‘Abigail’ sounded familiar. I couldn’t quite place the name.
“When does Jasmine get delivered?”
“When we get back; I need to talk to Abigail to find out. I’m not sure if they’re sending it to the Wesleyan farm or ours.”
Abigail Wesleyan would be Jennie’s mother.
“Did Abigail arrange for your ride from the auction?”
“She took care of all the transportation.”
Would Jennie’s mom buy a horse so she could get info on the boy blocking her plans? Would she send a girl to try to seduce me? Was I reading too much into this? Maybe, but if a happy coincidence occurred, I was sure she’d take advantage of that. My only goal here was not to make the situation worse for Jennie.
I grabbed my earbuds and plugged them in. I grabbed my phone to create a hot spot. Once that was up, I went to a movie website and picked something to watch. I could see that the girls were disappointed, but I figured this was the safest course of action.
WE DROPPED OFF LIZZIE and Lilith at their homes, and then went to Jennie’s home. Apparently I was to enter the back door. This was clearly intended as a slight, but I could care less. Mark’s dad—I had to learn his name—popped the trunk. I jumped out before he could get to my door and I got my own bags.
“Go in the back door,” he said. “They’ll show you to your room.”
The back door opened into the kitchen. I found Mark as he talked to some of the staff. That confirmed that his dad didn’t follow through. He saw me and gave me a tight smile.
“I hear congratulations are in order. We’re in a three-way tie for first place. I listened on the radio, and I thought you weren’t going to win. I have to admit that I was a little disappointed.”
I didn’t respond. He paused and then went on another attack.
“Jennie and I are going to a party tonight. Maybe we can find you a date. What do you prefer? I hear redheads.”
Someone had been doing their homework.
“Is Jennie here?”
Mark looked way too happy.
“No, she isn’t.”
“Do you know when she’ll be back?”
“Not for several hours.”
“Could someone show me where I’m staying?”
“Sorry, we’re full-up with the engagement party. You might want to get a motel room where you’d be more comfortable.”
I think Mark liked saying that. I looked at the other staff and no one would meet my eye. I could see Jennie’s mom’s hand in this. I just shrugged and grabbed my stuff and walked out the back door. I didn’t need to fight this battle right now.
When I got out back, I pulled out my phone. I still didn’t have Jennie’s number. In my wallet, I had Teddy Wesleyan’s business card with his personal number on the back. I dialed it.
“Teddy,” he answered.
“Hello, sir, this is David Dawson.”
“David, I heard a rumor that you were Jennie’s date. Am I going to see you tomorrow?”
“Sir, I need to ask a favor.”
“Has it started already?” he chuckled.
“What’s that, sir?”
“Jennie’s boyfriend asking for money.”
“Sir, I apologize for the inconvenience. Please give Jennie my regrets.”
I hung up. This had been a huge mistake. My cell phone rang and it was Teddy calling back. I blocked his number. I felt like Jennie had bought me with the luggage and clothes. I opened up my suitcase and pulled out my running clothes and sweats. They were the only clothes I owned that were with me. I’d sent everything else back with the team, and Kevin was dropping it off at my house. I stripped down in the driveway and changed. I put everything else in the suitcase, including Teddy’s card. I pulled out my phone and tablet, and left the luggage at the front door. That should get somebody’s attention.
I started to run towards town. I planned this time. There was a bus station downtown, and a bus going through my town left at 7:00 pm. I set a brisk pace. I got about five miles from the Wesleyan Estate. Tami was calling me, so I answered.
“David, I have Teddy Wesleyan on the other line. Is it okay if I three-way him in?”
“Sure, why not.”
Tami made the connection.
“Mr. Wesleyan, David’s on the line.”
“David, what was the favor you needed?”
“Sir, I’ve worked it out. Thank you for asking.”
“Okay, I came across rather badly earlier. I just wanted to apologize.”
“No need to apologize, sir. I understand how people take advantage.”
“Before you go, may I ask why I am giving Jennie regrets?”
“I won’t be able to accompany her to her cousin’s engagement party.”
“And what reason should I give her?”
“Tell her that I couldn’t afford a motel room and took the bus home.”
“David, where are you?”
“I’m almost to town. I have a 7 p.m. bus to catch.”
“Have you eaten?”
“No, sir.”
“Can I buy you dinner?”
“Sir, I don’t see the point.”
“Let’s call it a favor since I gave Tami a scholarship.”
“Then absolutely not, sir. Your family will not blackmail me. What you did for Tami was on her merit. If I go for this, who knows what else you’ll use her as a pawn for.”
“I guess I deserved that. Tami, you need never worry about your scholarship. I said that poorly. David, I need to talk to you face-to-face to correct this.”
“Sir, I should be at the bus station in about 20 minutes. You can meet me there.”
Tami disconnected Teddy from the conversation.
“You play nice with Teddy. I don’t think he understands how he comes across sometimes.”
“Good advice. I’ll talk to you later.”
I hung up and started running. I needed to pick up the pace if I was going to make the bus.
I JOGGED INTO THE BUS station parking lot and saw Teddy’s limo. When I came up beside it, the back window came down.
“David, please join me for a moment. If you still want to go home after we talk, I’ll take you there myself.”
I got in the car and we pulled away from the bus station.
“Okay, now tell me everything.”
I took my time and I told him about the last time I was here, and how Mark had treated me. We talked about Abigail’s plan to marry Jennie off to Alistair Winston. I told him about Jennie asking me to come to help hold her mother off, and then I spoke to him about Lizzie, Lilith and what I suspected was supposed to happen there. I finally communicated to him about Mark and the staff arranging, under what I suspected were Abigail’s orders, to have Jennie out of the house and to send me home. I also told him about my plan to ask him if I could stay with him. I didn’t hold back about how his money comments made me realize that Jennie bought me off with clothes and how I had left them at the estate.
When I was finished, he made a call and arranged to have my clothes waiting for us. We pulled up to Jennie’s house and he said he’d be right back. A few minutes later, he came out with Jennie and her sister Carol. My luggage was put in the back of the car. No one said a word. Jennie and Carol kept sneaking looks at their Uncle Teddy and me, but neither girl was sure of the situation, so they kept quiet. That made it unanimous.
When we got out of the limo, my luggage was taken to a guest room. I was still in my running clothes and could smell myself. Uncle Teddy took charge.
“Girls, give me ten minutes, and then meet me in my study. David, take a shower and then get something to eat. When we’re done, I’ll have someone let you know. I need to take care of some family business.”
“Sir, may I have a moment of your time now?”
“Yes, that would be acceptable,” he sighed.
We went into his study, and he sat behind an antique desk. I was momentarily distracted by the room. It was everything you would expect in a home built in the early 1900s.