Working With Cedar: The Early Years, page 10
“Helmsley figured that’d be your take. He’s down at quartermaster’s waiting for me ta come with authorization for supplies; said he’s ready to travel all night if need be. I reckon ya just gave the authorization, so I’m hurrying on over there… Given your leave?”
I wave for him to go. “Hurry. Tell Helmsley to let Jimmy know I don’t blame him for what happened.”
Nate says, “I’m going with Helmsley. I’ll tell Jimmy myself. Tell him I’m carrying it straight from your mouth.”
Nate goes to leave, but turns back to say, “Peggy said ya’d better bring your limply ass down ta the supper she’s holding for you.” He paused and then added, “I hate ta lay weight on the load you’re carrying, but I ought’a tell ya, Alice is over there and she ain’t doing none too good.”
I reply, “She went to Finger Town to stay with friends. When did she come back?”
“Been ‘bout an hour or so, ago. She told Peggy she couldn’t stay that far from you. Told her you’re the only one she loves aside from Jess. I’ll warn ya, she’s not looking good. Her eyes are red’ern yours.”
Then Nate says, “Helmsley’s waiting, I got ta go.”
I call to his back an unanswered question. “Jess’s body?”
Turning, he spoke from where he stood. “We looked all around the gangs place. It wasn’t nowhere there. The gang members we captured yesterday weren’t with the ones that caught him. They didn’t know where the gang killed Jess. Believe me, they would’ve told us before we killed em.”
Brutal, but honest truth he gave and I appreciate it. “Thank you Nate.”
The funeral isn’t until two tomorrow. That in mind, I leave the last box until morning and go to the kitchen. Alice is at a table. Approaching her, I see Nate’s assessment was generous. Always on the thin side, slumped in her chair, head lying on folded arms, she looks shrunk, diminished.
I take an adjacent seat and touch her shoulder. She rouses, sees it is I, and grabs the hand.
“I knew you’d come.”
I see Peggy coming with a tray and wave her off. Using my free hand to stroke Alice’s head, I say, “Always.”
She raises her head from the table to sit up. “Do you still believe in God?”
“Never once said I believe in God. I believe in a creator.”
“What’s the difference? Betty and Jess and Billie are dead.”
“The difference is the biblical God would have the blame for what happened. My creator, the entity or force that made our universe and the beautiful planet we live on had nothing to do with what happened. Give the blame to where it’s due. Humans killed the ones we love.”
“You don’t believe in heaven?”
“Not in the biblical sense, I believe our life force will endure in some manner.
She snorts and then begins crying, sobs wracking her frail frame. I stand and pull her to her feet into my embrace. My tears flow and dampen her hair. “Honey, we are hurt worse than ever before. Our souls burnt and our hearts broken by the loss of them, but they wouldn’t want us weakened. We’ll find the strength to stand up straight and see them off. You know they’d hurt the same if the gate swung the other way, but they were so strong in life, and if still here you know they would stand tall to their duty. We’ll do no less.”
Alice whispered, “You’ll have to be my cane to lean on. I’ve never had such strength.”
I move my head from hers and lift her chin to see her face. “That is a lie. You were beside your mother and father as they lay dying from their wounds. Heroes they were fighting side by side during the three-week siege on your daddy’s farm … After the final battle, your mother, for three horrible days trying to breathe with punctured lungs. Your father, vowing to hang on to see her buried. You, holding him to his feet beside the grave though he was nearly dead from infected guts. Not a tear did you shed until they both lay at rest.
Alice whispered. “Jess was… Jess was my heart, my soul.”
I whisper to her, “Jess, my son, your husband. Betty was my heart, my soul.”
“Betty was your wife.”
“She was the best part of me.”
“Can I stay at your house tonight? I need to know you’re close.”
“Of course you can.” Once again, I wave Peggy and the tray away. I take Alice’s hand and we leave. Food for the body is easy. Food that fortifies and strengthens the spirit exists in the beauty of nature and inside the hearts of those who love you. Supper I can skip.”
