The Darling Dahlias and the Cucumber Tree

Lucy crossed her arms, hugging herself. “Well, to tell the truth, it’s not been any too good the past week. Ralph is away, workin’, and it’s hard, bein’ here alone with the boys.” Her voice was light and soft, like lemon meringue fluff “They’re at school today, and on weekends, they’re off in the woods, huntin’ and fishin’ Mostly, it’s just me, by myself.”


“And now there’s that convict on the loose,” Ophelia said. “It’s been a whole week. I’m surprised they haven’t caught him yet. Somebody said they all have shaved heads at that farm. Shouldn’t be too hard to spot him.” At the plant sale on Saturday, she’d heard that the dogs had somehow got confused on the scent, some going one way, the others going a different way. In the muddle, they’d lost the trail. They were good dogs, trained bloodhounds, and it wasn’t often that they lost their quarry. But Sheriff Burns was still saying it was only a matter of time before they had the convict under lock and key again.

Lucy looked away. “I reckon he’s a smart one, knows how to live off the land back there in the swamp. Either that, or he’s gone clean out of the county by now.”

“You’d think somebody’d see him and turn him in,” Ophelia said. “A colored man with a shaved head wearing a striped prison suit—a dead giveaway, seems to me.”

“He’s probably wearing Tad Spencer’s overalls by this time,” Lucy said with a little laugh. “Miz Spencer missed ’em off her clothesline, along with Mr. Spencer’s blue work shirt. And he’s not colored.”

“Oh, really? I just assumed—”

Lucy let out her breath uneasily. “’ Course, I haven’t seen him, but that’s what they say. Young, too, no more’n a boy. But old or young, I couldn’t take a chance. I was sure glad when Jed came out here and took a hand with Junior and Scooter the Sunday the posse was here.”

“Oh, did he?” Ophelia felt a vast sense of relief. Of course, that didn’t explain why Jed had told her that it was the sheriff who asked him to come out.

“Yes. They were wild to go with the sheriff and the dogs to hunt down the escapees, and I knew I couldn’t keep them at the house for long. So I ran to the Spencers’ and called Jed. I don’t think he raised a finger in anger, but he cert’nly put the fear of God into those boys. They’ve been a little more mannerly to me since.”

“I’m glad to hear it,” Ophelia said, and smiled happily, thinking that she was glad. “Jed has always been good with Ralph’s kids. You have any more trouble making them mind, you let him know and he’ll give ‘em a good talkin’-to.”

“Oh, I will.” Lucy tilted her head. “I’m sorry, Opie. I’d offer you some tea, but I don’t have any. I need to do some grocery shoppin’ when I can get a ride to town. I’ve got some garden coming on out back, so there’s plenty of peas and greens and the like, and I’ll be putting up beans and tomatoes before long and we’ll have okra and corn come summer. But right now, I’m about out of anything other than garden truck and bacon and sausage from that pig Ralph butchered last winter.”

Ophelia was surprised, then realized she shouldn’t be. “The Studebaker isn’t running?”

Lucy shook her head. “Ralph is bringing the parts with him when he comes home next time. I could hitch up Junior’s horse, but he’s limping pretty bad on his right foreleg, and I don’t want to risk making it worse with an eight-mile round trip.” She shrugged. “It hasn’t been too bad, I guess. Tea and coffee are what I miss most”

“Well, for pity’s sake,” Ophelia said warmly. “You can’t go without coffee and groceries, Lucy. Get dressed and comb your hair. I’ll take you into town and bring you back.”

“Really?” Lucy’s luminous gray eyes opened wide. “Oh, Opie, that would be swell! I can’t tell you how much I appreciate—”

“You don’t have to,” Ophelia said, shushing her. Doing good was its own reward, she’d always thought. “Did Ralph leave you some money?”

“Enough,” Lucy replied. “And the hens are laying. I’ve got a couple dozen eggs to trade.” She hesitated uncertainly. “Listen, I’d ask you in, but the place is kind of—”

“That’s all right,” Ophelia said. “I’ll just wait in the car.”

“Oh, good. I’ll go and put on a different dress, then. I’ll be just a jiffy.”

Lucy was true to her word, and startlingly lovely in a yellow print dress with a white collar and piping down the front, her red hair loose and flowing under a ribbon-trimmed felt hat, her gray eyes sparkling with excitement. “It is so kind of you to lend a helping hand,” she said, when she got into the car beside Ophelia. “I sure hope Ralph gets that car fixed soon.”

When they drove into town, Ophelia made a detour past the Dahlias’ new clubhouse so Lucy could see it. She had invited Lucy to become a member, and Lucy (who confessed that she really was awfully lonely) had agreed. She noticed that Beulah’s beautiful sign was still leaning up against the cucumber tree and made a note to let Liz know it hadn’t been put in the ground yet. Just then, she saw her neighbor walking down the block toward home, her hair freshly curled.