Tainted by Crazy

by Abby Mccarthy

  This place was my sanctuary when I didn't want to be found, and my playground when I needed to have fun. It grounded me and made me feel at peace when my life was filled with nothing but chaos.

  I kicked off my shoes and tested the water. It was cold, but I thought it would be refreshing. I didn't need thoughts of Bradley or any other man right now. I just wanted to bask in the sun and clear my head. I looked around making sure I was alone and, undressed down to my bra and underwear. They were black cotton and close enough to a swim suit. I walked barefoot through the small trail of shrubs and trees. The ground was hard on my feet, but I’d done this dozens of times, if not hundreds. I found the tree on the small bluff that I was looking for. There, right where I left it, tucked tight into a branch was a rope. I unhooked the rope, put both hands around it, quickly hooked my feet around the knot and swung out into the water.

  I was about to jump getting to the place where I normally soared and hop into the water when I heard it.

  Snap.

  The branch holding the rope bent and partially snapped. Instead of my graceful jump, I was falling. I hit the water at a strange angle and my skin stung. The water was cold. My head was submerged and I swam to the surface, “Dag-nabbit!” I yelled out. “Damn twenty pounds since high school. Dang it to hell!” I yelled at the tree as if it was Mother Nature’s fault I was bigger and didn't use my brain before I acted. The floating dock wasn’t far from where I landed, so I swam towards it. I did the breaststroke, my arms pushing through the gentle current. I reached the dock and climbed up the ladder. My underwear was stuck in my the crack and I pulled my wedgie free as I hit the deck.

  A chuckle reverberated through the air. I quickly adjusted my breasts in my bra making sure I was covered and looked around. Standing on a small bluff near Earl’s property was a man, one I didn't recognize. He was wearing dusty tan boots, Wranglers that fit snug enough, but not too tight, a white T-shirt that hugged a well-defined chest and a baseball hat that covered most of his face.

  “You mind? Can't a woman make a fool of herself without an audience?” I shouted, hoping he would go away.

  “I don't mind at all. I’m enjoying the show,” he laughed again.

  “Well, I do mind and I do think that old Earl, whose property you’re on, will mind as well.”

  “I could jump in and join you?”

  “Good luck. You jump in from over there, you’ll be jumping into an old beaver’s den.”

  “Cleared that den last summer, but nice to know you got my back.”

  I didn't have time for this. This guy, whoever he was, was interrupting my ‘I’m going to forget men and all the troubles I have for a little while, even if I keep creating more troubles’ afternoon.

  I didn't want to be charmed. I didn't want to have to deal with this guy, even if he did wear those jeans better than any man I’d ever seen. Heck, and I knew my jeans. That’s why even from this distance, I knew they were Wranglers.

  “Please, just go away.” I tried a different approach and looked down noticing a cut along my side that I could now see and feel since I was out of the water.

  “Flippin’ scuttle-buckets!” I yelled as a sharp sting shot up my side. I must have scraped it on something when I hit the water. I really needed to think about things before I did them.

  “You alright over there?”

  “I’m fine.” This wasn't a lie considering it was just a scrape; nothing life threatening. I’ve had much worse. “Would you mind being a gentleman and giving me a little privacy?”

  I watched as he lifted his hands up in surrender and retreated back into the woods. Releasing a breath, I tried to resume basking in the sun, which was my intended purpose, but with a scrape on my side that needed tending too and after making myself look like a total fool, I knew that the best thing for me to do was to get some gas in Bertha, get some groceries, stop at the hardware store for some supplies and get to work. It appeared, that my kind of fun was my kind of disaster.

  After swimming back to shore and getting dressed, I took an overgrown trail up to Earl’s house. It looked different. There once were a few rusted out cars near the edge of the property. Now all I saw was a nicely mowed lawn and a well-kept shed. The house was up a bit from here. Maybe that would be the same? What if Earl wasn’t there anymore? I wasn’t sure how I felt about that. We weren’t close per se, but he always let me swim in his lake, and he would sometimes bring sweet tea down if he saw I was swimming out there all day. I think he didn’t like it if I went by myself. I was a strong swimmer, but he always told me that anything could happen.

