The Color of Ordinary Time by Virginia Voelker Read Free Book Online Page B

to take you and Susan and Porter as far as Owenton. That is all. After I drop you off I will be headed back to my vacation.”
    “Back to your life of dissipation among sinners.”
    “Yes.”
    “You are wanton and immodest, headstrong child. You will come to regret your sinful ways. Coming before me in men’s clothing, and bedecked in jewelry. Your vanity will be your undoing.”
    The mention of jewelry stopped me for a moment. Then I remembered I was wearing a watch, and a small gold cross necklace Ivy had given me for Christmas the year before. How tarty of me. I could feel the anger rise, even though this was the reception I had more or less expected.
    “So, my money is good enough to get you out of jail, but my person is offensive to you. How very greedy of you.”
    Cold heat rose in his eyes. I had touched a nerve.
Okay
, I’d stomped up and down on it, as I knew right were it was.
    “Your money has served to further the work of the Lord. It’s more than I can say for you.”
    “Are you accepting the ride I’m offering you to Owenton or not? I hear it’s a lovely walk this time of year.”
    He took a step back from me. As he stepped back from me, he caught sight of the people who had entered the lobby behind us.
    “And what does a priest of Unholy Mother Church want here today?” my father asked.
    Porter, Susan, and I spun around to find Father Felix standing behind us, with his arm around the shoulders of a much older woman. Father Felix did not flinch, or back away under my father’s gaze, but the woman shrank back.
    “After your daughter came by to pay for the damage you caused the church, I realized she was such a charming young woman I couldn’t let her leave town without trying to introduce her to my mother. Keziah, if you will permit me, this is my mother, Ruth Ann Felix. Mother this is Keziah Taylor,” said Father Felix.
    “No, Keziah. Do not,” snapped my father. I had already stepped forward and extended my hand to Ruth Ann, who shook it gently. She looked fragile, and a little scared.
    “It’s very nice to meet you, Ruth Ann. You must be very proud of your son,” I said. It was a pleasantry. The sort of thing you say to a parent whose child has done well at school, or become president.
    “It’s very nice to meet you too, Keziah. I’ve waited a long time to know you,” said Ruth Ann.
    “Car, now,” bellowed my father. Susan and Porter headed for the front door of the station. I did not move. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand,” I said.
    “Bad enough you replaced their earthly frippery.
Do not disobey me
. Get to the car now,” said my father, as he grasped the upper part of my left arm, and worked to propel me toward the door. I tried to hold my ground and failed.
    “Let me go,” I snapped at him. My father ignored my protests, and would have dragged me to the car if Leo Cortland hadn’t materialized between my father and the door so fast that he might have been using magic.
    “Let her go,” said Cortland.
    “She will do
as I say
,” said my father.
    “
She said
to let her go. Round here we don’t look kindly on assault. Good way to pick up more jail time,” said Cortland, evenly.
    My father let me go, and stonily watched me turn back to Father Felix and Ruth Ann. “Now, where were we?” I asked, trying to pretend I hadn’t just been publicly manhandled.
    “You were saying I must be very proud of my son. You’re right, I am. I was very proud of my daughter too. She was a lovely young woman. Her name was Pamela. We called her Pam,” said Ruth Ann.
    “I’ve always liked the name Pam. It’s my mother’s name too.”
    Ruth Ann licked her lips nervously and glanced over at my father. “I still miss your mother. I bet you do too.”
    I was stunned. “I do. I mean, I was very young when she died. But I do miss her. How did you know her?”
    Ruth Ann seemed to look at Father Felix pleadingly. The priest sighed. “Keziah,” he said gently, “Your Pam — and her