Along the Cane River: Books 1-5 in the Inspirational Cane River Romance Series

by Mary Jane Hathaway

  Elizabeth turned her head, clearly done and needing to be burped. Rose stood up and gently lifted her from Alice’s arms. She put Elizabeth against her shoulder and patted her little back.

  Blue was honest to a fault, and Rose had done her best to conceal her past from him. He talked about his faith, his family, and his heartbreak with openness. Rose had dodged and skipped over topics like she was playing hop scotch. She wanted the freedom to pick and choose what she told him. She’d rather shut him out than face up to the mistakes she’d made.

  She wanted more than anything for Alice’s words to be true, but she knew she was nothing like Blue.

  Chapter Fifteen

  “You couldn't erase the past. You couldn't even change it.

  But sometimes life offered you the opportunity to put it right.”

  ― Ann Brashares

  Blue pushed open his office door and knew something was wrong by the expression on Cyndi’s face. She was perfectly made up, her bright red lipstick and eyeliner in place, but the edges of her mouth were fixed. If he hadn’t known better, he would have called it a smile, but he did know, and he knew Cyndi was angry.

  “He’s at your desk and he brought that man with him,” she said in a low voice.

  Blue waited but apparently Cyndi wasn’t going to elaborate. “Which man would that be?”

  “The one who likes to follow people home in the dark and sit outside their houses, peeking in their windows,” she said. Her eyes flashed. “My friend Claudine worked for him last year and caught him takin’ pictures of her. She called the police, but he was gone by the time they got there. Of course nobody believed her because she was just the temp and not from around here. Then my friend Stephanie took a position in his business and everything was fine for a while. She was his personal assistant, getting him coffee and little errands, anything he needed. Then saw him outside her gym. She thought it was a coincidence until she saw him in the parking lot of her apartment.” She paused and leaned forward. “With his camera.”

  Blue felt sick. His father had said a disgruntled secretary was trying to extort money after getting fired. That plaintiff wasn’t named Claudine or Stephanie. Apparently, there was much more to Marcus Railpot’s story of an angry ex-employee.

  Cyndi went on. “My friend Jessie said it happened to her, too. She met him at St. Augustin’s crawfish feed and she was real pleased to be introduced. But the next night he texted her real late, asking what she was wearing. She changed her number. She regrets being passive over the matter, but she was afraid to make a fuss.”

  “Well, someone finally has,” Blue said. He headed for his office, anger quickening his steps.

  “Mr. Chalfant?”

  He turned, surprised. Cyndi had never called him that before.

  “You’re too good for him.”

  Blue almost asked whether she was referring to Railpot or his father, then decided he didn’t want to know. He walked down the narrow hallway, a terrible realization dawning. All of his life he’d worked to gain his father’s approval. He’d never made a major decision without his input. As many times as Blue had chafed under his father’s authority, Blue had always caved in to his demands. Blue wanted his father to be proud of him, to approve of his hard work. He’d given him control in every area of his life, effectively elevating Lee Chalfant to God status.

  “You stubborn mule! I told you to leave it alone.

  I was just trying to help. You said you needed someone to paint the shed door and I knew where the paint was so I did it for you.

  Listen up, Blue. I don’t need some ten year old kid makin’ decisions around here. Leave the thinking to me.”

  Blue opened the door and took in the two men before him. His father sat at Blue’s desk, ankles up on the papers again, cigar clamped in his teeth. Marcus Railpot sat in the chair in the corner, laughing at something Blue’s father had just said. Neither one got up. Marcus simply nodded his acknowledgement.

  “Just came on by to make sure you’re ready for trial next week,” Lee Chalfant said. His expression betrayed nothing. It was like their conversation at the river had never happened.

  “Unfortunately, I’m going to have to resign as your attorney,” Blue said, turning to Marcus. The room went silent. Blue had never dropped anyone and certainly not a week before trial. “I’m afraid that your inability to produce any kind of statement and your refusal to assist in your own defense has made it impossible for me to continue as your legal counsel.”

