Free Deception by Carolyn Haines Page A

children.”
    “Yes,” Willene picked up the book and tucked it under her arm. “I’ve chores in the kitchen, too.” She took Connor’s arm as they walked into the hall. With great care, Willene closed the door.
    “If they’d had their pa after Ms. Talla’s death, things would never have gotten to this pass. Children need their parents, Ms. Tremaine. They can’t be neglected or bad things happen. As it was, though, Mr. Clay was all set to run for the governor’s seat.”
    “I’m sure Mr. Sumner didn’t intentionally neglect his children.” After the session in the orchard with Clay, Connor knew Clay would do almost anything for his kids.
    “Intentions aren’t the measuring cup for results.” Willene blinked her eyes and turned slightly away. When she spoke again, her voice had softened. “Mr. Clay had been working hard. Ms. Talla knew what was expected of her. There were times I thought she wanted it more than him. Then there were times … Anyway, the race was a shoo-in. They were so young and attractive. Mr. Clay was so full of ideas and ways to move this poor ole state forward.”
    “Mrs. Sumner’s death must have ruined that.” A family suicide would be a death blow to a political career, especially in such a conservative state.
    “He fought it. He ain’t no easy quitter, not when it’s something he wants. He went down kickin’, I’ll give him that. He wanted it bad, and he fought for it until he saw that he just wasn’t going to be governor and withdrew. It nearly broke him. He’d held himself together after the terrible thing with Ms. Talla just to run for governor. When they took that away from him, it was like he had nothing left.”
    “What happened after that?” Connor was curious despite herself.
    “Oh, he stayed down at the town house, working night and day. He was a man possessed, ignoring his children and his family responsibilities. He built up his law practice and took up a few … hobbies.” Willene frowned. “Wasn’t much place in there for the children. They stayed with him some, with his mother, with Ms. Talla’s mother. Of course, there were always servants to see after them, but no one really to care.”
    Connor had seen it before, a situation where parents could afford everything except the time for the kids. Nothing money could buy was a good enough substitute. She didn’t say anything, but she understood a little better the anguish on Clay’s face. She gave him credit for knowing he’d made a terrible mistake. At least he was trying to change matters.
    “How long ago did Mrs. Sumner die?”
    “Two years. Mr. Clay shut down the house here and locked up the barn. It nearly made me sick. I’d worked here for the past forty years, on and off, but mostly on. I came here as a girl, younger than Sally, and stayed. My folks live over by Youngneck Road, and then I moved just down to Havens Road.” A series of emotions crossed her face in rapid succession. “When I was a young woman, frisky and likin’ to preen, I walked to work each morning. I know it’s hard to believe, but I was a pretty little thing.” She patted her wide hips. “Times were different then for young folks. Simple pleasures made for simpler hearts. Sin wasn’t everywhere you looked. If I could give Renata and Danny one week of my childhood, I think it would heal them right up.”
    Connor patted the older woman’s hand. “It might at that.”
    “You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?” Willene caught her hand and held it. “You didn’t bargain for this, I know. I wondered if Mr. Clay had been straight with you. I somehow thought he hadn’t told you the whole story.”
    Connor hesitated. “Mr. Sumner assumed that a mutual friend had filled me in on all the details of … Mrs. Sumner’s death.”
    “He can hardly speak of it,” Willene said. “ ‘Course, he never had to, everyone else was more than willing.” She shook her head. “Seems like he blames himself.” Her dark