The Glorious Prodigal (31 page)

“I hate pigs!”

“You don’t have to eat them.” He grinned. “You like bacon and pork chops and smoked ham and every other part except the chitterlings. I don’t care for those myself.”

“We don’t know anything about it, Stuart.”

“What’s to know? Here’s what it takes to raise pigs. You’ve got to raise corn to feed them, and you’ve got to keep them until they’re big enough for market. Well, we’ve got enough acreage here that we’re feeding these stubborn mules and expensive horses on to put in fifty acres of corn or more. What’s more, we wouldn’t have to buy a tractor. We have enough draft animals to do it easy.”

Leah sat there listening as Stuart continued and found herself interested. “But what about a place to keep them?”

Stuart shrugged. “Merle and I will just have to build some pig pens. They wouldn’t have to be very fancy. In this climate they don’t even have to be indoors, except for the sows. We’ll have to build some furrowing pens, but that’s my idea. We grow the corn, we feed the pigs, we sell the pigs and turn a big profit.”

“And get out of the horse and mule business?”

“We can keep breeding a few fine horses, but I think pigs are where the money is.”

“It sounds terrible. Pig farmers.”

Stuart laughed. “After you’ve been a convict, it doesn’t
sound too bad. Of course,” he said quickly, “it might hurt your feelings, and the kids might be a little bit embarrassed by it. But I’m convinced it would get this place in the clear and be some security for the kids.”

Leah said quickly, “It’s too big a risk, Stuart. It would take so much work, and it’s not a thing you can get into and then drop out of.”

“Meant for me, I reckon,” Stuart said slowly. “Well, I deserve it. But this is your place, Leah. If you want to keep working with the horses and mules, I’ll stay with it. I’ve just thought about this a lot.”

Leah rose and said, “I’m feeling a little tired. I think I’ll lie down.”

“Take care of yourself. You’re still not strong yet.”

****

For two days Leah thought about little else but the plan that Stuart had laid before her. At first it had sounded fantastic, but she had talked to a neighbor, Don Zimmerman, who had raised a considerable number of pigs. He had told her, “Anybody can raise a few pigs, but it takes a strong constitution to raise a lot of pigs. Don’t think I’d care to get into it myself, but there is money to be made. If a cow lies down and dies, you’ve lost a heap of money, but with a pig there’s always ten more behind him.”

Leah did not discuss the plan with anyone else, but the more she thought of it, the more she was taken by the idea.

“I’ve got to do something,” she said to herself firmly and made up her mind right then that raising pigs was the only door that was open. As for Stuart’s character, whether or not he would stick with it, she could only hope.

Three days after Stuart had proposed changing their operation, Leah heard a knock at the front door. She had heard a car pull up and thought it might be Mott. Putting her book down, she went to the door and stood absolutely still, for Cora Simms stood there. She was wearing a dark green coat
that came down almost to her ankles and a pair of buttoned boots that showed traces of mud left over from the thaw.

“Hello, Leah,” she said, surprised.

“Cora. Won’t you come in?”

“Just for a minute.” Cora came in and slipped off her coat and hung it on the rack.

“Come in by the fire,” Leah said.

“I can only stay a minute. I heard you’ve been sick.”

“I’m about over it now.”

“The flu’s about to get this country down.” Cora was entirely self-possessed, as always. After talking for a few minutes about the sick neighbors, she finally said, “Is Stuart around?”

“He’s gone to town to deliver some stock to the railroad. If you want to talk about buying some stock, I can help you with that.”

Cora smiled. There was a strange light in her eyes. “I guess I’ve been called a lot of things, Leah, but nobody ever accused me of being mealymouthed. No. I don’t want to buy stock. I just want to see Stuart.”

Anger suddenly ran along Leah’s nerves. She rose and said, “I think you’d better leave, Cora. Haven’t you done Stuart enough damage?”

Cora rose but stood there facing Leah. “I’ve heard you two are separated.”

“You hear all kinds of rumors.”

“I understand he’s just a hired hand and sleeps out in a little house by the barn.”

“That’s none of your concern.”

Cora had an enormous air of certainty about herself and a positive will. She was a woman of great vitality and imagination but of little restraint.

“Are you going to keep Stuart, Leah?”

