by N. C. Reed
“Leon, it's time you come clean with me,” Clay more or less demanded. “How do you know Brick? And I don't mean as a bartender, either.”
“Guess his brother told you about everything, then,” Leon sighed a little.
“Boy, did he.”
“Well, boy, it's like this,” Leon sat back into the seat as they eased through the back pastures. Leon hadn't had a look at the place since they had acquired so much new land. “Man in my business sometimes has issues. Issues that has to be dealt with, one way or another. When I was younger I took care of it myself, to be honest. But that was some years back and . . . well, hell I can't take care of myself nowadays. Got to depend on a teenage girl just to get around. That ain't no criticism of her, mind,” he added quickly. “Don't know what I'd do without the girl if I'm honest, and I usually ain't. Only person ever took better care of me was your grandmother, may God bless her very existence.”
“Anyway, my line of work. Yeah. Man in my line of work sometimes needs someone in Brick's line of work. He had been overseas a spell and wanted to come home, and I had a particular job I needed done real careful like. Led to another and then still another. He was working for other people too, for a while anyway, but he mainly hung around with me. Not here, of course. Your father would have had apoplexy at even the thought,” he snorted and Clay had to grin despite the situation.
“Anyway, Lainie ran away and Marla called me. I didn't know the son-of-a-bitch was . . . was . . . I didn't know or I'd have already killed him. He managed to find her after she was living at the club, but I had put Brick there to watch over her. He needed a break, too, and that was a good job for him. Brick intercepted him just fine, but I was pissed that the bastard was still trying to get at her, so I set Brick on him. I wanted him to hurt,” he looked balefully at his grandson. “Had I been a younger man I'd have done it myself and made it last, but like I said, my time had done come and gone. But Brick was in his prime and . . . her asshole stepdad . . . no, her bitch of a mother's boyfriend, yeah, he had connections. Cops, judge in the next county, dealers and bikers and shit. A real viper's nest.”
“And Brick cleaned it out?” Clay asked.
“Lock, stock and barrel,” Leon nodded firmly. “Played out over about six months or so. They was all crooks anyway, so no one really cared. A few died in 'accidents' that really looked like accidents, so nobody ever questioned those.”
“Even though the threat to Lainie was gone, or at least we thought so, I let Brick stay on to watch over her and keep the place straight. He was done and needed a place he could call home. To get out of that game. Worked out just fine.”
“Until yesterday,” Clay noted.
“No, it's still fine,” Leon shook his head. “Brick made the statement that one of 'em would have to go-”
“X said the same thing,” Clay interjected.
“Byron ain't the one going,” Leon said flatly. “I owe that man and I need him. I ain't able to do nothing about protecting this place and he can do enough for two. Plus I got Janice to think about now. It ain't no secret I ain't got much longer boy,” he said softly.
“Ah, don't say that,” Clay started but his grandfather cut him off.
“I ain't stupid, Clayton and I ain't never been one to see through rose colored glasses neither. You know as well as I do my days is numbered. When I'm gone, I'm leaving my house to you, but you have to let them stay there long as they want, even if it's permanent. All three of 'em has been a blessing to me, one way or another, even Marla and her damn mouthy ass, though not lately. I don't want them worrying about having a place to live.”
“They won't,” Clay promised. “I don't want either of them to leave. I just . . . I need to find a way to get them to at least get along. They don't have to be brothers again, or even friends, but if they'd just be civil-”
“Brick says they don't do 'civil',” Leon was shaking his head.
“X said as much,” Clay nodded. “Apparently tried to stab him the last time they were near each other.”
“Sounds like we got pretty much the same story from two different sources,” Leon grunted.
“Well, it seems based on that we got the truth, at least,” Clay shrugged. “Damn if I know what to do about it, though.”
“First thing is to keep them away from each other for now.”
***
Mattie Simmons wanted to go home. Or at least try to go home. After so long, to be so close and yet not moving was trying her patience.