  Marcus sat up, his face turning dark as he choked out, “But I already hired you. You back out now, we’ll have the judge on you like a hen on a junebug.”

  “I’ll refund you any money already paid.”

  “Boy, you better think twice about this. I can guess who’s influencing your decision and you can side with me, or with her.” His father stood up slowly from behind the desk. “I’ll just take a short pause now while ya choose a team.”

  “It’s not about her and it’s not about teams. I’ve thought it through.” Blue felt a deep sadness wash through him as he faced his father. “I shouldn’t have taken the case. Beyond the legal issues of representing someone who I know will lie under oath, I’m also going against my conscience. In fact, I shouldn’t have taken any of the cases you brought in here recently.”

  His father walked toward him and Blue’s heart started to pound. His father had never once lain a hand on him, not in his youth and not as an adult, but perhaps that was because Blue had never stood his ground. Maybe today was the day his father used his fists instead of words.

  “I never thought I’d see the day my own son turned against me,” he said, his voice low and furious.

  “In the end, I have to answer for my own actions.”

  His father made a face. “What are you talkin’ about? In the end? You afraid God is going to turn you away from the pearly gates because you took a few cases? How arrogant do you have to be to think the Almighty cares what you do?”

  Blue felt blackness sweep over him at the words. Really, who was he to think it mattered? That he mattered? There were much bigger problems in the world. He was just one out of billions. Trillions, if he counted all men from the beginning of time.

  “Get over yourself and stop worrying so much about,” his father jabbed a stubby forefinger into Blue’s temple, punctuating each word, “every little thought in your head.”

  Marcus let out a snort.

  “And if you’re so concerned about getting in to heaven, just live a long life and say sorry at the end.” Lee Chalfant smirked. “That’s my plan. I’m not real sure whether someone’ll be waitin’ for me at the station when my train pulls in, but if I see Him, I’ll be sure to look appropriately contrite for everything I done here.”

  Blue thought of Rose, of the look in her eyes at the idea of meeting her Pilot face to face. He’d never seen such sadness and yearning. And yet she was sure that she didn’t have a chance.

  “I don’t think it works that way,” Blue said. His father just figured he’d say sorry at the last minute for every evil act he’d committed, while Rose, with her gentle heart, was convinced that she could never apologize for whatever it was she’d done. As he looked into his father’s eyes, Blue felt his fear of him slip away. His father dealt and traded in earthly power, but had no grasp of the real truth. “You told me to pick a team. Well, maybe you should take your own advice.”

  He stepped forward until they were almost nose to nose. As tall as he was, Blue still had to look up and the cigar stench from his father’s mouth turned his stomach. “Are you threatening me, boy?” His voice was dangerously quiet. “Do you know what I can do to you? I’ve ruined men for less than what you’ve just said. I’ve had their homes foreclosed on, their wives caught in compromisin’ positions, their kids turned down at all the good colleges. There’s not an election in this state that I’m not part of, or a business that I can’t put into bankruptcy.”

  Blue spoke before thinking. “Surely not ScreenStop
. I think Paul Olivier’s company is a little out of your reach, no matter how many photos you have on your wall or how many gumbo feeds you attend. He’s a good man and if you try to set him up, no one will believe your smear campaign.”

  His eyes narrowed but his mouth turned up in a smile. “That’s what ya think, isn’t it? You think I can’t bring him down? Let me tell you somethin’, Blue. I can ruin anybody. Not because I know anything about Paul Olivier’s secrets.” His smile grew. “I can ruin your friend and his fat little bookstore wife who keeps popping out the babies. Not because they’ve done anything illegal. Not at all. I can because I know the secrets of very powerful people, people who can create real of problems for them.”

  Blue went cold at the thought. Of course that was how blackmail worked. It was like a loose thread in a knitted blanket. If you wanted to get to the middle, you didn’t have to cut out a hole. You could just pull that one small, loose thread until it all unraveled.

  His father went on. “And none of it can be traced back to me, so don’t even try warnin’ them. They wouldn’t see it coming, anyway.”

