The Tender Years Page 20

  All eyes turned to Virginia. Her chin lifted. She was not going to be pushed into a corner simply to save face in front of her schoolmates.

  “I do,” she said with conviction.

  There were several snickers around the table.

  “She even talks with spooky Adamson,” put in Trina, giving a nod toward Virginia.

  “Mr. Adamson is a fine old man.” Virginia could feel the color flushing her cheeks. Had this all been planned? Had Jenny simply brought her here to humiliate her before her school friends? But what of Jamison? Surely Jenny hadn’t turned on him, too.

  “Pro’bly likes her brother’s pet skunk, too.” This came from George Booth. A howl of laughter followed. “Virginia the Crusader for the Downtrodden.”

  Jamison stood to his feet. “I think we should go,” he said to Virginia, taking her arm. Now it was Jenny’s face that flushed.

  “Whoops,” she said, casting a look around the little cluster. “Sorry. Finish your soda. We didn’t know it was a touchy subject.”

  Jamison hesitated. “The subject was not touchy,” he said in an even voice. “The attack was.”

  “Sorry,” Jenny said again with a light shrug. Her face was pale now. Apparently she realized her mistake. She would not win Jamison by attacking Virginia.

  “Sit down, Curtis,” said Georgie. “We didn’t mean no harm. Just having a little fun.”

  “I don’t care for fun at another’s expense.” “We said we’re sorry. Sit down.”

  Jamison sat down. Virginia felt that he knew she wished to let the matter drop.

  There was an uneasy quiet at the table. No one looked up from the sodas before them.

  “Let’s see …” Jenny mused. “What can we talk about … that’s safe?”

  She gave Virginia just the hint of a look under her long lashes. Virginia knew that the girl was attempting to gain control of the group again.

  “What did you think of that history exam?” burst out Sammie.

  “Oh, not school. That’s boring,” chided Jenny to squelch any answers that might be forthcoming.

  Silence again.

  “Hey, I know. We should plan a party.” This was Jenny’s idea.

  “A party?”

  “Yeah, a … a Harvest Gathering or something.”

  The idea seemed to be appreciated.

  “Where?”

  “Well, I’ll do it.” Jenny sounded all bravado.

  Virginia wondered how she planned to pull it off. Parties took a lot of work. It had taken her mother and Clara many days to prepare for her birthday. Jenny had no one to help her.

  “What kind of party?” asked Trina, sounding excited about the prospect.

  “Maybe a … a masquerade party. That would be fun.”

  Trina beamed. It was clear that she was enthused by the idea.

  “When?”

  “Hey, how about Halloween?”

  Most of the members at the table expressed their agreement.

  “You help me with it, Virginia?”

  There. That was part of Jenny’s unspoken plan. It was she, Virginia, who would be called upon to do the work. Maybe Jenny even expected her mother and Clara to pitch in.

  Virginia shook her head. “My parents don’t favor Halloween parties.”

  Jenny looked disappointed.

  “When then?” she asked, tipping her head to one side.

  Virginia knew that if she named a date, it would mean they would all expect her to be part of the plans. Jenny would put her in charge of the preparations. Jenny’s party preparations. She didn’t want to be a snob, but she didn’t like to be used, either.

  “I’m afraid I’m out,” she said with finality. “I’m already on the committee for the Youth Group fall party. I don’t have time for two.”

  “Jamison?” asked Jenny coyly.

  “Me too.”

  Virginia could see the anger rise in Jenny’s face.

  “So what is your exclusive Youth Group planning?” she asked, making the words a distinct dig.

  “A hayride,” answered Jamison, pushing back his empty soda glass. “And we are not exclusive. You’re all invited. October twenty-fifth. Meet at the church at seven.”

  And saying the words, he stood and reached for the pile of schoolbooks. Since Virginia’s books were also in the pile, it seemed her signal that it was time for them to leave. She nodded to the group and rose to join Jamison.

