Madison's Children - Linda Warren Mills & Boon Cherish

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just idiots fighting over a fence that was ten inches over the line. He had to talk to them about every six months to defuse the situation.

      He walked closer to his aunt. “You might try losing that holier-than-thou attitude, because if the Belles and the Calhouns take their business elsewhere, Walker’s General Store will be in trouble.”

      “I handled it, didn’t I?” She tucked a receipt into the register and slammed it closed.

      “Yes, in a disagreeable fashion.”

      “Now…”

      “No.” He held up a hand. “This discussion is over. When Cooper Yates comes into the store, you will treat him cordially.”

      “People don’t know their place.”

      He gritted his teeth and let that pass. “And you will never slap my kids again—ever.”

      “They need discipline.”

      “Ever, Nell. Are we clear on that?”

      She raised her chin. “Yes.”

      “Okay, Georgie.” He jostled the boy, who had a mouth full of jelly beans. “Let’s go see what the Graysons are doing?”

      “Aren’t you leaving him here?” Nell called.

      “No,” he said over his shoulder, “not ever again.”

      As he strolled toward his car, he thought about Ms. Belle. No one stood up to Nell. Most people in town would rather diffuse a bomb than cross her, yet Ms. Belle had no qualms about speaking her mind. About Cooper.

      Although he was appalled at Nell’s tactics, he had to wonder if there was something going on between Ms. Belle and Cooper. When the crisis at High Five had been settled, she was supposed to return to Philadelphia. But she’d stayed. Why?

      And what did he care?

      MADDIE WALKED TO HER TRUCK and saw that the barbed wire, steel posts and bag of steel-post ties were loaded. As she was about to get in, she saw a young girl crossing the street to the store. It was Ginny. The school was just across the highway, but school wasn’t out. It was too early.

      Ginny sat on the bench in front of the store, huddled in her Windbreaker, which didn’t reach across her protruding stomach. Her face was pale.

      Maddie walked over to her. “Are you okay?”

      Ginny looked up. “Oh, hi, Ms. Belle.”

      “Why aren’t you in school?”

      “I felt sick and the nurse said I could go home. My dad delivers eggs here and I’m waiting on him.”

      “Maybe you should see a doctor?”

      “No. I’m okay—just pregnant.”

      “Still…”

      “We can’t afford it, okay?” The words were angry, defiant. Ginny rested her head against the wall. “God, I wish Brian had been at High Five and then I could be out of this awful place.”

      Maddie eased onto the bench beside her, thinking the girl might need someone to talk to. “Haley doesn’t know where her mother is, so you could have been stranded, too.”

      “That would be better than this dump of a town.”

      “Ginny…”

      The girl sat up straight. “Please don’t give me a lecture. I’ve heard enough from the school counselor and the teachers.”

      “They have a point. You’re so young.” Maddie had a good idea of what the counselor and teachers had told her.

      “And stupid, like my dad is always telling me.” Ginny chewed on a fingernail that had been gnawed to the quick. Her greasy hair was pulled back into a limp ponytail. Food stains speckled her jeans, even the Windbreaker, and her sneakers were a dirty tan. The girl needed a bath. Maddie wondered at her home life.

      Suddenly Ginny turned to her. “Ms. Belle, please help me. A social worker came to our house and my dad told her I was giving the baby away. He says he can’t afford to feed another kid. I want to keep my baby.”

      “Ginny…”

      “I have an aunt who lives in Temple, and she said I could stay with her. She’d let me keep my baby and she’d help, too. I just need money to get there. Please, Ms. Belle, help me.”

      Maddie could feel herself weakening under that desperate tone, but she had to be careful. So many times she let her emotions rule her head. She had to remind herself that Ginny had a family.

      “Why doesn’t she come and get you?”

      “She’s had knee surgery and she’s not driving yet. I can help her, too.”

      “What about your mother?” Maddie kept holding back, trying not to let her emotions get involved.

      “My dad hates my aunt. She’s my mother’s sister and my mother can’t even visit her. My mom won’t go against my dad.”

      This was all sounding very odd to Maddie. “How did you hear from her?”

      “I called her from school to tell her what my dad was planning. I need to see a doctor and she told me to come, but not to tell my father.”

      “You haven’t seen a doctor?” This one thing stuck in Maddie’s mind.

      “No, ma’am. We can’t afford it.”

      “But there are free clinics—if not here, then in Giddings.”

      Ginny shook her head. “My dad wouldn’t let me go. He said if I was so stupid to get pregnant then I could have the baby at home just like my mom had all of us.”

      Good heavens, this was terrible. The girl needed to see a doctor.

      “Do you know when the baby is due?”

      “No, ma’am.”

      Maddie took a deep breath and looked off to the vehicles traveling on the country road, some stopping at the gas station/convenience store across the highway, others at the local café and the rest continuing on to their homes and ranches. A cool breeze wafted Ginny’s unwashed scent to her.

      Everything in her told her not to get involved with a girl she didn’t know, but she couldn’t ignore the fact that Ginny needed medical attention and more.

      Oh, she hoped she didn’t regret this. “What’s your aunt’s name?”

      “Thelma Jenkins.”

      “Do you have her phone number?”

      “Why?”

      Maddie bit her lip. “I’ll give you the money to get to Temple, but I want to talk to your aunt first.”

      Ginny smiled and her whole demeanor changed. “Oh, Ms. Belle, thank you.” Ginny glanced at the pay phone beside them. “I’ll call her now if…if you’ll loan me two quarters.”

      Maddie cursed herself for not bringing her cell, but she’d been in such a hurry to catch Cooper and Rufus that she’d left it behind. Opening her purse, she dug for change and handed it to Ginny. The girl jumped up to make the call.

      The traffic was deafening, and Maddie couldn’t make out what Ginny was saying. Ginny held out the phone to Maddie and she spoke to Thelma Jenkins.

      The lady assured her she would do everything to help Ginny. Hanging up, Maddie felt much better.

      “I’ll give you the money for bus fare, but you have to tell your parents where you’re going.”

      “Sure. They won’t care.”

      Maddie couldn’t imagine a parent not caring.

      “And I’d like your aunt’s number and address.”

      Maddie

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