To love and to honor (9 page)

"Hold everything, Cinderella, you have it wrong. In the marriage service the words are 'to love and to cherish'—I ought to know."

His heartless chuckle increased her determination to make him understand.

"I still stick to 'to love and to honor*—accent on honor. If you honor a person you'd be bound to cherish him or her, wouldn't you?"

His laugh was a shout of derision.

"This is a scream. You orate about loving and honoring a husband after having married a man you'd never even seen."

Her face crimsoned.

"I understand, Hal, how that marriage must look to those who weren't in the know. I did what seemed to me right. Like Arabella Allen, in Pickwick Papers. If I

didn't know then what I did want, I know now what I don't want."

"That means me, I suppose. Nice of you to compare me with Bob vSawyer. Boy, but you've mounted the rostrum tliis a.m. Jump down, Cindy. I don't care how you live your life if you live it with me. I'll make you happy as a queen. You intend to get rid of Kenniston Stewart P.D.Q., don't you?"

In the impelling need to make him understand she had bared thoughts she hadn't realized she had, they had formulated and risen to the top of her mind as she talked. He had about as much comprehension of what she meant as had that flash of gold in the pool. No use to be serious with him. She laughed.

"I'm not so sure that I intend to get rid of Ken Stewart. I'm beginning to wonder. A bird in the hand— you've heard that one. Perhaps I'm not gonna wash that man right out of my hair." She sang the paraphrase with a hope that she could end a situation now and forever which threatened to get out of hand.

"You can't have changed your mind?" The words were hoarse with incredulity. "You can't mean that you're going to stick to that written contract, go through with it? You've gone hay—"

"Sorry to interrupt at what appears to be a crucial moment," apologized a voice from the doorway behind them, "but Counselor Armstrong asked me to stop for you and bring you to his office—Mrs. Stewart."

Cindy wheeled. Bill Damon again. Looking as cool in white as if this weren't the hottest summer day for years. Had he heard her silly declaration about Ken Stewart? Could he hold up her case in court by repeating that gem of flippancy? Why would he want to? Wasn't he under orders to push the matter full speed ahead?

"If you have lost your voice, Cinderella, mine is still in working order." Harding's incisive words were tipped with vitriol. "Who are you in the doorway and what do you mean butting into a private conference?"

"Shall I present my credentials to the gentleman, Mrs. Stewart?" Bill Damon took a step down to the patio. "It

will take time and we really shouldn't keep the Counselor waiting."

I could wring your neck. Mister, for the amusement in your voice and eyes, Cindy thought, before she explained:

"Colonel Damon is here to represent Kenniston Stewart, Hal. We are to sign deeds this morning for the sale of the oil property. The Court has spoken. I must go."

"You bet I'm not getting in wrong with the Court in this case by detaining you, I have too much at stake. We'll pick up this conversation again, sugar, in a place where we will be safe from officious interruption. Your argument floored me for an instant, but I'll have an answer. I'll be seeing you."

She watched him as he strode down the garden path, switching angrily at the rose border with his putter, watched him cross the green and disappear from sight. A motor hummed. His boat. The sound diminished in the distance. That was that. Now what?

"Who was the gentleman? You didn't introduce him,** a voice reminded.

"I'm sorry, Colonel. He is Hal Harding. We had had a hot argument and I forgot my manners."

"Couldn't have been very hot. He called you 'sugar.' **

"I know he did." She brushed her hair back from her warm forehead. "Three times. I never heard him use the word that way before, that sort of greeting from him seems so out of character. I wonder where he got it."

"Words are as infectious as the common cold. Easy to pick up from a person one sees even occasionally. We should be on our way."

"It's too hot. I'm not going. Those deeds don't have to be signed today." To avoid his intent gray eyes she picked up shears from a gathering basket on the glass-top table and concentrated on cutting bachelor buttons until she had a sizable bunch. She carefully drew the stems through her belt.

"That's a corking color combination, the deep blue against the delicate pink of your frock. If you are not going would you mind sitting down? I can't until you do, and as you obsei-ved, this is a hot day."

"I can see no reason why you should stand or sit in my garden. You are at liberty to go." Her defiant eyes glanced quickly away from his which were alight with laughter.

"Come on, now, Cindy—"

"Don't speak to me as if I were a kid. You did that once before."

