Chapter 4

Janet could hear the lively music and chatter from her bedroom. She had seen Roy Peters parents pull up in their carriage. He was in the back seat wearing a grey wool suit and a silk neck tie. He looked very dashing, like a real man. He walked so straight and tall as he entered the house.

Feeling excited she sat down at her dressing table and put on her pearl earrings. She had pinned her hair up letting a single curl fall to her neckline at each side. She wasn't going to dare to use the blush Mrs Blunt had given her but then her face was so pale. A little wouldn't hurt. The blush gave some much needed colour to her cheeks but now her lips looked almost translucent. Just a little bit of rouge to the lips.

~o~

In a room full of people Adam could only look on as his daughter danced one dance after another with every man in the room. The muscles in his jaw worked as he watched one man cut in on another eager to dance with this painted doll.

"Adam, don't make a scene at your fathers birthday party. We'll talk to her later," Sam told him quietly.

Adam gave a barely perceptible nod. One man flicked at the ribbon in her hair as she danced past him smiling. Adam's fists clenched.

"Adam, little Joe has just arrived, he needs a drink, ADAM."

He tore his eyes from his daughter to look down at his wife.

"Please Adam, go see to Joe."

Luckily Ben was over the other side of the room sharing old stories with Roy and Paul Martin. He was thoroughly enjoying his birthday party and was oblivious to any rising tension. His face lit up when he saw his youngest come to join them. Adam pushed a glass of punch into Joes hand whether he wanted it or not. His eyes then went back to the dance floor. His dark eyes followed her as she left the dance floor to take a breath.

~o~

Janet was so caught up with all the attention she barely noticed her parents. Mrs Blunt was right, being pretty was all about the right clothes. Every man in the place wanted to dance with her. This was a great party, she even managed to grab a glass or two of punch when no one was looking. She hid it in a corner behind some ranch hands who were talking beside the fire place. As she reached over to take the glass up one of the ranch hands turned around.

"Well hello there little lady, is this what you were looking for?" He handed her the glass.

"Thank you," she smiled.

"You're lookin mighty pretty, if your old man weren't standin right over there I might just have to..."

"Excuse me." Roy Peters interrupted.

Janet turned to him.

"Would you like to take some air." He asked.

She beamed all over her face.

"Thank you. I'd love to." She took Roy's arm.

"Here sonny, if I weren't so drunk, I'd take exception to that."

"Knock it off Jed, let the kids go." An old, bristled rancher waved at him.

~o~

Outside a rush of cool air bathed her flushed face. The punch tasted real good but it was strong and she swayed a little. Roy held her upright.

"We'd better sit." Roy grinned. "Maybe you shouldn't drink that stuff, it ain't agreeing with you."

"Mrs Blunt says there's nothing wrong with a woman having a snifter, it gives her courage."

"I don't reckon Mrs Blunt has ever tried your fathers rum punch though, you best hold on to me. You'll be ok."

Roy held her close.

"Roy...ain't you gonna kiss me." Janet asked, her voice a little slurred.

"I will Jan, I mean I plan to but right now you look more like you wanna sleep. Maybe I best bring you inside."

He took his hands from about her waste but she veered forward. He grabbed her before she could fall.

The colour drained a little from Roy's face as he looked up and saw Janet's father staring at him.

"Sir I was...it's not what it looks like."

"You're parents are leaving Roy, your father has an early start in the morning." Adam told him.

"Yes sir, thank you sir." Roy side stepped around Adam and practically ran towards his parents carriage.

Adam hoisted Janet up by one arm. He was about to speak when he was caught by the whiff of alcohol. It made him cough a little.

"Go to your room, I'll be up after the party and you better be in bed." He told her sternly.

She tried to remain steady but it was impossible. Adam took hold of her and led her around the back way through the kitchen.

"Now go." He told her.

He watched her lumber unsteadily up the wooden steps. With a long suffering sigh he followed her up, taking off her shoes and putting her under the covers. She was asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. He turned and went back down to the party intent on finding Sam. Janet would need help getting out of that hideous dress and into her night clothes.

Before he could find Sam his attention was called away by some other party guests.

"Mr Cartwright, Mr Cartwright, maybe you could tell us, you being on the school board and all."

William Jeffers took his arm and led him to their circle of friends.

As addled as he felt Adam tried to be polite.

"I'm not on the school board anymore." He told them,

"But I'll help if I can. What did you want to know?"

Mrs Jeffers answered for her husband.

"Mrs Blunt, where did she come from?" She asked.

"I don't know, why do you ask?"

"We're concerned Mr Cartwright," Jeffers told him.

"Our Katie never used to stay out late, now she comes home at odd hours of the night, smell of alcohol on her breath."

"She came from that school house with her face plastered in makeup. Mr Cartwright, she don't listen to us no more she only listens to Mrs Blunt and I tell you that woman is no good influence." Mrs Jeffers said getting visibly upset.

