The Trial of Dr. Kate (16 page)

“Didn’t he have a bank account?”

“Just shoeboxes full of bills stuck in the oddest places. We still find them from time to time. The dear fellow never knew how much money he had.”

“Is Dr. Kate the same?”

“More or less. She bought lots of war bonds—felt it was her duty. But it’s hard for her to keep up with how much money she makes, because people pay her with hams or chickens or eggs to this day.”

“Bartering.”

“I guess.”

“I believe it’s illegal.”

“May be, but it’s the only way Dr. Kate and these poor people can coexist.”

“Dr. Compton thinks of her as a missionary.”

“She is.”

“Do the doctors in Livingston—say, Dr. Compton and his part-ner—do they, ah, barter?”

“Some do, but not as often. There’re more people with jobs in Livingston and Cookeville. They do things differently than we do up here. I guess you’d say they’re more businesslike.”

Shenandoah shook her head. “I don’t suppose my friend Kate has a driver’s license.”

Nurse Little laughed. “You’re right. She’s just like her father.”

It was after four o’clock by the time Shenandoah thanked the nurse and left the Round Rock Medical Clinic. Just as she turned on to Main Street, she saw Bobby pull up beside her in the Ford hot rod. He waved her over, and they parked on the shoulder of the road. Bobby got out of the Ford and walked back to Shenandoah’s car.

“Where you going?” Shenandoah asked.

“I’m on a run.”

“Going to Nashville?”

“Yeah. Come with me.”

“Can’t.”

“Come on, Shenandoah. Don’t be so stubborn. I’ll take you to supper.”

“What would we talk about?”

“Anything.”

“What do you know about flying a B-24?”

“Nothing, zero, nada.”

“See what I mean? We wouldn’t have a thing to talk about.” Shenandoah pressed the accelerator, and the engine rumbled. Bobby stuck his head through the window, his face inches from Shenandoah’s, and said, “Follow me to Hattie Mae’s so you can leave your car, and tell her you won’t be there for supper. If you don’t enjoy my company, I’ll never bother you again.”

Shenandoah smiled. “That a promise?”

“Cross my heart and hope to die.”

* * *

Minutes later, they were flying down Highway 42 on their way to Livingston. Shenandoah could not bring herself to look at the speedometer. Hot, humid air blasted them in the face from the side window vents.

Bobby held the steering wheel with his left hand and had his right draped over the back of the seat inches from Shenandoah’s shoulder. He wore tight-fitting Levi’s with black cowboy boots. He had on a white short-sleeved shirt, and the buttons strained to keep it fastened over his muscular chest. Shenandoah had quickly changed into a pencil dress that accentuated her slim figure and black high-heeled pumps open at the toe just showing a hint of red polish. Her flaming red hair fell in ringlets around her shoulders. She glanced at Bobby and saw him smile as he lowered his right hand onto her shoulder and gave it a squeeze. Despite herself, she felt her heart rate increase.

She lifted his hand off her shoulder with her right hand and said, “Keep your hands on the steering wheel, big guy. Don’t want to have a wreck.”

“You’re pretty as a picture, Shenandoah. Makes my mouth dry just looking at you, girl. I’m so glad you came with me. These trips get kind of boring all by myself.”

“You look very handsome yourself, Bobby. But remember, I’m not getting involved. It just wouldn’t work.” And while she believed that with all her heart, she knew deep down that she was attracted to the big lug. He was so honest and straightforward. Not at all like the men she dated from time to time in Memphis.

Changing the subject, Shenandoah said, “I went out to interview Senator Frampton this afternoon and was amazed by his property. How did he make his money? State senators can’t be paid much.”

Bobby’s lips curled into a slight smile. “Favors.”

“Favors? You mean he takes bribes?”

“He does favors for people. They come to his auctions and buy cows. He must have sold one old bull out there fifty times.”

Once they got to Highway 70 Bobby kept within the speed limit. “No need to hassle the cops,” he said.

They arrived in Nashville a little after seven o’clock. Bobby parked the Ford on Sixth Avenue and left the keys in the ignition.

Shenandoah frowned. “You’re leaving the keys?”

“Have to. Someone will pick it up by the time we’re halfway down the block.”

They had walked about twenty yards when Shenandoah heard the engine start. She glanced over her shoulder to see the car pull out into traffic and disappear around the corner.

