Sister's Choice (26 page)

“Mrs. Newcomb, that would be marvelous!” Evan replied enthusiastically, then realizing how difficult this was for her now and would be at the trial, he sobered. “Forgive my insensitivity. I know how hard this will be for you. But it could save Tommy’s life.”

Mrs. Newcomb’s lips curved into a gentle smile. “I see now Maggie’s wisdom in encouraging you to take Tommy’s case. You will save his life, Evan. I have complete confidence in you.”

Evan swallowed nervously and unconsciously fiddled with his spectacles. His insides quivered. Despite the fear her confidence instilled in him, it also heartened him in another matter. If Mrs. Newcomb had such high regard for him, why would not her daughter?

He decided then and there that he would end the farce of helping Maggie win Colby Stoddard. He was a worthy suitor himself and ought not fear rejection. He would tell Maggie how he felt about her. If she rejected him—well, then he would accept it as God’s will. He would take a lesson from Zack. He must not stand paralyzed with fear. He must move in the direction of faith.

But when Maggie walked him out to his horse after the evening ended, he lost his courage because she mentioned going to the Stoddards’ the next day to help out.

“I thought you were going to town with me to see Tommy,” he said, trying to hide his disappointment.

“That’s right. I forgot.”

“I understand—”

“No. I’ll go to St. Helens.”

“You don’t have to.”

“Evan, I want to.”

He couldn’t tell if she meant it but argued no further. Maybe he’d find his nerve tomorrow to reveal his feelings to her.

TWENTY -THREE

Maggie was excited about going to St. Helens. She hurried through her morning chores and ate breakfast so fast her mother scolded her. But she wanted plenty of time to dress. Not that she had many choices, certainly not a closet full of outfits like Mabel had. Her two best dresses were far too nice for town. The dress that had gotten muddy was ruined. She discovered mud didn’t always wash out. It was now in Mama’s scrap basket to be salvaged for quilts.

Maggie’s remaining choices were her red shirtwaist and two older calicos. As she reached for the green calico, she saw Ellie’s newer lavender paisley that was only six months old. When Mama had made this she had wanted to get dry goods for Maggie, as well, but Maggie had turned down the offer, preferring instead to buy some books Dolman’s had just stocked. Maggie couldn’t have dreamed then how her attitude about clothes would change!

She was greatly tempted to borrow Ellie’s dress but then remembered that her clothes had not fared well around Evan and couldn’t risk a dress she knew Ellie loved. So she put on the green calico. She fixed her hair by pulling back the sides with two nice tortoise-shell combs, leaving the back to fall loose to her shoulders.

As she was fussing with the combs, she questioned why she was so concerned about her appearance. She was only going to town to see Tommy, and only with Evan. She supposed she was just coming to enjoy dressing up like a girl, or rather, like the young woman she was.

Evan arrived promptly at nine in his family’s carriage. The drive to town was uneventful—remarkable considering who her escort was. The conversation was pleasant, as it always was with Evan. Wistfully she wished she could have as interesting and lively exchanges with Colby.

At the jail they were given more good news for Tommy. His trial was set to start next Monday. He was in good spirits because of that and upon hearing about Evan’s hopeful roster of sympathetic witnesses. Evan spent some time explaining how the trial would go. Tommy asked several times if Maggie would be there, and she assured him she would. He didn’t seem to be interested in much else. Maggie thought he hardly listened to Evan.

After leaving the jail, Maggie and Evan went to Dolman’s. For once Mama hadn’t given her a shopping list, but Evan wanted to purchase a few things. While Evan made his selections, Maggie admired the yard goods. The clerk pulled out a couple of bolts she was especially keen on. Mama had mentioned she wanted to make her a new dress for Boyd’s wedding. Was there still time? Maybe Mrs. Renolds would let Mama use her sewing machine.

She was debating between two fabrics, a rosy pink floral and a green paisley, when Evan came to the counter with his purchases.

“Let me buy one for you,” he said. When she gaped at his boldness, he added quickly, “I owe you at least one dress for the two I ruined.”

“Absolutely not!” Even she knew such a gift from a man would be unseemly. “Besides only one is ruined. However, you can help me decide which fabric to buy. Mama said I could get a new dress for Boyd’s wedding.”

He probably also realized the impropriety of his making such a gift, for he didn’t argue; instead, he pointed to the pink. “This would bring out the green in your eyes.”

