“Emily, hello! Come in,” Lucy invited the other woman inside. “How are you doing?” she asked.
“Great! I’m very happy with Mac,” Emily stated shyly, and then blushed when she noticed the big bear of a man standing in the doorway.
“Oh, Emily, this is Mr. Hiram Nielson. Hiram, this is Mac’s new bride, Mrs. Emily Forrester.”
“It’s good to meet you, Mrs. Forrester. Mac sure picked a pretty woman to marry.”
“Thank you, Mr. Nielson.” She was still embarrassed that he overheard her comment.
“No need to be embarrassed by what you said, ma’am. A woman ought to be happy with her man, and I wish you happiness all your days together.”
Emily smiled. “Thank you, Mr. Nielson.”
“Mrs. Z., I need to know how large a piece of marble you want for the dough rolling shelf?”
“Have a seat in the parlor, Emily, and I’ll go with Hiram to speak with Henry. I already told him what I want, but he is a man and doesn’t understand that you need a space that is larger than a finished pie to roll a good crust or to knead bread dough.”
Emily walked to the parlor and took a seat on the sofa. It wasn’t long before Lucy was back, carrying a tray with a coffee pot, cups and saucers, and a small pitcher of cream and a sugar bowl. Lucy poured each of them a cup of coffee, and then sat down across beside her. “What do you think of this business with little Kathy and Sylvia Crawford?” The two women talked and ended up comparing childhoods. There were many similarities, but Lucy didn’t suffer the painful punishments Emily did. Emily thought it wonderful that Henry and Lucy rescued Kathy from her mother.
Hiram wasn’t trying to eavesdrop, but the two women were talking right on the other side of where he was working and their voices carried through the door. He was convinced that someone needed to have a serious talk with Kathy’s mother, and he couldn’t see why that shouldn’t be him. She was going to get a terrible reputation and the other women in town would have nothing to do with her if she was condemned and charged with beating her child. People didn’t take that sort of thing lightly. And, to be honest with himself, he didn’t like the thought of a grown person taking out their anger on someone as little as Kathy. He mulled over the situation the rest of the morning.
*****
“What do you want?” Sylvia Crawford looked up in disdain when the lawman walked into her shop.
“I thought we would talk about Kathy, Mrs. Crawford,” Mac said politely. “I waited until you weren’t with clients to come in so that we could hopefully work out something.”
“Work out what? Doc Z kidnapped my little girl; you refused to arrest him and give her back to me. You said we have to go to the judge for a decision, and that is what we are going to do. You can’t take a mother’s child away from her because she punishes the child.”
“Mrs. Crawford, Kathy is covered with bruises. You took a belt to her back… and to her bottom. You hit her in the face and there is a bruise to prove it. Kathy has marks on her arms, and her bottom is so bruised it is pathetic.”
“You looked at Kathy’s body?” the woman screamed at him. “You pervert!”
“No, I didn’t. Doc Z examined her and made out a report of his findings so I can give it to the judge. He is planning to ask the judge to take Kathy away from you.”
“The judge doesn’t have a right to do that. Kathy is mine. I gave birth to her!”
“We aren’t arguing that you gave birth to Kathy, Mrs. Crawford. What we want to know is why you are so angry with her all the time. What has she done to earn all the bruises she has? Why do you send her to bed without supper almost every night?”
“Kathy makes out like it is all my fault, but she never does what she is told.”
“Mrs. Crawford, no child is so bad they don’t deserve to eat.”
“You ain’t got any kids and neither has that Doctor and his wife! Just get out of here. When the judge comes, you’ll learn you ain’t so high and mighty.”
Mac shook his head. “Think about it, Mrs. Crawford. If you don’t give us a reason not to prosecute you, we will.” He turned then and left her store. It was either that or shaking the daylights out of her for being so obstinate.
Sylvia swore and then picked up a candle and threw it across the room. She looked at the clock, and then she reached for her shawl and headed for the school. She was going to take her little girl back. She knew what was best for her, and no man was going to tell her otherwise.
