The sound of many footsteps forced Ty to distance himself further from Felicity. The children crowded in the doorway. “Story time! It’s time to read us a bedtime story!”

  She smiled at them. “Have you all brushed your teeth?”

  Nodding, the children grinned. They scampered toward the stairs and clattered up them.

  Ty took a deep breath. “My mother and I will be leaving then, too.”

  “I bid thee good-night.”

  He didn’t look at her as he left the room. His mother was donning her hat and gloves in the foyer. He took his hat and coat off a peg and offered her his arm. Although he heard Felicity’s soft footsteps behind him, he did not turn around.

  I will not be ruled by my ephemeral emotions. He just had to convince himself of that—and soon.

  A few weeks later, the cutting winds of December had come. Felicity donned a sweater and heavy shawl, and walked between Camie and Tucker on their way to town. Camie was skipping and Tucker kept trying to hide his smile.

  Camie had been kept home for the morning because Felicity felt it would do her relationship with her father some good if Camie saw Ty in his respected role as judge. Tucker was going to get new shoes today. His old ones were on the verge of falling apart. And he was the last of the children to get his pair.

  “We got a late start this morning, so Tucker, we’ll stop at Mr. Baker’s store for your shoes first. Then you can take them home and I’ll take Camie to the courthouse so she can see what her father does every day.”

  Tucker looked around Felicity. “Braids, don’t you know what your dad does?”

  Camie stopped skipping and gripped Felicity’s hand tighter. “No.”

  “Of course not,” Felicity said. “She’s been too young to go to court and see her father. She wouldn’t have understood.”

  “I wouldn’t have understood,” Camie parroted.

  “I guess.” Tucker began to whistle and kick a pebble along.

  Felicity tried not to let her spirits take flight just because she was going to see Ty again. See the man who had kissed her—who might kiss her again. Caution whispered in her ear but she refused to let it tamper with her bliss.

  Felicity reveled in the bright, cheery sunshine and disregarded the sharp wind, reciting Browning to herself. “God’s in His Heaven; All’s right with the world.” What could go wrong on a day like today?

  Chapter Ten

  Felicity led Camie up the steps of the courthouse, hoping this outing would be another bridge between Camie and her father.

  “This is a big place,” Camie said, staring up at the ornate building topped with a dome.

  “Yes, and it is also a very serious place. We must not talk and we must sit very quietly.” In spite of her cautious words, Felicity tried to keep her rising anticipation in check. “Thy father will be the most important man in this courtroom.”

  “He will?” Camie said, sounding awed.

  “Yes. Thy father holds a very important position.” She was smiling, not only with her mouth but with all of her. “He is the one who decides who is guilty of breaking the law and who is not. And he is the one who decides what must be done to persuade people to do right, not wrong.”

  “Oh,” Camie said.

  Felicity was going to be free to sit and watch Ty and no one would think it unseemly of her.

  Felicity squeezed Camie’s hand to reassure her. “He is a very wise and good man.” Camie looked puzzled at this.

  As they walked to the courtroom, Camie looked around her and kept up with Felicity. The bailiff looked surprised to see her with a little girl. But she merely nodded her greeting and led Camie to a seat in the visitor’s area. Felicity had timed their visit just right. At the end of the midmorning recess, the court was now about to resume. The bailiff called everyone to rise. Ty entered and took the judgment seat.

  He looked startled to see them, but an irresistible smile spread over his face. Every bit of Felicity wanted to rise from the hard bench and go to him. Instead, she smiled and bent to whisper to Camie why everyone had risen as her father entered.

  The court proceedings were quiet and few. Though Felicity was certain that most all the conversation was far above Camie’s understanding, the little girl watched with evident fascination.

  When the lunch recess was announced, Felicity led Camie to her father. “Good day, Ty. As thee can see, I brought thy daughter along so that she could see where thee works. And know what an important man her father is.” She beamed at him, flushed with pleasure.

  “I don’t know how important I am,” Ty replied, sounding uncomfortable with her words. But he smiled, too, his face lifting into happy curves. “Hello, Camie. Why aren’t you in school?”