  Good news awaited Virginia when she arrived at home. Her father had come home early from the office to report that Rett had been released from his jail cell until the date of his upcoming trial. Virginia gave her father a big hug.

  “I’m so proud of you,” she told him.

  “Now wait a minute. This is a temporary measure. We still need a solution here.”

  “Well, you’ll find one. I just know you will.”

  He shook his head. “If there is a solution to this one, God will have to find it. I’ve about exhausted my resources.”

  Virginia laid aside her books and reached for an apron. As she tied it about her waist her mother spoke. “How was your soda outing? Jenny make up again?”

  Virginia’s eyes flashed fire. “You will never believe that girl. First she started out by throwing barbs my way, naming me a … a loony lover of … of Rett and old Mr. Adamson and … even skunks. When that didn’t work she changed to asking me to help her with a party. Halloween.”

  “Halloween? I don’t think that’s a good idea,” her mother said, shaking her head.

  “I already told her no. That I will be busy with the Youth Group party. Then she made a remark about the exclusive church group.”

  “That was unfair.”

  “That’s what Jamison basically told them. He invited them all.”

  “Good for Jamison,” laughed her father.

  “They won’t come,” expressed Virginia. “They all have had any number of invitations in the past.”

  “You never know,” said her father. “Just keep trying. Keep praying. One of these days they might surprise you.”

  “She keeps bringing up Rett,” Virginia said as she placed some potatoes in the pan for peeling.

  “She knows it bothers you,” replied her father. “Don’t let her get to you.”

  “But sometimes I wonder if it is more than that.”

  “Meaning?”

  “I don’t know. I can’t put my finger on it. But it’s just like … like she knows something about it. You don’t suppose she would—?”

  “Now, Virginia. Let’s not jump to any ugly conclusions. Jenny is … difficult, but I don’t believe she’s criminal.”

  “Well, something is funny. I can just feel it.”

  “Okay. In the name of justice we must investigate every? thing. So, let’s take a look at Jenny.”

  Virginia wondered if her father was just humoring her, but when she looked at his face he seemed serious.

  “How could Jenny do it?”

  “Well, I don’t know.”

  She turned back to her potatoes. “But I sure would like to do a little digging to try to find out.”

  “Then, why would she do it?”

  “Maybe … maybe just to get at me. I still think it might have something to do with that accident.”

  “Jenny was badly injured. Close to losing her life. She was hardly in condition to do something strange at that time. She wasn’t even aware of what happened with the others.”

  “At least she says she wasn’t.”

  “No, I think the doctor would verify that statement.”

  Virginia thought of her uncle Luke. She would ask him someday just what shape Jenny was in when he reached her.

  “Then the Crells?”

  “I will admit that I had my finger pointed at the Crells, as well. But the sheriff has done a thorough investigation. They were out of town. Went on back east to visit family. They were gone for a good part of the summer. Certainly at the time that a number of the items were stolen.”

&nb
sp; Virginia wondered why she had not heard that before. “How come folks don’t know that?” Virginia knew that others had pointed fingers at the Crells, as well.

  “Now, how can you clear a man who hasn’t even been condemned? Take out an advertisement in the paper saying, ‘Folks, what you are thinking and gossiping about is not true. Frank Crell did not frame Rett Marshall.’”

  Virginia had to smile at the foolishness of it. But she quickly sobered. “Jenny said her father is going to ‘scour the town until he gets to the bottom of it.’ Guess he thinks there’s a news story here.”

  Her father looked up, concern showing. “He’d be wise to let it alone,” he said, stirring slightly. “The sheriff is the one to be doing the scouring.”

  CHAPTER 21

  To Virginia’s amazement, Jenny and her little troop did show up for the fall hayride. They came together in a tight little knot, tittering and whispering and, Virginia feared, ready to make trouble. She prayed it wouldn’t be so and welcomed them with genuine warmth on behalf of the entire Youth Group.