  The house looked maintained, as well. I felt my throat get tight for the second time today. I rounded the back of the house to the front, and that’s when I saw him. There on the front porch, sitting in a wheelchair with a glass of scotch on the table next to him was Earl. He didn't look great, but at least he was there and was breathing.

  “Earl?” I called out trying not to startle him. He looked half asleep and if it wasn’t for the fact that his glass was still sweating I would’ve thought that he’d been out here all day.

  He opened one eye wide peeking out to see who called his name. He snapped both eyes open and said, “Maple, I thought you were never coming back. You get over here and give an old man a hug.”

  I bent forward and gave Earl a hug. In his raspy, old man voice, he said, “You still smell like Maple.”

  I laughed, “I was just in the lake, I’m sure I reek of it.”

  “Like I said, smells like you.”

  “Nice to see you haven’t lost your charm, Earl. What happened around here? It’s so…”

  “Clean,” he cut me off.

  “Yeah, that.”

  “Had a heart problem, and they had to take a vein from my leg. Not getting around so good these days, but the ticker’s great. My nephew moved in with me to help me take care of things. He’s doing too much, if you ask me. I reckon, he knows this property will be his one day and he’s getting a head start,” he said the last part on a whisper. From inside the house I heard that same voice from earlier.

  “Heard that old man. If I’m waiting on you to go, I better not hold my breath. You’ll be here for a long time.”

  The screen door opened and the first thing I noticed were those dang Wranglers. Lord help me, I bet his behind looked fabulous in those. Dang it, I was done with men. I shouldn’t be checking out this fine specimen of a man, but that was exactly what I was doing. My stomach did that weird butterfly thing, and for a moment I felt like I was going up each notch on a giant roller coaster. That click on the way to the top letting you know that soon enough you are going to fall. Well, not me. I was not getting on this ride. I took a breath trying to calm my flutters and stared for another moment.

  He didn't have his hat on, so I could see his face more clearly. I could see everything more clearly. He had to have at least seven or eight inches on me. His frame was wide and that white T-shirt that looked like it fit a well-defined chest was an understatement. This man was in shape. His shoulders were broad and I could see a hint of defined pecs. Dang it, if he wasn't taking my breath away. His face was no longer covered with a hat. He had black hair, cut short but with a gentle wave. His eyes were a light green that almost looked blue, his lips began moving and I knew I’d been caught staring since, I hadn’t said anything but ‘dang it’ in my thoughts a zillion times.

  “I’m Rys,” he stretched his hand out accompanied by a two dimple flash.

  I stretched out my hand and gave a firm quick shake reminding myself I was not getting on this ride. He pulled when I tried to release and brushed his fingers over the backs of my knuckles. This guy had player written all over him.

  “Maple. We’ve met,” I said tersely.

  Earl, always observant, noticed my shift in tone, “You didn’t scare Maple down on the lake, did you?”

  “No he didn't scare me, but he got quite the laugh when I fell. That old branch broke mid-flight.”

  “You
alright?” Earl’s brow wrinkled in concern.

  “I am. I got a bit of a scratch, though. Could use some ointment, if you have some?”

  “Keenan, go get Maple here the first aid kit would you?”

  “Keenan?” I asked Earl as Rys walked into the house to do his uncle’s bidding.

  “Rys is his middle name. Started using it when he was sixteen. Suddenly he was too cool for Keenan Montgomery.”

  “Earl, it’s not in the medicine cabinet. Where do you keep it?” Keenan shouted from in the house.

