“Maybe he’s with his girl,” Clara guessed.
“I wish he’d show up.” Archie’s tone indicated his impatience. “Now that he’s not here for the meeting, I have a feeling something’s rotten in Denmark. Does anybody around here know where he is?” Archie scanned the faces around him.
No one had a good answer.
“I remember seein’ that woman who always hangs around him,” June noted.
“I saw her, too,” Betty said. “Boy, oh boy, that coat she had on was sure swell.”
“Sure was,” June agreed. “She was in the audience tonight. Second row center, as usual. I can’t help but wonder if she’s got something to do with it.”
“Could be,” Gladdie said. “When they’re together, somethin’ always turns up missin’. I’m thinkin’ back, and every time a trinket or money gets lost, that woman has been with him that day.”
Drusie thought for a moment. “You know somethin’, you’re right. I always was more than a mite suspicious of that woman, but I didn’t have her pegged as a thief.”
Waves of agreement sounded among the tour members.
“Of course I’m right,” Gladdie joked before turning serious. “Only this time, I wish I was wrong.”
“Maybe you’re still wrong,” Archie said. “But if you’re not, don’t worry. Elmer’s still around here somewhere and we’ll expose him. If he’s guilty, I suspect that for now he’s playing it cool and not running since he’s a band member.”
“True,” Betty said, “but he should have shown up to the meeting if he didn’t want us to suspect anything.”
“You’ve got a point. Let’s go see if we can find him and his girlfriend. Gladdie, you look inside. I’ll see what I can find out in the church yard.” Archie nodded to the women. “Clara and Drusie, Betty and June, you split up into pairs and look at all the places that just the women have access to and see if you can spot the dame.”
“Sure thing,” they all agreed.
“Maybe we should split up one by one and cover more ground that way,” Drusie suggested.
“I wouldn’t,” Clara said. “What if she’s got a gun?”
“A gun? I hadn’t thought of that.” Drusie’s throat grew dry. She swallowed, but it didn’t help much. Heavenly Father, please don’t let anyone get harmed in all this mess.
“Be careful,” Gladdie whispered in her ear.
“You, too.”
Drusie and her sister looked through the church but didn’t see the fur-clad woman. “She’s a slick one,” Drusie said, surrendering the search after exploring every Sunday school room that had been used by the women to change clothes.
“We cain’t give up. She’s got to be here somewhere.”
“No, she doesn’t. She may be long gone by now. I would be if I was her.”
“But she cain’t be far from Elmer, and he’s due to play again with us tomorrow night.”
“True,” Drusie conceded.
Without warning, they heard a man shout in the sanctuary. “Stop right there! We’ve got you surrounded.”
Drusie rushed up narrow wooden steps, with Clara following right behind her. They reached the top of the stairs just in time to see Elmer rushing out of the church. Gladdie ran behind him. Drusie and Clara ran to the entrance. They watched as Gladdie caught up to Elmer.
“Hey, what’s all the fuss about?” Drusie heard Elmer say.
The men stood in a huddle and talked. Drusie noticed Elmer’s facial expression change from disbelief to anger, then sorrow.
Gladdie broke away from them and approached the sisters. “Looks like that woman took Elmer for a ride. He thought she was interested in him, but apparently she had planned this all along.”
“What?” Clara and Drusie said at once.
The shake of Gladdie’s head conveyed his sadness. “That’s right. Elmer thinks she must have been the one who took all our things. I don’t know that he’s all that surprised. I reckon he’s overheard people talking about his girl for quite some time and he didn’t want to believe she could do anything wrong. But I can see how sorry he is. He told me now he understands why she didn’t want anybody to know they were seeing each other. She had planned this big take all along, it seems.”
“How sad.” Clara’s eyes misted.
“It is sad. His heart is broken.”
Drusie took Gladdie’s hand. “Oh, I’m so glad we didn’t try to pin this all on Elmer. I would have felt just awful, even though that woman was connected to him.”
“Me, too.”
“At least they know it warn’t us.”
