And Along Came Jake (4 page)

Jake chuckled and grabbed a small wicker hand-basket to shop. He remembered Madison and her love for chocolate, so he grabbed a couple chocolate bars, some canned goods, a few bottled sodas and some other small items, hoping it would last a few days.

Jake confidently walked up to the register, placed his basket on the counter, and gave Smitty a wink. Smitty glared back as he began ringing the items.

"That will be one dollar and thirty cents." Smitty said.

"But I only got a dollar twenty!" he said, displaying his money on the counter.

"Tough kid. Looks like you need to put something back then, maybe one of those chocolate bars?" He said laughing.

"I don't know Smitty; maybe this can of beans." he said, shoving it to the side.

"Well, if you had a job, you wouldn't have to put anything back, you bum. Now take your things and get out of my store!"

Jake shrugged his shoulders, chuckled, grabbed his groceries, and headed back to the old barn. It was about three in the afternoon when Jake arrived back at his hideout. As he walked inside, he was pleasantly surprised to find Madison and her dog Toby, sitting inside; she held two small cupcakes in her hands.

"Hi Jake. I brought us some snacks!" She quickly stood up and showed him the treats. "See," she continued, as she held them straight out in front of her.

"Thanks Madison, I'm starving, and those look great!" He said.

"Hey Jake, I wanted to say I'm sorry about what happened this morning after the storm." she said, as the two sat down and began to eat.

"After the storm?" He asked in a puzzled voice, pretending not to know what she meant.

"You know, the kiss on your cheek. Just forget about it, okay?" She said blushing and looking down on the ground.

"Okay Madison, sure, no worries!" He agreed, knowing despite his feelings, he must play along.

Jake wiped his sticky fingers on his trousers, and stuck out his right hand for a handshake. "Friends?" he asked.

"Yes, friends!" She said as they shook hands.

The tension seemed to subside, as Jake and Madison went back to joking as usual.  "Here you go!" He said taking out the chocolate bars. "I got one for you today, when I went to town."

Madison immediately furrowed her brow, twisted her mouth to the side and put her hands on her hips, knowing he must have stolen them.

"Don't worry Maddie, I paid for em'!" He said giggling.

"So…" She smiled as she took the chocolate. "You're calling me Maddie now, huh?"

"Well…" Jake replied "If it's okay with you?"

"Yes, that's fine. I like it, it's kinda cute—Maddie." She repeated again trying to conceal a full smile.

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They must've lost track of time; it was now seven p.m. and Madison's parents were out looking for her. She was always told not to wander too far from home, and never to go to that old spooky barn.

"I bet she went looking for that stupid dog again!" Mr. Brierly said to his wife. He grabbed his shotgun, "I'll be back soon, I'm gonna go find that girl!"

"Go easy on her Nate." Mrs. Brierly said, rubbing her husband's back. "She's probably just out exploring, that's all."

"Yeah, that's what I'm afraid of!" exclaimed Mr. Brierly, kissing his wife's cheek and grabbing his hat.

"Be careful Nate. It's getting dark out!" She yelled, cupping her hands around her mouth.

After searching for a few minutes with no luck, Mr. Brierly was about to ask his wife to help, when all of a sudden he spotted a faint orange glow in the distance. It appeared to be coming from the old deserted barn.

"Madison Brierly!"
He thought
"How many times have I told you not to go to that old barn; let alone build a camp fire in it!"
He shook his head, and started making his way towards the orange light.

As he neared the old barn, he could hear Madison talking to someone.
"Madison Nichole Brierly!"
He thought, as he grit his teeth together,
"You'd better be talking to that dog of yours!"

he flung the barn door open, startling both Jake and Madison, who's mouths and eyes were wide open; Mr. Brierly's face turning beet red.

"Madison!" He shouted, as he took off his belt. "Get your dog and go back to the house now! I'll take care of you later, me and Jake need to have a little talk!"

