Adiós, Jeffrey Sullivan

This story takes place just before the events in Andrea Carter and the Price of Truth.

August 1881, Fresno, California

Andi didn’t have to think very long or hard to realize that her sister Melinda was blind to the faults of her current beau, Jeffrey Sullivan. From the time he began courting her, Andi had a funny feeling about his intentions.

She didn’t know why she felt that way. Jeffrey was not rude, nor was he a bully like Johnny Wilson. Jeffrey was always polite, at least in front of the Carter family. Andi tried not to ever see him alone. She suspected that Jeffrey knew that she didn’t like him much.

Jeffrey always dressed like he had the town by the tail. He wore fancy white shirts (straight from Paris) and a high, white collar. “It’s all the rage,” he insisted. His collar looked tight enough to choke him. On the top of his blond waves, he usually wore a top hat like grownup men do in the city.

"He only wears it to look taller," Andi told Melinda once. "And he has shifty eyes!"

“You’d best leave Jeffrey alone,” Melinda told me just before she slammed her bedroom door. “He’s kind, considerate, and very attentive,” she shouted through the door. “Not to mention handsome.”

You need to step out of your dream world, big sister. Andi didn’t say it out loud, though. She didn’t want another door slammed in her face.

“Just think, he might become my brother-in-law someday,” Andi moaned to Taffy. “I’m sure he glares at me because he knows that I know that he isn’t who he pretends to be. He puts on fancy airs and squires Melinda to dances and box socials. She giggles and thinks he’s simply the nicest gentleman.”

Taffy snorted and laid her ears back. She had Jeffrey figured out too.

Jeffrey’s family was as nice as they could be. His little sister, Emily, was a sweetheart. Andi caught butterflies for her or turned the jump rope at recess for her and her little friends. Their father, Mr. Sullivan, was the town’s druggist and owned the apothecary shop.

Nice family or not, Andi could not push aside the creepy feeling that hit her every time she saw Mr. Jeffrey Sullivan. I have a creepy feeling that he likes Melinda because our family has a lot of money, Andi thought. The best way to get himself a piece of the Carter pie is by marrying Melinda.

Andi’s anxious thoughts finally took her to Justin. She confided in him, and he laughed. Then he got serious and told Andi to mind her own business and leave Melinda alone.

Andi wanted to do as big brother asked (well, ordered), but she couldn’t. Not after what she saw only one week after Justin’s talk. I loathe that sneaky snake, she burned silently. Somebody’s got to rescue Melinda, and I reckon it will have to be me.

—————

Andi didn’t realize how quickly “Melinda’s rescue” would begin. The very next Friday, Mother asked Andi to ride into town and pick up some potions and medicines at the drugstore.

“Yes, Mother!” Andi agreed happily. By myself! Riding into town! Andi saddled Taffy and enjoyed a brisk ride along the valley road. When she arrived in Fresno, she looped the reins around the hitching post and hopped up onto the boardwalk. Andi was just reaching for the doorknob to Sullivan’s Apothecary when she heard a strange noise. It sounded like giggling and a couple of low-pitched voices. Who in the world?

Andi left the doorknob and tiptoed along the building front. She poked her head around the corner. A fellow and a girl were talking together in the alley. Dumb place to chat, Andi thought. Not to mention dull. She began to turn around and head back to the drugstore when the fellow twisted his head around.

Andi clapped a hand over her mouth to keep from yelping. It was that rat, Jeffrey Sullivan, and Libby Flanders. Together. Scandalously close together, and . . .

Liberty Flanders! What was she doing down here in Fresno? Andi recognized her right away. Her family ran the Triple L ranch (named for Libby, Laura, and Lana, the Flanders daughters) down south, near the Kings River. They hardly ever came to town, as Visalia was closer to their spread than Fresno is. But the Carters and the Flanders saw each other once in a while for ranch rodeos or other events, and Chad knew Ty Flanders, Libby’s father, real well.

Andi jumped back in shock, hoping neither one saw her. She clenched her fists, counted to twenty-five in Spanish and then backwards in French (Miss Whitaker’s Academy had been good for something). She tried to “cool her heels” like Justin was always telling his little sister to do. “You jump to conclusions too fast and make snap judgments, honey. Slow down and think things through.”