“Yep,” Gladdie agreed. “At least some of us are havin’ a happy endin’.”
Sixteen
The next day, everyone was anxious for news. Drusie longed for the return of her little gold necklace, especially since it was worth much more to her in sentiment than it would ever bring in money. She had a feeling the woman had sold everything long ago.
“No luck, Drusie,” Archie told her. “They did catch her, though. She was trying to get as far away from here as she could—with another man, to boot.”
“Poor Elmer,” Drusie couldn’t help but say.
“I know it. And poor us. She pawned everything. Even if she had saved the tickets, we don’t have time to go find everybody’s stuff. I can’t even take a break long enough to find my cuff links. They didn’t hold any sentimental value. I left my father’s watch at home. That’s the only jewelry that means anything to me. As for the cuff links, well, it’s a good thing I was able to buy another pair almost identical to the ones that were stolen.” Archie held out an arm and showed them a shiny cuff link of gold inlaid with mother-of-pearl.
“Lucky you,” Drusie said without much enthusiasm.
Archie shook his head. “I’m sorry you got a tough break, kids.”
“I’ve got all the time in the world. I still want to find my necklace,” Drusie countered.
Archie’s sympathy proved temporal. “You might want to, but you won’t be able to. You don’t have time. You’re still under contract to me.”
“And so is Elmer?” she couldn’t help but ask.
“And so is Elmer. He was a dupe. He’s learned his lesson about trusting a pretty face too soon.”
Drusie remained silent. She could imagine the hold the woman in fur had on Elmer.
“This has just been too much excitement. I don’t know what I would have done if you hadn’t been here, Drusie.” Clara embraced her sister. “I’m so glad you’re back for good! I missed you so much when you were gone.”
Drusie laughed. “It warn’t that long, but I missed you, too.”
“I have a feelin’ you’re desperate enough to take me back, too, Archie.” Though Gladdie’s tone sounded light, Drusie knew he wasn’t jesting.
Archie laughed. “I’m that desperate—if you’ll come back, that is.”
“Good. I got ya right where I want ya.”
“You sound like a hardboiled gunsel in a gangster film,” Archie replied. “Where’s your Chicago typewriter?”
“I ain’t no gunsel. I’m a G-man. And here’s my Chicago typewriter.” He pretended to spout off bullets at Archie with a Thompson machine gun.
Archie placed his heart on his chest and pretended to collapse.
“Boys!” Clara chastised. “We sing songs. We don’t make gangster movies.”
Drusie laughed, glad that the tension of the past few weeks was shattered and the easy camaraderie they once enjoyed had returned. “Okay, Gladdie, what’s your big idea?”
“Archie’s gonna love it.” Gladdie rubbed his hands together. “How about you lettin’ me manage the NC Mountain Girls? Then you can be free to go back to the studio and cut records with more acts. Maybe you can go on another tour yourself.”
Archie didn’t even contemplate the idea. “No can do, pally. I’m not leaving Clara.” Archie gazed at Clara with unmistakable love in his eyes. “But I tell you what. To make it up to you and Drusie for me flying off the ha
ndle and letting you go—and because you’re a great harmonica player—not only can you stay with us for the rest of this tour, but you can have a job with me as long as you want.”
“Well, it ain’t as good as managin’ the band. You really mean what you say, right?”
“Sure I do. I’m not in the habit of saying things I don’t mean.”
“I’ll stay on one condition.”
Archie raised his arms in mock surrender. “How many conditions have you got?”
Gladdie laughed. “Not so many. I want me and Drusie to marry soon—over the Christmas holiday. And now that Drusie’s takin’ a likin’ to performin’, and I have, too, I do want us to stay for a while. But I also want us to have enough time to have a home life while Drusie keeps her contract with you.”
“You want to have your cake and eat it, too,” Archie said.
Gladdie crossed his arms. “Yep.”
“You drive a hard bargain. I’m proud of you, Gladdie.” Archie emphasized his sentiment with a pat on Gladdie’s back. “I think you’ve finally learned how to be a good businessman.”
