Though Alice hadn’t been informed about the significance of the sheet music, Katherine listened in anticipation. As expected, the song was delightful. When Vera finished playing, Katherine clapped. “Oh, Vera, that’s beautiful!”
“Indeed it is,” Alice agreed. “Won’t you play it again?”
“Of course.” Vera gave Katherine a knowing look. “Katherine, why don’t you go into the kitchen and fetch me a glass of water? If you would, please.”
Katherine wondered about her friend’s sudden thirst and then realized what she meant. She wanted Katherine to hear how the music would sound coming from another room, since that was their plan.
“Vera, can’t you wait for a glass of water? Honestly!” Alice protested.
“I don’t mind, Alice,” Katherine assured her all too quickly. “Might I fetch you a glass as well?”
“No, I’m fine, thank you.” Alice settled into her seat and rubbed her expanded abdomen.
As Katherine poured Vera’s water in the kitchen, her excitement over the music drifting in from the parlor vanished. Vera had been right. There was no way the music would sound immediate enough to fool their audience. If only she had listened! Exhaling in defeat, she steadied her emotions and re-entered the parlor with a glass of cold water and a smile.
“That was just as beautiful the second time,” Katherine told Vera.
“Indeed, yes,” Alice agreed. “What a lovely song, Katherine. I can see why you’re excited about it and wanted to share it with Vera. Certainly you plan to learn it yourself.”
“Yes. If Vera will teach me.” Hearing the lack of enthusiasm in her own voice, Katherine realized her zeal for Miranda’s plan had long since abated. The depth of the web of deception Miranda had woven was materializing. Yet rather than the clever spider awaiting a reward for a well-spun snare, she felt like the foolish fly. Silken words felt like threads of barbed wire, encasing her in a trap from which no desirable means of escape offered itself.
“Just be sure you do.” Alice smiled. “I’ll leave you girls to your visit. Sewing awaits me. Don’t dawdle too long, Vera. The eggs need to be gathered.”
“Yes, Alice.”
Oblivious to Katherine’s inner turmoil and Vera’s part in the plan, Alice exited the parlor, humming the tune.
“Oh, Vera, you were right. My idea will never fool anyone. What am I going to do?” Katherine wailed.
“Just what I told you that you should have done all along. Learn the song.”
“But I don’t have time.”
“Of course you do. If you work at it.”
“Will you help?”
Vera handed her the sheet music. “Do I have a choice?”
❧
“After all this time here, I can’t believe I have yet to hear you pluck the first note on the harp,” Otis observed.
Katherine peered at the ground long enough to show Otis she had no intention of responding. Otis, Katherine, Vera, and Christopher had formed a group, making their way to their respective buggies. They had just passed a delightful evening among their favorite crowd, hosted by the parents of their mutual friend Lily.
“Oh, believe it,” Christopher muttered.
Katherine poked him in the ribs and gave him a warning look from the corner of her eye. So far Christopher had been a true friend. He hadn’t betrayed her, even though she’d been nervous all night that he might say something to Otis to make him suspect that Katherine wasn’t all that Miranda had portrayed her to be in her letters. But Christopher hadn’t so much as hinted that anything was amiss.
Not that he was a big talker in any event. He’d been quiet all night. Katherine saw him observing Otis from time to time, but Christopher never challenged Otis on any of his opinions, even though some of his ideas were citified or poorly supported, at least to Katherine’s way of thinking. Katherine knew Christopher hadn’t changed so much since he went away to school and had now returned to make a life for himself on his family’s land. Perhaps Christopher didn’t say a great deal because Otis wouldn’t be here long. Or maybe because Christopher didn’t like Otis much. He never mentioned it, and Otis had never wronged Christopher, but she sensed that Christopher was wary of him.
“So how much longer are you going to keep me in suspense about your talent as a harpist?” Otis asked.
“Not too much longer, I hope. I want to be sure I have a special song prepared for you. I’ve been practicing with Vera.” There. She had stuck as closely as she could to the truth. That should help. “Isn’t that right, Vera?”
