Stealing Bradford

“But why was the boat burned?” asked Conner.

“I suppose it was because the English misinterpreted the purpose of the schooner. They assumed it was built for battle. Consequently, in 1814 the British raided an entire fleet in Essex, Connecticut, including the Black Prince. They destroyed twenty-eight ships, worth about a hundred million in today’s dollars. Then they towed the Black Prince downriver where she got stuck in the sand. And so they burned her.”

“Wow,” said DJ. “That’s quite a history lesson.”

Jack winked at her. “Didn’t know you were coming to school when you walked in here, did you?”

“Hey, I wish my US History class was half this interesting.”

“You should come to class and talk sometime,” suggested Conner.

Jack rubbed his chin as if considering this. Just then the bell on the door tinkled and several other art strollers walked in.

“Thanks for everything,” said Conner.

“Come back and see the painting when it’s finished, maybe by late next week.”

“You can count on it,” said DJ.

“So, what did you think?” asked Conner once they were outside.

“Cool.” DJ nodded. “Very cool.”

Conner took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “See, we really do like the same things.”

“Hey, you two,” called a guy’s voice from behind. They both turned to see Harry and Eliza coming toward them. “Wanna get a cup of coffee with us?” asked Harry. “I heard there’s a pretty good band playing at McHenry’s.”

“Sounds good to me,” said Conner. “How about you, DJ?”

“Sure. I actually like McHenry’s coffee better than Starbucks.”

Eliza looked shocked. “Better than Starbucks?”

DJ laughed. “Yeah. But you know me, I’ve never been big on name brands or designers.”

“My kind of girl,” said Conner.

“So, what happened with Rhiannon?” asked DJ as they walked down Main Street.

“Oh, don’t ask.” Eliza groaned.

“What happened?” demanded DJ.

“Just tell her,” urged Harry. “Get it over with so we can forget about it and have some fun, okay?”

“Fine.” Eliza fell into step with DJ now. “But it wasn’t pretty.”

“What?” DJ was getting impatient now.

“If only I’d known what was going on…”

“I tried to warn you,” said DJ. “You hung up on me, Eliza.”

“I thought it was under control. I didn’t know Taylor was already there. No one saw her leave.”

“Didn’t you see her Vespa?”

“Where?”

“Parked in back, right by the door.”

“We parked in front.”

“Oh.”

“Did you see how great Rhiannon looked?”

“Yes. She looked fantastic. And I could tell she felt good.”

“Felt as in past tense.”

“What happened?” DJ practically shouted.

“Come on,” said Harry. “Just spit it out, Eliza. Or I will.”

“Okay.” Eliza took in a quick breath. “Rhiannon and I went into the backroom. We didn’t call out or anything, but we thought we heard someone behind a closed door. We’d already seen Gabrielle out front, so we figured it was Bradford. I knocked, and then we walked in. Rhiannon first, like tah-dah, here is your dream girl. And…” Eliza shook her head. “They were in there doing it.”

“Doing it?” shrieked DJ in disbelief. “You mean doing it, doing it?”

“Yes.”

“Oh no…”

“Poor Rhiannon,” said Conner.

“Where is she?” demanded DJ. “You didn’t leave her there, did you?”

“No, of course, not.”

“We took her home,” said Harry.

“To be by herself?”

“Casey was there,” said Eliza. “I called to make sure. Casey said she’d stay with her. And Kriti was supposed to be back from her little debate thing by then. Rhiannon is in good hands.”

“Unlike when she was with you,” said DJ bitterly.

“That seems a little uncalled for,” said Eliza in a hurt tone.

“Well, you should’ve known better,” scolded DJ.

“You should’ve warned me.”

“I tried, remember?”

“Sooner, you should’ve tried sooner.”

“So, it’s my fault?”

“Ladies,” said Harry, stepping between them like a referee. “Let’s not fight about this.”

“I’m sorry,” DJ said to Eliza. “It’s just that Rhiannon has been through so much…and we all know Taylor well enough to know what she’s capable of. To think you could beat her at her own game, Eliza…well, that’s just not going to happen.”

“This isn’t over yet,” said Eliza with what sounded like steel resolve.

“It is for Rhiannon.”

Eliza nodded. “Maybe, but now I’m really furious at Taylor.”

“Get in line,” said DJ.

14

“WE WEREN’T ACTUALLY DOING IT,” said Taylor in an offhanded way.

DJ had waited up for her, determined to read her the riot act before she went to bed. “Yeah, right.” DJ socked a throw pillow and then tossed it to her bed.

“Fine, if that’s what you want to think…sure, we were doing it, DJ. We were just going at it like a couple of sex-starved—”

“Shut up,” said DJ. “If you can’t be honest, just shut up.”

“So, you believe me?” Taylor looked surprised. “That we weren’t really doing it?”

“No, I didn’t say that. I just don’t want your bull.”

“Believe what you want,” said Taylor. “You will anyway.” She pointed to DJ’s Bible now. “I wonder what that book says about judging people, or misjudging them as the case happens to be here.”