by Tina Leonard
“Humph. Where’s Joey?”
“In the kitchen eating breakfast.”
“At this late hour? Don’t you have him packed and ready to go yet?”
“Packed?” Jill echoed. “Ready to go where?”
Maxine snapped her fingers. “You’re about the most useless help I’ve ever seen. You’ve been here plenty long enough to know that today is one of our visitation days.” She looked around the hall, hunting for something. “Where’s Dustin? I’m going to give him a piece of my mind.”
“He’s not here.” Jill shifted Holly to her shoulder. Briefly she wondered if offering Joey’s grandmother a cup of hot tea would calm her long enough for Jill to get him packed. Why hadn’t Dustin warned her of the change in the visitation schedule?
Because he’d had far too much on his mind, she knew. Discarding the idea of allowing Maxine any further than the hallway—she couldn’t remember the woman doing anything more than screeching from the porch before—Jill arranged a competent smile on her face. “If you’ll give me just a moment, I’ll get Joey’s things.”
“Well, if Dustin’s not here, where’s Eunice? I can’t imagine her leaving my grandchild alone with you.”
Jill straightened to look down upon the made-up and mean face. “I am more than capable of doing my job, Mrs. Copeland. Dustin and Eunice place their absolute trust in me.”
“Dustin, is it? I might have known Eunice wouldn’t have taught her help her place.”
“Mrs. Copeland, I’m sure you’re not aware that I have a college degree. Far from being trained ‘help’, I used to do the training in my position as marketing manager.”
“Of course.” Her tone was scornful. “That’s why you’re chasing dust bunnies for Dustin. You’re so highly qualified.”
Jill blinked. In all her life, she had never encountered such undisguised venom. “Just because you have a visitation that I wasn’t quite prepared for is no reason to insult me. Dustin took Eunice to the hospital this morning. She wasn’t feeling well. It never occurred to me that I should have Joey ready.”
“What do you mean, Eunice wasn’t feeling well?”
Maxine’s eyes narrowed to slits. Jill instinctively took a step back, not knowing what the woman was homing in on. Surely the fact that Eunice was ill wasn’t an ace for Maxine to play, was it?
“It may be her arthritis acting up. I’m not certain,” Jill hurried to cover her tracks. “I’m sure she’ll be home soon.”
“Nobody goes to the emergency room for arthritis, you twit. Don’t try to fob me off. I’ve heard a lot of stories in my time, so don’t insult my intelligence.”
Jill drew a deep breath. “I don’t know what’s wrong with her. I’m trying to be optimistic.” She stopped herself from saying you pathetic old woman.
“Go get Joey and his things,” Maxine told her tersely. “I’ll be waiting in the car.”
She turned around, her heels thumping decisively on the wooden steps. Immediately, she looked back at Jill. “I didn’t get your last name. I suppose you can at least remember that?”
“My name is Jill McCall.”
Maxine nodded, then got into the car. Jill’s eyes widened. “What a witch,” she whispered against Holly’s downy head. Taking her time as she went into the kitchen, she said, “Joey, your grandmother is here.”
“I know.” He looked at her funny.
“No, I mean Grandmother Copeland.”
“Oh, no.” His expression was distressed. “Do…do I hafta go?”
“I’m afraid so, honey. Let’s get you dressed.”
“Please, Jill?” His forlorn gaze tugged at her heart. “ We…we didn’t string popcorn.”
She was still bothered by the change in visitation, but she didn’t want Joey to see how worried she was. She hugged him tight. “You’ll be back tomorrow, and we will then, okay?”
“Okay.” His sigh was heavy.
Jill shepherded him upstairs to dress, wishing she was in a position to send that ornery old crone home alone. She’d love to tell her that she couldn’t let Joey go with her, but Mrs. Copeland wouldn’t be here unless Dustin expected her. And the fact was, she didn’t want Joey upset by a confrontation. After last night, he could use some hugs and kisses.
He wasn’t likely to get them today.
“I can’t believe Eunice would allow such a slut in her home.” Maxine tapped a fingernail impatiently on the desk, then got up to stare out the window at Joey. “She must be slipping.”
