Harriet Beamer Strikes Gold (26 page)

“What?” Harriet said. “How did you know?”

“I saw a news report,” Florence said. She handed Henry the bag. “Ten ears. Already shucked. Just throw them in some boiling water for a few minutes. Not too long.” She seemed to have forgotten Henry was a cook himself.

“Thank you,” Henry said. “But … but the news?”

“Now, I wasn’t certain at first,” Florence said. “But then I
figured it just had to be your gold mine they were talking about. They arrested that Crickets fella. Showed them taking him out of that ramshackle old house up in Rough and Ready. And get this. He was in his underwear.” She let go a hearty laugh. “Boxers. Baby blue boxers, and he only had a skinny T-shirt and raggedy old moccasins on too. He looked terrible. Matter of fact, he kind of looked like a big old cricket.”

“So they got him,” Harriet said. She leaned back in the chair feeling pretty good about the whole caper. “And I did this. I ratted him out. Well, Lily did, but still.”

“Guess you’re kind of a hero,” Henry said.

“Yep,” Florence said. “Probably sitting in an interrogation room right now, rubbing his legs together.”

Harriet laughed. “The rat fink.”

“Oh, I can think of stronger words than that,” Florence said.

“Me too,” Henry said.

“Did they mention me?” Harriet asked.

“Nah. Just something about an anonymous tip. They’ll air it again on the six o’clock news, I bet.”

“I can’t believe it. The news,” Harriet said to Florence when Henry carried the bag into the kitchen.

“Your fifteen minutes of fame,” Florence said. She sat down at the table. “Say, the addition is shaping up. I bet you can’t wait to get settled.”

“It will be nice.”

“Now, you don’t seem too happy. You did a good thing. Them rustlers need to go to jail.”

“It’s just … I feel bad about the money.”

“It’s only money,” Florence said. “Don’t give it any brain space. You got twins coming and an addition to decorate.”

Harriet invited Florence for dinner that evening. Henry was going to grill burgers and boil the corn Florence had brought over. But first they watched the news.

She had thought it would be kind of exciting. But no, it was actually sad. Martha nearly cried because it made her think of Lily. Henry thought Crickets looked like a gangster. “Look at the guy,” he said. “I’m so glad you never had to deal with him directly.”

“Yeah,” Prudence said. “Men like him shoot first and ask questions later.”

The air was just a little too cool to sit on the deck, but dining in the dining room was just fine. Soon Florence called it an evening. “Thank you for the great meal,” she said. “And congratulations, Harriet. Job well done.” Then she turned to Martha. “And, oh, Martha, Mabel is really interested in seeing your work.”

“Maybe,” Martha said. “Just maybe we can work something out.”

Harriet closed the shades in the bedroom. “I’m glad it’s over. But … but finding gold would have been pretty fun, don’t you think?” She then took a pair of jammies from the dresser. “I think I’ll shower in the morning.” She yawned wide. “I’m plum tuckered.”

She turned, expecting to see Martha changing for bed. But Martha was sitting on the edge of the bed with elbows on her knees and her head in her hands.

“What’s wrong?” Harriet asked.

“Oh, I don’t know. Maybe I’m being rash. Maybe I should just let her go, but I can’t. I can’t stop thinking about Lily.”

Harriet sat next to her. “You’re not being rash. It’s a fine idea. I think you’d be great for Lily.”

“Yeah, but, what if she’s more trouble than I think she is?”

“She might be, but … I just don’t get that feeling about her. I think she really wants to be a good kid.”

“That’s how I feel. But … but …”

“The truth of the matter is,” Harriet said, “you don’t even know if you can take her. I doubt she can go across the country anyway.”

“But I feel something, something inside, that is telling me I have to try. Even if I have to move to Grass Valley, I’ll do it.”

“You mean it? But, Martha …” Harriet had to sit down. She could hardly believe what she was hearing. She flopped onto the bed. The wingback chair had to be removed to make room for Martha’s bed. “I can’t believe what I’m hearing.” She smiled wide. “I know you didn’t want to leave Wyatt. But I am so happy you changed your mind.”

Harriet watched a twinkle appear in Martha’s eyes. “I’ve been thinking about it. Wyatt made his choices. He knew right from wrong, and look at what happened to him. I hardly ever see him, to be honest. And maybe now, now I have a chance to kind of start over. Maybe it wouldn’t be so hard after all. Maybe I can really help Lily.”

