tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-63377623604304631842024-03-01T17:07:29.659-08:00There Is No Such Thing As A Thornless GardenThey say you can get used to anything. They lie. Don’t let anyone ever fool you into believing that because once you do you stop fighting the fall. And when you stop fighting you might as well have given up. And if you’ve given up then you might as well go dig your own grave, climb in, and pull the dirt over you and be done with this life. Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-53469865210227925832015-08-05T14:16:00.001-07:002015-08-05T14:17:27.366-07:00Chapter 33<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s400/ChapterPic.png" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">A
fore group of Revenuers hadn’t been able to resist temptation and had attacked
the enclave proper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta say, them
guards that let them get passed them had as much if not more to fear from Saul
than they had of the Revenuers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw
him grab one man by the throat and lift him so that his feet couldn’t touch the
ground.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy was so scared that he
messed himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t ever met anyone
that strong and scary since Brian; not even Emerald’s enforcers had been that
tough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was scary and I was glad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Glad, not because of why but because I now
knew Saul was a man that would do what it took … because he had skin in the
game too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Revenuers had taken Missy …
and their daughter.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked around at the mess the Revenuers made.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still not sure if I was really remembering or if my brain was
already turning by then but part of me thinks that I was really
remembering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw bodies laid out on the
ground in the snow under a big oak tree and over the top of that picture I saw
bodies piled like cordwood under another oak tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw blood on the snow yet I also saw blood
on grass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw Mrs. Beauchamp, seeming
a lot smaller than she normally did tending to the wounded and I saw Patty
crying over something blanket covered separate from all the others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also saw faceless ghosts, some crying, some
hugging each other in silent shock, a few injured being tended.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everywhere I looked it was like seeing two
pictures that were the same yet different.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Where
‘r the kids?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
hadn’t realized I asked the question until Andrew draped something over my
shoulders and said, “They’ve been taken.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
was the only one – him and Saul – that didn’t step away from me as a growl came
from my throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I walked away no
one stopped me. They were too busy trying to pull themselves together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul was shouting orders and later I found
out he’d made the mistake in thinking that I would go over with the other women
and do what was generally expected of women to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards when he tried to start in on me I
basically told him to shut up and that’s what him and the others got for
assuming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t appreciate it too
much when I said it, and still don’t, but I don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Assuming things will get you killed faster
than anything I’ve ever seen.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Ever
since the time I got so scared to wake up and find him gone Roman had been
teaching me the different trails.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t walk them but he taught me on maps so that I’d know what he was talking
about when he mentioned them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also
plotted me landmarks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d grown up with
Tim doing the same thing so it was easier to learn than learning from a
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And my memory is good too, it’s
one of the few tools no one has ever been able to take from me and has been one
of them double edged swords you read about in fancy books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Those
maps are one of the few things I took with me when I had decided to go look for
Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those maps and one of the big
butcher knives from the kitchen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
almost decided to take Roman’s spare rifle but decided against it because one,
I’d never shot a rifle, and two trying to carry it and walk through the snow
would have been a losing proposition for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The thing was nearly as long as I was tall, or so it felt.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
suppose I could have snagged a gun in all the confusion but I didn’t do it then
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I planned needed quiet and
although I’d heard Brian and Mother Mary speak about homemade silencers there
wasn’t time to make one even if I could have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
man I’d tortured had said that he’d heard the Revenuers were going to camp at
this particular location not too far from a creek. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I’d described it to Saul he knew the
exact location and named it Mercer’s Boulder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I knew where that was, at least on the map in my head, and knew it had
been named after a man that had gotten drunk and fallen and crushed his skull
against it in the early days of the enclave as people were still figuring out
whether they could tolerate the type of living they planned on doing.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
set off for Mercer’s Boulder and no one stopped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul says that people told him they didn’t
see me go but that’s a flat out lie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Several of them looked my way and then looked away shame faced.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Found out later that my story had been
spreading in bits and pieces but I didn’t know that then and I’m not sure I
would have cared if I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know Patty
saw me because she looked at me and said, “This is your fault, you did this to
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at how low you’ve brought a
good man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now you’re doing the same
to Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re poison and so is that
demon spawn inside you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
would likely have kept on running her mouth if Roman’s sister Vicki hadn’t come
up and said, “Patricia!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shut up and stop
making things worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex got himself
killed after doing everything he could to kill the rest of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If my children are hurt …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">They
started bickering and I walked away but I realized it wasn’t just Saul that had
skin in the game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never had nothing
to do with the kids of the enclave, not even accidentally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had been surprised one time when Roman let
slip there was about twenty kids under ten in the enclave because I’d never
seen any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he got red I realized it
was because I’d been kept away from them or them from me, either way it was the
same.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t bother me, I wouldn’t
have known what to say to any of them anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was the last really young girl that Mother Mary had bought but there
were others that came in near my age but none of them were like me; they’d all
joined the stable willingly to get off the street and for some reason none of
us could ever get along very well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had
to teach them that I wasn’t someone they wanted to pick on no matter how I
looked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Alex bought me and that was
the last of that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">All
of that – ghostly pictures and ugly memories – kept trying to find space in my
head and it wasn’t until I got away from the enclave that I could tell ‘em all to
just shut up, that I had work to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Some people try and make out like I was in some kind of shock, that it
has to be the only explanation for what I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But that’s just not true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean, I
knew exactly what I was doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew
exactly what I meant to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t lie,
not to you, not here in this book where I’m trying to make sure you understand
why I am like I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not in this book
where I need you to understand even if it makes me uncomfortable to admit some
things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">See,
I took the path willingly and I meant to kill me some Revenuers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never been stupid enough to think that I
can kill all of them even if they all deserve it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenuers and dust bunnies … doesn’t matter
how many you clean out, more just show up whether you want them to or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you can do is keep cleaning them out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meant to find Roman and along the way I was
going to make someone pay, as many someones as I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
isn’t that I wasn’t thinking of you Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But without Roman I knew
we’d both be sunk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also knew that he
would have come after me if someone had taken us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not sure what convinced me to believe in him like that but something
has, maybe it is just Roman being Roman that convinced me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just knew deep down inside he wouldn’t just
look the other way and walk away and since we were partners I wasn’t just going
to walk away either.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-6369488200849750462014-09-12T17:19:00.004-07:002014-09-12T17:19:37.370-07:00Chapter 32<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
haven’t felt much like writing Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was so angry all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only time
I wasn’t was when I was asleep and for a while there I was afraid of
sleeping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afraid I would wake up and
Roman wouldn’t be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was fine so
long as I could hear him breathing or see him but when I couldn’t I would get
upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew it was stupid to get upset
Bean and I tried to hide it but it was still there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if no one else could see it I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt weak, like I wasn’t fit to be Roman’s
partner, only his bed buddy and a pretty useless one at that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
has gotten better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As soon as Roman
started getting better so did I.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I
don’t need to see him to know that he is around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need to hear him to know that he is
ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if he needs to go do something I
know he will come back.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> It scared me that I felt like that but I couldn't help it and for a while I didn't want to help it. It just kinda was and I wanted to kill anyone that tried to tell me otherwise. I knew ... or part of me knew ... that I didn't have any business feeling like that and I still know that I don't have any business feeling like that. But Roman and I are partners. We shook on it. You don't make the kind of deal we have with just anyone Bean. It was only as Roman got better that I was able to stop worrying that I was gonna be alone and out in the cold only to say it like that ... it isn't quite the truth. I worried that I would be alone and out in the cold without Roman. There. I said it. </o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p>I won't say it to anyone else. They think I've latched onto Roman for stupid little kid reasons ... like I'm afraid of the dark and he is my wubby or something like that. But I haven't been afraid of the dark for a long, long time. The dark is nothing to be afraid of. Dark isn't nothing but a color. It's what is in the dark that will get you. </o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p>I knew how I was acting was building something in the dark that would eventually get me and maybe you too ... and maybe eventually Roman. I knew I needed to stop building the monsters because there are enough real life monsters in the world. I know I can be one of those monsters in the dark but that's between me and you when you are old enough to understand though I sorta kinda hope you never have to understand about that part of it. But I promised you I'd be honest and that's just the way it is. So I decided. For your sake and Roman's I needed to pull my big girl panties on and do something besides shake and shiver just because it was dark, to stop worrying about things I couldn't change, and to get strong in case the other monsters tried to win again.</o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">In
fact today I told Roman that he should go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wasn’t sure he should but I told him that I didn’t own him and didn’t
want him to feel like he had to be on a leash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told him that he was very good at what he did and that the enclave
needed him and that I knew he’d come back when he was finished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t worry about him working with the
animals, animals can’t carry Typhoid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just worry about stupid people not using good sense so I packed his food and
his water myself being extra careful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can do that sitting down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m back
in bed now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">From
what I hear they use good sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs.
Beauchamp will skin them like those others skinned Roman if they don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes scary is a good thing, my kinda scary and Mrs. Beauchamp's kind too. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Saul believes me now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hasn’t said anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know if he will, but I can see it when our eyes meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman wasn’t the only one that I saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy was there too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So was their little girl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t known they had a little girl but
they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t known how long him and
Missy had been together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ten years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From before the trouble all started.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never would have guessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tina is the only one they’ll ever have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something went wrong and Missy can’t make
babies now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Tina is eight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like I was the year the UN building was
blown up.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
went but I’m pretty sure that he didn’t think I was strong enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I could tell he was worried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried at first too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he needed to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both needed for him to be able to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to stop being so … whatever the name for this that I
am and he needs to know that he can do what he needs to do too.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Four
weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s been four weeks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not so crazy angry now but if I think
about it too much it starts boiling to the surface.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been able to hide it from everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They all think I’m crazy enough as it
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So long as they know how far I’ll go for Roman, how far I’ll drag anyone
that hurts him even if it means having to drag them straight to hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not a nice person and for now I’m ok with
that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">----------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was pretty sure that I could remember the way to the enclave but it was so
cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had taken a pair of Roman’s
pants and tied them up with “suspenders.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I used the poncho made out of Roman’s old blanket for a coat but it was
still cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
didn’t have to go all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul and
some other men met me on the trail.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Did
Roman make it home?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Would
I be slogging through this snow if he had?” I asked him, angry that he’d missed
the obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But I know where the
scumbags have him and I know the revenuers are sending some city folks after
the enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
explained how I knew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course they
didn’t believe me at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time
they’d seen what I had done to find out a couple of them had puked.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
is made of stronger stuff and didn’t even belch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked, “Did he give a timeline?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Soon
is all he knew and I believe him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
idiot couldn’t even lie to save himself by that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t his group that’s gonna go after the
enclave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re more like harriers to
soften areas up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Good
name for them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We got a lot of people so
upset they aren’t listening.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
snorted in anger and derision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They
thought they were safe, that they were hidden enough, far enough away from the
cities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They got complacent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Same way other stables would get before
they’d be gobbled up by someone bigger and stronger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well they better get over that kind of
weakness fast or all your kids are going to wind up like me and that’s if
they’re lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before I left Mother
Mary’s I heard that the re-education centers and work farms were filling up and
the government was getting tired of trying to feed all the kids in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s foreigners being allowed to ‘visit’
those places and pick and choose kids and take ‘em off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They call it a different kind of education
program but not a kid that has ever been taken away has been seen again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of them are being sent overseas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pimps and madams were getting bent out of
shape over it because they were supposed to get first pick.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard one of the men curse and another almost whimper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A third sputtered, “That’s just an urban
legend.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
snapped at him, “Well I’m living and breathing proof some urban legends are
true or aren’t you one of the ones at the church meeting talking about how
wrong it was for a dirty slut to sit in the pews regardless of how I’d come to
be that way.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
barked, “Enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roberds take Thorn up
with you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to get back.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">We
road into chaos.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-42028785029688200372014-09-10T18:52:00.002-07:002014-09-10T18:52:19.945-07:00Chapter 31<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Hello
Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re still in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That thing that Mrs. Beauchamp put on my
belly says you are too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of them
thought you would stay there though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
proved them wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman says that means
that you are one tough cookie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says
it like he’s proud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you come out I’ll tell you to your face
so often you’ll never forget it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
just tired.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wanted to write this
down to celebrate that you are still where you are supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish other things were as they are supposed
to be.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">--------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Hello
Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First day that no one has come by
to measure and check and all that other stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m still not supposed to get up except to go to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s ok though, I’m feeling better than I
have but I’m still so tired that most the time I just want to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs. Beauchamp said that that feeling isn’t
just about you Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said some of it
is in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t being mean
when she said it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She thinks I’m
suffering a kind of something she called a partum depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What she basically means is that being
pregnant is hard on my head and it is also probably related to what my life has
been like since I was stolen and what she calls the latest shock is only making
things worse.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
only time I don’t feel like shivering is when it is night and Roman is here and
we wrap up in the fur cover and the world goes away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We have to be real careful with each other
though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No more teasing until you come
out Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But neither one of us feels
like teasing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy warned me that it
could make you come out too soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
Roman really isn’t up for teasing because he is very hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They skinned some of his leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The ones I caught went too quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have skinned them and given it to
Roman for his fur and hide collection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
would have if I had known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he didn’t
talk no matter what they did to him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was very brave and didn’t talk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did
I tell you Bean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are lucky and Roman
is very special.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
makes me mad that I can’t take care of him the way he has taken care of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those bastards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope they die and die and die some
more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad they are starving.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m glad they are getting lost in the snow
and freezing and things are getting black and falling off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should have stayed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They should have stayed in the city since
they love it so much and elected all the monsters so that they could have
stuff.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">If
they couldn’t stay away they should have tricked the revenuers and taken their
stuff instead of what they’ve done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dogs
sniffing their master’s butt is all they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They deserve what is coming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
only told Saul and I don’t think he all the way believes me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he believes me enough that he’s had the
word go out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lockdown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t have anything to do with strangers,
especially strangers that look sick and everyone has to report any kind of rash.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
hear him breathing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tea is finally
working … the tea that I told Missy about that the girls would take when they
got badly used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes the edge
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was in so much pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some places so deep that I heard
Mrs. Beauchamp whispering that in the old days they would have done a skin
graft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead all they could do is try
and sew those areas closed and they’ve stretched the skin tight and it pains
him awfully bad.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bastards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sorry I did what I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not all of them will die but I expect a lot
will before they figure out what is going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>By that time it will be all over the place … even in the revenuers they
meet up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And from there I hope it
gets into the revenuers’ bosses.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">You
don’t have to worry Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Growing up in
Africa and then living on the docks seems to have some benefit after all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That stupid doctor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We all hated him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just loved sticking us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he stuck us more than he needed
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He charged the government an arm and
a leg I can tell you that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary
got a good sized kick back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m
immune to so much stuff that it’s like my body wears armor.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Typhoid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the explanation will have to wait until
tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I want to do is lay here
and listen to him breathe.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-48118386663877706862014-09-09T18:34:00.002-07:002014-09-09T18:34:42.982-07:00Chapter 30<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He’s
late Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he might be late but he
said only might.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this isn’t just
late it is really, really late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m out
of wood and I don’t think he would have meant to be that late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said he would bring some back with him so
I’m almost positive he didn’t mean to be this late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He isn’t like that. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary would have had a runner out and
searching if Brian had ever done this. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And now it’s snowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is he?!</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">----------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard something strange Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
know what it was at first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s so cold
that I’m buried under the furs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought it was the wind at first then possibly an animal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t the wind and it wasn’t an animal
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Animals don’t test doors and
windows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They also don’t whisper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t’ understand what they were saying
but it was something about cold and abandoned to move to the next one.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean
this is bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is very, very bad.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">-----------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’m
glad I’m not a nice person now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It used
to worry me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw them pass by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought they all had and then I saw him. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was one left like he was covering their
escape; moving slow, looking back, picking up things that had been dropped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made it easy on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He only thought he was breaking in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then in the dark I knocked him out and locked
the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Next thing I did was make sure
no one could hear him scream then tied him to the columns in that room Roman
called the dining room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The columns are
just for show but they’re sturdy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman
had told me how he’d anchored them to the ceiling beams and floor joists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He was a fighter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my knots
are better.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’ve
been on the receiving end of a lot of punishments; I’ve watched even more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Brian usually did it but Mother Mary liked to
keep in practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I started working
in the office she used to explain her techniques to me, sometimes as she
demonstrated at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Girls
that wouldn’t obey, customers that wouldn’t pay, other pimps that tried to
muscle in on her territory, they were all the same to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She did it to scare me maybe, or because she
thought I liked it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is just one more thing I know that I wish
I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it came in handy this
time.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
didn’t last long – bullies never do – but I got the information I needed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is too dark to move right now so I got
what blood I cold off the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need
to rest anyway, pulling his body off into the woods made me hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’ll
make them hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m make them all pay.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“C’mon
Thorn, another spoonful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just a
spoonful.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
come away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Narcissa is …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Her
name is Thorn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why can’t you just
respect her enough to call her by her name?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Is it really that hard?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Easy
Son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your mother was only going to say
that you both need some rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That leg
is going to get infected if you don’t get off of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there’s nothing you can do for …
Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All we can do is wait to see the
state of things when there is light.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your
mother … she said that it doesn’t appear that the men that had her … abused
her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is mild shock and cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In her condition …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
promised her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told her that I’d keep
Bean and her safe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Son
… come away now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the women do what
they can.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-42080718409055532562014-09-08T18:03:00.007-07:002014-09-08T18:03:46.910-07:00Chapter 29<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Is
your mother crazy?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
a possibility.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">We
were both standing in the kitchen and looking at all of the stuff that Roman, Fletcher,
Peter and a couple of other men I was introduced to as being a cousin and a
brother in law – though I never did figure out which was which – had hauled in
from two wagons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The other men had left
and trying to get around was like how I imagine navigating a maze would
be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we had to try and so started
moving things by type into different rooms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There were some piles I couldn’t get around without banging you into
Bean so I had to be careful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The worst
though was when I tried to squeeze between two piles and caught the back of my
pants on something sharp and there was this awful ripping noise.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Gaaaah!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just sewed those for the third time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There IS no more left in the seam.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now what am I supposed to do?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had a hard enough time pulling them up this
morning!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
for starters … uh … you … could let me help you get them off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at Roman and his face fell a little
bit and added, “If you feel up to it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
know he didn’t mean to Bean and I know he’d be mortified if he ever read this
so you can’t let him know but when he looks like that he reminds me of this
hound Tim rescued that had this thing for shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He (the dog, not Roman) didn’t really chew
them – at least not much – but if you were missing a shoe you could bet good
money that if you looked in the barn in the corner of the hay that the dog had
dug out sure enough the missing shoe would be there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wouldn’t get mad that you took the shoe
back but he’d be so disappointed and sad looking, like he knew he had a bad habit
and just couldn’t seem to break it no matter how hard he tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman looks just like that, right down to the
big brown eyes and the hound dog expression.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
rolled my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m popping out all
over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might not just be these pants
you need to help me out of.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman
nearly broke his arm scrambling over some boxes but that didn’t slow him down
much though he got a good scrape I had to clean and woke up bruised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">We
aren’t really doing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman says he’s
still thinking of ways so that he doesn’t hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep trying to tell him not to worry about
it but that only makes him more pigheaded about the whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He seems happy with what we do although I
told him that he had to stop saying he was dead because it gave me indigestion to
think that I might be hurting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
really does worry me when he starts breathing like a tugboat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d ask Mrs. Beauchamp to check his blood
pressure but I don’t think it would go over too well when I explained why.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
got cold again last night and we gave up trying to put stuff away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman was a lot more interested in … uh …
staying warm than he was in working anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t even need to worry about those pants until this morning and so
far I’m not sure what I’m going to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
had stayed under the covers per Roman’s orders and was half asleep when there
was some clatter outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I woke up all
the way and when Roman stepped into the room and said Saul had stopped by. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jumped out of bed and forgot I didn’t have a
stitch on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh no!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What am I gonna wear?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
had that glazed over look on his face and said, “He’s gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just came by to ask if I would help with
separating out what’s left of Peterson’s wood pile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do that again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
what again?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That.