So, Andi took a deep breath and decided that maybe it was just a friendly chat. She stepped to the corner and peeked again . . . just in time to see Jeffrey give Libby a hug. A very close hug.

Andi gasped.

Jeffrey and Libby jumped apart so fast you’d think a bee had stung them. I wish one had, Andi thought. A whole nest of hornets would be just the ticket for that two-timing, girl-chasing rat. Andi planted her hands on her hips and glared at the guilty parties. “Jeffrey Sullivan, just wait ’til Melinda hears about this!”

How many other rich girls was the druggist’s son stringing along? Playing nice to? Pretending to be their beau? Oooh! That ungodly, inconsiderate, disloyal beast! Andi called him worse than that in her head and turned to go.

 

Chapter 2

Andi hurried to complete the errand Mother had sent her to town for, but her hands shook so much she could hardly open the door to the apothecary. Just before she stepped inside, Libby Flanders snatched her sleeve. “Wait, Andi.”

Andi spun around. Liberty smiled. She was a year younger than Melinda and pretty, with nut-brown eyes, long lashes, and dark, curly hair. Even though she lived on a ranch, she never dressed as if she belonged there. In fact, not even Melinda dressed as “city” as Libby.

“What are you doing so far from the Triple L?” Andi asked, suddenly sorry for her. Maybe Libby didn’t know Jeffrey was supposed to be keeping company with Melinda. Their courtship had even progressed to the point where Jeffrey had ridden out to the ranch one evening to talk with Mother and Justin about the whole thing . . . even . . . marriage.

Obviously, somebody was mixed up about what courtship meant, and the confusion wasn’t on the Carter side. Andi couldn’t wait to find Justin and tell him that he, Chad, and Mitch had better do something before Melinda ended up marrying Jeffrey the Rat and bringing disgrace on the whole family.

It was bad enough that big sister Kate had run away and married that disreputable fellow, Troy. But to let Melinda get suckered into Jeffrey’s net was more than even Andi could bear. She wanted to protect her sister and unveil Jeffrey’s real intentions, which seemed to be to find a rich girl to marry. Apparently, it didn’t matter which one.

“The whole family came into Fresno today,” Libby answered Andi’s question. “Father plans to attend a cattle auction at the stockyards. Mother and my sisters want to see the new dresses in the emporium.” She smiled. “I heard the McLaughlins are hosting a big barn dance tomorrow night. Father says we may stay over in town the whole weekend and attend. Will you be going?”

Andi nodded, but she couldn’t keep her mind on a barn dance. Not when all she could think of was Jeffrey’s horrible behavior. “Sooo . . .” Andi drew the word out. “How do you know Jeffrey Sullivan?” She didn’t include, And why are you being so friendly with him?

Libby’s expression twisted into a puzzled look. Then she answered, “Mr. Sullivan was in Visalia the other day, and we got to know each other. When I saw him today in Fresno, we renewed our acquaintance. Why?”

Andi opened her mouth to spill the news that Jeffrey was Melinda’s beau, but the Rat rounded the corner just then and snapped, “Finish your business in town and go home.”

Andi gave him a look that showed him what she thought of him. He didn’t even twitch. “This isn’t over,” she said.

“Yes, it is,” he said. “Go on. Get out of here.”

Andi did what the Rat told her, mostly because the look on his face was scary. She burst into the drugstore and slammed the door. If Cory or Jack or even Johnny Wilson had bossed her like that, she would have said much, much more. But something deep inside told Andi to tread carefully. This was different . . . serious, not a petty fight with her friends. This is something my brothers need to deal with–and fast!

Before Melinda got hurt.

 

Chapter 3

As soon as Justin, Chad, and Mitch learned about Jeffrey hugging a young woman, when he was our sister’s beau, the young man’s education in righteous behavior would begin. The Carter Brothers Justice System is foolproof.