  “Miss Felicity said that I could stay home this morning. She said that she wanted me to learn something else.” Camie spoke up without hesitation, though she still clung to Felicity’s hand.

  “And what was that?” Ty stooped down.

  “She was teaching me about what you do. That you decide who’s done right and who’s done wrong.”

  “Well, I’m impressed, Camie. Well done.” Ty’s voice betrayed how deeply this simple exchange was affecting him.

  “I wonder if Camie might see thy office.” Felicity glowed with satisfaction over Camie speaking to Ty.

  “Would you like to see my office, Camie?”

  Camie nodded vigorously.

  Ty offered her his hand. Camie took it. And Felicity rejoiced on. Despite all the unanswered questions about the fire and near-kidnapping plaguing her present life, she saw that progress with reuniting Camie and her father had been made. Perhaps by Christmas, Camie would be home with her father and grandmother, where she belonged. A touch of sadness trickled into Felicity’s mood. She banished it as unworthy.

  With evident pride, Ty showed off his daughter to the county prosecutor, and several law clerks. Camie sat in the big chair at his desk and asked many questions about the room.

  Finally, Felicity excused them. “I must get Camie to school. Her lunch is there and she wants to eat with Katy.”

  Ty walked them down the steps of the courthouse, and paused. He took one of her hands and one of Camie’s. “Thank you for coming.”

  Felicity read the gratitude in his dark eyes. She nodded, suddenly unable to speak.

  “I…” Ty started.

  A colleague hailed him to go to lunch. Ty hesitated, then squeezed her hand. “Thank you. Thank you for everything.” He kissed Camie’s forehead and then hurried away.

  Felicity felt warm and cozy inside. Her hand quivered from his touch. She understood his hesitation here in public. That made it hard for a man to put his feelings into words. She hummed to herself as she and Camie walked down the cobbled streets, the cold wind hurrying them along, but it could not touch her inner glow. At the school, Felicity explained to Camie’s teacher where they had spent the morning. At the teacher’s request, she promised she would ask Tyrone if a few of the older students might visit the court and observe how a court worked. This conversation was not lost on Camie, who looked proud that her father was someone who impressed her teacher.

  When Felicity reached home, she walked up the steps and into the foyer where she took off her bonnet and gloves. She entered the warm, welcoming kitchen, hoping that Vista would be feeling better today.

  Still subdued, Vista looked up but said nothing.

  “Am I in time for the noon meal?” Felicity asked, her happiness tempered by her friend’s sad look.

  “I see Abel coming.” Vista nodded toward the back windows. “And Midge is at the pump washing Donnie and Johnny’s hands. They been playing in the last piles of leaves all morning.”

  “Excellent.” Reassured by Vista’s being able to perform her usual routine, Felicity went to the back door. She opened it to welcome Abel and the others into the kitchen. Now that the dining room was enclosed, they usually took their meals there. But when the children were at school and there were only the few of them, they sat in the cozy, warm kitchen. “Abel, isn’t Tucker coming to eat?”

  “He never come back from goin’ to the store with you,” Abel replied, looking surprised.

  Felicity halted where she stood, Tucker’s words suddenly ringing in her mind: “You should send me away—more trouble will come as long as I’m here.”

  A feeling of dread stole over her as she sent up a silent prayer for Tucker’s safety—she knew instantly something was very, very wrong.

  Had he run away to protect her and the children?

  By the time the children had returned from school, Felicity’s nerves were fraying. She could remain idle no longer. She had to find Tucker.

  He had been so happy to have new shoes for the coming winter. He’d been so proud of them. Why would he run away? She was in the foyer when someone sounded the brass knocker. She opened the door and there stood Ty. Relief washed through her. Help had come. “Ty, I’m so—”

  “I have bad news for you,” Ty said in a cheerless tone, his expression shuttered.

  “Tucker,” she breathed. “He’s been hurt.”

  “No.” Ty wouldn’t meet her eyes. “He’s back in jail.”

