Fading Thunder_A Historical Romance

by Sheila Hollinghead

  I was too tired to move or even to speak. Mr. Paul was the one who leaned toward his brother. “You have some good news?”

  “I think so.” He tilted his head to one side, reminding me so much of Michael. On the porch, with only light from inside illuminating us, he could have been Michael.

  His next words surprised us all. “I’m getting married.”

  I swung my legs off the swing. Michael brought it to a stop and pulled James Colton into his arms.

  We all stood, and I hugged Uncle Aaron, and the men crowded around.

  Uncle Aaron laughed. “Don’t y’all want to know who I’m marrying?”

  “Who?” I asked.

  “Velma.”

  “Velma Green?” I clutched at his arm.

  “Yep. Velma Green.”

  Mr. Paul slapped him on the back. I sank back down on the swing, Michael with me. When Mr. Paul reclaimed his rocker, James Colton squirmed from his daddy’s lap to go to his granddaddy. Mr. Paul lifted him up.

  Uncle Aaron was glancing around at all of us. “Aren’t y’all happy for me?”

  “Of course,” I said automatically.

  “It’s a surprise,” Michael said. “We didn’t know you knew her.”

  Uncle Aaron leaned back in the rocker. “I see her every time I go in to pay the bill.”

  “Oh, that’s right,” I said. “I guess you’ve known her for years now. How long have you been dating?”

  “Off and on ever since you started working there.”

  Three, almost four years ago? “But she was still dating Walter then.” I frowned.

  “Well, it wasn’t serious, at first. She’s a lot younger, and besides, y’all know I’ve never wanted to be hogtied.” He ducked his head. “That’s why I’ve been keeping it on the lowdown.”

  “She must be a first-rate lassoer.” Mr. Paul slapped his knee and laughed.

  Uncle Aaron joined in his brother’s laughter.

  Michael rubbed his hands on his jean-clad legs. “So what do you plan, Uncle Aaron? Move Velma in here?”

  That struck me as funny, and I had to stifle a laugh.

  “We’ve got plenty of land. I’m going to build us a pretty little house on top of the hill.”

  “That’s a great spot,” I said.

  “Reckon I’ll be bacheloring it alone,” Mr. Paul said.

  “You can move in with us when we get our house built,” I said.

  Michael elbowed me. His father must have seen it for he laughed.

  “Don’t worry, son. I’m not in my dotage yet. I’m only forty-eight. And you know what? It ain’t too late to find me a woman.”

  I could only hope she’d be older than Velma. Of course, Mr. Paul was not as young-acting as Uncle Aaron. I couldn’t imagine him marrying anyone like her.

  Our lives were changing rapidly. Momma was gone. Uncle Aaron was getting married. Zeke wanted to leave — and that sounded like a forever thing, too.

  I could not let him go. He was the last link I had to Poppa, and hadn’t I promised Momma I would take care of him?

  The house that had so much of Poppa was gone. I had placed Poppa’s wedding ring on my finger. It was too big, but I had looped a string around it so it would fit snugly.

  I shook myself out of my gloomy thoughts. Maybe Velma and Uncle Aaron would be happy together. I had promised to give Velma a chance. And Michael and I could make a fresh start. I tilted my face to his, and he obligingly kissed me. I fingered the ring, lost in thought.

  Mr. Paul was speaking. “Some people asked today what you lost in the fire. They want to help all they can.”

  His words made my heart constrict. “That’s so nice!”

  “What do you need, Jay?” Mr. Paul asked.

  “Maybe we should wait and see about the stocks. I know it’s a long shot, but they might be worth a little, and then we can see if we even need donations,” I said.

  Uncle Aaron leaned forward with his elbows on his knees. “What stocks?”

  “We found some stocks in Momma’s old trunk. Coca-Cola and a company called IBM.”

  Michael snapped his fingers. “I knew I’d heard that before! IBM makes typewriters.”

  I scrunched my forehead, trying to recall but couldn’t. I shrugged my shoulders. “We’ll find out by this weekend. We’re going to take Zeke with us to Plainsville, just for an overnight trip.”

