Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma (23 page)

“Distract you?”

“Yes.” A nervous giggle followed. “It’s the silliest thing, how I could’ve forgotten about the tobacco, but I guess I must have. Would it help to know I didn’t buy it for myself?”

“I can only hope you didn’t buy it for one of the boys.”

“No, no.” She put her hands up. “Certainly not. I bought it to replace the pouch that Henry stole from Joe.”

“Ah.”
Well, that makes sense, I suppose.
“I see. So where is it now?”

Her smile faded at once and she paled. “I…I…I wish I could remember. I was at the store with Henry. I bought the pouch. Then I checked the mail…” Her face flushed. “And then…” She shook her head. “Heavens. I truly don’t know what I did with it. I don’t recall seeing it with the candy and the lace I purchased.” A look of terror crossed her face, and she rose. “Oh, Gene…”

“So, we’re missing a pouch of chewing tobacco, then?”

“I guess so.” She took a few steps in his direction, her brow knitted. “To think that folks have been talking about me behind my back makes me feel just awful.”

“Folks around here have precious little to do but gossip,” he said. “So this is nothing new. And I, for one, am extremely relieved to hear that you do not chew tobacco. That’s all we need, what with Molly on the warpath. That ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ campaign of her is big news around town, and this would only add fuel to her fire. I can’t tell you how glad I am to hear of your innocence.”

“Tell me you didn’t really believe that.” She drew near and put her hand on his arm. “You…well, you know me better than that.”

“To be honest, I don’t really know you well at all. I enjoyed our conversation in the kitchen on Thanksgiving and learned a lot, but I’m sure there’s a lot more to learn.”

“Y–yes.”

He paused. “I–I’d like to get to know you better.” He swallowed hard, stunned at his own words.

“You would?” She smiled. “So that you can report back to the missions board about my poor behavior?”

“No.” He laughed. “If I’m going to report anyone’s behavior, it will be Molly’s. Or maybe the mayor’s. Or James Tucker, who wrote a negative letter about child-rearing in today’s paper. But not you. You’re nothing but a shining example of what grace looks like.”

“Well, thank you.” The sweetest expression followed, followed by more eyelash-fluttering. “Very kind of you to say.”

“You’ve forgiven me for accusing you of chewing tobacco, haven’t you?” For whatever reason, he felt compelled to reach over and brush the loose hair out of her eyes. Should he do so?

“I suppose. If you will forgive me for losing the chewing tobacco.” She gave him a shy glance.

“Oh, I doubt it’s lost,” he said. “In fact, I’m pretty sure Henry’s hidden it away in some secret place.” Gene couldn’t take it anymore. Still clutching the Stetson in his left hand, he reached with his right to brush the lock of hair out of her face. Afterward, his hand lingered against her cheek. She glanced up at him and smiled.

A comfortable silence rose up between them. Gene lifted his hand from her cheek and fingered the brim of his hat. “Well, I have to get on back to the jail now. My prisoner’s being transported to the county seat later today.”

“I see.” She paused and appeared to be thinking. “Well, thank you for stopping by. Again, I apologize for my oversight. I do hope all is forgiven.”

“All is forgiven.” He flipped the hat onto his head, gave her a curt nod, then headed for the door.

After Gene left, Rena did her best to make sense of what had just happened. Instead of declaring his undying love, he had accused her of…chewing tobacco? Did the man really think for one moment that she would buy tobacco for herself?

She paced the entryway, her thoughts now jumbled. After a few moments, it all made sense.

“He just used that tobacco story to stop by. He needed an excuse to see me.” In that moment, she felt sure she’d figured out the problem. “He’s too shy to express his feelings in person. That’s why he has to write them down in letters.”

If anyone understood that, she did. Wasn’t she the one who kept her secrets hidden away in a notebook? Yes. And surely the man cared about her. She wasn’t just dreaming this up. Hadn’t he gone out of his way to rest his hand against her face?

A nervous giggle followed. “We do have our secrets, now, don’t we?” Indeed, they did. And she would play along, no matter how long it took. They would make a game of it, no doubt. Cat and mouse. Gentleman and lady. But in the end, she would win the game, take the prize, and live happily ever after.

T
IPS FOR
D
EALING WITH
U
NRULY
Y
OUNG
’
UNS
—
Sure, I chew tobacco every now ’n again. What boy don’t? And yeah, I been known to steal a little ’a this and a little ’a that from the locals when their backs ’r turned. How else am I gonna get the stuff I need? It ain’t like anybody ’round here’s giving me the time ’a day, anyway. Most ’a the folks in Daisy would sooner ferget I even exist. So I just give ’em even more reason to wish it. Besides, I’m nearly fifteen. I’ll get out of this stinkin’ town soon—run away and take care of myself. So, go on and try to “fix” me. Ain’t gonna work. I ain’t no child, and I don’t need rearin’, so you can put that notion right outta yer head.

—Henry the Fearless, Age Fourteen

Rena spent the rest of the morning walking from room to room, her thoughts a jumbled mess. She tried to busy herself with chores, but her mind would not be stilled. She needed to talk to Henry as soon as he arrived home from school, but she would have to broach the subject carefully. Otherwise, her words might send him packing. He suffered from wanderlust. She could see it in his eyes.

Carolina arrived at three o’clock and Rena ushered her inside. “I’m headed into town and will be stopping by the general store. Do you need anything? Figured you weren’t quite ready to show your face just yet till this tobacco story dies down.”

Rena groaned. “So you’ve heard.”