She got to the school, only to find out that Kathy was already gone. In determination, Sylvia walked to Doc Z’s house. She was taking Kathy home.
*****
They were washing up the dishes from mixing a chocolate cake, since Kathy said she’d rather bake a cake than cookies. The pounding on the door startled them, and Kathy started shaking.
“It’s Mama,” she whispered fearfully.
“She isn’t taking you anywhere,” Henry promised, putting down the dishtowel and heading for the door.
“I insist you give me back my daughter!” Sylvia screeched the words at Henry, and he smelled the sherry on her breath. “You ain’t her parent!”
“No, I’m not, and that is why what you’ve done to her is that much worse, Sylvia. You have mistreated this little girl something awful. It would be criminal to permit you to take her home with you where she would be subjected to more of your cruelty. Kathy is staying with us until the Judge gives us permission to find her a home where she’ll be treated decently.”
“I treat her decent.”
“No, you don’t, and I won’t allow you to continue this. Sylvia, you’ve been drinking. Go home.”
“I want my baby back!” Sylvia sobbed.
“Not until you get your life straightened out.”
“I’ll walk her home, Doc Z,” Hiram offered from behind him. “You best help Mrs. Z calm down Kathy.”
Henry realized that Kathy was crying hard and Lucy was doing her best to comfort the child. Wordlessly, he nodded at Hiram and said, “Thanks, my friend.” Hiram nodded and slipped outside.
“Come with me, Mrs. Crawford. It’s time someone set you straight.”
“What are you talking about? I don’t even know you, you big jerk.”
“I met your little girl this morning and she told me how mean you are to her. She also told me that she wishes you would be sweet and love her. I’m going to see if I can’t make that happen.”
“I don’t understand what you mean!”
“That’s because you’ve been drinking, and we’ll need to sober you up first. I don’t think that drinking too much is attractive, especially in a woman.”
“It isn’t for you to say!”
“Maybe it isn’t, but I’m going to speak up for Kathy since she isn’t big enough to do it for herself. I don’t know what is wrong, but before this night is over, you’re going to tell me why you are drinking and why you are mistreating that precious little girl. I was never lucky enough to have me a little girl, but I can remember how small my boys were at that age. My Millie and I never hit them in the face, and we didn’t send them to bed without some supper, no matter what they did. When I had to tan them, I swatted their backsides, not their backs.”
“They must have behaved better than Kathy.”
“No, they must have had two parents to love them and each other and set a good example.”
“I want you to leave me the hell alone! You have no right to come here and say horrid things to me. You have no idea what it’s been like. How hard it is to raise a child all by yourself.”
“I finished raising my boys by myself when Millie died. One day she was with us, laughing and loving, and the next she was dead by a snake bite. What happened to your man?” he demanded.
Chapter Nine
“I am going to get fat, Mrs. Forrester,” Mac declared as he patted his flat stomach with his hands. This was a real good supper. Thank you.”
“I am glad you liked it, Mac. I got the recipe from Lucy. I en
joyed spending time with her today, and I hope she likes me, too. I think she and Doc Z are wonderful people to intervene for Kathy, don’t you?”
“I do. Kathy needs people to love her and protect her.”
“She’s so lucky to have them, and I hope it all works out. I know for a fact that living with an abusive parent is horrid. You are so helpless and you don’t know who to trust, who to tell. My grandfather hated me because I wasn’t the grandson he wanted. My Mother hated me because she could no longer do as she pleased because I existed. I was proof that my Father forced her to be a wife when she did not want to be his wife; she didn’t want to be with any man. She just wanted power over them.”
“I don’t think that is what is wrong with Sylvia Crawford, honey. She drinks too much. I went to see her today, hoping that she’d calmed down and could give me a reason for her anger towards little Kathy. She couldn’t, or wouldn’t, do that. She just pushed me away and said she was going to tell the Judge that Doc Z kidnapped her little girl. Sylvia insists that Kathy is a bad little girl.”
“She is not!” Emily got to her feet and started stacking the dirty dishes. “Oh, I would love to go and visit that woman and give her what for!”
