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mob. Is such courage the hallmark of a thief?
There were more murmurs.
Claire lifted her chin and glared down at the milling crowd.  My husband has been falsely
accused. And if you will be patient for just a few days, I will prove it to you.
There was a long pause and some loud murmuring. Finally the man in front spoke for the rest.  I
guess we won t lose any more money if we wait, he said sullenly.
 Guess he would have run, if he d done it, another added.  And he never ran from that mob.
 In this country a man is supposed to be considered innocent until he is proven guilty, Claire
continued.  My husband will be exonerated, and every penny of your money will be recovered. I
promise you so!
There was another pause and loud murmurs. After a minute one man stepped forward.  We ll
see, then, the mob leader conceded. He let his placard fall and motioned to the other men, leading
them away from the jail.
When she got inside, it was to find John being brought out from the back of the building. He
stopped when he saw his parents and Claire. He was so shocked he couldn t speak.
 There you are, my boy, Clayton said heartily, as if they d parted in harmony only the day
before. He moved forward, extending a hand.  I ve brought Dennison. He s going to get you out of
this place. We ll post bail. Then we ll set about proving you innocent, whatever it takes.
John s eyes narrowed as he dragged them away from the joyous sight of Claire and looked at the
father he hadn t seen in two years. Clayton Hawthorn was thinner, and he looked frail, but his eyes
were as determined and fiery as ever.  You re certain that I am innocent? he asked, with a mocking
smile.
 Don t be absurd, his father said stiffly.  You re my son even if I have been an old fool of a
father. I know you re innocent.
John met the extended hand and shook it with warmth and respect.  It s good to see you again,
sir, he said formally, although there was sincere feeling in his deep tone.
Clayton smiled faintly.  Yes. It s good to see you, too.
 Such formality! Men! Maude grumbled, pushing past her husband to hug her son fiercely.  Oh,
my dear! What a mess you ve landed yourself in this time! she said heavily.  But we ll get you out
somehow, even if we have to bribe a judge or threaten him at gunpoint.
 Mother! John chuckled, hugging her close.
 I do know a judge, she added thoughtfully as she extricated herself.  We were sweethearts in
grammar school. But he sits on the bench in Florida, so he would hardly be any help to us.
 The truth will be help enough, Clayton said.  And you can stop flaunting your old boyfriends
at me, you hussy!
Maude giggled, and John looked past his parents to Claire. His heart jumped at the mere sight of
her, and he realized how much he d missed her in his life. He d never had such a sensation of joy in
his life before, but even as his dark eyes glittered with emotion, she lifted her chin and stared at him
with frank resentment. He scowled as he saw her belligerent expression. She hadn t forgotten a thing,
apparently. He knew then that her resentments would have to be overcome, and it would take time.
That was all right. He had plenty of time if he wasn t lynched in the interim, he thought darkly.
 What are you doing with my parents? he demanded.
 She s been staying with us, Clayton offered.
 I decided that it would be the last place you d look for me, she told him.
 So it was. He appeared angry now.  I d no idea where to find you!
 You were occupied with Mrs. Calverson just before I left, as you recall, she said in a near
whisper.  I didn t think you d miss me.
Maude stepped between them.  This isn t the place, she said gently.
 You re right, John agreed reluctantly, still angry at Claire s jibe.  But thank you all for
coming, just the same.
 Families must stick together in times of strife, Maude told him.
 I ve paid the bail, old Dennison said, rejoining them.  You re free, for the moment, he added
to John.  Let s go.
John went out the door with them and down to the waiting carriage. It was a tight squeeze, but
they managed to fit. The carriage took them to the biggest hotel in town.
 Do you still have the suite at Mrs. Dobbs s house? Claire asked John.  And is Chester all
right?
 Yes. Mrs. Dobbs refused to throw me out even in the face of sour public opinion. Quite a
woman, Mrs. Dobbs.
 We ll get rooms here, Clayton said as the carriage stopped at the Aragon Hotel.  Claire, go
home with John and get him cleaned up. Then you can meet us here at the hotel for the evening meal.
 I don t&  she began, embarrassed.
 Yes, that would be best, John said before she could talk her way out of going home with him.
 We have a lot to say to each other.
 Do we? she asked coldly.
The elder Hawthorns waved at them as the carriage pulled off down the street toward Mrs.
Dobbs s house.
John leaned back and stared at Claire. She looked fine-drawn and remote, elegant in her dark suit
and perfectly coiffed. He sighed as he thought how good it was to have her home again, even
reluctantly. He d wasted so much of their time together. Now, when the chips were down, she stood by [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]