Late that night she comes to my bed and crawls under the covers to snuggle against my back. “Tell me a story.”
She hasn’t awakened me. I’ve laid, eyes closed, reliving special times with Betty. Without moving, I ask, “You want a ‘Once upon a Time’?”
She butts my shoulder with her head. “No. Tell me our story. The one before we came here.”
IN THE PAST
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
JUNE 2023
Sam shoveled the dirt over his mother. The first shovel loads he delivered gently, and then he began crying. He turned to Nash and said, “I told you, I’ve got this. Would you mind wandering around and give me some privacy?”
Nash’s response was immediate. “I’m sorry. Call me when you’re ready.” Nash left Sam to his grievous task and decided to explore the woods bordering the pasture.
Though there was a full canopy of limbs overhead, the trunks of the trees were in evenly spaced lines. Nash knew the leafy trees weren’t pine. He had no idea what a pecan tree should look like, but staring hard at the lofty branches he barely discerned small green knobs growing on them.
In the direction he walked, the forest of nut trees wasn’t wide, but the line of trees stretched to where the land rose and then dipped, obscuring a true picture of the grove’s size.
Not wanting to stray far from the gravesite, he crossed the narrow dimension. On the far side, the property was fenced with barbed wire attached to slim metal posts to contain cattle. Nash counted twenty-two black cows with white markings.
He decided to walk the fence line toward the road. He hadn’t walked more than a couple hundred feet when he heard Sam call his name. Thinking there was no way Sam had already finished moving so much dirt, he hurried back to find Sam leaning on his shovel, the hole indeed filled.
Sam took his weight from the shovel, held it for Nash to take and bent for his shirt. Pulling it over his head, he said, “Grab the pick and hang the tools how you found them. I’ll meet you at the house.
Nash held up his injured hand. “The tools I can handle but I’d appreciate it if you’d drive the jeep over.”
Sam nodded, “Keys in it?”
Nash nodded.
Sam said, “In that case, I’ll use your jeep to bring Glenda and Alice over here so we can say goodbye to Gail. Just wait for us at the house.”
Carrying the pick and shovel with one hand, Nash made the long walk to the tool shed attached to the barn. Sam and his family pulled away from the house as he approached.
In the house, he found Betty sitting at a round breakfast table inside the spacious kitchen. She had a steaming cup of coffee in front of her. She waved to a matching cup on the opposite side of the table.
Nash sat and reached for the container of creamer.
Betty motioned to his cup, “I didn’t know how you took it.”
“One creamer and two sugars. How about you?”
She smiled, “Thank you for asking. Just one sugar.”
He smiled in return. “I’ll remember that. How is Glenda’s leg?”
Betty took a sip from her cup. “Easy treatment. The bullet went through her calve. There was some venous bleeding, but a single stitch on each hole along with a pressure bandage took care of that. I gave her antibiotics to fight infection. You’re due for another dose. Don’t let me forget.”
Betty paused and then said, “Nash, we lucked out. These are wonderful people. I talked with Glenda about the possibility of us staying. It seems you did some talking of your own to Sam. We’ve a place here.”
Relief ran through him. Nash laid his spoon on the napkin beside his cup. “Yeah, I did some talking. You’re right about them being nice. It really galls me not to be able to do a fair share of the work a place this size requires. Sam told me they have over four-hundred-fifty acres. Even without my injuries, Sam can run circles around me.”
Betty said, “You have no idea. The land comes from Glenda’s side of the family. Her mom and dad are dead; head-on collision with a drunk. Sam’s family owns a feed store in Sparta. He works there on Saturdays.”
“How does he manage all that?”
Betty shrugged. “I think people living in the country work harder at physical labor and are simply stronger than us city dwellers. Glenda told me she has to harvest and can tomatoes tomorrow. I offered to help and asked how many tomatoes she was canning. She said she hoped to get two bushels in jars by noon. I asked her, how much a bushel is. She showed me an empty bushel basket on the back porch. A bushel of tomatoes is huge.”
