Page 18 of Earning Tia’s Trust

EIGHTEEN

Tia flopped on the bed, closed her eyes, and took a deep breath.

Robert joined her in bed and gave her a long kiss. “What can I say? My mother never stops.”

Opening her eyes, Tia sat up and punched her pillow against the headboard. “I agree. She’s asked how long it’s been since Hayward died. She’s asked why I don’t refer to him as my father. She told me I was disrespectfully referring to my father by his name. She wanted to know how Sammy was being educated since we live so far from town? Then she switched to the children. She’s asked about Billy and Jenny. Who were their parents? How long are we going to keep them? Then she asked why we were building a new house. And, how long has Mrs. Putney been our housekeeper?

“My answers were... Four months. I’m not being disrespectful because Hayward didn’t deserve respect. Sammy is doing fine in school, and he’s so smart he’s already skipped one year, and he may skip another. Billy and Jenny are our children now, and we love them!

“I have one question,” Tia asked. “How long is she staying?”

Robert sat on the edge of the bed. “I tried getting that information from Barton. He doesn’t know. He’s running from his in-laws! They came to visit, and they won’t go home.”

“You told me all your siblings were in solid marriages,” Tia said.

“Even the best of marriages have problems at one time or another,” Robert said. “I haven’t been back to visit for... well, it’s been a while. I’ve been busy.”

“I know,” Tia said. “Your mother chewed you out for not writing often enough. Your last letter was when you informed your family that you had decided to marry. I do thank you for not giving them details. The letter before that one was eight months earlier when you quit your job. Your family has been worried. It’s a four-day trip from Austin to your ranch. Your mother sent Charles to Austin to speak with James Hogg, but he didn’t know where you had gone either.”

Robert sat up against the headboard and pulled Tia into his lap. “Being the youngest in a large family isn’t easy. By the time I was born, two of my brothers had married and were starting their own families. My father died when I was six, and then I had four older brothers who acted like fathers. I know they meant well, but I knew I wouldn’t pattern myself after them from the time I was twelve. It’s not that I didn’t want to be a rancher, but I wanted more. I was fourteen when the Great Northern Railroad tried to invalidate our claim on the Double D. That was the first time I’d ever met a lawyer, and I saw what he did to protect my family’s property.

“I didn’t abandon my family. I chose a different path. The company I went to work for was heavily invested in politics, and James Hogg is my Godfather. I was singled out, and over the years, I became very good at making financial settlements instead of my clients being sent to jail. Honestly, at least half of my clients should have spent time in jail. I tried to balance what I considered the benefits of wealth with pro bono cases.”

“What’s that?” Tia asked.

Robert smiled. “I love that you don’t know anything about law. Pro bono means I don’t charge a fee for my services. There are cases where the victims are in the right, but they don’t have the money to hire an attorney to plead their case,” Robert explained.

“Was I pro bono?”

“It started that way,” Robert said, brushing his lips across hers and deepening the kiss. “The difference is that I have not regretted it for a second since meeting you. I can’t say that about the wealthy idiots I was representing before.”

Tia could feel a trembling in her body, and she returned the kiss. “Just promise me you won’t abandon me with your mother. She’s already asking when WE are going to return home.”

“ We are home,” Robert said. “I’ll remind her as often as I can.

* * *

Sunday morning, Barton and Robert went to the barns early to offer help with the everyday chores that had to be done. When Eleanore Kingston came downstairs, she went straight to the kitchen and saw the children eating breakfast at the long table.

“Do you need any help?” Eleanore asked.

“None at all,” Mrs. Putney said briskly.

“On Sundays, we get pancakes,” Sammy said, around a full mouth.

“Don’t speak with your mouth full!” Mrs. Putney said, giving the boy a light tap on his head.

“Not those horrible ones with sherry in them,” Eleanore exclaimed.

“Not in my kitchen!” Mrs. Putney said firmly. “I use buttermilk. Take a seat; a new batch is almost ready.”

“Good, I’m just in time!” Tia said, walking around the table and kissing each child on the forehead, although Sammy wiped his off as he did every morning.

“Take a seat, Mrs. Grayson,” Tia said. “Sundays are for resting.”

“Don’t you go to church?” Eleanore demanded.

“No, it’s too long a trip to go listen to Preacher Niken squawk about things that aren’t any of his business,” Tia exclaimed, and Mrs. Putney nodded in agreement.

“You can’t speak of a man of God that way,” Eleanore exclaimed. “These children need spiritual training.”

“You haven’t met Preacher Niken, and you don’t know him,” Tia said, spearing two pancakes onto her plate. “If you want to go to church, I’ll get one of the men to drive a buggy to town and bring you back.”

“I’ve never heard of such disrespect,” Eleanore exclaimed.

“It’s your choice,” Tia said.

