Verbena smiled at Hilda. “I’ll be right back.”
♥♥♥
Though she was still in a half daze, Hannah thought Minerva looked nervous when Verbena entered the informal parlor.
“She’s still not good and awake, Miz Wedington. Maybe you should wait a little while.”
Things seemed a little foggy to her, but Hannah said, “I’m awake.”
Verbena ignored Minerva and asked Hannah, “Are you able to sit up?”
“Yes, ma’am.” She didn’t want to disappoint her aunt. The woman was being extra nice to her for a change, so maybe if she did what Verbena wanted, she wouldn’t be punished.
Verbena moved beside Hannah’s chair and Minerva moved to the other side. “She can’t keep her head up long,” Minerva muttered. “She’s be awake one minute, then her head will fall and she goes back to sleep.”
“Hannah.” Verbena looked down at her. “Are you sleepy, now?”
She couldn’t understand why everyone was so concerned about her sleeping. Wasn’t sleep a natural thing? “I’m awake,” she said again.
“Good. Do you know who I am?”
Hannah looked up at her aunt with a silly grin on her face and wondered why Verbena was asking such an inane question. “Of course, Aunt Verbena.”
Verbena patted Hannah’s shoulder. “I’m glad you do, dear. Now, would you like to go visit our guests?”
Hannah had no idea who the guests were, but she said, “Sure, if you want me to.”
“I do.” Verbena looked at Minerva. “Why don’t you go get a cup for Hannah so she can have some tea? She likes my special tea, don’t you child?”
“Oh, yes, ma’am.” Hannah grinned. “I like it very much. Thank you for letting me have some of it.”
“Would you like to do something else that will please me, Hannah?”
Hannah felt the sudden urge to close her eyes and go to sleep again, but she forced herself to say, “Yes, ma’am.”
“Good. Do you remember Calvin and Hilda?”
“I think I do.” Hannah wanted to add that she didn’t like them, but even in her drugged state, she knew this would displease her aunt. She didn’t want to do or say anything that would make Aunt Verbena mad. She was looking forward to the tea, and knew if she displeased her aunt she might be sent to her room without it.
“I’m glad you remember them. They’re anxious to see you again. Reverend Calhoun is also here. He wants to talk to you.”
“I like Reverend Calhoun.”
“He likes you, too, dear.” Verbena turned back to Minerva. “I thought I told you to go get a cup for Hannah’s tea. What are you waiting for?”
“I thought Miss Hannah might need me.”
“I think I’m capable of taking care of my niece, Minerva. Now, do as you were told.”
“But…”
“Are you going to dare argue with me?”
Minerva bit her lip. “No, ma’am.”
“Then obey me this instant. I don’t know what’s gotten into you and Tobias. I’ve never seen you two be so disobedient.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Biting her lip, Minerva backed out of the room.
Hannah wanted to tell her aunt not to be so hateful to Minerva, but she could only say, “I like tea.”
“I’m taking you to the other parlor now, Hannah. Be on your best behavior and it won’t be long until you get to go back to bed.”
Hannah didn’t want to answer her. She wanted to go back to sleep right now, not wait, but before she could doze off she felt a sharp jab in her back.
“Ouch.”
“Wake up and stay awake. You’re going to be sorry if you don’t.”
Hannah knew her aunt didn’t make idle threats. She would have to force herself to stay awake. “Yes, ma’am.”
As they entered the formal parlor, Cedric Calhoun said, “Miss Hannah, I’m delighted to see you.”
She nodded at him and fought to keep her eyes open. “I’m glad to see you, too, Reverend, sir.”
“Do you want Miz Wedington to get you a dog?” Calvin blurted.
“Be quiet, Calvin. The Reverend is talking with Miss Hannah and you shouldn’t interrupt.” Hilda grabbed his arm.
“I was just asking if she wanted a dog.”
“Shh. Now’s not the time to ask.”
There were a few more things said between Hilda and her brother, but Hannah couldn’t stay awake long enough to know what they were. All she wanted to do was get this visit over, drink a little tea and go to sleep. Why couldn’t they see this was what she needed to do?