Remembering how deep Sam could bury the pick into clay, Nash said, “No doubt they’re stronger. Just thinking about working with him is intimidating.”
Betty smiled. “You’re already in good physical shape. You’ll bulk up in no time. Oh…, there is one thing. We can’t share a bed. Against their rules. Glenda said she’ll have Sam drive us over to Jewell to the church they attend and have the pastor there marry us proper.”
Nash sputtered a mouthful of coffee back into the cup he’d just picked up. “What?”
Betty holding her phone facing him, burst with laughter. “I timed that perfect. I can’t wait to print the picture.”
Nash wasn’t amused. “Don’t kid around like that.”
Betty shook her head. “The picture was fun, but the marriage thing is for real. If you remember, I sort of proposed to you earlier today. I put off your answer, but I’m ready for it now.”
Nash shook his head in confusion. “Just like that?”
Betty frowned, and asked, “Is that a ‘No’?”
“No. I mean, yes. Jeez, Betty, this is cold. Where’s the romance.”
“Okay then, do it proper. Down on one knee and ask for my hand.”
Nash decided to get even. “No, no. You proposed to me. You need to do it right.”
“You want me to—?”
“Exactly; Down on one knee and do it proper.”
“You think I won’t do it?”
Nash smiled and said, “I’m waiting.”
Betty gave him a bemused look and then stood from her chair. Reaching for his hand, she said, “Nash darling, I have something to ask you.”
Holding his hand, she lowered herself to one knee. “When I first saw you, I thought, “Damn, he’s handsome, but it wasn’t love at first sight. I don’t know when I fell in love, but it was before we kissed, and boy, did that kiss seal it. You said you could see ‘forever in my eyes’. I see ‘forever’ too… Nash, will you be my husband?”
Nash tried to reply, but emotion choked him. He managed the words on his second try. Staring into her eyes, the words became fact. “Forever starts now. Yes, I will be your husband.”
Betty sprang to her feet, pulling Nash from his chair as she did. “Hot Damn, I done got me a man. Kiss me again, cowboy.”
The Wilkins family returned to find them with their arms stretched across the table holding hands. Sam went to the kitchen sink to wash his hands.
Glenda stopped by the table to speak to them. “Gail’s sailing on death’s wings. I hope God appreciates the gift she is.”
“God knows,” Sam called over his shoulder. “She’s probably rearranging his house as we speak. Mama knows how to make her presence known.”
“Don’t I know it?” Glenda said. “She called me farmer gal. She’d say, “Now this is my area, leave this old lady be and get on about your business, Farmer Gal.”
Sam replied in good nature, “She did rule the roost and leave us free to work the place.”
Betty found Glenda’s eyes. “We’ll need that ride to church.”
“Oh?”
Betty couldn’t wait. She released Nash’s hands and fished her phone from her bag. “Come look.” Glenda crossed the kitchen to her. “I took this the moment I told him we were going to get married.”
Glenda looked at the picture, burst out laughing and said, “Sam, you have to see this.”
Alice said, “I want to see.”
Nash grinned at their amusement at his expense. “It’s a funny picture, but I got the last laugh.”
Glenda turned to him, “Oh yeah, top this picture.”
Betty said, “He made me get on my knee and ask him.”
Sam slapped his thigh. “Ha! That’s a, one-up, for the books.”
Nash stood. “Don’t we have some cattle to let loose?”
Sam sobered. “Yes we do and they’ve waited long enough. When I saw your jeep at the house, I parked the livestock in the field so I could sneak up on you. If we take your jeep, will you be able to drive back?”
“I can if you park it so I don’t have to worry about backing up. One-handing the steering wheel with the trailer attached is hard.”
Sam said, “I’ll go you one better. We’ll leave your trailer in the barn.”
Glenda interjected herself into the conversation. “Hold on. Unhitch it out front. There are medicines and other gear that need special storage. I imagine penicillin and such need a cool place. Our root cellar will serve well enough for that.” Looking toward Betty for affirmation, “Am I correct?”
