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“It was supposed to cure his stiff neck. When the stiffness didn’t go away he came to ask me if he’d tied them wrong.”
She laughed out loud and hearing it brightened his terrible evening. “What are you doing?” he asked, indicating the stationery and ink.
“Writing to my sister. I miss her. I feel as if I owe her a dozen letters. I want to let her know how I’m doing.”
“And how are you doing?”
“Better.”
He knew she was talking about their marriage. “Good. Did Spring stay long?”
“She did. We’re going to be good sisters.”
“I like that you two get along.”
“We do, too.” She studied him for a moment and asked, “Are you hungry? There’s pie left.”
He shook his head. “No, I’m going to bed shortly. I’m tired, and the court hearing is tomorrow.”
“I know. We’ll see if I’m allowed to testify. I’m sorry again about the child.”
“Addy and her husband, Wayne, are good people but I doubt they have the money to bury her.”
“If I go to the undertaker and offer to pay for the casket, do you think they’ll accept it?”
The question caught him by surprise.
She continued, “My Uncle Rhine used to tell us, those who have a lot should help those who only have a little. I know it won’t ease their pain but they’ll be able to bury her with dignity. They don’t have to know it came from us.”
He noted she saidusand that made his heart swell. “You’re an amazing woman, Regan Lee.”
“I can’t cure anyone the way you do, but I can help in other ways.”
“Thank you,” he said. “We’ll see what the undertaker says tomorrow after court.”
“Okay. You go on to bed. I’m going to finish this. I’ll see you in the morning.”
He wanted to hold her in his arms for the solace he knew it would bring him, but he didn’t know how to ask, so he said simply, “Good night.”
Before going to his room, he quietly opened Anna’s door and looked in. There she was, sleeping in the pale glow of the moonlight streaming through her window. He couldn’t imagine having to bury her. He knew some parents chose not to attach themselves to their children because so many died early in life from diseases like tuberculosis and yellow fever. But he cherished his Anna, and if his love was the deciding factor in how long she lived, she’d outlive time. He closed the door softly and went to bed.
The next morning, Colt and Regan dropped Anna off at school and headed to town. Instead of her usual attire of denims, Regan was dressed in a fashionable gray walking suit topped by a matching pert little feather-tipped hat. She’d be representing her family, and in the eyes of some, her race, and so wanted to present herself properly. “Will you point out Dun Bailey to me when he arrives?”
“I will.”
The proceedings were to be held inside the bank. Regan hadn’t seen banker Arnold Cale nor his wife, Glenda, since the Paradise Ladies Society meeting but his condescending manner remained fresh in her mind. She still had a good amount of unspent gold so doing business with him wasn’t necessary yet.
In town, Main Street was packed with vehicles. On the walks, groups of well-dressed men and women hurried in the direction of the bank.
“Are all these people in town for the hearing?”
Colt eased the wagon into a spot near his office. “Yes. Court day is like a visit from the circus.”
Regan remembered the crowd she’d drawn simply by shopping. She supposed a court case offered even more excitement. She waited for Colt to come around and hand her down.
“You look very nice, Mrs. Lee.”
“Thank you, Dr. Lee.”