Her husband made an open-handed gesture. Maxine shook her head. “I think you would have thought it was a big deal if you’d seen the housekeeper, David. There was a bruise the size of my fist on her cheek, like she’d been in a barroom brawl of some kind. She hadn’t made any attempt at dressing for the day, nor was her hair the slightest bit combed. It’s plain that farm hours don’t agree with her, but by eight o’clock in the morning, one ought to be able to get their teeth brushed, at least. And Lord only knows who the father of her poor innocent child is.”
Outside, Joey was trying to catch winter snowflakes with his tongue. There wasn’t more than an inch of snow on the ground, but the weather reports were calling for accumulation in the night. Maxine blew out a breath. “I nearly flipped when I realized that Joey wasn’t dressed or ready. You know very well the child rises by six and not a minute later. Why he hasn’t been fed by that late hour is beyond my contemplation.”
Again, her fingernail beat out a tattoo on the desk. She looked to her husband. He shook his head slightly. “I know. It breaks my heart for Joey’s sake.” Narrowing her eyes, she sent a thoughtful look David’s way. He didn’t seem as distressed as she was over the matter, but of course, a man didn’t have the fierce instinct in him necessary to protect children. Joey was all she had. Oh, there was David, but now that she knew of his infidelity, she knew he’d never really been hers.
Or he might not be that concerned because of Eunice. No matter what she’d been able to say or do about the woman over the years, David still believed Eunice Reed walked on water. There was no human being who possessed his respect the way she did.
It irritated Maxine beyond belief. Right now, David’s lack of worry over this morning’s incident was like a slap to her face. He should support her. This once, he should see that Eunice wasn’t the goddess he imagined she was. She had put a bleached slut in charge of caring for their only grandchild. But he seemed more upset that Eunice was in the hospital. No doubt if that wheelchair had wings, David would be with her right now.
He was looking out the window now, watching Joey with a wistful expression on his face and completely oblivious to Maxine’s angst. After a moment, he maneuvered the wheelchair from the room. She heard him trying to wrench the door open, but she didn’t move to help him. It was obvious he was trying to get outside where he could watch Joey from the porch, but he didn’t need to be pampered. He hadn’t been there for her; why should she be there for him in his hour of need?
Maxine crossed to the phone, dialing a number from memory. It was answered on the first ring.
“Sal Moriari here.”
“It’s Maxine, Sal. I have something new I want you to check out.”
“I’m taking notes. Shoot.”
“Dustin has a new housekeeper. All I know is that her name is Jill McCall. I want to know where she came from and what she’s doing at his ranch.”
“Cleaning house?”
By Sal’s tone, Maxine knew he wasn’t trying to blow her off. He wanted to know what had alerted her suspicion. “I got the distinct impression her talents didn’t lie in polishing brass, Sal. One thing she mentioned is that her last position was as a marketing manager.”
“Ah. You think her move from corporate executive to chief cook and bottle washer may be something we can use against them?”
Maxine carried the cordless phone as she went to sit in a damask-covered chair. “I know something isn’t right in that house. The fact that they hired this woman without any thoug
ht to Joey’s wellbeing incenses me. She appears to lack qualifications and yet she has managed to put the notion into Joey’s head that she could become his mother.”
“Hm. Ambitious little thing, isn’t she?”
“To say the least.” Her voice was deliberately curt. To her mind, there was nothing to recommend the woman; certainly, in comparison to her own beautiful and cultured daughter, Nina, the housekeeper failed miserably in comparison. But she had heard that a man got used to the convenience of sex once he was married. If something happened to the wife, often the man remarried in about a year’s time—presumably to recover all the comforts a wife could provide him.
Fate would be so cruel to replace Nina with a bleached-blonde, unrefined social climber who used her body to blind Dustin into marriage. Where would that leave Joey? Out in the cold, of course. “I want to file a motion for custody until the trial date, Sal.”
“The trial is in four days. I’m not sure the paperwork can be processed that fast no matter who I lean on.”