“I drop the car off, and someone picks it up and delivers it back here in one hour,” Bobby explained. “Just enough time for us to eat. When we come back, it’ll be loaded and ready to roll—full tank of gas and all.”

“Who picks it up?”

“Beats me. Army has a regular supplier, but I don’t know who it is. He gets paid in cash. I left five hundred dollars in the glove compartment. That pays for what we pick up. Army will turn it for fifteen hundred, and I get two hundred for the trip.”

“In cash?”

“Always.”

“I assume you don’t pay taxes.”

“Are you kidding? By the time I pay rent to my mother, buy clothes for me and Wally, and pick up groceries and books, I don’t have a lot left over.”

By then they were at the Cross Keys Restaurant, and Bobby held the door open for Shenandoah. A young woman in a gingham dress met them in the front vestibule and took them to a table. Bobby ordered a chicken fried steak, mashed potatoes with gravy, cornbread, and iced tea. Shenandoah ordered a small filet with French fries and iced tea.

“Who’s Wally?” she asked, after the waitress had left.

Bobby looked up. “Didn’t I tell you about Wally?”

“Don’t think so.”

“My son. Two and a half, going on twenty-four.”

Shenandoah’s mouth dropped open. Bobby said, “Does that surprise you? That I’ve got a child?”

Shenandoah swallowed hard and stammered. “I—I didn’t know you were married.”

“My wife died of meningococcal meningitis when Wally was six months old. I’m a widower.”

“I’m sorry. You’re raising him by yourself?”

“My mother watches him when I’m at work or school. When Marsha got pregnant, we weren’t sure we could handle a baby because we were both in school. So we went to see Dr. Kate when we found out. We wanted her to get rid of the baby for us. Dr. Kate talked about it with us for a long time. She said that it was against the law, but that she’d do it anyway if that’s what we wanted. She said that she thought babies were gifts from God and that it was wrong to take their lives, even at conception. But there were times when having a baby at the wrong time in their lives could ruin a young couple’s chances of having a successful marriage. So she said she’d do it for us, but she’d rather we have the baby. Said it would enrich our lives.”

“Has it?”

Bobby pursed his lips together, looked away, and remained silent for a few seconds. Then he looked back at her. “It’s hard at times, with school and all, but yes, Wally has enriched my life. I love him so much that it scares me.”

“It’s pretty dangerous for doctors to do abortions,” Shenandoah said. “They put them in jail for that.”

“I know, but Dr. Kate always does what she thinks is best.”

“She do many of them?”

“I only know of two. One was a high school girl, a friend of my wife’s. She was sixteen at the time and had been to a revival over in Jamestown. On the way home, a carful of boys drunk on moonshine forced her off the road. They held her down and raped her. She was afraid to tell her parents because they’re strict Church of Christ. When she missed her period, she told Marsha that she was thinking about killing herself. Marsha drove her to see Dr. Kate. She took care of it and no one ever knew.”

“And the second?”

“Friend of my mother’s. She had breast cancer and got pregnant at forty. They already had two teenagers, and she said that if she died, she didn’t want to leave her husband with a baby. She begged Dr. Kate to help her, and she did.”

Shenandoah had never discussed such intimate topics with a man before. In fact, she had never known a man who would talk about his personal life with such frankness. She could feel her face flush, and she looked down at the table.

“Have I shocked you, Shenandoah?”

“A little.”

Just then, the waitress brought more iced tea. Neither of them spoke for a few seconds. Then Bobby looked Shenandoah square in the eye. “I really like you, Shenandoah. You’re the most unusual woman I’ve ever met.” He took her hand in his and squeezed. “I’ve only known you for a very short time, but I feel like I’ve known you for years. I can’t explain it. Help me out here, girl.”

Shenandoah laughed and placed his hand back on his side of the table. “Slow down, boy. You’re going a little fast here. I like you, think you’re kind of nice, but that’s all.”

Bobby’s face turned beet red. “I don’t mean to be a bother, but you’re just so different than the women I know in Round Rock and at Tech. I just love being with you. Is that so bad?”

Shenandoah smiled and told herself,
Give the guy a break. He’s the sweetest man you’ve ever met. Just be careful. Don’t get too attached.

For dessert, they both ordered pie. Bobby had pecan, and Shenandoah, chess.

“How is your pie?” Shenandoah asked.