“Yes, that’s right.” Even Vera couldn’t deny the truth of that statement.
Katherine sent her a grateful look. Regret at following Miranda’s schemes was starting to take its toll. She wanted to please Miranda and Otis, too. Yet the burden had become wearisome.
“Are you sure you can’t play something for me in the meantime? I don’t mind if I have to hear a sour note or two as you practice.” Otis stopped beside the Joneses’ buggy.
“Or three or four,” Christopher chided.
“Christopher!” Katherine admonished him.
“I’m sorry. You’ll have to pardon me, Otis. I’ve known Katherine so long I forget sometimes she’s all grown up and I shouldn’t tease her.”
“As long as Katherine doesn’t mind, I suppose.” Otis sounded grumpy. Then, as though remembering where he was, he composed his expression into a grin. “My, but you have a nice church.” He observed the landscape. “And such nice countryside here. I’m tempted to extend my stay.”
“You’re certainly welcome to do so,” Katherine blurted.
He smiled. “So which one of your many talents will you be displaying for the talent show next week, Katherine?”
Katherine stiffened. She had been so busy worrying about the harp and her lack of expertise in horsemanship that she had forgotten all about the talent show. Well, she didn’t forget, really. Not entirely. But she didn’t think of herself as one of the contestants. And now Otis had made it clear that he expected her to take part. At least Christopher and Vera were in on the ruse so they wouldn’t blurt out something embarrassing. Still, she wasn’t sure how to answer.
“Why don’t you try all of them?” Christopher winked.
Katherine shuddered. How could he suggest such a notion? Didn’t he know Miranda’s reputation was at stake? Certainly she couldn’t be expected to betray her friend. Poor Miranda would be devastated if Katherine went back on her word.
If only she could go back in time and convince Miranda that trying to deceive Otis wasn’t a good idea. Then she recalled how Miranda had cried and carried on to the point that Katherine felt helpless to deny her. Even if she could turn back the clock, she would make the same decision to help her friend. A decision that was looking less wise with each passing moment.
Otis chuckled. “If she did, the show would last all night, and she’d be the only contestant!”
“At least you’d win, Katherine,” Vera noted.
Katherine nodded. Otis meant his observation as a compliment, but she hardly felt flattered. Instead, guilt crushed her soul. She cut her glance to Christopher. He looked pensive. She swallowed, glad to arrive at their buggy. While she wanted to climb in, the others looked at her, awaiting an answer. “Uh. . .I. . .uh. . .I hadn’t thought much about entering the talent show. I thought I’d just watch.”
“What?” Otis protested. “And deny everyone the pleasure of seeing you perform? I won’t hear of it.”
“I’m sure it’s too late. Mrs. Watkins must have everyone lined up by now.”
“No, it’s not too late,” Christopher assured her. “In fact, they’ll take entrants up to the last minute.”
She kept from shooting him a mean look. “I don’t know. . . .”
“Then it’s settled,” Otis said. “You’ll enter.” He snapped his fingers. “I have a splendid idea. Why don’t you dance a fine ballet number for the show, and I’ll play the piano for you? I’m sure if I put my best foot f
orward I can learn a number before then. And certainly you can as well.”
A mixture of gratitude, surprise, and guilt shot through Katherine. “You’d do that? You’d play the piano for me?”
He bowed. “I’d be honored.”
Katherine wished he weren’t such a gentleman. “Otis, I have a confession to make.”
As soon as the words left her mouth, she could sense a spark of electricity between Vera, Christopher, and herself. She felt her face turn several shades of hot red. “Speaking of the ballet, I’m afraid I’m out of practice. I wouldn’t dream of dancing in front of the whole church.”
He looked disappointed. Katherine glanced at Vera and Christopher and saw disappointment on their faces as well. How had she managed to let everyone down in one fell swoop?
Otis recovered first. “Oh. Well, I can’t expect you to keep all of your skills up to their best level at all times, and I’m sure the church members would concur. But never fear. You still have many talents to offer the show. And I can still help. I know a musical number calling for the banjo, harmonica, and piano. Perhaps we could perform a duet. You could play the harmonica and banjo as you indicated, and I can accompany you on the piano.”
