comparison.
“I’ll try, but you know a quick temper runs in our family.”
“Sure do. Take care, now. I’ll get Rose.”
Finally. Sadie sagged against the back of her chair with relief when Rose’s soft, girly voice replaced her brother’s demanding one. She’d never been crazy about her because she was so pretty. The fact she was part white hadn’t been too endearing, either. She and Mama had given her a rough welcome when Leroy brought her home to meet them at last year’s fish fry. Luckily, she didn’t seem to hold it against them.
After they got the logistics of the baby shower out of the way, Sadie’s pulse accelerated.
“Rose, can I ask you something?”
“Sure!”
Sadie pursed her lips. How could she explain her concern without giving away Henry’s identity? The girl was an artist and kind of flighty. She might unintentionally repeat everything to Leroy.
“I-it’s about men,” Sadie stated.
“Oh? What about them?”
“How did Leroy treat you when you were courting?” This was even harder than talking to him earlier. “Did he make you feel special?”
“Oh, yes. He barely let me out of his sight.” Her voice softened even more, as if she were reliving her romance.
Sadie’s head reared back. Exactly as she figured. When a man was fond of a woman, he looked at her. A lot.
“Did he stare into your eyes?”
“Constantly. When I still lived with my parents, I painted in a secluded part of their property. We used to hug and kiss in the branches of a big tree.”
Sadie’s stomach dipped again. Their relationship had been even more nauseatingly romantic than she’d thought. She was sorry she’d asked, but she needed the facts to sort out her confusing feelings.
Rose’s voice grew muffled. “You probably don’t want to hear the…details.”
She could almost see her blush through the telephone line. “Actually, I do. Well, not too many, since we’re discussing my brother. Did he ever lose control?”
“All the time. Leroy is a passionate man.” Rose gasped. “I’ll never forget the time in the car.”
“The car?”
“He was angry because I’d danced with the mayor’s son. Mother bought me such a beautiful dress. I still can’t believe I attended that party, pretending to be white.”
“What happened in the car?” Sadie prompted.
“Well, he leaned over me and…er…rubbed himself…until…”
“I get the picture.” Her brother was wilder than she’d thought. “How did you feel?”
“I was afraid—for me and the dress—but excited, too. He seemed to be staking his claim on me.”
Sadie frowned. The rubbing part was similar, but that was about it. Henry hadn’t acted angry, and she couldn’t picture him claiming anyone, especially her. At least Leroy had faced Rose instead of humping her from behind.
“Why are you asking me about these things, anyway?” A smile filled Rose’s voice. “You must have a beau. Tell me. Who is he?”
“No one,” Sadie said quickly. “I just wondered if all men were like my ex-husband. Apparently not.”
After ending the call, she drummed her fingers on her knee. Rose’s experience was very helpful, but she needed to compare a situation more similar to her own—Pearl’s and Caleb’s. She let her hand hover over the telephone because she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know. But Henry would return with the food soon. Now would probably be her only chance.
Once she figured the man out, she hoped to get her silly romantic thoughts about him out of her mind for good.
* * *
Perched on an antique chair, Jonathan Carter sat hunched over the telephone in the family’s formal parlor. Listening to Oyster Harbor’s party line was the best way to keep tabs on what the townspeople were up to. Especially people under the Klan’s watch like Henry Rockfield.
The mayor was sleeping off his latest round of drinks, but not before he’d canceled tonight’s Klan meeting because he didn’t feel well. Why couldn’t he
“I’ll try, but you know a quick temper runs in our family.”
“Sure do. Take care, now. I’ll get Rose.”
Finally. Sadie sagged against the back of her chair with relief when Rose’s soft, girly voice replaced her brother’s demanding one. She’d never been crazy about her because she was so pretty. The fact she was part white hadn’t been too endearing, either. She and Mama had given her a rough welcome when Leroy brought her home to meet them at last year’s fish fry. Luckily, she didn’t seem to hold it against them.
After they got the logistics of the baby shower out of the way, Sadie’s pulse accelerated.
“Rose, can I ask you something?”
“Sure!”
Sadie pursed her lips. How could she explain her concern without giving away Henry’s identity? The girl was an artist and kind of flighty. She might unintentionally repeat everything to Leroy.
“I-it’s about men,” Sadie stated.
“Oh? What about them?”
“How did Leroy treat you when you were courting?” This was even harder than talking to him earlier. “Did he make you feel special?”
“Oh, yes. He barely let me out of his sight.” Her voice softened even more, as if she were reliving her romance.
Sadie’s head reared back. Exactly as she figured. When a man was fond of a woman, he looked at her. A lot.
“Did he stare into your eyes?”
“Constantly. When I still lived with my parents, I painted in a secluded part of their property. We used to hug and kiss in the branches of a big tree.”
Sadie’s stomach dipped again. Their relationship had been even more nauseatingly romantic than she’d thought. She was sorry she’d asked, but she needed the facts to sort out her confusing feelings.
Rose’s voice grew muffled. “You probably don’t want to hear the…details.”
She could almost see her blush through the telephone line. “Actually, I do. Well, not too many, since we’re discussing my brother. Did he ever lose control?”
“All the time. Leroy is a passionate man.” Rose gasped. “I’ll never forget the time in the car.”
“The car?”
“He was angry because I’d danced with the mayor’s son. Mother bought me such a beautiful dress. I still can’t believe I attended that party, pretending to be white.”
“What happened in the car?” Sadie prompted.
“Well, he leaned over me and…er…rubbed himself…until…”
“I get the picture.” Her brother was wilder than she’d thought. “How did you feel?”
“I was afraid—for me and the dress—but excited, too. He seemed to be staking his claim on me.”
Sadie frowned. The rubbing part was similar, but that was about it. Henry hadn’t acted angry, and she couldn’t picture him claiming anyone, especially her. At least Leroy had faced Rose instead of humping her from behind.
“Why are you asking me about these things, anyway?” A smile filled Rose’s voice. “You must have a beau. Tell me. Who is he?”
“No one,” Sadie said quickly. “I just wondered if all men were like my ex-husband. Apparently not.”
After ending the call, she drummed her fingers on her knee. Rose’s experience was very helpful, but she needed to compare a situation more similar to her own—Pearl’s and Caleb’s. She let her hand hover over the telephone because she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know. But Henry would return with the food soon. Now would probably be her only chance.
Once she figured the man out, she hoped to get her silly romantic thoughts about him out of her mind for good.
* * *
Perched on an antique chair, Jonathan Carter sat hunched over the telephone in the family’s formal parlor. Listening to Oyster Harbor’s party line was the best way to keep tabs on what the townspeople were up to. Especially people under the Klan’s watch like Henry Rockfield.
The mayor was sleeping off his latest round of drinks, but not before he’d canceled tonight’s Klan meeting because he didn’t feel well. Why couldn’t he
Similar Books
