HCTB CHAPTER 6 Truth and Lies

"I need you to tell me exactly what happened, and don't leave anything out," Jason said.

"I've told you," Joshua argued "Nothing has changed," then he replayed his encounter with Missy, going over it step by step.

"Jason I think we need to go and talk to her. Try and figure out why she's saying these things," Jeremy said "Maybe she-she wants money or something."

Jason stood there, rubbing his chin in thought. He looked at Joshua, then over to Jeremy. "Jeremy, would you mind giving me a minute with Joshua?" he asked and nodded towards the door.

Jeremy looked from Jason to Josh. "I'll be outside."

Joshua sat with his elbows on the table, head in his hands. Tired of all the questions, unable to believe what was happening.

Jason pulled a chair up next to Josh. He leaned forward towards his brother, elbows on his knees. "Joshua…Joshua," he said louder to get his full attention.

Josh looked over at him.

"I need you to be honest with me, and nothing leaves this room." He said.

Joshua frowned and nodded.

"Josh, did you and Missy ever… I mean is it possible she could be …"

Joshua's eyes grew wide when he realized what Jason was asking…

"No," He yelled as he stood up furious Jason would even ask. "How could you even…I never…" he turned away kicking the chair over.

He stopped shook his head and felt let down. "Do you think so little of me Jason?"

Jason stood and put his hand on Joshua's shoulder, turning him back around to face him. "Josh, I'm sorry, but I had to ask," he said.

"We were hardly ever alone. Dinner, a kiss… but that's it," he said. The look on his face was pleading Jason to help. His eyes filled with tears, "I don't know what to do Jason. I don't know what to do," he said finally breaking down.

Jason wrapped his arms around him. Josh finally gave in to his frustrations and cried. Everything was crashing down on him. Exhaustion finally catching up compounded with accusations that threatened to ruin his life. He was scared.

Once he finally let it out, Jason pulled away and took him by the shoulders and looked him in the eyes. "We'll prove you didn't do this. Someway, somehow were going to clear you of this. I promise you that."

Joshua just shook his head.

"Why don't you go lie down, try and get some sleep? Maybe tomorrow we'll be able to figure something out."

"I can't sleep," he mumbled.

"Joshua, you've been burning both ends for days, you're exhausted," Jason said. "Get some rest and we can look at this with clear eyes in the morning."

Josh agreed. He was stressed and tired. "Maybe I'll just lay down for a couple minutes." He said finally giving in.

Jason knew he would crash the moment his head hit the pillow, and he was right. Josh was out like a light.

He stepped out to get Jeremy, who was sitting on the fence rail, looking up at the stars. Jason leaned on the fence next to his little brother and looked up at the same night sky.

"Is he alright?" Jeremy asked.

"He's asleep," Jason said "but he's far from alright."

"I'm going to talk to Missy in the morning," Jeremy said.

"We'll both go," said Jason.

Missy sent Burt home after a couple hours, claiming a headache. Really she just couldn't stand his hovering. The sting of Joshua's rejection was still heavy and she felt like she had been betrayed. She vowed she would make him pay.

Most of the women expressed outrage when Aaron told them Joshua wasn't going to be locked up. He and Lottie both assured them that Jason would keep him away from town until the judge arrives in a month or so.

Candy tried talking to Emily. She told her that Joshua denied the story and that she believed him, without a doubt. "I told him we would come for lunch tomorrow, so he can talk to you. He's not allowed to come into town right now."

"Oh Candy, how could Missy say that? Did you see her though? If someone else did that, why would she accuse Joshua?"

"I don't know. It doesn't make any sense," Candy said.

"I love him Candy. But I'm so scared." Emily cried. She was so confused; she didn't want to believe Joshua would ever do what Missy was saying.

"You can talk to him tomorrow," Candy tried to reassure her. "He needs you now more than ever."

"Are you going to be okay? I really need to go and check on Molly and Christopher, but I'll be back shortly."

"Yes…I'm fine, you go. I just want to tidy up a bit here," Emily said. She really just wanted to be alone.

Candy left to see about Molly and Christopher, Emily stayed upstairs. Most of the women were avoiding her or looking at her like she had done something wrong because she had been seeing Joshua Bolt.

