Page 50 of Spilling the Tea

Unknown to their parents, he and Waylon had continued to meet at what had been their secret meeting place since they were kids. There was no way they could become enemies whentheir friendship went so deep. Waylon had told him Charlotte had their parents thoroughly convinced Milton was the father, but Waylon himself did not believe his sister’s lies.

Charlotte let out one hell of another scream. Then suddenly, there was the sound of a baby crying, and moments later, Kurt Satterfield opened his front door, stepped onto the porch, pointed to him, and said, “I suggest you come take a look at your son.”

Like hell he would, Milton thought. He was about to say those words when the midwife, Hattie Duncan, appeared in the doorway holding a baby wrapped in a yellow blanket. Reverend Potts followed her.

“There’s no need for him to look at this baby,” Hattie said loud enough for everyone to hear. “It’s not his.”

Milton exhaled a relieved breath, wondering how the woman would know such a thing. Kurt Satterfield undoubtedly wondered the same thing and stared at Hattie with intense anger. “What are you talking about, old woman? Jantz hasn’t even checked for a mark on that baby.”

Hattie lifted her chin. “Doesn’t matter. Look at this baby and tell me who he looks like.”

She uncovered the child, and Kurt stared at the baby. Reverent Potts took a look at him as well. Penny Satterfield stepped onto the porch to join them. Since she didn’t look at the baby, Milton figured she’d seen it already, and from the look in Ms. Penny’s features, she knew what Hattie Duncan was pointing out to the others. Charlotte’s mother appeared too ashamed to even meet Milton or his parents’ gazes.

Who on earth did the baby look like? Milton figured his parents were as curious as he was but refused to move an inch to see for themselves.

The front door opened again, and Waylon came out, stared at the baby, looked angrily at his father, and was about to return inside when Ms. Hattie’s words stopped him. “And anotherthing,” she said. “Charlotte lied about being a virgin since this wasn’t her first pregnancy.”

Penny gasped loudly. Milton wasn’t sure if she hadn’t known that or if she was shocked Ms. Hattie had announced such a thing to everyone. “The reason Charlotte had a difficult labor,” Ms. Hattie continued, “was because whoever helped her get rid of the last one botched her up.”

Waylon went back inside, slamming the door behind him. Kurt turned to his wife and pinned her with an accusing stare. “You knew about this?”

Penny quickly backed up, bumping into Reverent Potts in the process. “No, Kurt. I swear I didn’t.”

In a deceptively calm voice, Jantzen Madaris then said, “We’re leaving.” He headed for the truck. Milton and his mother followed.

“Jantz,” Kurt called after him. “I apologize to you and your family.”

Jantzen turned and gave him a steely glare. “The embarrassment your family has caused mine these past seven months is unforgivable, Kurt. If Reverend Potts weren’t standing on that porch, I’d tell you just what you can do with your apology.”

The Madarises then got in their truck and drove off.

***

A furious Kurt kicked in the door to the bunkhouse. Aiming at the ceiling, he released a blast from his shotgun. Five men wearing just their skivvies jumped out of bed, nearly tumbling to the floor as plaster fell from the ceiling, leaving a huge gaping hole. Kurt’s gaze was on one particular man. Levon Turban. Everybody living in these parts knew about those Turbans. They all looked alike. From their broad forehead and distinctive nose down to their wide lips.

“What’s wrong, Mr. Satterfield?” one of his ranch hands, Stan Anderson, asked in a shaking voice. They were all staring at him like he’d gone plum loco.

“I want all of you to stand on the other side of the room. All but Levon.” Four men were quick to do what he’d asked. That left one man defenseless against a shotgun aimed right at him.

Levon backed up with his hands in the air. “What’s wrong, Mr. Satterfield? I didn’t do anything.”

“You slept with my daughter and then stood by while she accused another man of getting her with child.”

Levon opened his mouth, then closed it as if he thought better of it. When he saw Kurt’s fingers twitch near the trigger, he quickly said, “She never said the child was mine.”

“The boy looks just like you. Get dressed. There’s going to be a wedding tonight.”

“Wedding?” Levon asked, startled.

“Yes, wedding. You either marry Charlotte or die here and now,” Kurt said.

Levon swallowed deeply and then said. “Okay, I’ll marry her.”

Kurt’s frown deepened. “You don’t have a choice.”

Chapter Sixteen

While Charlotte sat up in bed with Levon standing beside it, the two were married by Reverend Potts. Hattie Duncan was a witness. From the look on Levon’s face, it was apparent he hadn’t wanted to marry her any more than she wanted to marry him.

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