Bitterroot Crossing

by Tess Oliver

  She looked back. “What?”

  “I was wrong. You’re not better than this. You deserve everything you get.” She slammed the door so hard, Dad’s hammer fell off its hook. I sat there in the dark watching the glow of my joint dim. My head had already started to throb. I stretched out on the hard, filthy floor and fell asleep with the vision of Jessie’s sweet face lingering in my dreams.

  Chapter 22

  Nana did not pry too much about my tears after I’d reached home the afternoon before. I’d gone to bed early without eating and had decided to skip school the next day. I woke with numb feet from Jasper sleeping across them all night. Anna had curled up next to my cheek on the pillow. I picked her up and tucked her under my chin. She purred instantly. This was all I needed. There was no room in my life for boys. They were nothing but trouble and heartache.

  I slipped from my downy quilt and was shocked by the cold air in the room. The temperature had dropped so suddenly, Nana and I had not been ready for it. I put on a robe and hurried down to the kitchen. The pets followed. The smell of fresh cinnamon rolls greeted me along with Nana’s smile. The oven had warmed the air in the kitchen and Nana had started our wood burning stove. This was all I needed I told myself again. If only I could melt the icy stone that had grown in my chest overnight.

  “I’ve been thinking, Nana, I already know more than I can learn at that silly school. I’ll just take the test for my diploma and be done with it. Then I can stay here with you forever.”

  Nana placed a plate in front of me and sat down. She reached up and placed her warm palm on my cheek. “There is only one flaw in that plan, my dearest. I’m not going to live forever. You’ll be all alone up here on the mountain. There will be other boys, Jessie.”

  “I don’t want there to be others. I don’t want to feel wretched like this ever again. I won’t be able to trust any of them anyhow.” I took a bite of cinnamon roll, but realized my stomach was not really in the mood for anything, even Nana’s delicious rolls. I dropped it back onto my plate. “Boys are just trouble. Look what they did to Great-great grandma Rebecca.”

  “True, but love stories do not always end in tragedy. You can’t base your own decisions on her life.” She finished her tea and got up from the table. “I’m riding Mandy down to Ruby’s house to pick up our mail. Will you be alright here alone?”

  Anna jumped into my lap and licked cinnamon from my finger. “I’m not alone. I’ll be fine.” I had no appetite, so I showered, got dressed and curled up in Nana’s chair with my needlepoint. Sadness seemed to weigh down my limbs as if heavy bricks were tied to my arms and legs. I stabbed the needle through the fabric absentmindedly then had to remove the shabbily done stitches. Obviously I wouldn’t be finishing Jasper’s portrait today.

  I walked to the window and pushed back the curtains. No Zedekiah. I’d said some terrible things to him yesterday, but it was hard to know how much hurt a spirit was capable of feeling. It didn’t seem possible that he’d feel any. At least that’s what I told myself for reassurance. I might very well have scared him off for good. That thought only added to my sadness.

  Sitting inside was not helping my mood. I grabbed a sweater and headed outside with my book. There was an exceptionally soft patch of grass just outside of the pasture fence and just outside of Mandy’s reach. I sat down and leaned back on my elbows to soak up the sun. The air was cool around me but one could always count on the sun’s heat. I thought about my decision to stay home today. It was probably a cowardly thing to do. The last thing I wanted was for Nick to think I’d stayed home because of him. Then I decided let him think what he wanted. It felt right sitting up here alone and away from all the cruelty down below.

  A faint noise startled me as I felt something drop next to my leg. I glanced over. It was a green and pink lollipop. Then a small bag of gumdrops dropped from above, a wrapped chocolate followed, and lastly a caramel sucker.

  I sat up. “We do get some odd weather up here on the mountain.” Zedekiah appeared leaning languidly against the fence.

  “And I suppose you didn’t steal these?”

  “Sure did. Serves the shop owner right for putting her candy baskets outside her store.”

