BOOTLEG LOVE

11

Evangeline leaned against the door and sighed. She had such a wonderful night; it was a shame it was over. She headed for the stairs passing the parlour; her mother rose from the couch and came out into the hall. “Just where the hell have you been?” She demanded, her hands firmly planted on her hips.

            “At the fair.” She confessed.

            “Mr. Hamilton came by this evening.” Oh no, she had completely forgotten that she had a date with Quincy. She was supposed to go with him to a fundraiser, and she had stood him up. She felt just terrible. “Apparently, you had an engagement. He waited two hours for you before he left. You completely flaked on your obligation.”

            “I will make it up to him.” She promised going up the steps; only her mother followed her.

            “Who were you with?” Her mother barked. “Michael says you left with some guy earlier this afternoon. Who was he?”

            “He was mistaken.” Evangeline lied.

            Her mother grabbed her by the arm forcefully and forced Evangeline to stop and confront her. “Who was he?” When Evangeline didn’t answer, she took a guess. “Ever since I caught you with that despicable Kingston boy, you have been secretive and distracted. You were with him tonight, weren’t you?” Evangeline tried to pull away, but her mother’s grip did not lessen.

            “You are hurting me.” She complained, trying to pull away.

            “You were you wretched little tart. I told you not to see him.”

            “I will see whoever I like, and that includes Payton Kingston.” She snapped at her mother.

            “You stupid little fool.” Her mother hissed. “He will be the ruin of you. You will not see him.” Her mother yelled.

            “I will, too; you can’t stop me.”

            Suddenly her mother’s hand came up surprisingly fast and struck Evangeline across the face so hard her head snapped to the side, and she fell onto the steps. There was a stinging pain on the right side of her face. Stunned and horrified, Evangeline looked up at her mother, who was beyond enraged. “You will mind me!” She shrieked. “Or you will be out in the street. If you stay in this house, you are mine, and if you are mine, you will do as I say. If not, then get out, starve, die in the street, I will be done with you.”

            Then in a rage, she stomped up the steps and left Evangeline huddled on the staircase. She was shaken, and the tears in her eyes stung. Her fingers touched her now puffy cheek just below her eye. It would bruise. She was sure of it. But, would her mother really throw her out into the street?

***

            Quincy knocked on the door of the Canyon manor and waited, a bouquet of flowers in his hands. It wasn’t long before the door opened, and Quincy was facing the Canyon butler. “I’m here to see Evangeline.”

            “I’m afraid, Miss. Canyon is not accepting visitors today.”

            “Why not?”

            “She is occupied.” He said.

            Quincy pushed his way in. “Well, un-occupy her.” She had already stood him up once he wouldn’t be turned away without an explanation. He crossed the hall and stepped into the parlour. “I demand to see her; I will not leave until I do.”

            “I’m afraid, Sir, that it is entirely imposable for you to see Miss Canyon-”

            “I will see him.” Evangeline’s voice came from the door silencing the servant. The old man bowed his head and left the room. Evangeline stood in the doorway, her head down. “I’m truly sorry about last night.” She said, not looking up at him.

            “As you should be, I looked like a fool showing up so late and alone. You owe me an explanation.” Still, she wouldn’t look up at him. “Look at me.” He snapped. Crossing the room, he took her chin in his hand and forced her to look up. He was about to yell again when he saw the dark bruise on her right cheek. “Oh my God, you have been struck.” He barely managed as he released her. She quickly pushed past him and went to the window, her back to him. “Who struck you?”

            “It is nothing.” She lied. “An accident.”

            “An accident?” He didn’t believe her. Quincy tossed the flowers on the couch and came up behind her. “If you tell me the truth, I can help you. But I can do nothing if you insist on lying to me.”

            The room went quiet, and then Evangeline moved away from him again. “I fell.” Why did she insist on falsehoods? A woman did not get that kind of bruise by falling. “I’m sorry about last night; I was distracted and didn’t realize the time.”

            He didn’t care about last night anymore. He cared about her safety. “Where were you?” Perhaps he could use his detective skills to sniff out the culprit.

            “With an old friend.” She said barely above a whisper.

            “Did this friend strike you?”

            “No.” She said, turning to face him abruptly. There were such conviction and honesty in her eyes. “He - my friend would never harm me.”

