A Wife by Christmas (4 page)

“What the devil happened to your eye?” He leaned across Dennis to examine the yellow and purple skin.

“An accident.” She touched her eye briefly. “What are you doing here?”

He glared at her. “What sort of accident could a lady have that would involve a black eye?”

“A
man
hit me in the eye with his elbow.”

Max jumped from his seat. “Who? Who hit you? I demand to know who struck you, Miss Henderson.”

Dennis and Miss Henderson starred at him, eyes wide, mouths open. She turned and looked at the audience they had attracted. “Mr. Colbert, please, sit down, you’re causing a scene.”

He sat and adjusted his tie and coat. She might put him off, but he would get to the bottom of this. After a few deep breaths, he turned to her again. “Miss Henderson?”

“Yes, Mr. Colbert.”

“I would like to introduce you to Mr. Dennis Hoover, an acquaintance of mine. Dennis, “he nodded in the man’s direction—“this is Miss Ellie Henderson, one of the teachers at Logan County High School.”

Dennis blushed a bright red and put out his hand. “How do you do, Miss Henderson?”

She ignored his hand. “I’m fine, thank you, Mr. Hoover.” She leaned across him and looked Max in the eye. “Why are you here, Mr. Colbert?”

“Is this not an open meeting?”

She bristled. “Of course it’s open, but we prefer supporters.”

Dennis eased his chair back as Max and Ellie shot remarks at each other, his head moving back and forth. Within minutes, the woman at the podium smacked the gavel and announced the beginning of the meeting.

Max sat back and continued to fume. A black eye! Whoever gave her that injury would answer to him. Since Miss Henderson’s uncle had been derelict in his duty toward his niece, he would have to take up the slack. An accident! He turned toward her again, and leaned over Dennis. “I expect a full report on that
accident
on my desk first thing tomorrow morning. Names, Miss Henderson, I expect names.”

“Are you crazy? I told you it was an accident. It happened Saturday with all the crowds Christmas shopping. I have no idea who the man was.” She bit back furiously.

“Saturday? You mean the day you ran around town dressed as a man?”

Two women in front of them turned and frowned. Ellie mumbled, “sorry,” and sat back, chewing her lip, her face flushed. After a couple minutes, she leaned over Dennis again and whispered furiously. “I’m sure Christmas is not one of your favorite holidays anyway, since you like to play Scrooge.”

“What do you mean, play Scrooge?” he whispered back.

“You shut down my Christmas project. We’re helping the poor have a nice Christmas.”

Dennis glanced around the room, his gaze settling on the exit. He tugged at his collar.

“And I was correct to shut it down. You ended up soaking wet in the center of town wearing trousers! I hope you realize I know that bag you carried were items donated from the stores, even though I ordered you not to do it.”

“Ordered! How dare you!”

“Ellie?” The woman at the podium looked in her direction, while everyone else had turned in their seats. Ellie sat back in her seat again and faced the woman. “Yes, Dorothy?”

“I said, are you ready to give us the financial report?” She eyed Max and Ellie curiously.

Ellie stood, smoothing her skirts. A flurry of papers slid from her lap. “I am. I’m sorry. I have it right here.” She grabbed the papers from the floor and edged past Dennis. She glowered at Max, and stiffened her back. “Excuse me, sir.” Max stood to let her pass, and whispered in her ear. “You should be aware this is not over.”

“I have no idea what you mean by
this
, but whatever you’re talking about is definitely over,” she shot back. The papers slipped from her fingers to the floor.

They both squatted to retrieve them. “I expect to meet with you tomorrow morning first thing for a report on your foray into town Saturday, and how one of my teachers, a woman of good family, a woman who. . .”

“I don’t see what right you have to demand that I account to you for time spent away from school. And furthermore. . .”

“Ellie?” The woman at the podium frowned and stretched to see them. “Is everything all right down there?”

“Yes. Fine.” Ellie rose, patted her hair, pushed past Max, the papers in disarray, and stalked to the head of the room. She smiled at the crowd and shuffled papers for a few minutes. Finally, she tugged on her sleeves, cleared her throat, and began the report.

Dennis leaned over. “Do you think we should leave? Your teacher doesn’t seem too happy to see us.”

“Nonsense. She’s really a lovely woman. When the meeting’s over, we’ll talk to her a bit, and you’ll see.” He really had to rein in his temper. How she got her black eye, and how she dressed when not in school shouldn’t concern him. But seeing the purple and yellow bruise on her beautiful face felt like a shot to his gut. If she were his responsibility, there would be hell to pay for whoever injured her.

