Something Must Be Done
Once Nicholas had slammed the front door, her mother moved back to where she’d been sitting earlier. “Don’t mind him, honey. Jealousy will make a person say some awful things. He’ll regret that later.”
It took Hope a few more moments to regain her composure. “But he’s right, isn’t he, Mr. Canton? They very well might try to string Judah up.”
Mr. Canton scratched his balding head. “The sheriff’s been waitin’ on Judge Donald Peppers to arrive from out on the circuit before he does anything, but I have it on good authority that Roan’s already said if the judge don’t see fit to go to trial, Roan might accidentally leave a few doors unlocked.”
Hope’s breath caught in her throat. She couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She knew the townsfolk weren’t fond of Judah, but the fact that they might actually try to lynch him for hurting her was absolutely unthinkable.
“Of course, they was all thinkin’ you might expire at any moment. Now that they see you’re okay, and you can vouch for the fact that you don’t hold any ill-will toward Judah, maybe they’ll disperse.”
“Maybe,” Hope said, thinking it might be possible she could convince them. But she knew there weren’t a lot of people in the area who hadn’t already decided Judah was a murderer. Convincing them not to take up vigilante justice might be impossible.
“Mrs. Howard wanted me to let her know when you was awake, but now I’m thinkin’ I’ll hold off on that,” Mr. Canton continued.
“Can you think of any reason in the world why Judah wouldn’t tell us what happened?” Cordia asked, patting Hope on the leg.
“Yes,” she said, placing her hand over the top of her mother’s. “I’m certain he was trying to protect me.”
“Protect you from what?” Will asked, the concern growing on his face again.
“From Mr. Stewart, the superintendent and school board president.”
“And bank president,” Canton added, his tone showing his disdain.
“Sounds like he runs the town,” Hope’s father muttered.
“Why would you need protecting from him?” Cordia’s expression also showed her alarm.
“Because he’s been wanting to let me go for a few months now, since he found out I was trying to help Mr. Canton win the school board presidency. And if Mr. Stewart had evidence I had been unchaperoned with a single male, like Nicholas was just sayin’, then he could force me out for breach of contract.”
“I see,” Cordia replied, pursing her lips together. “Have you been spending time with Mr. Lawless?”
“Not exactly,” Hope said. “I mean, not on purpose anyway. I did see him at the barn raisin’ but we didn’t even dance together. And then I came out here one night before the house was finished to get a letter I’d left in my drawer, and he was workin’ on the cabin. We talked for a few minutes. That’s when he told me what happened to his first two wives. So... nothin’ for Mr. Stewart to start a scandal over.” She wasn’t about to admit to her folks in front of Mr. Canton that she’d kissed Judah that night in the woods or that he’d kissed her outside of this very house. And despite the fact that she knew for certain she hadn’t danced with Judah that night at the barn raising, for some reason, she had a distinct memory of twirling around in his arms, though she couldn’t place it. Flashes invaded her mind’s eye--of his smile, her hand in his, pressing her cheek to his shoulder, but she couldn’t put it all together. She wondered if it had anything at all with what had happened the day she’d been injured.
“Maybe if I go back to the courthouse and talk to him, tell him yer awake, he’ll let us know what happened, especially if he knows that yer willin’ to own up to speakin’ with him a few times in private. You are, aren’t you?” her daddy asked.
“Yes, of course I am. I’d do anything to get him out of jail.” Her father nodded, a look of pride on his face. To Hope, there was no question. Even if she never taught again, she’d tell the world every last detail of every conversation she’d ever had with Judah if it got him out of jail.
“Well, I suppose I should head back up there.”
“No, Daddy, wait,” Hope insisted. “I wanna go with you.”
“Hope, honey, you can’t do that,” Cordia insisted, smoothing back her hair on the side of her head opposite her wound. “You’ve had a horrible head injury. You have to stay in bed.”
Hope stared into her mother’s eyes, tipping her head only slightly. “Now, I know the Cordia Pike Tucker who drove to Springfield by herself to check on her beloved didn’t just say that to me.”
Her father chuckled, and her mother’s eyes widened. “I wasn’t alone. Frieda was with me.”
“And I won’t be alone either. My folks’ll be with me. But you know you’re wastin’ your breath tellin’ me to stay here.”
“I think that settles that,” Will said, and Cordia let go a sigh of acceptance. “I’ll go hitch up the horses.”
“And I’ll go find those newspaper articles for Sheriff Roan,” Mr. Canton said.
“Best hold on to those and wait for the judge,” Hope advised. “You give ‘em to Roan and they’re liable to disappear.
“Good point,” Mr. Canton replied, slowing his pace.
“And Mr. Canton?” He stopped and turned to look at Hope. “Thank you so much—for everything.”
“My pleasure, dear. You are by far the finest teacher I’ve ever known, and one of the best people. I’m so glad you’re feeling better.” He smiled at her and then continued on his way, and Hope said a little prayer thanking God for such an intelligent, kind-hearted man to be on their side.
“Well, I guess we need to get you dressed,” Cordia muttered, standing. “I must say, though, I think this is a bad idea.”
“That’s all right, Mama. Bad ideas are generally worth it when they serve a higher purpose.”
Cordia stopped halfway to the closet and turned to look at her daughter. “And what purpose would that be, honey?”
“I love him, Mama.” The words flowed from her mouth as the gospel truth, and she’d never been more sure of anything in her entire life.
“Ain’t no purpose higher than that,” Cordia assured her with a nod before she turned back to the closet to find something for Hope to wear. Hope agreed with the sentiment, though it did cross her mind that there was a distinct possibility Judah did not feel the same way about her. But if that was the case, she’d have to deal with that later. For now, her sole objective was to get him released from jail. Any repercussions would have to be faced another time.
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