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Authors: Marlene Mitchell

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BOOK: Bent Creek
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The day after they arrived back at Nevers, Jesse barely had time to catch his breath. The truck was already packed and ready to go up the mountain early the next morning.  Nevers said they would be gone for two nights.  To comfort Jesse, Rachael made some extra biscuits and a big piece of fat back, which she wrapped in a napkin and stuck in his sack.  If he had to suffer through another trip at least he wanted to have something to eat and something to keep him warm. He just had to make sure that Nevers had no idea that he brought food along.

“Git yer ass in the truck, boy.  We ain’t got all day,” Nevers yelled from the yard. Jesse slowly trudged outside and gave Rachael a limp wave goodbye.

Settling into the front seat, Jesse slumped down and closed his eyes.

“What’s that smell?” Nevers said sniffing the air. “I smell bacon. You got bacon on you,
boy?”

“Naw, I jest et a piece fore I came out the door.”

“Well you jest better make sure you don’t bring food.  I told you them varmints would be after you like flies on horse crap.”

 

As soon as the truck was out of sight, Lily threw her arms around Rachael’s neck. “Oh, please, don’t ever leave me alone agin. Not even for one day. You don’t know how many times I almost talked.  I hate him.  I hate him so much I want him dead. He had me doin’ the deed twice a day since we had the house tah ourselves. I hate him, Rachael. I’ve been tryin’ tah stay out of his way while you were gone. I done cleaned this house every which way and over agin.”

Rachael pried Lily’s arms loose.  “Okay, I’m back so you can rest for a spell. What would you like tah do today?”
What Lily was going through was too much for anyone tah handle.

“I want to go tah Lynch and go tah the picture show. That’s what I want tah do. Nevers said he was gonna be gone at least two nights.”

“I swear, Lily, you must be teched.  We can’t leave. Besides we don’t have no money and no way to get tah Lynch. That’s a long way away. Besides, if Nevers found out he would beat both of us silly.”

“I got money, Rachael. I got fifty cents. Them two quar
ters fell out of Nevers pants one night when he was getting undressed and when he was asleep I took em.  The show only costs about a dime and I ain’t never been tah a movie, have you, Rachael?”

“No! And we ain’t going today.”

“Then I’ll go by myself.  I’ll walk down the road and wait til somebody comes by and then I’ll hitch a ride tah Lynch. I’ll go tah the show and be home afore dark. You comin’ or not?”

Rachael looked at Lily and suddenly she knew that the life Lily was leading was closing in around her. Living with Nevers was taking its toll on Lily. If she ever faced him down he may really hurt her. “Okay, I’ll go, but if we get caught we are gonna be real sorry.”

Lily began tah jump up and down and squeal.  “Oh, I’m going tah the show, a real movie show.  Oh, I can’t wait.” Then suddenly she stopped and her mood changed.  “What am I thinkin’ about? I can’t go.  I ain’t got no shoes to wear.  Nevers done took them agin. You can’t git into the picture show without shoes.”

“But, he didn’t take mine,” Rachael said.  “I got these I got on and another old pair that are jest bout ready tah be pitched. They got holes in the bottom but that don’t matter none. We’ll stuff some paper in them.”  She ran to the bedroom and pulled the ragged shoes from under the bed.

Lily squeezed her feet into them just like one of Cinderella’s sisters trying on the glass slipper.  “They hurt, but I don’t care. Let’s go.”

Lily took the shoes off and carried them until they reached the road. “Somebody’s bound tah come by soon. Let’s make up our story right now, okay?”

Rachael thought a moment and then spoke.  “I’ll say that yer ailin’ and you need tah see a doctor in Lynch.  So you got tah act sick, Lily. Maybe cough once in a while.”

“I kin sure do that,” she replied.

The two girls walked about half a mile when they heard the sound of a grinding motor coming down the road.  Rachael stood close to the edge of the road and began to wave her hand up and down.

The truck came to
a bumpy stop just a few feet from them. The driver ducked his head and peered at the two girls.

“Oh, my God, it’s Billy Tate,” Rachael said in a whis
per. “Jest our luck. Pretend like yer stomach is hurtin’. Double over or gag or somethin’.”

“Well, I’ll be damn, Rachael Riley.  What you doin’ walkin’ down this here road? Yer a far piece from home ain’t you?” Billy said.

“I’m livin’ at the Bains place now.  I’m helpin’ out round the house. Look, I got Nevers’ wife, Lily, with me. She ain’t well. I really need tah get her to the doctor in Lynch. Nevers is out trappin’ right now. Can you take us as far as yer goin’? She really needs tah see the doctor.”

