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She took her napkin and laid it across her lap, trying to pull away from his steely look. “Yes, I happened by it on my way home.”
“You were seen in the arms of Jay Colby.”
Her eyes went huge. “That’s not true!” Then recalled him carrying her to the stage. Biting her lip, she attempted a nonchalant gesture and said, “He was behaving like a gentleman and helped me across some horse feces.”
“Understand this, Erika, Jay Colby is no gentleman.”
She shifted uncomfortably in her seat for he was right. Something she had already known. It actually astounded her to hear herself refer to him in that way. “Yes, Grandfather.”
“Is it true you are putting on an outdoor play to raise money for charity?”
The palm of her hands became suddenly sweaty requiring her to wipe them across the napkin on her lap. “Yes Grandfather.”
“And the Colby boys are building your stage?”
“Yes Grandfather.”
“Did I not make it clear that you were not to have anything to do with the Colby’s ever again?”
She swallowed the huge lump in her throat. “There were no other available hands in town.”
He sat back and gave her a stern look. “Then I would have expected you to discard this foolish idea of yours.”
Slumping low in her seat, she played with the fork lying next to her plate. “I thought a lady should always show her charitable side, Grandfather.”
“Do not tell me what makes for a lady,” he growled. “You’ve grown to become the fine one you are because of me.”
“Yes, Grandfather.” Her eyes fell to her lap, feeling miserable and quietly whispered, “I only wanted to do what was right.”
It was quiet enough in the room for Gerald Snowden to pick up on her hushed words. Releasing a long sigh, he paused a moment before saying, “Do inform me what charity you were planning to raise money for?”
Though his voice had become gentler, Erika could not look him in the eye. She answered dutifully, but even she herself could barely make it out.
“Speak louder, my dear.”
Her eyes squeezed shut and she willed this moment over, but no amount of praying would eliminate her grandfather’s rage she was sure to come. Unexpectedly, behind her closed lids, an image of Jay’s face came to mind, beaming up at her with such pride while he held the stack of petitions in his hands. A wave of confidence overcame her and she raised her chin and looked across the table to her grandfather.
“For a school.”
He frowned and looked confused. “Whatever for? There is already a school in Placid.”
She cleared her throat and told him, “I’m helping to build a high school.”
He actually threw back his head and laughed. “Nonsense you speak. How on earth can you help to erect a high school?”
“By raising the funds.” She felt hurt and angry at his words. “You said yourself, no reasonable man of worth would bother building one. So, perhaps, if the whole community donated toward it, then the school would belong to the entire town.”
His smile vanished immediately. “You are beginning to sound like Jay Colby.”
Her chin dropped once again. “It is only a matter of time before Placid must adhere to this new law.”
“Not in my lifetime,” he growled. “And certainly not from any aide coming from a member of my family. I demand you stop immediately any plans you have otherwise.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to say, “Yes, Grandfather”, but found herself instead shaking her head. “I happen to think a high school in Placid is a very good idea.”
“And since when does a young lady of no worldly experience hold any value of worth?” He was getting angrier and Erika told herself she should pull out immediately, but found her self-esteem rankled.
“That does not make me impassive to the cause of our next generation.”