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
had to smile and told him, “Roman, it’s cold.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah I guess so.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">But
then I did it again a couple of times until he flinched and said, “Damn, I
gotta ride the horse all the way over there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That
made me giggle and I climbed back under the covers for the last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He left after telling me how to heat the soup
he’d put on the mantle and that he might be late but not to worry and to not
unlock the door for anyone but him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
took a key out of his pocket and said, “This one is yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So no one can ever lock you in again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like a skeleton key.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It may not work outright on every lock but it
will on most of them around here after I show you how.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
Roman.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I almost asked him to stay just
for saying that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
was walking a little funny and I knew it was my fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t exactly ride off very fast
either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then the sun went behind the
clouds and I wandered around for a while until I got too cold and I crawled
back in this bed and decided to write to you Bean.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">See,
I know exactly what I’m doing when I do things like that to Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I’m just this side of mean teasing and
that I should be ashamed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to make
him need me so bad that he stays around, that he’s not sorry that I’m staying
around anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I don’t know,
sometimes I think it isn’t fair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman
is a nice man and if yesterday is any indication maybe other people are
starting to wise up to the fact that he has lots more to offer than they gave
him credit for having.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if some nice
woman suddenly wises up to it and she’d be sweet and fresh and new for him in a
way I never can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t know
Bean.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Maybe
I shouldn’t be talking to a kid like you about things that are so personal but
I want you to understand who I am just in case by the time you read this I’m
not around anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want people
to tell you that I was some hard whore that didn’t care for you or Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t know I could care like this or so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I have to be honest too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not always a nice person and if some
fresh, sweet woman ever does try and get Roman’s attention I’m pretty sure I
will fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">I
don’t want to own Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t
want him to own me though in a strange way it feels like he already does; and
for some reason that doesn’t bother me except for the fact that it doesn’t
bother me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also don’t think he’ll ever
go back on his word about taking care of you and keeping you safe Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just worried that now that I’ve had a
taste of it, I’m not sure that I could let Roman go even if he wants to and
that I’ll do whatever I have to so that he won’t or can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that makes me a pretty bad character
because while I don’t know much, I do know that Roman deserves a good woman,
and what chance does a dock whore ever have of being a good woman?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-78419550382500893152014-09-06T14:06:00.002-07:002014-09-06T14:06:49.349-07:00Chapter 28<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
fidgeting.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes
Mrs. Beauchamp.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
was quiet as she measured and poked and prodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she put that thing on my arm again and
pumped it up and counted with her stethoscope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is one of the
reasons I despise young girls getting pregnant.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
kept my mouth shut even though I wanted to tell her that it hadn’t exactly been
my choice. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing against you Bean but
facts are facts. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I told her,
“Roman is making me liver to eat.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He
… he is?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
feel better than I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He does stuff
like that really good … er … well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
does that stuff really well.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hmmm,”
she said not quite looking at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Tell
him to keep it up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll see about making
sure that you get some milk though with the weather being like it is there is
little enough to go around.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t really drink it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can eat it if it is in something else like
bread but I can’t drink it straight or have too much pudding or custard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can drink goat milk though.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
beg your pardon?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“We
just had goat milk in Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t
until we came back to the states that we found out I couldn’t drink cow
milk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither Tim nor I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mom said you could have knocked her over
with a feather because besides the polio I had as a baby neither Tim nor I were
ever sick.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… had polio?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes
… er … ma’am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I caught it from the
sister of a girl that used to come help Mom in the village school before I had
all my vaccinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or that’s what they
told me when I got older.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
have all of your vaccinations now?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Whatever
I had to get to come back to the US.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
mission board made sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I got a
couple of boosters before they would let me attend school.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the … uh … the inspectors made us girls …
get shots too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the law.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
inspectors?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Something
… that … you’d probably rather not know about.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inspectors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I … see.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was quiet after that and she didn’t look like she knew what to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally I couldn’t stand it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Well I’m sure you have lots of important
stuff to attend to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman says you
really take care of things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Soooo, I’d
better get out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll … uh …
I’ll just go sit on the steps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Out of the way.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Which
I almost got away with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One
moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will be sending someone over
to look at that … house … and see what all is needed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Last
time I was in there it was plainly not ready for habitation.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh,
yeah it was pretty dusty but there wasn’t anything really wrong with it or broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got it washed up … when Roman wasn’t
bossing me to sit down out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
I’m not allowed down the cellar stairs – Roman pitched a fit the first time I
tried – so that part hasn’t been cleaned yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And the outhouse is still pretty disgusting but that’s because Roman
says he needs to dig a new hole after the ground has thawed and repair the
sitter part and roof but I got rid of all the wasp nests and cob webs and as
much of the dirt as I could. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he has
to go hunting and I stay at the house he leaves me pictographs so I’ll know
where he is at because one time I woke up and he was gone and … and I got
scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But we’re figuring things out
and all in all the place is really nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>With polish and some vinegar to clean the glass with it will sparkle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman has been working on furniture and I’ve
been piecing together other stuff and …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
raised her hand and said, “Stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One
thing at a time …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I had to go
through the house room-by-room in my head and tell her that we were doing just
fine but she still made a long list if all her scribbling means anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp was still raking me over the coals, caught between telling me what
not to do because of you Bean and telling me what just had to be done to keep
house appropriately, when Roman stuck his head in the door and he didn’t look
happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You ready to go?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Sure,”
I said jumping up to escape.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp nixed that idea by saying, “One moment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may wait outside but you will not leave
until I attend to a few items.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
thought it strange that Roman didn’t even react to the way his mom was talking like
he normally did and I followed him outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He wasn’t angry or anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
looked sad and embarrassed and upset all wrapped into one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
was the meeting bad?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Got out a while ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad and
David said I should have come to them with my concerns about Donovan’s location
choice to begin with and it would have saved all this trouble and I told them I
had but that no one paid any attention and said I was making a mountain out of
a mole hill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even reminded them which
meeting it was in and David pulled the minutes to prove I was wrong … and then
had to eat his words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not sure what to
make of it but Saul is stirring something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But mostly … uh … it was … Ok.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He stopped for a minute then he said, “Except Alex was there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was sitting away from the table and I
wasn’t the only one that wasn’t comfortable with him being there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter almost got in trouble with Dad but then
someone else from the enclave said something along the same line and Dad … let
it go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex … I don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looked …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
worry about Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to go Roman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hey?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Is
he still here?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh … uh … Saul walked him back upstairs and …
he’s locked in Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when Saul
locks something it stays locked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
also someone sitting outside the door all the time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you sure?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like it was last time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s not allowed to talk to anyone anymore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
do you know?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
Alex told me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… Roman if he isn’t allowed to talk to anyone how was he talking to you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
was after the meeting broke up before Saul made him go back upstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That … that wasn’t really talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t talk to him, mostly Alex tried to
talk to me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Let’s
go.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom said something about wanting to do
something or other and David and Peter are going with us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Peterson family has moved out west to
join some group out there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had to
leave almost everything behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Council voted that except for a few items already spoken for, most of the house
goods are going to come to us rather than take the chance on them going to
waste.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That includes the wood pile
though that is being split with some older folks that are running low on wood.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why are they doing that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
guess they figure I can’t set you up right.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That
was a very strange way to put it but I told him, “Obviously they don’t know you
because you are why I am feeling better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told your mom about the liver and I think she was surprised that a man
would think of it but she said for you to keep doing what you are doing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That
seemed to chirk him up a bit I could tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Uh … she did?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was also surprised that we’ve got
everything cleaned up though I hope you didn’t think she was going to let us
get away without giving a lot of orders and advice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seemed kinda disappointed though that she
didn’t need to give us more than she did. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think she has a complex or something.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
almost smiled but then seemed to think of something and got depressed again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roman what is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did … did I embarrass you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even said ma’am to your mother.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So
what if there’s some stiff rumped jackasses around here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You find them no matter where you go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you are around people you can’t get away
from ‘em.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
what is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can I do something?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just look around and … and I
wonder if you did the right thing by letting me push you into being with
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is plain that I am never going to
measure up to all your experience.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hell,
you have to treat me like a damn baby sometimes or I pass out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">And
I was furious, just like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember that tab of
stupid things you’re trying to remember not to say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add that to the list.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who
said what to you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You lost me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess I’m just slow about this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Can’t even read the hymnal and have to wait a couple of notes to figure
out what we’re singing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
I’m gonna ask one more … wait … was it him?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Did he …?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked up
involuntarily to the second floor and sure enough Alex’s smirking, smarmy face
was at one of the windows staring down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His smile got bigger and wider when he saw I’d realized how easy he had
gotten to Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What he didn’t count on
was just how mad I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d fought with
him but he didn’t think I had murder in my heart.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
snatched up a brick from walk way border and heaved it so hard and fast at the
window where he was standing that I fell down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I was satisfied to see he almost didn’t move fast enough.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
crash had people running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And a lot of
squawking was going on with all the women in an uproar over me being some wild
and crazy something or other but it was Andrew that broke in and said, “Alex …
was playing tricks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been concerned
that he has been backsliding rather than moving forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had suspected something of the sort when I
saw him speaking to Roman before Saul escorted him away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
who’d come from a different direction said, “Well that explains the chicken
shit eating grin he had on his face before Thorny let fly.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“My
name is not Thorny, it’s Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he
isn’t going to get Bean and he isn’t going to get Roman!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll leave first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
not going anywhere unless I say so,” Roman said interrupting my tantrum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And what I’m saying is that you are going
home and get out of this weather.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re
that funny color again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“For
Heaven’s sake Roman, stop bellowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
right here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
does she keep turning that funny shade of grey?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It ain’t natural.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Isn’t
natural,” she said on a long suffering sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Missy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See if Fletcher is nearby
and have him get a driver for the wagon that belonged to the Petersons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is barely suitable but it will have to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Narcissa will not be riding horseback.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why someone allowed her to ride that way this
morning is outside of good sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>David,
you should have thought of that and if not you, Andrew you should have.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
wanted to gripe again but Roman’s arm across my shoulder tightened and he shook
his head which means basically that I need to pick my battles, preferably one I
can win, and the name thing and his mother’s bossiness looks like one I’m not
going to win.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mr.
Beauchamp stomped around the corner of the house and asked angrily, “What is
the meaning of this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp said, “Your son …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt
Roman wince but Mrs. Beauchamp surprised us … just about everyone in the yard
to be honest … by pointing a condemning finger to the broken window and saying,
“Alex is reverting to childish antics and upsetting Roman and Narcissa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His recent methods of manipulation may also explain
why Patricia is acting like a …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She
stopped cleared her throat and continued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Why Patricia is unable to maintain her composure.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she said the words that I hope she never
says about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Something must be done.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
leaned over to me and whispered, “Think we better get while the getting is
good.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
Douglas Beauchamp.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
sighed, “Too late.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wish a full report on the progress you are making from here on out as well as a
list of supplies that you require to maintain the speed at which you are
currently working.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Almost
humiliated Roman said through clinched teeth, “Mom, you know I can’t write.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
beg your pardon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you leave
pictographs for Narcissa I do not see why you cannot afford the same
courtesy to your mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I can
decipher your father’s hideous chicken scratch handwriting I certainly have the
capacity to understand your system.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked at me and then told his mother cautiously, “Uh, yes ma’am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be sure and get right on that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“See
that you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am frankly appalled that
those ridiculously expensive tutors that the school suggested did not attempt
this years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they were here I
would certainly be giving them a piece of my mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How dare they say that my son was not capable
of …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
stomped off and everyone in the yard let out a collective sigh of relief that
she was focusing her particular brand of energy in some other direction …
namely in having the wagon loaded just the way she wanted it to be loaded and
with what.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
picked me up off the ground where I had remained and started carrying me around
the house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I can walk.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
you can’t ‘cause I’m carrying you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can’t
do both at the same time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Against the
laws of nature.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
did I hit your head with that brick before I let fly with it?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Deserve
it if you did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now stop wiggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My hair is catching on fire.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
can you possibly be thinking of that with me when your mom just about laid
waste to a five mile radius?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, that’s nothing. That’s just mom being
mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s really not such a bad ol’ gal
all things considered.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
jogged up and whooped a laugh before saying, “Better not let her catch you
saying that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’d turn loose on you
like nobody’s business.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She’d
have to catch me first.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told him in a falsely patient voice, “Well since I can’t run and keep up with
you just lay off picking on your mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s a woman that were she so inclined she could have owned a piece of
everything going on on the docks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
scary.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Both
men grinned which convinced me they were both definitely a few bricks shy of a
full load.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-54602410395686902662014-09-05T08:39:00.004-07:002014-09-05T08:39:32.610-07:00Chapter 27<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean
he was right and I told him so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eating
the liver did seem to help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure
why.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it’s just his cooking or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He laughed when I told him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I like it when he laughs like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like he got a good surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
wish I was a different kind of woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wish … well it is stupid because it’s never going to happen and all I do is
make myself feel bad when I think about it … like now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wish I was all fresh and new and had all
that to give to Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He deserves
better than some dock whore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
forgotten that there were good men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d
forgotten because I hadn’t wanted to think about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hadn’t wanted to think about what I’d never
have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only I do remember now and I do
have one that for some reason wants to be with just me even though I don’t
deserve to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know I’m only fifteen
but I don’t feel it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot of the time I
feel old and tired and used up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I try
not to for Roman and for you too Bean but I don’t think I’m ever going to feel
fresh and new, there’s just no way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
maybe I don’t deserve it either.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was cold yesterday but there was no snow like the Sunday before so there was no
way we could get out of going to church meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew has come by almost every day like we
are a special case that he has to work extra hard on to get to keep his ticket
to Heaven or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like he’s almost
afraid to fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
was seriously angry at basically being told he and I both better be in a pew on
Sunday willingly or that Mr. Beauchamp would come get us and put us there unwilling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Roman not to be mad because his family
was afraid.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Afraid?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of what?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
still don’t understand why some things are so easy for me to see and so hard
for him to see.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I explained, “Being
wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see it on Andrew every time
he comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s more and more
desperate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I just know
that is what he is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Andrew?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He’s sure about everything.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Is
he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he acts like he is sure because if he
isn’t sure other people might start doubting.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
how do you figure that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
remember … sometimes I remember … the things my father would say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t a big man like you and your
brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … but he had something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People looked up to him even if they had to
look down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brought quiet into a room
just by walking in … didn’t matter how crazy everything was, he just … it was
almost like he wore it like a coat or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he could open that coat and everyone that
needed to could fit inside it too. I remember him saying once that he couldn’t
be any other way because people needed to see him believing in and acting the
same way he told them they needed to act and what to believe in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t want to be the reason they had a …
a crisis of faith.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or something like
that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
was quiet for a long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Would you
mind going to Sunday meeting?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If the
weather isn’t too bad?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
think we better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think … I don’t know
Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think maybe you need to find
out if anything is going on that we need to know about.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
thinking of Alex aren’t you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’d
rather not but yeah … I can’t forget he … he tried to make Bean go away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried not to think about him much at all
‘cause I’m with you now but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
we’ll go but only if the weather is good enough and only so long as you feel
ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’re leaving if Alex is there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Well
Alex wasn’t at the church meeting but just about everyone else in the enclave
was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was a toss up to see who they
were more interested in seeing how they would act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roman’s family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or Patty who I
admit seemed to almost be on the verge of tears the whole time when she wasn’t
praying like her life depended on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Fletcher
kinda squashed the worst of the nosy parkers by coming over and sitting with us
but then Roman said, “You don’t need to sit here Fletch, we’re gonna mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geez.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
put my elbow in Roman’s side and he said, “Ow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What did you do that for?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“To
keep you from burning a bridge you’ll be sorry to see go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think your friend is being your friend, not
Saul’s man.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh,”
he said remorsefully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Fletcher
smiled and said, “Not possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s
already tried and I’m fireproof.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry I
ain’t been able to get out that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve uh … been helping Patty.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Both
men looked uncomfortable so I said, “That’s what brothers do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least they do when they are good
brothers.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Fletcher
gave a small grin and Roman gave a bigger one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Fletcher makes a good brother … even when he isn’t your brother.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Both
men relaxed all the way from there except for occasionally stiffening up when
someone would get close to being rude as they walked by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the most part though no one did and in a
way that made it harder for me because there was no one for me to fight, even
if it was just fighting in my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
that made me think about how I act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
from there I just couldn’t hide from all that is wrong with me.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean
I’m sorry if I’ve embarrassed you at some point or made it hard for you to be
the best you can be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to say
it’s not my fault but I have a feeling most of it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew’s sermon was on how we could turn over
a new leaf and be a new person, we just had to decide that is what we are going
to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it sounded almost easy when
he said it, but it seems no matter how much I try and be a new person there’s
some things that just aren’t ever going to be that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t unknow the stuff I know about
men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t unlearn what it feels like
to be in pain or to have done to me some of the things that were done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t seem to change that I get suspicious
when anyone touches me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with Roman
it is hard not to assume that he’s wondering about bedroom stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s impossible to unknow what people are
thinking when they look at me because I can see it in their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe I’ll live a long, long time Bean but
I’ll never be able to cut out the part of me that says dock whore to everyone
who looks at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like I’m unwashably
dirty.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
Sunday meeting Mr. Beauchamp demanded we come back to their place to eat and
discuss how things were going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he
just walked away like it was a foregone conclusion that we would follow.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad never cared to discuss anything with me
before,” Roman asked Peter who stood looking after their father.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
he wants to know.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Again
… why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously Peter, none of you have
ever asked me that kind of thing before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t get it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re staying out
of everyone’s way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We haven’t asked for
nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What could he possibly think we
are doing to get into trouble?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
don’t be so defensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how it
is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No I really don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m telling you Dad has never … look, just
tell ‘em I’m taking Thorn back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
still recovering from all she’s been through and she’s a lot more quiet than
she normally is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And her color is funny
again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can see that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So did Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While you and Dad talk she says she wants to
do all that female checking stuff on her.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
has a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Try using it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dammit,
you’re as prickly as she is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
walked up and it was he that told Roman, “It’s more than family stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is an informal enclave meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are one of the furthest out of the
occupied houses and we’ve heard some other enclaves have had trouble with
people leaving the city looking for food and trying to move into the various
territories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are a piece out but
Donovan’s group is further and they’ve had run-ins with city people already.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Donovan’s
group might be further out distance wise but I told you it was stupid for them
to build that close to that trail grouping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I told him then that if the trail was convenient for his horses it was
going to be just as convenient for people to walk on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That horse trail they live off of is part of
that big state trail system and abandoned or not it has accesses all up and
down the old interstate.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All someone has
to do is get on it and start walking and they’ll eventually pass his enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
looked at him like he’d said something interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I plot the points you think you could
figure where they are most likely starting at?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“If
someone will read off the city names and give me times and how well they were
equipped and not just points.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One thing
for sure is that if they are making it all the way to Donovan’s they are either
getting help or going through areas where they can get supplies from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That means someone needs to check on, if they
haven’t already, all of those real small family groups that have set up around
there too.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-54566839288244047372014-09-02T17:05:00.004-07:002014-09-02T17:17:42.382-07:00Chapter 26<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
you got lucky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think we both did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t even matter that Roman is Alex’s
brother or that his other brothers can’t seem to keep their feet out of their
mouths.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Roman sets his mind to
something he really means it.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’m
warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And on all sides not just the one that is
backed up to the fireplace or stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When he said that he’d give me furs he wasn’t exaggerating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he said I could sew them anyway I wanted
to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First I made a fur hat like I’d once
seen in a magazine picture.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said the
fur that I picked for it was rabbit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t know rabbits could be so soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The only rabbits I remember were short-haired and scruffy looking … and
rabbits bite I remember that much too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When I said that to Roman he said animals generally have different furs
during the winter than they do during the summer which is why most of the fur
trade is done in winter furs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
told him that the rabbit fur was appropriate for a hat because I bite too he
laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made him laugh Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think I’ve ever made anyone laugh, at
least not like that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Next
I made a blanket, it’s taken a couple of days but I finally finished it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was interesting trying to fit the
different furs together like a jigsaw puzzle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I lined it with an old blanket that I found in a bag of throw offs that
Peter brought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a scene.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“We
aren’t charity!” Roman snapped at Peter.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sure as hell are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or so says Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She and the Four Terrors went over to the
church’s poor closet and took out what could be spared.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">They
went back and forth until I told them to stop or they could wipe up the puke
from all the acid in my stomach because you didn’t like the noise they were
making.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can work with this Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is about
like what Mother Mary would throw at us when she thought about it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
scowled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you comparing my mother to
your pimp?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just what she did which can’t be denied so
don’t try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess what Roman is teaching
me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
gave a nasty grin and said, “I’d a thought it would be the other way around.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Peter,
you’re a jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder you’re just
second-hand help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Beauchamp and
David must have to dig you out of so many holes your mouth gets you into that
they are lucky they don’t have civil unrest on their hands.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
the hell?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now listen here you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He’s
teaching me to cook.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… uh … Roman is teaching you to cook?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My understanding is most men are stupid about
that stuff and won’t learn because it is women’s work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But not Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s really good and he’s a good
teacher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He don’t yell and snarl and
snap or anything like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even
when I burnt toast that first time I tried to help.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… yeah well … Roman … I gotta go, can’t babysit you two all day.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
Peter had lit out for the enclave proper Roman stopped and asked me, “How do
you do that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Get
rid of them so fast?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been trying to
do that for years and usually anything I try just winds up making them hang out
longer and be more irritating.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Haven’t
you noticed yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my one and only
talent … running people off.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly I
was depressed for no reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You’ll
figure it out and then you’ll be running off.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hey
… I don’t break promises and …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
stopped and looked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You don’t
feel good do you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You are that funny
color again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon, back to bed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not a kid Roman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
but you’re making a kid and if you listen to my sisters it’s the damn hardest
job on the planet next to raising them to behave right.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not sure I can do that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Teaching
Bean to behave so that they can get along with real people.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
don’t worry about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll figure
that out together when the time comes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For right now what I’m figuring out is that you need more rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you don’t mind while you’re resting
I’m going hunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to try that
liver out on you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
Roman …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Trust
me Thorn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Strangest
thing Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure I do.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">
</span></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-19950523197694663662014-09-01T16:08:00.005-07:002014-09-01T16:08:34.707-07:00Chapter 25<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sure this is ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
you want to kiss or not.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know what you think I’m thinking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
God help me I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But geez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want you to think it’s the only
reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there’s Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
acting like your hair is on fire and come do whatever it takes to put it out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
gawd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you sure?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Would
you rather I prove it and kiss you first?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
gawd.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">---------------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
dead.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no way for me to feel
this good and still be alive.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Really?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Cause you seem pretty lively to me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn
are you really sure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you really sure
this is ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
think your hair needs putting out again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Need some help?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Aw
gawd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the only possible explanation.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">-------------------------------------</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
woke up needing to go to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was also sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I tried to roll over
I accidently moaned then jumped when I felt hands on me.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">His
clothes were scratchy against my skin.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Wha …?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you ok?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Need to get up?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Outhouse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Everything
is frozen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put a bucket of sawdust in
the old bathroom at the end of the hall.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just NOW.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">By
the time I was finished I realized I’d never been so cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even the mandatory winter baths at Mother
Mary’s were balmy and tropical compared to this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Back
in bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, why are you limping?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… I’m sore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are you ok?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t put your hair out right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta rest first.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
not what I meant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thorn I’m so
sorry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should have said
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What can I do?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Should … should I get someone?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
idea actually made me nauseous and I shook my head and put him straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You didn’t hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m always sore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just before it’s because I fought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve … I’ve never been willing before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how to do willing right I
guess,” I told him feeling depressed.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
… not even with …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Alex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I don’t want to talk about the others either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hadn’t meant to sound so mean about it so I
explained, “I’m sorry Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you
don’t mean anything by it but … Roman a lot of them picked me because it got
around that I’d fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s …
that’s what they paid for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they all
hurt but some of them … they paid extra to hurt me extra or in different ways.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t want to go back there in any
way, even if it is just memories or answering innocent questions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Shhh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m an idiot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next time chuck something at my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I don’t want to talk about them guys either or I might have to go find them
and beat the holy living crap out of them and return their hurt with something
permanent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get under the covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re shivering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re going to have to do something about
some warmer clothes for you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
… I’m sorry Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to rest.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Shhh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
must have slept a while but it was still dark when I woke up.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
jumped when Roman pulled me back under the covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Stay here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A storm has come up; pretty bad one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No sense in getting up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get
you something to eat.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not really hungry.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
about Bean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think you could eat
something for Bean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… I guess so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman handed me a mug of
some kind of soup but all I could say was, “I’m sorry Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I tried but I guess I’m no good at this
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess … I guess … Mother Mary
was right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I’m good for is the rough
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That there must be something
wrong with me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t talk like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember I said it was going to take a while
to figure out the bedroom stuff?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
rushed too fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just … dammit … I … I
couldn’t seem to get you out of my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I looked.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“At