  “In the linen closet,” Earl and I yelled simultaneously. Even though we had aged, it was like so many things that had stayed exactly the same

  I smiled at Earl and squeezed his hand. A moment later, the screen door opened and Keenan Rys stepped out carrying a small, white metal box. He handed me the box that I set down on top of two milk crates that were double stacked making a table. I opened the kit and took out the antibiotic cream, lifted the side of my shirt and smoothed some on along the scratch. It was jagged, but not too deep. There was a small area that was a little deeper so I put a bandage over that part, then dropped my shirt and looked up to see Keenan staring at me. I could tell he liked what he saw. I could also tell that I needed to stay far away from him. Men equaled trouble for me, and my Domestic Disturbance charge from two nights ago was about as much trouble as I needed.

  “Hey, Earl. I took Bertha out and forgot to fill her up. You got a gas can around here I can borrow?”

  “Where’d ya stall out?”

  “About a mile down the road from the lake.”

  “I got a gas can in the shed, but you’re not walking back down with that scratch on your side carrying a heavy gas can. I might be in a wheelchair, but I’m still a gentleman.”

  “No one would argue with that Earl, but I’m perfectly capable of walking back down to the lake. I walked up just fine. And you know I’ve made my way up here with a lot more than just a scrape or two.”

  “You should have seen how Maple used to get on down there Keenan. She’s not one of those dainty girls like the ones you date.”

  Rys shook his head at Earl and I released a breath grateful that I was anything but dainty. “I’m going to pull the truck up. I have it parked around the side since I was hauling some brush. Then, I’m grabbing the gas can and I’ll drive you.”

  “It’s not necessary,” I said.

  “It is,” Rys clipped with an edge of finality as he walked away.

  I sighed and took a seat in the old white wicker rocker that the paint chipped off of wherever there was a bend in the wood. “He’s helped you a lot around here, hasn’t he?”

  “He has. He’s a good man. He’s got his demons, so don't let his smile fool you. I’m real grateful for his help, though. My land never looked this good. Makes me proud to see it looking this way. What about you? How’s life been treatin’ ya, Maple?”

  How to answer that? “Life’s been okay,” I said unsurely. I didn't need to lay my baggage down on this old man.

  “Well, you ain't married, that I can tell by the lack of a ring on your finger. What about kids? You got any of those you can share with an old man?”

  “No kids either, Earl. Sorry to disappoint.”

  “Well, I don't know what brought you back. You ever feel like sitting back and having a drink with an old man, I’m a good listener.”

  “Thanks, Earl, I’ll keep that in mind.” Rys’ dark blue Ford, with white striping on each side, pulled up and he left the truck running, but got out to open the door for me.

  “Thanks for the gas, Earl. And the first aid.” I stood, gave Earl a kiss on the cheek and climbed into the truck. It was nothing spectacular, but for the most part, it was clean. The dash had a small layer of dust, but that’s okay. I could tell he used this truck for what it was built for; work.

  “You been helping Earl out a long time?” I asked as Rys started the truck.

  “Couple of years now.”

  “Good, I’m glad he has you.”

  “I am going to ask the obvious question here,” he looks at me with curiosity. “Why is it that you know so much about my uncle, but I’m just now meeting you?”

  I sighed, “That’s a long story, but let’s just say I spent some of my youth here and when I was done with school I moved around a lot. Now, I’m back.”

  “For how long?” he asked.

  “I suppose for a while; I don't really have anywhere else to go,” I admitted.

  “Hmm,” was the response I got. I wanted to ask him what the ‘hmm’ was all about, but I didn't think I needed to engage this man any more than I already had. I manually rolled down the window and moved my hand into the gentle breeze, letting it ride the waves of wind.

  “So, Bertha?” he questioned as we turned off the street and near the old dirt road.

  “My Grams’ car. She named her.”

  “Sorry about laughing at the lake. If I’d have known you were hurt, I would’ve never laughed,” his deep timbre filled the cab.

  I didn't respond. I just gave a nod of my head and continued pushing my hand through the wind. “That’s me,” I said as we came upon Bertha.

  “Wow, she is a beauty,” he said throwing his truck into Park, admiring Bertha.

  “That she is,” I agreed as I went for the door handle.