That afternoon, Christopher caught three catfish. He was so proud and wanted to show Joshua that he indeed had caught dinner like he said he would. Unfortunately Joshua wasn't in town. Once he had the string of fish, he didn't know what to do with them.

"Ain't never cleaned a catfish before," he told Molly "They don't got scales."

"Do you skin it?" she asked.

"I don't rightly know," he said. "But I don't think these are gonna' be enough for everyone," he said.

"No, not nearly enough," Molly agreed "What'cha gonna do with 'em then? She asked.

Christopher stood on the porch and looked around. "Come on," he told Molly to follow.

He walked across the street to the General store.

"Well, hello Christopher, Molly," Ben said when he saw them walk in.

"What do you have there? Oh my, that's a nice little string of fish. Did you catch them all by yourself?" Ben asked.

"Yes sir," beamed Christopher. "I caught these up at the river." He said. "I was thinking we could make a trade," he said trying to sound like a grown up.

"A trade you say?" Ben said coming around from behind the counter grinning. He put on a serious act. "We'll now, I'm sure we can work something out. This is just the right amount for me and Emma. What do you think they're worth?" he asked.

Christopher thought about it. "What's three catfish go for usually?" he asked Ben.

"Well, usually for Catfish this size…" Ben thought out loud "Two bags of licorice. How's that sound?"

Christopher looked at Molly, then back to Ben. "That sounds fair," Christopher agreed.

"Alright then," Ben said. He filled two penny bags of licorice for the pair and took the catfish.

When they walked into the Brides dorm, the ladies were all in a tizzy with preparing the evening meal.

Candy came downstairs and saw them holding their bags of licorice. "Christopher, Molly, what do you have there?" she asked.

"Where'd you get the money for candy?"

"I sold my fish to Mr. Perkins," Christopher said. "There weren't enough for everyone, and he only has him and Mrs. Perkins, so I figure I'd trade. That a way, no one would fight over my fish." He said.

"Well what makes you think they won't fight over the candy? She asked.

"Well, "he said in thought "Grown up don't rightly like candy."

"Ya wanna bet?" Candy asked as she snatched a piece and took a bite.

"Hey!" Christopher balked.

Candy just laughed and led then into the back room. "I need you to put the licorice away though, it'll ruin your supper," she said. She looked at Christopher and wrinkled her nose. "Pew, and you need a bath Christopher, you smell like fish!"

"Aww Candy, a bath?" he whined.

"Yes a bath," she said.

The dinner crew had started and most of the Brides were busy preparing and finishing up the laundry because all the commotion had caused them to get behind on their usual chores.

"Come on Missy," Alice said leading her upstairs. "You can get out of that dress and clean up. It'll make you feel better."

When Missy got upstairs she saw Emily. She didn't say anything to her, instead she went to her trunk and pulled out a simple pink dress. Alice helped her change clothes. Missy asked Alice if she would take her dirty, torn dress to the laundry pile downstairs. That would give her a chance to be alone with Emily.

The moment Alice left, Missy walked over to Emily.

"I'm sorry Emily," she started. "I just didn't know what to do." She said sitting on the bed next to Emily's.

Emily didn't know what to say. She didn't want to believe what Missy was saying, but at the same time she needed to hear it.

"Why are you saying these things?" Emily asked her. "Joshua would never do those things."

"Josh told me that he was still in love with me and... you were a nice girl, but you weren't me." Missy started "He said he was just seeing you to make me jealous and I got tired of Burt, so he could get me back. I told him no, that we were over. Then he grabbed me and tried to kiss me. I tried to push him away, but he wouldn't stop. He got rough," she cried. "He's not who you think he is Emily."

Emily didn't notice there were no tears this time, but Missy did her best to look like the victim she felt she was.

"He seemed nice at first, but he wasn't nice. He hurt me," Missy cried.

"He told me he still loved me…He was seeing you until I got tired of Burt…" the words played over in Emily's mind and wouldn't go away. She thought of their last lunch. "I told him I loved him," she thought but he didn't say it back. Doubts crept in again. Was she fooling herself?