“Her choice for what?” Robert asked, entering the kitchen with Barton following him.

“Your mother seems to think we’re heathens because we don’t go to church,” Tia said. “I’ve offered a buggy and driver for her convenience.”

“I didn’t call you heathens,” Eleanore denied.

“You implied it,” Tia said. She looked around the table and smiled at the children. “Sammy, when you’re through with breakfast, will you take the children to the office for our lessons?”

Sammy nodded. “When we’re finished, can I go fishing?”

“Yes,” Tia agreed. “But don’t let time get away from you. Francine and Rainer will be joining us for supper. They couldn’t come last night, so they are coming tonight. I’ll be with you in a few minutes.”

There was silence as Robert and Barton sat down at the table. Sammy finished his breakfast and carried his plate to the sink, and he was quickly followed by Billy doing the same.

When Tia’s plate was empty, she lifted Jenny from her chair, wiped her hands, and smiled as she ran to join the boys. Tia carried their plates to the sink and left the kitchen. Mrs. Putney hung up her apron and followed the children.

“I didn’t mean to insult her,” Eleanore said to her sons.

“You didn’t,” Robert said with a chuckle. “You pissed her off.”

“Robert!”

“I’m only stating a fact,” Robert said with a laugh. “You don’t know the preacher. As far as I can tell, he is a hell-driven heathen. The only good thing he’s ever done was marry us, and then he had to be bribed! Mother, my wife, has been through hell, and somehow, she survived and is a good person who I admire. She might be rough around the edges, but she’s an honorable young woman and a good wife and mother!”

“I didn’t mean...”

“Mother, you’re in Tia’s domain. This is her home and her family. She’s young, but she will not tolerate anything that counters what she knows is right.” Robert stood up. “Follow me.”

His mother and brother followed him to the office, where one of the pocket doors was open. Robert put a finger to his lips to silence them.

Tia and the children were sitting in a circle on the floor. Mrs. Putney was sitting in a chair. Sammy was reading from a large handmade book. He was reading a simplified version of the biblical story of Jesus and the seven loaves. The younger children were helping to turn the pages.

Robert closed the door quietly. “Those books Sammy is reading were made by Tia. They tell the stories from the Bible in a way that small children can understand. Tia rewrote the stories and took the time to draw pictures so Sammy would understand, and now the younger children are learning from them. We may not go to a church building, but our children are being educated in the principles that we believe in. She wrote those books for Sammy, and now they’re using them to teach Billy and Jenny.

“Mother, you haven’t met Preacher Niken. He uses the pulpit to damn the world we live in. Just because he claims to be a man of God doesn’t mean he is always right!”

“I didn’t realize,” Eleanore whispered. “I’ll apologize when she’s finished. Excuse me.”

Robert and Barton watched their mother take the stairs.

Barton scratched his head. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Mother back down so fast.”

“She was wrong, and it won’t hurt her to admit it. As stubborn as she is, she has met her match in my wife!” Robert said proudly.

When the Sunday class was over, Tia encouraged the children to play. Sammy took off to go fishing, and Robert and Barton promised to join him later. The brothers wanted to ensure their mother wouldn’t hold a grudge against Tia, as Eleanore Grayson was known to do. She was a woman who had a hard time admitting that she could be wrong.

While the children were playing quietly, Tia sat at the desk. She pulled out her writing tablet. She had a story she wanted to finish.

“Give me a minute,” Robert said, leaving his brother in the hallway.

Tia looked up when the door slid open.

“Are you okay?”

“She’s not my problem,” Tia said. “She’s yours.”

“My mother will apologize,” Robert said. “She hates being wrong.”

“Don’t we all,” Tia said. “I can avoid her.”

“Give her a chance,” Robert pleaded. “They won’t be here very long. She’ll go home once we drill it into her head that I’m not returning to the Double D. My home is here now.”

“Go fishing,” Tia responded. “We have two more mouths to feed.”

When the men left the house, Tia heard the doors close and distant male voices, although she couldn’t hear what they were saying. She went back to writing her story. Sometimes, weeks went by without her writing. Then suddenly, she was in the mood, and words seemed to flow from her pencil. It was easier now that she didn’t have to hide that she enjoyed writing. Robert hadn’t made any remarks about her wasting time.

Involved in her writing, Tia didn’t notice when Billy and Jenny stopped playing, curled up on the carpet, and fell asleep. When she did look up, she smiled, glanced at the clock, and returned to her writing.

“Excuse me.”

Tia raised her eyes and put her pencil down. “Do you need something?”

“Yes,” Eleanore said. “I want to apologize for this morning. I had no right to second-guess your reasons for not attending church. It was none of my business.”

“No, it wasn’t, but I accept your apology,” Tia said. “For Robert’s sake, we should try to get along.”

