But he couldn’t court her under their circumstances. She barely looked at him when she spoke to him. The passionate, angry woman was gone, leaving this cool, dignified lady. He wished she’d yell at him again, but maybe she didn’t want her mother to overhear from the next room.
His chair scraped as he got up. “I’m going to go outside and walk around.”
He hoped she fixed his business quickly because he didn’t know how much more cold formality he could stand. Once he got Rockfield’s on the right track, he could forget he’d ever met her. It wouldn’t be as good as his old life, operating the company buy-boat all day instead of sitting in an office, but it would be a damn sight more peaceful than this.
* * *
On Wednesday evening, Sadie pulled away from the kitchen table in Henry’s cottage and stretched. At least her eyes still felt fresh. It sure would be nice to have an electric light at home.
Mama had asked so many questions after last night’s session, she’d thought it best to return here for tonight’s work. Luckily, the Klan had canceled its weekly meeting because the mayor was sick.
Taking a break, she sat in front of the telephone in a crusty canvas chair that probably used to be part of a boat. The man might as well live on one. He used an old sail for a rug and an oyster bushel basket for a garbage can. The room even smelled like sea salt.
Before going to the Sapphire Crab to buy food for them, Henry had given her permission to call Pearl Point.
Food.
Didn’t he know she had no appetite when he was around? Mama had asked her to help coordinate Pearl’s baby shower, but that wasn’t the only reason she needed to speak to her brother’s wife, Rose. He confused her so much, she desperately needed to talk to another woman. Someone besides Mama.
As she dialed, her gaze drifted to the brass bed across the room. Then she stared at the kitchen table, picturing herself bent over it while Henry rubbed himself against her. She cursed the tingle of arousal in her core, betraying her pride.
It was a mistake and will never happen again.
She’d never forget those words. If she was prettier, he’d want her again and again the way Caleb wanted Pearl. He would also have faced her and showered her with kisses instead of humping her from behind. It was a wonder he hadn’t turned out the lights, too, so he wouldn’t have to look at her.
But he was right. It definitely would not happen again. Luckily, their relations were on a businesslike footing again. She and Mama needed the money, and she hated shucking oysters more than feeling used.
She dialed the number for Rose’s house and waited for the operator to connect her.
“Hello?”
Sadie winced. Her overprotective older brother was the last person she wanted to speak to right now.
“Hello, Leroy. Is Rose there? I need to talk to her about Pearl’s baby shower.”
“Don’t you have anything to say to your flesh and blood first?” His familiar, peppery voice coaxed a grin to her face.
“Sorry. How are things down there in Pearl Point?”
“Busy.” A tired but contented sigh gusted through the earpiece. “Seems I’m always building or repairing something around here.”
Had it been a year already since he’d moved to St. Mary’s County to help Caleb build the new Rockfield oyster plant?
“How’s Mama?” he asked.
“Fine. And Pearl?”
“Huge.” His chuckle died. “It’s late. Where are you calling from, anyway?”
Her lips froze, and her mind, tired from fixing Henry’s ledger, raced through an inventory of the town’s available telephones. Considering the late hour and the fact she wasn’t white, the list was pretty short.
“Uh, I’m still in Oyster Harbor. I had errands after work because of the baby shower.”
“What? You know I don’t like you rowing that boat at night.”
The thought of yesterday’s rough surf sent a pang of queasiness through her stomach.
“I can manage it. Will you get Rose? I’m anxious to go home.”
“How did Mama get back?” he demanded.
God, he was worse than their mother sometimes. “She rode with our neighbors. Now, can you please—”
“What’s wrong?”
She swallowed the curse rising to her lips. Why did he have to be so perceptive?
“I’m just tired. Where is Rose, anyway?”
“Wait. I heard a rumor that you got into trouble at work. Did you throw something?”
Sadie’s mouth dropped open. The news had spread to the next county?
“It was nothing. I might have tossed a few oysters at the weighman because he wouldn’t give me any credit for them.”
He whistled. “Holy hell. You didn’t get fired?”
“No, I got furloughed a week.”
“Then Henry Rockfield must be sweet on you.”
Her heart pounded. How did he know? He mustn’t know. No one must.