            She had corrected herself so quickly, but he had still heard it, that word that made his heart ache… he. She was with another man last night when she was supposed to have been with him. It would appear he had competition for her favour. It was disheartening to learn, but he had no claim to her as of yet. He supposed a relationship was still possible; he would only have to try harder to be the man she wanted. It would help if he knew who the competition was, but he wasn’t going to ask. He didn’t think she would tell him.

            So, if she was not going to tell him what really happened, he was going to let it go. He picked up the flowers he had dropped and handed them to her. “These are for you.” He said as she accepted them.

            “They are lovely; thank you.”

            “I was going to ask you to go for a stroll, but I assume you are not up to going out.” He couldn’t imagine that she would want to be seen in public in her present state.

            “Not as such.” She said, finding an empty vase from the shelf and placing the flowers inside.

            “Then perhaps a walk in the garden?” Quincy suggested.

            Evangeline sighed. “I’d really rather not. I am sorry, but I just want to be alone. Perhaps in a few days.” A few days after, the bruise healed. He didn’t like it, but he understood and respected her feelings. She wouldn’t be going anywhere like this, so he supposed waiting a few days could not hurt.

            “How about tea here tomorrow afternoon before I go to work.”

            She smiled at his persistence. “Ok, tea tomorrow.”

            “Wonderful.” He said, taking her hand and kissing it. “I look forward to it with eager delight.”

***

            Payton paced the living room floor, checking his pocket watch for the fiftieth time. Where was she? Evangeline was beyond late. The picture show had already begun, and there was still no sign of her. She was standing him up. He couldn’t believe it. Why was she not here? What had happened?

            Tucking his watch back into his pocket, he headed for his car. He wasn’t going to take this lying down. He wanted to know why she had stood him up; even if he had to break down the door, she was going to talk to him.

            He drove rather faster than the legal limit allowed, but his mind was preoccupied. He reached his destination in record time. Getting out of the car, he marched up to the door, but before he could knock, the door opened and out came Mrs. Canyon in an utter rage. She had heard the car pulling up and met him at the door. She did not look pleased to see him.

            “Get off my property!” She hissed, pointing at his car.

            “Make me.” He snapped back. “I’m here to see Evangeline.”

            “Well, she does not want to see you. In fact, she never wants to see you again, so go away.” Her back was ramrod straight, and her shoulders were squared confrontationally. She glared daggers at him.

            Never see him again? He wasn’t buying that. Something had happened. Somehow this vile woman was keeping Evangeline from him. “I want to see her.” He said, pushing Mrs. Canyon aside and barging into the house. “Evangeline!” He called to her as he checked first the dining room and then the parlour.

            From the study came Mr. Canyon looking furious for the disruption. “Who the hell are you, and what are you doing in my house?” He demanded with an authoritative tone.

            “He is that wretched farm boy from Ottwell.” His wife explained, coming into the house. “He is here to ruin our daughter’s reputation.”

            “Get out of my house.” Mr. Canyon barked.

            Payton headed for the stairs. “Not before I speak with Evangeline.”

            Mr. Canyon stepped in front of him, preventing him from going up the stairs. “Get out of my house before I have you thrown out.”

            Payton laughed. Who was going to throw him out, Ulysses Canyon was a man twice his age and half his size, the butler in the dining room entrance was in his sixties, and the only other people in the house were women. “I’d like to see you try.” He challenged.

            “That is it, Michael, fetch the police.” Mr. Canyon ordered the old man.

            “Yes, Sir,” Michael said, heading for the door.

            The cops, well, that was a different story. He would rather not deal with them. Payton looked up the stairs; he was sure Evangeline was up there. There had to be a reason she wasn’t coming down when he called to her. “Fine, I’m leaving.” He said, heading for the door. Of course, he would leave their house, but this was far from over.

            Evangeline’s parents watched from the porch as Payton got into his car and pulled out of the driveway. He turned the corner and pulled over down the street and out of sight. He then walked back, keeping to the shadows so as not to be seen. If he couldn’t use the door, he would use the window. He just had to figure out which window was Evangeline’s.

            Payton snuck around the side of the house to the back garden. Hidden in the shadows, he watched the second-story windows. There was a light on in one of the windows. He watched for a moment and spotted Evangeline pacing the room. Payton darted across the garden and grabbed onto the branches of the apple tree near the house. He hadn’t climbed a tree in years, but it was easy enough. Reaching the second story, he shimmed across the branch to reach Evangeline’s window.