“To extend their shelf life, yes.”
“Betty and I will unload and store their supplies, incorporate them with ours. Alice can watch the drive through the front window. Alert us if any stranger drives up.”
“What about my school assignments?” Alice asked. “We were reading history when Granma began acting mean. That was this morning, and now—.”
Glenda interrupted Alice, mid-complaint. “The day is young yet.” Then, speaking to Nash and Betty, “We homeschool.”
Using the driveway, Sam drove from the farm and turned left onto the road. Moments later, he turned right onto a short graveled spot in front of a wide set of metal gates made from pipe. A heavy chain and lock secured them.”
Inside the gates sat a huge Ford pickup truck with an enclosed trailer with slatted sides hitched to it. Stepping from the jeep, Nash heard the cattle inside the trailer mooing and shuffling about.
Sam said, “”Seventy-six acres of our land is on this side of the road. The way things are with all sorts of desperate people fleeing the cities; heck, even some folks around here are going to get desperate mighty soon, I don’t see us able to guard livestock on both sides of the road. I’m going to take these over to the sixty fenced acres on the other side of the pecans. I’ll round up the rest in this pasture and move them there too.”
“How many cows do you have?” Nash asked.”
“Forty-two. Twenty-six of them fatted-out and ready for auction.”
“What do you need me to do?”
“I can handle moving the cows. I’m worried about leaving the women and my daughter by themselves. You said you have weapons. Are you any good with em?”
“I’m a fair shot.”
Reaching in his pocket for a ring of keys on a chain attached to his belt, Sam said, “Let’s check you out. There’s a rifle in my truck.” He unlocked the gates and swung them wide.
Nash followed him to his pickup and waited for him to remove a non-scoped rifle from the rack visible through the rear windshield.
Sam pointed to a short utility pole over a hundred feet from where the stood. “This is a thirty-aught-six my daddy gave me before he died. Best deer rifle I’ve ever owned. Do you see that metal box attached to the pole? See if you can hit it.”
“If I hit it, won’t that cause a problem?”
“Naw. I had a man who worked for me for a couple of years. He had that temporary set to power his trailer. I had the line taken down when he left.”
Nash took the proffered rifle and held it up, searching for the safety. Sam noticed and said, “Man, I forgot about your bad hand. She’s bolt action.”
Nash held out the rifle and said, “I can fire it. Get it ready for me.”
Sam worked the bolt and passed it back to him. Nash raised his left arm to rest the barrel on it. Aligning the open sights so the bead rested in the V, he exhaled as he squeezed the trigger. The rifle fired before he expected it to.
Sam said, “Almost dead center on the cover. Good shot, man.”
Nash thanked him for the compliment and said, “Your rifle has a light trigger pull. That doesn’t bother you?”
“Naw, I’m used to it. You’re the only person besides me that’s fired it since daddy gave it to me… Say, do you think you can hit the box with your pistol.”
Nash shook his head. “My little ‘nine’ isn’t for distance.”
“Aw, go ahead, pop off a couple rounds.”
Nash shrugged and removed his pistol from its holster. Resting his pistol hand on his injured arm was more awkward than the rifle.
His hand throbbed. He needed another painkiller but was reluctant to show any sign of weakness in front of Sam. He fired once, saw wood fly from the side of the pole inches above the box, adjusted his aim and fired again.”
“Whoa, man, I can’t believe you hit that with your baby gun. I hope you have a bigger pistol than that … Something that will drop a man in his tracks.”
“Betty and I confiscated pistols and rifles from the gang that killed my friend and stole the supplies we had.”
That grabbed Sam’s attention. “Rifles? Any AR’s with them. It won’t hurt us to have some semiautomatics.
Nash nodded, “Several AR’s and six shotguns, all ‘twelve’s’ except for one ‘twenty’.
“You’re the gift that keeps on giving.” Sam glanced in the direction of his home, hidden by trees. “You know what? We probably scared the heck out of the girls shooting the guns. Take the jeep back to the house. Tell Glenda what I’m doing.”