“Who hasn’t?” Carolina patted her arm. “Honey, I don’t believe a word of the gossip. But you should be aware that Molly has already gone to both the mayor and the reverend and is doing what she can to stir up trouble. She’s called one of her infamous meetings, of course.”

“O–oh?”

“Yes. Now, don’t fret over it. I’m only telling you so you know. That whole ‘Fresh as a Daisy’ group—mostly women with nothing better to do—will be meeting to discuss a plan of action.”

“Plan of action?” Rena had to take a seat at this point.

Carolina sat next to her. “Yes. They plan to write to the missions society about your so-called addiction to tobacco and your inability to control the children. Apparently Mrs. Hannigan was quite upset by the scene the boys caused at their store.”

Rena started coughing at this news. “But surely they don’t really think…I mean, honestly? They believe I purchased that tobacco for myself?”

“Who knows what they think.” Carolina patted her knee. “They’re just gathering ammunition to be used against you and the children’s home. They see this as a major victory in their camp.”

Fear took hold of Rena’s heart. “Oh no! Well, I have to tell them. Surely they will understand that it’s all a big mistake if they hear it from me. And as for the scene Henry created at the store, I paid for every last jar of jam. No one lost any money.”

“You know how it goes.” Carolina released a slow breath. “They hear what they want to hear and do what they want to do. The mayor is with them, of course. But that doesn’t scare me. They would have to convince both the county officials and the missions society that you are unfit as a caregiver before anyone could demand your dismissal.”

“My…dismissal?” Rena felt a lump grow in her throat, and she could not speak above it.

“Well, there I go, getting the cart ahead of the horse again.” Carolina sighed. “Didn’t mean to alarm you. Just trying to be strategic by thinking of the what-ifs. You’ve got a great support team, honey, and we’re not going to let you down. Gene told me what really happened. I know that tobacco belonged to Henry.”

“Actually, I purchased it for Joe.” Rena fidgeted with the torn fabric on the arm of the sofa, her nerves affected by this conversation. “Only, now I don’t know what became of the tobacco, which means I really need to go to town to buy more. We still need to pay Joe back for what Henry stole.”

“Nasty habit, chewing.” Carolina’s nose wrinkled. “I say we skip buying any tobacco at all and just give Joe the money to replace his original pouch.”

“Good idea.” Rena’s gaze shifted to the floor. “Would you…I mean, would you mind going by Joe’s shop and dropping off the money for me? I don’t think I can face him now, what with folks gossiping and all.”

“I’ll be happy to. But you’d better talk to Henry to find out what’s what. We need him to admit what he’s done—not just to save your hide, but because confession is good for the soul. And while we’re on the subject of confession, I might as well speak my mind.”

“O–oh?”

“Yes.” She gave Rena a warm smile. “I was a little nervous when I heard that Mrs. Wabash was leaving, to be honest. Didn’t think bringing in someone new was the best plan of action. Molly and her crew had almost won me over to their way of thinking.” She gave Rena such a penetrating look that unspoken words seemed to travel between them. “But bringing you here was the best decision my son ever made. Well, since Brenda…” Carolina paused. “Anyway, he made the right decision. And so did you, by coming. If you ask me, he’s happy about that, as well.”

Rena did her best to hide her embarrassment but wondered if Carolina could see past it. Did she know about the letter her son had written? If so, how did she feel about it?

Carolina rose, straightened her skirts, and looked Rena in the eye. “So, back to my original question: anything you need from the general store?”

Rena stood and nodded. “I have a list in the kitchen. Hold on a minute and I’ll get it for you.” Her heart felt as heavy as lead as she made her way into the kitchen. She scribbled a couple more things onto the list, including several yards of fabric for her sewing projects, and reached into the canister for some change to cover both her purchases and the missing tobacco. Passing them off to Carolina, she sighed. “I’m so grateful you’re on my side, Carolina. I honestly think I would’ve packed my bags and left already if you hadn’t treated me so kindly.”

“Sweet girl.” Carolina wrapped her in a motherly embrace. “I love you. And I love what you’re doing for the children. They need you, and on some level I think you need them too.”

Rena felt the sting of tears and wiped her eyes with the back of her hand. “Thank you.”

At that moment the front door swung open and the children poured inside. Henry was the last to enter. Carolina took one look at him, gave Rena a nod, and made an announcement. “Tell you what, Rena. I could use some help in town. What say I take most of these children off your hands for an hour or so?”

“W–what? Are you sure?”

“Sure.” Carolina gestured to Henry. “I figured you and Henry are due for a little chat.” She glanced at the boys. “Isn’t that right, Henry?”

“Um, I, well…” He shrugged. “Ain’t sure what we got to talk about, but I guess so.”

“Mm-hmm.” Carolina ushered the other boys and girls outside, and their happy voices grew faint as they moved down the lane.

Rena drew a deep breath and turned to face Henry. “She’s right, you know. We do need to talk.”

“ ’Bout what?” He dropped his books on the end table and plopped down onto the sofa.

“About what happened the other day at the general store.”

His gaze shifted to the ground. Then out the window. “Don’t know what yer talkin’ ’bout.”

“You know very well what I’m talking about. After I caught you with the chewing tobacco, I bought another pouch to give to Joe. But then…” She paused and took a seat next to him. “Well, we never made it to the barbershop, did we? I got distracted.”

“Ain’t my fault that stupid letter made you forget.”

She felt her cheeks grow warm. “Well, yes, I was reading a letter, but that’s not my point. The point is, we left the store in a hurry and I forgot to stop by the barbershop. Then, when I checked my packages later, the tobacco was missing.”