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“At
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were so wet and cold I was worried at how
pale you were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I took you out of
those clothes and wrapped you in covers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I tried not to look, tried to be a gentleman, tried to ignore Alex
making comments, but I did look and I haven’t been able to get you out of my
head since.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even knowing how young you
are and with a baby on the way you … you took my brain over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve done nothing but think about you, dream
about you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was totally pissed and more
at Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The more I heard the angrier I
got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was mad for another reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted … I wanted you Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only now … now here you are and I’ve hurt
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s not what I set out to do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
told you, you didn’t hurt me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It always
hurts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was an old woman that used
to clean for Mother Mary before she got rid of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She said I’d always hurt because I started so
young and stayed small.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s just the
way it’s gonna be I guess.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not gonna be that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll figure something out and it ain’t
happening again until we do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
mean it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s supposed to be fun for
both of us.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For now, let’s just
rest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re likely still recovering
from … from all the stuff you’ve been through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I’m just … wore out … too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s no one around to tell us what to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing either one of us has to do right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s just … enjoy being warm.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
shucked out of his boots and jeans and crawled in bed with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t embarrassed of him looking at me
which was strange because, clothes on or off, I had always hated the men
looking at me including Alex.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Your
skin is so soft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did … did I bruise
you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like on your ankle?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
bruise easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always seem to have them
some place.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hmmm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I go hunting I’ll bring you back a
liver.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Liver is good for that sort of
thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact, I’m going to
bring you some furs to wear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re so
thin … you look all baby in the middle here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s probably why you’re so cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Are my hands warm enough.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“If
your hands were any warmer it would be my hair on fire.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
just saying that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
I’m not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s certainly nothing I’ve
said to anyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“But
we better not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not until we figure out
some way so that it doesn’t hurt you afterwards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I can hold you at least so you can be warm … so we both can get
warm.”</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-60193141393191524302014-08-29T10:54:00.002-07:002014-08-29T10:54:59.606-07:00Chapter 24
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Your
mom pretty much gets her way about things doesn’t she?” I asked watching Roman
take several boxes of supplies that his brothers had brought with them down to
what he called the cellar.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
pretty much is right,” he said coming up for the last time before going over to
the stove and stirring a pot of what he said was stew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’m pretty sure Lizzie made this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s the only one I know that puts them
little things – capers – in her stews.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As for Mom, she’s convinced herself this is what’s going to make things
right.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well,
right for Bean … and us … but how does it make the rest of it right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m just not seeing it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
doesn’t but there’s no telling her that until she comes to the conclusion
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Alex is going to go bonkers
when he finds out that you aren’t going to the mines and that you’ve been
accepted as family.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wouldn’t go that far.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
don’t think Alex is going to go bonkers?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Alex
already is bonkers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one sane messes
up this bad when they have a family like yours.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
a good thing, your family I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
talking about me being accepted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at
Peter.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Look
at Andrew … and Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the two of
them get determined to pull something off smart people just get out of the
way.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
shrugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Just don’t get your feelings
hurt.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t want your feelings hurt.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t have those kinds of feelings.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t want to sleep on the floor.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
took me a moment to figure out he really had said what I thought he’d
said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Huh?” I asked confused.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“There’s
only the one bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the floor is cold
and hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather not sleep in the
front room on the sofa because that will mean heating both fireplaces and with
snow coming I’d rather conserve wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not to mention the sofa is musty and hard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nearly as bad as the floor.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh,
that means sharing the bed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sure you’re listening?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you want to kiss again?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You sounded like I was squashing the air out of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to try something else we …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God bless it!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s hot!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He’d
grabbed the pot with his bare hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
got up and he finally let me look at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I don’t think it’s gonna blister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You might want to be more careful though.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well … uh … you wanna eat?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">We
were eating with I realized something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Uh oh.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
oh what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is it the baby?!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll go get …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
your hair’s on fire again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just meant
I don’t know how to cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
some things but Mother Mary kept me in the office mostly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there a book that teaches that stuff?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
got a closed off look.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I wouldn’t
know.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
geez.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate to ask … is there anybody
that could teach me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peevishly
he asked, “Did you ever thing of asking me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh thank goodness.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d rather it be you than someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think I’d be sick if it was your mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now what can I trade … let me think … no,
that’s not good enough … we’ll you’ll get that anyway … duh!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wait, no, you’ll get that too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman’s
face had progressively gotten more stupefied and his ears had gotten
redder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I asked, “What would you
take for teaching me to cook?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">His
voice cracked, “Uh, it’s no big deal …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
no, we’re partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even stevens
remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So what’ll you take?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn
you really shouldn’t … uh … ask a man …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not asking just any man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
interested in just any man teaching me to … cook.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m asking you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can have anything I have to give.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman’s
breathing started to sound funny again and he jumped up, almost knocked over
his chair, then bolted for the door saying, “I need to get wood in.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
you need to think about it ‘cause I really need to learn to cook.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Aw
gawd, I’ll think about it all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just … gotta … go …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Bean,
I know it was kinda wrong to tease him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do. He’s just so … so teasable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But I almost laughed when I heard him nearly fall off the porch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d never done it before, never wanted to
before, but there was just something about watching Roman’s ears turn red and
his eyes glaze over that made my insides squirm worse than you do.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-18670959733259559552014-08-28T10:58:00.001-07:002014-08-28T10:58:07.069-07:00Chapter 23
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Peter,
it really isn’t appropriate to yell that kind of thing,” a man sighed.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
and I had left quietly by the back door to come around front to see who all was
there.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
know what the punk and the slut are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You consider that appropriate?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked like he was about to explode.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
was in the mood for a fight so I opened the dance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Watch out, your morals are showing.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two men jumped and spun around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“All Roman and I were discussing was the
arrangement your brother Andrew there seems so insistent on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously he should turn his preaching on you
instead.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Andrew
surprised me by smiling and saying, “It hasn’t done much good up to this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How do you do Narcissa?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at Roman who scowled and said, “She prefers to be called Thorn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
but Narcissa is so much nicer.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He must
have gotten a good look at my face because he added, “Child that life is over
for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can be something fresh and
new.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
I can’t be Narcissa, that girl is gone for good, but if you don’t like Thorn
pick something else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t make it Dinah
or Tamar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some things I don’t want to be
known for.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Andrew
paled and swallowed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Guess he must have
thought the rumors about my parents being missionaries were false.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll … endeavor to find a few names for you
to consider.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
looked suspicious and snapped, “What are you going on about?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was Andrew who said, “Nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let us
finish our business and …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Nothing
doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to know what she …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at Peter and told him, “Read your Bible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And do like your brother said and get to your business.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
looked ready to argue some more but Roman asked me, “You ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“May
I sit down?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean is bouncing around.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you shouldn’t be out with no coat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll get …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just want to sit down.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Peter
set up that other stump so I can set this cross piece across them.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When it was done he said, “Now you sit
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You got that funny color again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
wasn’t playacting Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seems
fighting takes more energy than it used to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or maybe you just don’t like it or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either way I wasn’t feeling too good.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked at his brothers and said, “State your business, it’s getting late and
she needs to go back inside.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Peter
said, “You’re turning into a frisky little peckerwood aren’t you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
got angry and Andrew muttered, “Peter, enough.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
stopped Roman who looked like he was ready to bust Peter a good one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him, “It’s me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and him might not always get along but he
still doesn’t want to see his baby brother hooked up with a dock whore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dammit,
that wasn’t your choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were only
ten when you were stolen and then Alex had you locked up and watched and
sometimes forgot to feed you!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
this isn’t going to work if you pay me in pity instead of us being
partners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I agreed that we’d try not and
fuss so much but you feeling sorry for me is just going to make me ornery and
fight more.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
was stiff and ground his teeth before bending down beside where I sat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t feel sorry for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry that it happened to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And … I can’t … I can’t forgive him for … for
betraying what the family is supposed to stand for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then lying about it and all the rest of
it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Taking
a chance I put my hand on his balled up fist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You can’t change the past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
you can do is not repeat it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
already told you I’m not ever going back that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one can make me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But don’t make me live with the pain of
breaking up your family either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
almost remember what having a real family is like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know what it is supposed to feel like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I haven’t known you long or much but I
know that it’s seeing things you’d rather not see in your family that is
hurting you the most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just let it go.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“There’s
things I can’t let go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things you
shouldn’t just pass on.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
then start by letting some things go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if I can then you can.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
growled and then plunked down on the temporary bench he sat me on and turned to
his brothers who were eyeing us like we were little green men and said, “Who
wants what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Quietly
Andrew answered, “The Council wants to know if the situation has been handled.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked at me and asked, “Is it handled?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
asked, “Are we partners?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">He
nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stuck my hand out and we shook
on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I turned to the brothers and
said, “It’s handled.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-54512333999281524152014-08-26T16:28:00.002-07:002014-08-26T16:28:17.784-07:00Chapter 22
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
… a partner?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is that enough for me to buy in and be
partners with you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way … I’m not …
you know … kept.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We start out a little
closer to the same footing though I don’t have to be the head partner or
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see … uh … we’ll be
throwing in together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t have to
… be on the hot end of the skillet by yourself and I know … you won’t just …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Break
the deal?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exactly,” I answered relieved.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
this last part you may not like but I … I gotta know.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
you think … could you let me … I mean I need to know if … aw hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just need to know if we can work … the
other … you know if you can stand me to … uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
is it you want?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Look,
you don’t have to if you don’t feel up to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just think it’s better if we know up front.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
I was thinking a lot of possibilities but I didn’t expect the one he wanted.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
kiss?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what you want?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Forget
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You probably don’t feel up to
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should have …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
was stupid to even …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Really.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What was I think?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
can have whatever you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll even …
well … be willing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I won’t fight
and that’s something I’ve never been is willing … with anyone no matter how
much they paid to use me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t be
mad if you’re disappointed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the
house rules was no kissing customers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mother Mary said it caused emotional attachments and that those caused
jealousies and other problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
don’t have a good idea how it’s supposed to work so maybe you should pick
something else.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
swallowed a couple of times and his voice cracked when he said, “No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No I think we should try a kiss.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
but don’t say I didn’t warn you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean
it sure did take him a long time to start.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First he locked the door, then the bedroom door, then he put a blanket
over the window. Then because it was dark he tripped over the chair and wrapped
his foot around the headboard and hopped around cussing almost as good as the customers
would when they couldn’t pay and Mother Mary had Brian toss ‘em out on their
heads.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he had to figure out where
we were going to sit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wound up
pulling his chair right next to the one I had been sitting in and then he just
sort of sat there for a while.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’d
never seen a man so nervous, not even the boys that would sometimes get brought
by their dads or big brothers.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… can I … can I …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
what are you waiting for?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Can
I put my arm around you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
thought about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How about we sit like
when we were on the horse?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way you
don’t fall out of the chair.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… you sure?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
the one that brought it up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
may be a slow starter but he finally got going and almost settled down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was worried about him though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His breath started to make a strange
whistling sound and I was getting concerned I was too fat and was squashing
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was about to ask him when there
was this terrific pounding on the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It reminded me of the guy who kept track of the time and he’d bang on
the rooms if the men were trying to get free minutes.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
stood up so fast I slid to the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
was caught between feeling bad and checking on me and grabbing for his gun when
a man shouted, “Roman!! Boy, ya done yet?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
gonna kill him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care what Andrew
says I am going to kill him so dead.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
grabbed his leg before he could stalk away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Help me up and we can go kill whoever it is together.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Huh?”</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">“Partners remember?”</span></span>Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-80665406459299627082014-08-25T12:24:00.003-07:002014-08-25T12:24:35.987-07:00Chapter 21
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn,
as hard as it is for you to tell your story, it’s going to be hard for me to
tell mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not for the same reasons of
course but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK,
just tell it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
took him a minute to spit it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Mom …
she had never wanted to get pregnant again when she got caught with Alex and
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was getting older and wanted to
focus on her career.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
should have thought of that when she started banging so many kids out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
and Dad did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They had an agreement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’d have their quiversful and then she’d
go back to her career full time. Vicki was five , Mom was forty when her luck
ran out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
not what ran out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sounds more like they
ran out of condoms.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Er
… no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The church my dad grew up in and
he and Mom attended back then really didn’t believe in … uh … artificial birth
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s fine for people that
really feel strongly about that sort of thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mom … didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She went along with
it originally because … well for Dad and because she liked being pregnant when
she was younger or so I’ve heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
she drew the line after Vicki, it wasn’t fun anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad kept promising to go get fixed but never
did and Mom didn’t want to take the time off work declaring that Dad could be
responsible for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad really didn’t
want more kids either because he’d looked around at the world and didn’t like
the direction things were going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He got
involved with … with some people.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Became
part of something bigger?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
wasn’t at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom says mostly they
were just a bunch of good ol’ boys having BS sessions to relieve some
stress.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The big stuff grew out of that
later.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically Dad didn’t want any
more responsibilities than he already figured he was going to have with a
career wife, seven kids, and the hog farm and hunting club he ran.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus there was the economy, stiff
regulations, and fruity animal-rights people to deal with.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
your mom got knocked up anyway.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus she found out it was a two for one
sale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fast forward and things are ok …
even great in their eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex and I
were two and he starts reading and showing signs of being a genius.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kept waiting for me …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
twin.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They kept waiting for me to catch up or show
some other extraordinary talent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of
my brothers and sisters started school early and excelled in school, sports,
socially … you name it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
not you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They finally gave up and … just … I was like
the one no one ever talked about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A lot
of kids in school didn’t even know I was related to the big Beauchamp clan with
all the great kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I even wound up
going to a ‘special’ school for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have any idea what it is like to be a boy and not even being able to
take the written driver’s test, fill out a job application … even read the
stupid eye chart?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I dropped out of
school as soon as I was legally able to and wound up a field hand on Dad’s farm
… but … I can’t even read a list of chores.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
must have a really good memory.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Whu
…?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
said you must have a really good memory since you don’t write anything down.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
next?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Er … I had already dropped out of school by
the time the revenuers – backed by the IRS and the government – started
confiscating assets of farmers and cattlemen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The first time it happened in our area it was a good friend of Dad’s who
ran a fish farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They used some crappy
environment laws and shut his operation down and put him and his brother and
son in jail for contempt … eventually convicted them of assault on federal
officers and we never heard from them again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But you know what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That place
reopened less than a month later; it had been bought at auction by some
environmental group who ran it into the ground in less than six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While that was going on it seemed the
revenuers were picking farms off one by one and putting them under new
management and instituting price controls and things like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not going to give you a history lesson
but Dad was hooked in deep with … like-minded people … and he started taking
action.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time they came for us
there wasn’t anything but the land to take. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad and David had even dismantled all of the
outbuildings and the main house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A few
years earlier Dad and some friends had created a shell company and bought this
old derelict logging land and in the guise of rehabilitating it for the
forestry service.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It fooled enough
people for long enough that we fell off the radar and were safe … or as safe as
you could get … so long as we were careful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And we’ve stayed that way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
revenuers are still a problem but because their activities are no longer
sanctioned politically or legally – though they still operate pretty much how
they want to – we can keep them under control using the same methods you talked
about for those dust bunnies you mentioned.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What has all that got to do with you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds like you’re involved in something
big … and maybe important.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who
me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heck no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pretty much I’m still just a field hand … a
gopher for whoever needs one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
going to change if I had hooked up with Patty because her and Fletcher’s uncle
runs the construction end of things in the enclave and that’s where I was
working at the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mr. Devlin even
used to say I had potential.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Used
to?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Like
I said, I didn’t take the break up too good and burnt a few too many
bridges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fletcher is still a damn good
friend and back then is who kept me from totally self-destructing by getting me
this place to rehab.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wait,
you built this place?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My job was to make it livable for when
someone would need to move into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No
one has yet so it just sort of sat here and I’d work on it whenever I was at
loose ends or needed to get away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Needs
work again but mostly just cleaning.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wow
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
do you mean wow what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve never lived
in a place as nice as this and you’re the one that did it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Er
… anyway …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
your family must have thought you could keep an eye on Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You were on him like white on rice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hated having to be careful when you were
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should have heard him
cuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It really cramped his style.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Actually,
I wasn’t supposed to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex wrote Dad and
said I was creating problems for the business and that it was my fault revenue
was going down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was impeding his
ability to do business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I called him a
liar; something just felt off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
able to get some evidence on him but Alex claimed that I had hired someone to
fabricate it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then that thing
with the loan shark and I reported it to Dad and David and got blamed for that
too because apparently Alex had been forced to put his personal safety on the
line to meet other contracts.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Sounds
like someone BSing their way out of trouble if you ask me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Did
to me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And not just me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple of people the family acts as middle
men for heard and got concerned.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Also
blamed on you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Also
blamed on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was ‘stirring trouble’
to get back at Alex over Patty or something stupid like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s where Fletcher comes into it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s a real good guy and thought I had some
grounds for concern.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus he’s training
under Saul and has business experience from working with his uncle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone agreed he was just the guy to prove
how wrong I was.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Only
he proved the exact opposite.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
then some which really made things worse and harder and somehow that was my
fault too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Especially from what I hear
when they learned about you … and then about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad and David are under some serious
pressure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People they’ve done business
with for years are asking to see our books, questioning our loyalty to the
enclave, questioning how long the problems have been going on.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
they right?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things look ok until about six months ago.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“About
the time that Alex …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn,
did Alex rape you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
laughed but it wasn’t cause things were funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You can’t rape a whore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Like
hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t call yourself that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
this is old news.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is what it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anything it just proves my point that ..”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
start that again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What I’m trying to
tell you is that I’m at the end of my rope and I don’t have too much reason
anymore to tie a knot at the end and hold on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I loved my grandfather but I don’t want to wind up like him and I’ve
come damn close to picking up a bottle the last few months … feeling like I did
after Patty chose Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And every time I
feel it coming on the feeling is harder to get rid of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I honestly like the oblivion a good drunk
gives you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
saying … uh … that saving Bean is saving you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Pretty
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll never be what my brothers
are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just isn’t in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the road my grandfather took isn’t the
answer either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta find something
different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried the city; it isn’t
for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve tried working with the
family; I’m tired of being everyone’s less man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I feel … I feel like this is the last solid opportunity I’ll have.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
got up and went to go stand and look out the window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We could both start over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you’ve got a lot of crap to deal
with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t expect you to just
suddenly flip the switch and be ok with everything that has happened to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no I don’t like to think about it and I
may say dumb things sometimes … but I’ll try and do it as little as
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know I can’t make what
happened just go away and it’s going to take time to figure out the bedroom
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to know the truth of
it I feel kind of desperate and pathetic about coming to you like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the hell am I supposed to measure up
against all those men that paid for the privilege of having you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re keeping tabs, that was a dumb thing
to say.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Men weren’t paying for the
privilege of having me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They paid by the
minute to use me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it wasn’t me they
paid but Mother Mary … my pimp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I might
be all used up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I may have willingly
accepted the contract with Alex at the time but that’s before I found out I was
going to be locked up even worse, only by then it was too late.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was relieved when he stopped using me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it was a relief just to be
forgotten even if it meant going hungry.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“They’re
predicting a bad year.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Winter might last
all the way into May.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll mean
spending a lot of time together indoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You think you might could handle that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“If
I can put up with my own company I can stand yours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But what would we do?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fletcher
talked his uncle around and they’ll let me take the worst of the broken
furniture off their hands to rehab and make of it what I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also run trap lines and work hides and furs
in season.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Where’d
you learn to do that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“On
the farm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Health codes kept us from
being able to use the most effective poisons so a lot of the infestations had
to be taken care of and controlled by hand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then some of the hunt club members only wanted the meat and I watched
videos on how to tan and things like that … you know … grunt work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But lately it has been a way for me to be
independent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got enough to set us
up but it’ll be tight.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t want to be a kept woman no more.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">His
shoulders slumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’ll
only do this if one of the conditions is that I’m not just kept … but that …
that I’m a partner and get to have a say in things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Cause I can buy my way in.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
was taking a chance Bean, a real chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I know it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Roman had dealt
fair and square to that point so I decided to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I got my bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“First off, I never
paid for the food I used up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Here,” I
said handing him what I’d set aside to pay for things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Next, it’s not much of a buy in because
Emerald said Alex was cheap but here, this is what I could save back once
Emerald got her cut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She owed me the
last month’s accounting but I’m thinking I can forget ever seeing it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this enough for me to buy in as a partner
in this deal?”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-48410027233877265522014-08-23T16:56:00.004-07:002014-08-23T16:56:43.135-07:00Chapter 20
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told her, “I am pretty sure you shouldn’t be here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
did you do to Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He looks sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did you hurt his feelings?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
that I’m aware of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were making a deal
… he kinda wandered off to think for a bit.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
not what it looked like.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
go ask Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not his keeper.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
he’s yours.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“We’re
talking about the possibility.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Father B has already declared that is going
to be the way it is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
whoever Father B is, they can undeclare it until after me and Roman have a
chance to talk it over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t escape
one pimp only for another to try and own me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
gasped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You … you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Like
I said, I’m pretty sure you shouldn’t be here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You might hear something they don’t want you to hear … like the
truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now go away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
free to do as I wish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not some two
bit piece of trash that came in off the trail to make people miserable with
lies.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
be stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter what you
think of me or how much you want to hide from the facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman’s dad and Saul will crap the Chrysler
building if they find you here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
Roman probably will too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m thinking
though that Roman’s mother might be even worse and I don’t want a run in with
that woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She can be scary when she
wants to be and Roman says that she’s the best about some stuff and … and …
well I won’t pay her back by being nasty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She let me hear Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what you call … call that …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Bean
is not a ‘that’ or an ‘it’ now please go away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
can’t tell me what to do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Maybe
not but you can tell yourself to use commonsense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now scram.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I won’t pay Roman’s mom back like this and I don’t want trouble from
anyone else either.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Someone
cleared their throat and we both jumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It was Saul and Mrs. Beauchamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her look could have frozen Satan while he was sitting in a sauna when
she said, “Patricia.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Just
one word.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even an order or
anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that girl sure moved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs. Beauchamp reminds me more and more of
Mother Mary and that is not a good thing I can tell you that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wish to have a discussion with you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was tempted to say so long as your discussion doesn’t involve hitting then go
for it … but I didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She isn’t the
type to put up with sass and I’m not sure I want to find out if her remedy is
as interesting as Mother Mary’s could be.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
… is upset this morning.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
mean just now upset or before we started talking he was upset?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
presume it was something that just occurred.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
… well I taught him how to read the word cow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It seemed to perturb him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
needed to go off and think about it for a bit.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
beg your pardon?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“About
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Let
me rephrase that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My s … s … Roman has
severe learning disabilities and cannot read.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He
has challenges.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So do lots of other
people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he can read … or just
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just might not ever read really
good.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He may not ever read really well.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“At
least you seem to be admitting that he can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Before you said that he cannot.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
saw Saul turned his head away like he wasn’t interested in being blinded by the
flash explosion that seemed likely to occur if Mrs. Beauchamp’s face was any
measure of how things stood.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you being disrespectful?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,
just stating facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately you
folks aren’t the only ones in the world that seem to lose sight of them on a
regular basis.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
what is that supposed to mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
means that you came here looking for a fight and you did it by saying something
stupid about your son … Roman, not the other ones that by all I’ve heard are
actually archangels that came to earth ‘cause you and Mr. Beauchamp are just so
special.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only somehow you feel like
Roman is the dud that got snuck in on you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well he isn’t a dud … he’s just a man like all other men and has his
faults just like the rest of them too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
admit he does annoy me by acting like I’m some stray he’s got to fix but I’m
thinking about letting him so long as he and I get it straight that this is
about Bean and not about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
fixable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean doesn’t need to be fixed,
they’re just going to need someone that won’t object or get in the way of me
teaching Bean about safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Roman
really has this thing about family so I figure that is good too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
would you know about the depths of connection in a family?” she asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
glanced at Saul but he was still looking away so I figured either they had
decided not to tell her or they hadn’t gotten around to it yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shrugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Maybe I don’t know personally but that doesn’t mean that I don’t have
enough brains to figure out that the more people on Bean’s side the
better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If that’s what a family is for
then that is what I want for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman
can be family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just don’t like …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Like
what?” she asked and I got the feeling it was against her preference to ask.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t like that it looks like he is having to sacrifice to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh I know he doesn’t think you all really
want him around to begin with and someone has to take the crap work, even in a
family; but, Roman really isn’t all that bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kinda a little bit soft hearted but some people just are I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He reminds me of my brother in a lot of
ways.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… you have a brother?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wasn’t exactly hatched and left under a cabbage leaf for Mother Mary to
find.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s the woman that owned the
whore house.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
growled and I told him, “Relax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs.