  “Maybe two nights,” Michael said.

  “Maybe,” I agreed. “Uncle Aaron, we didn’t ask. When’s the big day?”

  “Velma wants the house finished before we tie the knot. If Paul can spare me, maybe I can get started on it soon.”

  “You’re building it yourself?” I asked.

  “That’s the plan.”

  I yawned, and Michael stirred. “It’s been a long day. Jay and I are going to head to bed.”

  James Colton had been sleeping with Mr. Paul since the fire. “Do you want me to get James Colton to bed?” I asked him.

  He smiled. “I can manage.”

  After saying our goodnights, we headed to bed. We lay facing each other for a few minutes. I giggled, my face pressed against Michael’s.

  He pulled back a bit. “What’s so funny?”

  “Velma is going to be your aunt.”

  “Well, she’ll be your aunt by marriage. You gonna call her aunt?”

  I laughed. “No, I’m not going to, are you?”

  “Nope.”

  I snuggled in his arms before I spoke again. “Your daddy is going to be lonely when everyone moves out. He’ll miss James Colton.”

  “We’ve had very few days with just us and our son. I love my father, but I want some time with you, alone.” He stroked my arm, his fingers lingering on the raised scar.

  So much had happened since that day. Just when it seemed we were healing, we were hit by new problems, new challenges. We’d weathered so much. Surely we could weather whatever our future held.

  I sighed softly. “Mr. Paul and Uncle Aaron have lived together for so long, and now it’ll just be your daddy. Don’t you think he’ll be lonely?”

  “I know my father. He does not mind being alone. He wishes he was alone more often. This will suit him fine.”

  “Well, you know him better than I do.”

  “It’s hard to know anyone, isn’t it? Especially when they go out of their way to hide their true selves.” He rolled over on his back to stare at the ceiling.

  “Promise me you will never do that? You won’t hide the truth, no matter how it hurts.”

  “I’ll try. And you do the same.”

  “I promise I’ll not hide anything ... well, only if it’s temporary.”

  “Like what?” His voice sounded wary.

  “Like a birthday surprise?”

  He laughed. “No, no surprise birthday parties. Please.”

  I laughed and snuggled against him. “Who said anything about a party?”

  Chapter 41—Fear

  We drove to Plainsville, leaving at the crack of dawn on Friday morning. Well, it would have been the crack of dawn if it hadn’t been raining when we left. Darkness lay over us like a heavy blanket. We could only roll down the windows an inch or so, and even then water streamed down the inside of the window.

  Zeke was in the backseat with James Colton, and he leaned forward, resting his hands on the front seat. “Sis, Mr. Phillips has offered me a great opportunity.”

  “And why would he do that? Does he know you’re courting his daughter?” I turned my head to look out the window, although I couldn’t see anything beyond the driving rain. “You’re too young to be dating,” I grumbled.

  Zeke sighed. “We’re not dating.”

  “You’ve been going to the movies with her. That’s not a date? Does Marla chaperone you?”

  “No, but we’re in public.”

  “A dark movie theater is not very public.” I turned around in my seat to face him. “You only want this great opportunity so you can stay in Plainsville with Grace and live in a fan
cy house.”

  Michael shot me a look, and the heat rose to my cheeks. Zeke moved back and crossed his arms, his face shrouded in the shadows. His voice was icy when he spoke. “That’s what you believe about me?”

  I bit my lip and didn’t answer.

  Michael cleared his throat. “Zeke, I’m sure Jay didn’t mean what she said. She’s worried about you. Sometimes we say things we don’t really believe if we’re scared enough.”

  Zeke remained in the shadows but spoke. “What are you scared of, Jay?”

  I looked to Michael, but he shook his head, letting me know he wouldn’t help me. “Is James Colton already asleep?” I asked, trying to regain my composure.

  “Yes,” Zeke said, the one word full of anger.

  “I don’t think he ever fully woke up.” I played with Poppa’s ring on my hand.