Andi smiled at the thought. It didn’t take long to buy the potions Mother wanted. Mr. Sullivan wrapped them carefully in brown paper so they wouldn’t break. Andi tore out of the drugstore, throwing a quick thank-you behind her shoulder. Then she jammed the medicines into her saddlebag and mounted Taffy so fast that her palomino snorted and tossed her head. “Sorry, girl.”

Andi’s first reaction was to rush over to Justin’s office, but caution held her back. She’d burst in on her brother once too often lately. “No more of this, young lady,” he’d said just last week. “I mean it. You are thirteen years old. Unless it’s an emergency—and heaven knows you have your share of them—you will wait your turn. I’m happy to take you to lunch or listen to your problems, but please make an appointment first.”

This was an emergency, but Justin might not agree.

The next best idea was to tell Melinda what her faithless beau was up to. “Yes,” Andi told Taffy. “I might as well go straight to the heart of the matter.”

Luckily, Melinda was home instead of off on one of those Ladies’ Aid meetings she loved so much. Andi spilled what she’d seen between Jeffrey and Libby and expected Melinda to turn rigid with anger.

She got angry, all right. But first she burst into tears. That was fine with Andi. Melinda was finally figuring Jeffrey out, something Andi had felt in her gut for over a year. “Shall I get pen and ink so you can write him a nasty letter?” Andi offered cheerfully. “I’m happy to help you word it. I can deliver it too if you’d like.”

Melinda stopped crying and turned on Andi with all the wrath of an older sister. “Andrea Carter, how dare you! How could you make up such a deceitful story? I know you don’t like Jeffrey, but to try to break things up like this? Well, it’s mean and petty. It hurts and—” She rose from her bed and pointed to the door. “Out. And don’t come back until you’re ready to apologize.”

Andi’s mouth dropped open. Shock kept any reply behind her teeth. Melinda looked angrier than Andi had ever seen her before. Not even big sister’s fury when Andi accidentally spilled a jar of spiders in her room compared with this. She gulped and fled.

Melinda slammed the door so hard that it shook the hallway. Tears stung Andi’s eyes, but they were nothing compared to what she heard from behind Melinda’s closed door. What hurt most was that she wasn’t crying because Jeffrey had betrayed her. No, she was sobbing because she thought her little sister was playing a mean trick on her.

I’ve played tricks on Melinda, most of them spider- or snake-related, Andi thought. But I would never joke about something as serious as the man she might marry someday. She sniffed back her tears and went riding. “I reckon she’ll just have to figure it out for herself,” she told Taffy. “I’m through helping her. It’s over.”

 

Chapter 4

But it wasn’t over. Not by a long shot. By the time Andi sat down for supper, the whole family had heard Melinda’s tale, and she still wasn’t speaking to her little sister. Worse, it looked like nobody was ready to believe her.

Justin prayed over the meal. When Andi opened her eyes, she knew she was in hot water. Very hot. Nobody was smiling. Justin was giving her his will-you-never-learn-to-think-before-you-act look.

Chad looked like he didn’t believe Andi’s story, either. Neither did Mother. Andi’s stomach turned over. Never had she dreamed her family would turn on her like this. “Mother, won’t you listen to–“

“I’d rather not hear it, Andrea,” she said quietly.

One look at Melinda’s red-rimmed eyes told Andi why. She ducked her head, all appetite gone.

A nudge brought Andi’s head around. It was Mitch. She caught his gaze, and he winked. The knot in her stomach untangled, at least a little bit. Mitch didn’t think very highly of Jeffrey, and his wink showed Andi that he quite possibly believed her. But when it came to being in trouble, what Mitch thought didn’t really count. Mostly, what Mother thought counted, and she was taking Melinda’s side.

Andi sat in moody silence while the rest of the family talked about the weather, the hay harvest, and Saturday night’s barn dance. She nearly choked on her biscuit when Melinda said, “Jeffrey is coming out to the ranch tomorrow afternoon to take me for a buggy ride. He just purchased a new rig, with a cover that slides up and down just as slick as you please. If it rains, we won’t get wet.” She smiled, but it looked forced.

Andi, for once, had the good sense to keep her mouth shut. But she was thinking plenty. Rain, Melinda? Really? It never rains in August.

