Sister's Choice by Judith Pella Read Free Book Online Page A

glanced at Maggie. Apparently he was perplexed about how to explain the fine line between lying and simply not incriminating oneself. “Look, Tommy,” Zack went on when he saw Maggie couldn’t help him, “don’t talk to anyone about your pa or what happened to him—except to your lawyer when he comes. Mr. Werth will know what to do and who to talk to.”
    “I guess I can do that. I don’t care to talk much about it anyway.”
    Taking that cue, Maggie launched into a report of Main-town news. She told about the various visitors. Tommy didn’t remember much about Evan, except that he was real smart. Thus, with Zack’s help, she managed to fill the next half hour with conversation. She hated to admit it, but she was relieved when the deputy came in to say their time was up. She hugged Tommy and Zack shook his hand; then they were led back into the office. Maggie wasn’t thrilled to see that the sheriff had returned and was seated at his desk.
    “Good morning, Mr. Hartley,” said Sheriff Haynes. He cast a critical glance at Maggie. “I don’t like to have children come into my jail,” he added sternly.
    “I’m not a child!” exclaimed Maggie, momentarily forgetting her trepidation.
    With more of a voice of reason, Zack added, “I’m sorry, Sheriff, but Maggie is eighteen, not really a child.”
    “Does your father know you have come here?”
    “Yes . . . sir,” Maggie replied, finally remembering her manners and the fact that she didn’t want to give this man any reason to question her further.
    Zack asked, “Sheriff, do you know why Tommy’s lawyer hasn’t come to see him? His mother and I went to Portland two weeks ago to speak with him and hire him.”
    “Haven’t heard a word from him. Our backwater town is probably low on his list of priorities.”
    “Well, it isn’t right that Tommy should languish away in jail waiting on the sluggish wheels of justice. I see no reason why you can’t release him into my custody until the trial starts.”
    “You see no reason, Mr. Hartley?” Haynes’s tone was laced in sarcasm. “Only a few weeks ago, you came very close to getting arrested yourself. Perhaps you’ve forgotten that you are no longer the respected circuit preacher.”
    Maggie wanted to rise up in defense of her friend, but as awful as the sheriff ’s words were, they were true. She couldn’t argue against them, but she could offer an alternative.
    “My father could take custody of Tommy,” she said.
    Haynes arched a brow. “Your family is closer to Tommy than I thought.”
    Maggie gulped. Now she was in for it.
    “Well, it doesn’t matter,” the sheriff added quickly. “Tommy ran once. I won’t risk his running again.”
    Maggie and Zack wasted no more time there. They were both anxious to get away from the sheriff, Maggie for her secret, and Zack probably because he feared the man might find a reason to arrest him after all.
    They found Ellie in Dolman’s. Everything on Mama’s list had been carried out to the wagon, and now Ellie was looking through some of Mr. Dolman’s catalogues.
    “Maggie, I have to show you something,” she said excitedly as they entered the store. “Zack, you can’t look. Okay?”
    He smiled. “I’ll just go out to the wagon and see that everything is secured.”
    When he was gone, Ellie opened one of the catalogues to a page of wedding gowns. She poked her finger at one in particular. “That’s it. That’s the gown I want.”
    “It’s really beautiful,” Maggie said, trying to make her enthusiasm equal her sister’s. She was, in fact, glad to have something to take her mind off the trip to the jail. “Do you think Mama will let you buy a store-bought dress?” She saw that the price was thirty-five dollars and fifty cents! That was more than a month’s wages at the sawmill.
    “Of course not, and I wouldn’t ask for something so extravagant. But Mama can surely make a pattern from this picture, and if not, Grandma definitely can. Mr.