  Michael gave me a sideways glance and a slight nod. “The truth,” he said quietly.

  I turned to stare out the window again, struggling not to cry. “Zeke, you’re all that’s left of my family. I’m afraid I’ll lose you, too.” A tear fell, and I wiped it away.

  “You have Uncle Colt, Aunt Jenny —”

  I waved a hand, but words would not pass the lump in my throat.

  Michael rescued me. “She means your immediate family — your mother and father and you.”

  “Oh.” Zeke leaned forward again, draping his hand over the seat. I took it in mine and squeezed it tight.

  “Jay, you’ll always be my big sister. I love you for what you did for me. You got us out of a bad situation when you were only a child yourself.”

  “I was fifteen.”

  “And I’m fifteen.”

  I released his hand. “Not quite, but okay. I understand that you don’t feel like a child. But, regardless, you are very young.”

  “And you were, too, when Michael brought us to Plainsville that first time.”

  Michael threw me a look again, a smile playing on his lips. The windshield wipers made a steady whish, whish for a few moments. The rain had slackened, and the sky was growing lighter.

  “All right, Zeke. You’ve made your point. I went to Plainsville with Michael unchaperoned — except by you.” I grinned at both of them.

  “I’m assuming nothing terrible happened because of it?” Zeke was grinning back at me.

  “We both made plenty of mistakes, especially me,” I said.

  “Jay ...” Michael warned.

  “Especially you?” I said with a laugh.

  “Now you’re telling the truth,” Michael said. All three of us laughed.

  When I’d sobered, I turned back to Zeke. “I regret so much. I shouldn’t have left you alone with Momma all those years. I could have insisted you stay with me.”

  Zeke shook his head. “Think about this. You spent more years with Momma than I did. And you survived, right?”

  “Yes, but it’s difficult to deal with that type of abuse day after day.”

  “Jay, she never hurt me like she did you. And I don’t just mean the whippings.”

  “Still, she was not mentally stable.” I sighed. “And now I feel guilty for leaving you in Plainsville so long — and not just because you weren’t with Momma in her last days. If you had been there, maybe they wouldn’t even have been her last days.”

  “I came to see her, and I knew Momma’s behavior was worsening. She had days her hands weren’t steady enough to hold a cup.”

  “My fault, too. I should have kept the medicine from her reach.”

  Zeke lightly punched Michael in the shoulder. “How do you deal with her?”

  “Thank goodness, she’s not always like this.” Michael flashed a smile at me. “Being cute helps, though.”

  “I get it,” I said. “I’m blaming myself for everything.”

  “Why not simply be happy we’re alive and together right now?” Michael asked gently.

  “I can be. I will be. I’m sorry.”

  Michael reached over to pat my hand. “Jay, Zeke is not abandoning you. I know that’s how it feels.”

  I nodded and stared out the window again, the lump back in my throat.

  Zeke’s hand was on my shoulder. “I’m not, Jay. I promise. I’ll write. I’ll call. I’ll visit whenever I can. You and Michael can visit me, too. It’s only a couple of hours away, not like the other side of the world.”

  But my tears fell as if it were. My shoulders shook with my sobs, for I knew I had lost. Zeke would not be returning home with us. Michael whispered to Zeke, and he moved away while I cried, my head against the cool pane of the window. I knew I wasn’t being fair to Zeke, making him feel horrible.

  I finally laughed feebly, still sniffling. “Sorry, Zeke. I’m overly emotional.”

  “It’s okay, sis.”

  I took a shuddering breath and let it out slowly. “I trust you, Zeke. If you think this is what you want, leaving Grace out of it, then I’ll agree to it. Are you sure you want to go into law enforcement?”

  He answered without hesitation. “Yes.”

  “All right. If you’re sure —”

  “I’m sure.”

  “I still don’t understand why Mr. Phillips is willing to do this for you.”

  “He’ll explain it when we get there. Um ... and don’t mention Grace. Please?”

  “Oh? He doesn’t know?”

  “No.”

  His voice had a finality that told me not to tease. “I still don’t understand why they would want someone as young as you are.”