“I agree,” Eleanore said. She looked over at the sleeping children. “Robert is the youngest and the only child to stray from the family and the ranch. Someday, you may have a child that moves away. It’s hard to accept.”

“We have become a family of orphans,” Tia said. “We will ensure that the children won’t be neglected and will never feel unwanted. We love them as our own.”

“My daughter, Florence, and her husband adopted two girls when her husband’s brother and his wife were killed in an accident. They are my grandchildren, the same as those who came to us naturally. Your children and brother will be the same.”

“Thank you,” Tia agreed.

Eleanore took a deep breath and looked around the room. “I came with Barton hoping to convince Robert to return home, but I realize now that he is home.”

“We’ll visit the Double D when we get settled,” Tia said. “Right now, Robert is stretched thin overseeing the construction of the new house and settling on the Harris property. If that wasn’t enough, he was chosen as the temporary town mayor and has his lawyering duties. At least with you here, he’ll have to make time for our guests.”

Tia put her pen down. “That reminds me, I need to check with Mrs. Putney about supper. She doesn’t usually work on Sundays, but we are having friends over this evening.” She checked the clock and looked over to the children. “They’ll nap for a few more minutes, then be full of energy again.”

“If you’re needed in the kitchen, I’ll keep an eye on them,” Eleanore volunteered.

“Thanks, but the only things I’m allowed to do in the kitchen are dry the dishes and set the table. Mrs. Putney has been caring for the house and the meals since I was Sammy’s age. If she says jump, I ask how high!”

Eleanore smiled. “You’re a smart girl. My girls are the same with me. While visiting here, I’ll try to keep my opinions to myself.”

“That’s probably a safe decision,” Tia agreed. “By the way, do you ride?”

“Occasionally,” Eleanore said. “But I didn’t pack any riding clothes.”

“I can take care of that,” Tia said. “I’ve been giving away most of my mother’s clothing to a friend. The dresses are too big for me, and her mother is a seamstress. I didn’t want to throw away the fabrics. I’m sure we can find something that fits you. Or, I could drive the buggy, if you prefer. I can take you to the new house and a look-see at Stone Falls. I bet Robert and Barton are planning side trips while he’s here.”

“Robert gets along with all his siblings,” Eleanore agreed. “It was a shock to the family when he announced he wanted to be a lawyer.”

“He’s been successful,” Tia said with pride. “He still is. Robert didn’t name names, but he got tired of the crooked politics and people using their clout and money to get them out of trouble.”

As the day progressed, Sammy, Robert, and Barton brought in enough fish for the following day’s supper. Mrs. Putney already had a roast in the stove for Sunday supper. When Rainer and Francine arrived, they were introduced.

“Is there anything I should know about that’s happened in the last couple of days?” Robert asked.

“The school board called a meeting. Mrs. Hellnor wanted Francine voted out, but it didn’t work that way. The reverse happened, and Mrs. Hellnor was voted out,” Rainer announced.

Francine smiled. “It was me or Mrs. Hellnor, and no one wants to deal with her. The older she gets, the crankier she becomes. Still, I was surprised when she was voted off the committee. We haven’t found a replacement for her yet.”

“Well, that’s one problem settled,” Tia exclaimed.

“Now, if I could just get someone to step into the Mayor position,” Robert complained.

“Why wouldn’t you want to be a Mayor? It’s an honor!” Eleanore asked.

“I didn’t ask for the job,” Robert said. “On top of that, we live too far away from town for me to be there in an emergency!”

When dinner was over, they moved to the parlor.

“I love these cupid lamps,” Eleanore exclaimed.

“Then they are yours,” Tia exclaimed. “I’m looking forward to going through the Sears catalog. I grew up in this house, but nothing was ever changed. I asked Hank once about who owned the property before Hayward, but he didn’t have any answers for me.” She looked over to Robert. “I have been promised we will agree on the furniture in the new house.”

“I have some furniture at my house in Austin that I think we might be shipping here,” Robert said. “There’s no sense in buying new when I already have usable furniture in my house.”

“Do you have a buyer yet?” Barton asked.

Robert nodded. “Yes, although it was a verbal offer. It’s being rented by a friend who took over my position. He’s getting a good deal, and I’m making a profit on the sale, so it’s a win-win situation. The prices for housing in Austin have almost doubled since I bought it. Since the railroad connected Austin to the eastern states, the population and the city keep growing.”

“Do you miss it?” Barton asked.

“The house or the job?” Robert asked. “The answer to both is no. Having a railroad makes freighting and travel easier, but I prefer living in a small town. I can walk the sidewalks and know almost everyone I meet. I like it. As soon as I can wiggle out of the temporary job of mayor, I’ll be a happy man.” He turned to look at Rainer.

“It won’t be me,” Rainer said, shaking his head. “I’m the banker and know too much about my clients’ finances. It would be a conflict of interest.”