"O.K., Mrs. Stewart. You want to get the complications in your lite straightened out so you can begin real living, don't you?" His authoritative voice sent little tingles along her nerves.

"Certainly I do." Allah be praised he hadn't heard that brainless, "Perhaps I'm not gonna wash that man right out of my hair."

"Then come on, pronto. Armstrong told me yesterday that the sale of the property must go through before he would finish the case of the annulment of the marriage contract with the Court. He and I checked the deeds of sale. As soon as we have signed, you for yourself, and I for Stewart, Armstrong will go along with us, present them at the local bank here, where cashier's checks for a million bucks, one for you and one for Stewart, will be exchanged for the deeds."

"A million for each of us? That's two million." Her eyes were wide with amazement. "Those people offered me two hundred and fifty thousand for the holdings. They claimed the registration of the deeds and patents was faulty and the presence of more oil a gamble. Cheatsl"

"Had you given me the sliver of a chance to explain I would have told you the result of my investigation. The registration of the deeds and patents is as sound as the U. S. mint, otherwise why the two million offer? If you say the word, we'll hold out for more. We can get it."

"But that would delay everything else, wouldn't it?"

"If you mean the annulment, yes."

"Accept the offer. It won't be the first time freedom has been preferred to money."

"They thought they had an easy mark when they offered you a fraction of what the property is worth.

Stewart deserves to forfeit his share for dumping the responsibility on a girl."

"But, this girl didn't fall into the trap, I beg to remind you. I can afford to forget that now. A million dollars. What in the world will I do with it? All right, laugh. I mean what I say, why would I want all that money?"

"I laughed at the thought of you worrying about the amount. Your Uncle Sam has your welfare on his mind, he will see to it that you are not overburdened with moola, lady. He'll leave you a nice little nest egg to invest. Let's do it together, you for Cinderella Clinton, I for Ken Stewart."

"Do you mean speculate? Thanks, no. I've had enough of that in drilling for oil to last my lifetime."

"I said 'invest.' There's a heap of difference."

"How can we? You'll be on your way, won't you, as soon as Ken Stewart's business is finished?"

"No. I'm planning to remain here until my book is written. After years spent in the midst of tragic devastation, I've fallen hard for the order, cleanliness and beauty of this village, the tree-shaded streets, the well-cared-for houses and lawns. I like the people, too. How about it? Shall we set the annulment ball rolling by signing those deeds?"

"Lead on. Sirrah. Don't mind my flippancy. The prospect of ending an intolerable situation, neither maid, wife nor widow—that gem of rhetoric was borrowed from a nineteenth-century novel title—has unfolded the wings of my spirit which has been grounded. The moment I am free I shall begin to live daringly. How are we going?"

"My car is outside."

Sarah confronted them in the long hall.

"Trader Armstrong just phoned, Cindy. Wanted to know why you wasn't in his office?"

"Give him a buzz, tell him I am on my way, Sary. Colonel Damon, this is my guardian angel. Sarah Ann Parker. Colonel Damon is here pinch-hitting for Kennis-ton Stewart, Sary." Why should the introduction send

TO LOVE AND TO HONOR *J1

color to the woman's face as if she were having an acute attack of blood pressure?

"Pleased to meet you, sir. Stayin' long?"

"Until Stewart's business is finished. He felt guilty leaving so much for Mrs. Stewart to do and as I was^ coming to this country asked me to take over."

"Hmp. Want to know somethin'? Folks is sayin' 'bout* time he come to his senses. You be back for luncli,) child?"

"I will answer for her. Better not count on it. We have a lot of business to put through this morning."

"Got the door key in your bag, Cinderella? 'S'long as you won't be home, I'll lock up an' later drop in to Ella Crane's shop. Rena Foster told me she's got a television machine on trial. Good mornin', Mr. Damon."

As the long dark green car slid forward smoothly he inquired:

"What did you say her name was?"

"Sarah Ann Parker. She has been housekeeper at The Castle for years. She spends the winters in Sarasota that she may watch the practice of her favorite ball team. She's a dear."

"S for Sarah. A for Ann. P for Parker. Reverse the initials and you get P.A.S. You said she is your guardian angel. I have reason to believe you."

