Sugar Fork by Walt Larimore

Author:Walt Larimore
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Howard Books

48

Loophole

Lillian Frye took a deep breath. “Okay, Zach. I’m not sure it’s in complete compliance with the spirit of the law, but it’s certainly in line with the letter of the law.”

“What? I don’t understand,” Zach said.

“I have a plan to protect those girls and their farm,” Lillian said.

“How do you propose doing that?” Zach asked. “Won’t the state declare them orphans? Put them under the guardianship of Nate’s sister?”

“It’s best, for now, for everyone to think that. But I have an idea. A quite clever one, if I do say so myself,” Lillian said.

“Consider me curious, counselor,” Zach said, leaning forward.

“The last time I saw Nate alive, he and Mr. Kephart were visiting with the captain and me. It turns out that Mr. Kephart, in one of his trips to Washington, learned of an interesting legal case in Virginia that he thought might be of help to Nate in the event of his demise before Abbie would be considered an adult under the law.”

“Case?”

“Yes. Apparently a family of boys was orphaned in the Blue Ridge Mountains, out in the Shenandoahs somewhere. Turns out the fifteen-year-old obtained a legal driver’s license from the sheriff of their county. Under Virginia law, a person with a driver’s license is considered emancipated, recognized as an adult. Therefore, the state did not have to send the younger boys to an orphanage, as the oldest boy was legally pronounced the guardian of his brothers and the family estate.”

Astonished, Zach shook his head. “Lillian, what do the statutes of North Carolina say?”

She smiled. “In this respect, our laws are identical.”

“You mean Abbie could be declared an adult—she could be certified as the guardian of her sisters and the family farm?”

“I’ve been able to discuss the matter with Judge Hughes at our inn, privately, of course, and I should add, he’ll be attending the funeral. Anyway, our discussion occurred during a break in his weekly poker game up at the inn, and while, I might note, he was partaking of a medicinal beverage delivered by Doc Bennett. He says it helps calm his nerves as he plays.”

“Medicinal beverages bein’ legal under North Carolina statute, correct?”

The attorney smiled. “Correct. And, indeed, I was told by the good judge that should I make such a request of the court, the likelihood of successful petition is virtually assured.”

“I think I’m realizin’ why you might be visitin’ me. So how can I help?”

“As you suspect, I need an agent of the law to issue a legal driver’s license to one Miss Lauren Abigail Randolph, once she’s been properly taught to drive, that is.”

“Why, Lillian, she’s driven with her daddy since he worked at the livery,” Zach explained. “Everyone in Proctor knows she can drive.”

“Good enough to get a license?”

“More than good enough. Better than most men out here,” Zach added.

“Can you issue her a license?”

Zach felt himself grinning like a Cheshire cat and said, “Does a black bear have ticks? You can bet yer bottom dollar I can! Will get it done before the next new moon.

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