The Right Wife (22 page)

“I know. Toe Joe said he was working as hard as he could to take care of the problem at the mill. But if he can’t get away soon, it’ll be dark before we get to Tuscumbia.”

Eunice Arnold walked out on the porch, her dark eyes glaring at the young woman beside the big, black man.

“Fetch Moses for me,” she snapped. “I’m ready to go home.”

“You didn’t stay long,” Maggie said, wondering why the widow’s visit had been so brief.

“I didn’t want to tire him. That nasty blow on his head has made him not quite himself.”

“Has it?”

“Will you get Moses for me?” The Widow Arnold turned her mocha brown eyes on the servant who had not rushed to do her bidding.

“Yes’am,” Phineas said, heading for the back of the house.

Eunice eyed the woman who stood on the far side of the porch. Maggie had a bonnet on her head and a heavy shawl draped around her shoulders. “Are you going somewhere?”

Maggie wanted to tell her that it was none of her business, but controlled the urge. “I was expecting Thayer, but he’s been delayed.”

“Oh?” The tall blonde smiled, moving across the porch in the redhead’s direction. “I can’t imagine you’re leaving Aaron at a time like this.”

Now just what did she mean by that?
“Aaron seems to be fully recovered. Besides I’d think as his fiancée, you’d have some objections to my staying on here taking care of him.”

“As his fi . . . You mean he hasn’t . . . Oh, I see.”

What was wrong with the widow? She was babbling. “I’ve got to get to town to see about my sister. She’s awfully upset about what happened out here the other night.”

“You’re going to town?”

“Yes. As soon as Thayer can straighten out a problem at his mill.”

“I’d be more than happy to offer you a ride to town,” Eunice said, her haughty face softening as she smiled. “There’s no longer any reason for us to be enemies.”

She did not want to spend hours alone with Eunice Arnold, but she did need to get to town as quickly as possible. She could just imagine what a state Jude was in by now. The entire Mobley household was probably ready to explode.

“All right. I’d appreciate a ride.”

“Fine. Fine. Perhaps you can just leave a message for Aaron. He was almost asleep when I left him, and I’m sure you don’t want to disturb him.”

“I’ll just tell Phineas,” Maggie said when she saw Daisy’s husband coming around the house with Moses following.

“I’ll wait in the carriage for you.” Eunice walked away, still smiling.

Maggie stopped Phineas as he started into the house. “I’m going to ride into town with Mrs. Arnold.”

“Miss Maggie—”

“I know. I know. But she made the offer, and I need to go on before it gets dark. Thayer could be delayed for hours.”

“It’s a mistake to go off with that woman.”

“Thank you for your concern, Phineas, but I’ll be all right. She’s going to be Aaron’s wife. I’ve got to accept the fact and go on with my life. Tell Daisy that Jude and I’ll be back tomorrow and I’ll stay on as long as she needs me.”

“Yes’am. But you be careful, and don’t pay that woman no never mind.”

Touched by the man’s protective attitude, Maggie patted him gently on the upper arm. Yes, Aaron was right. Phineas Moulton was a good man and a true friend.

Allowing Moses to help her into the carriage, Maggie turned to her companion. “I’m sorry if I kept you waiting.”

“It’s quite all right,” the widow said, turning her head slightly to look directly at the other woman. “We’re ready to go now, Moses.”

The two women sat silently as the cabriolet rolled along the dirt road leading to Memphis Pike. Maggie was glad that the late September cool spell had come and gone quickly and this first week of October was unseasonably warm. Here in the Southland, the weather was so changeable. It was not uncommon to have a big frost one morning and almost summertime warmth the next day.

“May I ask you a question, Miss Campbell?”

“What would you like to know, Mrs. Arnold?”

“Have you made plans for your future? I mean, are you planning on continuing your relationship with Thayer?”

“Contrary to what you and everyone else thinks, Thayer and I are just friends.”

“Is that so?” The widow’s eyes widened in amused disbelief.

“You can rest assured that I have no intention of interfering in your marriage. As soon as Daisy is well, my sister and I will be moving.”

“Back to Tennessee?”

“As a matter of fact, yes.” She didn’t have to tell Eunice that they weren’t moving home to Grovesdale, but were going to Franklin to live with Martha Coleman. At least, she prayed that the invitation would still be open when Thayer wrote his mother about Maggie’s condition.

