Maybe I should avoid the rodeo all together. Before I could decide, Brian texted me.
Hey, darling, texted my mom this morning and she said, if you decide to attend, she’ll have a seat saved for you …
And no, I didn’t wake her up. She texted me first.
I wasn’t sure how to respond. I was touched by his persistence, and I loved the idea of being included. I had thought about going with Marc and Aurora to the rodeo to help sell the sandwich boxes but we hadn’t talked about it. Maybe I could attend?
If I decide to go, I’ll look for your mom,I texted back.
There, that was vague.
I watched the dots appear and then disappear before he replied.
Hmm. Noncommittal. Hope to see you there.
I laughed, pocketed my phone, and left for the diner.
Most everyone showed up to help make and box sandwiches. It took us two hours, but we filled the back of Bite and Brew’s catering truck. The toddlers were being fussy, so Aurora decided to stay behind to spend time with them and give her parents a break. I offered to go with Marc in Aurora’s place, but he’d already gotten Alex to agree. So I hitched a ride in the truck and made it to the rodeo grounds while everyone in the stands was up and cheering.
Looking out to the ring, I saw that two clowns were racing around trying to distract an angry bull while the rider climbed over the rail.
“Crisis averted, ladies and gentlemen,” the announcer said. Then he launched into the rider’s time and where that placed him in the awards bracket.
“Caitlin!” I looked up to see who called my name and waved to Amy. She was sitting with her son, Henry, along with Laura and Jake. Behind them and to the side were the Caffertys. Fiona waved to me as well. “Come on!” Amy called.
“Excuse me,” I said over and over as I made my way up the steps.
“Well, would you look at that. I’m surprised she dared show her face outside the diner. Her mother has been beside herself since she’s been back.” I froze recognizing the woman speaking.
“I wonder which Thorne brother she’s sleeping with now?” another woman asked. Swallowing the growing lump in my throat, I tried to get myself to keep moving when all I wanted to do was run away. Of course some of my mother’s friends were here and they certainly weren’t trying to be quiet.
“I’m surprised the Thornes would want to have anything to do with her, but then, again their mother isn’t exactly a pillar of society. I mean, when was the last time she went to church?”
I felt fury building inside me. It was bad enough they were mean to me, but there was no reason to go after Laura. She was one of the kindest people I’d ever met.
“Is that you, Josephine?” Laura called out, coming down the steps to join me. She smiled sweetly at Mrs. Fecto, looking as if butter wouldn’t melt in her mouth. “Oh, it is. I meant to ask you how your son Owen was doing. Is he still in prison? What was it for again?”
Mrs. Fecto was making some sort of choking noise but I couldn’t make out the words. Laura looked at the other woman and said, “And you, Muriel. I’ve been meaning to congratulate you! I heard you’re about to be a grandmother for the fourth time. Does your daughter know who the father is this time?”
Laura reached my side and wrapped her arm around my shoulders and gave me a squeeze. She encouraged me to take two steps up into the stands and we were standing in front of my tormentors who were both flushed red and making angry muttering noises.
“Running into the two of you, I’m always reminded of Luke 6:31, how does it go, again? I’m the lax churchgoer, as you just announced to everyone here. So maybeyoucan enlighten us, Josephine?”
Mrs. Fecto grabbed her purse and slammed it on her shoulder. “I don’t need to sit here and take this from the likes of you two,” she sputtered but when she tried to get out of her row, it seemed as if no one was willing to give her any space. “Excuse me. I said, EXCUSE ME!” she finally shouted.
“Do to others as you would have them do to you,” a male voice said from the stands. Everyone turned to see who it was.
“Oh, Pastor Carter, I was just—” But the pastor stopped Mrs. Fecto from continuing.
“I blame myself for not being a better teacher of the Golden Rule,” the pastor said. “Which is why I’m adding another afternoon session to my bible study classes dedicated to this. I do expect to see you, Josephine, and you, Muriel, this Wednesday for some much-needed extra study.”
Pastor Carter didn’t wait for them to answer and swept down the stairs, stopping to place a heavy hand on my shoulder. “Bless you, child. It’s good to see you again.” Then he actually winked at me before exiting the bleachers.
“Did that just happen?” I said under my breath and Laura chuckled. Pastor Samuel Carter was always quick with the fire and brimstone speeches. Never in all the time I went to services at his church had I ever seen him come to anyone’s rescue like this.
Mrs. Fecto finally managed to get out of her row and was storming down the steps. She was heading straight toward us and I could have sworn she planned to hit one of us, so I stepped in front of Laura, daring her to try something.
She blinked and must have realized that would be going too far, especially with everyone watching with interest, so she skirted past us with her shoulders up tight around her ears.
