A Virtuous Woman

Susan estimated that some three hundred people were gathered in the garden behind the house. Rented tables covered the large patio and folding chairs made rough rows on the lawn beyond it. The housekeeper directed caterers carrying trays with finger food and made sure the soft drinks were well iced. Parishioners and Reverend Crawford from the Baptist church came, a number of Presbyterians and Methodists, too. Her three best friends were absent, however. Like her, they couldn’t stand Price. Josh acted the big man, greeting friends and strangers alike but keeping his distance from her. Judge Price circulated among the crowd shaking hands, addressing small circles of well-wishers, whispering in ears. Craft made his own rounds, and Susan wondered if they were really spreading the poison they’d promised.

She found out when she wedged her way into a small knot of women. “Hey Sandy, Margaret. Hi, Coreen,” she greeted cheerfully. Conversation came to a dead halt. Margaret shook her head, excused herself, and turned her back on her. The others wouldn’t look at her. A group of church women gave her the same reception. She sneaked inside, where she lay face down on her bed and cried in self-pity until anger replaced her devastation. Splashing cold water on her puffy face, she collected herself. She’d done nothing wrong and refused to hide herself away as if ashamed.

Susan rejoined the party, but with the stares people gave her, some disapproving, others curious, she remained outside the conversations. The crowd fell silent and servers stopped moving when Reverend Crawford’s opening prayer rang out over the sound system. Then Craft took over. “Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for coming out for the beginning of the campaign of our district’s next congressman. He is a man many of you know...”

When Craft finished his tribute, Price took the microphone. The audience applauded his standard Republican positions on abortion, education, and taxes. “We’ve prepared our first campaign advertisement, with the generous assistance of Josh Spalding, which we’ll play now.”

An enormous television, placed high for visibility, played a one-minute video showing the judge in his chambers, on the street with children, in church holding a Bible. The narration highlighted Price’s concern for their district and country and impeccable moral principles.

A couple of cheers heightened enthusiastic applause. “Price is priceless,” someone shouted, and the group broke into a chant. “Price-less. Price-less.”

The formal part of the gathering over, people stood and conversation picked up again, until another voice came over the loudspeakers. “Excuse me, folks, I have an announcement.” It was Danny. A pang of guilt: she’d forgotten to read his text.

The buzz of conversation softened but didn’t stop. “Listen up, people,” he said louder, commanding. A hush fell over the lawn. Everyone knew him since he owned a popular shop in the center of town: ice cream, chocolates, and pastries.

“You heard Judge Price, and you saw his ad. That’s all fine. But many of you have also heard a falsehood he and his friends are spreading around about Susan Spalding. They claim they came upon her in the woods with a lover. I’m here to tell you that Judge Price is a liar, a blackmailer, and a sexual predator.”

Murmurings arose. Before Danny could say anything further, Price grabbed the mic. His voice bellowed out, “I’ve been in Danny’s store many times, but I tell you this. I’ve been there for the last time. He was probably sent by the Democrats to undermine my candidacy because the Democrats know that if I get the nomination, I’ll win. I’m not even going to respond to this sort of slander other than to say it’s complete nonsense.”

Danny spoke again. “Yesterday, I was on my way to see Susan and Josh, and I saw Judge Price and Judge Craft go into the woods. I knew Susan liked to walk there and I didn’t trust them, so I followed them. It’s a good thing I did.”

The TV screen lit up again showing Price and Craft taking seats on a blanket backed by trees. Susan edged her way through the packed yard and stopped near Josh. With the speaker volume blasting, he cringed at Price and Craft harassing Susan with their foul language, lewd proposals, blasphemy, and threats. Consternation spread over his features when he noticed Susan, then he turned back to the screen. The camera remaining on the men, their features partly visible through green leaves. Susan’s responses could just be made out over the sounds of running water, but Price’s unmistakable voice blared clearly throughout the assembly.

When it ended, there was silence. Then someone spoke out, “What kind of man are you, Price?” No answer. The throng remained quiet until someone else shouted, “Price, do you have anything to say?” Price said nothing.

A stunned Susan heard the crowd surrounding her begin to talk, voices swelling louder, until people broke out in riotous shouts and jeers. Groups of men surrounded Price and Craft and began shoving them this way and that. Women who had shunned Susan earlier came to her to give their condolences for the indignation she had suffered. One, who had given her a look of loathing said, “I knew in my heart you were a virtuous woman.”

Susan muttered noncommittal acknowledgments, the pressure that had been in her chest since yesterday easing. After a few minutes, Reverend Crawford’s voice boomed out, “Listen up. Everyone is to leave immediately. Everyone. Now.” The servers, who had put away their trays, began herding people out of the yard.

Soon only Josh, Danny, Reverend Crawford, and Susan remained, along with the housekeeper and caterers, busy cleaning up. They stood on the patio near the raised television and speakers.

“That’s the end of his campaign,” Danny said, wearing a self-satisfied smirk.

“A man like that doesn’t deserve to be a judge,” the minister pronounced. “I’m going to personally start a recall petition. We’ll elect a new judge with real Christian values. Susan, I’m sorry for what you went through. I didn’t believe that rumor for a second.”