Beauchamp is a grown woman and I heard she used to be a nurse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she sure as heck ain’t made of
glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You want to know the truth she’s
scarier than you are and you should really take some notes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One word and she had that Patty girl moving
and it was the same way with those others … Missy, Regina, and the one that
Roman said was his sister Vicki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
see you doing nothing but growling and I sure ain’t moving for some man that
can’t use words that can be found in a dictionary.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
glared and said, “In case Roman hasn’t gotten to this part of it yet, you are
required to speak respectfully with members of the enclave and behave
appropriately.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
la-dee-da Mr. Saul … haven’t you figured out yet that I’m too ignorant to know
how to act.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes siree … I’m just a dock
ho’ and …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn,
can’t I leave you alone for two seconds without coming back to find you in
trouble?!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman stood shaking his
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Knock it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you to be careful around Saul and that
you weren’t going to like some of the conditions.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
also told me I wouldn’t have to be around any of the men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well unless I’m sadly mistaken Saul is one of
the men and he’s around, so which is it going to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I have to put up with them or not?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Saul
is the exception.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
many exceptions are there going to be and Alex better not be one of them.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,
Alex will NOT be one of the exceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was one of my conditions so you don’t need to worry about that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sure?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>‘Cause they let him run loose once
and he tried to … to hurt Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that’s one more reason why
we’re out here rather than back in the enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Where
is here anyway?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it is a different
place than the other one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They didn’t
kick you out did they?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
Thorn,” he said with a sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They did
not kick me out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’ll talk about
where here is as soon as we get some other things straightened out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
so long as here is a place that is safe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
here is safe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s the other stuff you need to straighten out?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“We
need to straighten out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re making a
deal remember?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
what I mean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
not what you said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First thing
first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You aren’t a prisoner.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
get off it already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not some
pathetic little whatever that you need to … I don’t know … whatever it is you
think you need to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I’m looking
for is a place for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You aren’t half
bad at this deal stuff so I’m willing to reconsider about around here being
where I can stop and give Bean safe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchapm obviously did not like being left out of the conversation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Young la … woman …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
surprised me – and from the looks of them Mrs. Beauchamp and Saul too – by
saying, “Mom, I’ve got this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let Saul
take you back home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and him are only
making things harder.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well,
that a son of mine would …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
rolled my eyes, “Roman, just let ‘em stay so we can get this over with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But first I need to go to the bathroom so you
better tell me where it is and get out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean is not making this sitting still stuff
very easy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
got red and said, “It’s out back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I do need you trailing me to the bathroom
like some kind of pervert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not
completely stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will go there and I
will come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not run away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will not cause trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And close your eyes, I don’t have to let men
see me no more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, Alex pretty
much let me know that I’m gross looking and the way I’m feeling right now I
don’t want to have to clean up some man’s puke just ‘cause he got an eye full
he didn’t want.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Now
Thorn …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
ignored him because I could and when I got to the front door I asked, “Left or
right?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And stop looking.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not looking already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Left.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
stop following me or is that part of your job?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Knock it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m tired of fighting with you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But that still doesn’t mean you can look.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Will
you just go already?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
did but I came out feeling not so hot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It must have showed on my face because Mrs. Beauchamp, who must have
come out to make sure we knew how to do things, told Roman, “She is no
condition to run anywhere so I can at least let them know that isn’t a concern
at this time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
didn’t say it but I could have told her that she obviously did not know me at
all and underestimated my determination and how much I could take … and how
much I would put up with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead I used
a little commonsense and kept my mouth shut which for some reason had Roman
looking at me suspiciously before taking my arm and saying, “Just let me help
without giving me any grief about it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not helpless.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
as helpless as a rabid panther but that doesn’t mean you don’t need help once
in a while.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
could accept that and by the time we got back in the house I was
shivering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You need a coat.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
could have taken a cover but I didn’t want to get it dirty in the
bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That place needs a serious
scrubbing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp said, “Yes it does.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also
expect you to clean the rest of this house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I may not agree with Roman’s choices but I will not see him suffer
because of some … some over inflated se …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Aunt
Margaret …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told Saul, “Oh stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let the woman
express herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s more polite about
it than most would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All she is saying
is that I best behave or she’ll know about it and get involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s fine by me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lays it all out on the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And besides, I don’t want on her bad
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman says his mother is the best
about baby stuff and that means she’s what is best for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want something in this life you gotta
be willing to give something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I gotta
give minding her to get her for Bean, that’s the way it’s gotta be.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
cannot be bribed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not talking about bribery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m talking
about paying what is due on account for Bean’s sake.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
said, “Enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get back in bed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can’t clean if I’m in bed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
can start that after you aren’t the color of a rancid mushroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now get back in bed or I’ll put you there.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp must be the kind of woman that is the one that likes to give the
orders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roman Douglas Beauchamp.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Mom,
don’t take this the wrong way but your way isn’t going to work here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Neither is Dad’s or Andrew’s … and Peter
better just back off all together before him and me get into it again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul probably understands better and even he
don’t get it all the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thorn and I
will work this out, make a deal that works for us and the enclave and then
everyone can go back to doing what they want to do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
Alex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s left with this … this … scar
… trauma …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Mom,
you and I are just going to have to disagree on this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex was wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk to Dad if he can even bring himself to
tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If not … Saul you do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone needs to but she won’t believe it if
it comes from me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hey!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I said …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
turned around and very quietly said, “Your story isn’t going to get spread
around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think they dare … for
lots of reasons.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mom needs to know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not fair to keep her in the dark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not about this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she needs to know for Bean’s sake
too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might make a difference.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom is always up in arms about young girls
having babies and you fall into that category.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
do you mean she falls into that category?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
rolled my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Don’t worry about it
Mrs. Beauchamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman is just
hypersensitive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not his fault and
it isn’t anyone’s fault that is still around to kick around about it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Excuse
me?” she said like I was trying to fool her on purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly Bean, that woman doesn’t know when
to give it up already.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
interrupted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Saul, take her to
Dad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know, maybe they can work
it out between them or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
give me some space to try and make a deal with Thorn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
sighed and said, “Patty is around here someplace.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh that’s just great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More for Alex to come unglued about.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
patted his arm. “I told her she probably wasn’t supposed to come around and I
was nice about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask your mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know she’s … something … to you I mean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
the hell is that supposed to mean?’</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
told you I could tell about people – human nature and all that – and Alex was having
too much fun just egging you on about it and a couple of other people have let
her name drop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now I know she is Alex’s
wife so that must mean there is a story there but that’s none of my
business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But my business IS making sure
you don’t think I’d get into your business and stir trouble so …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
just shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are a piece of
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we might as well get this out
in the open right now before witnesses so you don’t get all sorts of dumb ideas
and this just gets harder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes, Patty and
I were sitting on her uncle’s porch together after she came to live with
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least before Alex started
showing up and then pushed me out of the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Patty is a sweet and likable girl and she wasn’t always treated very
nice in her father’s house and I tried to … to make her feel better. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I went and read too much into the time we
spent together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I thought there was
more to it than there was and what went down was Patty’s choice, not mine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t like it at the time and pouted like
an idiot which just gave people more fuel to … to think less of me than I’d
like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I was nineteen and have
outgrown it and her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I swear that is
all there is to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no clue why
people keep bringing it up any more than I understand why they are forever
making such a big deal out of Alex and I being twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just because it is a big deal for some people
doesn’t mean those situations have to be a big deal for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Including me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Understand?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
particularly but if that means that I don’t have to step on eggshells around
her then fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sure don’t like me
none but I thought it was because of you so I tried to … uh … defuse the
situation so there wouldn’t be trouble.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Patty
could care less about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She loves Alex
just like everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s probably
just upset about the entire situation.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He turned to Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Patty needs
to know the truth too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve already
talked to Andrew and he agrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So does
David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad is still sticking his fingers
in his ears and going la-la-la.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only
way you people are going to be able to get the Alex back you want is to make
sure none of this gets swept under the rug or it is just going to fester and
maybe happen again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know how Alex
can be about people … if he doesn’t have any reason to respect them he
doesn’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">To
me he said, “In the bed … willing or not that’s where you are going to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you won’t do it for yourself then do it
for Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Well
I couldn’t fight him there and I wasn’t up for any more fighting of any kind to
be honest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was all wore out again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have fallen asleep and when I woke up
everyone was gone … or at least I thought so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t need to go to the bathroom but lying in bed wondering what was
going on gave me an upset stomach so I got up and walked around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The door was closed so I knew they meant for
me to stay in the bedroom.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
this bedroom is about the nicest place I’ve ever been … at least that I can
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is real wood on the wall
and on the floor too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The bed is a real
bed and it is up off the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
other furniture in the room too and I was real tempted to go snooping but I
didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was messing with the window
and I thought I’d broken it until I figured out it opened and closed and could
lock and unlock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Me playing with the
window let Roman and his sister Vicki know I was awake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Mrs. Beauchamp isn’t around Vicki is as
bossy as she is but eventually she left and it was just Roman and me.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
up to finishing our deal?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
guess.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wish I could make it easier on you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
worry about that and just spit it out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… you should sit down.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That
bad?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
have a feeling you’re going to think so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Andrew is being a
total butthead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care if he is a
preacher that doesn’t exempt him from being one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And after Mom got all the facts … she’s
mortified.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she’s really angry too
but doesn’t know who to be angriest at.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
isn’t exactly her business.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Mom
tends to make stuff her business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of the time that’s a good thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
time?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s … she’s hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you don’t think so but she is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
never said she wasn’t hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … well
she’s just more angry than hurt from what I can tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t want to be in the blast zone when
she blows.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
… she won’t blow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>She just gets … brittle … to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But right now it is Andrew being the biggest …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Butthead?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,”
he sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thorn if it isn’t me they’ll
make it someone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s the rules.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Taking
responsibility for Bean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … more than that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They expect the baby … look they are at least
admitting that the baby is Alex’s.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
told you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
just a figure of speech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m in one
hundred percent agreement that Alex isn’t ever going to have anything to do
with Bean or you so drop that off your radar.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll move us further up the mountain if they try that route.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’ll
fight if they try that route.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
won’t have to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They think Alex will
change his spots … he won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think
he’s gone too far to come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew
wants there to be absolution and redemption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the other he said that has created this situation.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
other?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He
says that if they’re gonna do that for Alex they have to do it for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which is right but instead of just giving it
they want to actively make it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… what’s that mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
rules of the enclave have to be followed but the family’s reputation is at
stake also.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So not only do the rules
have to be followed but the whole situation needs to be white washed.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
… are they going to disappear me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like
they do in the city?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No they are not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They … they say the baby has to be born a
Beauchamp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only unattached male
Beauchamp besides me is a cousin that is already seeing a girl who he plans to
marry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Peter … but it’s a toss up as
to who would kill who first, you or Peter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He means well – in a dumbass older brother way – and he would do it but
neither of you would be happy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
… what are you … they …?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Easy
Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me I know how this sounds.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
bet you don’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
bet I do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been listening to them go
at it almost since we arrived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of
the rest of it Missy and Mom have had their first big blow up ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Usually they are in lock step about
stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy says you are too young –
which I agree with except you don’t act young – and too traumatized – which I
worry about – to even be considering this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Missy really got mad and even Vicki had a few things to say about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patty is in some kind of denial
which is sort of expected I guess but all her hysterics did was add to the
noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What a nightmare.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exactly what kind of deal are we talking
about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t … well … it doesn’t
sound like what I had been thinking we were talking about.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
deal that if you don’t accept it they’ll send you off to the mines to work as a
housekeeper or something like that, then they’d try and take Bean away and
raise him or her as a Beauchamp directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Only, regardless of what you decide, I won’t let that happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said, we’ll move up the mountain and
to … and to hell with ‘em.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised to
look after you and Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
would be common law.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t believe in
having the government get involved in this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there is no denying that problems could
come from that, your age for one thing if it gets out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
for … uh … what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Quietly
I asked, “Is this … a contract?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you
going to own me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like Alex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For how long?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely not that … at least not like
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And we’ll own each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Basically as for how long?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s … it’s supposed to be forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Um … are you going to puke?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look funny.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,
I don’t think so.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hesitantly I asked,
“I wouldn’t ever have to have to be with any other man?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ever?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
… er … the general idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I wouldn’t
be with anyone else either.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
would you say yes to this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… Thorn I just am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t … look,
thinking about it being anyone else is just not acceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I promised to take care of Bean … and you …
not some other guy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I keep my promises.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
happens when Bean is old enough to take care of themselves?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
if we decide to … to have more Beans?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
if I’m only good for one Bean?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What
happens?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What if you don’t want to
have Beans with me after you’ve had this one?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… I never thought about anyone wanting to have Beans with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And thinking too many tomorrows ahead makes
me want to puke again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
about the tomrrows you can think about?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You have a problem spending them with me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Would
we fight like we do now?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Eh
… I won’t lie, probably some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ll
do my part to try and keep it to a minimum.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What about you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
… I …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the biggest deal I have
ever brokered Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn
I’d give you time but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“They
want the mess cleared up, swept away, and out of sight?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
hate to admit the truth of it but yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s exactly how they see things.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
it makes it easier on them that you … that you’re the one willing to fall on
your sword?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
read it in a magazine article once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
think it means if you sacrifice yourself, you take all the blame and bad things
with you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Let
‘em think that if they can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m doing
this for Bean … and you … and maybe me too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is something I know I can do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maybe it’s the one thing I can be good at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll try.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No … I will do it right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just
need the chance Thorn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at Roman, I mean really looked at him Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Looked at him beyond what he looks like on
the outside which isn’t all that hard to look at to tell the truth about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he’s the kind of man that always
bothered me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s the kind that would
want to be nice and would wind up hurt when all I do is fight.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
are you forgetting something?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
a whore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do I really need to explain to
you what that means?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sure Alex …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t let you do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know whores are supposed to be ruthless and
..”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn
I said stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sacrificing nothing to do this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t have anything to lose.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes
you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Family and reputation and …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">He
took me by my shoulders and made me sit in one of the chairs and he sat in the
other facing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then we really got down
to it.</span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-14353290235366491612014-08-22T17:03:00.003-07:002014-08-22T17:03:43.558-07:00Chapter 19<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
Saul left Roman got angry and said, “This is messed up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“If
you don’t want to be the enforcer …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
shook his head and sat in the chair that Sault had been sitting in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“First things first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not your pimp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not an enforcer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m … I’m not your jailor either though
you’ll probably think so when you hear everything.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
so long as you aren’t pimping me out I’m pretty ok with whatever it is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
can you be?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
it is still better than where I was at and what I was doing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That
stopped him for a minute and then he slouched in the chair.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ok, you like deals right?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t know about like them – or not like them – just I’ve found them useful on
occasion.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well,
you’re honest which might be part of the problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve given the family so much honesty that
some of them can’t handle it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It messed
up how they saw themselves.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
sure I follow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
love my family but … but they aren’t … they have a certain way of looking at
things that is really black and white.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Right off the bat they wanted to believe you were some hard woman with a
track record a mile long that must have drug Alex down into the gutter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then when some of them got their first look
at you they went squirrely in the head.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary said I looked ok … I mean I
wasn’t special or anything but I didn’t make men run from the room screaming
for their mommies.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“That’s only sorta what
I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t … well you don’t now I
mean … you did when I first saw you all painted up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
mean I don’t look like a whore?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
that’s what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’m sorry if I
have to explain things and they hurt your feelings but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
you must be thinking of someone else because I don’t have feelings that can be
hurt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got rid of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are a waste of time and cause problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just spit it out and don’t worry about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to know what the sitch
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The sooner the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to pay my way and try and set things
aside for when Bean comes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
scrubbed his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I guess I don’t have
any choice, not if I’m going to live with myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Because there is Bean to think of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And … and I have to do what is right even if
no one can see it or understand it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
getting grief again?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
saw him hesitate a second and then he said, “Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And people are going to talk.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“They
are going to say that you are keeping me for your own use.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
what?” I asked suspiciously.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Some
of the people in the family … in the enclave … look one of the hard and fast
rules is that people aren’t supposed to fool around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if we skip Andrew’s sermonizing the
problem to death, the truth is that with a group our size it just causes
problems if you … have relations with someone you aren’t married to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve seen it happen in other enclaves. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People get jealous, there are fights,
misunderstandings, yada, yada.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes
people will look the other way or sometimes it can be hid really well – I mean
people do try and get away with it – but then when a couple gets serious and
they do get married and things come out there can be even bigger problem. Then
you have nature and sometimes people are just going to do what they want to do.