  There was no need for introductions. In the small town in which they lived, they all knew one another and attended the same school. But it was the first time that most of Jenny’s crowd had been at one of the church activities.

  Jenny, of course, had been with the church group many times. Now she acted as though she was trying to impress her followers that she knew the ropes. She talked louder than necessary and used her hands a lot, explained things that needed no explanation, and insisted on giving instructions and leading the way, even when no leader was required.

  But in spite of it all, Virginia felt that the evening began well. Even the visitors seemed to slip into having a good time.

  There was a little good-natured roughhousing as the hayride began. But that was always expected. Boys shoved one another off the hayrack or teased girls with handfuls of hay stuffed down coat backs, and girls squealed in pretended alarm as they initiated a chase. But there were no casualties when the ride ended and the young people gathered round the campfire for the evening’s refreshments and devotional time.

  “Here’s where we get preached at,” Virginia heard Jenny whisper loudly to her little entourage.

  “You’re all going straight to hell,” intoned Sam, lifting his hands and waving them like some weird monster over the heads of the group members.

  There was loud, howling laughter.

  Georgie took up the chant in a whispery voice, his hands going up to join Sammie’s. “Where the devil will stoke up the fire and throw you in to burn and burn—”

  “Stop it,” cut in Trina. “It’s rude.”

  Jenny gave her a scowl. She had been enjoying the performance. “What’s wrong with you?” she asked with a flip of her hair. “Who put you in charge?”

  “Well, it is rude,” Trina dared to answer back. “They’ve been nice. The least we can do is be decent.”

  “And listen to the sermon about hell,” snorted Georgie.

  They laughed again, but Virginia noticed that Trina did not join in.

  There was no sermon about hell, but after they had finished their lunch there was a devotional on heaven.

  “God would like to have every single human who has ever lived join Him there,” said Troy. “It says so in the Bible. ‘God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.’ That’s why God did everything in His power to make that possible. He sent His only Son to bring us salvation. But we need to accept that gift. It is His gift of love to us, and if anyone here”—his eyes scanned the entire group—“isn’t sure about your standing before a holy God, if there’s fear in your heart or doubts in your mind, then I’d love to talk to you—anytime. Or see Pastor Doyle—or one of the other adults who are here with us tonight. Any one of us would love to talk with you.”

  The evening was over.

  Virginia breathed a little sigh of relief. There really had been no problems with the newcomers. Inwardly she breathed a little prayer as she went to invite them back to the next youth function.

  Jamison was waiting for Virginia when she arrived at church on Sunday morning.

  “Got some good news,” he said, nodding with his head for her to step aside. She noticed that his eyes were shining.

  When they had retreated a few paces he leaned toward her and spoke softly. “Georgie came to see me yesterday.”

  She waited for him to go on.

  “He wanted to find out how one becomes a Christian.”

  “Georgie Booth?”

  His smile widened. “Georgie Booth,” he nodded.

  “Well, did he?”

  “He did.”

  “Georgie Booth?”

  Virginia could scarcely believe it.

  Jamison’s eyes turned sober. “Poor guy,” he said. “He’s been having a real hard time ever since the accident. He feels—well, responsible for Freddie’s death. It’s really been eating at him. Says he still has trouble sleeping at night and often can’t eat.”

  Virginia’s heart constricted. She knew the feeling.

  “And now with Rett Marshall charged with this theft thing.”

  “He thinks it’s tied to the accident, too?”

  “He … he’s—well, he can’t help but tie the two together, but he can’t figure out how they fit.”

  Virginia nodded. She felt the same way.

  “The Crell boy won’t even talk to him anymore. He’s not welcome anywhere near the Crells. Georgie says the Crell family have become almost—reclusive. Won’t let their young people associate with others. Mr. Crell even took the older two out of school. The boy didn’t mind. He hated school anyway, but the girl, Tess, really fought against it.”

  Virginia felt her stomach tighten. What a mean thing for a father to do.

