“I agree, my dear. As soon as we’re finished here, I will escort you to that room you’re renting.” He wrinkled his nose. “Where you will pack up your belongings, and we will go home. Home to Oklahoma City.” He waved in her direction. “Now drink up your tea, like a good little girl.”
Rage swept through her. “I will not drink up like a good little girl. I am leaving. Right now. Excuse me.” She reached for her string purse.
“If you move from that chair one more time, your savior, Michael, and his entire family will be destroyed.” His voice came out a low growl. “Now sit there until I finish my meal, and then I will explain to you exactly how things will proceed from now on.”
The air collapsed from her lungs, and she slumped against the chair. What in heaven’s name did he mean? Michael and his family destroyed? Did he plan on harming them in some way?
With shaky hands, she attempted to pick up the tea cup, but when the hot liquid spilled over onto the tablecloth, she set the cup back down. Clarence ignored her as he continued to eat.
Eventually, he wiped his mouth with a napkin, and pushed his plate back, tossing the napkin on top of the steak bone. He studied her for a minute, and then withdrew a paper from the inside pocket of his jacket. “This little piece of paper will convince you to stop all the foolishness, and return home and plan our wedding.”
No words would form in her brain. She stared at him and licked her lips.
“Don’t you want to know what’s on this?”
She nodded, and held out ice cold fingers to retrieve the paper from his hand.
With stiff, shaking fingers, it took her a while to open the folded note. Her eyes grew wide as she examined the missive.
“To Whom It May Concern. (One copy to The Guthrie Sentinel, one copy to The Oklahoman) It has come to the attention of this correspondent that Territorial Senator Jesse Cochran, the purveyor of family values, and champion for citizens wishing to close down the taverns and brothels of Oklahoma, is the son of a whore, and spent his entire childhood in a brothel.
Miss Rosie Cochran, a prostitute in St. Louis, Missouri, gave birth to the good Senator while employed by The Pleasure Palace in that city. She continued to work in the brothel, and raised her son there.
If you would like to check my facts, I can arrange for an interview with a woman who worked side by side with Miss Cochran, sharing customers.
Signed: Mr. Clarence Manfred, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.”
Her hands shook so violently, she had to set the paper down. With tears brimming in her eyes, she regarded him. “Where…” Her voice trembled.
“My dear, I wrote it.” He pointed to the paper. “Don’t you see my signature at the bottom?”
She took a deep breath, fighting the black dots that danced in front of her eyes. “I mean, where did this information come from?”
“Why, from Gloria, of course.”
“Gloria?” Nothing made sense. Her whole world had turned upside down. Senator Cochran’s mother was a prostitute? He grew up in a brothel? That wonderful man? And what has Gloria to do with all of this?
“I’m a little shaken, Clarence. Do you mean Gloria who comes into the drug store once in a while?”
“The very same, my dear.” He leaned closer, and covered her cold hands with his sweaty palms. “She is my mistress.” He grinned. “Close your mouth, Heidi, it’s most unattractive.”
“Your mistress?”
“Yes.” He sat back, crossed his arms over his chest. “And she will remain my mistress when we’re married.”
Heidi took the pouch of Belladonna from her purse, and poured a bit into the teapot. She pulled the delicate china pot closer, and inhaled the steam.
“You’re pathetic.” Clarence scowled. “You actually walk around with that stuff in your purse?”
After a few minutes, as Clarence watched her with a smirk, Heidi pushed the teapot away, and stiffened her shoulders. “What do you want, Clarence?”
He moved to the edge of his seat, and lowered his voice. “Either you return to Oklahoma City, plan a quick wedding, then show up at the church, or my letter,” he waved at the paper sitting between them on the table, “will arrive at two newspapers.” He shook his head, and tsked. “I think the people of Oklahoma Territory would be ashamed to call the son of a whore their Representative.”
A wave of dizziness swept over her before numbness crept in. It was finished. Clarence had, indeed, won the wager. Revealing this shameful information to the public would destroy Senator Cochran, and his entire family as well. They would never be able to hold up their heads. Michael would lose his business, his sisters would lose their place in the community. They would grow to resent her, hate her. The woman who caused their downfall.
Michael’s love for her would shrink and then disappear. How could she do that to him? But how could she throw away the love they shared?
How could she not? She loved him too much to watch his family ruined. Her insides would wither and die watching his love for her turn to disgust. She glanced at Clarence and her stomach heaved. How she hated him. But, he’d won.