  Felicity gaped at him. Her ears filled with a humming.

  Ty took her arm. “Here, sit down on the steps. You look faint.”

  She sat on the hard step and looked up into his face, so full of concern for her. “What has happened?”

  Ty’s face twisted with displeasure. “I’d give anything not to have to tell you this. Tucker snatched another purse. Just like he did to you.”

  “No.” She knew this could not have happened. “No.”

  “The facts are very straightforward,” Ty said gently. “Hogan was there again and nabbed him. I’m very sor—”

  “Hogan was there? Isn’t that odd?” she asked.

  “No, Hogan’s beat is the wharf and that’s where this happened.”

  Felicity rose, her pulse racing. “Where is Tucker?”

  “He’s in jail, as I said. And since he has violated the terms of his probation, he will be sent to the state prison as soon as possible to serve his year sentence.”

  “Tucker did not steal anything.” As she spoke these words, the truth of them glowed within her. “I must call on Mrs. Barney’s lawyer.”

  Ty caught her sleeve. “Felicity, that will do no good. Tucker will come before me tomorrow. He’ll be asked what his plea is.” His voice begged for her to understand. “But no matter the outcome, I must go through with the terms of my previous sentencing. He has broken his probation by stealing—”

  Felicity looked into Ty’s troubled eyes and knew without a doubt that he was wrong. “I absolutely refuse to believe this. Tucker is not the same boy he was when he came to me over three months ago. He has changed.”

  Ty shook his head, looking miserable. “Old habits die hard.”

  “Why would he steal?” she asked, sizzling with sudden irritation. “We had just been to Baker’s to buy new shoes. He has everything he could need or want. This doesn’t make sense, Ty.” Can’t thee see that?

  They stared at one another. Felicity read sorrowful disbelief in his face. She ached over it. “Ty, thee can’t tell me that thee thinks the boy who saved thy daughter would do this?”

  He flung out both hands. “How can I argue with the facts? Hogan brought him in and gave a full account of what he saw.”

  Felicity stood straighter. “Then Hogan is lying.”

  Ty couldn’t believe his ears. Felicity had always been so much more logical than most women. This unexpected irrational thinking snapped him like the end of a whip. “That doesn’t make sense,” he said, trying not to let his disappointment show in his voice.

  “Did anyone else see this purse-snatching?” she demanded.

  “Yes, the man who lost his purse came to the station with Hogan and preferred charges.” Did she think that he was happy about this failure? He tried to soften his tone. “There is no doubt of Tucker’s guilt—”

  “Yes, there is doubt,” she insisted. “Tucker told both thee and me that he should leave this place for our safety. And we know that someone tried to steal thy daughter from this house. Something isn’t right here in Altoona. Not right at all.”

  Fuming silently, Ty folded his arms and shook his head. Why couldn’t she accept the facts? “No. There is no proof of any connection between—”

  “Miss Felicity!” Camie ran into the hall. “Miss Vista says that Tucker isn’t home. Where did he go? Oh, hello.”

  His daughter had just greeted him. He wanted to pick her up, but was afraid to take any action that might upset her. Then the full impact of Tucker’s dilemma hit him. A cold brick settled in Ty’s stomach. Camie loved Tucker. And I must send him to prison for a year.

  Felicity glanced into his eyes. “Camie, there has been a misunderstanding—”

  “There has been no misunderstanding.” Aggravation with Felicity’s denial unraveled his nerves. Didn’t she know that he would have given anything not to have to be the one telling his daughter this? But even when sad or hurtful, truth and reality must be faced.

  Felicity gripped his sleeve. “No,” she whispered.

  Putting off the inevitable never won anything but more unhappiness. As he had this morning in his courtroom, Ty stooped down to speak to his only child. “I’m afraid that your friend Tucker tried to steal something. He won’t be coming back here.”

  Camie stared at him openmouthed. “Not ever again?”

  Her crestfallen expression cut him in two. “He may come back but it will be a long time. He has to go to jail.”