  Blue thought of the book he’d read the day before. A reformed assassin was desperate to go straight, but forever fell back into the vicious circle of violence. The book hero had stood up for truth, honor, and friendship by counteracting every threat with his own massive show of strength. Blue couldn’t be that type. He didn’t even know how. He’d always known that Lee Chalfant played the game like a pro, but he’d never known how well until that moment. He was out maneuvered at every turn.

  The anger that had fueled Blue’s decision to dump Marcus Railpot as a client faded away. He didn’t have that kind of power and he would never know how to play the game. It wasn’t in his nature. He’d always be one step behind. Or ten.

  Blue walked to the office door and held it open. “I can’t force you to do anything.” His voice sounded tired and old. “You can destroy my friends’ lives. You can ruin me. There’s nothing I can do about that. But I won’t act against my conscience anymore.” He looked his father in the eye, sadness coating the words. “My only regret will be how long I acted like a child, stupidly following orders instead of using my own brain.”

  Marcus stood up, looking confused. “So, you’re not gonna take my case? Who’s my lawyer now?”

  Lee Chalfant ignored him. “I see how it is. You’re choosing that woman over your own family.” He shook his head, disgust written on his face. “You always were too stupid to train. Dumber’n a bag of hammers.”

  The humiliation that used to wash over Blue when his father trotted out old insults was gone. A new emotion had taken its place: betrayal. All he had ever wanted was his father’s respect and love.

  “You think I’m choosing teams and I guess I am, but it’s not about Rose Black. It’s about right and wrong,” Blue said. “And honestly, I’m not choosing. I’m switching. I’ve been playing for the wrong team all this time.”

  His father opened his mouth to respond but Blue said, “I want you to leave. You’re welcome back when we’re playing for the same side.”

  “Come on, Marcus,” he growled. “We’ve got better places to be.”

  Marcus Railpot heaved himself from the chair and lumbered past Blue, giving him a sidelong look of hatred as he passed.

  Blue waited until he heard the front door close before he sank into the chair behind his desk. He should be afraid. He should be panicked. He was facing the future without the protection or support of his family― and family it was because wherever Lee Chalfant went, his wife and daughter did, too. But all he felt was a terrible grief at the broken illusion, and the realization that he was essentially an orphan.

  Dropping his head into his hands, Blue couldn’t form words to pray. He’d been so wrong and he wasn’t sure how to make it right. All he knew was that, as hard as the future was going to be, at least he wouldn’t be relinquishing his power to decide his own fate. He’d told Rose that he didn’t think it was too late to change unless a person was dead. At least he could be thankful for that. There was still time for him to start living like an adult, and not a child.

  Chapter Sixteen

  “I desire no future that will break the ties of the past.”

  ― George Eliot

  The little white church rang with the final chords of the hymn. Bix and Ruby were in the pew just ahead, as he’d promised they would be. Throughout the service, Ruby managed to rock Emily Jane, hold a hymnal and answer Aurora’s whispers without a hint of irritation. Rose could see why they were a happy couple. Bix would never say five words when fifty would do, but Ruby was a listener. She reminded Rose a little of Blue, the way she leaned down to look Aurora in the eye.

  “We better go find your mama,” Rose said and lifted Aurora to her hip. Alice had slipped out with Elizabeth a few minutes before the end of Mass.

  “I’ll get Emily Jane in her seat and we’ll meet you out there,” Paul said.

  Ruby handed her the diaper bag and Rose stepped into the line of parishioners leaving the little white church. She could see Fr. Tom already outside, shaking hands. Rose nodded and smiled at several people she recognized from By the Book, but she wasn’t sure of anyone’s name.

  The service had been pleasant, a lot shorter than she remembered as a kid. The Gospel reading was about the woman who washed Jesus’ feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. It was strange to think of someone acting that way, but Rose also felt a shock of recognition, like a person does when they see a picture in a favorite book from childhood.

