Desert Wives (9781615952267) by Webb Betty

Author:Webb, Betty [Webb, Betty]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Fiction / Mystery & Detective / General
ISBN: Desert Wives
Publisher: Poisoned Pen Pr
Published: 2011-04-20T04:00:00+00:00

At eleven I headed to Ermaline’s, first crossing over to the Utah side and the clinic. I’d planned to ask one of the midwives how Rosalinda was doing, but the groans I heard as I opened the door told me all I needed to know. I hurried to Ermaline’s house.

Within no time I found myself grating heads of cabbage the size and density of bowling balls, all grown in the compound’s massive kitchen garden, while Ermaline hovered over me, criticizing my every move. I worked until my hands cramped as I turned the stuff into coleslaw to be served with the luncheon menu’s main dish: Sloppy Joe sandwiches. As Ermaline told me exactly how much vinegar, pepper, and mayo to add to the slaw’s unholy mess, I edged toward my questioning.

“My heart was broken when I heard about Prophet Solomon’s death,” I lied. “I heard him speak at a library in Salt Lake City and he really turned my life around. It made me determined to come here, and so when I met Brother Saul, it was as if God himself had led me here.”

The harsh expression on Sister Ermaline’s face didn’t lighten. “Our Great Father is living in the highest level of Heaven, waiting for all of us there. As first wife, I’ll sit at his right hand, too.”

Personally, I doubted that the dirty old man’s waiting room was as comfortable as she believed, but I kept my cynicism to myself. Pulling a long face, I said, “Still, Sister Ermaline, it must be a great sorrow having someone you love so much taken away from you before his time.”

“Don’t be silly. In Purity we accept the blows life deals us. Add more vinegar to that. I don’t hold with sweet slaw.”

Our activities were interrupted once by a visit from Sister Hanna, who limped into the kitchen, eyes downcast, her pregnant belly looking almost painful.

“Sister Ermaline, I run out of flour.”

“Poor plannin’!” Ermaline snapped, but directed Jean to fetch some from the pantry. “You need to start making lists and keeping them updated. God hates a woman who don’t tend to business.”

“I know, Sister Ermaline,” Hanna said, almost cowering. “I’m trying. I just can’t seem to…”

“Try harder!”

With a gentle smile, Jean handed Hanna a bag of flour. Before I’d come to Purity, I would have thought it was enough to feed an army; now I knew it wouldn’t last beyond one meal.

“Thank you, Sister Jean,” Hanna said, then limped out the door.

Ermaline stared after her, contempt in her eyes. And, strangely, fear.

Why?

As the morning wore on, I decided that Ermaline’s entire interest in life began and ended with the kitchen. Unless she was a greater actress than I believed, she didn’t appear to miss her husband. All she cared about was her coleslaw.

It intrigued me enough to try something. “Sister Ermaline,” I began, “my sister died last year and even though I was a thousand miles away from her, I swear I knew the exact moment of her death. I

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