Abby's mom, however, had suggested she see this woman, Beverly, and talk to her about her trip home. That it would help her process all she had been through. Mattie had been on the verge of refusing when Patricia noted that most of the people on the farm had spoken to her at one point or another. Including Abby and Samantha.
So, here she sat, facing a rather attractive black woman in her middle to late thirties. It wasn't an office, just a room in what they called Building One. It wasn't especially nice but it was clean and not uncomfortable.
“I thought this would give us some privacy,” Beverly told her. “Usually I'd do this in Building Two, but with so many people coming and going over there at the moment, we might never get a moment of peace.”
“This is fine,” Mattie nodded, fidgeting a bit. She didn't know this woman.
“I don't know anything about your circumstance that you didn't tell us at lunch yesterday,” Beverly started. “Patricia just said you might need someone to help you process things, as she calls it. First off, know that I'm not here to judge anything you did or didn't do. That's not my thing. What I do best is listen. Give you a chance to work out what may have happened to you, and then once you have, look for a way to help you through it. So long as the two of us are in this room and talking, my only concern is helping you. Nothing else matters, regardless. Nothing you say will go beyond these walls unless you tell it. Understand?”
“Yes ma'am,” Mattie nodded.
“Now, I understand that you are local to this area but were attending school in Memphis? And that you were at an away game in Houston or near there when the lights went out?”
“Yes ma'am.”
“Well, unless there is something from before you want to talk about first, how about we start with what happened when the grid went down? What happened to you when the lights went out?”
Mattie paused for a bit, pulling her thoughts together. Beverly stopped her.
“Don't plan on what to tell me, Mattie,” she instructed. “Just tell me what happened, as it happened. Take me through it from the beginning. You were at a game and the lights went out.”
After another brief pause, Mattie began to speak. Slowly, haltingly at first, but then faster as she slowly forgot about her worry and merely concentrated on making sure she covered it all. She wasn't even aware she was crying until Beverly handed her a tissue.
***
“What do you think all that was about yesterday?” Sam asked as she and Gordy rode, looking over the cattle in one of the several pastures. “With Brick, I mean.”
“No idea,” Gordy shook his head. “Obvious they knew each other.”
“That one, Xavier, I think he called Brick 'brother',” Sam noted. “In French. Something about his account. I couldn't get it all.”
“I didn't hear what he said, but I did see Brick's reaction,” Gordy nodded.
“Brick's reply sounded like German but I wasn't able to hear well enough to be sure. I don't know what could have happened between them but it was bad,” Sam mused.
“Almost certainly,” Gordy agreed. He used his foot to push a particularly aggressive cow away from his horse. He couldn't actually push the heavy animal so easily but she understood that he didn't want her crowding his horse and moved.
“What did you think of the new folks?” Sam asked.
“They seem interesting enough.” A non-committal shrug. “I mean, at first glance anyway.”
“Hard to get a read on so many people with so little informat
ion,” she nodded. “At least there were new military people in there. That has to help make us safer, doesn't it?”
“From a standpoint of adding trained and experienced people to defend this place, absolutely,” he agreed. “While we don't know any of them, Uncle Clay does, and the people he knew and trusted are the ones who chose who came along with them. I'm hoping that has to count for something. Trust wise, I mean.”
“Yeah,” she nodded. “Gordy, what's happening between you and I?” she threw at him straight out of left field, catching him by surprise.
“Uh . . . ”
“How very articulate,” she teased as his face reddened at being caught out. “I am serious, though,” she added. “Are we going to be something to each other or aren't we?”
“I thought we already were, to be honest,” he answered quietly. “I mean . . . it seemed like it to me.”
“Is it because I was talking to your uncle before?” she asked softly.
“Is what because?” Gordy was confused. “What is it I'm doing wrong?”
“Gordy, it's not that you're doing anything wrong,” Sam sighed in exasperation. “But we aren't really doing anything at all, are we?”