  “Well, I’m not in the mood for anything, Zedekiah.” I surveyed the sweets surrounding me. “Except maybe this caramel sucker.” I grabbed it up. “And maybe this wrapped chocolate.” I grabbed it too. “But that’s it. You can just take the rest back.” I unwrapped the chocolate and popped it in my mouth. “I have already decided, I’m staying here on this mountain for good and never leaving again.”

  He kicked at the dirt and sent a mini tornado swirling across the ground. It smacked into a tree and disintegrated. “Being stuck here on this mountain isn’t so bad. After all, I’ve been here over a hundred years and it hasn’t hurt me any.” Now he picked up a rock and threw it. It flew like a missile into the nearby trees. “Course, I have no choice. I’m stuck here.”

  I leaned back on my arms again with the caramel pop sticking out of my mouth.

  “You are a lovely sight, Jessie,” Zedekiah said. His voice when it was deep and thoughtful like it had been just now was soothing. “It would be a shame for you to hide on this mountain your whole life. Mind you, I’d be fine with having you all to myself up here, but I don’t think it would bring you the happiness you imagine.”

  I pulled the candy from my mouth. “It was all just an act. Nick pretended to like me.” I shaded my eyes and looked up at Zedekiah’s tall figure. “The funny thing is I don’t know why he bothered. He didn’t seem the cruel type. None of it makes sense.”

  “Love never makes sense, Jessie. If it did, it wouldn’t be so much fun. And it wouldn’t hurt so much either.”

  I stood to and walked to the garden to see if any late summer tomatoes were ripe. Zedekiah followed.

  “Zedekiah, why are you still on this mountain? You and the gang?”

  He floated up and perched on top of the scarecrow’s head. “This has to be the strangest looking scarecrow I’ve ever seen,” he said. “Not completely sure, but I think it’s the swamp. It’s holding us here.”

  I picked two ripe tomatoes. “When did you give Rebecca the locket?”

  He dropped back to the ground and stared off into the distance for a minute as if he were contemplating something. “It was her nineteenth birthday. She looked like a candy confection in her new dress.” He looked back at me. “Unfortunately a week after I’d bought it-- and, yes, I bought it--”

  “--with stolen money,” I added.

  He shrugged. “Quite possibly. Now may I continue?”

  “Yes, of course.”

  “A week before her birthday, I realized that Bridger had been courting her. Butcher had told me the news gleefully one night over a poker game . . . which he was losing badly.”

  Zedekiah’s expression hardened as he spoke about his loyal gang member. It was the first time that he actually looked frightening to me. I took a tiny step back now regretting that I’d even brought it up.

  “We should talk about something else,” I said hastily.

  Possibly sensing my angst, his expression softened instantly. “I gave her the necklace and told her she could decide whose picture to put in it, just as long as I never knew what was inside. Now I’m sure it’s Bridger’s photo inside that damn locket.”

  Mandy’s hooves pounded the dried, packed ground as she and Nana returned with the mail. Zedekiah watched her come up the hill. “This is my cue to disappear. That mean old lady hates me.”

  “You scared her daughter out of town. She’s got reason to hate you.”

  He nodded in agreement. “I was only after that rotten husband of hers. I’m just glad your mother came to her senses and returned without him.” Now his dark blue gaze washed dreamily over my face. Everything about it reminded me of the way Nick had looked at me. I had to quickly remind myself that Nick’s gaze had been an act before the bleakness gripped me again. “If you’re mother hadn’t retur
ned, I would never have been able to see that face again. Now that would have been a grim eternity indeed.”

  I blushed. “Boy, you are a sweet talker, Zedekiah Crush. I’ll give you that.” Nana drew closer and he vanished.

  Nana dismounted and walked Mandy to the pasture with our mail clutched in her hand. She seemed agitated, and I could swear she was talking to herself.

  I picked up the remaining candy and stood. “Nana, what is it? Did the mail bring bad news?”

  “No, just bills. But I stayed to have a quick cup of tea with Ruby and do you know what she told me? I’m so mad I could spit fire.”

  “What has you so upset, Nana?”

  “Apparently that ridiculous mayor has called a town meeting. Seems they’re planning to drive us out of town. They’re blaming us for all the trouble those damn ghosts are causing.” She turned and marched toward the house. “Well, I’m plannin’ to attend that meeting. I’ve got a few choice words for that mayor.”