“I always thought green did that,” she replied.

“Yes, but you were wearing a similar color, though darker, when I met you at my welcome party, and you looked quite stunning in it.”

First, it surprised her that he even remembered what she had been wearing when they met. But for him to say she looked stunning, well, she could hardly take that. She blushed as she attempted to laugh off the compliment.

“Hardly that!” she said.

But she told the clerk to cut her a length of the pink and put it on her parents’ account. She was certain her father would not mind the fifty-cent charge for a dress for his son’s wedding.

Then she noted Evan’s items—two plaid flannel shirts like the lumberjacks wore, a pair of denim dungarees, and a felt slouch hat.

Fingering the shirt, she asked, “What’s this?”

“I am a country fellow, so I thought it was time I dressed like one.”

“Does that mean you won’t move to Portland after you marry Tamara?”

He blinked and gave her a peculiar look. “I like it here,” he replied softly.

Carrying their packages, they exited the store only to run into Colby and Able Jenkins.

Maggie was about to smile a greeting when Able spoke first.

“Hi’ya, Maggie,” he said. “Did you come to town to visit your beau?” he asked with a grin.

Taken aback by the comment, she still reacted quickly. “Oh, shut up, Able. You don’t know anything!”

“I know we’re gonna start calling that jail the love nest. Ha ha!”

“Listen here, Jenkins—” she heard Evan start to say behind her.

But Colby broke in. “Able, apologize to Maggie, then get out of here!”

With a shrug Able mumbled, “Sorry,” then strode away.

“Thank you, Colby.” Maggie was pleased that he had so gallantly come to her rescue.

“He had no call to talk to you that way,” he said. Pausing briefly, he went on, “But, Maggie, you gotta know folks are talking. You think it’s wise to keep visiting Tommy?”

“How do you know I was—”

“We saw you go into the jail.”

“I appreciate your concern, but I know what I’m doing,” she replied curtly.

“And you, Parker,” Colby said to Evan, “should not be encouraging her. It’ll ruin her reputation, people thinking she is consorting with a jailbird.”

“No one would ever think such a thing if they knew Maggie was the finest, most decent girl in the whole county!” Evan retorted. “And if you for an instant believe such a thing, you are no friend of hers.”

“Don’t tell me what I believe!” Colby snapped.

“It surely sounds like you agree with the likes of Able Jen-kins—” Evan began hotly.

“Listen here, you two—” Maggie tried to interject but was cut off.

“It’s getting hard not to believe,” Colby retorted.

“Why, you two-faced churl!” Evan spat back, his neck reddening with anger. Somehow he had moved to within inches of Colby, their noses nearly touching.

“Take that back, you four-eyed fop!” demanded Colby.

“I will when you apologize to Maggie.”

“I ain’t got nothing to apologize about,” Colby rejoined.

Maggie thought perhaps he did, but she was so stunned by the suddenness and fierceness of the exchange she could hardly find her tongue.

“You have besmirched Maggie’s honor,” Evan returned. “Even if you haven’t gone so far as to spread the rumors about her. Though I begin to wonder about that, as well.”

“I ain’t taking any more of this! Get out of my way.” Colby gave Evan a shove.

Evan dropped his package and shoved back.

“That’s it!” Colby yelled, taking a swing at Evan.

His fist missed its intended target, probably Evan’s face, but it connected with Evan’s shoulder instead. Evan stumbled back but recovered quickly, raising his fists and charging. His attack had the effect of knocking Colby back a couple of paces, though it might well have been that Colby only stepped back to avoid the attack. In any case, Evan’s attempt hardly fazed his opponent.

Maggie finally found her voice. “Stop it this instant!” she yelled. But they were not listening.

Evan took a couple of swings but completely missed Colby, who only had to jump back a bit to avoid impact.

“Quit while you are ahead,” Colby railed. “Before I make mincemeat out of you.”

Evan swung again, with more success this time, clipping Colby on the chin.

“I’ve had enough of you!” Colby declared as he went on the offensive. He swung his arm, powerful from bucking logs at the mill, baling hay, and plowing fields on the farm. His fist slammed into Evan’s face like an axe against a stout tree trunk. The impact spun Evan around once before he crumbled to the boards of the sidewalk. Blood spurted from his nose and mouth. The force of the blow knocked his spectacles clean off his face, sending them flying onto the dirt road just as a wagon passed. The crunching sound of wire and glass being crushed by the wagon’s wheel was almost as bad as the sound of Colby’s fist crunching Evan’s jaw.