The financial report droned on, and then when finished, Ellie took a seat behind the podium. Several other women got up and gave reports and the meeting ended with a speaker on the movement to gain the vote for women.

When the presenter finally wound up her remarks to enthusiastic applause, Max stood and stretched. He’d watched Ellie the whole time, her face glowing with fervor. As he and Dennis moved forward to the door, he kept his eye on her and maneuvered Dennis in that direction. She glanced at the two of them. He smiled at her, she frowned back. He needed to put her in a pleasant mood so Dennis would begin to think of her in a friendlier manner.

“Miss Henderson. Mr. Hoover and I are stopping at the coffee shop for a piece of pie. Would you care to join us?” Dennis turned toward him, eyebrows raised.

“I don’t think so, Mr. Colbert. I have a curfew at the boarding house. Mrs. Beamer locks the door precisely at ten o’clock.”

“No matter. I have my Oldsmobile with me. Mr. Hoover and I will be happy to see you home afterwards. It’s barely nine o’clock. We have plenty of time.” He avoided looking at her eye to keep his temper in check.

“I don’t think so, but thank you anyway.” She turned.

Max took a deep breath. Stubborn woman. “Then I insist on driving you home.” At least Miss Henderson and Dennis could sit in the back and converse on the way.

Ellie sighed. “All right. Let me get my coat.”

Max glanced at Dennis, who smiled brightly. In fact, he smiled quite a bit, and watched her hips sway as she walked across the room. An uncomfortable feeling settled in his stomach. He didn’t really know Dennis that well, now that he thought about it. He’d played tennis with him a few times, shared a meal and drinks at their club. He’d always seemed a little hesitant with the women. Why was he all of a sudden eyeing Miss Henderson’s alluring bottom? Was he a lecher? Did he pick the wrong man to marry her?

As they entered the automobile, he mentally crossed Dennis off the list. Since he no longer considered him suitable, he put him in the back seat and gave Miss Henderson the seat next to him in the front.

“How did you enjoy the meeting, Mr. Colbert?” She adjusted her skirt, giving him a glimpse of well-turned ankles. He tugged at his collar, rotated his neck.

“Mostly nonsense.” He steered the automobile into the combined traffic of horses and buggies and other motorcars.

Ellie raised her eyebrows. “Indeed. Why would you say that?”

He did not miss her flare of temper. “Women will never get the vote. And if they do, they’ll vote the way their husbands tell them to.” He settled himself in his seat, staring straight ahead.

“Stop this automobile!” Ellie shouted.

Max pushed hard on the brake and turned to her. “What?”

“I refuse to ride in an automobile with a man who has such backward ideas. Let me out.”

“Don’t be ridiculous. I can’t let you out here. It’s dark, you’re a woman.” He started forward again.

“A woman!” She sputtered. “Stop this vehicle at once and let me out!”

Again he came to an abrupt stop. Someone behind him sounded a horn, and a buggy driver swore in his direction as he circled around.

Ellie opened the door and hopped out. “My boarding house is only two blocks from here. I will walk. Good night, Mr. Colbert.” She slammed the door and started off, then returned and nodded in the direction of the back seat. “Mr. Hoover. It was a pleasure.”

Max turned to Dennis in the back seat, pushing his goggles to his forehead. “What did I say? Isn’t she a woman?”

Chapter 4

The following Sunday, Ellie entered the First Methodist Church, Bible in hand. Usually Rose accompanied her, but this morning her friend remained home to nurse a cold, and decided not to attend.

A sense of peace descended on her as the heavy oak door swished closed. Familiar smells only a church held assailed her nostrils. Candles flickered in the sanctuary, casting a glow over the area. Women from the church had spent all day Saturday decorating the church and the hall, since today the congregation would enjoy their Christmas Luncheon.

Ellie strolled down the center aisle. She stopped to chat with friends and admire new babies. Helen Spencer, waving at her from the third row, caught her attention. Ellie signaled back and hurried toward her.

“Did you drop off your pot luck casserole?” Helen shifted to allow Ellie to slide in next to her.

“Yes, it was nice of Mrs. Beamer to let me use her kitchen. She’s very fussy about it.”

“What did you bring?” Helen asked.

