Page 81 of Spilling the Tea

“Milton, wait up.”

Recognizing the voice, Milton turned to Waylon. Frowning, he said. “You know you should not be here, Way.”

“How could I not be? If you were in my place and faced with the same circumstances, you would be, too.” Waylon could tell by his best friend’s features that eased from a frown that he would. “How is Mr. Jantz?”

Milton rubbed a hand down his face. “Pa suffered a stroke. The good news is that it was mild, and the doctor thinks he will fully recover in time.”

“Thank God for that,” Waylon said.

“I agree, and just so you know, Victoria is blaming herself.”

“I know the feeling,” was Waylon’s response.

“Look Way, you and Victoria have nothing to blame yourselves for. Granted, I’m sure discovering the two of you planned to elope pissed Pa off, but my take from Dr. Hargrove is that what happened to Pa was a buildup of everything from the beginning. He’s been carrying a lot on his shoulders during the past year, and he never released his anger and frustration. Stress is what brought it on tonight.”

“Stress caused by the Satterfields,” Waylon said in disgust.

“Just one Satterfield. We’re not holding your entire family responsible for what Charlotte did. I think over time, Pa will come around. If it wasn’t for your ma’s threats, he would have done so sooner. Ma confided in me tonight that this wasn’t the first time Ms. Penny has made them. However, tonight she warned Pa that if you and Victoria marry, she better not ever eat anything she cooked or he and Ma would have a dead daughter. Can you imagine such a vile threat? Victoria is a daddy’s girl, and Pa feels he has to protect her. He won’t agree to a marriage between the two of you until he believes she’ll be in a safe environment.”

“How dare Ma say something like that, and that’s not whatshe told me and Pa she said,” he said, furious. “I won’t let anyone hurt Victoria, not even my ma. If we have to move away, I have no problem doing so.”

“You would leave here and start a new life elsewhere?”

“If it means Victoria’s peace of mind and safety, then yes, I would.”

***

Victoria knew when Milton sent her out to his truck for a jacket he hadn’t worn, he had an ulterior motive for doing so. Therefore, she wasn’t surprised to find Waylon leaning against the truck. She barely held back her tears as she raced across the yard to his opened arms.

He held her while she cried. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed before she pulled away and said, “Pa had a stroke.”

He nodded as he gently stroked her back. “Milton told me.”

“I’m trying not to feel responsible, but I do, Waylon.”

“You shouldn’t. We shouldn’t. Milton told me what the doctor said,” he said, using his handkerchief to wipe away more tears from her eyes.

“I know, but what we did only added to his stress.”

“So, what are we going to do now, Victoria? I love you and want to marry you.”

“And I want to marry you. But…”

“But what?”

“Your mom. Whatever she said to Pa tonight made him think he must protect me from her. Did you find out what she said to him?”

“Yes, and it’s too awful to repeat. Pa thinks Ma is going through something because of losing Charlotte and will eventually snap out of it.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

“Then we’ll move away.”

“Move away and go where?”

“Dallas, Austin. Beaumont… I’d even be open to leavingTexas entirely. My cousin left and found work in the steel mills in Chicago. He likes it there.”

“You’re a rancher, Waylon, not a steel mill worker.”

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