Reverend Calhoun was speaking. “Hannah, are you aware that there is supposed to be a wedding here today?”
“Weddings are nice.”
“Yes, they are.”
“Would you like to get married, Hannah?”
She smiled. Was he the one person in the world who could understand that her greatest wish was to have a husband to love and one that loved her? Maybe somebody like Jarrett MacMichael. She didn’t voice this though. She only said, “Of course.”
“What do you think of Calvin Sawyer?”
Hannah looked around the room and frowned. “He pushed me out of my chair and cut my arm.”
Aunt Verbena blurted, “You know he didn’t mean to do that, dear. He accidently ran into the door facing and you slipped out of the chair.”
Even in her almost stupor, Hannah could tell she’d said the wrong thing. She wanted to make it right with her aunt. “You’re right. I remember now.”
The preacher went on. “Would you be good to Calvin, Hannah?”
“Yes.” She started to say something else, but was interrupted by the preacher.
“Well, Mrs. Wedington, it looks as if Hannah is agreeable to this marriage. Why don’t we set things up and get started with the ceremony?”
Hannah wondered who the preacher was talking about getting married, but she decided it didn’t matter. They probably wanted her to be present with the bride, probably as a bridesmaid. At the moment all she wanted to do was get the wedding over with, go to her room and get back into bed. She didn’t even think she’d wait to have the tea, and wondered how long this was going to take.
Chapter 18
“Mr. Jarrett, does you think we gonna make it back in time?”
“We’re going to try, Tobias.” Jarrett mounted the gray mare he’d rented as Tobias climbed on Verbena’s horse.
“Oh, my Lord, I hope we makes it. I don’t see why Miz Wedington would do such a thing as this to poor little Hannah anyway.”
Jarrett was wondering the same thing. He knew he’d never forgive himself if he let this happen to such a special person as Hannah. “I’m sure she has her reasons, Tobias, and when I get a chance to go through this paper I just came into possession of, maybe I’ll know why.” Turning his horse’s head, he added, “Now, let’s ride. We have about fifteen minutes to get there.”
They rode faster than they normally would through the streets of Savannah. Though Jarrett was calm and collected to all appearances, he was shaking with anger inside. How could anyone do this to a sweet young woman like Hannah? A woman who deserved a man who would appreciate her, not use her the way her aunt was doing. No better than he knew the young woman, he knew the beautiful girl deserved better treatment. Tobias and his wife certainly cared more about Hannah than her own flesh and blood. According to her father, she was nothing but a cripple who would never be in his life again. Her aunt certainly didn’t think much of her, or she wouldn’t make her spend most of her time in her bare room sewing dresses for every woman in town except herself.
Of course, her sisters cared, but Lydia’s hands were tied. She did her best to support Hannah, but no court in the land was going to allow an innocent woman who couldn’t fend for herself to live over a saloon. Though he’d never met her, he knew Drina cared, too. Why else would Aaron Wilcox hire him to come to Savannah to check on Hannah? He realized the problem Drina faced was that she lived all the way west in Arizona,
where she couldn’t take an active part in Hannah’s life. Therefore, there was no way she could make sure things were right for her sister without outside help.
Thoughts began to run through his head. That’s why you’re here, MacMichael. You have to make sure Verbena Wedington’s evil plan doesn’t work. You need to get Hannah out of that house any way you can. You know it won’t be easy, but you have no choice. You can’t let Verbena marry the beautiful young woman off to some idiot. If, for some reason, a wedding has to take place and there’s no other answer, you’ll marry Hannah yourself.
Though he knew this thought was ridiculous, it made him push his steed harder. He had to get there as quickly as he could. Hannah’s future depended on it.
When they rode the horses to the front of the mansion, Tobias shouted. “Maybe we should go in the back door. That way we can get in without Miz Wedington knowing.”
Jarrett nodded and galloped his horse across the front yard without slowing down to avoid her flowers. He was at the point he didn’t care what happened to the lady’s pristine lawn.