“Does Aaron know?”

“Not yet. Perhaps you’d like the pleasure of telling him.” She had to admit that she still hated Eunice, the selfish, haughty bitch. But if she was what Aaron wanted then more power to him.

Eunice laid her head back against the warm, leather-upholstered seat. She was smiling inwardly and outwardly, a very pleased look on her face.

Maggie wanted the trip to hurry and end. She leaned back and closed her eyes, weariness etched on every feature of her face.

She hoped that when she got to the Mobleys’, she’d be able to convince Jude that everything was going to be all right. Her little sister’s selfish actions had inadvertently set off a chain reaction that had almost cost four people their lives, but she had acted out of childish hurt, never dreaming what Wesley Peterson was capable of doing. Did she dare tell the child the complete truth? From Alice’s letter, Maggie knew that Jude thought Wesley, out of insane jealousy, had told the wrong people about Maggie and Aaron’s sin, and that these men had acted on their own.

She had tried not to think about the good reverend. It was only a matter of time until something would have to be done. She doubted seriously if Aaron or Phineas would let the man get away with his deeds. What if they were to take the law into their own hands? She shuddered to think what could happen if they did. Would anybody believe that Wesley was capable of such monstrous behavior? Probably only a handful of the local residents were aware of the man’s dual personality. What would it do to Aunt Tilly if she ever found out that her beloved son was insane? As much as she disliked her uncle’s wife, she prayed that the poor woman could be spared from learning the truth.

Maggie looked around, recognizing the scenery from previous trips. Thankfully there were still several hours of daylight left because they were just now leaving Pride Station, which meant it was still a good nine miles to town.

Off in the distance she could see another buggy approaching, the driver obviously in a hurry. The horse seemed to be fairly flying, huge clouds of dust billowing up behind him.

As they neared the other vehicle, Maggie’s heart lodged in her throat. It was Wesley’s carryall.
Oh, dear God, it can’t be!
But it was. The reverend slowed his buggy, pulling up alongside the cabriolet.

“Keep going!” Maggie shouted to Moses.

“Nonsense,” Eunice said. “Stop this carriage immediately. It’s apparent that Reverend Peterson wants to speak with us.”

“No!” Maggie screamed.

Moses had slowed the buggy before Maggie could persuade him to keep moving. Wesley raised a rifle from his side and aimed it directly at the black man.

“Merciful heavens, Reverend,” Eunice gasped. “Whatever are you doing with that rifle?”

“I don’t mean you any harm, Mrs. Arnold,” Wesley said in the most gentle of voices. “I was on my way to White Orchard to fetch Margaret. I intend to take her with me, and I don’t want any fuss out of this nigger.”

“My, my. I should think that would be no problem. I’m sure Miss Campbell would be glad to accompany you.”

“Is that right, Cousin Margaret? Will you come with me willingly?”

“No,” Maggie groaned, her terror-filled eyes beseeching Eunice.

Moses moved quickly, turning the whip in his hand toward the other vehicle, but before he was able to accomplish his objective, a shot rang out loudly, the sound echoing in Maggie’s ear like a cannon blast. She screamed, knotting her hands into tight fists while Eunice swooned in a near faint. The carriage jerked, and then began to move forward, the startled horses whinnying. Suddenly more shots sounded. Both horses made dying cries as their huge bodies slumped to the ground.

“Dear Lord, what happened?” Eunice wailed.

“He’s shot Moses and both horses.” Maggie looked down at the black man, blood oozing from the bullet wounds in his body. He lay face down on the road, the huge horses beside him, one of them sprawled across his legs.

“But why? I don’t understand.” Eunice’s eyes were glazed with shock.

“Get down, Margaret,” Wesley said as calmly as if he were asking her for the next dance. Was he even aware that he had just killed a man? “You get down and come with me and I’ll let Mrs. Arnold live.”

“No, Maggie.” Eunice grabbed the other woman by the arm. “I don’t know what is going on, but you mustn’t go with him.”

“I have no choice. He’ll kill us both if I don’t,” Maggie whispered. “I’ll go with him. You walk back to Pride Station and get help.”

“I will. I promise, I will.” Eunice clutched Maggie’s hand just before she stepped down from the cabriolet.

Maggie trembled from head to toe. She had never been so afraid, not even two nights ago. She knew that she was going to die. There was little hope that help could arrive in time.