“By anything you mean what, exactly?” Gordy asked. “I mean, it's kinda hard to ask you out to dinner and a movie nowadays, Sam. I spend every moment I can with you, regardless of what it's doing. There's no one I'd rather spend my time with. And . . . I mean let’s be honest. If things hadn't fallen apart like this, would you ever have gone out with me? Would we ever have gotten to know one another outside me being Abby's little brother? Come this fall, Lord willing I stayed healthy, I'd have been in Knoxville and you'd still be in Murfreesboro.” He paused and she waited.
“I'd love to take you out on a real date,” he said finally. “And I'm juvenile enough to think it would be the coolest thing ever to have everyone see you with me, on my arm. To have them see that you think I'm worth spending time with. You're one of the smartest, prettiest girls this town has produced in a long time, Sam,” he grinned at her and her blush felt like it started at her toes. “There's not a guy anywhere that wouldn't be overjoyed to have your attention in any kind of positive way.”
“Stupid,” she muttered, her face hot as she looked down at her saddle.
“But where can we go?” he went on, ignoring her muttering. “It's not always safe even here on the farm. And even if we could safely go somewhere, there's nowhere left to go. Nothing left to do. You bringing a picnic basket to my foxhole during the party was the closest we've come to anything remotely like that.”
“Then we’ll do that again,” she nodded firmly. “And we’ll figure out other stuff to do, too. The twins and some of the others get together at least once a week and play D&D or some other game. The older folks play Rook, checkers and all that. Do you know how to play Rook?” she asked him.
“In this family?” Gordy scoffed. “Of course I do.”
“Well, so do I,” she grinned, almost impishly. “So next time they get together to play, you and I will join them, and play as a team. And we’ll find other things. Whatever it is.”
“Okay,” Gordy nodded readily. “That sounds pretty awesome, actually,” he smiled brightly.
“I was just . . . I was worried that because I . . . your sister tried to get Clay and I together,” Sam's frustration was showing a bit as she struggled to say what she felt. “In her words, to see if we . . . she said it like she was doing both of us a favor,” she snorted delicately. “I don't . . . I didn't, date much. Guys my age were far too immature for my tastes, and that didn't improve when I got to college either. She thought that he would be different and so wanted, and I quote, 'to fix us up'. But I don't think . . . no, I know she had no idea what kind of person he was then. It would never have amounted to anything between us, Gordy. And I didn't, I mean I don't want that to be hanging between you and I.”
“Well, I am pretty immature on occasion,” Gordy reminded her.
“You play around sometimes,” Sam corrected him. “That isn't the same thing as being immature. I could never spend time with someone who had no sense of humor at all. Life is too short to spend grumpy,” she laughed lightly.
“So it is,” Gordy nodded. “What do you mean about what kind of person Clay is?” he asked. Sam sobered at that.
“Gordy, I will always be thankful to Clay for helping me escape from town,” Sam said softly. “I will always love the memory of John Barnes, a man I never even met, because he died getting me free, even if I wasn't who he was there for. All of you will always be special to me, you most of all for carrying me when I couldn't walk on my own,” her face was as red as a stop sign now, but she didn't quit.
“But like I told Abby, Clay and the others . . . they're dark people, Gordy. My exact words to her were that they had stared too long into the abyss and something stared back at them. I can't deal with that, Gordy. Especially not after what happened in town. I don't hold it against them or think less of them, but I can't deal with it. Not like that.”
“You know, I may end up like that too,” Gordy was quiet, not looking at her. “I mean I don't see them as being so bad as that myself anyway, but . . . well, the way things are now . . . Sam, you don't know what I will turn out like, either.”