Katherine could see that Miranda had dug a deep hole for her, and she was teetering over the edge, about to fall into the abyss. Learning a few ballet moves surely would have been easier than mastering not one but two instruments. She had to think quickly. “That is indeed a splendid notion, Otis. And once again, I appreciate your willingness to accompany me. That is so sweet and kind of you.” She thought she heard Christopher emit a small snort. “But I have a better idea. Why don’t we instead provide background music for Christopher to sing a solo?”
“Oh, yes indeed!” Vera chimed in. “Katherine, I think this is one of the best ideas you’ve had in a long while. What do you say, Christopher?” She turned to Christopher, eyes shining. “Why don’t you enter the show and perform with Katherine and Otis?”
It was Christopher’s turn to hesitate. “But I hadn’t planned to enter the talent show.”
Assuming that since Vera supported the idea, she would help her, Katherine thought it politic to add, “As you pointed out earlier, there is practically no deadline. You can enter moments before the show starts. Oh, you must enter, Christopher.” She tapped Vera on the shoulder. “Why don’t you play along with us? I think we might even win!”
“Maybe I shall,” Vera agreed. “Katherine’s right. With this pool of talent, we may win!”
“Win indeed.” Otis observed.
“Since I have a chorus of insistence, I see that I shall not escape your begging and pleading until I agree to perform.” Christopher’s voice betrayed a mixture of regret and anticipation.
Otis spoke up. “I feel I must point out that banjo music hardly works with a piano and a harp. Perhaps a simpler solution would be for me to teach you a piano duet, Katherine. Since you are competent on the harp, harmonica, and banjo, surely one song on the piano would be an easy accomplishment for you.” He turned to Vera. “And you can still accompany us on the harp.”
“Oh, of course. Katherine is a marvelous pianist,” Vera said. “What do you say to Otis’s idea, Katherine?”
“I don’t know about ‘easy,’ but I think I can manage.” Katherine held back a relieved sigh. Striking a few piano keys had to be less taxing than managing the banjo and harmonica simultaneously. She sent him her sweetest smile. “All right. I’ll do it.”
Seven
In spite of his best efforts not to express vexation, Christopher slammed the door on the way into the kitchen after he arrived home. Instead of his usual crisp voice, Grandpa’s words sounded muddled.
He eyed his grandfather, sitting at the table and swallowing. “Sneaking a piece of pie?”
“Don’t tell your mother. She’s been trying to get me to cut back on desserts, but I won’t stand for it. I’ve lived this long without watching what I eat too close. I reckon the good Lord will see fit to let me live a few more years. And if He doesn’t, then I figure I’ll be with your grandma sooner than I thought.”
Grandpa shuffled to the sink pump and rinsed the dish, washing away evidence of apple pie crumbs. He turned to his grandson. “But you. Well, you’re young and another matter altogether. So why are you so angry?”
Christopher tried to think of a way to avoid admitting the truth. “Who says I’m angry?”
Grandpa wiped the plate with the dry dish towel and slid it into its proper place in the kitchen cabinet. “Look here, young man. I’ve known you since you were nothin’ but a little red thing squallin’ at the top of your lungs. I know when you’re mad. Besides, I slammed a door or two in my day myself.” He winked. “So does this have something to do with that sweet little Katherine and the competition from South Carolina she imported for you?”
“Competition? He’s no competition for me.”
“That bad, huh? Well, I know a thing or two about women. They haven’t changed all that much since I was a young buck. You’ve just got to get in there and show her what’s best for her, that’s all.” He shuffled to his seat, plopped down, and situated himself in comfort.
Christopher took a nearby chair. “And just how will I do that when I’ll be singing along with his piano playing?”
“Say what?” Grandpa twisted his index finger in his ear.
Christopher wasn’t sure whether to laugh or get even madder. He decided to take the middle road and keep his unwelcome emotions in check. “I got roped into performing with him at the talent show.” He relayed the rest of the story.