Billy smiled. “Sure, I kin. Matter a fact I’m on my way tah Lynch myself. You git in and I’ll have you thar real soon.’

Billy leaned over the seat and opened the door. “You better sit next tah me, Rachael. It ain’t proper for me tah sit next tah a married woman.” Rachael slid in next to Billy trying to keep a space between them, but with three in the front seat, she was crammed up next to him. He reached over and patted her leg. “Now, you jest relax.”

“That a fact, Lilly can’t speak a word?” he said looking over at Lily.

“It’s a fact,” Rachael replied.  She shoved his hand off of her leg. She wanted to slap his face, but she also wanted to get to Lynch. She cringed and squeezed up next to Lily who was pushed against the door.

“Why ain’t you nice tah me, Rachael?  What I ever done tah make you not like me so much?”

Rachael rolled her eyes.  “Well, fer one thang yer pushy and yer just one rung up from where I am now.  I want tah get tah the top of the ladder. I want tah make somethin’ of myself.”

“Aw, go on. You ain’t never leavin’ the hollow.  Yer stuck here jest like the rest of us.  Besides I ain’t got no idée why yer livin’ at Nevers’ house. He’s a mean, old bastard.”

“That’s my business,” she replied.  “He’s as mean as a skunk, but every once in awhile he shows a little good side.  It’s like whoever made him so ornery and nasty never really finished the job. Now you jest be quiet and drive.”

 

Thirty minutes later the truck stopped on Main Street in Lynch. “You girls need a ride home?  I got some business, but I reckon I should be done in a couply hours.  You want me tah wait fer you?”

“No, that’s okay. We’ll be jest fine,” Rachael said as she bounded out of the truck and onto the sidewalk.  “Thanks for the ride, Billy.”

Lily and Rachael crossed the street and walked slowly until they were sure that Billy was gone.  When they turned the corner the marquee of the Lynch Theater was right in front of them.

Lily walked up to the window and bought two tickets. Handing one to Rachael they walked into the theater and found a seat right in front. When the movie started they both sat there grinning from ear to ear.  It was like a miracle. There they were, the giant faces of Norma Shearer and Chester Morris starring in The Divorcee.

When the movie was over, Lily just could not stop smiling. It had been the most wonderful experience she had ever had. Rachael took her hand and they walked outside the theater. “Can you believe it, Lily?  We done saw a real movie.”

“This is the best day of my whole life and I ain’t never goin’ tah ferget it.” They walked in silence for a few minutes. “That’s what I want tah be, Rachael.  I want tah be a divorcee like the lady in the movie. Alls she did was ask the judge and he gave her a paper and she was free tah do what she wanted.  Do you think I could do that, Rachael?”

“I ain’t real sure about that, Lily.  I think that’s somethin’ only rich people kin do.” Still lost in the movie it took a loud honk to bring them back to reality.  It was Billy Tate again. He was sitting in his truck right in front of them.  He stepped out onto the sidewalk, blocking their way. “Well, I guess Mrs. Bains must have had a good recovery since you went tah the movies.”

“Yeah, she’s much better now. Dr. Glass gave her a shot and it really helped her. We didn’t go tah the movies. Whar’d you git that idée?”

“Yer lyin’ through yer teeth, Rachael Riley, you never went tah the doctor. You went right tah the picture show.  I done followed you. How’d it be if I told Lily’s old man what you done?”

“What do want, Billy Tate?” Rachael asked in a demanding voice.

“I want you tah let me come courtin’ once in a while and when I come around you stop treatin’ me so mean.” He reached out and ran his hand down her arm.

Rachael pulled backed
. Letting Billy Tate court her—that was never going to happen!

“What if I was tah tell Nevers that we came to town tah see the doctor and you were makin’ advances at his wife.  You know, talkin’ sweet tah her and touchin’ her.  How would you like that? Nevers has a real bad temper.  Some say he even killed two or three people. Who you think he would believe?

When I tell him Lily was real sick and you was pawin’ all over her. Isn’t that right, Lily? Billy was flirtin’ with you wasn’t he?” Lily slowly nodded her head.

Billy’s eyes widen
ed. “Okay, I don’t cotton tah dealin’ with Nevers Bains.  You win this time, Rachael.  I won’t tell. But you and me are gonna talk agin real soon.”  He climbed into his truck and pulled away from the curb.

“How we gonna git home, Rachael?” Lily asked.