TEN

"Amazing how quickly the pattern of a life can change." Cindy reflected aloud, as an hour later they drove away from the local bank, "I give you the Cinderella story. From Rags to Riches. You as Kenniston Stewart's deputy, I for myself sign papers at Counselor Armstrong's office; he goes with us to the bank, turns over the deeds and receives two checks in return. I deposit mine to my account and here I am, no longer living on an income that had its ups and downs, with the emphasis on downs, but a comparatively rich woman, minus Federal, state and local taxes."

"And a happy one, I hope?"

"Not entirely till the Court grants me the right to resume my maiden name."

"Will you insist on that?"

"Of course. Why the surprise?"

"It jarred me for a moment, you are erasing Stewart so completely from your life. You are right. Where shall we lunch?"

"Do we have to lunch now?"

"Certainly not. What do you want to do?"

"Just beyond here is a bluff that overlooks the ocean. It is a popular spot but likely to be deserted at this time of day. I'd love to sit there for a while and adjust my mental balance. At the moment my mind feels like a great empty attic which has been swept clean of the accumulations of generations. The last three years have been so packed with problems." She brushed her hand across her eyes as if to clear them.

"I would ask myself, 'With twenty thousand ways to earn a living in the U.S. why did Dad have to fall for oil wells?' 'Is it wise to do this?' 'Am 1 selfish to refuse to contract a marriage?' Being shot to the top of the world when a well showed a streak of oil; plunged to the depths of discouragement when a rush of water followed."

"Did that happen often?"

"Often? Eight out of ten times. 'Will I be able to pay the taxes on The Castle this year?' 'Are the men who want to buy the oil holdings cheating me?' No sooner would I mail a monthly statement to Ken Stewart than it was time to prepare another. Why are you looking at me so hard?"

"Better take time off to breathe. Pretty excited, aren't you?"

"Positively balloonish. Those are only a few of my doubts. Lucky I took the course in accounting at college. It was something to which to hold tight. I had to work or I would have been dropped from the class. I was determined to be trained for a job in case the bottom fell out of the oil holdings completely. It can happen."

"It not only can, but does. Do we turn here?"

"Yes. Stop at the end of this dirt road. My apologies for sobbing out my troubles on your shoulder, figuratively speaking. The recital has deepened the lines across your forehead."

"That wasn't what did it, it was the thought that Ken Stewart should be here in my place, with your head really on his shoulder."

"What an awful thought. If it is all the same to you I'll pick the shoulder, there is another I would prefer. I am just beginning to realize that with all that money I can make some dreams come true. I'll endow a room at the Hospital in Father's and Mother's name; establish a trust fund to assure the minister of the church here a decent living salary; I'll pension Sary and—but why not a hospital wing, it's terribly needed. After that I will—"

"Hold everything. If you go on at this rate, that money will be spent before the check goes through the bank."

She laughed.

"I told you I'm floating on top of the world. Leave the car here. We follow that path. Quite a climb, but it's worth it."

On top of the bluff was a sandy patch in front of a giant boulder. Cindy dropped to the ground, pulled off the pink jacket, and leaned back against the rock.

"A breeze! Isn't this heavenly? For the first time today I am cool. Sit down. Share nature's perfect seat. O.K., if you'd rather perch on that boulder, you look mighty uncomfortable, if you ask me. Isn't the ocean beautiful? Shades of green and blue and purple swelling gently on and on until they meet the sky. The six identical sails on the horizon must mean a boat race. Now they are spreading out to windward, exciting to watch even at this distance, isn't it? I wonder if the yacht headed this way is the one that anchors off Rockledge shore so often?"

"It looks impressive."

"If it is the boat credited to Mrs. Drew it is. Hal gave me a summary of its outer measurements, interior and deck arrangements this morning. If you believe his fervid description it is sensational."

"How come that he knows so much about the yacht? Is he a friend of the owner?"

"Not this owner. He doesn't approve of her. Advised me not to call at Rockledge. He said he sailed on the boat when she belonged to a friend. I don't understand Hal this summer. He used to be gay and charming, ultrasophisticated, of course, but he had a way with him that made one forgive that. Now he appears to be at loggerheads with the world in general and this spot on the Maine coast in particular." She placed her hand over her mouth and stifled a yawn.