  Rose could see Charlie a few steps ahead of them, and the man beside her must be Austin, her boyfriend. They were clearly in love, hands always touching and Charlie’s eyes had the sparkle of a woman who was completely content. Austin was the younger brother to Fr. Tom and Gideon, and Rose squinted, trying to see any resemblance. The three brothers were too far apart in age and looked nothing alike. She would have thought they were half siblings, or maybe cousins.

  Gideon stood in the sun, but a little to the side, as if there was a bubble of space around him that nobody dared approach. Alice had tried to casually prepare Rose for meeting Gideon, saying something about “he’s as handsome as Henry is beautiful”, but there was no way to prepare for seeing them together. Rose could understand how Henry would have chosen Gideon over Blue on looks alone. Of course, Henry didn’t seem the shallow type, and the couple was clearly in love, but Rose felt a stab of pity for Blue. He really hadn’t had a chance.

  The only check in his favor might have been that their personalities were practically opposite. Gideon was reserved where Blue was friendly. He was unsmiling where Blue always had a pleasant expression, and was as silent as Blue was talkative. More than that, Gideon had a watchfulness that made Rose feel as if he were waiting for someone to jump out of the bushes. He wasn’t nervous, but he certainly wasn’t calm. In a way, Gideon reminded Rose of herself.

  Rose shuffled a little further down the aisle, hampered by people in front stopping to hug and kiss their friends. She couldn’t see much directly in front of her, but she had a good view of the group outside on the sidewalk. Henry appeared and Gideon visibly relaxed at the sight of her. As they spoke, Rose saw Henry rest her hand gently on her stomach and felt a shock run through her system. Blue must know by now that the woman he loved was having a baby with someone else.

  It was only a matter of time before she’d know Blue’s pain. There would come a day when she’d hear that Richard was a father, that he’d truly moved on from their doomed love affair.

  Rose refocused on the exit. Everything reminded her of Blue. She hadn’t seen him since their near kiss and argument. Or non-argument. They hadn’t fought because Rose refused to say anything. Her face went hot at the memory, but she shifted a sleepy Aurora and reminded herself that there wasn’t any other option. The outcome would have been the same. No more fake relationship, or real relationship, or whatever it had been.

  Stepping into the bright sunlight,
Rose tried to shake off the sadness that had haunted her since last week. Alice waved from the bottom of the steps, Elizabeth asleep in her arms.

  “Somebody looks sleepy,” Rose said, wiggling her eyebrows. If Aurora caught on that they were discussing the possibility of a nap, she would insist she was not tired and wouldn’t be tired for several more days.

  “She was up at the crack of dawn,” Alice said, letting out a yawn. “Who knows? Maybe she’ll pass out in the car. And I’m telling you, if Emily Jane falls asleep, I’ll make Paul pull over so we can all take a rest.”

  Paul made his way down the steps and put a finger to his lips. “She just closed her eyes. The funniest thing. I strapped her in, she gave a big yawn, and she was out.”

  “The planets are aligning,” Alice said, nodding toward Aurora who had her head on Rose’s shoulder.

  “We get alone time,” Paul said hopefully.

  “I was thinking of a nap, actually.”

  Aurora’s head came up and she said, “No nap.”

  Rose grimaced. “Ouch. How about I keep her with me and you can get some rest?”

  “No, this is your day off, remember?” Alice said. “But I’m sorely tempted to take you up on that.”

  Henry and Gideon joined their little group, and Aurora decided she wanted to be put down. She ran to Bix and Ruby, chattering all the way.

  “Ready for the tour?” Henry asked. “I was thinking just something quick, maybe fifteen minutes or so. You’re coming to Tom’s for the crawfish boil, right?”

  Rose didn’t know what to say. She hadn’t been invited.

  “Sure, she is,” Fr. Tom said from behind her. “There’ll be plenty of food. Bix and Ruby are bringing a mess of bluegills he caught this morning when he and Austin were out early on the river.”

  “You don’t have to―” Rose started to say.

  “Of course, if you’re tired of us, you’re welcome to stay home,” Paul said with a straight face.