  I followed her into the house. I wasn’t too worried. I knew nothing could pry my grandma off this hill. Not even the ridiculous, callous town below.

  Chapter 23

  I opened my eyes and squinted into the darkness. The last thing I remembered, I’d come home from school, shoved on my earphones, and cranked my tunes. I’d gone through the entire day like a zombie and apparently I’d fallen asleep in my room. My head felt groggy. The swelling in my hand had gone down but it still hurt as I opened and shut my fingers. The ride on the dirt track yesterday probably hadn’t helped it much.

  I’d spent the school day in a confused haze first hoping I wouldn’t see Jessie, then thoroughly disappointed that she hadn’t come to school. I had no idea what to do. I wanted to be with her so badly my entire body ached just thinking about her. But if something happened to Baxter, I’d never be able to forgive myself. My only solution was to get rid of Zedekiah and the whole fucking gang. Unfortunately, I had no idea how to do that.

  I didn’t know how long I’d slept for but it was dark now. The house was quiet as I walked down the hallway and slipped into the kitchen. Mom had stuck a note on the fridge explaining that they’d gone to the town hall meeting. Good riddance, I thought. It was rare when I had the house to myself.

  I made a dinner of peanut butter toast before taking a much needed shower. I’m not totally sure when the feeling hit me. It was somewhere between the shampoo and the conditioner, but something made the hairs stand up on my neck. Something deep in my chest told me I needed to get to that town meeting tonight. There was going to be trouble and Jessie was going to be in the center of it.

  I toweled off, dressed, and got on my bike. The streets were exceptionally quiet and when I reached the shabby building that Bitterroot Crossing proudly called its town hall, I knew why. Every citizen must have been packed in to the place. There was standing room only as I squeezed inside. I seemed to be receiving a crapload of dirty looks from the people lined up along the newly painted walls. The city council was convinced that slapping up a new coat of paint every six months gave the building a professional look. There was usually a two week debate just to decide on the appropriate color. This time they’d obviously decided on puke green.

  Metal chairs had been brought in from the high school, and they scraped loudly on the floor as people settled into their seats. Tall as I was, I had a tough time seeing the front of the room where a microphone had been set up on the small stage. I couldn’t see my family or Jessie. I doubted she would come anyway. That feeling I’d had must have been my imagination. Or maybe it was because I’d been thinking about her so much. Baxter was standing along the back wall looking uncomfortable in such a big crowd. He waved to me and I returned the wave. The mayor cleared his throat into the microphone and began his attack.

  “Quiet down, everyone. As you know, our quaint, scenic town has been traumatized by a rash of attacks from the Crush Gang. And as you all know, after several decades of his absence, their horrifying leader, Zedekiah Crush, has once again risen from his grave.”

  “It’s that Sterling girl!” someone yelled from the side of the room. Dozens of people agreed loudly.

  “She should never have been allowed to attend school.” Some other ignorant ass exclaimed. I stretched up and peered over the tops of heads. It was Tina’s dad. Tina was slumped down in the chair next to him.

  “Get rid of that girl and her grandmother and burn the place to the ground. Then the gang’ll leave town for good.” That charming sentiment came from the bank owner. Now I was pissed I’d come at all. This ugly scene was only going to put me in a worse mood. I really wanted out of this town.

  “And what about the Crush family?” A woman’s voice carried over the bobbing heads.

  “What about the Crush family?” This voice I recognized. It was my dad’s. He was standing with his arms across his chest. He’d gotten rid of the robe and cleaned up. He actually looked decent. Mom looked pale and shaky, but she stood up next to him along with Bobby.

  There was some mumbling in the crowd. The mayor lifted his hands. “Decorum everyone, please.” He looked over at my family. “Frank, you have to understand why the citizens are upset. It is your ancestor who is causing all this trouble, after all. The gang had been pretty manageable up to his reappearance a few days ago. Now they’re worse than ever. Dangerous, in fact.” He cleared his throat nervously. “Maybe it’d be better if you and yours packed up and found a different place to live.”