“Em, I am asking you nicely to stay away from her. You would take all of your anger with your Mother out on her and that wouldn’t help Kathy.”
Emily looked at Mac and could see that he was quite serious. Before she could reply, he added, “I also don’t think it would help you, sweetheart. I don’t want to see you upset and reliving painful memories. So, please avoid her. If I thought for one second that talking to you would fix it and make it better, I would get down on my knees and beg you for your help, but Sylvia Crawford is not ready to be reasonable.”
“I’m not surprised, Mac. Most abusive parents aren’t reasonable. It is all about them, and how the child has in some way ruined their existence. I will leave that woman alone. I don’t want to end up in jail for murdering her.”
Mac could see that Emily was in a bad mood but he didn’t know what to say that would make it all better. “I guess I should go and start my rounds, honey. Thank you again for cooking such a great meal.” He kissed her on the cheek and then went to do what he got paid for. He usually worked until pretty late, unless the town was quiet. He was pretty sure that Emily would have another light meal for him when he finished rounds for the night. She was taking good care of him and he wanted to do something special for her. He decided to have a talk with Lucy tomorrow and see if she could give him some ideas.
As he walked outside he saw Hiram Nielson walking Sylvia Crawford down the street. It was clear as could be that the woman had been drinking again. She was loud and trying to break free of the hold that Hiram had on her arm just above her elbow.
“Sheriff! Sheriff!” Sylvia called loudly when she spotted Mac. “Make this man let me go! He’s hurting me. I’m afraid he is going to rape me!”
“I would never do that to any woman, Mrs. Crawford,” Hiram said, his deep voice surprisingly soft. “Mrs. Crawford came to Doc Z’s place and upset little Kathy. I’m walking her home to sober her up. Mrs., Z sure has her hands full right now, and I think this little lady needs a good talking to.” He looked at Mac and in that way that men have of speaking silently, yet communicating, Mac understood what Hiram was trying to tell him. He looked at Sylvia and decided to butt out and give Hiram a chance. Perhaps he would be the one to break through that wall of anger and defiance that was Sylvia Crawford.
“Thanks for helping out, Hiram. You’re a good man.” He touched the brim of his hat and then moved on. If the woman filed a formal report against Hiram, Mac would have to address it, but he hoped that wouldn’t be necessary.
*****
“You have not answered me, Mrs. Crawford. What happened to your husband?” Hiram was determined to get an answer. If he was correct, there was no Mr. Crawford.
“I don’t have to tell you or anyone else in this damn town one single thing. I don’t make explanations to anyone!”
Sylvia was screaming at him and Hiram was glad that most people were home getting ready to eat supper. She was making a spectacle of herself, and he was going to see to it she regretted behaving like a raving shrew. He said nothing more until they reached her shop. To his surprise she hadn’t even bothered to lock up her store when she left. She opened the door then looked at him in barely suppressed anger. “All right. You have walked me home, big man. Now go away. You are not invited in my shop.”
“I couldn’t leave if I wanted to, Mrs. Crawford. You left this door wide open and anyone could be inside. It is growing dark and you don’t know if someone is hiding inside just waiting to rob you or harm you. And,” he added, “we are going to get you sobered up and have a serious talk.”
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“Too bad. Inside with you and stop being so stubborn.”
Sylvia whirled on him the moment he shut the door behind him and turned the key in the lock. “You just unlock that door and get out of here. I do not entertain men.”
“Come with me, Mrs. Crawford. You need some coffee.”
“I don’t want coffee; I want you to get the hell out of here, you big oaf!”
“That is the alcohol talking, and I am not impressed, little lady. Come with me.” He didn’t see the kick coming until the toe of her shoe connected with his shin. “Yeowww!” he roared, grabbing his leg. It took him all of three seconds to recover, and then he was angry. “You had no call to do that, and alcohol or no, you are going to regret kicking me.”
Sylvia was shocked when he took her arm and guided her through the curtains that blocked the living quarters from the store front. She was suddenly embarrassed that the house was messy. She just didn’t feel like cleaning after working all day, and it was Kathy’s job to dust and sweep the floors.