When Wesley reached out a fleshy hand to help her into his carryall, she refused, pulling herself up into the seat.

“Good day, Mrs. Arnold. Please give my best to your parents,” Wesley said as he cracked the whip over his horse.

The Widow Arnold sat there in the cabriolet, her glassy-eyed stare never leaving the other vehicle as it moved rapidly in the direction of Tuscumbia. Maggie kept looking back, praying that Eunice would come out of shock long enough to go for help. It was doubtful rescue would come before Wesley acted upon his insane instincts, but she tried not to give up all hope.

Aaron had never prayed so much in all his life. He was a man who seldom made contact with the Lord, but today every thought in his mind and every feeing in his heart was concentrated in prayer. If a man could make a bargain with the Almighty, then he’d do it. He would do anything, give anything, if he and Thayer could reach Maggie in time.

Young Pete Grimes had come from Pride Station in record time. Breathlessly, he had told them that Mrs. Arnold was at his pa’s place, and had said for somebody to take out up Memphis Pike after a gal called Maggie because Wesley had taken her at gunpoint.

He and Thayer had wasted no time discussing a plan of action before they left. All he could think about was what would happen to the woman he loved if they didn’t get to her in time.

“Look, there’s a buggy stopped up ahead,” Thayer said.

“It’s them. I recognize Peterson’s carryall. Why the hell have they stopped?” Aaron slowed his horse to a trot.

“We can’t go riding up and try to overtake them. He’s liable to shoot her before we could stop him.”

“Let’s cut off the road here,” Aaron suggested. “We can circle around through the woods and come up behind the buggy.”

They left the road and went straight into the woods. When they were directly parallel to Wesley’s vehicle, the two men dismounted, leading their horses to the edge of the thicket. They could hear the sound of the good reverend’s shouting voice and see the back of his tall, fat body.

“My God,” Aaron groaned when he saw Maggie on her knees in the dirt at Peterson’s feet. With a few stray tendrils curling about her pale face, Maggie’s wildly disheveled hair hung about her shoulders.

“Stay calm,” Thayer said, placing a restraining hand on his big friend’s arm. “We can’t help her if we lose our heads.”

Wesley’s voice shrilled hysterically. “You have sinned against God and man, harlot. Repent of your sins before you go to meet your Maker.”

“He’s going to kill her,” Aaron said, his green eyes never leaving Maggie’s huddled form. “He’s holding a rifle in his hand. I’ll go out where he can see me and distract him from Maggie while you circle behind him.”

“My God, Aaron, be careful,” Thayer told his friend as he turned to follow instructions.

The blond giant took several steps out into the clearing, deliberately making as much noise as he possibly could.

“If anyone has sinned and should die, it’s me.” When Aaron spoke, Maggie jerked her head around, her eyes locking with his, relief and fear combined in her gaze.

“Stone!” Wesley said, turning the rifle toward the intruder.

“Maggie is innocent of any wrong. I’m the one who led her astray. God knows that if anyone should be punished, it should be me.”

“No!” The sound of Maggie’s frightened voice gained the reverend’s attention.

Aaron continued to move forward, inch by inch edging closer to the maniac with the gun. “You’re a man of God, Reverend, you can’t take a life.”

“It is within my rights to do God’s will. He speaks to me in all things. I take life only by His instructions.” Wesley turned away from the kneeling woman, walking toward the big man. “This woman was to have been my wife, but she gave her innocence to you and then became the paid whore of Thayer Coleman. I offered her forgiveness and a chance for redemption, but she refused me. For these sins, she must die.”

“You’re wrong.” Aaron was almost within touching distance of his objective. “I’m the only man Maggie has ever known. She loves me, and I love her. She could never have been the right wife for you.”

“You shouldn’t have come after her, Stone. Now, I’ll have to kill you, too.”

Just as Wesley aimed his rifle at Aaron’s chest, Thayer came up from behind him, grabbing him quickly. Unbalanced from the attack, Wesley staggered, and fell forward, managing to land on his knees. Still holding the rifle, he aimed it at Thayer and pulled the trigger. The dark, young man swayed as he grabbed his shoulder, blood seeping between his fingers.

Aaron rushed to Maggie, but was thwarted by the reverend’s unexpected action. He grabbed Maggie while they were both on their knees, slowly easing himself and his captive upward, accidentally dropping his weapon in the process.