  “It’s easy.”

  “Why?”

  “I solved a crime they couldn’t solve.”

  I turned to stare at him. “What do you mean?”

  “I can’t talk about it. I had to swear I would not discuss the case with anyone until the police finish their official investigation.”

  Mixed emotions surged through me. Pride in Zeke, fear at what he had been involved in, curiosity at how he had become involved, and frustration, for I knew Mr. Phillips, as district attorney, would not reveal the details either.

  “All right. But later, when the police are done, you’re going to tell me all about it.”

  He grinned, and I couldn’t help smiling back.

  Chapter 42—The Wedding

  After our conversation with Mr. Phillips, having to be content with the sketchiest of details, I tried to do as Michael had said and be thankful. Zeke was safe and sound, even if he was going to be away from home. And Zeke was right — he was only two hours away, and Mr. Phillips promised that Zeke would call me every other week. Zeke said he would write as often as he could, even if it was only a line or two. He was entering into a dangerous profession, but many people did. Some considered veterinary work dangerous, and I knew from personal experience that it could be. And Michael had been a Marine during the war. Somehow I had survived that. I could survive Zeke’s decision, too. So we hammered out the details of where Zeke would be living, how he would get back and forth to school, where he would eat his meals, and even how he would get to his doctor appointments. The army doctors still wanted to monitor him, although they were beginning to think the heart murmur was not serious. He would only have to go in for checkups every six months unless his symptoms worsened.

  And then we got down to the business of the stocks. Mr. Phillips advised us to hold on to the IBM stocks for a while longer. Well, he told us to hold on to all the stocks, but I explained that we were in financial need.

  Then we left Zeke with Mr. Phillips. My heart was broken, but I didn’t cry. Pretending it was a temporary arrangement made it easier for me.

  We went back to work, establishing a routine that made it easier to manage all the changes. The Coca-Cola stocks turned out to be worth $15,000. It took us a couple of weeks to receive the money, and Zeke insisted I keep it all. Without telling him, I opened up an account in his name, depositing half the money in it.

  Building on our new house started immediately, with Michael, his father, and his uncle doing most of the work
, but the community came together on the weekends to help out also. Michael promised Uncle Aaron he’d help him with his new house, as soon as ours was finished.

  It was the end of August when it was finished enough for us to move in. And I now had a bathroom in the house—although it still needed some finishing touches. At least the tub was in, and I had already tried it out. And, although we’d had lights before, we’d had to pull a chain. Now, being able to flick a switch was a marvel.

  Michael would work on the interior as he had time, and he was so much like his father and uncle, I knew he’d finish soon and do a wonderful job.

  We had enough money to build the house, but not enough to furnish it, and the community had come together and were giving us a housewarming. Zeke was home to visit, staying with Uncle Colt, and I had left James Colton with him.

  Michael was over at our house, wanting to get as much work done as he could before the housewarming. I was at Mr. Paul’s, packing our things, when Velma came in, a garment draped over her arm.

  I smiled a greeting. “Is that your wedding dress?” I finished folding one of Michael’s shirts and held it in my arms.

  “No. Actually, it’s yours.”

  “Mine?”

  She laid the dress across the bed. It was the very same dress I had tried on, the beige with the sheer lace overlay, buttons running down the back to the waist, and the long sleeves ending in points.

  I looked up to search her eyes. “I don’t need that dress. My goodness — I’m pregnant!”

  She surveyed me critically. “You’re barely showing. It looks like you may have gained a couple of pounds.”

  “Five, actually.”

  “It should fit. I had them take it out at the waist.”

  “Why? What’s going on?”

  “It’s very simple. I told Aaron how much you loved the dress and how it looked on you. We talked to Michael, and he agreed.”

  “Agreed to what?”

  “To a wedding. You told me how Sylvia ruined your first one.”

  “My first and last. I’m not getting remarried! And that dress cost a fortune!”

  “Aaron paid for it. For you.”

  My mouth gaped open. “You cannot be serious.”