But the thing is … if a … if a woman gets … pregnant … there’s an expectation
that … that someone is supposed to … to make an honest woman out of her.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
how in the heck are they supposed to do that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Someone
is expected to step forward and take responsibility for her and the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our enclave looks at it as a … uh … as a
survival issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Someone has to make sure
the woman and baby don’t starve or get … abused and that sort of thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Andrew would say it is a moral obligation or
something along those lines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not so
sure he is right anymore but … I do agree that it is an issue of survival and
safety for all of us.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… you’ve got to be …<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No freaking
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re saying your dad is making
you … making me … ?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just … just settle down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad is …
I swear I don’t know what Dad is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom is
righteously hacked off too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But mostly
they’re both broken hearted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And … and
the people see that and they’re wondering if Dad is going to make an exception
to the rules and … and we can’t risk a bunch of exceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So … so I said that I’d … well … take care of
you and Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… you volunteered?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Have you gone
completely to the crazy side?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Look
I know … wait … you aren’t going to puke again are you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,
you aren’t like Alex so you don’t make me puke.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But back up and tell me again … you really volunteered?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t think I’m good
enough?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
not that so don’t be stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just think
you’re crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Doggone Roman, what did I
say about sticking your chin out?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now
how am I supposed to deal us out of this?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your life is ruined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you I
didn’t want to carry around any more pain than I had to and now look at this
mess!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“My
life isn’t ruined.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
yes it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your family …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Already
doesn’t think much of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I only hang
around still because … well … because I believe in what we are doing but I
don’t usually have as much to do with the family as I have the last little
bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They usually don’t have much to do
with me either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it wasn’t this they’d find something else
to talk about.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Missy
tried to tell me about your brothers but they sound like a bunch of … well …
they sound like people that are good at making other people miserable.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No, definitely not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must have
gotten the wrong idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy can be a
little … uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,
she knew what I was saying and apparently she thinks you get a raw deal just
because people think they’re extraordinarily arrogant and you’re just
ordinarily arrogant.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
did not say that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
in those words but women know a lot more than men give us credit for
knowing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t think I don’t see the
Bible story type stuff that your parents had going on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Honestly … David, Andrew, Peter … could you
be more obvious?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What did they do, get
tired of Bible names and switch to history names?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alexander … the great … and Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your parents have a complex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just be glad they didn’t call you Romulus and
Remus.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">At
least he had the sense not to deny it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“My sisters’ names are just as bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Esther, Elizabeth, Catherine and Victoria.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
have sisters?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure if you remember her or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Vicki was the other woman in here besides
Missy and Regina.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
remember her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was the quiet one and
doesn’t look anything like your mother.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Nope,
none of the others do either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of us
took after Dad’s side of the family … well, except for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I take after Mom’s father and … and the less
said about him the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember
him … he … he wasn’t a strong person.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
you liked him anyway.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did you …?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
didn’t like being a whore but I learned a few things from it like things about
human nature.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to to
survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I learned to read expressions
when men talked … if they were in the mood for talking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you tried to hide a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wasn’t much of one but it still means that
your grandfather meant something nice to you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
a moment he nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He wasn’t very
successful in life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tried a bunch of
times and a bunch of ways but just never could quite make things work out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My grandmother divorced him and started her
own business because she was tired of waiting around for him to make something
of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess he started drinking
at some point and … and one winter he got so drunk he fell asleep outside in
bad weather and got sick … and then he died.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This was all before things went bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I didn’t get to see him much but … but he’d come to the ballpark once in
a while and throw some balls with me sometimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When he threw them I always caught them.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So
who gives a hoot if he was a drunk?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Apparently he cared about you and you cared about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shouldn’t that be all that matters?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
wish life was like that Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it
isn’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
guess you’re right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just seems kinda
stupid that it isn’t for the people that need that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That
mean you don’t need it?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
means that I’ve learned to live without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just don’t want Bean to live without it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want Bean to be safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I want to find someplace Bean doesn’t
have to learn all the things I’ve had to learn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I thought at first this might be the place but … I don’t know … the more
I hear about it the less I’m thinking it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sure as heck …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are they making you be my … whatever you call
it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you said you volunteered but
… it don’t sound like you felt like you had much choice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That just don’t seem the right way to start
off a deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you willing to make a deal?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or are you
thinking of how you can make a deal for long enough then run away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Let’s
just say if the deal is worth it for Bean’s sake – and to have some place safe
that no one has to be miserable – I might consider it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Really.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know how it sounds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Um … mercenary or
something like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … I mean it
when I say I’ll keep to a deal so long as I know Bean gets taken care of
right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And maybe I can’t make them safe
by myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I won’t ever go back to
that other life so that’s off the table.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So you might as well get on with the conditions your family is putting
on things so we can see if we can work a deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
aren’t going to like the conditions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
know I wouldn’t but … but there’s not much leeway in their give right now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First, you can’t leave the enclave, not until
… they want to make sure that you won’t betray us to the revenuers or anyone
else for that matter.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
I can see where they might be concerned with that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
if they knew your story.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want people feeling sorry for me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
isn’t feeling sorry for you by understanding where you are coming from.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, from the looks I saw they want to
think the worst.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
I can’t deny that some of them are … are determined to think the worst.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
like I said to Saul I don’t have a problem hanging around and staying away from
the other men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact I really don’t
want to be around them at all.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
about me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
ok I guess.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ringing
endorsement.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Considering
everything?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah, it’s more than I would
give any other man and that’s a fact.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You’re just too weird not to be kinda sorta ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just don’t go changing and turning out like
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
won’t turn out like Alex.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can’t make you promise but … but I figure you really mean what you say.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok,
so what else?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
have to participate in helping the enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
do I do that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Saul I can work for
my keep … mine and Bean’s.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him I
could clean and read and do math and that I can sew.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Sewing
could be helpful.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
what Saul said.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Can’t
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Can’t
… can’t read and do math.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
I can’t!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Geez,
don’t yell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just a question; and
it’s not like you are the only one on the planet that can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy mentioned you had challenges learning
stuff.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
had no business …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Can
you see pictures?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Pictures
… like a map.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you understand maps
and stuff?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah. It is about the only thing I'm half way decent at.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I rolled my eyes. I swear he sounded just like I remember Tim sounding when he would get angry and then feel sorry for himself. Ignoring that part of it I said, “Well
I can show you how Tim learned to read some words.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess you’ve got like dyslexia.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“How
the hell did you figure that out?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
you’re as sensitive – strike that as rude and nasty about it as Tim was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God he was so sensitive about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was ok when we were in Africa, I remember
that much, but when we came back to the states the other kids made him
miserable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But to make up for not being
able to read God seemed to make Tim a whiz at some things … they just weren’t
school things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was good with
animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And when we lived on the farm
he taught me lots of stuff … I wish I could remember them all, they’d probably
come in handy right about now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Tim
used to make my shoes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
when I was little and living in Africa I got sick with polio when I was a
baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It got me before I could get all
of my vaccinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My legs were ok but
my feet were froze up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hated to wear
shoes, they hurt really bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tim and
Daisy had to carry me everywhere only when I got too big it was too hard for
them to carry me and all I could do was sit in the hut and watch people go
by.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Tim learned something new.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The people over in this village taught Tim
how to make shoes and … well he just made my shoes from then on out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My feet unfrozen after a little while but I
still hated any other shoes except the ones that Tim made for me so when we
moved back to the states Tim learned to make shoes that I could wear to school
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then it was even better when
we moved to the farm because he would make these really comfy shoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the other kids at school were jealous
because Tim always made them real nice and I could sneak up on people and stuff
because my shoes didn’t crunch.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“There’s
no way I’ll ever learn to read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve
tried … lots of stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just can’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
I’m hardheaded and contrary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll have
to learn that about me if you don’t already realize it by the time you read
this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When someone says I can’t or they
can’t it makes me itch to prove the exact opposite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tore a sheet of paper out of the back of
this book and tore it in half.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On one
piece I drew a cow and on the other piece I wrote the word cow.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
asked him, “What’s this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dammit
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“This
is part of the deal so pay attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What’s this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
a damn cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Leave
the damn out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just say it’s a
cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
a cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
wasn’t exactly into it but I told him I wouldn’t broker a deal with him if he didn’t
at least try my experiment. “Ok … this is a cow too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
is not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s … it’s a word.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
a picture just like the picture of the cow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is a picture of a cow and this is a picture of a cow,” I told him
pointing to the drawing of the cow and then the word cow.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“This
is stupid.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Pay
attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What’s
this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
bunch of lines.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
going to slug you with my bag if you don’t stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now play along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember, this is part of the deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">We
went back and forth just like I had seen Tim do until he got mad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I asked, “What’s this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What’s
this?</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
this again?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
what’s this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
a picture of a damn cow!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I bet if you practice, next time you see this picture you’ll know it’s a
cow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C – O – W.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cow.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wait
… whut?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
handed him the two pieces of paper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
he looked at the two of them and then at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He looked like Emerald’s enforcer had knocked him upside his head.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
aren’t going to puke are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look
kinda funny.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No,”
he said quietly before getting up and walking around the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He kept looking at those two pieces of paper
and then he walked out of the room and I heard a door close some place.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was thinking about getting up and looking for the bathroom when I heard the
door open and thought it was Roman coming back but it wasn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A young, pretty woman walked into the room
and just stood looking at me.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“My
name is Patty.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crap
is exactly what I thought Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was
looking at a major mess on my hands.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-68351048862244236562014-08-21T12:59:00.001-07:002014-08-21T12:59:09.240-07:00Chapter 18<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
deal was struck and I started.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“My
name is Narcissa Helene Cassidy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
my whole, real name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I would have
preferred something different but Mom’s family named all the girls after
flowers; it was like a tradition or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rose, Daisy, Geranium, Violet … stuff like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not only do I have a weird name I was born in
Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My parents and uncle were
missionaries there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then my uncle got
killed in some kind of fighting and the mission board recalled all of us in
that part of the world back to the US because they didn’t want the
responsibility of other people dying just because they were missionaries.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By that time though my oldest sister had married
and he was a missionary too and instead of coming home with us they went
someplace else for a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t
remember where, it was a long time ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That was also the year that the UN got blown up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember that day at school, everyone was
scared and trying not to show it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I went
home on the but with the big kids and my brother Tim was there and then we ran
home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My other sister that was in middle
school was already home but so was my big sister who was grown and married
which really freaked me out<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because I
hadn’t seen her for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way Mom
– my real mother not Mother Mary – was acting I thought something had happened
to Daddy but then I found out he was just getting together with some other
family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We were all moving to my
grandparents’ farm which was out in the country until things calmed down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t ask me where it was because I can’t
remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I can’t but
I’m not lying so don’t ask.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know
it was a big farm and for a long while, long enough for me to have two
birthdays, we lived there and grew everything ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least the stuff that the government didn’t
come and take because they said other people needed it more and that we had to
be fair and all that crap.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Narcissa
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Call
me Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter how I got
the name or who gave it to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s
just who I am now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Narcissa is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s been dead too long to come back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You need to get that straight.” </span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If that’s the way you want it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
not a matter of want or don’t want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
just the way it is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I picked up where I
had left off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then came the election
and the people in the city won.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they
were greedy and were too stupid to take care of themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They expected the people in the country to do
all the work and for the government to take it and make everything fair … only
their definition of fair wasn’t; they wanted the stuff without paying for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well the people in the country got tired of
having their hard work taken for granted and stuff stolen from them so they
started playing hardball.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That made the
government mad and they started up this bunch that went around taking bank
accounts and things like that because the country people wouldn’t cooperate
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only then the country people
decided they wouldn’t have bank accounts or use money for things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s when the government started playing
hardball and they would send people to the farms to just take stuff
directly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were like the old-time
people that went after corn liquor makers so people started calling them the
same thing … revenuers.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
came to the part of the story that I didn’t like to remember at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This next part I am going to say once and
not any more so you better listen and I mean it.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They both nodded and I turned my face away
from them because I didn’t want to see them as I remembered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“The revenuers did more than take stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If they found what they called trouble makers
they would … they would hurt them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I … I
tried to figure out what happened and I think … I think that my family were
trouble makers because Tim used to tell us we were part of something
bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The revenuers liked to make
examples of people that were part of something bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what happened to my family, I
think they are all dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m pretty sure
they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something happened during the
fighting and it’s all black in my head and when I woke up they made me pack a
few clothes and get on a bus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They were
not nice people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were other kids
on the bus too so I don’t think it was just my family that was made an example
of either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We drove for a long, long
time and it was way passed dark when we pulled up to this place that I don’t
know the name of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was something
something re-education center.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only I
never even went through the doors because one of them mean ladies on the bus
hauled me off and sold me and that’s how I wound up at Mother Mary’s Home for
Wayward Girls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you know the rest so
I’m done.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
turned around and Roman and Saul were angry.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’m telling the truth!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You said
if I told you … you made a deal!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
came in – I thought she had left – and sat on the side of the bed and put an
arm around me and I’m not sure I like that even after I figured out she was
trying to be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They aren’t mad at
you.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She sighed and then asked,
“Thorn?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How old were you when the UN blew
up?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Eight.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
jumped up and kicked the chair he had been sitting in and barreled out of the
room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I better go catch him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although right now I’m inclined to let him do
what I think he wants to do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
both men left I looked at Missy and she finally figured out I didn’t like her
arm on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once she gave me some space I
asked, “Why did Roman act like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
… we made a deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
Roman has a problem.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not too many people
know about it … or let’s put it this way, they think they know about it but
they really don’t.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“There
isn’t a man on the planet that doesn’t have problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What makes his so special?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“All
of his brothers are extraordinary.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Extraordinarily
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
smiled only I didn’t find a thing funny about it Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just more proof that the people around
here are strange.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
David is … he’s a born leader and all that that means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just like his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then there is Andrew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right away the family knew he was meant for
the church and he’s led us through some very difficult trials.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter … Peter is a bit of a hot head but he
means well and he … he is David’s right hand man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex, from the time he was a little boy
showed extraordinary perception in how to expand our markets and work people so
that they would make contracts with us.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Let
me get this straight … David is bossy, Andrew is preachy, Peter has a nasty
temper and Alex is a suck up and knows how to gamble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And they’re considered extraordinary?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s wrong with Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
opened her mouth and then closed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You … you definitely look at it different than everyone else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Roman doesn’t have a problem problem
exactly … he’s just … ordinary and his feelings run deeper about that than most
people know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s tried a bunch of
different things but … he hasn’t excelled at anything.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He
hasn’t found his niche you mean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there’s nothing wrong with that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just compared to the others …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
he’s the baby of the family too right?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Boy,
no wonder he is crabby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no wonder
Alex always acted like he hated Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rest of the family taught him to.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well,
it sure sounds like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the other
brothers were treated like they were hot snot and Roman got the shaft because
he wasn’t special enough to suit his parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I even heard his dad call him a disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Roman is a disappointment what do they
consider Alex?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
… hmmm …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
was kind of shame-faced so I figured it out with her explaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let me guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is still golden boy only he’s been led
astray by a whore and all of the temptations of the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can see it now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy called David is going to lead him
back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one called Andrew is going to counsel
him and pray him healed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter is too
mad right now but they figure he’ll help David keep Alex in line until Andrew’s
stuff works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How close did I get?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">A
voice from the door said, “Pretty damn close.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
sighed, “Saul …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He’s
alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fletcher is with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re outside so maybe you can get them
something warm to drink.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Temperature is
dropping again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
left and that left me facing Saul alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I just sat there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are in
a bed and you don’t have all your clothes and you’re facing a man it’s better
to use caution.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
really want to be called Thorn?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Narcissa
is nicer.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Of
course it is, but I’m not nice so Thorn suits me better.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
snorted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Have it your way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We need to finish this up before Roman comes
uncorked again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the record, you’re
sure you were eight when the UN was bombed?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uncle
Shad is going to shit kittens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know what Aunt Margaret or the rest of them are going to think.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What’s
the big deal?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
big deal is that you were ten when you were first abused and maybe fourteen when
Alex … when he started …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
fifteen now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And old enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If it is going to create so much trouble
don’t say anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you think I
kept telling Roman it was none of his business when I figured out he was loopy
like my brother?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
it has bearing on things.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes what
Alex did … even … it makes what he did even worse.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well,
technically speaking I don’t know for absolutely sure that Alex knows how old I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never came up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know he wanted someone young and ‘fresh’
according to Mother Mary but he picked me not realizing I’d already been a
whore for as long as I had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he
just picked me because he thought I was someone special but I wasn’t anybody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just a fighter because I was
unwilling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But Mother Mary made me decide
and it made me mad that I had to be willing for her to sell me to Alex but I
wanted out of her stable bad enough that I became willing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wanted a chance to get away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know they were going to lock me up
even worse like they did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was a shock
I gotta tell you. It was like going from the frying pan into the fire.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
can see it would be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now look Kid …
pardon me … Thorn …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He scratched the
stubble on his face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I don’t suppose I
need to explain to you that this has been damn difficult for everyone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And for the record, I don’t blame you for it
but the fact is some do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they find
out your age some might change but … but I know the ones that likely will and
those that likely won’t and there’s not many that will.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So
you’re saying that I need to get on down the road.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
would be easier if that was an option but unfortunately that can’t happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ve seen where we live and … knock it off
Kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder you’ve got Roman wound
tighter than a top.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You do look like a
stray that expects to get kicked.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
what’s the problem with me leaving?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
don’t really know where here is anyway.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
agree but the others don’t and right now, in this circumstance, majority
rules.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So
I’m a prisoner.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
… exactly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve hashed it out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Uncle Shad and I will stick with our
deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Surprised
I asked, “You will?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah
we will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think of it as a … as an act of
good faith on our part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In return we
expect you to behave with a certain decorum.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
exactly does that mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It
means you have to behave around the men.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You mean you don’t want me acting like a
whore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well that should be easy enough
because I don’t want to be around the men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I saw how some of them looked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I gotta be smart so Bean doesn’t get hurt.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
got some looks?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From who?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“A
couple from the group that you were with when you found me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A couple that were in that place you called
the meeting room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It doesn’t matter who,
that’s just men for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not
stupid to make it easy on them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll just
find a place and hole up for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll stay there and you can even check on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hmmm …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Figured
out it ain’t so easy have you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
just trying to think what job I could do that stays away from men but that
could earn me food and lodging and stuff for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know how to clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can do math and read and stuff … I had to
help Mother Mary in the office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can
sew …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
can sew?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
do you think?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like we were ever
allowed to go to the store or nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mother Mary would toss boxes of old clothes the charities didn’t want
and we’d piece them out the best we could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And I got an allotment of stuff from Emerald because it came with the
cost of the contract but I still had to fix it up so it would fit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve also had to fix things so that they
would cover my belly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Alex
bought you stuff?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
laughed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Are you kidding?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emerald said he complained about every
penny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At least he remembered to bring
me food that usually lasted between his visits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sometimes he forgot but I had emergency rations that lasted most of the
time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dear
God …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you can sew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That actually might come in handy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So
I can have a job?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’ll
have a … yeah, a job.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll be helping
Roman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
sighed. “Oh man … what has Roman got to do with this?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He’s
going to be your caretaker.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
my pimp?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Definitely not.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just wanted to make sure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How long do I have to be locked up?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who
said anything about locking you up?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Isn’t
that what we’re talking about?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Then
from the door way Roman said, “No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
the door gets locked for some reason I’ll make sure that you have a way out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saul
looked at Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman looked at
Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul shook his head and said,
“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just make sure she understands …
and what could happen if she doesn’t.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-66869659489145715742014-08-20T20:14:00.003-07:002014-08-20T20:14:34.375-07:00Chapter 17<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was dreaming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was like that night
that woman took me from the re-education center before I even had a chance to
enter it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I couldn’t breathe, was
suffocating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I woke up and found
out it was for real.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I scratched and
fought but I was losing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing
that kept me fighting Bean was you because if it had just been me I would have
given up I’m so tired of it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
heard a woman scream and something crashing and then the bed shook and I could
breathe again only not real good.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dear
God, send for Regina and Missy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Move Roman, I need to see …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
promised her!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get away!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman,
stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s not Patty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now back up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Go
to hell David.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You too Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You said you had him under control … locked
up … for his own good until the family could decide what to do!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
room was coming back into focus but I couldn’t stop shivering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember looking for a way out. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember Roman yelling, “Thorn … Thorn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thorn … Narcissa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Narcissa look
at me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you need to … to calm down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Think about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon … that’s right think about Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Someone
was trying to take Bean away,” I cried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He’s
gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon it’s ok … you’re safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean is safe too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hey, look what I have … you said your mother
made it for you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
held my bag and I grabbed it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s
mine!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom made it out of my
wubbie.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Out
of your … ?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">A
woman said, “That’s what we used to call this blanket Susan had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It looks like it is made out of some kind of
quilted material.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s nothing sharp
in there is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The way she is hugging
it something could poke through it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
don’t remember much beyond that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
kept telling me to just stay calm, to think of you Bean and to stay calm for
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried but I kept hurting and
then they made me drink something and I fell asleep.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
must have slept for a long time because I woke up and needed to go to the
bathroom fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I moved and the woman
Regina noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She wasn’t happy about
me getting up but it was only for a moment and then she made me get back in bed
and then she stepped outside and must have told someone something because
before I could decide what to do next Mr. Beauchamp and Saul came in the room.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Easy
kid.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not a kid.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK,
so maybe you aren’t but you’re still some younger than me so I get to call you
what I feel like.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mr.
Beauchamp interrupted Saul and asked seriously, “How are you feeling?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never turn your back on a man when he is
acting crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was real stupid of me
to forget that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He could have taken Bean
away from me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what he wanted to
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is … is Bean … ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Mrs.
Beauchamp stepped into the room and she shooed all the men out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was scared Bean but then she stuck this
thing on my belly where you are and … I heard you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I always knew you were real and in there but
I heard you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or at least I heard some
noise she said was your heart beating and you wiggling around and that you
sounded just fine and dandy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
mean to cry but I was really relieved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just hugged you and hugged you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mrs.
