Alafair Tucker 01 - The Old Buzzard Had It Coming

imagine he hasn’t had time to think of much, yet, since this has all come as such a surprise,” she said. “Maybe if he’ll talk to you on the trip to town it will get him to thinking. Now I’ve got to take our kids aside somehow and caution them before somebody asks John Lee why he isn’t in jail.”
    “I already warned them not to ask questions when I saw you coming,” Shaw told her.
    “That showed some foresight on your part, Shaw Tucker,” Alafair teased.
    “I have been known to practice foresight in my time,” he replied.
    As Shaw and Alafair stepped back into the parlor, Charlie and Phoebe were just coming in from the back porch, after pouring their new milk through cheesecloth to strain it into the big milk can. When Phoebe caught sight of John Lee, Alafair thought the girl might swoon. The look that passed between them was so fraught with emotion that Shaw tugged Alafair back into the bedroom.
    “What is this?” he asked.
    “Why, Shaw, you are showing rare insight today. I told you that Phoebe and John Lee are sweet on one another.”
    “So I now see,” he blustered, half amused and half alarmed. “I did not realize how sweet.” He shot the young couple an appraising glance from the door. They were both involved with children and ignoring one another desperately. “Well, I don’t know about this,” he pronounced. “The boy has a shadow on him. Besides, she’s just seventeen.”
    “I’ll point out to you that I was seventeen and you nineteen, when we fell for one another, same as those two yonder.”
    Shaw looked startled. “I didn’t feel as young as they look,” he observed wistfully, then firmed. “Still, times are different, Alafair. Besides, I don’t really know this boy. And you’ll remember, that isn’t the best family, what with the pa a drunken, bootlegging wife-beater and the ma a murderer.”
    Alafair put her hand on Shaw’s arm to calm him. “He’s a real nice boy,” she said. “I’ve talked to him, and I think Phoebe could do a lot worse. You spend some time with him and you’ll see.”
    “He couldn’t possibly marry anybody while this mess is going on, and he ain’t got a nickel, nor is he like to. Taxes will take that farm as sure as I’m standing here, and they’ll end up with their kin. That’s not for Phoebe.”
    “Now, now, I don’t expect he’d ask her to marry until he thought he could support her well. But I’ll tell you, I wouldn’t be surprised if he pulls it off in a few years, because he reminds me of you.”
    Shaw looked over at her. “Me?” he managed.
    “Well, he’s not as happy and light-hearted as you were, but I don’t expect his life has been as easy. But he’s a thoughtful boy, honorable, and strives to do well. Best of all, he’s very tender to Phoebe, and protects her as best he can. I remember all those things about you being dear to me, and if they’re dear to Phoebe, I’m not surprised.”
    Shaw had been studying John Lee critically while Alafair was talking, and now he looked back down at her. “How do you know all this about the boy?”
    Alafair hesitated before answering. “I spoke to him at length as we drove home from town. He was respectful and straightforward, and looked me in the eye. He has fine eyes, Shaw.”
    Two spots of color rose on Shaw’s already ruddy cheeks. “Well, I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve seen for myself,” he said, as sternly as he could manage. “But I’m not happy that it’s gone this far without that youngster declaring his intentions to me.”
    “I don’t reckon they know themselves how far it’s gone. These things sneak up on you, sometimes.”
    “Who’d have thought it would be Phoebe?” he asked with wonder. “Martha and Mary are grown women already and don’t seem to be in any haste.”
    “Martha and Mary are formidable and proud, and it will take formidable men to woo them. Martha has already spurned a suitor and Mary just laughs that big old laugh of hers when a boy comes around. Alice is so pretty and gay that she’ll have her pick. But Phoebe is like a little violet, all shy and hidden, to whom sweet things just come.”
    “Only a knight of old will be wooing Alice, or somebody else with a suit of armor on him,” Shaw joked. But though he was laughing, a sadness had settled in his eyes. The little girls weren’t little any more.
    Alafair squeezed his arm, full of pity for him. Men never saw these things coming, and were liable to be blindsided.