  “But Tucker is a good boy. He wouldn’t steal,” Camie insisted and looked up. “That’s right, isn’t it, Miss Felicity? We’re good children and we wouldn’t do anything like that.”

  “I believe so,” Felicity admitted.

  “Camie, I don’t want to send Tucker to jail—” Ty said.

  “No! I don’t want Tucker to be in jail.” Camie’s voice was rising shrilly. “Miss Felicity, I want Tucker back!”

  “I will do my best—” Felicity began.

  Camie turned to him. “You’re the judge. You tell those people at the jail that Tucker is good. Miss Felicity said you decide who has done right and who had done wrong. You can tell them.”

  He tried to reach for Camie.

  She pulled away. “Tell them!”

  “That’s not the way it works,” he said, knowing that his words were futile. How could he make his little girl understand the complexities of the law?

  Felicity knelt down beside him. “Camie, dear, it looks bad for Tucker now. But we must have faith that we can prove that he is innocent. Now go and stay with Midge. I must go talk to my lawyer so he can help Tucker.”

  Camie looked to him again. “But you said my daddy was the judge and he decided.”

  “I will do everything I can to prove that Tucker is a good boy.” Felicity patted her shoulder.

  Camie looked into her father’s eyes. Her face and voice turned hard with accusation. “Why isn’t my daddy in jail? He killed my mama.”

  Ty couldn’t swallow. Shock riveted him to the floor.

  “Camie,” Felicity objected, “that isn’t true. Thy father didn’t kill thy mother. She died of influenza, a disease. Thy grandmother Louise told me that.”

  “My other grandma told me.” Camie’s face was turning a dark red. “She said my papa killed my mama. She told me.”

  Ty clenched his fists, holding in a shout of rage. That woman.

  Felicity folded Camie into her arms. “Camie, people say things like that when they are angry or upset. But when thy mother died, thy father was far away at the war. He couldn’t have had anything to do with thy mother’s dying.” She stroked Camie’s cheek.

  Camie’s eyes filled with tears. “I want Tucker back. He protects me. Not even the bad man hurt me. Tucker stopped him. Tucker’s my friend.” She turned and shouted at Ty, “He’s not bad!” With that, Camie whirled around and pelted toward the kitchen.

  His daughter’s footsteps echoed within his heart. Ty stood rooted to the floor. He knew his wife and Alice had portrayed him in a bad light, but he’d never thought that Camie would take Alice Crandall’s vitriol literally. He had always blamed himself for upsetting Camie his first night home. He arrived late on a stormy night. In the midst of thunder and lightning, he’d bent over her bed. She had wakened and screamed.

  I always thought it was the scar on my cheek. But it wasn’t that alone. It was Virginia getting revenge on me through her mother. Virginia—petty, willful and cruel to the end and beyond. He felt nauseated at the thought that his daughter had screamed each night because she thought he was going to kill her in her sleep. Dear God, help.

  “Ty, I’m so very sorry this has happened,” Felicity said, touching his sleeve. “But I think Camie has the right of it. Tucker did not steal that man’s purse.”

  Ty stared at the floor. Why couldn’t Felicity understand that cruel reality had to be faced? With a harsh edge to his voice, he said, “Hogan reported what he saw and I have a man willing to testify that Tucker stole his purse. What am I supposed to do in the face of such evidence?”

  “They must be lying,” Felicity stated. “I know Tucker. I know that the boy I walked to town and bought shoes for had no reason to steal and had no intention of doing so. Will thee help me find out what is wrong?”

  Her insistence on denying the facts turned his stomach to curdled milk. “I am the judge. I cannot take any interest in this or any case beyond what is presented by counsel before me in a court session.”

  “Then I will have to find out the truth myself.” She tightened her grip on his sleeve. “I will do what I can to calm thy daughter and help her see that thee is only doing thy duty.”

  He tried to pull together a smile and failed. Tugging free, he walked out the door and down the stone path. Why did this have to happen just when he was beginning to have hope that Camie might come home?

 

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