Ellie leaned over to whisper, “I’m not a great cook, but I remembered my Aunt Tori made this potato and ham thing. I got the recipe from her last week, and I’m pretty sure I got it right.”

“I made a tuna fish casserole. Mother tried to make it for me, but I shooed her out of the kitchen. Honestly, I don’t know how I’ll ever learn to cook if she’s always standing over my shoulder.”

“I don’t care if I ever learn to cook.” Ellie chuckled.

“Unless you had someone special to cook for.” Helen winked at her as they stood when the Pastor entered the sanctuary. Ellie turned when nudged from the side as Mr. Colbert and another man moved into their pew. Her eyes narrowed as Mr. Colbert smiled at her and then nodded to Helen.

Helen’s eyebrows rose and she glanced at Ellie. They both faced forward and joined in the hymn the congregation had already begun.
What is this man up to?
Although she saw Mr. Colbert at church just about every Sunday, he usually sat near the back and mostly ignored her.

After the disaster at the Women’s Rights meeting, he’d avoided her, and she him. She’d conducted her meeting with the Christmas Basket group of students on Thursday, and he’d ignored that as well. Now here he sat in her pew, singing from his hymnal, all relaxed, like he stood next to her every Sunday.

She peeked at him from under her eyelashes. He was certainly easy on the eyes. Tall, broad shouldered, with long legs. His neatly combed pitch-black hair made her fingers itch to mess it up. Although early in the morning, she could already see he would need another shave before supper. She casually leaned over an inch and sniffed. Bay rum and something spicy.

He glanced at her, his piercing blue eyes meeting hers. A slight smile edged his lips, and she almost swallowed her tongue. An arrogant, supercilious Max Colbert she could deal with. Not this Max Colbert who smiled and made her insides go all squishy. She cleared her throat and sat as the preacher began the service.

Whatever sermon Pastor Graves delivered went completely over Ellie’s head. She fidgeted and squirmed in her seat so much Helen cast her a questioning look. Then she held herself stiffly to keep from leaning against Mr. Colbert’s jacket, and rubbing her cheek against the soft wool. What in heaven’s name was wrong with her? This man was the bane of her existence. Her enemy. He stood for all the things she fought against. She heaved a sigh of relief when the service ended.

“You will be joining the rest of the congregation for our Annual Christmas Party, will you not, Miss Henderson?” Max looked down at her from his impressive height.

“Of course,” she snapped, still annoyed with herself for her reaction to his presence.

Max stepped out of the pew, and moved back to allow her and Helen to exit. The four strolled along with the rest of the crowd, greeting the Pastor as they left the church.

“If you will excuse me, Mr. Colbert, I need to go to the church kitchen and help set up for the luncheon.” She clamped on Helen’s arm and tugged her forward.

“Wait, Miss Henderson. I would like you to meet Mr. Clay Forest.” He turned to the man standing alongside him. The rotund man wiped sweat from his forehead, and reeked of cigar smoke. His face held the flush of a regular user of hard spirits. “This is Miss Ellie Henderson, a teacher at Logan County High School.”

“How do you do, Miss Henderson?” The man stuck his hand out. Ellie took it and gave it a brief shake. She nodded in Helen’s direction. “This is Miss Helen Spencer.” She took a deep breath. “Helen, I’m sure you already know Mr. Colbert.”

“Indeed I do. How are you, Mr. Colbert?”

“Just fine, thank you, Miss Spencer.”

Mr. Forest stepped forward and took Helen’s hand. “I am delighted to meet you, Helen.”

Helen stiffened at the use of her first name.

“And you must call me Clay,” he added, extending his arm to Helen to escort her.

Ellie had a moment of panic when it appeared Mr. Colbert planned to escort her. She tugged again at Helen’s arm. “Sorry, we’re needed in the kitchen. You gentlemen can go on in to the hall.” Without a backward glance, she hurried Helen away.

Once they reached the kitchen, Helen turned to Ellie. “What is going on?”

Ellie sighed and grabbed an apron from one of the hooks in the kitchen. “I have no idea. Would you believe Mr. Colbert showed up at the Women’s Rights meeting last week?”

“Mr. Colbert? At the Women’s Rights meeting? Surely you’re joking.” Helen had her head stuck in the icebox, pulling out bowls and dishes.

Ellie took them from her hands and placed them on a tray. “I am not kidding. And the funny thing is, he showed up there with some other man I’d never met before.”