Madison started to plead with her father, but her words were instantly cut short. "Get to the house girl!" He demanded. "I'm not gonna tell you again!"

"I'm sorry Jake, I'm so sorry!" She cried as she grabbed Toby and ran back to the house as fast as she could, tears streaming down her face.

Mr. Brierly paced back and forth in the barn, his face still red, his lips curled in tightly to his teeth, while breathing so deeply, it's a wonder he didn't pass out.

"What have you done to my little girl, Jake Patterson?" He huffed, pointing his index finger in Jake's face.

"N-N-Nothin' sir!" Jake said terrified, his body shaking like a leaf. "W-W-We were just talkin' that's all. Honest Mr. Brierly, just talkin'."

"Boy!" Mr. Brierly snapped. "I'm gonna teach you a lesson you won't ever forget!"

Then with death in his eyes, he was ready to whip Jake with his belt, and while walking towards the frightened boy, he quickly looking around the barn. Puzzled by what he saw, he put the belt down.

"What the heck happened in here?" He asked in a stern voice. "Who fixed this place up?"

"I did, sir." Jake repled trembling. He was now curled up in a ball, with his arms covering his head.

"Stand up boy!" said Mr. Brierly. He grabbed him by the arms to help him up. "I ain't gonna hit ya! You're tellin' me you fixed up the Beven's old barn, huh?"

"You know about Todd Beven?" Jake questioned, slowly regaining his composure.

"Of course I know about Todd Beven!" He said, chuckling "He was quite the hero. There are some newspaper clippings around here somewhere, but I guess you've already seen em', huh?"

"Yes sir." He responded, staring down at the ground.

"Well son, I've got to hand it to you. You sure did fix this place up right!" He exclaimed.

"Now listen here Jake Patterson!" Mr. Brierly started, furrowing his brow, remembering he should be angry. "If I find out you so much as laid a finger on my little girl, I'll––"

Mr. Brierly's lecture was cut short, as Jake's stomach made an awfully loud growling sound. "Boy, was that your stomach?" He asked, making a funny face.

"Yes sir!" Jake said, putting both hands on his stomach to try and hide the embarrassing sound.

"Come on boy!" Mr. Brierly took off his hat, scratched the top of his head, and took a deep breath. "Let's go back to the house and get you some proper food. After that, you need to get on your way, and never come back here again!"

Jake didn't say a word, just nodded and silently walked with Mr. Brierly back to the house. As the two walked, Mr. Brierly was insistent on telling Jake the story of how his father bought their land for such a great price.

<><><> 

When Mr. Brierly and Jake walked through the front door, the first thing they saw was Madison sobbing on the couch with her mother by her side. Seeing that Jake was still alive, she quickly wiped the tears from her face, and tried to hide any evidence that she'd been crying. Mrs. Brierly stood up and put her hands on her hips.

"Nate Brierly!" She said. "For the love of Pete, why on earth have you brought this filthy boy into our beautiful home? Now I'll have to scrub this place from top to bottom." Jake's eyes moved from Mr. Brierly then at Madison, who were both beginning to crack a smile.

"Nate!" she called, frustration in her voice. "May I see you in the kitchen?—excuse us children, Nate...NOW!"

Mr. Brierly followed his wife into the kitchen, and the two discussed Jake staying for dinner. As they quietly bickered Jake walked over to the couch and sat next to Madison. They snickered while listening to her parents whisper their arguments back and forth. After a few minutes, Mr. and Mrs. Brierly returned.

"So it's settled!" Mr. Brierly said, clearing his throat. "Jake will be joining us for dinner, then he'll get his things, and leave.

"Well," Mrs. Brierly threw her hands in the air. "I suppose I'll take out another one of my good plates for this little hoodlum. I can't serve dinner with a mixed matched set, now can I?"

"Everything's gonna be okay, dear."  Mr. Brierly said, grinning.

Mrs. Brierly stormed out of the living room and into the kitchen, mumbling to herself how she never thought she would have to serve such a boy as Jake Patterson.