“Abby said as much to me,” Sam nodded slowly. “But I will tell you the same thing I told her. If you encounter things that make you like them, you’ll do it while I'm already there. I’ll be there to help you, and I will learn to deal with it as we go. Not have it dumped on me all at once. And I will help you, Gordy,” she stressed firmly. “I won't abandon you just because the things you're forced to do to keep us safe darken your spirit or harden your heart. I'm not like that. If we're together, then we’ll be together. Period. Come what may. But I need to know if that's where we're headed. You don't have to make a decision now, but I at least want you to mphh-”
She was cut off abruptly as Gordy's mouth descended on hers. Caught by surprise, it was still less than a second before she was responding to him, her arms wrapping around his neck even as his circled her small waist. She squealed into the kiss as he lifted her from the saddle and deposited her in front of him, never once losing contact with her lips. Her horse wandered a few steps away and stopped, cropping at new grass while her rider was otherwise occupied. Gawain was barking furiously from the ground, not sure just what was happening but not caring for it.
Both ignored him.
The two finally had to separate, struggling for air. Gordy looked at Sam, her lips swollen slightly, and felt his chest seize just a little at how beautiful she looked in his eyes. For her part, Sam, blushing furiously, was finding it hard to breathe even after they had pulled apart, her chest heaving ever so slightly.
“If you’ll have me then yes, that's where we're headed,” Gordy said firmly. “I love you Samantha Walters. Have for a while now. Come what may.”
“I love you too, Gordy,” she lay her head against his chest. “Come what may.” She rode back to the barn just like that, Gawain barking behind them the entire way as her horse followed along without being led or told.
***
“How did it go?” Patricia asked when Beverly stepped into the clinic.
“We should take a walk,” Beverly said in way of answering, looking at the collection of people inside.
“Of course,” Patricia nodded. She told Kaitlin where she was going and then followed Beverly out of the clinic and then out of the building. It was a beautiful day, sunny but not too hot for comfort. The rare kind of days one got in Tennessee only a few times each year.
“That young woman has had a very hard time,” Beverly said without preamble. “She is suffering from a major guilt complex that, if left unchecked will eat her up from the inside out. There are very few ways to deal with that aside from letting it run its course, but it can be destructive and even debilitating. She spoke of wanting to go home,” she glanced at Patricia. “How likely is that?”
“I
can't honestly say,” Patricia admitted. “Clay will have to decide if and when someone can take her, and even then there is simply no way of knowing what they will find when they get there.”
“She needs help to work through all this, but . . . I don't think she will want to wait here for that help, and trying to make her will just make things worse. I suspect she's already thinking of walking. This is a young woman who set out to walk here from Houston Texas after all.”
“She's got fire,” Patricia nodded. “I’ll try and ask Clay this afternoon what he's going to do about getting her home. For all we know there's no home to go back to. We’ll just have to see.”
“That seems to be the default setting a round here,” Beverly agreed. “Hurry up and wait.”
“Amen.”
***
“I was thinking about tomorrow if I can get a handle on the shit storm that got unleashed yesterday,” Clay informed Patricia an hour later. “Jake said she lives somewhere between Jordan and Peabody so we shouldn't need a large group to make the trip. My main concern is getting there and no one is left.”
“I worry about that too,” Patricia nodded. “She's been a through a rough time before your friends picked her up. Finding her parents gone . . . I don't know what that might do to her. She's strong, but everyone has a breaking point. That might well be hers.”
“Well, at least if they're not there she's got here to come back to,” Clay shrugged. “That's something anyway. Although I'm assuming that. If her parents aren't there is she going to stay with you guys?”
“I don't know,” she admitted. “Truth is we're getting pretty cozy. Unless Sam moved into Gordy's room, I don't know if there will be room for Mattie.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Clay held up a hand, a look of stunned amazement on his face. “Are you telling me you'd be all right with that?”
“Of course not,” Patricia snorted. “But you've seen them. How much longer do you think it will be?”
“Uh . . . probably not that long,” Clay was looking past her she saw, over her shoulder. Turning, she was treated to the sight of her son returning from checking the cattle with a petite blonde clinging to him, sitting before him on his own horse as hers followed behind. She didn't look at all distressed, either, and her horse was definitely not lame.