She thought about the swollen state of Jill’s face. The purple-and-black bruise had been a terrible thing to see, she had hardly been able to look the woman in the eye.
In her heart, she knew Dustin wasn’t capable of such extraordinary violence. Nor did the woman appear to have lacked such spine that she would stand for abusive treatment. She snapped her fingers. Of course. Maybe in Dustin’s absence, while he was taking his mother to the hospital, the housekeeper had taken advantage of the opportunity to consort with unsavory types. It was an unfortunate situation. Maxine wondered where Joey had been during this time. Could he have witnessed any of this violence? The thought was painful. She could ask him about it, but to do so would be hearsay. The word of a child. And the truth was, if Joey had been exposed to any rough meeting between the housekeeper and some riffraff, she didn’t want to remind him of it. Poor little thing, she thought, closing her eyes. He’s already been through so much.
“Never mind the motion, Sal,” she said, suddenly aware of the awesome responsibility she faced. “With Eunice being ill and that odd woman alone in the house with Joey, I wouldn’t dream of taking him home tomorrow. Talk to the judge and see what we can swing, certainly. But now that I’ve got more evidence that Joey is not living in a safe environment, he stays with me until everything is said and done. And in light of these new events, I don’t think Joey will ever have to leave me again.”
“Tell you what,” Sal said thoughtfully, “I’ll just drop by the Reed Ranch and tell them we’re going to file papers if they raise any ruckus between now and then. It’s either our way or no way, and as I see it, Dustin isn’t going to be too anxious to do anything that might make him appear unstable.” He was quiet for another moment. “As a matter of fact, knowing Dustin, this may be just what we need to get a reaction out of him we can use in court.”
“Sal.” Maxine smiled. “There isn’t another lawyer like you on the face of the earth. What would I do without you?”
“You’d find a way to win, Maxine. But I wouldn’t worry anymore. I think we’ve got the Reeds on the run now.”
Chapter Eighteen
The house seemed still and too quiet without Joey.
Eunice’s comforting presence was missing; the anticipation that flashed through Jill when Dustin might stride in at any moment was gone. It was just her and Holly now, and Holly was taking a nap.
Jill took a shower and tidied her room, with one ear listening for the phone all the while. The fact that Dustin had not called worried her. She knew he was aware of her concern for his mother, so he would want to reassure Jill as soon as he could. Telling herself not to panic over the silent phone, Jill reasoned he hadn’t called because he didn’t know anything about Eunice’s condition yet. Though she couldn’t bear to think of it, Eunice might be worse off than they could have known. Jill’s stomach tightened at the thought. Eunice is in fine health, she told herself, even as a shadow crossed her mind, ugly and ill-conceived. What if she’s dying?
Jill sighed, vehemently wishing that thought had not popped into her conscious. Losing Eunice would be like losing a best friend. She’d learned about patience and courage from Eunice, and graciousness, and probably a multitude of other things she didn’t yet realize.
The doorbell pealed downstairs, softly but enough to interrupt her distressing worry. Jill wiped away a tear that had slipped down her cheek. It was too early for Joey to come home. Nobody else she knew would ring the doorbell.
Walking quietly down the stairs, Jill cautiously peered out the peephole. She was taking no chances after Maxine’s disastrous visit. Though she’d handled the unpleasant scene as best she could, doubtless Dustin was going to be displeased that she’d upset Maxine.
Jill could see that the caller was a young girl, no older than her late teens. The girl shifted from foot to foot in the cold, apparently alone. Jill didn’t see a car—or driver for that matter—from her tiny viewing space. The girl knocked on the door, obviously unwilling to leave until someone opened it. She glanced up and with a start, Jill remembered her from the bakery.
“Sadie!” she exclaimed, jerking the door open. “Sadie! What are you doing here?”
The girl jumped, looking a bit scared.
“How do you know my name?”
“Because…oh, never mind. We can’t talk with you shivering in the cold. Come in.”
Sadie glanced nervously around her as she came into the foyer. “Are you sure?”