“Well, behave yourself, girl. You don’t want to get on the wrong side of the Klan.”
The memory of last year’s mob, dead set on hanging him, made her fingers tingle with shock all over again. It reminded her she needed to watch her step with Henry. Making him angry would not be a good idea. Between her volatile feelings for him and the racial tensions on the island, she earned every penny of the extra money. The actual business figuring was a breeze in comparison.
“I’ll try, but you know a quick temper runs in our family.”
“Sure do. Take care, now. I’ll get Rose.”
Finally.
Sadie sagged against the back of her chair with relief when Rose’s soft, girly voice replaced her brother’s demanding one. She’d never been crazy about her because she was so pretty. The fact she was part white hadn’t been too endearing, either. She and Mama had given her a rough welcome when Leroy brought her home to meet them at last year’s fish fry. Luckily, she didn’t seem to hold it against them.
After they got the logistics of the baby shower out of the way, Sadie’s pulse accelerated.
“Rose, can I ask you something?”
“Sure!”
Sadie pursed her lips. How could she explain her concern without giving away Henry’s identity? The girl was an artist and kind of flighty. She might unintentionally repeat everything to Leroy.
“I-it’s about men,” Sadie stated.
“Oh? What about them?”
“How did Leroy treat you when you were courting?” This was even harder than talking to him earlier. “Did he make you feel special?”
“Oh, yes. He barely let me out of his sight.” Her voice softened even more, as if she were reliving her romance.
Sadie’s head reared back. Exactly as she figured. When a man was fond of a woman, he looked at her. A lot.
“Did he stare into your eyes?”
“Constantly. When I still lived with my parents, I painted in a secluded part of their property. We used to hug and kiss in the branches of a big tree.”
Sadie’s stomach dipped again. Their relationship had been even more nauseatingly romantic than she’d thought. She was sorry she’d asked, but she needed the facts to sort out her confusing feelings.
Rose’s voice grew muffled. “You probably don’t want to hear the…details.”
She could almost see her blush through the telephone line. “Actually, I do. Well, not too many, since we’re discussing my brother. Did he ever lose control?”
“All the time. Leroy is a passionate man.” Rose gasped. “I’ll never forget the time in the car.”
“The car?”
“He was angry because I’d danced with the mayor’s son. Mother bought me such a beautiful dress. I still can’t believe I attended that party, pretending to be white.”
“What happened in the car?” Sadie prompted.
“Well, he leaned over me and…er…rubbed himself…until…”
“I get the picture.” Her brother was wilder than she’d thought. “How did you feel?”
“I was afraid—for me and the dress—but excited, too. He seemed to be staking his claim on me.”
Sadie frowned. The rubbing part was similar, but that was about it. Henry hadn’t acted angry, and she couldn’t picture him claiming anyone, especially her. At least Leroy had faced Rose instead of humping her from behind.
“Why are you asking me about these things, anyway?” A smile filled Rose’s voice. “You must have a beau. Tell me. Who is he?”
“No one,” Sadie said quickly. “I just wondered if all men were like my ex-husband. Apparently not.”
After ending the call, she drummed her fingers on her knee. Rose’s experience was very helpful, but she needed to compare a situation more similar to her own—Pearl’s and Caleb’s. She let her hand hover over the telephone because she wasn’t sure she really wanted to know. But Henry would return with the food soon. Now would probably be her only chance.
Once she figured the man out, she hoped to get her silly romantic thoughts about him out of her mind for good.
* * *
Perched on an antique chair, Jonathan Carter sat hunched over the telephone in the family’s formal parlor. Listening to Oyster Harbor’s party line was the best way to keep tabs on what the townspeople were up to. Especially people under the Klan’s watch like Henry Rockfield.
The mayor was sleeping off his latest round of drinks, but not before he’d canceled tonight’s Klan meeting because he didn’t feel well. Why couldn’t he have let Jon lead the meeting? He’d be Grand Titan, mayor, and everything else eventually. It was only a matter of time.
Mother had gone to bed early. Hopefully, his sister, Mary, would stay in her room, too. She’d spent a lot of time in there since she’d been raped in Baltimore last year. At least he had enough privacy to put his free time to good use by listening to the party line.