Her heart hammered at the thought of Jeffrey’s upcoming visit. It sounded like the Rat was going to act like nothing had happened between Libby Flanders and him. Was he that sure Melinda would never believe Andi’s story of what she’d seen?

Chad piped up just then and asked if Jeffrey was taking her to the barn dance.

“Of course.” Melinda gave Chad a smile, just like a silly, naïve girl who had no idea she was being fooled.

Andi couldn’t take it one minute longer. “Why doesn’t anyone believe me?” She slammed her fork down. “Jeffrey Sullivan is a—”

“That will do, Andrea,” Mother cut in. “Eat your supper without talking. Words are getting you into trouble this evening.”

Andi her jaw to keep from talking back. She stared at her lap. If nobody believes me, then I will have to think of something drastic to get my sister out of this mess–before she’s humiliated in front of the entire town of Fresno, and us along with her.

Like a flash of lightning, an idea seared Andi’s mind. It was risky, and she had only one chance to make it work. Her thoughts raced with possible outcomes. One thought came to the forefront. I hope Melinda will forgive me.

 

Chapter 5

It was a lousy supper. Andi couldn’t get away fast enough. Once Melinda started talking, she chattered on about “Jeffrey this . . .” and “Jeffrey that . . .”

Andi was sure she did it on purpose, just to show she didn’t believe any of the things Andi had told her. Or maybe she was trying to convince herself. Whatever the reason, Andi asked to be excused and ran upstairs to make plans.

During Melinda’s jabbering, she learned that the Rat planned on picking Melinda up for a buggy ride at two o’clock tomorrow afternoon. Andi pulled out last year’s copybook and scribbled a few notes. Then she spent the rest of the long evening avoiding her family. That wasn’t hard to do. It was warm—as usual during a valley summer.

The one place Andi knew nobody would come looking for her (at least not for a long time) was up at her special spot. So, she went fishing. The creek usually ran low this time of year, but for some reason it wasn’t the muddy trickle it had been last year. She baited her hook and tossed in the line. “I don’t care if I catch anything,” she told Taffy. “I’m not fishing because I wanted to catch trout, but because I need to think.”

Taffy whickered her agreement. Fishing was good for thinking.

By the time the sun began to slip below the horizon, Andi knew what she was going to do. She rode home, rubbed Taffy down, and went to bed. But . . . she didn’t sleep much.

The next morning Andi rushed through her chores and changed into riding clothes. The next step would be tricky. She had to get into town, and nobody must know she was going on her own. “The things I do for my sister.” Andi sighed and saddled Taffy. “If Mother catches me heading to town alone without permission, she’ll skin me alive. Then she’ll keep me busy doing extra chores for a month.”

Andi mounted and headed down the road. By the time she trotted into Fresno, the sun was high overhead and blazing hot. “Now, where do you suppose the Flanders are staying?” she asked Taffy.

Taffy shook her mane. No help there. “I bet they’re staying at the nicest hotel in town. That’s where we would stay. Andi reined her palomino mare to a stop in front of the Fresno House. She slid from her back, wrapped the reins around the hitching post, and paused. “Andrea Carter, you are out of your mind.” She gulped back the lump in her throat then put one foot in front of the other and stepped up on the boardwalk.

The walk was not crowded. It was too hot for passersby to go strolling. Andi opened the door to the hotel and stepped inside. It was only a few degrees cooler in the lobby. Andi’s heart raced, and she almost turned tail and ran outside. What if my plan doesn’t work? What if Jeffrey is somehow able to sabotage my idea? He seemed determined to snag the girl of his choice—and leave two or three broken hearts strung out behind him.

 Not if I can help it! Andi decided fiercely. The thought that Melinda, whom Andi loved dearly (even when she yelled and called me a liar), might get stuck with Jeffrey spurred Andi on at full speed. She approached the desk clerk and asked, “Are the Flanders staying here?”

The skinny, clean-shaven young man reminded Andi of Tim O’Neil, Justin’s clerk. He sniffed, which was a clear sign that he didn’t want to talk to her. “Yes, miss,” he finally said, frowning. “What is your business with them?”