Beauchamp got a funny look on her face, a little green around the edges, and
she told me to go back to sleep, that the men had no business talking to me
until she said so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta say, she
sounded like Mother Mary when she said it and if I hadn’t been so relieved I think
I would have been scared whether I wanted to be or not.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
slept for a while, woke up, Regina told me to eat some soup and then I fell
back to sleep again without being told to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I figure that’s when they dosed me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d seen Mother Mary do the same thing when a girl would get hysterical,
particularly if she was new and had had her first rough customer.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
woke up needing the bathroom again but as soon as I opened my eyes I could tell
I was in a different room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The walls
where I woke up were paneled and darker and the bed was completely different,
for one thing it was bigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then I
felt the shackle on my leg.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I jerked it
hard trying to see what the rope was attached to and if I could get away.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t pull so hard!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Give me a
chance to … stop it or you’re going to break my leg ok?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked over the edge of the bed and Roman was on the floor trying to untie
something from his ankle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He asked, “You
aren’t going to puke on me are you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>‘Cause if you are I’d like to move.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
ought to,” I told him.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sound like a feral kitten and there’s no need to hiss like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was just so tired I worried about not
hearing you get up and not realize where you were.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Am
I in jail?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Just let me … dammit how did this get so tight …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Finally
he had to take out a pocket knife and cut the rope off his ankle. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Er … is it tight on your end?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
but I can wiggle out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>See?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">But
then he freaked out and was even weirder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Dammit, you’re bruised.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How the
hell did this rope get so tight?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
you’re scratched!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hang on, I’ve got
something here … it’ll clean it out …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He ran out of the room almost taking the doorframe with him then yelped,
“Missy!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
was so upset that Missy ran in the room thinking who knows what and I told her,
“He’s acting drain bamaged again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All it
is is a little scrape.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
a bruise,” he huffed coming back with what turned out to be enough ointment and
bandages to turn me into an old Egyptian mummy.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Just
give me a sec … dammit … I need to find the end … how the hell does this stuff
always get tangled up?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it hurt?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll get Mom …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
you are running around like your hair is on fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go soak your head or something.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
looked at me in surprise then tried to hide a smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“How are we feeling today?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t know who this ‘we’ is you are asking about but Roman looks like he could
use some of whatever you people dosed me with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Someone needs to explain that he’s going to lose his man card if he
don’t stop acting like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
squawked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean he absolutely sounded
like a bird that had its tail stepped on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Missy walked out of the room with her hand over her mouth.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
growled and said, “Now look here you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Kiss
my left big toe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
walked in scratching his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roman,
you’re letting her get to you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go take a
walk while I explain things to her.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want my side of the story …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
stood to his full height and I could tell all over again why he was an
enforcer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This isn’t just about
you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s bigger issues here.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you turning me off?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
looked at me and said, “Roman ain’t the only one that leads with his chin
apparently.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pulled up a chair that
Missy brought in the room before she left again and then sat and looked at
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We aren’t sending you away but not
everyone is all together happy about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As such we’ve moved you out to a less central location.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman will be your … hmmm.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
better not be looking for a polite word for pimp,” I told him.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
started pacing and said, “See?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told
you that would be the first thing she thought.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Now how am I supposed to talk her around?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Talk
me around to what?” I asked suspiciously.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
said, “It has to do with the rules of our enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
just sat there and waited.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman tried
to start the explanation but Saul interrupted him and said, “You’ll get your
turn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
then turned to me and got very serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“You are not fit to run around on your own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what your back story is but … basically
even if I think it matters personally I still have to deal with the rules of
the enclave and the ruling of our leaders.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
reminded me of something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You are part
of something bigger.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
asked sharply, “Just how much has Alex been talking?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just something I remembered … from
a long time ago.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
not going to cut it Kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s too
much at stake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to know how much
of a danger you are to the enclave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
one gives a crap about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary
is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emerald … I don’t know but she
probably thinks I am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex wants me
dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t anyone else that cares
one way or the other.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
said, “You shouldn’t say things like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What about Bean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
… well that’s different.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I care about
Bean and although I think you are demented I guess you care about Bean too
because you said the baby would be your niece or nephew and you’ve got this
thing about family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You said that once
the shock wore off your parents would care too but even though I think that is
a long shot I’m willing to go with the possibility because it means that Bean
could have safe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
said, “Here’s the first demand of our leadership.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They want to know your history and your real
name.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
already told you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
some are satisfied with not hearing anymore because they don’t want to know the
details but you’ve opened up a can of worms with that little statement you just
made.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
statement?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“About
the enclave being part of something bigger.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
I really debated with myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
like to think about that stuff because it makes everything else seem so much
worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t think about yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry about tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Focus on surviving today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I decided maybe I could work a deal.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK,
how’s this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll tell you. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You can … you can tell Mr. Beauchamp and maybe
a couple of others that just have to absolutely know so I don’t get kicked down
the road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … that’s as far as it
goes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s my business and I’m only
telling you because … because for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>AND,” I said interrupting him before he could say anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“If I tell you then you have to at least let
me hang around long enough for Bean to come out and for me to learn how to do
stuff so that I can take Bean someplace and teach them about being safe and
stuff like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“That’s
a lot to ask without me knowing the facts.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
you ain’t exactly asking for no small thing yourself.” I told him right back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ve tried not to think about it for so long
it’s going to hurt to remember it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
wouldn’t even think about telling you at all if it wasn’t for Bean and because
Roman reminds me of Tim.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who’s
Tim?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“My
brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was always bringing home
strays too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It drove Mom crazy.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-4846843188893674452014-08-19T15:43:00.003-07:002014-08-19T15:43:25.797-07:00Chapter 16
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dammit
Saul!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you have to make it your
mission in life to scare the crap out of people?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
the hell did I say?!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was being carried again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do you
mean what the hell did you say?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Damn,
and you people call me dense and out of touch.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
that or I’m going to puke again,” I groaned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I’m not a dolly you can just tote anywhere you feel like dumping me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
going to dump you on your head if you don’t stop wiggling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now hold still.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regina is coming and bringing Mom.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, no, no, no!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you will sit and you will let
her take a look at you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>End … of …
discussion.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
won’t like it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“She
may not and you may not but Mom is the best there is about this stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She used to be a nurse and she’ll know why
you keep going tip over tea kettle.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
just Bean letting me know stuff.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
tell Bean to settle down because you are going to get looked at.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
was looking around the little house wondering where to set me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I do not want to traumatize you Thorn but I
don’t see anything else for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
going to take you to the bedroom.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dammit
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
Douglas Beauchamp.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
I’m not lying when I say that Roman jumped and turned so fast it made me even
dizzier than I already was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Sit her
down now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go stand outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Mom
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”
she said with an irritated snap in her voice.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
scare her.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not scared!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
looked at me and said, “Remember.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
promised you that no one around here would send you back, make you go back, or
anything else like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no one is
going to hurt Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mom is just upset
too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop acting like I have …
like I have sensibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I can take care of myself and Bean too!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was irritating to realize no one was listening to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Mother Mary’s someone would have aimed a
slap at me or thrown something in my general direction to shut me up but these
people … they act like you aren’t even in the room and just go about what they
intend to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In no time flat Roman’s
mother was barking out orders and Missy and Regina and another woman were
moving faster than the girls at Mother Mary’s ever had, myself included.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d like to know how she pulled it off
because she looks like a little puff ball but when she says jump no one even
bothers to ask how high they just start jumping until she tells them to stop.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was stripped, washed, shampooed, dried, examined, measured, bandaged and taped,
and then redressed in a nightgown I’d never seen before and on top of it ordered
into the bed before I could even find enough fight to put up a fuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a matter of fact I was all wore out.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Breathlessly,
when Missus Beauchamp put a tray in front of me and told me to eat, I told her,
“But … but I can’t pay for this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Please
don’t …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That’s
when Roman had to put his big mouth in and came through the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“This is for Bean, remember?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’re
just trying to fool me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Nope.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask Mom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This is all about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t
that right Mom?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">She
crossed her arms and arched an eyebrow really good but Roman didn’t back
down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally she nodded and said,
“Yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me she said, “And I expect you to eat all
of that and not throw it away.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’d
had enough of being treated like a little kid and I told her, “I’m not
stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t waste food because if
you waste what you have today there might not be more tomorrow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God’s like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
beg your pardon?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Are you making fun of
God?!” she asked in outrage.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
I look like I want to go to hellfire and damnation?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>God can squash you like a bug for doing that
sort of thing; heck He can squash you for no reason. But a good way to bump up the
odds of getting squashed is by being wasteful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Everybody knows that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stupid
revenuers, hope all of them go to hellfire and damnation,” I muttered still
angry even after all these years.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
drug a chair over and said, “About that, how did you know who those men were?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Everybody
knows who the revenuers are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They steal
things from the country and give it to the city to shut people up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hate them. Hate them long and hard and
forever.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
do you hate the revenuers so much?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seems
personal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“None
of your business.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides everyone knows
revenuers are evil … revenuers and dust bunnies are the two most evil things on
the planet.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Are
you feeling ok?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
do you keep asking stupid questions?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
I’m not sure I understand what revenuers and dust bunnies have in common.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
you don’t know as much as you think you do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They both have dust for brains.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And they multiply in the dark and make things nasty if you don’t keep
them cleaned out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone knows that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
huh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who told you about the evils of
revenuers and dust bunnies?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
asking because I’m not going to tell you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It isn’t any of your business.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
sure are contrary.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Anybody
would be if they kept being asked questions they have no business being
asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you want to know about the
other stuff fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I figure you’ve got
good reason to ask me that … but nothing else.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
man I knew was Roman’s father walked into the room and patted his wife who
left, shooing the other three women out ahead of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reason I didn’t puke again was
because they left the door open … and because Roman moved his chair closer
after putting another chair by the bed for his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta tell you Bean, I’m not too sure that
we’ll be staying here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>These men are
strange and I don’t understand them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After looking like he wanted to bash me Mr. Beauchamp was acting like I
was a bug that needed to be examined. </span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
beginning to see where you get the name Thorn from.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though I think Narcissa is far prettier.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
and Alex had obviously been talking about stuff they had no business talking
about and I gave Roman a dirty look since Alex wasn’t around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told Mr. Beauchamp, “Narcissa is from
before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was taken from me so I don’t
use it anymore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
one can take your name away … well … I suppose they can under certain
circumstances but you can take it back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If you want to.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
… what do you mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
says you are determined to never go back to … back to the way you were living.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told him, “Didn’t want to live like that to begin with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just sort of happened.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this where you ask how Alex wound up
owning me?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
older man winced and Roman sighed before saying, “Thorn, take the edge
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you are having a hard time
trusting us but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
you’re having the same trouble too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah,
pretty much.”
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I suppose I owe you some answers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ask … but if I don’t want to answer …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kinda have that figured out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is there anything you want to ask?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… wha?”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It had never even entered my
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like I said Bean, the men here are
strange.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
we’re going to ask you questions so don’t you think you should ask us questions
to get to know us?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
forever not?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
duh, that’s obvious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You people are
having a hard enough time knowing me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s no way that you want me to know you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
give up,” Roman said in a peeve.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Dad …
she’s hard headed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how much
good it is going to do for you to question her.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was tempted to spill my life story just to spite Roman but decided that I still
wasn’t completely crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it was
with no small amount of satisfaction that I answered Mr. Beauchamp’s questions
as pretty as I had been taught a long time ago in how you speak to your
elders.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time he was done hearing
as much as he could stand to hear Roman’s eyeballs were about to pop out of his
head.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
you little … you did that on purpose.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at him and asked, “And what if I did?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
got up in a huff and stomped out of the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I regretted running him off when I found myself alone with his father
but really, it is for Roman’s own good and I told Mr. Beauchamp so when he
remarked on it.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“He’s
too nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s going to stick that chin
out once too often and there will be a little less nice in the world and
there’s hardly any of it left as it is.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hmmm.
You consider Roman nice?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah
although maybe not nice exactly … but he cares about things that aren’t his
business to care about and that’s going to get him in trouble.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look at the grief he is taking because of
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>First from Alex then from everyone
else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He doesn’t look like the kind that
deals with that kind of grief very well. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes him cranky. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It would be better if he stopped going around
looking for it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Mr.
Beauchamp ordered me to finish the soup and then to go to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which was fine by me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a good thing I got some rest when I did
because I needed it.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-89605896370287006292014-08-18T11:23:00.001-07:002014-08-18T11:23:46.292-07:00Chapter 15<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">A
couple of older men stomped into the room and they almost took my breath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right away I knew those men had my life in
their hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One walked right up to me
and I expected to be slapped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman must
have thought the same thing because he moved to stand in front of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The older man growled, “You’ve already proven
to be a disappointment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t make
things worse.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Dad,
you don’t know what you look like when you get like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know you’d never hit a woman but Thorn
doesn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what she is waiting
for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting for me to be wrong about us
being different from the other men she’s known.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was the older man’s head that rocked back like he’d been slapped and I watched
him ball his fist up and couldn’t stand it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fight came back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I swear you really are crazy Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you to stop doing this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t worth it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Is this how you got all beat up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Was it not Alex after all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fighting with your brother is one thing, but
… but this is another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Learn to pick
your battles or you are going to get stomped to smithereens.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now knock it off.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
turned to stare at me then said, “I told you we are different.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
told me Alex used to be different too but now he’s not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You told me not to judge you or the others by
Alex … and I’m trying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you’re
forgetting that people change from one day to the next; sometimes from one
moment to the next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just accept it Roman
and stop sticking your chin out for someone to hit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of these days someone is going to hit you
so hard you aren’t going to get back up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was a face off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t give and
neither would he.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what
would have happened but Saul growled, “Are you two finished dancing yet?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You argue more than anything I’ve ever
seen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen kid …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
told you I’m not a kid.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
are if I say you are and right now, until you prove otherwise, you are a kid no
matter what your current condition is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unless of course you want to tell me how old you really are.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“To
quote something Alex said, it doesn’t matter and I’m obviously old enough.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
snorted and said, “Less I hear about Alex the better.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This isn’t about him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”
I asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Wait, I thought … well … Roman
said his dad would want answers and that is why I came.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked around confused and Roman looked confused too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah, where is Alex?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
sighed and looked to Roman’s father who just stood there looking like a piece
of mossy granite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then he looked at
another man and he stepped forward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Roman looked at the man and asked, “David, what’s going on?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Alex
got caught cooking some … some stuff up in his bedroom.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Cooking
what up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s going on?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at the man called David and all the rest of them and then looked at
Roman who still looked confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put
my hand on his arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It seems they might
have found a reason why Alex wasn’t being like you remember him being.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
are you talking about?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at Saul and realized I’d have to be the one to tell Roman. “Alex must
have gotten hooked on something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
never did it around me though he did act a little crazy every once in a while
so he probably hasn’t been hooked for long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It would explain why he lost interest … uh … why he … hmmm …<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought it was because he was just in a
pout about getting beat up by Emerald’s enforcers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe there is more to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you said that there was a lot of money
missing it would explain that too.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
just shrugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve forgotten more about
how real family works than I now remember Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hope to relearn what I forgot with you but what I do remember is that
people want to think the best things about their family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know that Roman is kinda different and
crazy so maybe he’d want to think the best of his family even more than most.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the reasons why I take the
things he says with a grain of salt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
because I think he is lying on purpose but because he wants what he says to be
the truth so much he might miss that it isn’t.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Not after Patty …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">There
was that name again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw a couple of
people look everywhere but at Roman but it didn’t tell me much more than I
already knew which is that Patty was someone important to Roman.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
looked at Saul then at David then at his Dad who was looking at him like he was
a piece of puzzle that had maybe gotten stuck in the wrong slot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman said, “Dad?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Gruffly
Roman’s father said, “It’s true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Happened after you left to go get … her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Claimed at first he was going to commit suicide because no one believed
his side of things, that your mother and Patty were breaking his heart,
choosing to believe some dock prostitute instead of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wasn’t … rational.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then Terry took a look at what he’d been cooking
and said there wasn’t enough there to OD on, barely enough there to do much
more than take the edge off for a new addict.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s when …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Where is he?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is just another
one of his games.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Son,
this is not a game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Terry said that he
got a look at him real good this time and under the bruising of where you two
fought there’s … there’s evidence that this has been going on for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not a long while but … but long
enough.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
moaned. “No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No he wouldn’t do
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, not with Patty …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who’s
Patty?” I asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Just
about everyone in the room jumped. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most
of them looked like I’d spit on Jesus or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Uh … never mind.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked at me and said, “It’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Patty
is Alex’s wife.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">My
mouth must have fallen open because Saul chuckled sadly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Kid …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
calling me that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It sounds dumb.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not so much that a guy who had a wife
would have a side woman, that’s pretty common.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s … well … it’s that Alex in particular is married.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never would have guessed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He never said nothing about any other female
but his momma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I actually thought there
weren’t any out here except for her and all the rest of you men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t even know about Missy until Roman
and Fletcher got onto me for not talking nice enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It makes me wonder what else he’s been not
saying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not telling you all about me
after he got beat up – which I still say is stupid and got him in more trouble
than he needed to get in although that was before I found out about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then me not knowing about the loan shark that
Roman says you all found out about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
drug that none of us knew about … and now he’s got a wife on top of it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Geez, how many different lives does Alex have
and who all did he live them with?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh
and just to notch the weird up a bit I didn’t know about Roman and Alex being
twins until they started fighting about who was born first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean how can you not mention that you’re a
twin?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well …,” I said turning to
Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“At least you aren’t identical
twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would be completely
freaky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not sure I could even
imagine some of the things you’ve said coming out of a head that looked like
Alex.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shuddered then had to slap a
hand over my mouth and run out the door and puke in the bushes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">When
I finally stopped heaving I muttered, “Don’t think about that no more ever
Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s like having a twister in my
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>End of story.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
almost fell off the porch when Roman handed me a bandana. “It’s clean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“C’mon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad wants to ask you some stuff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s confused and he doesn’t like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But they aren’t going to hit you Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re just shook up.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fine,
but you know the deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you think someone is going to
hurt Bean you’ll fight.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
I won’t go back to that life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean it
Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to take care of Bean and I’m going
to teach them what safe means.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know that too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>C’mon and sit down,
you’ve got that nasty pasty color look again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like I’m out looking for a
customer.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Do you really have to say
things like that?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Do
you really have to act so weird and care what I say?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
stuck his head out and said, “You two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or I’ll put you in separate corners.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dammit Roman, act your age.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re twenty-two for God’s sake, not twelve
with the hots for the new girl on the block.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at Roman and started backing up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Thorn …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… no … you said you … not like … you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Listen to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I won’t hurt Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t I say that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Didn’t I say this was a safe place?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Isn’t this the safe you want?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">It
was over as quick as it started and I felt really, really stupid Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But then I was seeing spots and the spots turned to stars and then …<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-21328470532726670692014-08-16T10:53:00.001-07:002014-08-16T10:53:16.877-07:00Chapter 14<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Two
women were waiting when Roman hauled me over to this little place that sat back
from some of the other houses on an old style cul de sac.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roman?” the younger of the two asked.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Can
you get the door open Missy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I put
her down I’m not sure if she’ll run or fall down.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
pinched him and he snapped, “Ow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop
that!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
told you I’ll fight.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
you don’t have any reason to so knock it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve got enough bruises to last me for a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you are going to mind me one way or the
other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t like it but I will tie
you down so Missy and Regina can look you over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You … you don’t look good.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
business is it of yours?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Carefully
carrying me in he said, “OK, if you won’t do it for yourself then do it for …
do it for Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That
stopped me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“What do you mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
mean you don’t look good. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Missy and
Regina know what they are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And
you’re going to have a baby but it is too soon for the baby to come and … and
you don’t look good.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They won’t … won’t …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Won’t
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Give
me something to make Bean go away or something like that to make things easy on
your family?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
older woman hoarsely whispered, “Dear God in Heaven of course not.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked at her and said, “She’s … she’s had it rough and some of it at Alex’s
hands.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just cut her some slack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll be right outside.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned to me and growled, “Do not give
them problems.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you do I’ll come right
in and tie you down like I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Understand?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
younger woman snapped, “Roman!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Honestly
Missy … just … just …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
said quietly, “I’ll make a deal … I’ll … I’ll be still if they promise not to
hurt Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">All
the anger drained out of Roman and he said, “Deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But just understand this, the idea has never
been to hurt Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>OK?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
shrugged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You just make sure they stick
to the deal.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
older woman – Regina – asked, “Who … uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“It’s
what she calls the baby so don’t call it an ‘it’ or anything like that, she
gets fussy and uncooperative.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And don’t
bring up Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That is for Dad and Saul
to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’ll get hashed out as
soon as Saul makes his report.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where is
Alex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to talk to him.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… you better talk to David about that first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Your mother is terribly upset.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Mother
is always upset.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But fine, I will … just
as soon as I make sure Thorn is going to behave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
am not easily embarrassed but having those two women undress me and check me
out like a couple of doctors did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m
not sure why but it did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To cover my
feelings I said, “So you’re Missy, Saul’s wife.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
yes, how did you know?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
and Fletcher said I needed to watch my mouth around you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">From
outside the door Roman said, “About her … but around her applies too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
rolled my eyes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“About.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s the same thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Watch my p’s
and q’s.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
said, “You can talk freely around me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
looked at her and said, “No I can’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
want me to but … but there’s stuff I could say you don’t need to hear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You look too new.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
does that mean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Something
you probably wouldn’t understand and I don’t want to explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It just basically means that … that you … don’t
really know the way life really works.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And besides, I’m not fool enough to get in that guy Saul’s way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He wouldn’t like what I could tell you and
that’s enough for me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
be ridiculous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How far along did you say
you were?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Far
along?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, you mean how long I’ve had
Bean inside me?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>About six months.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can give you the exact day it happened if
you hand me my bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worked a calendar
out so I could keep track.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Regina,
the older woman, gingerly handed my bag to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“It’s ok,” I told her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s
clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or mostly clean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My mother made …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
could have kicked myself all over again but I didn’t think anyone was paying