“You see, that’s what I mean, Lily.  You jest wanted tah see a movie picture. You never made any plans on how we were going tah get home. You always leave it up tah me.” Rachael began to walk faster, with Lily running behind her.

Just on the outskirts of town, Rachael and Lily waved down a produce truck. They climbed in the back among the boxes of potatoes and turnips. Rachael leaned against the rail and closed her eyes.  After a few minutes Lily pushed her on the shoulder. “You asleep?”

“Well, if I was, I’m awake now.  I was jest thinkin’ about the people in the movie. Did you hear how they talked and the way they dressed. That’s what I want.  I always knew I wasn’t meant tah live in Bent Creek all my life.  I think I was born tah the wrong parents. Somebody messed up really bad.”

“Thar’s that silly talk agin,” Lily said.  “How’d you ever be born tah the wrong folks? That’s plumb crazy.”

“No crazier than bein’ miserable all the time.  Look at you. Spendin’ yer life with that old coot, Nevers.  Always bein’ afraid and pretendin’ you can’t talk.  Isn’t that all crazy? And me…jest as bad havin’ tah work for him.  We need tah make a plan, Lily. We have tah figure out how tah change all of this. Yep, I’m gonna have tah work on that.”  She closed her eyes again and was back inside the movie.

 

 

Chapter Thirteen

 

While Rachael and Lily were in Lynch staring at the movie screen, Nevers and Jesse were going up the mountain. Usually Jesse never spoke, but today with the food Rachael had given
him tucked safely in his blanket he seemed to have more courage than usual. “Nevers, I was wonderin’ if we could get some better food tah eat when we come up here?  Those beans are tearin’ up my stomach and I’m tired of them.”

“You jest don’t understand, boy. Didn’t I jest finish tellin’ you that you can’t ta
ke a bunch of food to the shack? There are hungry critters that would come callin’ and tear the hell out of the place and maybe us, too.  Them beans is safe in the cans. This is my business. Ya got tah put up with some thangs ya don’t like tah git the things ya do like.  That’s why I got a nice house and I’m thinkin’ about gettin’ me a telephone in a couply weeks. How bout that?  A telephone. That’s some-thin’. I’ll tell you what, Jesse, you quit yer bellyachin’ and bitchin’ and ah may be willin’ tah pay you an extra dollar a week. That would be jest for you. How does that sound?”

“Good, real good. I ain’t ever had any money of my own. Okay, you jest tell me what you want me tah do and I’ll do it. Even eat them beans.” Jesse let out a laugh.

“That’s right, boy. You mind yer business. I’ll give you a bit of advice, Jesse. You watch yer back.  Make sure you know what yer doin” and watch yer back.  You make sure what’s yers is yers and don’t let no one take it way from you. Money will buy you what you want, Boy. Jest be smart. You got that, boy?”

 

Jesse nodded his head. He had no idea what Nevers was talking about.

Positioning Jesse at his usual spot, Nevers handed him the rifle. “I’m gonna give you this tah make you feel better about waitin’ here. Now remember, you don’t fire that rifle lessen someone is comin’. I’ll be back in about four hours.”

Making sure Nevers was out of sight,  Jesse quickly opened the package and ate one of the biscuits and half the fatback. Licking his fingers he wrapped up the rest of the food and stuck it under a rock a few feet away from him. With a full stomach, he lay down on the grassy patch under a towering pine tree and closed his eyes.  The sun was warm and it didn’t take him long before he drifted off to sleep.

Half an hour later, Jesse awoke to the smell of bacon fat coming from a hot breath. He opened his eyes and stared into the face of a huge, brown bear. Stinking drool fell from the bear’s mouth and landed on Jesse’s shirt as the bear shook his head back and forth.  Jesse wanted to scream, but he knew bet
ter. He had to lay still and pretend he was dead, his heart thumping in his chest. He had been taught that since he was young. He had to pee and he wanted to cry, but he lay still.  He should have known better than to set the rest of the food so close to him. Nevers had warned him and now he looked into the eyes of death. The bear nudged him with his nose and pawed at his side, tearing his shirt to shreds.  Jesse could feel the warm blood begin to trickle down his side.  The rifle lay only a few feet away. If he could get to it he may have a chance.  The bear moved a few steps and sniffed at the ground where the food was hidden. He scratched at the ground and pushed the rock over. While the bear devoured the remaining food, Jesse rolled over as quickly as he could and reached for the rifle.  The bear reacted quickly. Standing up on two feet, he let out an ominous roar.

BOOK: Bent Creek
12.78Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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