“Why?” Keiley asked him, seeing his surprise. “Why take the blame for her?”
“Because I knew she was rabid where Mac was concerned and I married her anyway,” he stated coolly. “She won’t bother you any longer.”
“What makes you so certain?” Mac’s voice was dangerously low.
Keiley knew his anger toward Delia, but she also knew his fear that Robert’s anger could have manifested itself in physical harm toward her. No matter how angry he was, he wouldn’t have condoned Robert striking her.
“Delia’s staying with her sister in Pennsylvania until our divorce is final,” Robert stated then. “I doubt she’ll be back. I know the condemnation against her was strong. She didn’t have many friends left the way it was.”
“And I would like to extend my apologies as well,” Victoria sighed. “I should have kept closer tabs on her. I had hoped Robert’s warnings that he would divorce her would stay her hand. And I’m sorry for that.”
Keiley glanced away as Victoria caught her eye.
“We don’t blame you or Robert, Victoria,” Mac said then. “But I won’t have this backlashing on Keiley from your end.”
“In what manner?” Victoria suddenly straightened imperiously. “Young man, since when did you get big enough for your breeches that you could dictate to me?”
Keiley turned her head as Jethro snickered. Mac did have the good grace to flush at her rebuke, but he wasn’t to be outdone that easily.
“When my wife’s position in this community is placed at risk because of your daughter-in-law’s actions,” he stated coolly. “Delia demanded her resignation from the charity committee, and your board members were present when she did so. I want your assurance that her position there will be upheld and that your support toward her is still in place.”
Keiley winced. She expected Victoria to calmly tear a strip off his head for even suggesting she would back Keiley now. Instead, her lips twitched.
“It’s going to be interesting watching the two of you serve hot dogs this summer,” Victoria drawled instead. “My support remains constant as long as you and Jethro both are in attendance at that booth. If your wife can face the public with the grace and pride I heard she showed at Casey’s, then you can do the same at the festival. Are we agreed?”
“I have work—” Jethro sounded almost panicked.
“Young man, are we understood?” Victoria demanded, her voice frosting over. “If you are going to be a part of this small family, and if I am going to back such a relationship, then I shall, of course, demand my own satisfaction. That satisfaction being watching all the droves of curious women spending good money to buy hot dogs from the two bad boys of our fair county. This is not negotiable.”
Jethro sent Mac a furious look. A demand to intercede.
Mac held his hands up in surrender. “You don’t fight her, man. She’s tougher than you are.”
Robert leaned back in his chair and chuckled at the display, his gaze meeting Keiley’s with an edge of admiration.
“Congratulations, Keiley,” he said. “I can safely say you are the only woman I know of to have survived such scandal intact and with such a promise from Mother.”
“Shut up, Robert.” Victoria’s gaze jerked to him in warning.
Robert’s lips twitched. “We should all be so brave.”
Keiley’s eyes widened as he then rose to his feet and nodded to Jethro and Mac as they straightened as well.
“Thank you for allowing me to take care of Delia before you retaliated. I’m aware of the problems you could have caused had you wanted to.”
“Robert, I told you, John McCoy has a cool head.” Victoria rose as well, her tone reproving as she spoke to her son. “You should heed my council more often.”
He sighed. His look said this argument was a common one.
“Good day, Keiley.” He nodded in her direction before extending his hand to Mac once again. “And again, thank you for the cool head.”
“Thank you for sending her to Pennsylvania. I might not have kept that cool head otherwise.” Mac grimaced.
“That I assumed.” Robert nodded. “We’ll leave you now. I’m aware you have a trip planned later. If you ever need anything.” He left the sentence hanging, his meaning clear.
“He knows who to ask,” Victoria informed him, her tone offended. “Really, Robert. John has always known he could come to me.”
“Yes, Mother.” His lips quirked with a faint tolerance that bespoke his affection for his mother.