Alafair Tucker 01 - The Old Buzzard Had It Coming

She quietly took Martha aside and had her pack up all the uneaten food for the Days to take home with them.
    ***
    When the two men returned two hours later, Shaw drew Alafair out onto the porch. They sat down together on the porch swing while John Lee and Naomi roused their dozing siblings for the short trip home.
    “You were sure right about the boy, Alafair,” Shaw said to her. “He seems like a good upright young fellow to me, though knowing his situation, I can’t see how that can be. Of course, you know as well as I that some people are ruined by trouble and others made strong and good by the same troubles.”
    “I’m glad you think so,” Alafair told him. “When it looked like he killed his own daddy, I thought he was either the unluckiest good boy or the most cold-blooded bad boy I had ever met, and either way, I rued the day that Phoebe got mixed up with him.”
    “Speaking of which,” Shaw said, “I’m still not thrilled with that situation. He’s got character, all right, and spine, but I’d be happier if he had a pot to pee in. And not so many responsibilities.”
    Alafair shrugged. “You said you’d not let them marry right away. Now we’ll see how they endure and if they can plan for the future. Did you ask him about his intentions toward her?”
    “I did, and I let him know I wasn’t happy with their sneaking around behind my back.”
    “What did he say to that?”
    “Like you thought. He said the situation was such that he couldn’t come calling plain, so it was snatch a moment as they could, or not see one another. I told him that if he regarded her he should have just not seen her rather than put her in peril. He said he knew it was wrong, but might as well say not to breathe, for he loves her.”
    “Oh, Shaw!”
    Shaw looked at her askance. “Oh, Shaw?” he repeated. “Why do you sound surprised? You’re the one told me, after all.”
    She had surprised herself with her exclamation. “I don’t know,” she admitted. “It just shocked me to hear that he said it straight out like that. I was hoping that the kids didn’t know so plainly that they love one another, I guess.”
    “Well, I think you’d better have a talk with Phoebe. We both know that if the fire is on them that there isn’t much we can do but ride herd on them as best we can. If he really loves her, he won’t do anything to dishonor her.”
    Alafair nodded. “That sounds like the wise course to me. If we treat them like a proper betrothed couple, then they’ll be less inclined to do anything rash. I can’t see how he could be able to marry for years, and they may cool off by themselves if we don’t pressure them.”
    “And if they don’t?”
    “Then they’ll marry when they’re ready. They may never be rich, but I think he’ll work hard. She could do worse.”
    Shaw puffed out a laugh that hung for a fraction of a second like a white cloud in the frigid air. “You suppose our folks felt like this when we fell in love?”
    “Surely. And I think John Lee and Phoebe will, too, in their turn. In fact, your ma will probably cackle when she hears about this, the evil old thing.”
    Shaw laughed, unoffended. He knew that Alafair loved his feisty mother.
    “So you told the boy he could call on Phoebe?” Alafair asked.
    “I told him I’d think about it. I expect I’ll give him permission after you’ve spoken to Phoebe, and I think he’s sweated enough.”
    They were chuckling together when John Lee came out on the porch and approached them diffidently.
    “What is it, son?” Shaw asked.
    “It’s pretty late, nearly eight o’clock. I reckon we’ll be going home now, Mr. Tucker, Miz Tucker.”
    “You’re sure you don’t want to spend the night, now?” Alafair wondered.
    “Thank you, ma’am, but no. You all have been most kind. And we’re indebted. But we’ll be all right now.”
    Shaw casually lay his arm across Alafair’s shoulder as he studied John Lee. “You know we’ll be right here for you all the way through your trouble, John Lee,” he said.
    John Lee colored. “Yes, sir, I know it. And I want you to know that I won’t speak no more on that other matter we discussed until this whole affair is honorably settled.”
    Only Alafair would have noticed the twitch that disturbed the corner of Shaw’s mobile mouth. “I appreciate that,” he said to John Lee.
    John Lee drew himself up. “But then I’ll be approaching you. I do promise it.”
    Alafair’s eyebrows shot up at