“What do you think of that idea, Clara?” Drusie asked, even though she could guess the answer. Clara’s face looked rapt with anticipation. She didn’t want to leave the music industry—or Archie. Gladdie’s solution was perfect.
“What do I think?” Clara’s eyes widened. “Why, I didn’t know my opinion counted for nothin’.”
“I don’t know why you’d say that. You’re one of the stars,” Archie noted.
“I don’t need to be the star of the show. I like singin’ with my sister better.”
Drusie sniffled, trying to hold back her emotion. She never expected Clara, who loved attention more than anything else, to say that she’d rather share the spotlight with her than keep the accolades of audiences to herself. Perhaps the worldliness of playing music for money hadn’t gotten to her little sister as much as she suspected. Thank You, Lord, for being there for Clara when I was gone.
“I have one more favor to ask you, Archie,” Gladdie said.
Archie crossed his arms. “You’re a good businessman, but I have my limits, even when it comes to my own cousin.”
“I know. But we got this one comin’ to us. Can we have a week off at Christmas instead of the two days you had planned for us? Drusie and I talked about gettin’ married on New Year’s Day.”
Archie opened his mouth to protest.
Gladdie raised a palm to stop him. “You have to admit, even that doesn’t leave much time for a honeymoon. And I know you don’t have no concerts lined up that week. I wouldn’t ask you to disappoint our payin’ fans by cancelin’ out on them. All you had for us to do was make another record. Cain’t we do that later?”
“I don’t know. We’ve got to strike while the iron is hot,” Archie argued. “Do you have to get married over the holiday? Can’t you get married anytime? There’s a church in every town. Most of the time, you got your pick of places to get married in.”
“But I want Ma and Pa and everybody else to be there,” Drusie said. “Even though I don’t need no fancy weddin’.”
“Yeah,” Gladdie agreed. “I want to go home so Drusie and I can be married by Preacher Lawson. He’s been our pastor ever since I can remember, and I cain’t imagine bein’ married by anybody else.”
“Me neither,” Drusie concurred.
“Oh, all right. But only three days. We’ve got to cut more records now that everybody’s excited about your songs and askin’ about where to get the platters. You might be famous now, but they’ll forget you all too soon if you disappoint them.”
“But we ain’t askin’ for much time,” Gladdie pointed out. “Just a couple of days.”
“A couple of days? That’s not much time to put on a big shindig worthy of celebrities.” Archie ticked off the list on his fingers. “The music, flowers, getting your dress made, food, the invitations. . . I don’t see how all that can be planned in such a short time.”
“But I don’t want nothin’ like a celebrity would have,” Drusie said. “I just want a simple day.”
“I want what she wants,” Gladdie agreed.
Archie lifted his palms in surrender. “Okay, kids. It’s your day.”
Epilogue
As planned, the wedding took place on New Year’s Day at the little church in Sunshine Hollow where the Fields family had worshiped for several generations. Pastor Lawson officiated at the ceremony. Gray clouds concealed the sun but not enough to threaten rain or snow. Friends and family surrounded Drusie and Gladdie. Drusie never remembered being happier.
Just as the tour ended, Archie had taken them to a fine store in Raleigh so they could choose dresses. Both men had traveled to a haberdashery down the street to be fitted for brand-new suits. She’d already seen Gladdie in his dark blue suit that made him appear dapper in a more subdued way than his lively stage garb. He looked like a model in a magazine ad aimed at a busy executive. She would have married him while he wore old dungarees, but she sure was glad he’d look dashing in their wedding photograph.
Drusie had bought a knee-length green dress for her wedding day, choosing a lovely shade that complemented her dark hair and fair skin, in honor of new beginnings and the season of Christmas.
“You’ve never looked lovelier,” Clara told her.
Drusie didn’t want to brag, but she knew her sister spoke the truth. She could feel warm happiness radiating from her face.
