As they went in the back door, Molly gave them mugs of coffee and waved them to the kitchen table. She’d removed her apron and taken off her diamonds. Can had rolled up his shirt sleeves and loosened his suspenders.
“It was a nice party,” Angie said. “I don’t think there was a scrap of food left.”
Sam blew on his coffee and nodded. “Hugo’s pig sure went fast. Did the guests of honor get any before it was gone?”
“We certainly do appreciate everything,” Can said, “but we didn’t ask you here to talk about the party.” He gave Molly a look. “You tell them.”
Molly brushed imaginary crumbs off the oilcloth, then studied Sam and Angie’s curious expressions. “You know how much we think of your girls. We couldn’t care more for them if they was our own flesh and blood.”
It was a nice thing to say, so Angie didn’t understand why Sam suddenly sat up straight and stiffened.
“We know how hard you’ve struggled to meet the court’s conditions, and the setbacks you’ve suffered. We know about the fires, and we have our suspicions as to who’s responsible for that piece of trouble.”
Now Angie sat up straighter. Something was going on here. She didn’t know what it was, but she felt a prickle of tension that she’d never sensed with Can and Molly. Sam and Can held each other’s gaze and a scowl had begun between Sam’s eyes.
Molly also noticed the scowl, hesitated, then hurried on. “I had a little speech prepared, but . . . Well, the long and the short of it is this. We’d like to pay for Daisy’s operation.”
Angie started. Her mouth dropped open and her eyes widened then overflowed with tears. “Oh my God,” she whispered. “Molly, you and Can are angels. You’re a miracle.”
“We can certainly afford to do it. We love those girls like our own. And we think it would be a travesty to yank Lucy and Daisy away from their parents and give them to the Govenors.”
There it was again. Even in the midst of overwhelming joy, Angie noticed that Molly included her. She had said parents.
“I can’t believe it. Bless you both. This is the most wonderful thing I ever heard of!”
“I got nothing against Winnie Govenor. She means well. But I don’t think Winnie is particularly cut out for parenting. And I also think children should be raised by young people. We sure as shooting don’t want to see those girls go to a man who’d start fires to ruin the father of his granddaughters.”
Now Can leaned forward, his gaze holding Sam’s. “We don’t want you to lose your daughters.”
“Thank you, thank you, thank you.” Tears of joy and relief flooded Angie’s cheeks. Her chest expanded as if an iron corset had fallen away, and a tremendous weight lifted from her shoulders. “You’ve saved us. You’ve solved everything.” Gratefully, she accepted the handkerchief that Molly pushed into her hand. “Oh thank heaven. How can we ever repay you?”
“Then you’ll accept our gift?” Can asked.
“Of course. A thousand times, yes,” Angie gasped, sobbing with happiness.
Sam’s voice was low and firm. “No.”
Chapter 18
The coffee bubbling on Molly’s stove sounded loud and cheerful, at odds with the tension at the table.
“Sam! What are you saying?” Angie stared in disbelief. It was as if she had never seen him before. “You can’t mean that!”
Knots ran up Sam’s jawline and his voice was as stiff as his spine. “Thank you, Can, Molly, but I can’t accept your generous gift.”
Can fell back in his chair and frowned at Molly. “What did I tell you?”
“Sam Holland, don’t be a stubborn damned fool.” Molly glared, then swung a stare to Angie. “Talk some sense to that man.”
“Sam? Please. What are you doing?” Anguish thinned her voice. “We’re going to lose the girls!”
“I told you I have a plan.”
She didn’t want to make a scene in front of Can and Molly, but she couldn’t stop herself. Her voice spiraled sharply upward. “When do you intend to put this mysterious plan in motion? We’re running out of time.” Harsh, angry words scalded the back of her tongue, wanting to be said. But that would make the situation worse. She swallowed with difficulty and pleaded instead. “Sam, please, I’m begging you. We’re all begging you. Let Can and Molly do this for Daisy. For heaven’s sake, let them help us.”
“Would help be more acceptable if we offered you a loan instead of a gift?” Molly’s appeal was equally agitated.