Hiram stopped to look around and then he shook his head. The living area needed a good cleaning. He pulled a chair out from the kitchen table and took a seat. He hoped that after a good spanking Sylvia would open up and talk about what was making her so angry.
Sylvia gasped when he pulled her closer and then she struggled when he put her over his lap. “You can’t do this! You don’t even know me!” she gasped. “No! Someone help me!” she yelled as loudly as she could.”
“No one is going to come running, Sylvia. You are going to get a long overdue comeuppance.” Hiram put some real strength in the first spank to her wiggling buttocks. “”This is for kicking me,” he told her and proceeded to give her several more sound spanks.
“Owww! Owwwww! Oh boo hoo hoooo!” she bawled, crying loudly.
“Now then, are you ready to sober up, Sylvia?” he asked, putting her on her feet when she said ‘yes’. “Let’s make some coffee and find us something to eat.
“I’ve got coffee, but there ain’t much food, Mr.—I don’t remember your name,” she sullenly admitted.
“My name is Hiram Nielson. How could we both live in this town for some time and never meet?” he asked, shaking his head.
“I don’t set foot in saloons and the like!” she said, doing her best to insult him. It didn’t work.
“I don’t either, Sylvia,” he answered, watching her hands shake as she put the coffee on the stove. “You need to stop drinking, woman. Look how unsteady your hands are. How can you hope to raise a child when you can’t take care of yourself?”
“I can take care of myself!”
“No you can’t. You are drunk and your child is living with Doc and Mrs. Z. That doesn’t sound like a woman who can take care of herself. What is a Judge going to think when you come into his Court smelling of whiskey?”
“So, I had a drink. It ain’t a big deal.”
“It is when you are responsible for a child. Were you drunk when you beat her?” he questioned.
“She was being bad; I punished her. It ain’t a crime. Look at what you just done!” she accused.
“I gave you a spanking with my hand. I
didn’t use a belt on your back and your buttocks.”
“I tell you she was not doing what I told her to do. I’m her Ma; I got to make her obey me when she don’t listen.”
“You don’t need a belt to do that, Sylvia. And, you sent her to bed without her supper several nights a week. Why is that? Kathy thinks it was because you didn’t have money to buy food.”
“She talks too much about things she don’t know about.”
“I think she was telling the truth. I can prove it if you wish…?” When she just glared at him he got to his feet and started searching for food. He didn’t find much, just some stale bread and ham. He sliced off a few slices and made sandwiches for both of them. “You sit down at the table and eat this, Sylvia. Tomorrow we’ll see to stocking your pantry so you’ll have plenty to eat.” He thought he was beginning to understand what was wrong. Sylvia was spending all her money on whiskey and drinking all the time. He poured coffee into cups and put hers in front of her. You are going to drink this, Sylvia, and sober up. It’s the damned alcohol that is making you a terrible mother.”
“It is not!”
“Sylvia, do not argue with me. I know what I am seeing, and if you don’t want to lose your child, you will give up drinking and stay sober. I am going to help you with that.”
“Maybe I don’t want your help!” she screamed at him. “I am old enough to drink if I want too, and I’m not hurting anyone.”
“You are hurting yourself and you are hurting Kathy. The whiskey is letting you whip her with a belt. Do you know how much that hurts?”
“She…”
“I won’t hear it!” he roared. “You drink that coffee and sober up. When I am sure you are sober, you are going to get a good belting so you know what it feels like. I’m betting you will change your mind about whipping a little girl by the time I’m done setting your backside on fire.”
“You can’t do that. I ain’t no kid.”
“No, you are a woman. A woman who should know better. Eat that sandwich.” He forced himself to eat the sandwich he made for himself, wishing he had some cheese and pickles to put on it. He’d never seen so little food in a house. He was going to find every bottle of whiskey she owned and he was going to return it to the store and get credit for her account. Hopefully she wasn’t deep in debt. Poor little Kathy… All she wanted was a loving Mama like other little girls had.
Emily Page 10