Andi ignored his rude manner. “I wish to call on Liberty Flanders. Is she in?”

 The clerk picked up a palm-sized silver tray and held it out, nearly in her face. “Your card, if you please.”

Calling cards. A waste of cards and the ink they’re printed with. But for families as well to do and important as the Flanders (and the Carters), name cards were the polite way of letting someone know you would like to call on them. Hence, a “calling” card.

Andi sighed. Then she rolled her eyes and dug one of the pesky cards from her vest pocket. It was tan, with flowers scrolled around the edges. One line of script read “Andrea Rose Carter.” She had asked the printer for horses, but alas, he didn’t have any horses in his stock of movable type. He had flowers or birds or butterflies. Those were more ladylike anyway, he’d told her.

She dropped the card onto the tray.

The clerk glanced briefly at the card, and his eyebrows shot up. “I will return immediately, Miss Carter.” He sounded friendlier this time around.

Andi watched him scurry up the stairs. “The Carter name is good for something, I reckon,” she muttered with satisfaction.

Andi had expected to be invited up to the Flanders’ hotel room, but the desk clerk returned with Libby at his heels. It was refreshing to see that she didn’t take calling cards too seriously, either. “Andi!” Libby flashed a friendly smile. She wasn’t wearing her floppy hat, and she’d left her long hair down. Clearly, she was not expecting visitors.

“Howdy, Libby.”

“I’m so glad you came by for a visit,” Libby said. “The hotel room was getting quite crowded. I can’t wait until the auction is over and we can do something more interesting while we’re in town.”

“Aren’t you and Jeffrey Sullivan spending time together today?” She knew the answer, of course. The Rat was squiring Melinda around.

Libby’s face fell. “He wanted to be with me, and we enjoyed breakfast together. But he had important business this afternoon that he simply could not put off. I felt so badly for him. He wanted to take me on a buggy ride out to the San Joaquin River. Maybe tomorrow.”

Andi felt her cheeks flame. She wanted to blurt out to Libby what she’d told Melinda yesterday afternoon, that Jeffrey Sullivan was not who they thought he was. But she clamped her mouth shut. Patience. If my own sister didn’t believe me, why should an acquaintance? Libby might think Andi was trying to break up her and Jeffrey. This is getting complicated.

Andi sucked in a deep breath and told Libby what she’d come to say in the first place. “I was wondering if you wanted to get out of town and go riding with me out on our ranch.” She sent up a quick prayer that Libby actually liked to ride and would want to go.

Libby’s eyes sparkled. “Oh, Andi, I would!”

Suddenly, Andi wished Libby lived closer to Fresno. She was older, more Melinda’s age, but they could easily have become friends. Then she sighed. After today, Libby would probably want to wring Andi’s neck for what she was about to do.

She would have to stand in line behind Melinda.

 

Chapter 6

This is for Melinda. This is for Melinda . . . and for Libby too. Andi quietly chanted it while she waited for Libby to change into riding clothes and come back downstairs to the hotel lobby. Sweat trickled down the back of Andi’s neck, and not just because it was ninety degrees in the shade.

Not a great time of the day to go riding.

Andi had half-expected Libby to put up some kind of protest. But she hadn’t. She’d just skipped merrily back up the stairs and disappeared around a corner.

Then a new thought made sweat run down Andi’s neck even faster. What if Jeffrey canceled the buggy ride with Melinda? It was hot, and a buggy ride sounded dreadful. It was much better to at least feel some breeze on horseback.

Andi shook her head. No, the buggy cover was probably Jeffrey’s way of showing off his new rig, and it would keep the sun off Melinda’s face. At least, Andi hoped it was his way of showing off today. If for some reason he and Melinda decided it was too hot to go on a buggy ride, they would most likely stay indoors, chatting in the parlor.

The parlor. Not a good place to reveal explosive surprises. There were a lot of breakables in Mother’s parlor.

Andi shook herself free of her gloomy thoughts and hoped things would play out like Melinda had so confidently announced at supper the night before.

