Page 21 of A Late-Blooming Rose
“You feel helpless. I know…” Maggie’s voice wavered. She took a deep breath.
Andre could see her obviously striving for composure. Uncomfortable, he wondered if he should join Sam, but didn’t want to stand and interrupt the ladies’ serious conversation.
Mrs. Hatter squeezed Maggie’s hand. “At least, I know Horace is safe. You must be so worried about your husband.”
This time Maggie’s eyes glistened. “Terrified. Proud. So angry with those robbers I could let out a string of unladylike curses. If they stood before me, I’d smack their faces.”
Mrs. Hatter’s eyes grew wide.
“But I know my husband,” Maggie said, lifting her chin. “Taylor won’t stop until those foul fiends are apprehended, and we are allsafe!”
Andre leaned forward. “And neither will Sheriff Granger. I have full confidence in our posse’s ability to bring the culprits to justice.”But bringing justice doesn’t mean they will remain unharmed.Naturally, though, he didn’t mention that thought a loud. But at least the three ladies rewarded his attempts to bolster them with weak smiles and the cessation of tears.
Mrs. Hatter pulled back her hand to toy with her necklace, tugging on the pendant and weaving the chain around her fingers in a nervous gesture, seeming to shrink into herself. Then she released the necklace and clasped both hands tightly together. Her knuckles whitened. “I’m told…at the meeting last night, Miss, ah,SheriffGranger was quitedeterminedto bring the robbers to justice. I heard she was very inspiring, actually.”
“Why, yes.” Delia agreed.
Maggie nodded.
Mrs. Hatter looked down, inhaled a shuddering breath, and raised her gaze, unclasping her hands. “I will confess that I’ve wronged her. I haven’t approved of Sheriff Granger one single bit—not her lack of femininity, not her wearing men’s clothing, not her taking a man’s job, not her playingcardsin the saloons with the riff-raff, not her living by herself at thejail.” She clutched her apron. “I have rudely avoided speaking to her, except for one time when she drew me into conversation. I called herMiss Granger.”
Andre could imagine how the sheriff took that polite set-down—with her characteristic, cool gaze.
Tears dripped down the woman’s withered cheeks. “God tells us in the Bible to notjudge. But Idid. I am well punished for my sins.”
“Oh, no, Mrs. Hatter.” Delia handed Maggie her cup and saucer and sat on the older woman’s other side. “God isn’t punishing you. Horace’s injury is because a bad man hit him.”
Pride filled Andre.To think my daughter doubts her ability as a minister’s wife.
Delia looked intently into Mrs. Hatter’s eyes. “On those robbers alone lies the blame, not you. You are contrite about your judgment of our lawwoman, and that’s what matters. The Good Lord willing, you’ll have plenty of years to show Sheriff Granger the respect and appreciation she deserves.”
Pink flooded the older woman’s cheeks, and she straightened. “Why…I think…I’d like you to use my given name, Agatha. I rarely hear it spoken anymore. Only my sister and my husband….” Her voice broke.
“Agatha.” Maggie patted Mrs. Hatter’s leg. “All we can do is carry on as best we can, while we wait and pray. Please, God, our ordeal will be over soon, and our brave ones will return unharmed.”
CHAPTER SIX
That evening, Andre retreated to his study and sat at his desk, staring down at the two volumes that usually brought him comfort in times of trouble—the Bible and Marcus Aurelius’Meditations. Both would provide wisdom, which he felt in sore need of. But he couldn’t seem to summon the energy to pick up either.
Joshua knocked on the doorframe. “May I come in?”
Curious, Andre motioned him into the room. His busy son-in-law didn’t often seek him out for private chats.
Joshua entered and sat in the leather chair in front of the desk. He waited for a moment, his vivid blue eyes troubled. “Delia is worried aboutyou, and I am worried about my wife. All these…difficultiesare not good for the baby.” He paused. “I’m also concerned about you and so is Micah. So I have a request—one that you’ll probably object to. However, I want you to listen and consider I’m asking for Delia’s well-being.”
Andre leaned back in his chair and steepled his hands. “All right, what is it?”
“Deputy Rodda’s friends and acquaintances will attend the funeral. He was part of their community, and they will mourn him.”
“Indeed. And the rest of us here in Sweetwater Springs—even those who never met him—will mourn.”
“I think the funeral and burial will be anintenseexperience.”
Andre could see where Joshua was headed and instinctively resistance arose. “And you think I should skip it?”
“If you attend, Delia will fret about you the whole time.”
“The health of the baby and my daughter should be our main concern,” Andre said.
