stays here and marries Leander, she’s going to give up a great deal.”
“But you have, too. You’ve lost a lot tonight.”
“I lost it long before tonight. Really, go to her. I’ll be all right.”
Opal picked up the broken diploma. “Let me see you in bed.”
Obediently, Houston climbed into bed. “Always obedient, aren’t I, Mother? I always obey. If not my parents, then Leander. I’ve always been such a good little girl and what has it gotten me? I’m a true, deep-down lady and my sister with her knickers and her kisses is getting everything I’ve worked for since the first grade.”
“Houston,” Opal pleaded.
“Leave me alone!” Houston screamed. “Just leave me alone.”
With a shocked look on her face, Opal left the room.
Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful, the sun highlighting Ayers Peak that graced the western side of Chandler. There were many churches in town, covering every denomination, and nearly all were full of people.
But even the sun couldn’t melt the coldness inside the Chandler twins, who walked on opposite sides of their stepfather. Their mother had suddenly been attacked with a mysterious ailment that kept her from witnessing her daughters’ public humiliation.
Leander waited in the pew for them, his eyes looking toward Houston, and when they neared the bench, he put his hand out to her. “Houston,” he whispered.
Now he can tell us apart, she thought, but said nothing as she moved aside to keep from touching him.
Duncan nearly pushed Blair toward Lee and at last they were seated, Blair beside Lee, then Duncan and Houston on the end.
The service seemed to pass in seconds because Houston knew that at the end of it the announcement was going to be made.
It came much too soon.
Unfortunately, Reverend Thomas wasn’t conducting the service today but was replaced by Reverend Smithson who could have been more tactful.
“Now I have an announcement to make,” he said with an amused tone. “It seems that our own Leander has changed his mind about which twin to marry and is now engaged to Blair. I don’t believe I could make up my mind between them, either. Congratulations again, Lee.”
For a moment the church was thunderstruck. Then, men began to chuckle, and women gasped in astonishment. Every, one rose to leave.
“Houston, you must listen to me,” Lee said, catching her arm “I must explain.”
“You have explained,” she hissed at him. “When you told me how wonderful Blair was, and how you hoped the ice princess would never return, that’s when you did your explaining. Good morning,” she smiled at a passerby.
“Hello, Houston, or are you Blair?” someone asked.
“Congratulations, Lee.” A man slapped him on the shoulder and went away laughing.
“Houston, let’s go somewhere.”
“You can go to…your bride.” She glared at him in anger.
“Houston,” Lee pleaded. “Please.”
“If you don’t take your hand off me I’ll scream, for surely I can suffer no more embarrassment than you have caused me already.”
“Leander!” Duncan said. “Blair is waiting for you.”
Lee reluctantly turned away from Houston, clutched Blair’s arm, shoved her into his buggy and drove away much too fast.
The minute Houston was alone, women descended on her, edging her away from Duncan’s protection. The many faces were concerned, curious, some sympathetic. Mostly, the women seemed to be puzzled.
“Houston, what happened? I thought you and Lee were so happy.”
“How could Leander want Blair? They argue constantly.”
“When was the decision made?”
“Houston, is there someone else?”
“You’re damned right there is, ladies,” came a booming voice from behind them, and they all turned to look up at Kane Taggert. No one in town had ever heard him say much and he had certainly never seemed to be aware of what any of the townspeople were doing.
The women gaped openly at this big man in his rough clothes, with his unkempt beard, as
“But you have, too. You’ve lost a lot tonight.”
“I lost it long before tonight. Really, go to her. I’ll be all right.”
Opal picked up the broken diploma. “Let me see you in bed.”
Obediently, Houston climbed into bed. “Always obedient, aren’t I, Mother? I always obey. If not my parents, then Leander. I’ve always been such a good little girl and what has it gotten me? I’m a true, deep-down lady and my sister with her knickers and her kisses is getting everything I’ve worked for since the first grade.”
“Houston,” Opal pleaded.
“Leave me alone!” Houston screamed. “Just leave me alone.”
With a shocked look on her face, Opal left the room.
Sunday morning dawned bright and beautiful, the sun highlighting Ayers Peak that graced the western side of Chandler. There were many churches in town, covering every denomination, and nearly all were full of people.
But even the sun couldn’t melt the coldness inside the Chandler twins, who walked on opposite sides of their stepfather. Their mother had suddenly been attacked with a mysterious ailment that kept her from witnessing her daughters’ public humiliation.
Leander waited in the pew for them, his eyes looking toward Houston, and when they neared the bench, he put his hand out to her. “Houston,” he whispered.
Now he can tell us apart, she thought, but said nothing as she moved aside to keep from touching him.
Duncan nearly pushed Blair toward Lee and at last they were seated, Blair beside Lee, then Duncan and Houston on the end.
The service seemed to pass in seconds because Houston knew that at the end of it the announcement was going to be made.
It came much too soon.
Unfortunately, Reverend Thomas wasn’t conducting the service today but was replaced by Reverend Smithson who could have been more tactful.
“Now I have an announcement to make,” he said with an amused tone. “It seems that our own Leander has changed his mind about which twin to marry and is now engaged to Blair. I don’t believe I could make up my mind between them, either. Congratulations again, Lee.”
For a moment the church was thunderstruck. Then, men began to chuckle, and women gasped in astonishment. Every, one rose to leave.
“Houston, you must listen to me,” Lee said, catching her arm “I must explain.”
“You have explained,” she hissed at him. “When you told me how wonderful Blair was, and how you hoped the ice princess would never return, that’s when you did your explaining. Good morning,” she smiled at a passerby.
“Hello, Houston, or are you Blair?” someone asked.
“Congratulations, Lee.” A man slapped him on the shoulder and went away laughing.
“Houston, let’s go somewhere.”
“You can go to…your bride.” She glared at him in anger.
“Houston,” Lee pleaded. “Please.”
“If you don’t take your hand off me I’ll scream, for surely I can suffer no more embarrassment than you have caused me already.”
“Leander!” Duncan said. “Blair is waiting for you.”
Lee reluctantly turned away from Houston, clutched Blair’s arm, shoved her into his buggy and drove away much too fast.
The minute Houston was alone, women descended on her, edging her away from Duncan’s protection. The many faces were concerned, curious, some sympathetic. Mostly, the women seemed to be puzzled.
“Houston, what happened? I thought you and Lee were so happy.”
“How could Leander want Blair? They argue constantly.”
“When was the decision made?”
“Houston, is there someone else?”
“You’re damned right there is, ladies,” came a booming voice from behind them, and they all turned to look up at Kane Taggert. No one in town had ever heard him say much and he had certainly never seemed to be aware of what any of the townspeople were doing.
The women gaped openly at this big man in his rough clothes, with his unkempt beard, as
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