“Colby!” Maggie screamed.

“He asked for it! You saw.”

“How could you hit someone smaller than you and wearing spectacles no less!” she ranted.

Evan was starting to stir. He sputtered and spit blood and what might have been a tooth. “Lemme at ’em,” he mumbled. He seemed to be having a hard time moving his lips. But he clawed at the boards trying to get up.

“Colby, just get out of here,” Maggie implored, “before there’s more trouble.”

“Ain’t gonna be no more trouble from that lily-livered milksop—”

“Go! Now!” Maggie ordered.

At that moment the sheriff showed up. “What’s going on here?”

“Nothing,” Maggie said quickly. All she needed was to have three friends tossed in jail. “Evan just . . . ah . . . ran into the post, is all.”

The sheriff looked at Colby for confirmation. Colby shrugged.

“Okay, then. Move along,” the sheriff said.

Colby obeyed, probably satisfied that he’d settled Evan Parker once and for all.

Maggie dropped down beside the still prostrate Evan. “Are you all right, Evan?” She took his handkerchief from his pocket and tried to mop up some of the blood dripping down his chin.

“Huh? D-did he a-ap . . . say sorry?” Evan sounded like he was chewing pebbles.

“Can you walk, Parker?” Sheriff Haynes asked.

“Sure . . . just don’ know if I can stand,” Evan replied. With the help of the sheriff and Maggie, he was able to get to his feet. “Thank you,” he added, swaying a bit.

“Thank you, Sheriff Haynes,” Maggie said. “We’ll be okay now.”

Haynes arched a skeptical brow but no doubt had more important matters to attend to than fussing over the bumbling lawyer and the troublesome Miss Newcomb. “Watch them . . . ah, posts, Parker. We gotta keep you healthy at least till I get that trial out of my hair.” He then quickly strode away.

“Can you make it to the carriage?” Maggie asked Evan.

“Gimme . . . give . . . a minute.” Evan tottered back and leaned against the wall. Then in a sudden panic, he cried, “I can’t see! Everything’s a blur!”

“Your spectacles came off,” Maggie said.

His hand shot to his face, and he shook his head foolishly. While his hand was there he rubbed his jaw where a red welt was already turning black and blue.

“Is anything broken?” Maggie asked.

“Don’t think so, but it hurts like everything.”

“What were you thinking, trying to fight with Colby?” Maggie asked.

“Had to defend your honor.”

“That is ridiculous. I can take care of myself, you know.”

“But it’s the man’s place to protect the fair maiden.”

She rolled her eyes. Then it suddenly occurred to her that two men had been fighting over her! She didn’t know whether to be pleased or angry. Finally she decided upon anger, because even if she was starting to like dresses, she did not want to be perceived as a helpless female.

“I can protect myself,” she said unequivocally. “Let’s go home.”

She started to walk toward the carriage and had taken just three strides when she heard some stumbling and then a crash. Spinning around, ashamed that in her anger she had forgotten Evan might still be disabled, she saw him doubled over a barrel that had been sitting on the sidewalk. Several crates, which Evan had probably knocked over, were strewn on the ground. Luckily the crates had been empty. She grasped his arm to help him, but he pulled away.

“I’m okay,” he said stubbornly. “Just get my spectacles.”

“Oh . . .” Maggie groaned. “Evan, your spectacles . . . Well, they are sort of broken . . . truth be told, they got a bit crushed by a wagon.”

“I can’t see much without them.”

“I’ll help you.” She took his arm and then paused to pick up their packages.

This was the cherry on top of the humiliation of being knocked out by Colby. To be led around by a woman—by this woman, no less!—like a helpless babe. Everything Colby had said about him was true. Lily-livered, four-eyed milksop! That described him to a tee. He’d had several tries and hadn’t been able to make serious contact with Colby even once. But only one punch by Colby had sent Evan to the boards!

Aided by Maggie, Evan climbed into the passenger’s seat and slumped dejectedly.

“Do you have spare spectacles?” Maggie asked, taking the reins in hand.

“At home.”

They sat in silence for several moments. He was too numb to speak, not in a physical sense, though his jaw ached and felt as if it was swelling larger by the moment. No, he merely had nothing to say except for self-recriminations, which he was afraid to speak out loud for fear she would agree with them.