“I’m ready,” Libby said. She was dressed in riding clothes that made her look like the Queen of Hearts. She was all slicked up in browns and creams, with a bright red blouse that matched the band around her straw hat. “Father was glad to hear I’m going riding while he and Mother attend the auction. My choice was to accompany them or wait alone in our room. My sisters are visiting friends, where they’ll stay much cooler. Father did wonder who was crazy enough to ride in the heat of the day.” She giggled. “I guess we are. Thanks for your invitation.”

“I’ll go riding any time,” Andi said, swallowing her guilt. Libby was so nice! She seemed ready to give anything a go, even sweltering under the August sun.

It took no time to grab Taffy and head for the livery, where Libby intended to rent a horse. She raved over Taffy then told Andi about her own mare back home, Cotton Candy, a dappled cremello. “We both named our horses after candy,” Libby said with a laugh. “What does that tell you?”

“That we both like candy,” Andi said, laughing with her. Inside, though, she was not laughing. I really like her! I hope she still likes me when this is over.

Cory Blake readied Libby’s horse for riding. He was all stares and questions while he saddled a sorrel gelding and led him outside. Then he helped Libby mount. “Who’s she?” he whispered.

 “A new friend,” Andi replied. “I’m going to show her the ranch.”

 “In this heat?” Cory said in surprise. “You’re loco.”

 Loco, indeed! Andi agreed silently. “I’ll tell you all about it next week.”

“So, there is a reason you’re taking her riding during the hottest part of the day.” Cory smirked and slapped Taffy on the rump.

That Cory! He knows me too well. Andi gave him a warning look so he wouldn’t let on to Libby that something was up.

He grinned, tipped his hat, and said, “You ladies have a nice ride now, ya hear?”

——————-

It took longer than the usual hour to ride out to the ranch. Andi didn’t want to take the main road, on account of accidentally meeting Jeffrey on his way out there. She also preferred not to push the horses in this heat, especially Taffy. She wasn’t due to drop her first foal for five more months, but Andi wanted to be careful.

Andi led Libby on the scenic route, through fields and past orchards, until the girls ended up on the far side of the Circle C. Andi pulled Taffy to a stop in a shady grove of oaks. It wasn’t as hot as she’d feared. Today there was a breeze. Granted, it was a hot one, but a breeze is a breeze any way you look at it.

A few gulps from the canteen cooled their dry throats. Libby chugged down a good share of the canteen’s contents as well. “Your ranch is beautiful,” she remarked.

Andi followed her gaze to where the Sierras were peeking out above the rolling hills. “Oh, yes,” she agreed wholeheartedly.

“We can see the mountains from the Triple L,” Libby said, “but they don’t look as stunning as they do from here.”

In this part of the country, one ranch in the Sierra foothills looked just about like another, but it was sweet of Libby to compliment the Circle C. Andi looked up. The sun’s position showed it was nearing two o’clock. Now or never. Her stomach churned as she nudged Taffy into a trot. “Come on, Libby. I’ll show you the yard and the ranch house. Then I’ll ask Nila for a tray of cookies and something cool to drink.”

“Sounds lovely,” Libby said. Sweat beaded her forehead and dripped freely down her face.

Andi turned Taffy toward the house and yard. This is it.

 

Chapter 7

Libby and Andi trotted side by side as they made their way to the Circle C yard. Andi knew it wasn’t only the sun making her hands slick with sweat. She swallowed and tried to carry on a cheerful conversation.

Most days, Andi wished the Rat would steer clear of the ranch. Not today. Today, she hoped Jeffrey followed through on his promise to take Melinda buggy riding. This might be Andi’s only chance to show Melinda what lay behind Jeffrey’s mask of affection. With Libby here, Andi had a chance to prove she’d been telling Melinda the truth.

They trotted into the yard. At first glance it looked deserted, and Andi’s heart fell to her toes. Then . . . hurrah! She spied the spanking-new buggy tied up under the shade of one of the giant oaks. The rig was a beauty, all right. I bet he waxed each spoke. His horse was a shiny bay, with every tangle combed out of its black mane and tail.