“She’s almost eighteen,” Harriet said. “She could just bolt out the door. You’ll be taking a big risk.”

“Hopefully she won’t. But really, Harriet, I feel like I have to try. I know in my heart that this is right. It just feels right, you know what I mean?”

Harriet thought back to when she first arrived in Grass Valley. It had been a long road, but she knew it was right in spite of all the trials and worries. She knew she was right where God wanted her.

Humphrey ambled up to Martha. He laid his head on her knee and looked up at her. Martha patted his head. “You know, don’t you, boy?”

“Okay,” Harriet said. “If it’s really what you want, then let’s make it happen.”

“It is. You know, Harriet, for months, maybe even years, I’ve been feeling like everything was unraveling. It started after Jack died. I didn’t bounce back the way you did when you lost Max.”

“I thought you did.”

“Everybody did. But the truth is, it was just a show. I pretended I was doing well. I got involved with my art, and I hid there. I
could shut the world out when I was working with the glass or pottery. When I threw a pot on the wheel I could smash it if it didn’t go right, didn’t look right, and start over. But I couldn’t do that with the real stuff—like Wyatt. And then I didn’t even want to do my art.”

“And now maybe you have a chance to get better with Lily.”

“In a way.”

Just then Harriet heard Henry calling. “Mom! Mom! Come quick!”

“What in the world?” Harriet said. She and Martha dashed to the living room.

“What’s wrong?” Harriet looked into her son’s eyes. All she saw was fear.

“It’s Prudence!”

“
IT
’
S HAPPENING AGAIN
, M
OM
.”

“Where is she?” Martha asked.

“The bedroom. We have to get her to the hospital.”

Martha dashed off to the bedroom. “I’ll go see.”

“Okay, okay,” Harriet said. “I’ll go start the car. You go get her. Can she walk?”

“Not sure. Mom, why is this happening?”

“Henry, stop. Focus. Go get Prudence. Carry her if you have to.”

Martha returned as Henry ran to get Prudence.

“Come on,” Harriet said. “Let’s get the car started.”

Humphrey said, “Woof.”

“She’s cramping,” Martha said.

“Blood?” Harriet asked with a swallow.

“Not that I saw,” Martha said.

Henry carried Prudence to the car. Martha and Harriet followed.

“Now, don’t worry. It could be nothing,” he said. “Just relax. Don’t worry.”

“I’ll drive,” Harriet said.

“No, Mom,” Henry said. “Wait here. Please. I’ll drive.”

“But, son, I should go with you.”

“Mom, please stay.”

Martha took Harriet’s hand. “Let them go. We’ll wait here. It could be nothing.”

Prudence wiped at tears flowing down her cheeks. “But it doesn’t feel like nothing. It feels like … like before.”

Harriet leaned into the car. She kissed Prudence’s cheek. “I love you, dear. I’ll pray.”

Harriet watched Henry back down the driveway. “I don’t believe this is happening.”

Prudence squirmed. “My back hurts.”

“I know. I mean, I don’t know. I mean, I do, but look, it’s okay. I’m going to go fast. Just hang on tight. I’m running red lights if I have to.”

“Okay,” Prudence said. She grabbed the handle above the door. “Hurry, Henry.”

Henry pulled into the ER parking lot. “Come on,” he said. “Slowly.” He took Prudence’s hand and helped her gently but quickly into the ER. It was crowded, but Henry didn’t care. He told Prudence to sit while he went to the check-in. No one was there. He waited. “Come on,” he said. “Someone come.”

“You have to write your name on that check-in sheet,” someone said.

“Thanks.” Henry wrote his name, crossed it off, and wrote Prudence Beamer and then waited some more. “Come on. This is an emergency.”

Finally, a nurse arrived.

“Please,” Henry said. “It’s my wife. I think she’s having a miscarriage. It’s twins.”

“Okay, sir, just calm down. We’ll get to her as soon as we can.”

“No. Now. You don’t understand. We can’t lose these babies.”

“Okay, sir. Calm down. Where is she?”

Henry pointed.

“Does she need a wheelchair?”

“Yes,” Henry said.

The nurse instructed a young woman in green scrubs to take Prudence the wheelchair. Prudence gingerly sat herself in it, then cried out. Henry followed as the nurse pushed Prudence toward an examination room.