             Payton tried to open the window, but it would not budge. He rapped on the glass and startled Evangeline. She jumped and held her hand to her heart as she realized who was at her window. She came right over, her hand on the glass. Payton couldn’t believe his eyes; there was a nasty bruise just below her right eye. What on earth had happened? Open the window, he mouthed, and Evangeline shook her head, pointing at the window sill. Payton looked down and shook his head. The window had been nailed shut from the inside. He wasn’t getting in this way.

            He looked around and spotted the cellar door. He had an idea. Payton climbed down and made his way to the cellar door. He reached for the handle and pulled; it wasn’t locked. Payton went inside and crossed the cellar to the steps. He quietly crept up the stairs and cracked the door to get a look at who was inside.

            It was the kitchen. He didn’t see anyone, so he opened the door a little more and looked around. There was no one in sight. Payton snuck into the kitchen and gently shut the cellar door. He headed for the stairs and made his way up to the main floor of the house. Reaching the lobby, he looked around. No one. He made to move but paused when Mrs. Canyon came out of the parlour. Payton ducked behind the corner and waited until Mrs. Canyon went into the dining room.

            Once she was out of sight, he bolted across the lobby and up the staircase with silent speed. Reaching the second level, he looked one way and then the next. Which way was her bedroom? Right or left? Left, he thought, so he veered to the left and tried the first door. Quietly cracking the door, he peeked inside. The washroom, wow, look at it; they had all the latest luxuries.

            Shutting the door, he continued down the hall. He found the next door and quietly turned the knob, and looked inside. A bedroom didn’t look used; it must be the guest room. Further down the hall was another room. He reached for the knob, but it wouldn’t open. It was locked. He was sure this one was Evangeline’s room. Her window was nailed shut, and her door was locked.

            Payton quietly knocked on the door. “Evangeline?” He whispered and heard movement on the other side.

            “Payton?” He heard her whisper back.

            “Let me in.”

            “I can’t; it's locked, and Mother has the key.” Why would she lock her own daughter up like some prisoner? He didn’t know what was going on, but he needed to get that key.

            “Where does she keep it?”

            “It is in her pocket.” Well, that certainly didn’t make things easier. Ok, so he had to somehow get to Mrs. Canyon without being seen and relieve her of the key without her knowledge.

            “I will be back.” He whispered his hand on the door. He could almost feel her. He didn’t know why she was locked up, but he wasn’t about to leave her there. Payton headed back to the stairs and looked down; he ducked behind the banister when two of the maids walked past the bottom of the stairs giggling to one another.

            Once they were gone, Payton rushed down the stairs and looked into the dining room. She wasn’t there anymore. He turned around just in time to spot Mr. Canyon coming out of his study. Payton quickly hid in the dining room until Mr. Canyon went up the stairs. He then snuck across the lobby and looked into the study.

Empty.

He then checked the parlour and ducked behind the wall.

            Mrs. Canyon was seated at a wing-backed chair facing the big bay window reading. She seemed engrossed in her book. Payton crept into the room with feather light steps, and as he grew closer, he sunk to his knees and crawled up behind her chair. His back to the back of the chair, Payton considered just how he was going to do this. He didn’t know which pocket the key was in, and he didn’t know if he’d get more than one shot at it.

            He thought it over for a moment. Every time he saw this woman, she was always favouring her right hand, so it would make sense that if she locked the door with her right hand, she would have slipped the key into her right pocket. It wasn’t an exact science, but it was his best guess. Payton quietly turned around and slowly reached around the side of the chair. He nearly reached her pocket when she suddenly sneezed and jerked forward. Payton quickly retracted his hand and waited.

            She muttered something and then returned to her book. Payton’s heart was pounding so hard. If he got caught, he was headed straight for the clink. Taking a deep but silent breath, he slowly extended his arm and inched closer to her pocket. Very carefully, he slipped his hand into the pocket of her long bulky skirt, which gave just enough for her not to notice the movement. He reached in and felt the metal of the key. Getting a grip, he slowly retracted his hand. The key in his possession, he crawled across the floor and quickly exited the parlour. Payton raced up the stairs, gave a quick look around the corner and headed for Evangeline’s door.