  “No, you don't. You wait for me to come around. My truck. My rules.” Rys exited the truck and walked around to open my door.

  “You know we’re on a dirt road, not a five-star restaurant,” I said as I hopped down from the truck, avoiding his outstretched hand that screamed ‘Warning! Upon touch, you will be crushed’.

  There was a slight scowl and a furrow of his brow and then he said, “Been away from home that long that you forgot how to let a man be a man?”

  I leaned over the back of his truck and grabbed the gas can, ignoring his comment, deciding I didn't really need anything much from Keenan Rys.

  “You know I could've grabbed that for you.”

  “You always talk this much?” I snapped.

  “You always have to do everything on your own?” Who was this man that he had me pegged so quickly?

  “I don't have to do everything, by all means, fill her up.” I set the gas can down and climbed into Bertha.

  Seconds later, I started the car and Keenan Rys leaned into the car. His elbows perched on the open window and he was close. So close I could smell his unique mix of sweat and some type of fresh-smelling soap.

  “Next time you want to go swimming in the lake, stop and grab me. You shouldn't be swimming by yourself.” His tone was gentle, ignoring the fact that I just got bitchy with him.

  “Sure thing,” I lied knowing I was not going to be swimming at the lake anytime soon. I needed to avoid mornings like this one at all costs.

  “You’re welcome anytime, just don't want you getting hurt and not having anyone down there with ya.”

  I nodded and put the car into Drive. Rys stood up and took a step back from Bertha. “You tell Earl I’ll be paying him back real soon.”

  “You don't need to do that.”

  “I bet Earl will beg to differ,” I shrugged, put my foot on the gas and drove away. I kept the radio off. No more getting into trouble while endlessly listening to good music for me.

  I stopped at the first gas station and used my debit card in the machine.

  Declined.

  That son of a biscuit Bradley. Going to the bank should've been the first thing I did today. Now, I had exactly fifty dollars and needed to make money fast. There was no way I was calling him, or dealing with Bradley ever again. I walked into the gas station, paid the overweight clerk ten-dollars, pumped my gas; and then drove to the grocery store.

  I bought a carton of eggs, a loaf of bread, two boxes of pasta, two jars of sauce, flour, salt, shortening, nutmeg, sugar both brown and white, and cinnamon. My total came to nineteen dollars and thirty-six cents. I would have just over twenty dollars left to my name. I should get
a final paycheck from the nursing home, but I wasn’t sure how long it would take them to send it. Grams had done so much for me. I was only asking her if I had no other choice.

  I stopped home, put the eggs in the refrigerator and then ran to the library to check Craigslist. There was a nursing home associated with where Grams lived that had a night shift position available. I decided that they were going to be my first stop, at least that way I could be close to Grams.

  I drove to the nursing home, grateful that it was close to the library, so that I wouldn’t use the last of my gas. I talked to a desk clerk who told me that the position had been filled and that I should still take an application just in case something opened up again. She said their turnover was high because working in a nursing home wasn't cut out for everyone and that before I knew it something else would open up. I thanked her, folded the application in my hand, got back into Bertha, and drove back through the strip in town until I found a help wanted sign in the front window of Iggy’s.

  Iggy’s was one of the only bars in town. It was a hole in the wall and was known to get a little rowdy from time to time. There wasn’t that much to do around here, so Iggy’s was the place to be. A small dance club opened up in Hinckley a few towns over, and it took a little of Iggy’s business. Iggy’s was still crowded, but not in danger of being shut down for being over occupancy. I walked into the bar and met an older woman who was wearing too much makeup and whose skin was weathered no doubt from years of smoking.

  “Do you know anything about the help wanted sign in the window?” I asked her drawing her attention away from the strokes she was making wiping the bar.

  She made eye contact with me, but didn't smile, or give much away, then said, “Seeing as I’m the one who hung it, I do.”

  “Do you have anything available still?”

  She squinted her eyes at me, and looked me up and down.