Remembering their family as they made ready for the wedding, Drusie and Gladdie had paid train fare for everyone to join them in Raleigh, where their parents and sisters chose apparel they’d wear as participants. Ma adored her mauve-colored dress with touches of lace. “Too good for me,” she’d said, but her ecstatic expression told them otherwise. Pa looked dandy in his new suit, even though he did complain about having to wear a tie. Her sisters looked lovely in pink. As she gazed upon her family, Drusie smiled with so much pride her cheeks hurt.
Drusie and Gladdie waited as the wedding photographer set up a scene with a decorated archway to frame the newlyweds and their wedding party.
“Everything’s so beautiful, Gladdie.” Drusie let out a sigh.
Gladdie gazed into her eyes. “For the first time in my life, I have enough money to treat you right, and I’m gonna do it. Just you wait until you see where we’re headed for our honeymoon.”
“Where are we goin’?”
“I’ll never tell.” Gladdie grinned at his new sister-in-law and Archie. “Especially in front of these two.”
Drusie grinned and swatted at him with her bouquet of six red roses that they had ordered from the new owners of Goode’s store—relatives of the well-respected Simpsons—especially for her day. They came all the way from a florist in Greensboro.
“Now don’t ruin your pretty flowers before we get our pictures taken,” Clara teased.
“I know. But now I won’t be able to think of anything else but tryin’ to guess where we’ll be goin’ after this.”
“Won’t you tell her, Gladdie?” Clara prodded.
“Oh, all right. I’ll tell you where we’re goin’—Washington, D.C.”
Drusie took in a breath. “All that way?”
“Yes, all that way. Don’t you want to see the monuments?”
“Sure, but—but we don’t have time.”
Gladdie caught Archie’s glance long enough to wink. “We do now. The time off is Archie’s present to us.”
“Yeah. But don’t take too long.”
“Always the businessman,” Gladdie remarked.
“I don’t care what you say; I cain’t think of a better gift.” Drusie sighed. “So much happiness today. We’ll be back on the road all too soon.”
“You regret becomin’ a celebrity?” Archie asked.
Drusie thought for a moment. “Nope. Cain’t say that I do.”
“I’m glad to hear that,” Archie said. “But I have to say, since being around you again, I remember the simple pleasu
res of home. And the love of God. I’ve forgotten Him lately, and I think it’s time for me to get closer again.”
Clara gasped. “Do you really mean that, Archie?”
“Sure do.”
Clara beamed.
Drusie’s heart warmed. With Archie’s heart softening, maybe one day he would be her brother-in-law. She had a feeling Clara wouldn’t mind one bit.
The photographer summoned Archie and Clara, along with the rest of the wedding party, for pictures.
Drusie watched everyone pose and smiled. “Just think of how much things have changed for us in so short a time.”
“Ain’t it the truth. I think it’s been for the better,” Gladdie observed.
“Me, too. Because of you and your grand ideas, I was able to take the music of home to other people, so they could enjoy what we know. I’ll always be grateful to you for that.”
“And I’ll always be thankful to you for wantin’ to sing so our future can be secure. I never imagined I’d be playin’ harmonica in the band.”
“Me, neither. I’m so glad Al is all better now and can play for Bill and Milton.”
“Yep,” Gladdie agreed. “Now Archie’s runnin’ two tours at once. It’s unbelievable how his business keeps growin’.”
“Unbelievable? I’m not so sure. Archie wants his bands to put on lots of gospel concerts, and the Lord blesses that, I think.”
“I think so, too. And just look at how I thought my life was over when the Simpsons bought the store, but now everything is better than ever. The Lord always is full of surprises, isn’t He?”
“Amen. Without Him, I couldn’t have lasted a minute on the road. And He gave me my voice to start with.”
Gladdie squeezed her. “That’s what I love about you, Drusie. You never forget the real Source of life. You’ll make me a fine wife forevermore. I can only pray that I’ll be the husband you deserve.”
“You’ll be that and so much more, Mr. Gordon.”
“I’ll do my best, Mrs. Gordon.”
“Mrs. Gordon. Imagine! I’ll be Mrs. Gordon forever. Mrs. Gladdie Gordon.” She sighed the way she always did when she watched one of her favorite motion pictures end happily.
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