most of the town was crowded along the sidewalk across the street from town hall.

  “Oh honey, bless your heart. You ain’t that special,” Tillie said loud enough for everyone to hear.

  Dorothy glared at her through the patrol car window, her face contorted into a mask of rage as the car passed by. The sheriff had his chin to his chest as he was led down the stairs and pushed into the next car.

  “Goodbye and good riddance,” Nate muttered under his breath.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  The day that followed the arrest of Dorothy Ellis and the sheriff was chaotic, filled with interviews with the state police and county prosecutor’s office. Callie couldn’t help but worry that Dorothy and the sheriff would use their influence to get off the hook but Dorothy’s confession opened an investigation that was already revealing more crimes. It turned out Dorothy had been using the town funds to pay for her criminal activities that included paying two of the sheriff’s nephews to write the threatening notes and throw the brick through the library window.

  Isiah and Jacob were talking at one end of the porch while Reid and Uncle Robert were sitting together at the other end when Callie and Dax arrived the next morning.

  “Y’all need coffee?” Uncle Robert asked.

  “I’d love a cup,” Callie said.

  Uncle Robert gave her a pat on his way inside. Callie leaned against Dax, she felt the need to reach out for him often to reassure herself that they had all made it through Dorothy’s attempted attack safely.

  Isiah and Jacob approached.

  “I was able to talk to the prosecutor,” Isiah’s expression was grim. “I’m sorry Dax but your mother is likely to go to jail for some time.”

  Dax nodded. “I can’t say I’m surprised.”

  Uncle Robert came out and handed Callie a cup of coffee. “I failed you, honey.”

  “What do you mean?” Callie asked.

  “I should have paid closer attention to what was going on.”

  “Uncle Robert you don’t have anything to be sorry for, and in a way we all let Colton down. Maybe it was from fear, or tradition, but no one wanted to go against Dorothy and the sheriff.”

  “Callie’s right,” Dax said, “you don’t have anything to apologize for. I’m the one who should have confronted my mother long before I even moved here.”

  “No,” Reid stood up and faced his brother, “you’re not taking this burden on yourself. This isn’t your fault, Dax. The seeds of this were sown long before we were born.” He looked around at everyone assembled on the porch, expression somber. “Before any of us were born. You could argue the seeds were planted by the first person enslaved on the Colton Plantation.”

  There was a moment of silence while each of them felt the weight of Reid’s words.

  Callie set down her cup and gave Reid a hug.

  “Mae’s parents came by this morning,” he said when she let go.

  “Why?”

  Reid glanced at his brother.

  “No more secrets, whatever it is,” Dax said.

  “Joseph thinks he might know who my mother is,” Reid said. “He had a cousin, Rosie, and Joseph to
ld me he saw her with Dad a few times.”

  “Did Joseph tell you what happened to her?” Dax asked.

  Reid shook his head. “No, but he offered to help find out what he can.”

  “I wish I could stay and help but I’ve got to get back,” Isiah said.

  “I don’t know how to thank you,” Dax said shaking his hand.

  “I know you’d do the same for me.”

  “You say the word and I’m there.”

  After Isiah said his goodbyes, they stayed on the porch talking about what would happen next. The town had some major hurdles to overcome. Dorothy and the sheriff weren’t the only ones in trouble. Emma’s father, the third member of the town council would also be under investigation for any part he may have played in the misuse of the town funds.

  “I’d like to slap the three of them into Sunday,” Uncle Robert grumbled.

  “Nothing will happen for a while, and the town will probably be put into receivership until a new town council can be appointed,” Reid said.

  Callie sighed. “What a mess.”

  Dax put his arm around her. “Maybe that’s what needed to happen, everything had to be torn apart so we can build it back again.”

  She nodded slowly, thinking he was right. She wasn’t worried, though. Together with Dax and the rest of the people who loved Colton they would recover from the damage the town council had done and Colton would be a better place than it was before.

  Uncle Robert excused himself leaving the three of them on the porch.

  “What else can I get you?” She rested her head on Dax’s shoulder.

  He drew her even closer and kissed her temple. “Just be here.”

  “I’m not going anywhere,” she answered, before glancing at Reid. His eyes were bloodshot. He looked exhausted. “What about you Reid, are you okay?”

  His broad shoulders shifted. “When I looked in the mirror this morning I didn’t know who I was looking at.”

  “I’m still looking at my brother,” Dax said.

  Callie studied the differences between the two men. Dax was slightly taller than his older brother and Reid’s hair had more curl. They didn’t need physical similarities to connect them, not when they were bound by love.