Grandpa thought for a moment. “Well, I’d normally observe that a situation like that would put him in a superior position. He could be tempted to flub-de-dub on the piano so you would stumble in your singing.”
“Oh.” Uneasiness visited Christopher’s stomach. Such a thought hadn’t occurred to him.
Grandpa lifted his forefinger to get Christopher’s attention. “But he won’t do that. Not with Katherine playing along with him. So I think you came out on top after all, my boy.”
Grandpa’s encouraging words gave Christopher pause to consider what other good could come out of the situation. “At least Otis won’t have Katherine all to himself.”
“True. Except when he is teaching her the piano duet.”
“Oh, yes. I hadn’t thought of that.” Christopher’s depression returned.
Grandpa winked. “But there’s not a thing in the world to stop you from being at every possible practice. So what if that means you might have to hurry through your chores. Skip supper, even. But maybe if she has to feed you, she’ll feel sorry for you and pay you more mind. That mothering instinct comes out real quick. It worked with your grandma.”
Christopher laughed. “That’s what you always say.”
“And you can believe it.”
“I don’t know how much mothering Katherine wants to do. I’m thinking I would have been better off if I had agreed to go along with her plan of deception.”
“Now wait just a minute here. It’s not Katherine’s plan of deception but Miranda’s. She’s the one who’s keeping the pressure on Katherine to make her keep on going along with this silly game.”
“You’re right. Katherine is not a deceiver at heart. And she never will be. She’s too good for that. Too kindhearted for her own good. Every time she tries to wiggle out of the ruse, Miranda cries. She makes Katherine feel really bad. It makes me mad just to think about it.”
“What do you think made Miranda decide to tell all those stories, anyway?”
Christopher thought for a moment. “I don’t know, but I have a feeling Miranda never thought Otis would make the journey all this way to see us. She thought she’d never get caught, I suppose.”
“I’ve seen Miranda in action. Now she doesn’t think I’m looking. She thinks I’m too old to notice or to be noticed. Maybe she’s got a point there.”
“Grandpa, that’s not so.”
T
he older man held up his hand. “Don’t you go arguing with me, son. I’m just saying that people say things in front of me they wouldn’t dare utter in front of their parents. And I’ve seen that Miranda friend of yours brag within an inch of her life. Gets carried away, she does. I suppose she can’t help it. Don’t know why she feels she has to brag so much, though. She’s a right pretty girl. Well off, too, judging from all the jewelry she likes to wear all the time. Guess she just wants attention. But to drag poor Katherine into it, that’s just wrong.”
“I know. And I wish she hadn’t,” Christopher said.
“Well, she’s trying to do a good turn for a friend, and I suppose I can’t fault her so much for that. But as for you, two wrongs don’t make a right. You’re doing the right thing not to be a part of a scheme. They’ll all learn. But I have a feeling they will have to learn the hard way.”
“As much as I don’t like this Otis guy. . .”
“Yep, I never much cared for competition either. He seems nice. Too nice.”
“That’s just it. I can’t find anything wrong with him. He’s charming. And there he is, right in her house. She doesn’t stand a chance.” Christopher sighed. “Maybe they should be together. Maybe I’m the one interfering in God’s plan.”
“I doubt it. Just be sure to be around when she falls. You only have a short time left before he has to go back to where he came from. Those days will pass much sooner than you think.”
Christopher remembered Otis’s hint that he’d like to remain in Maryland longer. “I don’t know. I’m afraid he’s taken such a liking to Katherine that he wants to extend his visit. What’s wrong with that man? He told Katherine he had a business to tend to. But I don’t see how he’ll get anything done playing around here forever. Doesn’t he ever do a lick of work in his sorry life? Of course,” Christopher ranted, “he’s using the excuse of the church people and the appeal of the countryside as reasons to stay longer, but I can see right through him. The snake.” He cut his glance to his older relative, who had always been his mentor. “Can you take a guess, Grandpa?”
Ruse Page 7