“It’s fine. Come in the kitchen and I’ll get you something hot to drink.”
Sadie followed obediently. Jill pointed to the kitchen table and she sat, all the while stiff and uncomfortable.
“Where’s my baby?” she blurted.
“Taking a nap,” Jill answered. She wasn’t the least bit surprised that Sadie’s first concern was for Holly.
“Is she all right?”
Jill glanced Sadie’s way as she put a cup of hot tea she’d warmed in the microwave in front of her. “She’s just fine.”
An audible sigh of relief gusted from Sadie. “I’ve been so frightened.”
She could well imagine. “I bet you have. Obviously you know Curtis is in jail or you wouldn’t be here. How did you find out?”
“Sheriff Marsh asked Eunice where Mama’s family was from. I guess he called the sheriff there to ask if he knew us. We got the message through him at my aunt’s house.” Sadie looked up at Jill with worried eyes.
“Is that where you stayed while you were pregnant?”
She glanced away. “Yes. So Curtis couldn’t find me.”
Jill seated herself across from Sadie. “I expect Holly to wake up in about ten minutes.” She glanced out the window, seeing no car. “How did you get here?”
“On my bike. Mama got a ride from somebody in town so she could go see Miss Eunice at the hospital, but…I couldn’t wait to see my baby.”
“Hm.” Jill ran several thoughts through her mind. “Are you planning to ride back with Holly on your bike?”
“That’s how I got her here.”
She recognized defensiveness in the girl’s tone. Yet, in all good conscience, she couldn’t allow Sadie to pedal Holly back home in the cold. Not while Jill’s perfectly good car was sitting in the driveway. From the jutting of Sadie’s chin, it was clear that her independent nature was asserting itself now that she was in control of her own life. Without Curtis robbing her of that important asset.
“Well, Sadie, there is a slight problem.” Jill stared at her nails, trying to appear deep in thought. “Holly’s basket is a bit torn. I was going into town to get her another one today, but as it is, I don’t think it’s safe to travel with her the way her basket is.”
Sadie’s face fell. “Oh.”
“As I say, I was on my way into town and…well, perhaps when Holly awakens, I could just run the two of you home. That way she’ll be safer.”
And in a car seat, Jill thought to herself.
“Would you mind?” Sadie as
ked shyly.
“Not a bit. We’ll just toss your bike into my trunk and then I can drop you off on my way.” Jill forced herself to sound cheerful. Not that she wasn’t delighted for Sadie and Holly’s sake, but it was going to be mighty quiet around the ranch with both of her charges gone. She almost felt like her job description was dwindling to nothing. “Would you excuse me for just a moment?”
Sadie nodded. Trying not to appear worried, Jill walked out of the kitchen and went up the stairs. She had seen an old-fashioned black desk phone by Dustin’s bed once, when she had gone into his room to grab the sheets for washing. He was by nature very tidy, and had explained to her that his room didn’t require her attention. He preferred she concentrate her energies on the children in the household and his mother, being more caretaker than maid service, he’d told her. But this was the only phone in the house besides the one in the kitchen, and she couldn’t make this call with Sadie in the room with her.
A nearly overwhelming sense of masculinity assailed her as she entered the darkened room. The furniture was dark wood, and the window hangings were heavy and opaque. It was antique and old-fashioned, similar to the parlor furniture, although that room had been recently painted and carpeted. It was almost as if the decor in this room hadn’t been changed since the Reeds had first lived in the house. As she reached out to take the phone from the cradle, Jill realized this was the room Dustin’s parents must have occupied when his father was alive. Apparently, Dustin had kept everything the same as it had always been, right down to this out-of-date rotary phone.
Not wanting to waste time with Sadie downstairs, Jill dialed information and asked for the hospital phone number. When she had gotten that, she dialed the number and asked for the sheriff’s room. He answered on the first ring.
“Sheriff Marsh here.”
“This is Jill McCall. You sound like you’re at work instead of in a hospital.”
“I’m not letting some peashooter slow me down. So, is this a social call to check on my health, Miss McCall?”
