Page 92 of Magnolia Summer

Truett slowly stepped back until he was once again in the cover of the trees. He found Colonel and led him back around to the other side of the clearing, staying hidden among the trees and stepping carefully.

When the sheriff and Curtis were between Truett and the Hartley men, Truett mounted Colonel, took his rifle from its leather case, and nudged Colonel forward. He pointed his gun toward the sky and discharged it with a resounding boom.

Sam and Isaac tossed their nooses over their heads and raced into the trees behind them. Suggs and Curtis both drew pistols from their belts and twisted their bodies this way and that, searching for the source of the gunfire.

Truett wheeled Colonel around and kicked him into a gallop.

A gun shot split the air just before a stabbing pain pierced his side. He pitched forward onto Colonel’s neck, but the horse kept running.

Truett held on to Colonel’s mane, trying not to fall off. He had to stay conscious . . . had to guide Colonel to the cave. The pain intensified. He blinked, trying to focus on his course ahead.Keep me conscious, Lord.

Oh, God, don’t let me die. Celia would never forgive me.

Chapter 28

Celia turned from the window. “Ruby’s coming up the lane.”

“I’ll be in the bedroom.” As Almira hurried away, she tossed a smile over her shoulder, and Celia felt reassured that she didn’t mind having to hide herself away when they had visitors.

Celia stepped out on the porch to greet her friend, glancing at the sky. In the east, dark clouds gathered, and the oppressive stickiness in the air warned of a storm on its way. Ruby must have important news to be out in this weather.

“Hey there.” Ruby ran up the porch steps and hugged Celia. “I’m still so excited about Will finding that Glory Patch, I don’t know what to do.”

“I know. It hardly seems real, but the money’s real enough.”

“I reckon you’ll be going on back to Nashville, won’t you?”

Celia sighed but tried to look cheerful. “I suppose. It’s what I’ve always wanted, what I’ve prayed for.” But an unsettled feeling rested heavy inside Celia, the same feeling she had every time she thought about leaving her family—and Truett—and going back to Nashville.

Yes, she wanted to get back to working and saving her earnings toward opening her own shop, but . . . was this what was best for her? Had she ever cared what God wanted? Was she too focused on what she wanted to even wonder?

The Bible said God’s will was good and perfect. For the first time, she wondered if she had missed the perfect will of God because she was too busy embracing the imperfect—but very strong—will of Celia.

Celia would have to think about that later. Right now she needed to ask Ruby a favor, for Almira’s sake.

“Ruby, since I’m leaving,” she swallowed the lump that came into her throat before continuing, “and Almira’s gone, would you be willing to teach the Bethel Springs children come September?”

“Me?” Ruby’s eyebrows disappeared beneath the hair curling on her forehead. “You think I could do it?”

“Almira told me you were her best student. You can do it—with God’s help,” she added.

“Well, if the young’uns and their folks’ll have me, I think I’d like that.” Ruby’s eyes widened, as though she was surprised at her own words.

Celia hugged her friend. “I know you’ll be a good teacher.”

Ruby clutched Celia’s arms and pushed away to look into her eyes. “I almost forgot what I came to tell you! Sheriff Suggs is causing trouble again.”

“What do you mean?” Celia held her breath.

“Well . . .” Ruby’s skirt swayed around her ankles as she stepped toward a chair and sat down, drawing out the suspense. Celia sat on the edge of the chair next to her, her eyes glued to Ruby’s lips.

“I heard tell that Sheriff Suggs is gonna lynch a couple of Negroes. You know, the ones that opened that store?” Ruby shook her head. “I can’t help but wonder if he did it just to spite Dr. Beverly, after that sermon he preached on Su— Why, Celia, whatever’s the matter with you? You’re whiter than a sheet.”

Celia stared at Ruby without seeing her. “How did you hear this?”

“Everybody’s talking about it. Some folks think the sheriff is just trying to smoke out the hooded horseman.”

If everybody was talking about it, then Truett would have heard. And Truett would never sit still and let those men be hanged.