“It’s so good I want to swallow my tongue. How’s yours?”

She laughed and said, “Good, but not that good.”

After coffee he paid the bill, and Shenandoah let him hold her hand as they walked back to the car. It was right where they’d left it, but now it sat closer to the ground.

“We’ve got heavy-duty springs on this thing, but with a full load we still ride low,” Bobby said as he fired up the engine.

Shenandoah fastened her seat belt. Glancing into the rear of the car where the backseat should be, she saw a sheet thrown over the illegal merchandise.

In a few minutes they reached Highway 70 North, and Bobby reached over and took Shenandoah’s hand. She smiled and returned his squeeze. They didn’t talk much on the way home, the wind noise from the open windows discouraging any intimate conversation. It was cooler now, the night air didn’t seem so intimidating. Shenandoah’s eyelids drooped, and she slumped back on the seat and drifted into a peaceful sleep.

There was a screech, and she awoke with a start. They were sliding sideways at incredible speed through a curve. Bobby was holding the steering wheel with both hands, his face twisted into a scowl and his teeth clenched. Shenandoah glanced over her shoulder and saw a police car’s red lights flashing not more than ten yards behind them. Bobby’s speedometer showed them coming out of the curve at ninety miles an hour.

“Jesus, what’s happening?” Shenandoah yelled above the roar of the engine.

“Army must have forgotten to pay off the McGregor County sheriff. Bastard does this every time. Thinks it’s a game. If he catches us, he’ll take the whole load and sell it himself.”

They were on a straight stretch now and doing a hundred and twenty miles an hour. Gradually, too gradually to suit Shenandoah, they began to pull away from the police car.

“If we can keep this up for a few more miles, he’ll throw a rod,” Bobby yelled to Shenandoah without taking his eyes off the road.

They kept increasing their lead, and after sliding through two more curves, the sheriff either threw a rod or decided to give up the chase. Bobby took his foot off the accelerator, and they coasted down to a mere sixty miles an hour. Shenandoah’s heart was racing at twice the speed of the car.

Bobby glanced at her. “You okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine. Jesus, Bobby, you scare the hell out of me! Aren’t you afraid of anything?”

“Nope. Well, maybe a thing or two.”

“Like what?”

“Falling for a big-city reporter. That scares the hell out of me.” After a moment, he continued: “We’ve still got to worry about the highway patrol. Jimmy Joe Short’s the trooper assigned to Parsons County, and he can’t be bought off. Besides, he’s got a hard-on for Army. Bastard’s determined to bust us both.”

They rolled up to Hattie Mae’s at eleven o’clock, and Bobby turned off the ignition. They sat there for a minute without saying anything. Bobby unbuckled his seat belt and slid across the seat toward Shenandoah. He reached down and unbuckled her seat belt, put his arms around her, and planted a wet, open-mouthed kiss on her lips.

“Go in, Shenandoah Coleman, before I fall completely and helplessly in love with you.”

O
n Saturday morning Shenandoah slept late. She was making her bed when she heard frantic knocking on her door. She opened it to find Hattie Mae and Mr. Applebee, both of them fidgeting and out of breath.

“Come quick, Shenandoah!” Hattie Mae said in a hoarse voice. “There’s a man on my phone says he’s from Memphis—wants to talk to you. I ain’t never talked to no one from that far away. Sounds like he’s right next door. How they do that?”

As Shenandoah stepped through the door, Mr. Applebee decided to flop himself at Hattie Mae’s feet, causing Shenandoah to fall and hit her nose on the hardwood floor. Pain shot straight to the back of her head. Feeling her nose to make sure it wasn’t broken, she stood and picked up the receiver as it dangled by its wire. “Hello?”

“Hi, Shenandoah. How’s it going up there?”

“How did you find me, Ned?”

“I called for a motel, and when I learned they didn’t have one, I asked for a boarding house. I just wondered how you were doing. Have you learned much about the doctor? What about Buford Frampton?”

“I’m going to try and talk to him today. Tell the boss that I’ve met Frank Clement, and I think he’ll beat Governor Browning. The man’s a natural politician.”

“He’ll be glad to hear that. He and old man Crump are pals—they have a lot of business interests together.”

“Think he’ll be upset when he finds out I’m writing a book about Crump?”

“No. He’s a realist. He knows his buddy’s a little shady. So, what about the doctor?”