He smiled a sad smile. “Although I have devoted my life to research, there was a time many years ago when I desired a wife and children. I abandoned the desire, however, because I am unable to sire children. You see. Miss Worth, I suffer the unfortunate affliction of impotence.”
The early morningsunshine pouredover the weather-beaten wooden sign that said wild winds. Nailed to one of the red mulberry trees that lined the road, it pointed straight ahead.
Theodosia let go of the reins for a moment, retied the ribbons on her pink bonnet, and gave a quick pat to the smooth chignon at the nape of her neck.
“Wild Winds surely has its share of men, John the Baptist. One of them might very well be qualified to replace Dr. Wallaby. Oh, poor, poor Dr. Wallaby.”
A tinge of guilt caused her to lower her head and stare at her lap. The dear man had believed every lie she’d told him this morning and thought it a wonderful idea for her to study the speech habits of the South while he waited for his research funding to arrive. He’d been especially pleased when she told him she’d hired Roman to escort her to the various towns in which she would conduct her studies. Why, Dr. Wallaby had even agreed to wait for her in Brazil rather than Templeton if she didn’t return in time to sail with him.
Having dealt with Dr. Wallaby, she’d then set about writing to Upton and Lillian, telling them the same lies she’d told the scientist. Dr. Wallaby had graciously included a letter of his own to her sister and brother-in-law, informing them that Roman Montana was highly capable of taking care of her while she traveled and that they need not worry.
Theodosia sighed. “Ordinarily I am not given to such prevarication,” she murmured to her parrot. “But my situation demands a few falsities, John the Baptist. And when all is said and done and I have the child for Upton and Lillian, the untruths I have told will have little significance.”
The bird spat a stream of water. It sprayed over a mass of bluebonnets that grew at the edge of the road. “Impotence is a malady that distresses a great many men. Awk!”
“Yes, it is distressing,” Theodosia agreed, picking up the reins again. “As is the fact that I must now begin an intense search for a new candidate to sire the child.”
Soon she turned the buckboard onto the main street of Wild Winds, a town she’d chosen because it was the only one she’d heard of in this area. Roman had mentioned it, and she’d gotten directions from a store owner in Templeton.
Roman.She wondered where he was, what he was doing.
“Theodosia,” she scolded herself, “you will concentrate on your own activities and cease dwelling on a man you will never see again.” But even as she made the vow, she knew she could not keep it.
Roman Montana had given her her first sweet taste of desire. And although she would always remain ignorant of the fulfillment to be gotten from such passion, she’d keep the memory of his kiss and embrace alive forever. In times of solitude, she would ponder it and remember.
She scanned the dusty street and spotted a small library on the left. Its presence assured her that learned people dwelled in the town. Perhaps one of the educated men would fit the physical requirements she’d set for the father of the child. The possibility revived her sagging spirits.
She registered at the Wild Winds hotel and paid two male employees to see to her horse and wagon and carry her belongings to her room, which did not meet with her approval. A small room, it was filled with lots of dust and little furniture. Still, it was a place in which she could carry out her plans.
When the men were gone, she quickly changed into a blue-and-white-striped silk dress, donned her bonnet and gloves, and set forth for the town’s newspaper office.
A cluster of bells jingled when she opened the door to the Wild Winds newspaper office.
“Can I hep ya, ma’am?” the man behind the scarred old counter offered. “Name’s Hamm. Simon Hamm. New in town, ain’tcha?” With ink-stained fingers, he picked up a fried chicken leg from his plate of lunch and took a huge bite. Grease glossed his thin lips, and bits of golden crust dropped into his short white beard.
Theodosia wondered if the man had ever heard of a napkin. She placed her reticule on the counter and gave a stiff nod. “Yes, youmayhelp me, Mr. Hamm.”
He raised his pale eyebrows. “You from England?”
“Boston. Would you be good enough to print a hundred circulars for me?”
“Would I be good enough?” Mr. Hamm pointed his chicken leg at her. “Ma’am, I’m jest about as good as they come. Why, jest last week I stayed up till near ’bout three in the mornin’ with Fudd Wilkins. Fudd’s dog died, y’see, and Fudd? Well, Fudd couldn’t stop cryin’ fer nothin’. Ain’t a purty sight, ma’am, seein’ a grown man cry, but Fudd loved that ole mongrel more’n he loves his wife.”
He paused a moment to take another bite of chicken.“Wasa good dog, to tell ya the truth. Name was Fudd Junior. Weren’t a dog in this county who could tree a ’coon like ole Fudd Junior. Fudd had ’coon stew ever’ Thursday, and I mean to tell you, Fudd can cook up somekindo’ ’coon stew. His wife don’t never cook a’tall. Lazy s’what she is. Y’ain’t travelin’ alone, are ya, ma’am? Best be careful if you are, on account o’ the Blanco y Negro Gang’s on the loose again. Busted out o’ jail the way I heared it tole, and some say only the power o’ God can strike ’em dead.”
Theodosia studied him, thinking that perhaps the lies she’d told to Dr. Wallaby and written to Lillian and Upton wouldn’t be falsehoods at all. The man’s long story reinforced her desire to understand the reasons behind such rambling.
But first things first. Quickly, she took a sheet of paper and a pencil from a box on the counter and jotted down the message for the fliers. “Here is the wording I would like on the circulars,” she said, and slid the piece of paper toward him.
With each word Mr. Hamm read, his eyes grew bigger and his mouth opened wider. “You—I—this —ma’am, are you sure—”
“Quite. I will wait while you print them.”
He read the wording once more. “Ma’am, this ain’t none o’ my business, but—”
“I am in a great hurry to post the circulars, sir.” She slid two gold coins across the counter. “Please make haste.”
He shook his head in resignation. “All right, ma’am, but I sure hope ya know what you’re gittin’ yoursef into.”