“That’s none of your business.”

“I think it is,” Cora said. “I want him if you don’t.”

The enormity of what Cora Simms said seemed to numb Leah. She could not answer for a moment, and a voice
whispered in her mind,
What are you upset about? If you don’t want him, let her have him.

“I’ve heard you’re going to marry Mott Castleton.”

“I’m not responsible for what you hear, Cora. I think you’d better leave now.”

“Leah, you know me for what I am. I’ve never made any secret of it. I’ve always cared for Stuart.”

“Leave my house!”

“It’s your house I’ll leave, but I’ll just say this. Stuart’s a young man and he deserves a wife. You’re not being one to him. From what I understand, you have no intentions of it. Turn him loose, Leah. If you don’t want him, let him have something in this life. I know I’m partially responsible for his being in prison. It doesn’t bother me that he’s an ex-convict. I don’t care a whit. I know your pride and your feelings are hurt, so let him go.”

Without another word Cora turned and left. She plucked her coat off the peg, and Leah heard the door slam. She was trembling so hard, she clasped her hands together to keep them still. Finally she went over and sat down in the chair and tried to regain her composure. Nothing had upset her this much in a long time. The thought of Stuart and Cora being together was unthinkable. She shook her head angrily. “Why do you care?” she said to herself. “You won’t have anything to do with him. You’ve told him that. She’s no good, but you’ve convinced yourself he isn’t any good, either. Let them have each other.”

****

Stuart looked up with surprise. He was eating supper, and as Annie opened the door, he saw Leah standing there. “I want to see you when you’ve finished,” she said, then turned and left.

Stuart exchanged glances with Annie and then turned to face Merle. “She sounded pretty mad,” he said. “I wonder what I’ve done now.”

“She did talk funny. Maybe you’d better go find out,” Merle said.

“Save some of that pie for me, Annie. I’ll be back and get it unless she runs me off right away.”

After Stuart closed the door behind him, Annie said, “What’s she thinkin’ now? I can’t keep up with that woman.”

“She better be careful. If it wasn’t for Mistah Stuart, this place would go down quick.”

As Stuart approached the house, he was puzzled but thought,
I’ll never try to outguess Leah.
Going to the front door, he knocked and stepped inside. Leah was standing in the hallway.

“Come back in the kitchen,” she said.

Stuart glanced into the parlor as they passed and called out, “Hey, what’s that you’re making, Raimey?”

“It’s a castle.”

Merry came running over holding up her doll. “Mama made me a new dress.”

“My, that is a pretty dress. Jezebel doesn’t deserve all these nice clothes.” He gave the doll a look of approval, kissed it on the face, then winked. “You be sweet now like me.” Then he turned and moved to the kitchen. He found Leah standing there before the table, and her face was tense.

“Cora came by to see you.”

“Cora! What did she want to see me for?”

Leah had managed to calm her voice down. She said, “The same thing she always wanted to see you for, Stuart.”

Stuart met her gaze and shook his head. “I haven’t had a thing to do with her since I got out.”

“She’s after you. Why would she come here wanting to see you if you hadn’t seen her?”

“You know Cora.”

“No. You know Cora.”

Stuart suddenly experienced a quick anger. “Look, Leah, I’m not going to argue about this. That woman cost me seven
years of my life. Of course, she didn’t do it alone. It was my fault, but if you don’t want me here, just say so.”

Leah hesitated. “She upset me, Stuart. She’s no good.”

“No. She’s not. Never was, but she might be someday. Nobody’s past hope, I guess.”

Leah studied Stuart’s face and then said abruptly, “Sit down.” She went to the stove, poured two cups of coffee, and seated herself opposite him. “If you want to see Cora, that’s your business. I can’t stop you, but I’ve been thinking about your suggestion of raising pigs.”

Stuart studied her and saw that there was a determination in her features. “You want to try it?” he said.

“Yes. You can fix up that old room in the barn. You’re not staying in this house.”

Stuart did not hesitate. “If that’s what you want, Leah.”

“One more thing. You won’t . . . bother me. I may be your wife legally, but don’t ever touch me, Stuart.”

“All right, Leah. Are there any other rules?”

“No. I’m doing this for Merry and Raimey.”