Andi dismounted and led Taffy to the watering trough. Libby followed. She paid no attention to the buggy, which eased Andi’s momentary panic. What if Jeffrey had taken Libby for a ride already and she recognized the rig?

Apparently, Melinda was the first.

As the horses took their fill, Andi looked around for her brothers. She spotted Mitch ducking into the barn. He barely limped anymore. His shot-up leg had healed completely, but Andi still got shivers remembering their time up in the hills earlier this summer.

Chad was nowhere in sight. He’d probably gone to the stockyards for the cattle auction. No matter. It was Melinda Andi wanted to find.

As if in answer to her wish, the front door of the ranch house opened, and Melinda stepped out onto the veranda. She was dressed in a bright, flower-sprigged summer frock with a big, floppy sun hat perched on her head. Jeffrey Sullivan stood right behind her. His hands were wrapped around her face, covering her eyes. Melinda was giggling. He leaned close to her ear and mumbled something then guided her down the steps and toward the buggy.

Libby looked up from watering the horses. “Oh, there’s your sister. It looks like she’s going on a buggy—” She broke off and squinted against the sun. “Who is she with?”

The sun was pretty bright. If Andi hadn’t known it was Jeffrey, she might have asked the same question. She and Libby stood halfway across the yard, quite a distance from the veranda. But the Rat was wearing his signature top hat, the ugly thing. I’d recognize him anywhere. Andi was glad Libby had not. The timing had to be perfect.

Jeffrey removed his hands from Melinda’s eyes. She squealed with delight at the new rig. She threw her arms around Jeffrey’s neck and looked up at him with adoring eyes. He pulled her closer to him. Andi made a face. Too close, if you ask me.

Caught up with each other, Jeffrey and Melinda paid no attention to Libby and Andi, but that was about to change.

Jeffrey escorted Melinda off the porch and helped her into the buggy. Talking and smiling, he circled around and took hold of the bay’s bridle. Instead of climbing into the buggy beside her, he began to walk backward. He chatted with Melinda and led the horse toward the water trough. He no doubt planned to give the horse a drink before setting out.

If he knew Libby and I are at the trough, I’m sure he would take off in the opposite direction.

Too late. Jeffrey wasn’t watching where he was going. He kept walking backward, pulling the bay along and talking with Melinda. He didn’t see Libby and Andi or the two horses. He bumped into the trough and let go of the bridle so his horse could drink.

“Howdy, Jeffrey,” Andi said.

Jeffrey spun around . . . and froze.

 

Chapter 8

Up to that very second, Libby had not recognized Jeffrey, not with his back turned. Besides, she never expected to see her “beau” here with Melinda. But as soon as he twisted around, she knew. Her eyes grew round as saucers. Two red spots flamed her cheeks. She gasped, and her hand flew to her mouth.

Jeffrey’s expression told Andi everything. The two-timing cheat had just been caught with his hand in the cookie jar. His face turned the color of the chalk. He didn’t say a word, but his eyes shot daggers at Andi.

“I told you this wasn’t over.” She gave him her own icy-blue glare.

“What’s wrong, Jeffrey?” Melinda called from the buggy. She couldn’t see his face, but she could easily make out his stiff back and clenched fists.

“Everything’s all right,” he said, clearing his throat. “Stay in the buggy, Melinda.”

Melinda clearly had ideas of her own. She didn’t like being bossed any more than Andi did. Instead of obeying the Rat, she climbed down from the rig. “What’s wrong?” she asked Jeffrey again. She glanced at Libby then looked at Andi. She frowned her annoyance. “What are you up to?”

Andi opened her mouth to blurt the truth, but she didn’t have time to say one word. Faster than a striking snake, Libby’s hand reached out and slapped Jeffrey Sullivan across the face.

Andi gasped. Melinda gasped.

“How dare you!” That Flanders girl was smart as a whip. She’d figured everything out in the space of five seconds. “And to think I let you embrace me in town yesterday!” She shuddered.

Jeffrey stood stock-still. The handprint showed bright red against his pale cheek.