attention so I shut up and opened up my bag and was just about to pull out the
scrap pieces of paper I had cut out of a magazine when there was a knock on the
door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“They done with her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncle Shad is chewing horseshoes and spitting
nails.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
complained, “No we aren’t finished.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Someone
else said, “Too bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncle Shad says
now.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“This
is …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
saw the older woman glance at Missy in a silent warning and being more than
ready to be done with their brand of doctoring I said, “No sense in putting it
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Better to know sooner rather than
later how fast I’m going to have to hit the road.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was up and out of there before the two women could stop gobbling in protest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My fight carried me into the outer room and
down the steps of the little house and out into the dark yard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I felt something pull and I
stumbled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman was there but I tried to
make him let go of my arm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You will
either let me hold your arm or I will carry you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the only two options you have.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
don’t start that again.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
had followed us out and I explained, “There is something wrong with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he got dropped on his head or
something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s being … nice.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
… is being nice.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yes!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is going to get him into trouble and
while he is just a man I guess I don’t want him to get into trouble so tell him
to knock it off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he’ll listen to
you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">From
the dark someone said, “Roman rarely listens to anyone so don’t bother wasting
your breath or my time.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Missy
was shocked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Saul!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told her, “You do that a lot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You must
not have a lot of experience with men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They always go their own way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All
you can do is kinda guide them ever so often.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
snorted but didn’t slow down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You don’t
need to tell Missy that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She guides the
whole enclave 24/7.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
if she can then more power to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
from my experience it doesn’t do a whole lot of good and is a waste of energy
most of the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Men do what men do and
that’s all there is to it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">That’s
when Saul took my other arm and I got scared.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It felt like when Brian would grab me and march me to Mother Mary’s
office.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I leaned away from him and he
said, “Relax Kid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is going to eat
you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
not a kid!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
huh,” he said on a sigh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Roman find a
chair and stick her in it and keep an eye on her before she falls flat or
starts puking again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Missy,” he
stopped and changed his tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Maybe
some of that tea?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Of
course Darling.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
couldn’t help it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ew.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
said quietly, “Yeah it do get a little nauseating ever so often.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just ignore it, the rest of us do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
looked at him to let him know that his crazy was showing again but all he did
was what Saul told him to … put me in a chair and watch me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-50424773577145660162014-08-15T19:03:00.001-07:002014-08-15T19:03:34.464-07:00Chapter 13<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
feel sick?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
stop squirming.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Why
can’t I ride behind like before?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Because
you puked the entire time and … you’re belly gets in the way.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“People
are going to talk.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
worrying about it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Of
course I’m going to worry about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
can only take care of me and Bean, I can’t take care of you too.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who
said anything about me needing being taken care of?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
you’re obviously crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the only
explanation for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So someone needs to
make sure you don’t fall into trouble like hanging around the wrong kind of
woman.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Fletcher
rode back beside us and said, “Keep her quiet Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jeremy said there is sign on the trail ahead
but it’s not from a horse he recognizes.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
was still trying to figure out how you could tell one horse from another from a
trail when a shot rang out and things went a little crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I held onto Roman to keep from being thrown
off but it didn’t take the men long to realize they were surrounded by men in
uniforms.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I recognized the insignia
right away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Revenuers.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Being
angry doesn’t change that the men had too many guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They forced Roman’s family to get off their
horses and then took their guns and knives away from them but I pick pocketed
one of the revenuers when he brushed against me and took a knife off of
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had so many in his hand at the
time he never noticed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I palmed it under
my sleeve and since they had already frisked me they didn’t bother checking
again.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">They
were going through all of the men’s gear and doing it fast like they had a lot
of practice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They left the three deer on
the horse but pulled the horse off the trail and tied it off to a tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they started going over the men more
closely, looking for other stuff besides weapons and I knew that I wouldn’t
have much more time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure enough a man
got a smirky, greedy grin on his face and came towards me and pulled me off
into the bushes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t give him any
trouble so he was able to pull me off trail pretty far before running out of
patience.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
won’t record what he had to say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one
thing I don’t want you growing up hearing that kind of talk and for another, it
was pretty boring and typical; I’d heard it all before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He pushed me down and all the noise he was
making gave me the cover to palm the knife and then shove it in his
throat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The little bit of kicking and
other noise he made the men took to be more or less him getting what he’d
dragged me off to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He hadn’t even
gotten his own zipper down much less mine.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
grabbed the two guns he had carried into the bushes with him right as two other
men showed up and said, “Damn you’re quick Charlie.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get off so I can have a turn.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">One
of the things I did under the watchful eye of Mother Mary was to clean her
guns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never had anything to do with them
when they were loaded but I did know how they operated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So while I’d never shot a gun before it was
something that I knew how to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
rolled “Charlie” off of me and point blank shot both men.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
the hell are you all doing in there?!” came a shout and I could hear feet
coming my way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t kill them
outright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shooting accurately takes
practice that I’d never had.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I did
hit what I was aiming at … right in the gut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then there was all sorts of noise on the trail and I stood up, swayed
and bit, then went to join the fight. </span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">By
the time I got out there it was almost all done except for one guy that didn’t
want to give up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walked up to him,
stuck the barrel of the gun in his ear and pulled the trigger.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The guy I shot wasn’t the only man to
jump.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I went around putting the
rest of the dying out of their misery too.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
last one looked at me holding his belly and crying saying, “No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No … don’t kill me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to die.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
told him, “You should of thought of that before you became a revenuer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The day you did is the day you signed your
own death warrant.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was still crying
when I pulled the trigger.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
turned to find Saul looking at me but it wasn’t with anger or disgust or
anything else but curiosity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He held out
his hand and I handed him both guns and then looked around for Roman who was
helping Fletcher.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh don’t do
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re getting germs in it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
walked over to clean up the cut on Fletcher’s arm and Roman looked at me
without saying anything but wanting to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Which is it?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That I know first aid or that I shot all
those men?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
a moment of trying to decide he said, “Both.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“We
got beat up pretty regular at Mother Mary’s; even those of us that didn’t fight
like I did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We had to learn to take care
of ourselves because Mother Mary would beat us if she had to send for the
doc.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As for those men?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you I would fight anyone that tried to
hurt Bean or make me go back to whoring.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
knew what they were.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Revenuers?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scum of the earth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>People like
them …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
walked over and asked, “People like them what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“People
like them is how I wound up … I don’t want to talk about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t talk about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you can’t deal with that then I’ll leave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hmmm,”
was all the sound that Saul made which surprised the heck out of Roman and
Fletcher but I don’t care.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe someone
used to own us Bean but I’m done with that life and that means I’ve got some
rights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe not a lot of them but I
won’t talk about that part just so people will feel sorry for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Besides, it’s private.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
would have helped to get rid of the bodies but the muscles across my belly
started to get tight and I wasn’t feeling too good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary wouldn’t have cared and made me
work anyway but Roman and the other men did care which only means they are as
crazy as I am beginning to suspect they are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They made some noise and for a while all I had to do was sit under a
tree wrapped up in a couple of blankets.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I closed my eyes and then suddenly I was being picked up.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Hey!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
said, “Hush and be still so I can hand you up to Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you wiggle and fall on your head it will
be your own fault.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">And
it seemed that I must have fallen asleep again because I don’t remember too
much for what seems a long while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I
tried to wake up when we stopped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
grabbed at Roman when I thought I was falling but it was Saul getting me off
the horse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Wha
…?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Roman
take her … aw hell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Where the hell are
we going to put her?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Then
an angry voice said, “Take her over to the meeting house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad and the others are waiting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the hell took you so long?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Cool
your jets David,” I heard Saul say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“We
had a situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That report comes first
before the other.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">A
little more calmly the one called David asked, “What kind of situation?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Revenuers.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Aw
shit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do we need to go into lock down?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No
although I’m putting extra guards out on patrol.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the girl needs to be looked at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Send Missy … dammit …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
taking her to my place,” Roman said refusing to put me down even though I
pushed at him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me he said, “Stop
wiggling or I’ll dump you in the trough and trust me you wouldn’t like it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
… are … crazy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“Certifiable,”
he agreed easily.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Now be still.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-67469871845567361982014-08-13T13:11:00.000-07:002014-08-13T13:11:42.795-07:00Chapter 12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Bean,
I honestly thought I’d convinced him when he moved to go back to where his
family were.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got back under the tree,
put rocks on the ends of the plastic to keep it from blowing around and then
curled up the best I could to go to sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was so tired that I did, and it wasn’t no catnap either.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard muttering and grumbling and snapped awake to find that while it was still
dark there was enough light that I could clearly see that the men had crawled
under the same tree as I had at some point and made their beds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt like panicking and got so sick but
before I could do much more than move Roman was handing me a mug of something
that smelled … it smelled like Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Isn’t that crazy?</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">But
I was so hungry and sick to my stomach that I figured what the heck that I
would just owe him a little more.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Missy
says this should help.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Not
trusting someone I didn’t know I asked, “Who’s Missy?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">One
of the men snorted and said, “Jealous?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Of
what?” I snapped back not using good sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“I don’t even know who or what Missy is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m just not going to be knocked out and hauled off to some stable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not after I just escaped one.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
was obviously trying to figure out what I had said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He really is simple at times even though I
know there isn’t anything wrong with his brain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>For some reason though he just keeps reminding me a bit of Tim which is
irritating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the cussing man who
came over and said quietly, “It’s just ginger tea with some honey in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>No one is going to do what you think.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And Missy is my sister … and Saul’s wife … so you need to watch it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t need to insult someone just because
you don’t know them.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know you were just stating a fact from what your life is …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Was,”
I snapped.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Ok
… what your life was like.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still
need to be careful.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are you?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
Fletcher.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“And
yeah, I was more than happy to give Alex a hard time and I’m glad I gave him
the<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>… er … green willies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And no I didn’t whore around so I don’t know
why he would say such a thing.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“’Cause
he was jealous.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I don’t want to hear
about Alex anymore.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
had come around and growled, “Drink the tea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re wasting time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uncle Shad
and David are already going to wonder where we are and not happy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Just
then I heard a gun go off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I spilled
some stuff in the mug but I didn’t feel the heat and I started shaking so bad
that I almost dropped it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at
Roman and whispered, “Don’t let them hurt Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Don’t …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
got a ferocious look on his face and snapped at Saul, “Did you do that on
purpose?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
be an idiot Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The boys saw a herd
and decided to do some hunting. Who would have thought it, a tramp with sensibilities?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they field dress their kills you can
pour her into something that she won’t freeze to death in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to have gone to all this trouble
only to have her get sick or die on the trail.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">My
fight was coming to the surface and I said, “I don’t have sensibilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s as crazy as when Alex accused me of
having scruples just ‘cause I wouldn’t whore for him so he could have a room
for the night instead of camping out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m just trying to make things safe for Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s all that matters.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Alex
warned, “Thorn … don’t talk to Saul like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You need to be respectful.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I’m
a whore Roman, remember?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is no
such thing as respect in my world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There
is only bigger, stronger, meaner … and fighting to stay alive when faced with
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If anyone tries to hurt Bean I will
fight otherwise I’ll keep to myself.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
squatted down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to scoot back and
got blocked from escaping when Roman and Fletcher got in the way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul snorted and said, “Take it easy before
you hurt yourself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let’s get one thing
straight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t like this at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I sure as hell don’t like … what you do.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
don’t do that anymore and I’ll fight …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah,
yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enough of that crap already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is out to hurt that baby, especially
if it belongs to the family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not
convinced that it is no matter what anyone else thinks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman has obviously gone soft in the head and
Fletcher … well what Fletcher says carries weight but there are still a lot of
holes where there should be facts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
want those facts.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah
and your belly wants sweets all the time but that doesn’t mean you’re rich
enough to have them.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
felt hands on my arm and I shook them off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Easy Thorn, it’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is
Saul’s job.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Will
you stop talking to me like I am some hurt animal you’ve found and feel like
you gotta fix up?!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s too late for
that!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just leave me alone!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t touch me!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Get away!!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
said quietly, “Roman, deal with her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We
don’t need a hysterical female on the trail.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
go scaring her on purpose then.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
not … I don’t think she’ll back down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And even if you don’t believe the baby is Alex’s …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
snapped, “And that’s another thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just
because Alex put Bean inside me doesn’t mean he owns Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one is going to own Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t let that happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Alex …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn,
you need to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know what kind of crazy you are
thinking but it is probably wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
told you not to judge me or any of the rest of us based on how Alex acted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t buy and sell people.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I meant … ok … probably from your
perspective it sounded …”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He stopped and
shook his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look, if Saul is
willing to give you a chance the least you can do is give him and the rest of
us a chance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And if you can’t do it for
us at least do it for my mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s
in a bad way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This has been … she’s
having a real hard time with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex …
Alex was her baby, was supposed to be the best …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Boy
I sure hope that isn’t true if you expect me to trust you.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ok, so it’s hard for you to
understand but I told you Alex wasn’t always like he was in the city.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Maybe
not but he’s always resented you for some reason.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And always been mad that people won’t let him
be free to do what he wants all the time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If I got nothing else out of all his complaining that came through loud
and clear.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
asked, “He said that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That he’d always
felt that way?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Yeah
and more than once,” I answered putting my back against the tree so no one
could sneak up on me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“And yeah I know
he changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The first couple of times …
geez it was awful, he tried to be nice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then when he figured out he didn’t need to be he stopped and started
being like men normally are.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul got
an uncomfortable look on his face but it was only there for a brief second but
I’d seen it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You people … I don’t know
what your damage is but Alex is right, the city would have eaten you up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that is why he was a better choice
for his job than any of the rest of you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He said you all would have hated it but that he loved what the city had
to offer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He felt free living there for
the first time in his life. One of the reasons he fought Roman almost every
step of the way is because he didn’t want to go back to where ever it is you
all are from, he didn’t want his life to go back to what it used to be.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Saul
sighed then looked at Roman and said, “Get her ready to ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll need the extra horse to carry the
carcasses so you’ll have to carry her.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-78663714287599468782014-08-12T12:51:00.000-07:002014-08-12T12:51:03.731-07:00Chapter 11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Hey
you in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I felt you move again
today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It made me want to smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the only thing that made me want to
smile today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at least I know where I
stand though it is an awful strange place to be.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’m
sitting in this room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still
daylight and there’s a real window that the light comes in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no bars over the glass and the window
really opens and closes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must have
messed with it five minutes before Roman asked me if I wondered how it worked.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember how windows work,” I told
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s just been so long since I’d
been in a place that the windows opened and closed that I guess I’m acting
stupid over it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard someone gasp and I turned around too quick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had thought it was just Roman there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was that girl … woman … whatever she
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Roman caught me before I could
get face planted she made a huge fuss.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
thought at first she was mad because Roman had helped me but it turns out – and
this is the strange part – that she was upset that I had tripped and started
fussing about me not eating properly and all sorts of other noise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was bad enough that she started sounding
like the chickens that seem to run all over around here.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Here.
I guess I better explain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I should
probably go back and erase this page and start over but I don’t want to waste
the pencil to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s another
thing but I’ll get to it when I get to it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>First though I need to find something to call you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re real and you deserve a name.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is I don’t know what flavor you
are yet so whatever I call you it can’t be something that says that you’re
definitely one thing or the other because what if I call you one flavor in this
book only to have you turn out to be the other flavor?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, that wouldn’t be good.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know, I’ll call you Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s about what you started off being
though you are bigger than that now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus that is what Tim used to call me when I was very little because he
had a lisp and couldn’t say Narcissa until the doctor’s fixed the thing that
was wrong with his tongue.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">So
Bean, how do you like it in there?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nice
and cozy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope so.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m feeling a little cozy out here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let me tell you how I got here.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
snow piled really deep for two days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
had had to go back out in it even though it hadn’t been easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to be careful for your sake but it
wasn’t easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was too cold in the box,
there was frost on the walls and not even using all of the covers that Roman
had left kept my feet and hands from hurting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So out I went and sure enough I fell a couple of times but not on my fat
belly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I felt myself falling I made
sure to fall on my behind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That wasn’t
great either but at least you didn’t get squashed.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">On
the third day I ate some of the crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I wasn’t happy about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept
thinking about our money getting all used up too fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you were making me hungry and not in a
good way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not complaining.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It isn’t your fault.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s just the way things happen so that you
can grow and be healthy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you come out
you’ll cry to let me know when you need to be fed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right now all you can do is make me hungry to
let me know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can deal with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It lets me know you are still ok in there,
especially when you don’t wiggle around for a while.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
had one more bag of soup that I put a lot of water in to make it go as far as
possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I had that night
and then the box was empty except for the books and pencils that I hadn’t touched.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew that I couldn’t stay anymore and
planned to try and follow the trail out the next day.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
problem is that on the fourth day a wind began to blow and by mid-morning it
was blowing so hard I wasn’t sure if I could walk straight in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve seen bad wind living down on the docks
but I’d never seen one like this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
it was blowing the snow all around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
drank some warm water and saw that the water barrel was almost empty too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew one way or the other I would
definitely have to do something soon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t think much about Roman not coming back at that point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just figured that Alex had had his
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wasn’t surprised by it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well maybe a little but I figured that Roman
had just overestimated his Dad wanting to talk to me and get whatever answers
he thought he would want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman is a
strange duck as Mother Mary would say.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That’s what she called people that are different in a way that goes
counter to what we know to be normal for how people act in the city.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Day
five I wake up and though I’m hungry enough to be sick I hold it in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No use in making it worse on ourselves; and
puking never solved anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the
wind did do one thing and that was to blow away all of the snow and to dry
everything up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That was fine by me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gathered up what I could and put it in my
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also borrowed one of the blankets,
the one that Roman left from his pack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
folded the others neatly and left them in the trunk where they’d been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also tore a page out of the back of this
book and left a note explaining that just in case Roman ever came that way
again that I wanted to apologize to him for taking his blanket and the book and
pencils and eating the rest of the food and not paying for any of it but that I
hadn’t liked to just leave money laying around as that wasn’t very smart.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that if we ever did run into each other
again that he wouldn’t even have to show an IOU, that I would pay him what I
owed as I would forever set that money aside to make sure that I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also explained that I would pay for the
food too only I’d probably have to save up for that since I wasn’t sure what
prices were in the area and that I trusted him not to rip me off down the
road.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thanked him for getting me away
from the city and that I couldn’t have gotten this far on my own this fast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I put the note in the food box and just
relied on someone finding it and passing it along as I gathered it was some
kind of way station his family used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then I started walking.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact it was so cold I got
off the path and stuck to the trees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>That wasn’t any better temperature wise but it did keep the wind from
whipping around me too much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still had
to try and deal with the blanket and I did that by making a hole that I had
found in the center of the blanket big enough so that I could stick my head
through.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not great but better than I had
been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was slow going trying to make
my way through trees and bushes though.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Crossing
nearly frozen streams was not fun either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I almost got wet more times than I want to admit and then the rock I was
using to cross the last stream tilted and one of my feet slid all the way
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Talk about cold.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was just about as bad as the baths that
Mother Mary would make us take in winter right before the doctor would come for
the monthly physical. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like ice cubes
mixed up with melted snowman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t
take me long to realize I needed to find some place and try and dry off; my foot
was actually not just numb but hurt deep inside.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was late afternoon and I was tired so I also figured it was as good a time as
any to find a place to stop for the night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I hadn’t seen a building or even a piece of a building so I knew it
would be another camp in the open kind of night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one thing I hadn’t thought of was how to
make a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mean I had no food so it
isn’t like I was going to cook plus I hated to take more after I’d eaten all
the food and even taken the book and pencil without paying for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex’s comment about me being a whore with
scruples popped into my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not that I
would have done it any different but at the time, being cold and wet made me a
little irritated at my scruples too.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
found a strangely clean area off the trail and crawled under what looked like
an oversized Christmas tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I worried
about animals but then decided no self-respecting animal would be out on a
night like it was looking to be and even if they were there wasn’t much I could
do about it so I used my hand to clean an area off and then using little rocks
that I found I made what looked like a miniature fire ring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then I decided to try something that I had
read in one of the magazines that Alex had left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I made a little teepee out of tinder – that’s
really what they called it in the article – and then took two rocks and tried
to strike them together to make a spark.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
must have been at it a while when I finally threw the rocks down and said
aloud, “That is a whole lot harder than they make it sound.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard a snort and a man’s voice say, “It sure is.” </span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
jumped up and nearly knocked myself out on the limb that I had hung my piece of
plastic on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man gave a whistle and
despite the stars swimming in my eyes, grabbed my bag and tried to take
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I got three steps before I went
down again and this time I knocked the wind out of me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I still tried to get up and get going but
they reached me before I could.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Whoa
there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Easy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three hippos with five o’clock shadows.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Remember?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
turned and still trying to scoot back and suddenly I recognized Roman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It still took me a bit because his face was
definitely messed up.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Holy
cow!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You and Alex must have really got
into it,” was all I could think to say.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">His
voice was a little nasally when he answered, “It was something like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I found your note.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
was being so reasonable that I was confused.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Uh, hang on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got it here in an envelope.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You’ve
got what in an envelope.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
money I owe you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you that you’d
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I probably owe you for not getting back before
the food ran out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Uh
… well … I … look I ate it all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t
mean to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I meant to save at least the
crackers but Bean kept saying …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">One
of the men growled, “Who’s Bean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
definitely knew that tone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tried to
get up and run but Roman was on me before I could even get up good and he said,
“Stop Thorn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul always sounds like
that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s promised to hear you out.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Bull.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>More than likely Alex has already given his
version and if I know him he’s turned it so it makes him sound like the victim
in all this.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I saw Roman blanch and I
nodded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Let me guess, he got the drop
on you and got to your family first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
figured that was his plan … you would have thought you would have seen it too
after he tried to deck you from behind that first night in that box.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard some muttering from the other men that had come to stand around and I got
real quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To Roman I said, “I’ll
fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You tell them I’ll fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If Alex was smart he would have at least
warned them that I fight dirty.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Thorn
I already told you my family isn’t like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Alex
…”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“OK,
so Alex has gone off the deep end but don’t judge the rest of us by the way
he’s acted lately.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You have to remember
that people are in shock over this whole thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>They sent Alex away acting one way and now … it’s hard for them to
believe.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What
about that guy … the one named Fletcher … that was watching Alex?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What does he say?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Fletcher
… wait … how do you know about Fletcher?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
rolled my eyes and snapped, “Don’t you listen to nothing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told you that Alex spent more time
complaining than anything else … and I mean after a while totally anything else
and don’t expect me to explain that to a man, you should know what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He didn’t say much in total – it was always
the same old thing over and over – but he did mention a few names and
apparently this guy Fletcher gave him the green willies.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“The
what?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Green willies?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
know … he was sick and jealous at the same time with a side order of heebie
jeebies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In addition to Fletcher
watching him all the time he said something about Fletcher always being able to
draw women when he didn’t deserve to and never having to pay for them or
something like that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
heard one of the mean say quietly, “Dammit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ain’t that some shit.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
snapped, “Hey!”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">And
all I could do is roll my eyes again and say, “You have got to be the strangest
man I have ever met on this side of Mother Mary’s house.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My ears are not going to fall off just ‘cause
some guy cusses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not to mention you did
a fair share of it yourself … and so did Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Anyone with sense knows that it’s better to let men blow off some steam
with a curse than it is to have them hold it in and eventually pop you
instead.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
made another face and said, “Will you stop saying things like that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You make all men sound … sound …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Like
men?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