"Madison, honey!" Her father said, as he knelt down beside her. "I'm sorry for yelling like that, but I was so angry that you would do such a thing, without telling your mother or I. It makes me wonder what else you've done behind our backs." He stood up, pointed at her and continued "Madison Nichole Brierly, because you have violated our trust, you're grounded for the next week, and your chores will be doubled for that time period. Do I make myself clear?"

"Pa, I never––."

"Do I make myself clear?" He repeated, raising his voice.

"Yes Pa, I understand, but––"

"Madison! We're done talking about this, Jake's gonna have a proper supper with us, then take his belongings from the old barn and leave. Ain't that right Jake?"

"Yes Mr. Brierly." Jake answered in a low voice.

"Dinners on the table, come and get it!" Mrs. Brierly announced.

The four quietly sat down at the table, and started to pass the food around. It was awkward at the dinner table, as Jake and Madison began to slowly pick at their food, eating little bites here and there. Mr. and Mrs. Brierly ate in total silence, both giving Jake an evil eye every now and again.

"So, tell us Jake." Mr. Brierly finally said, breaking the silence. "Where did you learn to fix things? You did a good job in that old barn."

"I donno." He shrugged and continued playing with his food, keeping his eyes on his plate. "From my dad, I guess."

"Tell us Jake…" Mrs. Brierly scoffed "What of your parents? They must be extremely ashamed of you. Wait until I tell your father the horrible things you've done!"

"You can't tell my father, Mrs. Brierly." He said softly, as he inspected his fork.

"Don't tell me what I can and can't do, young man!" She exclaimed, adjusting her posture. "I most certainly can, and I most certainly will be telling your father once I find out who and where he is!"

"No ma'am, you can't." He shook his head and continued playing with his food.

"And why not, may I ask?" her agitation increased with each response.

"Because," he said, now looking her straight in the eye, "because he's dead, Mrs. Brierly. My father's dead."

An instant silence fell over the dinner table, as Mrs. Brierly looked down at her food, quickly mixing her mashed potatoes with her peas.

"Well, I'm sorry. Jake—I didn't know." Her voice lowered.

"It's okay, he died about two years ago."

"And your mother?" She asked in a more sincere voice "Is she—you know?"

"My mother's still alive, but she's not well." He replied, already well aware of the direction of the conversation.

"Is she sick?" she inquired.

"You may as well tell em' Jake!" Madison said, "or they'll never stop asking questions."

"Madison Nicole Brierly!" Her mother exclaimed as she lightly slapped her on the hand.

"Well, it's true Ma!" Madison said rubbing the sting.

Jake sighed, shoved his plate away, began fidgeting with his hands and proceeded to tell them about his father's death, as well as his mothers present condition.

"Well," he began, "next week will be two years since my father died. He was a master builder, and he'd often bring me to work with him. One day, he was working on a roof that had to be completed in a hurry. I was in school that day, my mother was home getting ready to bring him lunch. When Ma got to the job site, she could see a group of people huddled around someone lying motionless on the ground. Fearing the worst, she dropped my Pa's lunch pail, running over toward the commotion. One of my father's co-workers saw my mother running and stopped her just before she could get a clear view. He told her, her husband had fallen from the roof and cracked his head on some building materials that were scattered about. At that exact moment, my mother completely lost it, and kinda went crazy; she wouldn't eat, sleep, or could barely do much of anything. She started drinking a lot, and everything continued downhill from there. I stayed with her for about a year, but she got to a point where she stopped caring for me, and didn't seem to want anything to do with me anymore. That's why I ran away, and came to Blackwater all alone. I've been here a year or so, sleeping where I can, getting food any way I'm able, and trying to go to school for some sort of education."

Jake picked his head up, to see tears streaming down both Madison and Mrs. Brierly's faces. He also noticed Mr. Brierly's eyes beginning to water. Mrs. Brierly immediately changed her demeanor, and wiped her eyes.