“I’ve been talking to the Grovers,” Robert said. “Someone has to step up. Is there any good news from town?”

“I’ve hired a teacher,” Francine said. “Mrs. Ellen Novak. She’s a widow with two small children and will be moving into the empty Finkle house before the school term starts. It’s been abandoned for over a year. Technically, the bank owns the building, but Rainer has been kind enough to donate it to the school. The little house is part of the teacher’s salary, and my mother has volunteered to watch the children while she teaches. Since the Finkles took everything with them, we’ll be furnishing the house with some of the furniture from the Higgins house before the auction.”

“That sounds like a good plan,” Tia said. “Does the school board have enough money to order the books and materials needed for the students?”

“Not yet,” Rainer answered. “But, as soon as Francine provides the list, we will order them. The bank will be reimbursed from the proceeds of the Higgins auction.”

“Oh, that reminds me,” Francine exclaimed and then clamped her hand over her mouth. Looking around, she was embarrassed by her outburst. “I don’t mean to be rude, but I need a few minutes to speak to Tia privately.”

“Girl talk!” Eleanore exclaimed. “Come along, boys, there’s a pie in the kitchen just waiting to be sliced.”

“We’ll only be a few minutes,” Francine exclaimed, her face blushing.

“What was that about?” Tia asked.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” Francine whispered. “Go into the office. I have to speak to you in private.”

Tia was surprised but did as her friend asked. This was strange behavior from her friend. Francine was a stickler for manners.

Francine rushed into the office carrying a large envelope that she shoved into Tia’s hands. “Please don’t be angry with me!”

“About what?”

“Open it,” Francine exclaimed, biting her lower lip.

The envelope had been opened, and Tia pulled out several pieces of paper. The letterhead was stamped J. B. Lippincott & Co.”

“I don’t understand?”

“It’s a contract,” Francine exclaimed. “J. B. Lippincott & Company is a book publisher in Philadelphia. They also have branches all over the eastern states. There is also a branch in Austin. Most of the books we have ordered, read, and enjoyed have been published by them. They want to publish your stories. I’ve told you over and over again that your stories are good, but you don’t believe me. This contract proves that you are a good writer. I edited three of your long stories and one short one and sent them to my friend. She entered the short story in the contest, and you won! They want to buy your stories!”

Tia slumped into a chair. “My stories?”

“Yes!”

Tia opened her mouth and then snapped it closed. Now, she was biting her lower lip.

“Please don’t be angry,” Francine pleaded.

“I’m not. At least I don’t think I am,” Tia whispered. “I keep reading the first two sentences, but they don’t make sense. Why did you enter my story in the contest?”

“Because I wanted to prove you are a good writer,” France said. “You are one of the winners of the competition! If you’re that good, your stories should be published!”

“I have to talk to Robert about this,” Tia said. “And I don’t want anyone else knowing about it.”

“I haven’t told anyone, and I won’t. Not even my mother! I just don’t want you to be mad at me.”

“Please, let’s join the others and have some pie. Tell them I’ll be there in a minute.”

“Are you sure you’re not angry?” Francine asked.

“I’m not. I just need time to think this through!” Tia hugged her friend and ran up the stairs.

As the evening went by, Robert frowned a couple of times as his mother’s questions had to be repeated. Tia wasn’t keeping up or contributing to the conversations. When Rainer said it was time for them to leave, there were the usual hugs and handshakes, but Tia was nearly silent. She stacked and carried the pie plates and coffee cups to the kitchen.

“Did we overstep?” Eleanore asked, sounding worried.

“I don’t know,” Robert responded honestly.

“We’re going to call it an early night,” Barton suggested, and Eleanore agreed when Tia re-entered the room.

Robert waved off their friends and followed Tia to their bedroom.

“What’s wrong? Did you have a fight with Francine?” he asked.

“No,” Tia said, shaking her head. She handed Robert the envelope, and he pulled out the letter and the contract.

Reading over the award letter and contract, Robert finally raised his head. “I didn’t know you submitted a story to a publishing contest.”

“I didn’t,” Tia said, pointing to the name on the envelope. “Francine submitted it. She has been telling me for years that my stories were good, but I thought she was saying that because she’s my friend. We love to read, but we didn’t have the money to buy books. Frivolous books, anyway, and I started writing my own stories.”

“Congratulations,” Robert said, smiling. “My wife, the writer. The contract is to purchase the publishing rights for the contest story and the three additional books submitted.”

“I like to write, but I don’t know anything about the contest or publishing.”

“Well, I think both of us are going to get lessons in publishing very quickly,” Robert said, pulling her into a hug.

“Please don’t tell your mother,” Tia whispered.

“Why? I’m proud of you. Have you written naughty stories?”

“No! But they are romantic, and I don’t think she would approve.”

Robert laughed. “All right, this will be our secret, but I may have to read these stories!”