  “How does Georgie find out all this?”

  “The younger girl still talks to him on the sly. Slips him notes from Tess. He and Tess used to be a little sweet on each other. Maybe in a way, they still are. Tess says that even though folks aren’t right out and saying it, she knows there are those who think that they have had something to do with pressing charges—or even worse—of sort of framing Rett for the thefts.”

  “They didn’t,” Virginia was quick to say. “They were away when some of the things were stolen. The sheriff checked it out.”

  Jamison’s eyes widened.

  “I don’t suppose I am to say that,” she hastened on. “Papa told it to me in confidence.”

  He nodded, his promise that he’d hold his tongue.

  “Well, even though they are innocent, they feel condemned. That’s why Mr. Crell is keeping his family tight to home. He says if the neighbors have no more faith in him than that, then they aren’t fit for his family to associate with. Georgie feels responsible for that, as well.”

  “He’s really got himself a burden,” said Virginia.

  “He had a burden,” corrected Jamison. “Yesterday he asked forgiveness and gave all that over to the Lord.”

  Virginia smiled. It was good news.

  Just as quickly her smile faded. She heaved a deep sigh and looked up at Jamison. “But it doesn’t fix everything, does it? I mean, what a mess we can make of things when we disobey. I never thought—I mean I was with them, you know, for part of it. I could have been on the raft. I’m as guilty as any of them. It was just my … my anger that sent me on home.”

  Jamison touched her arm gently in sympathetic under? standing. Virginia looked up and said, “We’ve got to get this thing settled so folks can get on with life. Look what it’s done to … to so many lives. To the whole town. Freddie’s death—so horrible. And his whole family suffering. Accusations and gossip stories, and then Rett, accused for something I’m sure he didn’t do. It’s a horrible mess.”

  Jamison nodded, then shrugged. “Don’t know what we can do. Your pa is working on it.”

  “I know. He always tells us to pray.”

  “Guess that’s the best possible advice he c
an—”

  “It’s getting us nowhere. I’ve prayed and prayed. There haven’t been any answers. We need—”

  “Georgie is an answer,” said Jamison softly. “He never would have—” He stopped a moment. “Maybe this whole thing is about Georgie.”

  Virginia felt chastened. She managed a weak smile. Of course he was right. Who knows, she told herself, perhaps God is working on other hearts—even now. Her thoughts and prayers reached out to embrace Jenny once again.

  “Virginia, wait up.”

  Virginia turned to see Jenny and Trina a few steps behind her. She was surprised at Jenny’s call. They had not shared the walk home from school for some time.

  She shielded her eyes with a mittened hand from the bright winter sun.

  “What’s the rush?” Jenny asked as the two girls came even and Virginia fell into step with them.

  “Mama is going out to check on Grandpa, and I’m going along.”

  A strange expression flicked over Jenny’s face. Virginia could not be sure of its message. Jenny looked mournful. Sad. Regretful. Maybe even lonely. But she quickly hid any of those emotions that might have been revealed. “How’s the old man doing?” she asked flippantly.

  “Fine. But Mama still checks on him often.”

  “Yeah.”

  They talked of other things then. Eventually Jenny asked a question.

  “So how’s your … pet?”

  “Pet?” Virginia was baffled.

  “Yeah, that Marshall idiot.”

  “He’s not an idiot,” Virginia said, not able to keep the anger from her voice.

  “I’ve never figured out why you are so … so touchy about him. All one has to do is mention his name, and you get all riled up.”

  “I’m not touchy about him. It’s just that … that when you mention him, it’s always in a very … very disrespectful way.”

  Jenny poked Trina and grinned.

  “Disrespectful? You expect folks to have respect for loonies?”

  “Yes,” said Virginia before she could even sort out her words. “If you consider him a loony—if by that you mean a person who is … different, yes. And I would think that you, Jenny, more than anyone, would realize that. He saved your life.”