Minerva must have heard them, because she opened the back door and waved them inside. “Hurry. They’s done started the wedding.”
Jarrett threw his reins around the post at the back steps and leaped off the horse. Tobias followed. He and Minerva were on Jarrett’s heels as he hurried across the kitchen, through the dining room and into the entry toward the formal parlor.
The preacher was saying, “If there’s anyone here who objects to this wedding let him speak now or forever hold…”
“What the hell’s going on here?” Jarrett’s booming voice filled the room as Verbena and Hilda both let out little screams. The preacher almost dropped his book. Calvin, with a scared look on his face, ran to Hilda, and Hannah turned to look at the interrupter with glazed eyes and a smile on her face.
Verbena seemed to gather herself first. “Mr. MacMichael. I’m afraid you arrived at a bad time. We’re in the middle of a private ceremony here.”
“I see what you’re up to here.” He strode to Hannah’s chair and knelt beside her. “What’s happening, Hannah?”
She closed her eyes then opened them. “I think there’s a wedding.”
“Who’s wedding is it?”
“I’m not sure, but I think I’m a bridesmaid.”
“I see.” He stood and looked around. “Minerva, would you and Tobias take Hannah out of here for a little while?”
“Tobias, don’t you dare take her anywhere.” Verbena looked furious when she came up to Jarrett and grabbed his arm. “Mr. MacMichael, you’re interfering in something that you know nothing about.”
“Maybe not, but it looks to me as if somebody needs to interfere here. How could you do this to a sweet woman like Hannah?”
“I’m only doing what she wants and what’s best for her. Now, I’m asking you to leave. You’ve created enough of a distraction.”
The preacher spoke for the first time. “Sir, I don’t know you, but let me assure you that I talked with Miss Hamilton before the ceremony began and she assured me she liked the idea of a wedding.”
“And you believed she was in good enough shape to agree to getting married?”
Reverend Calhoun looked insulted. “I asked her if she liked Mr. Sawyer.”
“Did you ask her if she liked him well enough to marry him?”
“Well, no. I assumed Mrs. Wedington had discussed the situation with her.”
“Why don’t you want me to say my part?” Calvin looked at Jarrett as if he didn’t know what was happening.
“What part were you supposed to say?” Jarrett glared at Calvin.
“I just had to say the words ‘I do’ then when the crippled girl says her words Mrs. Wedington is going to get me a dog.”
Jarrett shook his head. “Do you realize you’ll be married to Miss Hannah after you say those words?”
Calvin frowned. “I don’t believe you. Hilda told me it’s just a part.”
“I don’t care what Hilda or anybody else told you, it’s not just a part. You’re getting married, even if you don’t realize it.”
He frowned again. “Is that right, Hilda?”
“Well…”
“Yes, it’s right.” Jarrett turned from him to Verbena. “I thought you were a better woman than this.”
She lifted her nose in the air. “As I said, Mr. MacMichael, I’m only doing what my niece wants me to do.”
“So, you’re telling me that Hannah wants to marry a man-child?”
Cedric interrupted. “I think you have the wrong idea, Mr. MacMichael. Isn’t that the name Mrs. Wedington called you?”
“Yes, that’s my name and no, preacher, I don’t have the wrong idea, you do.” He glanced at Hannah, who was slumped in her wheelchair with her eyes closed. “Can’t you see that Hannah is not herself? She’s been drugged so she will go along with this fiasco. She has no idea what’s going on. Didn’t you hear her say she thought she was a bridesmaid?”
The preacher looked perturbed. “I did hear her say that.”
“That should have given you a clue as to what was going on here! For some reason, Mrs. Wedington has decided to marry Hannah off to this man.” He glanced at Hannah’s aunt, who looked as if she was going to try again to throw him out of the house with her words. “I wonder if it has something to do with the paper she signed the summer before her sister died?”
Verbena not only looked stunned, but frightened as she began to tremble. Without answering, she dropped into the pull-up chair.