“Thanks, Reverend.” Their eyes met briefly, knowingly, and he left.

“Thank you,” Josh said to Danny, shaking his hand. “You did a good deed. You saved my wife’s reputation and you saved our marriage.”

Josh took a step towards Susan, held his arms open in expectation of an embrace. She took a step back. “Did he?” she asked.

“Of course he did. You did nothing wrong. It was all them. Your honor is intact. We can put it behind us now.”

If the vote of the Burnsville Baptists counted, Susan knew, that’s exactly what would happen. The innocent wife, falsely accused, would hold no grudge and return to the arms of her husband. Her story would end, her mistreatment forgotten.

She was having none of it.

“You think so? I pleaded with you yesterday but you condemned me and believed those two miserable hypocrites. After all the times I warned you about them. After the years we’ve been married. You let me be humiliated in front of the whole town. How could you have thought so little of me?”

Danny backed away and stood to the side. Josh gave him a glance of dismissal, but Susan made a sign with her hand for him to stay.

“They were so convincing. They described how they saw a man kissing you. Touching you while you were undressed. What was I supposed to think?”

Susan’s rage was barely controlled, “You believed a flimsy story that I cheated on you. That they followed some phantom lover who miraculously disappeared without them seeing who it was. What am I supposed to think?”

The hired help were breaking down the tables, carrying them away along the side of the house. Josh said, “I’ll tell you what. Come inside. We need to spend some time together. Cool off. Let the whole thing go.”

“Uh-uh. What you did was unforgivable. I’m not staying with a man who throws me to the wolves. Yesterday you said you wanted me gone. Well, your wish is granted. I’m leaving. I’ll come back to pack my things.”

“No, please,” Josh begged. “That’s not the way to solve this.”

“It’s the way I’m solving it. You haven’t even thought to apologize.”

“I’m sorry.” Josh turned to Danny for support. Danny merely shook his head, declining to mediate between husband and wife. Face stern, voice an octave lower than normal, Josh tried to make himself sound authoritative. “Ephesians says you should submit to your husband and that’s what you’re going to do. I’m taking you inside.”

Susan burst out in derisive laughter and began walking away. Josh grabbed her arm, pleading, close to tears. “You can’t leave me. I’m not letting you go. You’re mine and you’re staying with me.”  

Susan jerked her arm loose and landed a kick between his legs. He let out a scream and collapsed to the ground, groaning and repeating, “Oh my God” over and over.

She knelt over him. “Don’t use the Lord’s name in vain, honey.” She patted him on the head and turned to Danny. “I need to get a few things together. Can you meet me at the Nu Wray Hotel?”

With barely another glance at Josh writhing in pain on the patio floor, Susan went upstairs and packed her carry-on. She called the bed and breakfast on the drive over. She pulled into the driveway of the inn, a grand, white clapboard structure with two-story high red brick columns holding up the portico roof. She adored this building, built in the 1800’s and retaining its southern Appalachian charm.

She sat in a chair on the porch next to Danny after checking in. “You look rather pleased with yourself,” she said.

“I’m glad I exposed the bastards for who they are.”

“Me, too. But what I want to know is, what were you really doing there? Were you spying on me, too?”

“It’s like I said before. I was on my way to the house to see you. I had a box of chocolates for you. I texted you but you didn’t answer.” He went to his car, returned with a box with a ribbon holding a gift card in place, and handed it to her.

“Why didn’t you stop them?”

“I never trusted Judge Price. Or Craft. When I saw what they were up to, I knew I could expose them. I’m glad I didn’t stop them. I could see it was hard for you, but...”

She cut him off. “Yeah, I’ll bet you saw plenty.”

“I had a chance to put an end to their standing in this community, so I did.”

“I was terrified, Danny. Thinking they were going rape me or worse. And you just stood by and watched. How could you?”

“I thought I was doing the right thing. I wasn’t going to let them hurt you.”

“You let me go through the worst degradation of my life.”

“I guess I was thinking about destroying them. I should have thought more about you. I’m sorry.”

They sat together. Susan listened to the night-time insects and watched headlights going by. After a while she read the card. “For what it’s worth, in the end you salvaged my reputation.”

“You forgive me?”

“Not yet.”

“Care to go for a little walk? You can work on it.”

“About the only thing I want to do is take a hot bath and go to bed.”

She stood up. Danny did, too, then took two steps to close the distance between them. Putting his arms around her, he moved his face towards hers. She turned her head and the kiss landed on her cheek.

“What are you doing?” She lifted his arms off her and backed away.

“You know I’m in love with you, and think you care about me, even if you’re a little angry,” Danny said. “There was never anything we could do since you were taken. But now...”

“Are you out of your mind? You think you do a botched rescue of the princess from the ogre and she’s suddenly yours?” She paused for an answer that didn’t come. “Listen, Danny. I’m exhausted. I’ve had a difficult couple of days. Two snakes wanted to defile me. I just left my husband. I care about you as a friend. I’m not in love with you.” He remained on the porch, immobile, as she went inside and shut the door behind her.