Melinda, who hadn’t believed Andi about Jeffrey hugging Libby, looked at Libby with new eyes. She looked at Andi. Her face turned white. Then it turned red. “Do you mean . . .” She couldn’t go on.

Libby shook in anger. “Andi, is this what you meant yesterday when you said Melinda would hear about this?”

Andi nodded. “Jeffrey’s been courting her for over a year . . . or so he says. But it looks like he’s trying to court any rich girl. Melinda didn’t believe me, so I had to do something drastic to convince—”

Jeffrey’s hand curled around one of Andi’s braids and yanked.

“Ouch!” Andi yelped. She twisted to free herself, but he held on tight.

Then Jeffrey yanked Andi around to face him. He looked meaner than a wolf stalking a lamb, and Andi was the lamb. He called her names that made Melinda and Libby squeal in astonishment.

Jeffrey let go of Andi’s braid and curled his fingers around her arm. He began to drag her across the yard. “I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget, you brat.”

Andi kicked and hollered. With his free hand, Jeffrey smacked Andi’s face before other hands tore him away. Breathing hard, Andi crumpled to the ground. She wiped her watery eyes and looked up.

The sight propelled Andi to her feet. Her mouth fell open. Melinda and Libby—with Mitch’s help—were hauling Jeffrey to the horse trough. Three heartbeats later, they shoved him in. The Rat kicked and splashed until Andi was sure all the water would be thrown from the trough.

Mitch stood off to the side, arms crossed, and let the girls hold Jeffrey underwater. He caught Andi’s gaze and waved her over. She stumbled to his side. He put an arm around her shoulders and hugged her tight. “I heard the commotion and came as fast as I could,” he said. “You all right?”

Andi nodded, but her face hurt. She reached up and felt her cheek. And winced. It was tender, but it wasn’t bleeding.

“How long do you think they should hold him under?” Mitch asked. He was not smiling.

Andi shrugged and blinked back tears.

When the girls let go, Jeffrey erupted from the water like a geyser. Coughing, sputtering, and choking, he sat there trying to catch his breath.

Mitch reached down and yanked the half-drowned Rat out of the trough. Then he threw him to the dusty ground. “Jeffrey Sullivan, your courtship of my sister has ended. I’ll inform my family. But just to be clear, if you ever come near either one of my sisters again, or this young lady”—he nodded at Libby—“you’ll get more than a dunking from my brothers and me. Clear?”

Jeffrey sat there, chest heaving. Mitch knocked him over. “Answer me. Is that clear?”

Jeffrey nodded.

Andi shivered. Mitch looked scary-angry, not at all like the easygoing brother she knew and loved. But she was awfully glad it was Mitch and not Chad towering over this human mud pie. Chad might not have let Jeffrey come up for air, and Andi would have been visiting her big brother at San Quentin penitentiary for drowning a man.

Mitch hauled Jeffrey to his feet then landed a sudden, swift blow to his jaw. Jeffrey went sprawling. He lay on the ground, clearly defeated, and made no move to rise. “And that is for touching my baby sister.” Mitch found Jeffrey’s tall hat, filled it with water from the trough, and slammed it down on the Rat’s head.

Andi was too astonished to cheer or to do anything else. She glanced sideways at Melinda. She and Libby had their arms around each other. Both were sobbing. Melinda opened her arms wide. “Come here, Andi. I’m so sorry I didn’t believe you. Just look at you! You might end up with a black eye on account of all this.” She sniffed. “Please forgive me.”

Andi fell into Melinda’s arms and started crying. All three girls embraced. “Thank you for caring enough to show us what kind of man Jeffrey Sullivan really is,” Libby said.

A burst of joy and relief welled up inside. Andi hugged Melinda and didn’t let her go. Finally! Jeffrey Sullivan was banished from the Circle C.

Mitch strong-armed Jeffrey into his rig. “Take your buggy and get off our ranch.” He slapped the horse on the rump to hurry him along. Then he winked at the girls and started back to the barn.

“Thanks, Mitch!” Andi called.

He paused, turned to the girls, and gave them a two-fingered salute from the brim of his Stetson. “All in a day’s work,” he said with a laugh.

Then he winked at Libby.