man named Saul snorted and said, “Get up off the ground Roman; this is going nowhere
with the tramp.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And neither are we, at
least tonight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ll camp here; it’s as
good a place as any.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Well,
for men they do all right for themselves when it comes to setting up their beds
and cooking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was still suspicious that
they’d ask for something as payment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
also wondered where Alex was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also
didn’t help that the men kept looking at me and sneering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That didn’t really bother me but I was pretty
sure that most of them were thinking that I should provide the entertainment
and I wasn’t having any of that.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
kept trying to scoot back real slow and not get noticed but the men kept
looking at Roman with one of those looks that are supposed to say something but
mostly look irritated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finally sighed
and said, “Thorn, who’s Bean?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“What?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
said that there was some guy named Bean and …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bean isn’t a guy … well Bean might be a guy
eventually but maybe not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know
what flavor Bean is yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just didn’t
want to go around calling Bean ‘it’ or ‘you’ or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want them to know that I think they’re a
real person and take them seriously right for the get go.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
guy that had cussed said, “She’s talking about it … the … the … uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Baby,”
I said hugging my middle where you’re all nice and safe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Bean is going to know …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
snapped, “Are you playing a game?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
tone was still gruff and scary but had lost its nasty edge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“One, I don’t know what game you think I’m
playing and two, from my side of things it would be awful stupid to play any
kind of game.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t strike me as the
sort that puts up with that much.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
snorted again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman said, “Saul isn’t
so no stories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If he asks you something
just tell him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if the truth gets
you in trouble it’s better to be honest in trouble that lie and get in worse
trouble.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
please, like I don’t know that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Did Alex
ever come clean about the loan shark thing?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I still don’t know how he could fool me like that when he liked to
complain so much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I caught him in a
couple of fibs but they seemed pretty tame compared to the story he made up to
avoid having your family find out that he got beat up by Emerald’s enforcers
for beating me … uh …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
slipped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t mean to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just when you start telling the truth
it’s hard to not tell all of the truth.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Quietly
Roman said, “Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you can stop
covering for him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s one of the
things that Fletcher found out about that he didn’t tell me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
looked really upset by that so I said, “Well, I knew you two were brothers but
I didn’t know you were twins until y’all started going on and on about Alex
being fifteen minutes older.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There were
a couple of twins at Mother Mary’s and they had this thing …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">One
of the men snickered.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Not
that kind of thing though as a man that would be the first to enter your
mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it’s that … well … it was
weird.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They knew when the other was in
trouble and how they were feeling and stuff like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it’s just like that for twins so the
Fletcher guy didn’t tell you because he didn’t want you hurting any more than
you already were.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Who
said I was hurting?” Roman snapped.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Oh
Brother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you hadn’t cared you
wouldn’t have bothered trying to save Alex in the first place.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you would have let him run off all those
times he threatened to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You also
wouldn’t have gotten so silly and offended when … when he said some of the
things he did.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I just thought it was brother stuff but …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Will
you stop that?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone always makes
such a big deal about us being twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We’re nothing alike.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’ve never
been anything alike.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Well
pardon me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So you’re fraternal or
whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’re still brothers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t be a dork and try and deny that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
growled, “Will you two shut up?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s
been enough arguing over the last couple of days to last a lifetime.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“You
think this is something?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You should have
heard him and Alex go at it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was
enough to give a stone wall a headache.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Saul
growled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seriously.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He did it so good that I looked around
because I thought there was a wild animal out in the woods.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not one for comedy routines.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact if you had told some of the sisters
or Mother Mary that I made someone laugh they would have probably gone into
shock but somehow or other the look on my face must have done it for Roman
because he made some weird noise and I could tell he was trying not to
laugh.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked at him and then at Saul
and I decided to scoot back a little ways out of the blast zone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But then I heard a wheezy sort of noise from
Saul and knew for sure that while I had thought I knew everything there is
about men, this family was going to teach me something about crazy men.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">All
I could do was shake my head and get quiet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Trusting a man’s good nature too far is a recipe for disaster. Slowly,
trying not to draw attention to myself I moved as far away as I could without
them getting hacked off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman came to
sit beside me again and I told him, “Stop that.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
whispered, “This … whatever you are doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Look, maybe your family is different but that doesn’t mean that they are
just going to look the other way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’ll
… you’ll get a reputation.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
looked surprised and then looked like he wanted to laugh again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“I’ll get a reputation?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
be stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We both know what I am … or
at least what I used to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They know it
too but they may not know I never mean to go back to that life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t blame them for thinking what they
think, they just don’t know how determined I am to change things for Bean’s
sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I am not crazy enough to think
that I’ll ever completely shed the reputation of that old life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to find a safe place for Bean and
I’m going to do whatever it takes to make sure that Bean is safe for life …
Bean isn’t going to have to live through what I have.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll put up with whatever I have to for
Bean’s sake.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … but Bean won’t have a
choice but to be with me until they are old enough to look after
themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But you do so just … just
stop it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m going to make Bean strong
enough so that what people call me won’t bother them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no need for you to have to be that
kind of strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So just … stop.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Stop
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Being
… weird … nice … you know what I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
isn’t natural for men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could hurt
yourself straining like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And stop
sitting by me like I need someone to protect me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve looked after me for a long time
now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I’ll look after Bean too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not looking to make any contract ever
again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t need you turning yourself
into some kind of stupid sacrificial lamb or whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They’re your family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t make me pay for your pain on top of all
the other pain that I know is coming and what has already passed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m … I’m sorry … about Alex I mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the way he is isn’t my fault … and I
can’t fix him either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got as much
as I can handle just fixing things for Bean.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Roman
got serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Thorn, you have to be the
only person in the world that thinks I give a rip about anything, least of all
Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that includes my family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s things you don’t know … all …” He
stopped and sighed deeply.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Look, I know
it is asking a lot for you to trust me but something has to be done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know how old you are and I don’t care
what Alex says, it does matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that
… that kid you’re carrying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are
family … my niece or nephew.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That
matters too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it is going to matter
to Dad and Mom and the rest of them as soon as they get over their shock and
accept it.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“But they won’t accept it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even you asked if Bean was really put there
by Alex.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">He
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“It’s going to take a
while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Let them get to know you …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“No.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Huh?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
said no.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That would just make it
worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m sorry I have to do this Roman
because even though you are a man I don’t want to hurt you; I guess I believe
that you’re different but this only makes things harder so here it is … Alex
wasn’t the first, he was just the last and I didn’t have any illusions about
him either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was just a customer and
that is all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve been a whore for … for
a long time … too long.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No, it wasn’t my
choice and no I’m not going to explain it to you so don’t bother asking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes the only thing that you can do with
the bad stuff is to throw it away and not go digging it back out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stop thinking about yesterday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Don’t worry about a tomorrow that may not
come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Survive today, it’s all you’ve
got.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s what I’m trying to do
for me.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
thought you were trying to find a safe place.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But there’s nothing like that out there for
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too much … look, this is about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You can’t make it right and you can’t fix me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m … I’m like that woman in that book …
Scarlet Letter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Only this isn’t some
story that tells a moral, it’s just life and life sucks for 99.9% of the
world’s population.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just want to give
Bean a chance to beat the odds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I
can’t do it if I have to worry about you screwing up your life trying to play …
whatever loopy part you’re trying to play.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’m not Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Snow White, Rapunzel, or anyone else that
needs rescuing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And this isn’t a fairy
tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m a whore and that is all anyone
is ever going to see me as.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So back
off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go back to your family where you
belong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ll … do whatever this thing is
that you think your family needs but … but then it is going to be time for me to
… to leave.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“But
you said …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“I
know what I said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m seeing it
isn’t possible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex has made it
impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My past makes it impossible.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I need to learn stuff so that I can take care
of Bean right and then …”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Then
what?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
don’t know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just know that whatever it
is I can’t just sit around waiting for someone else to find it for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve got to do this for myself … and for
Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And you need to go back to
whatever your</span> <span style="font-size: large;">life was before you found out about Bean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just no good for you to do anything
else.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-28677400363689316672014-08-08T17:15:00.001-07:002014-08-08T17:15:11.479-07:00Chapter 10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">After
the two men left I closed and locked the door like Roman had said.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I gotta tell you, it was the strangest
feeling to hold the key to a lock.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You’d
think it would have made me feel powerful but it made me a little freaked
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I would sit up to make
sure no one tried to get in but I fell asleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I woke up only because a big wind banged on the outside of the box and
startled me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
was definitely colder.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The fire had gone
out in the stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I looked around and
realized that there wasn’t any wood inside with me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to take my first act of our
self-preservation and unlocked the door and went outside and started bringing
in wood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I was out there the first
snowflakes started to fall and I started getting concerned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really got worried when I felt the muscles
start pulling and my down there started cramping.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I kept going for a few more minutes and then
just knew I couldn’t do any more.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
came back inside and then locked the door after making sure that there was
water in a water barrel near the stove.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’d seen Roman put something in it and realized from the smell that it
must have been bleach or something that smelled just like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I knew how to take care of that as we’d had
to do it at Mother Mary’s and I also got a ration of bleach from Emerald once a
week to put in the water barrel that I used.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I poured the water back and forth and the smell wasn’t quite as strong
and then after the stove heated back up I put what looked like a coffee pot on
it to heat the water.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">Then
I looked in the bag that Roman had kicked under the cot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I bypassed the stuff that looked like
coffee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For one it didn’t smell like I
remembered coffee smelling and for another I would have been slapped silly had
I ever dared to drink something so costly.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Next I pulled out these little bags that looked at first like they had
dirt and dried twigs in them until I recognize the “twigs” were actually dried
up vegetables.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought back to the few
times that Mother Mary had assigned me to kitchen duty and those memories sent
me back to my childhood.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Daisy,
why do the veggie tables look so funny?”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“Don’t
talk like a baby Cissa, you are getting too old for that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the vegetables don’t look funny, they’re
just dried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re running out of jars
and lids and new ones are too expensive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gramps made this thing called a dehydrator and says that drying them
will work just as well and we’ll be able to hide them better from the
revenuers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also takes a lot less
space to store dried food than in those glass jars.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“They
aren’t as pretty.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">“So?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We don’t eat food because it is pretty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You eat to fill your belly when you are
hungry and to stay healthy.”</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">The
memory faded out but I know what I was looking at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was the stuff that Roman had made that
soup the night we camped in the rain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
poured the dry stuff into a pot like I remember him doing and then when the
water came to a boil - and I let it boil long enough to make sure it didn’t
make us sick - I poured and stirred until I had a pot of soup for us to eat.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">It
didn’t taste like I remember from my childhood but it was fancy eating for sure
compared to what I’d gotten to eat for a long, long time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was so rich it almost made me sick.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve thinned it out since then and that’s
helped some.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I also found little
crackers that I could have eaten with the soup but I decided to be careful and
save the crackers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bread is expensive
and people are funny.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman said that I
was to use the food but that doesn’t mean he wants me to use all of the food.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">In
the box with the food were these books with no printing in them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And some pencils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I carefully took one book and two pencils. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had just decided that I needed to do
something for you and writing your story seemed like the right thing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remember my real mother, and my big sister
Daisy who was my second real mother, would always put down special things to
remember in what they called my baby book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Well I don’t have a fancy baby book for you and I haven’t a clue where
mine went so this is going to have to do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is the best I can do for you right now. </span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
know about how much these books cost as I helped Mother Mary with her bookkeeping
and she used something very similar to keep track of customer information, licensure
payments, house expenses, and nightly receipts; she also kept track of who she
paid bribes to, how much, and what she could use against them if need be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t want to do that but maybe having some
information on people will be useful to you so I’ll record what I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve counted out the right amount from my
stash and I will pay for the book and pencils.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ll pay for the food too if someone makes an issue of it. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s what I saved up for, so that we can
live without having to have a man – or another Mother Mary – give us everything
we need in exchange for something we don’t want to give.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I’ve
been sitting here off and on ever since except for when I sleep.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I seem to want to sleep a lot which does
worry me a little as I don’t know if it is normal or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again I always learned to sleep when I
could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You never know when your number
is going to come up.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";">I
still don’t know if Roman or anyone he sends will actually come for me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex can be slick when he wants something and
it sounds like he’s been giving me a real line about Roman from the start and I
fell for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Roman is no pushover but he
sure isn’t the ogre Alex made him out to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>And he also made him seem older somehow only it turns out that Alex is
the older one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And he sure as heck never
said anything about them being twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If
I had Alex for a brother he’d irritate me too, I can’t imagine having him as a
twin.</span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;">Maybe
I shouldn’t talk about him like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Alex put you in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But whoever
you come out to be, I promised you the truth and that’s the way things
stand.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex took part in making you but
he’ll never be your father; at least not if I have anything to say about
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s something twisted inside
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe it will untwist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe his family can make it untwist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I just don’t want you growing up with
that hanging over you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want you to
know what safe is and I don’t think that Alex is strong enough to give it to
you even if he was willing to try.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6337762360430463184.post-87124443431250356072014-08-07T14:15:00.000-07:002014-08-07T14:15:00.654-07:00Chapter 9<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikR1MNhL8QiW4c1Ae_2SO4nEnrcw5_tNniK5nQWTE8q_Wkzg3T2WOCLMbxYSYwxIMEicnlrwpiLExw3KRYqvTXQqeaWH_nyr_aAqCSnAX0Xc5MUPkr72pktd_49w629DT55sKbwR7JgmE/s1600/ChapterPic.png" height="80" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
was warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not the kind of warm you get
in the summer when you can’t get cool; the warm you are when you are cold and
there are finally enough sisters piled around you that the cold isn’t so bad
anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to take advantage of
it as I knew Mother Mary would be calling my number soon enough.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“You’re
an ass Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I had to undress her, she
was soaking wet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You had to turn it into
something sexual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No wonder she ran from
you.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“You
think I’m the only one she was running from?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>You think she sees you as some kind of guardian angel or savior?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trust me, the last thing that Thorn thinks of
men is as rescuers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she can take
care of herself.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“God,
that’s even worse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do you hear
yourself?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And how the hell old is she?!”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Huh?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“All
the make up is practically washed off and … dammit, how old is she?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“How
the hell am I supposed to know?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It never
came up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Does it matter?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously old enough.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
finally realized I wasn’t at Mother Mary’s and while it was a welcome
realization that didn’t mean I was much better off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was dark and I could hear rain but I
didn’t feel it anymore.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was also
warm.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem was that I was also
nude and after what I’d heard I’d been fully on display at some point.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
rolled over and tried to … honestly looking back I wasn’t sure what I was
grabbing for but Roman put something in my hands and it turned out to be my
bag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hugged it to me and I could literally
hear him swallow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You didn’t keep your
promise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You ran off.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
told you I wouldn’t go back to that life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that if someone tried
to make me I’d fight.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
wasn’t trying …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
glanced behind him and then pushed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
didn’t have much strength but I had enough to make him fall down where he’d
been balancing on his heels as he squatted beside the cot I was on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He narrowly missed being knocked out by
Alex’s fist that had been aimed at his head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Alex tried to follow through but Roman may not know much about people
but he does know how to fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was on
Alex in a second and it took no time for Roman to have Alex against the wall of
the room and really pummel him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But he
pulled back before he killed his brother and Alex slid to the floor.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
looked at him and sneered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Ass.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
turned around and I could see he was still furious and for a moment I thought
Roman would take what Alex did out on me but instead he picked up another
blanket and then looked at me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Can you
stand and get yourself dressed?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Think
so,” I muttered unsure where he was going with this.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“All
I can do is hold this blanket up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not
much privacy beyond that.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">From
the floor Alex chuckled snidely and said, “Trust me, she doesn’t need it and
wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>C’mon Baby, give us a show.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
just about took after again but I stopped him by saying, “Ignore it, I
will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was never this bad before.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not even when he was … bad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I think he is showing off for you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he wants you to beat on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Will it garner him any sympathy with your
father and brothers?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
went still and then sent a furious glare at Alex.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’d guessed right when Alex’s face turned
into a pout.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
sighed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Pathetic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What the hell has happened to you Alex?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
was free in the city.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now you are
dragging me back to that backwards hell on earth.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah,
you were free all right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Free to screw
up over and over without immediate consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fletcher has already reported what he found
in the books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why do you think I came to
get you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dad nixed David coming but he
wasn’t against Saul coming after you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
know what Saul said he was going to do?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
saw some fear on Alex’s face before Roman picked up the blanket and held it
up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I did my best to dress quickly but I
hurt, hurt like I’d been beat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I must
have made some noise because Alex said, “Damn, you sound like a pig.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re this fat now ...”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
little sensitive when I shouldn’t have been I snapped, “I’m not any bigger than
I’m supposed to be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Emerald said so.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“F***
that b****.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s another one that I
hope burns in hell.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
kept my mouth shut after that and just dressed the best way I could.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My pants won’t zip and my shirt is all
stretched out but at least all my skin in the middle where you are is
covered.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I tapped Roman’s shoulder and
said, “I’m dressed.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">He’d
had his eyes closed which almost made me smile.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Almost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There was a retarded kid
that would work for Mother Mary every once in a while and he was the same way
in the beginning but after a while he was just as eager to see skin as any
other guy and some of the girls were really bad about teasing him and making
him crazy.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“What’s
the look for?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Realizing
something must have shown on my face I said, “Nothing.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“No
it wasn’t but …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Damn
Roman … you haven’t looked at a woman since Patty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wait ‘til David hears you’re going soft for a
whore.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He cackled like he was
borderline crazy.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Whoever
Patty was, it was a sore spot for Roman as he froze.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When you are a whore you hear lots of stories
from men, most of them sad or angry; you get to know what to say to keep them
from getting mean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Calmly I told,
“Ignore him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All you were doing is
trying to prove your point about the men where you come from being different.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
looked at me and then looked away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You
need to wash your face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You still have
make up smeared all over it.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Alex
was determined to egg Roman on and the man didn’t seem to have enough sense to
see it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Oh, I forget you like ‘em young
and innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But trust me Bro, she
ain’t innocent.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman’s
arm bunched up and I could see the swing before it went in motion but I grabbed
his bicep before it could move.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
snapped his head around to look at me but I just stared calmly back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why I was trying to help the big
doofus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not like he can’t take care
of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But something about the way
Alex was acting bothered me.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Doofus
or not Roman seemed to finally get the message and he started ignoring Alex’s
behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then they started bickering
about who would stay and who would go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It is too stupid to record in this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They reminded me of when a couple of the
girls would get going at one another and not be able to stop.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mother Mary would step in, or worse she would
have Brian step in, and that would be the end of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’m not her or him and right now I’m not
able to fight them both at once.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I
left them to it.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">They
finally stopped for the night, both determined to leave first thing in the
morning so that they could have their side of the situation heard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I wouldn’t be going.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No way could I travel as fast as they wanted
to go riding pillion on a horse.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">Roman
stretched out in front of the door and Alex got this nasty look on his
face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When he turned that look on me I
decided to keep an eye on him in case he decided to do something crazy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I out lasted him – and in the morning I saw
his disgust as this fact – and he went to sleep first after staying awake a couple
of hours.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To make sure I levered myself
up onto to discover that Roman had been keeping one eye open as well.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">To
cover up being afraid, using hand signals I asked to go to the bathroom.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He escorted me outside after making sure Alex
couldn’t wake up and lock us out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I
was finished I came out of the bushes to find he had his back to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He turned like a snake though when he heard
the twig I stepped on snap.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a moment
I expected him to try something but it was a surprise when he didn’t.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What he did do was a bigger surprise.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I’ll
leave you what I can.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex and I can
feed ourselves on the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hopefully
it will only be two, maybe three, days before someone comes back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might not be me though.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If I’m not with them make sure they tell you
what the code is before opening the door.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Hmmm … the code will be … three hippos with five o’clock shadows.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
snorted an unexpected giggle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Uh …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">A
little chagrinned he said, “I know but … look it’s just a code, something not
easily guessed.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Sure,
if you say so.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I
do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And look … don’t wander around.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t think Alex will … double back … well
shit.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah,”
I told him having already thought the same thing myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And feeling more than a little irritated I
told him, “Geez, I don’t get Alex’s sudden damage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s almost like he is playacting being …
whatever he’s being.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the other hand
…watch your back.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“He’s
my brother.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">But
I heard the doubt in his voice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Like I
said, something is up with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
know him well enough to figure it out, I just know he is different. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe he was like this before, but not when he
was around me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He started off being such
a … I don’t know … such a wannabe.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“A
wannabe?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He had me for six months before … before
…”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped and shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It wouldn’t help my case to reveal too
much.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to keep some things to
myself because even though I had promised Alex not to blackmail him I will if
he threatens you.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wouldn’t enjoy going
back on my word but you come before anything else.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So I’m holding some things back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“He had me for six months before I got this
baby in me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Something happened that
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know it had to do with you,
with your family but that’s all I know.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Then he … he broke some rules and Emerald took it out of his hide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From there he just got stupid and told you
and your family that he got beat up by loan sharks but that’s not who beat him
up.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah
it was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I stopped them from beating him
a second time.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
stopped and looked close to see it was the truth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Then Alex has some other game going besides
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All I know is that … well he told me
he told you that it was a loan shark to keep you from finding out … that … that
…”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“That
he was keeping you?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Which I told him was stupid because you all
are men and wouldn’t freak out about that but that you would over a loan shark
and you proved me right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pressure of
being watched all the time … it made him … act …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“He
should have said something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Dad is
going to want to know about that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You
can’t untell it now.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">My
shoulders slumped.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But … I … I thought … Look, I don’t know
anything about a real loan shark.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
never said a thing about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He just
always blamed me for his budget problems.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Then
why didn’t you break it off?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">I
shook my head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“You don’t listen too
well do you?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He bought me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Had me under contract.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>From the moment they locked the door on that
condo you saw me in he owned me for the duration.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“You
were … locked in?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Yeah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s the way it is … was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Look, I’m tired and it’s cold out here …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“You
can’t get out of it that easy.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I’m
not trying to get out of anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
just don’t want to talk about it all night OK?”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Don’t
try that attitude with my Dad and David … especially not Saul.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Saul is … he’s …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“He’s
your enforcer?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Thanks for the warning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But I’ll
fight him too if he tries anything that will hurt the baby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It didn’t do anything wrong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I won’t just sit there and let …”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Whoa,
that’s not what I mean.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Maybe
it isn’t what you mean but I’m not stupid.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I’ve seen too many men say they are one thing until suddenly they are
another.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alex is like that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is just revealing more and more of
himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I thought I had seen the worst
of him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Makes you wonder what else there
is.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it does make me wonder but it
made Roman finally shut up and let me go back inside.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">They
didn’t leave until mid-morning because they had to wait for the trail to dry up
some and because they were fighting over leaving me any supplies.</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“Oh
for gawd sake Roman!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You know what those
supplies could bring in the city?!”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC";"><span style="font-size: large;">“I’m
not leaving a woman to possibly starve and that’s final.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you don’t shut up I’ll hog tie you and
then throw you over the saddle and we’ll arrive in real style and damn the
consequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care if Mom and
Gran do love you best.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t care if
you were born fifteen minutes before I was.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Frankly right now I don’t give too much of a damn about you at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now get on the damn horse and shut the hell
up.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: large;"><o:p> </o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="color: black; font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Viner Hand ITC"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black;">Twins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I never would have known.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And Alex is the older one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I realized right then that this whole
situation was turning out to be way more complicated than necessary.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
Kathy in FLhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08161351589637201127noreply@blogger.com0