  This idea pleased the crowd.

  I pushed through the onlookers throwing a few good elbow jabs as I went. There was a small clearing around my family as if they might be contagious or something. I joined them. Dad looked over at me. We stared at each other for a minute then he gave the slightest nod of approval. He stretched up taller to speak again. “Well that’s fine, Mayor. We’ll just pack up.”

  My mom whimpered softly.

  “And, of course, the others will be packing up too,” Dad continued.

  Heads turned back and stared in confusion at us. Dad surveyed the crowd then pointed rudely across the hall. “Baines, over there, he and his family are direct descendants of Butcher, as you all know.” My dad jumped on a chair now and scoured the back of the room. It was awesome watching him in action. He was once again the dad I’d been so crazy about growing up. “There you are, Hector.” He looked around at the shocked faces. “Some of you, may or may not know this, but Hector’s great-grandma was Axel’s sister. Then, of course, there’s the Blakely family.” Dad’s attention returned to the front of the room where the entire Blakely brood had found seats. “They’ll have to pack up as well seeing how they’re related to Steamer.” He gave the room a once over before jumping down and standing between Mom and me. “I guess we all know Crow didn’t ever marry or have children, so that probably covers it.”

  The crowd had grown silent with their ignorant thoughts and sudden realization that Dad was right. We weren’t the only descendants of the Crush Gang. The town was filled with them.

  “The trouble all started with that girl. She’s the one that needs to go,” someone shouted.

  I was about to open my mouth to protest when another familiar voice shot out from the back of the room. “So is this what you people do with your spare time?”

  Everyone twisted around. There, standing in the doorway, was Jessie and her grandma. Just seeing Jessie standing there, tiny and sweet, in the vast sea of angry faces made my heart race. I had to fight the urge to run back to her and pull her into my arms.

  “You people think if you put all of your half-baked heads together, you’ll be able to come up with one solid idea,” Jessie’s grandma said. She took hold of Jessie’s hand, plowed through the crowd and headed straight to the mayor’s podium. ‘Out of my way, Mayor.” She elbowed him back and stepped up to the microphone. “Look at yourselves. Why, you’re no better than the group of citizens that hung the gang a century ago. This ghost problem didn’t just happen because my granddaughter left the house.” She smi
led down at Jessie.

  I looked around at the faces as they all stared at the petite figure up front. Most people had never seen her and a murmur seemed to be inching through the crowd now. I’d seen her many times and still her face seemed almost too beautiful to believe. And that face seemed to be doing its magic on this crowd too. Angry shoulders and vicious scowls seemed to be dissolving as people saw the innocent angel they were accusing of causing the town’s troubles.

  Jessie’s grandma spoke again. “It seems the only people to blame for this mess are the folks who lived here back when the Crush Gang was alive. Dumping them in that swamp was wrong, and we’ve all been paying for it ever since. Let’s not be ignorant likes those folks. It won’t get us anywhere.”

  “What should we do about it then?” a voice cried out. It was instantly followed by several ear-piercing shrieks. There seemed to be a small stampede of people heading to the back door as

  the lights in the hall flickered and a disgusting smell floated through the air. The two back doors slammed shut and several women slumped to the floor in a heap.

  Baxter grabbed my arm suddenly. His face was white. “I didn’t mean to, Nick, honest.” His voice shook uncontrollably along with his entire body. “I just walked outside for a minute and they said they would kill my mom.” He burst into shoulder wracking sobs. People were clawing at the doors and windows in terror but there was no escape.

  My gaze shot to the front of the room. “No!” I yelled out. Steamer had Jessie tight in his icy grasp. She was kicking and screaming but it had no effect on the ghost. Her grandma lay motionless on the floor several feet away as if she’d been thrown. Crow dangled from the light fixture above Steamer. It was hard to tell where the others were. No sign of Zedekiah.

  The crowd backed away nearly crushing themselves along the back wall in an effort to distance themselves from the ghosts. Mom grabbed my arm, but I yanked out of her grasp and raced to the front of the room.