“How far along is she?” the nurse asked.

“She’s … she’s …”

“Nine … ten weeks,” Prudence said.

“Okay. We’ll take care of her.”

“Henry,” Prudence said as the nurse wheeled her through the double doors. “I … I feel better.”

“What? No, don’t say that. I mean yes, say that, but …”

“It’s not unusual,” the nurse said. “But we’ll check her out anyway.”

“Thank you,” Henry said. “Are you sure? What about the pain? How’s your back?”

“My back is a little achy, but the pain is gone.”

“They were like contractions,” Henry said. “That’s what she said. Cramps.”

“All right. We’ll see what’s going on.”

“Should we call Dr. Kate?” Henry asked.

“We have an OB on duty. He’ll be in to see her.”

The nurse helped Prudence onto the table. “Oh no,” Prudence said. “It’s … it’s starting again. Oh Lord, it hurts.”

“Settle down, honey,” Henry said.

“Henry, it hurts.” She leaned back on the table and cried. “It’s starting again. I’m scared, Henry.”

Henry held her hand. “Please,” he told the nurse. “Get the doctor.”

Harriet paced the living room. Humphrey paced with her. She held a fishbowl and kitty cat salt and pepper shaker set in her hands, one of the few sets she had had on display in her bedroom. She liked the way they stuck together with the tiny magnet.

“Aren’t these cute?” she said. “I found them in Missouri.”

“They are adorable,” Martha said. “I wish you’d sit down. Let me make you a cup of tea.”

“No, I can’t,” Harriet said. “I’m so worried. What if she loses the twins? She can’t. God wouldn’t let that happen, would he? Not four babies. He couldn’t take four babies from them.”

“Don’t even say that,” Martha said. She stood up. “It is a little nerve-wracking. But it is probably nothing. It usually
is
nothing.”

“But this is Prudence.” Harriet set the shakers on a side table. “My heart is racing. I wish he’d call.”

“He will when he has something to say.”

“I know, but maybe I should call—”

“No. Let’s do something else. Show me the plans for the Grammy Suite. You haven’t shown me yet.”

“I haven’t? Oh, well, then let’s go to Henry’s den. He keeps them in there. The builders have their own copies.

“You’re a good friend, Martha,” Harriet said as she unrolled the plans.

“I try. Now, you’ll have to explain to me what I’m looking at.”

“Okay. Well, this big area is the main sitting room. It’s not real large but big enough for a couch and TV.”

“So it’s going to be like a little apartment,” Martha said.

“And this here is a bathroom. So far it’s just big enough for a shower but I think I’ll ask them to change that. Make it bigger, to fit a tub.”

“Won’t that throw things off?”

Harriet shrugged. “A little, but they have the room. See, right here. Just bump out this wall a bit, and I was thinking I might
want to have a bay window here instead of just a regular old sash type.”

“Oh dear, Harriet, I wouldn’t make too many changes.”

“Ah, they’re used to it. Builders don’t mind changes.”

Martha gave the plans one last look and said, “You know what we need while we’re waiting? Cheesecake.”

“Cheesecake?” Harriet said. “I don’t think we have any.”

“Ice cream then.”

They sat down at the kitchen table with two spoons and a container of Rocky Road between them.

“How long has it been?” Harriet asked, looking at the clock.

“Not even an hour.”

“Oh dear, it feels like forever.”

“She’s going to be fine,” Martha said. “Those pains can be from anything. Ligaments stretching. Anything.”

“I know, I know,” Harriet said. She picked a nut out of her ice cream. “But with her history … Why would God do this?”

Martha shook her head. “God isn’t doing anything. But please. Remember, he’s got this. He’s in control and even if the worst happens, it will be all right. Somehow it will be all right.”

Martha tapped her spoon against the ice cream container. “It sounds hollow. But I know God will help her through.”

“But don’t you ever ask yourself why? Why does this stuff happen? I’m seventy-two years old, and I can’t figure it out.”

“You never will. You can’t go there. You can’t ask those questions. Believe me, I tried. I looked for the reason when I watched them lead my son off to jail in handcuffs and wondered why and how this could possibly be worth it. Why did I raise a son to live a life of drugs and crime?”

Harriet swallowed the cold ice cream. “And what did you learn?”

“I learned that I can survive. Sometimes that has to be enough.”

“Did it make you feel God’s pleasure?”

