Wanting You by Nan Ryan

Author:Nan Ryan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Diversion Books
Published: 2013-12-31T16:00:00+00:00

At twilight that evening a tired LaDextra and Will Davis sat alone on the front veranda after dinner. The two old friends had also dined alone. Anna, they were told by her personal maid, was nursing a bad headache and had requested a tray sent up to her room. As for Brit, he had left the house around noon and hadn’t been seen since. Rocking slowly back and forth, her arthritic hands clutching the chair’s wooden arms, LaDextra mused, “Mighty quiet with everyone gone.”

“Mmm. Peaceful,” said Will. “Nice and peaceful.”

“Yes. Yes it is,” LaDextra agreed. “I’m kind of glad it’s all over.”

“Amen.”

“It was one heck of a blowout though, wasn’t it?”

“Indeed it was.”

Smiling, recalling the merriment LaDextra said, “I suspect Anna’s headache is from drinking too much champagne last night.”

Will nodded, smiled. “I wouldn’t doubt it.”

“Bless her heart she’d never tasted champagne before and I think she had two or three glasses.”

“I know,” Will said. “She got a little tipsy, but no harm done, as far as I can see.”

“No, not really. She’s a responsible young woman, wouldn’t do anything foolish.”

“Never.”

They fell silent for a while, enjoying the gathering summer dusk, watching the fireflies dart about on the front lawn, hearing the crickets start their rhythmic croaking chorus.

“I swear that Brit,” LaDextra was the one who broke the silence. “I guess he never runs down.”

“Doesn’t seem to.”

“I’d wager that right this minute that restless scamp is either at Beverly Harris’s house or in town playing poker at one of the saloons.” LaDextra laughed, adding, “Everybody else might be tired from the celebration, but not Brit. He’ll likely stay out tonight until the wee hours. No telling when he got in last night. Or more likely, this morning.”

Will Davis nodded, then yawned. “Then he’s a better man than I. I’m exhausted. How about you?”

The smile left LaDextra’s wrinkled face. “Tired, Will. Dead tired.”

“I thought as much. It’s getting dark. Let’s get on inside and call it an evening.”

“A capital idea.”

LaDextra, starting to rise from her rocking chair, faltered badly, almost fell. She sat heavily back down in the chair and all the blood drained from her wrinkled face. A worried Will, who knew her better than anyone, realized that something was very wrong. This was more than just exhaustion or weakness. It suddenly dawned on him that LaDextra Regent was ill. Seriously ill. That’s why Dr. McCelland had been at The Regent so often of late.

Hovering worriedly over her, Will said, “My God, LaDextra, what it is? Are you…?”

LaDextra shook her head and admitted to her old friend, “I haven’t long, Will, but you must not tell anyone. I don’t want the children to know just yet.”

His face a study in distress, Will helped the feeble woman up and into the house. “I’ll get Dr. McCelland out here right away and—”

“No use, there’s nothing he can do,” said LaDextra. “It’s my heart.”

“But surely—”

“No, Will. It’s too late. My days are numbered.”

Will exhaled heavily and asked, “How long, my dear?”

The ailing Regent matriarch smiled wistfully and said, “When the summer dies, so will I.

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