Jarrett looked at Hilda. “I think it’s time you took your brother home. There isn’t going to be any wedding today. If you’re set on getting him married, you’re going to have to find him a wife somewhere else. He’s never going to marry Hannah Hamilton. I’m here to see to that.”
Hannah stirred in her wheelchair and they all looked at her. “Is the wedding over?”
Minerva and Tobias had been standing faithfully by. She reached over and patted Hannah’s shoulder. “It’s over, honey.”
“Oh, I must have dozed off. I’m so sorry I missed it.”
Jarrett nodded to Tobias. “Take her to the other parlor, please. I don’t want to upset her by what I’m about to say.”
Hannah smiled up at him. “Hello, Mr. MacMichael. I didn’t know you were here? When did you arrive?”
He bent toward her and felt relieved that he’d arrived in time to save her. “I’ve been here for a little while.”
“Did you see the wedding?”
“The wedding has been called off, Hannah.” His voice was soft.
“Oh, I’m so sorry. The bride must be devastated.”
“I think she’ll be happy about the situation. She was marrying the wrong man.”
“Then, I’m glad.” She smiled at him, then turned to look at her aunt. “Aunt Verbena, you look upset. Did you want the wedding to take place?”
She ignored her niece and glanced at her servants. “I think Mr. MacMichael asked you to take Hannah out of here. Take her to her room.”
He glanced at Jarrett and he nodded. Tobias returned the nod and said to Verbena, “Yes, ma’am.”
As Tobias rolled Hannah toward the door, she called, “Good-by, everyone.”
“I’ll see you in a few minutes, Hannah,” Jarrett said. Nobody else said anything until she was out of the room. He went on. “Now, I want to know exactly what’s going on here. Why were you rushing Hannah into a marriage she knew nothing about, and why were you pushing this man to do something he didn’t understand?”
The preacher spoke first. “Mr. MacMichael, I take full responsibility for my part in this. Mrs. Wedington told me this was what her niece wanted, and after I asked her a few questions, I thought this was the correct thing to do. I never dreamed the girl was under the influence of medicine, and didn’t realize what was going on.”
Verbena seemed to gain back her composure. “I have talked to Hannah and she told me she wanted to get married. I knew no norma
l man would ever want her, so I suggested Mr. Sawyer.”
“Are you still going to get me a dog since I didn’t get to say my part?”
“Forget about the dog, Calvin.” Hilda stood and took her brother’s arm. “Maybe the man is right. I think we should leave now.”
Verbena looked at the two of them. “Maybe we can work something out later.”
“Don’t count on it.” Jarrett shook his head at both of them. “I think you two women are through playing God with other people’s lives.”
“How dare you say that to me!” Verbena shouted. “This is my house and you have no right to come in here telling me what I can and cannot do.”
He scowled at her. “Mrs. Wedington, I have a document in my pocket which I think will clear up everything.” He reached in his vest pocket and pulled out a yellowed paper. “I bought this from Burl Hamilton this afternoon.”
She gasped and placed her hand on her heart. “Why?”
For some reason, he didn’t think he should tell her in front of the preacher. “I think that is something you and I should discuss in private.”
She looked as if she might argue, but changed her mind. “Maybe you’re right.”
Jarrett turned to the preacher. “Sir, I don’t think you’re needed here any longer.”
The preacher seemed confused. “Are you asking me to leave?”
“Yes, sir. Mrs. Wedington and I have some things to discuss. If she wants to make you aware of them later, that is her prerogative.”
The Reverend looked at Verbena.
“I think he’s right, Reverend Calhoun. This is a family matter.”
“Will you call me if you need me?”
“Yes, I will. Thank you for coming today, and I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”
Still looking unsure, the preacher took his leave.
♥♥♥
When they were alone, Verbena gave Jarrett a guarded glance. What was he up to? Why had he bought the damaging paper from Burl, and why did Burl agree to let him have it? That is, if Burl really sold it to him. If so, how did Jarrett know about it in the first place? Did Reginald Phillips tell him, unknowingly or outright? The two seemed to be getting close behind her back. Now, she wondered if she could trust the man she’d thought about marrying.
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