Free Silk and Stone by Deborah Smith Page A

the locals.”
    “Jobs working for the new people,” Sarah said with contempt. “Jobs as maids and salesclerks, or golfing caddies. Folks around here used to be pretty self-sufficient. Besides, the jobs don’t pay well enough for them to afford the new taxes. Last year’s property assessments tripled taxes overnight. Families that have owned land here for generations are being forced to sell out. Hugh and I are saving every penny just to pay this year’s taxes on the Cove.”
    “But Hugh’s medical practice must be booming—”
    “My husband has a major attitude problem.” Sarah’s face softened despite her grim tone of voice, and her eyes shimmered. “He thinks a doctor is supposed to treat any person who needs help, regardless of their ability to pay for it. If it weren’t for Hugh, half the old-timers around town and over at Cawatie couldn’t afford medical care.” Sarah bit her lip. Her face became strained again. “There’s another problem too. The people who have been here all their lives sure have their prejudices, and they gossiped up a storm when I married Hugh, but most of them have a little Cherokee blood somewhere in their family trees, and they respect the Indians. They respect Hugh.” She shook her head disgustedly. “Most of the newcomers can’t seem to get past the idea that a man who’s part Indian couldn’t possibly be as good a physician as their lily-white selves deserve. They go to the two white doctors Hugh works with at the hospital.”
    She paused, gazing out the window blindly, contempt drawing her mouth into a grimace. “All these so-called sophisticated people, coming up here from big cities all over the South. You’d think they’d be smarter.” Her harsh eyes met Frannie’s agonized ones again. “I never knew how much ignorance there was in the world until Alexandra invited it to this town.”
    Frannie knuckled her hands under her chin and bowed her head. “I’m sure Alexandra doesn’t realize that she’s ruining a lot of what made this place so special. She’s so proud of the town. She’s told me so.”
    Sarah leaned toward her and said evenly, “She’s alienated my brother from all his old friends. He’s miserable, and he drinks too much. From what I’m able to find out, the only time he’s not stewed is when he’s in court. He’s so withdrawn and defensive that I can’t get through to him to help him. I tried to talk to him a couple of years ago. I told him my bitterness about the ruby was a symbol of the real problem: I wanted him to take control of his life again.” Sarah swallowed roughly. “He said, ‘Alexandra is my life.’ ”
    Sarah sank back in her chair, her face so pale and exhausted that Frannie, on the verge of tears, grasped one of her hands. “I’m so sorry … so sorry. I can’t change my sister any more than you can change William. I can only try to live my life by my own morals, my own ideas of what’s right, but—” Frannie choked up and struggled to continue speaking. Her shoulders drooped. “—But right now I can’t even do
that.
”
    Frannie told her about Samantha, and the expensive specialists Alexandra had arranged for Samantha to see soon at the university medical center at Durham, and how generous Alexandra was being to loan Frannie the money. Sarah listened so gently, squeezing Frannie’s hand in sympathy, that Frannie broke down and also told her that Carl blamed her for causing Samantha’s problem. “I can’t go back to my husband without some kind of success,” Frannie finished, her voice trembling. “I
have
to solve our daughter’s problem, no matter what it takes. All my ideals are just hypocritical bullshit, because I’ll accept every bit of my sister’s help and generosity even though I despise the way she lives her life.”
    “Listen to me, Frannie. Don’t let pride keep you from doing what’s best for Samantha. Just don’t assume Alexandra’s help is unselfish.” Sarah pushed her chair