“What? Watching them cart Wyatt away? Visiting him behind prison walls? No. But when I was finally able to release him into God’s arms, then yeah, I felt it.”

Harriet felt tears and swiped at them. “I am so stupid.”

“What?”

“Here I am chasing a gold mine, looking for nuggets in the dirt, when all along the real gold mine was right here.” She tapped her chest. “And right here.” She looked around the kitchen. “The only treasure I need is my family.”

“There you go,” Martha said. “You’re already rich.”

“And so are you.”

“Oh, I suppose. I have my art. I know Wyatt is relatively safe. He’s made his peace with what he did and is getting the help he needs, sort of. But rich? Not yet.”

Harriet closed the lid on the empty ice cream container. “Maybe you can get Lily somehow. Show her how much God loves her. Show her how to feel God’s pleasure.”

“Yeah, I was thinking that, before she, well, before she ends up where Wyatt is.”

Harriet took her friend’s hand. “I love you.”

“Yeah, I love you too.”

Humphrey said, “Woof.”

Two hours later, it was decided that Prudence was not having a miscarriage.

“Just some growing pains, hormonal changes,” the doctor said. “Nothing to worry about. But you might want to start taking it easy. Get off your feet more. You are carrying twins.”

Henry cried. “That’s all? Hormones? You’re sure. One hundred percent?”

“Yes,” the doctor said. “I would follow up with your OB tomorrow, but rest assured that you’re not losing your babies.”

Prudence laid her head back on the table. “Thank you, God.”

Henry wiped his eyes on his sleeve. “Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much.”

“You’re welcome,” the doctor said. “Now I’ll just go get your discharge papers, and you two can be on your way.”

“Thank you,” Prudence said. “But … but, doctor, what if this happens again? What should I do?”

“Call your doctor. Or just come back. We’ll always be here.”

“That’s right,” Henry said. “Better safe.”

“Yep,” the doctor said. “But the babies look fine, strong heartbeats, right where they’re supposed to be, and you are doing great, Prudence.”

The doctor left the small examination room.

Henry, who was feeling a little lightheaded, sat on the visitor’s chair as tears welled in his eyes. “I’m so happy, honey. I was really scared. I … I couldn’t have handled it if … you know.”

“Henry, we would have gotten through it. You are so strong. God is stronger.”

“I don’t deserve you, you know.”

“Oh, I know that.” She smiled. “But listen, maybe you should go call your mother. She’s probably eaten right through that gallon of ice cream by now and paced a furrow in the carpet.”

Henry snapped his fingers. “Oh, right. I’ll go call.”

“It’s been two hours,” Harriet said. “Why hasn’t he called?”

“You know hospitals,” Martha said. “Getting a splinter removed takes four hours.”

“I know but … this is agony.”

Martha took her friend’s hand. “Come on, let’s wait in the living room. More comfortable.”

Harriet sat on the couch with Martha right next to her. “I can’t stand it. Maybe I should go to the hospital.”

“No. That’s not a great idea. Henry will call.”

“When?” She picked up the phone. “Ring,” she commanded.

The phone rang. Harriet looked at Martha. “Weird.

“Henry,” Harriet said. “What’s the news?”

“She’s fine, Mom. The babies are healthy. Just hormones. Growing pains. All normal.”

“Oh, thank you, Lord,” Harriet said.

She turned to Martha and gave her a thumbs-up. “Everyone is fine. All four of them.”

Martha smiled. “I knew she was okay. Thank goodness.”

“Except you sound a little wilted, Henry. Are you okay?”

“Oh yeah, just tired. It’s been a crazy day.”

“I’ll say. Now, look, you two come on home, but don’t hurry.”

“Okay, Mom. And, Mom, I was so scared.” Harriet could hear his tears. “I couldn’t have stood it—losing the babies. Not again.”

“I know, honey. Come home now. All is well.”

“But she’s fine, Mom. One hundred percent. The babies are right on schedule.”

“I’m so pleased, Henry. Now, you give Prudence a big hug and kiss from us, okay? And then get on home. And by the way, we polished off the Rocky Road.”

“Prudence said you would. That’s okay. We can always get more ice cream.”

Humphrey ambled by. Harriet leaned down and gave him a good scratch. “Did you hear that, boy? Everyone is fine and healthy.”

Humphrey said, “Woof.” He looked at Harriet under his wiry eyebrows.

“I love you too.”