“So am I,” Stuart said. “And for you, too, Leah, though you don’t believe that. I’ll start tomorrow drawing up the plans. Anything else?”

“No,” Leah said. “That’s all.”

“Good night, then.”

“Good night,” Leah said. She sat there after he left and forgot about the coffee until it grew cold. She was not happy about the situation with the farm, but she had come to a point in her life where she knew something had to be done. She thought of Mott and knew he would be upset about her new arrangements. She also thought of how Stuart had cared for her unselfishly and suddenly regretted that she had torn into him as she had. With a sigh she rose and went back to spend the evening with the children.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“Will You Have Him Back As Your Husband?”

The new year had brought beautiful weather to the Ozarks. Even though it was cold and dry, the sun shone every day, flooding the hills and the valleys with warmth. Although it was still weeks away from spring planting, the farmers were oiling their harnesses and walking over their lands imagining the fields as they would be when they were thick with the growing harvest.

Leah had built a protective shell around herself, and now she was less certain in her mind than ever about Mott Castleton. She had a genuine affection for Mott, for he had changed much in recent years. She thought often of the early days when he had wanted to marry her and wondered what sort of a life she would have had. But such thinking was futile, so she forced herself to put it out of her mind. Her attitude toward Stuart was curt, and she spoke to him only out of necessity.

Ellie Devainy had proved to be quite a trial to her, for although Ellie loved Leah, she had a short way about her and a very direct one. For over a month she had only given hints of the curiosity that seemed to boil within her, but one day it spilled over.

“Leah, where’s Stuart?”

“He’s gone, Ellie.”

“For good?” Ellie demanded.

“No, just to Tucker Farm.” Knowing that Ellie would never
be satisfied with anything less than full details, she added, “He went to visit one of the prisoners, a man named Pete Jennings. He’s the one who led him to the Lord.”

“Oh, I see.” Ellie hesitated, then said abruptly, “Leah, I’ve been quiet about it as long as I can, but everybody wants to know about you and Stuart.”

“We’ve got a business arrangement. That’s all.”

“Oh, I know all about that pig-raising thing!” Ellie waved her hand impatiently. She had come rather early in the morning, and now the two women were sitting in the kitchen together drinking strong hot coffee. Ellie leaned forward and her eyes gleamed. “I hear he doesn’t stay in the house with you at all.”

“The gossip system is working well, as usual,” Leah said shortly.

“Well, after all, Leah, you can’t blame people for wondering.”

“I do blame them. They could mind their own business.” Taking a sip of the coffee, she tried to change the subject. “Stuart’s working night and day, I’ll tell you that much. I never saw a man work any harder. He’s building fences, selling off stock, and buying pigs for this new business.”

Ellie could retain her question no longer. She asked what everyone in the community was wondering. “Will you have him back as your husband?”

Although Leah well knew this was what was in the mind of nearly everyone, she could not help being angry. “Why don’t you mind your own business, Ellie?”

Ellie was not offended, however. She had a genuine affection for Leah, and now she leaned forward and said, “It ain’t right the way things are between you and Stuart, Leah, and you know it.”

Leah’s eyes flew open with anger, and she rose up, saying, “I’ve got to get to work, Ellie. You go ahead and finish your coffee, but keep your questions to yourself.”

****

Annie looked up as Leah entered the kitchen and said, “You want me to fry up that ham for supper tonight?”

“I guess so. Have you seen Stuart?”

“Why, yes, ma’am. He come back a little while ago.”

Merle, who had entered with an armload of wood and dumped it into the basket with a thunderous racket, nodded and said, “He’s down at the south pasture finishin’ up a pen.”

Without another word Leah turned and left, and they heard the door slam. Merle went over and slumped into a chair and said, “I got to have some fixin’s. That man’s about to work me to death.”

Annie went over to the stove and pulled out a plateful of bacon and put it on the table. “Here, have some bacon, and I’ll fix you some eggs. That ought to do until suppertime.”

“That’ll go down mighty fine. What do you think about this business of Mistah Stuart and Miss Leah?”

Annie pulled a pail full of eggs off the shelf and cracked three of them swiftly and efficiently. “I seen the time when he wouldn’t put in a day’s work.”