Tears filled Emily's eyes. Looking at Missy crying and telling her about her run in with Joshua became too much. Finally she burst into tears, and Missy was right there to give her comfort. Alone in the dorm room the pair sobbed.

Missy knew what she was saying was wrong in a way, but she couldn't stop. Joshua had rejected her. She hated him now. She hated Emily for taking him from her. She hated seeing them together sharing kisses and picnics in front of her, and she was going to put a stop to it.

Biddie trudged up the stairs. "Candy sent me to tell you it's supper time," she was saying, but when she saw the two women crying in each other's arms and stooped dead in her tracks.

"Oh dear," she said and turned around back down the stairs.

"Did you tell Emily suppers ready?" Candy asked

"No, Emily and Missy are sharing a moment, so to speak," Biddie said pointedly.

"I'm not sure, but I don't think she's going to be having lunch with Joshua tomorrow." Biddie said pointedly.

Candy's eyes grew wide. "What? Oh no," she said thinking she had promised Joshua that she would bring Emily to lunch.

Candy went quietly upstairs. She wasn't sure what to do. Biddie was right on her heels. Candy didn't want to pry, but she wanted to find out what Missy was telling Emily. Biddie was trying to peek around her.

Candy swallowed and cleared her throat. "Emily," she called out "Emily are you still up here," she said continuing up the stairs. "Oh here you are." She said.

The two women stopped hugging and sniffed. Missy looked up at Candy. (Biddie later swore that Missy was sneering) "Oh, I'm sorry," Missy whined "I guess I'll go downstairs." She said just before touching Emily's hand in a fake show of support.

Emily looked at Candy as Missy went downstairs. Candy sat down on the bed next to her. "Biddie, would you go and check on Christopher and Molly. Make sure they finish their baths and keep them in the back room?" she asked.

Biddie left without a word.

"Emily, what happened?" she asked. "What did she tell you?"

Emily just cried. "I don't know what to think Candy."

She couldn't tell her the things Missy had said. They were too painful to repeat. She couldn't tell Candy that Josh was just using her, until he got Missy back.

Candy looked at her. "Oh Emily, Surely you don't believe that Joshua could do those things."

"I don't want to," she sniffed, "But I can't help but think…"

"Emily, he loves you. I know he does, and you love him. It's plain as day." Candy said. "I don't know why she's saying these things, but they just can't be true!" Candy pressed.

"I don't know that, he's never said it…not to me!" Emily cried out. "Oh please Candy, Just leave me alone." She fell onto her pillow and sobbed. "Please just leave me alone."

Candy sat there dumbfounded. "Okay," she whispered. Slowly rising to her feet, she went downstairs. She wasn't sure what else to say. Hopefully things would be better in the morning.

Candy went to the backroom where she found Biddie with Christopher and Molly. "Well," Biddie whispered. "What happened?"

"Oh Biddie," Candy fretted softly. "I think she believes it," she said in a soft exasperated tone.

Biddie just closed her eyes, and shook her head.

Candy looked at her younger siblings and put on a lively expression.

"Are you both ready for supper?" Candy asked Christopher and Molly. "Did you wash behind those ears?"

"Yes," they both answered.

"You know what I think I want to do tonight for a change?" Candy asked in a playful tone. "Let's have a nice peaceful supper in our room. Doesn't that sound nice?" she asked them.

"Why do you want to do that? Molly asked "We never ate in our room before."

"Yea Candy, why do you want to do that?" Biddie asked.

Candy gave Biddie an annoyed look.

"I just thought a nice family dinner away from the crowd would be a nice change," Candy told Biddie with wide eyes, emphasizing the words "away from the crowd."

Biddie thought for a second before realizing Candy wanted to keep the children from hearing the rumors of Missy and Joshua. She decided once Molly and Christopher fell asleep, she would speak to the Brides and make sure they didn't say anything in front of the children because they were young and wouldn't understand.

"Do you ever remember a night when we played checkers during dinner?" Candy asked. "We'll make this a game night!"

"Ooh, that sounds fun," Biddie exclaimed.

Candy had the children set up the checker board while she and Biddie went to the dining room and made Plates for them and the kids.

Later, after the children were asleep, Candy spoke to the Brides. Who all agreed that no one would talk about Missy's "attack" in front of the children.