Mr Jeffers continued,

"I know it looks like we are blaming a teacher for our daughters misbehaviour but we just want answers."

Mrs Flood joined the conversation.

"Our Pippa was loosing weight, we discovered she was hiding food instead of eating. We finally got it out of her that Mrs Blunt had told her she was too fat and had chastised her in front of the other girls."

Adam nodded grimly as the parents of Janet's classmates voiced their concerns. Their testimony was a familiar story, he wanted answers himself.

~o~

Adam discussed all that was said with Sam after the guests had left.

They sat on the couch by the fire having a nightcap before bed.

"That's not the whole story though is it Adam. I mean she has to take some responsibility for this herself."

"What are you thinking," Adam asked as he ran a hand though her hair.

"She openly defied us Adam. We specifically said no makeup and there she was painted up like a totem pole. She needs a good talking to."

Adam winced. "You're not suggesting we punish her physically. I'm not walking in there with a switch."

"Coward," Sam sneered "No, I just think we need to sit her down and see what's going on in that hay loft of a brain of hers."

Adam sighed wearily.

"Sam, do you ever think that maybe the Lord in his wisdom knew what he was doing when he didn't make us parents?"

It was meant as a joke but Adam's words tore at Janet's heart. She could remain silent no longer.

"Don't say that," she said.

They both looked up on to the landing.

"You can add eves dropping to your list of crimes young lady." Adam told her as he beckoned her to join them.

"Maybe you should tan me." She said, coming to sit next to them on the couch.

She looked so miserable it was hard for her parents to keep a straight face.

"Has it settled down yet?" Sam asked.

"No ma'am, I was sick again just now."

"Serves you right," Sam told her without feeling.

Janet's face sunk even lower.

"Where did you get that dress Janet?" Adam asked.

"Mrs Blunt gave it to me, it was too small for her."

"I think it's too small for anyone." Adam said. "You need to give it back to her, and the makeup."

Janet was about to speak.

Sam intervened.

"Janet, you can listen to your father and do what he asks or come up stairs with me now and fetch your hair brush. Your choice."

Janet turned miserable eyes towards her Father.

"You're restricted for a month. You will come home straight from school every day and go to your room. Sam will devise a list of extra chores for the weekend. No parties or sleepovers for the month."

"Yes Sir."

"And Janet, I don't want you fraternising with Mrs Blunt. We don't know her. Myself and your mother will be paying her a visit sometime this week."

"Pa?"

"What is it?"

"Can I go back upstairs now."

Janet almost whimpered as a green tinge coloured her face.

"Go on, get out of here. Try and throw up in the bucket this time."

~o~

Mrs Blunt frowned at the news that Janet was not to stay back for the afternoon club. The fact that she was handing back the dress and makeup made her downright angry. Stuck up Cartwright's, who did they think they were.

But she smiled sadly as Janet handed it to her.

"I'm sorry Mrs Blunt but I have to go by what my father says." Janet told her. "But thank you for lending it to me."

"Did your family recognise the dress?" Ragan asked.

Janet just looked back at her in bewilderment.

"Recognise it?"

"I wore that dress to my engagement party...to your uncle Hoss."

"You were engaged to Hoss?"

"Yes," Ragan smiled "we were very much in love Hoss and I."

"What happened, why didn't you marry?" Janet asked at once, bowled over by this revelation.

Ragan suddenly seemed flustered.

"You should run along now Janet, your father will want you home early."

Janet stood her ground. "No Mrs Blunt please tell me what happened?"

Ragan began to tear up. She pulled a lace handkerchief from her bodice and dabbed at her eyes.

"Back then I was called Ragan Miller. I was but a girl living with my older sister. The afternoon of the engagement party..." Ragan hesitated trying to catch her breath. Janet put a hand to her shoulder.

"The afternoon of the engagement party your father Adam came calling."

"I thought he just wanted to talk about the arrangements for the party. Oh Janet, he forced himself upon me."

"No," Janet whispered, her face frozen in horror.

"I'm sorry Janet but he was vile to me. I won't go into the details, you're too young but it was truly awful."

Janet couldn't speak. The room began to spin.

"He wouldn't."

"We had to call off the engagement, we couldn't marry after such a depraved incident. Oh Janet please tell no one of this, this has been pressing on me all these years. I didn't want to come back here but my husband insisted. I couldn't tell him the real reason why I'd stayed away You're the last person I would want to hurt with this news Janet. You're my dearest friend. It's well I knew you were adopted. You are nothing like him."

Janet was in a daze. She couldn't speak.

"Please Janet, it's a terrible scandal, my husband must never know, promise you'll keep my secret." Ragan begged.

The colour had drained from Janet's face.

"I promise," she barely whispered.