“I’m sorry for you and your mama. A little girl shouldn’t have to stand guard for her mama. And a mama shouldn’t have to give… favors.”
“When you are hungry, sometimes you got to do things you don’t want to do. That’s all there is to it.”
“Have you ever… ?”
“Small favors?”
“Did your mama ask you to do ’em?”
“Capp, no. Never.”
Capp suddenly realized how young and innocent she was. She looked so beautiful with her dark brown mane of tight waves, but not savvy. Maybe to Maizie there was nothing wrong with a man playing with a woman.
“You loved your mama?”
“I did, I do. She did her best. Some times were good, some times wasn’t, but I always knew my mama would care for me. The small favors was just part of it. Only when we hadn’t eaten for a while would she do it.”
“So you don’t think I’m bad?”
“Just small favors, Capp. People do stuff like that when they’re hungry.”
“Well, this gal wasn’t hungry for food,” said Capp.
“I know. I wasn’t talking about her.” Maizie looked up at him with a sweet smile he didn’t feel he deserved. “You don’t always know what makes people do things. Who was she?”
Capp hesitated. “Josie. But when my dad and Mr. Glidewell know she is still foolin’, she’ll be gone.”
“Really? Do you think that fair?”
“I don’t know. Will you tell the Glidewells about the linen closet?”
“If they ask me, I will. But if they don’t, I won’t. I promised Mrs. Glidewell I’d never lie.”
“Don’t think it matters really if you tell. Josie will be found out soon enough.”
“Will you tell, Capp?”
“And have all the boys at the backside mad at me?” Capp laughed. “I’ll have to give it some thought.” Capp looked down at his boots, remembering the girl with the gum at the horse auction. He would have done it with her too, if he could have found a way. Seemed natural. That’s what guys do, he thought. He looked up at Maizie’s sweet face. She was different. It wouldn’t seem right with her. Not right now.
Chapter 17
A Revelation
Mary did not sleep well after Monday’s dinner. The news about Josie’s behavior gave her pause. Josie wasn’t all to blame, she knew that. The men at the backside needed to bear some of the responsibility. She sensed that Wil disagreed, that the men were just doing what came naturally. “Give a hog slop and he’ll eat, even if he ain’t hungry. Can’t blame the hog,” Wil had said. Mary almost laughed out loud at the simplicity of his thinking, but she remained mum. Josie’s illicit behavior was one thing, but it was her attitude toward Maizie that bothered Mary the most.
James had agreed with her, but when she mentioned that she was planning to dismiss her, he countered, “Wil promised that if she quit her ‘fun and games,’ she wouldn’t be fired. Until we are sure she is still acting inappropriately, I think we better respect Wil’s handling of it.”
Mary did respect Wil’s effort, but she knew that most people don’t change. After breakfast, she put on her boots and cowboy hat and headed for the track. She had expected to find James there watching quarter horses go through their morning workout, but instead, she saw Claire, the other backside maid, walking toward the Wembleys’ cottage with cleaning materials in hand. Mary ran to catch up. Claire put down her bucket, mop, and rags to chat. “Everyone is excited about the match races, Mrs. Glidewell. We are getting things ready. Mr. Wembley wants the place to shine.”
“That’s good, Claire. We depend on Mr. Wembley to do just that. Keep things running smoothly and looking nice. We want our horses and employees happy and hardworking.”
“Why, you should see our ponies run. My, they are fast. We all think it sure excitin’, and Mr. Wembley says Josie and I can watch, if our work is done.”
“Yes, you must watch. Just one question. You think anyone here is not carrying their workload? I mean is there anyone lookin’ to others to lighten their load?”
“Well, it’s kind of just Josie and me. I stay out of Thelma’s way. No, I think we get our work done.”
“I’d like to talk with Josie too. Do you know where she is?” asked Mary.
“She’s in the men’s bunkhouse changing some of the beds,” Claire said. “Listen, if she says I ain’t doin’ my load, she’s lyin’.”
“She lie a lot, Claire?”
“Shouldn’t have said nothin’, but yes, she lies.”
“About what?”
“Some nights she sneaks out. I hear her. She thinks I’m asleep, but I’m not. When I ask her where she goes, she says she never sneaks out. I must be dreamin’, she says. Now that is a lie. I ain’t lyin’ or dreamin’, Mrs. Glidewell.”
“I know you’re honest.”
“Truth is, I wish I was workin’ with Ruby.”
“Maybe we can move you up to the ranch house. Ruby needs some help.”
“Oh Mrs. Glidewell, I would be pleased. Ruby and I were a good team.”
“I bet you were. I’ll consider it.” Mary smiled and left for the men’s bunkhouse. She found Josie finishing up one of the beds in the large rectangular room that held twenty cots. Josie looked up in surprise.
“Josie, I’m glad you’re here. I’m making preliminary notes for the match-race weekend.”
“Notes?”
Mary ignored the question. “Is the linen room unlocked?”
“Yes, but there’s nothing in there but a few towels.”
“I hope there are more than just a few. I sent towels over the other day.” Mary walked to the door that led into the linen closet. Josie followed hesitantly behind.
Mary examined all the shelves and counted the hand towels. There were only fifteen. Her curiosity about the missing towels deepened. “Josie, you take towels from here recently?”
“No, Mrs. Glidewell.”
Mary then walked to the door of the alcove room adjacent to the linen shelves. As she reached for the handle, she noticed