His plate of cake lay half-eaten and forgotten beside the telephone. What he heard was much tastier. Sadie Johnson was on the line with Pearl Point talking about men. Very intimately, he might add.
Mary picked the most inopportune moment to enter the room. Her feet barely made a sound on the thick rug.
He pressed his hand over the mouthpiece. “What is it?”
“I’d like to buy some ribbons to re-trim my hat.”
“I’ll take you to the general store. Soon.” He paused, waiting for her to go.
“But you’re always so busy.” Her blonde curls shifted as she cocked her head. “I’m ready to walk around town by myself.”
“Sounds splendid, darling.”
“Really? I thought you’d object.” Her blue eyes narrowed. “With whom are you speaking?”
“Someone important.”
If she assumed he’d let her roam this town alone with so many colored men around, she was mistaken. He’d explain it tomorrow, but at least he’d gotten her out of the room.
He returned his attention to the telephone.
“What was it like when Caleb courted you?” Sadie asked.
She had to be close by. Where in the hell was she calling from? He intended to find out, eventually. For now, he listened with the earpiece pressed to his head. Hearing what Leroy Johnson had done in the backseat of a car unsettled the cake he’d already eaten. But Pearl Rockfield was now on the line. The conversation was about to get more interesting.
“He was always looking into my eyes and kissing me.” She paused to sigh. “The things that man did with his mouth and raw oysters. And the time he unrolled my stockings, inch by inch…”
“It sounds so romantic,” Sadie said. “You’re a very lucky woman.”
Jonathan made a sour face. And now they were married. Very illegally, he might add.
“D-did he face you when he made love to you?” Sadie asked.
“’Most always,” Pearl replied. “Except for that time in Caleb’s old house. He took me from behind in the kitchen while I was cooking.”
Jon slapped his hand over his mouth to keep from gasping his disgust out loud. It’s a wonder steam didn’t pour out of the earpiece. Such intimate discussion over public phone lines was obscene. But, in this case, useful.
“Why are you so curious to hear about me and Caleb? Is someone courting you?” Pearl asked.
Yes, who?
Jonathan felt like adding.
“I can’t say,” Sadie finally replied. “You never know who may be listening in.”
“He’s not white, is he?”
He had to hand it to Pearl. She took the questions right off the tip of his tongue.
Sadie’s answer was so soft he barely heard it. “Maybe. I don’t think he sees me romantically, though. After all, I’m not very pretty.”
She had that right. None of those women were, in his opinion. Except Rose, when she’d pretended to be white. He’d never forgive himself for being stupid enough to fall for her ploy. Thank God he hadn’t married her.
“Sadie Johnson, you stop that nonsense,” Pearl protested. “You’re beautiful in your own special way. I hope you’re still smiling at everyone like I taught you.”
If she kept throwing oysters at white supervisors, he’d see to it she never worked in this town again.
“I’m trying. I think he was just filled with lust. The way he rubbed against me… Never mind.” Something rattled in the background, such as a key in a lock. “I have to go!”
“Wait,” Pearl said. “Who is he?”
“I can’t say,” Sadie hissed.
“If it is who I think it is,” the other woman replied, “be very careful. You’re playing with fire.”
Pearl stole the words right out of his mouth again. There would be fire, all right, and plenty of it. Because the mystery man was probably someone at Rockfield’s where she worked.
It was time to pay the local oyster house a visit.
Chapter Six
The next night, Henry found himself at Sadie’s kitchen table. Both of them yawned, tired from their late hours.
“Is everything fixed now?” he asked.
“It would have been,” she snapped.
He gripped his knees, searching for patience. For some reason, she grew colder each day. He didn’t understand it. He’d given her rosebuds. Last night, he’d brought home a seafood feast of fried oysters and steamed mussels from the Sapphire Crab, but she’d barely taken a bite. The canceled Klan meeting was reason enough for him to celebrate.
He’d even worn looser shirts to keep his erections hidden. Of course, she was so sour lately, he didn’t have to worry about them anymore.
“Can you be more specific?” he asked.
She shoved today’s oyster purchase record at him and pointed to the inventory records.
“Whoever paid these prices yesterday is an idiot.”