After I had sung James Colton’s favorite song and tucked him in, I climbed wearily into my own bed. Michael didn’t come back until I was asleep. He woke me when he got into bed, snuggling against me, kissing my neck, making me shiver, but I pulled away.
“My arm ... I can’t.”
He rolled away. “Sorry. I totally forgot.” His voice was barely audible.
“Give me a few days?” I rubbed his back with my left hand.
“I wasn’t thinking, Jay. It’s been so long —”
Taking care not to hurt my arm, I moved closer, laying my head on his shoulder. “It has, Michael. I’ve missed you, too.”
He smoothed my hair, his hand warm and strong. “It’s hard for me to believe I’m here, in a clean bed, with my wife. It’s doesn’t seem real.”
“I’m sorry your homecoming was spoiled. You should have told me when you were arriving.”
“I didn’t know myself.”
I raised my head to peer at him. I could barely make out his face, illuminated only by the moonlight streaming in the window and the night light I kept on for James Colton. “Why didn’t you know?”
“I had an opportunity to bring Argos home with me. I jumped at it.”
“What opportunity?”
He didn’t answer.
“What opportunity?” I asked again, sitting up to see him better.
“It doesn’t matter.” He rolled over, his back to me.
Did he mean he had smuggled Argos back? How would he have accomplished that? I struggled with my emotions, wanting to demand answers.
Somehow I knew the answer would only drive us further apart. Tears pricked but I blinked them away. Would things ever be the same between us?
I lay down, my back to his. All those nights I had held his pillow, breathing in his lingering scent, longing for his return. I had never dreamed it would be like this.
Chapter 11—The Argument
I decided to respect Michael’s wishes and asked Laurie to stay away for a few days. Laurie agreed it was for the best. I was sure they would become friends again, given time.
That first day, Michael roamed the woods with his gun, saying he was going hunting. He did not return with anything. Aunt Jenny brought over a basket of food but didn’t stay long.
The next day, Michael and Argos left at sunrise, and I took James Colton outside. I had set up an area for him under two pecan trees in the backyard, with lots of sand and a variety of homemade toys. I carefully released my arm from the sling and sat down to play with my son.
The sun filtered through the bright green of the pecan tree’s leaves. The breeze blew the leaves gently, exposing bits of blue. I held up a hand to shield the bright sun, flickering through the leaves. The shifting patterns threw shadows over the ground, chasing up my legs and arms.
“Mean doggy,” James Colton said.
I whirled around to see Argos running toward us. I scrambled to my feet and took a few steps forward to snatch up my son. Argos leaped, and I curved my body over my child to protect him. Argos hit my back, and I fell to my knees. I heard Michael give a sharp command. James Colton wailed.
I didn’t rise, afraid to move. I held my son close against me and crooned soothing words. Michael came to a stop beside me and helped us up. Argos was sitting only a foot or two away.
Anger slashed through me. “Get rid of that dog! I mean it. He could have killed your child!”
Michael considered Argos and then me. “I saw what happened. He did not attack you. It’s your fault he even jumped on you.”
“My fault?”
“If you had just remained seated, nothing would have happened.”
“How do you know?”
“I know my dog.”
“Do you know your wife? Or your child? If you cared about us, you wouldn’t —” I choked on the words and headed for the house, holding James Colton tightly.
Michael did not follow. I put my son down and yanked out my suitcase. I grabbed a couple of things I thought we might need. Michael had disappeared from the yard by the time I walked out, clutching the suitcase. James Colton was close beside me. I headed for Laurie’s, my shoes stirring up the red dust, reminding me of the many times Laurie, William, and I had walked these roads to school. Tears fell, but I brushed them angrily away. We arrived at the house, and Laurie opened the door before I had a chance to knock.
“I was looking out the window and saw you coming,” she explained. She peered at my face. “What’s wrong?”
“Everything,” I said briefly and pressed my lips tightly together.
“Jay, where’s your sling? Your arm is bleeding.”
I looked down at my arm where red was seeping through the bandage. “Oh, blast it! I probably pulled stitches loose.”
“It’s bleeding pretty badly. Let me take you to Dr. Burch.”
“You’re not keeping Joe Joe today?”
“Not today. William took him into town to buy him some shoes and a few other things.”
I nodded slowly. “I guess I’d better go and have my arm seen about.”
“Let me grab my keys.”
I dropped my suitcase on the floor and waited for her, applying pressure on my arm in hopes of stopping the bleeding. She came back and took J.C.’s hand.
“Try not to jar your arm,” she admonished me. She opened the truck door and put a hand on my elbow to help me in.
I tried to keep my arm still, keeping my left hand clamped over the worst bleeding. J.C. settled between me and Laurie.
Laurie and I didn’t speak for several minutes. The rocking of the truck had J.C. rubbing his eyes. He leaned his head against me and nodded off to sleep.
“It’s past his naptime,” I said.
Laurie nodded and observed me. “Why did you bring your suitcase? Have you left Michael?” Her voice was calm.
I stared out the window and shook my head. “Not exactly. Argos attacked me again. I don’t feel safe there.”
“So is he going to get rid of that dog? Put him down?”
I sighed. “I don’t know. But I’m not going to put my son’s life or my life in jeopardy. We’re going to leave until Michael makes a decision. I was thinking of going to Plainsville. I need to check on Zeke anyway.”
“Alone?”
“J.C. can go with me.”
“You can’t drive, not with your arm.”
“I know. I thought I’d catch a bus. Marla can meet me.”
Laurie nodded. “It might be good for you to get away.”
She pulled up at Dr. Burch’s clinic, and we went in. There were no patients in the outer office, and Dr. Burch’s assistant told me to go through. Laurie carried J.C., who was still asleep, to one of the chairs.
When Dr. Burch saw me, he shook his head. “Mrs. Hutchinson, I told you to be careful. Where’s your sling?”
“I don’t know.” Somewhere along the way I had either yanked it off or it had fallen off. I couldn’t remember.
“Let’s see if I can repair the damage you’ve done.”
He didn’t ask what had happened, and I was glad. When he had finished adding a couple of new stitches, he rebandaged my arm.
And then he had Laurie bring in James Colton. I was pleased to see my son was able to wiggle his thumb when Dr. Burch asked him to.
“I didn’t think he’d regain full use, but with his progress, it looks as if he very well might.” He beamed, as he had every right to do. He had saved my son’s thumb.
“Dr. Burch, I plan to make a bus trip to Plainsville, if you think J.C. can go.”
“He should be fine. How long will you be gone?”
“Two or three weeks. I’m not sure.”
“You left Zeke there, right?”
“Yes, sir. I need to check on him. And my uncle, too. He had a heart attack.”
“Your family’s had its share of troubles. I hope you find everyone doing better. And you be careful, young lady. Do you understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
Laurie helped J.C. down, and I followed them back to the front and paid the bill before we left. We went first to Aunt Jenny’s, so I could use the phone to call the bus station. The next bus was leaving in the morning at nine. I then called Marla at Mr. Drake’s. After she assured me Zeke was doing okay, I asked her if she could meet me at the bus station, and she agreed. Next I called Aunt Liza and spoke to her briefly, telling her I would be there the next day.
I hung up and went into the kitchen where Aunt Jenny, Momma, and Laurie, holding J.C., sat around the table.
“Are you hungry, shug?” Aunt Jenny asked.
I shook my head. “I’ll take a cup of coffee, though.” I helped myself to the coffee in the enamel pot on the back of the stove and joined them at the table.
I sighed deeply. “Everything’s set for me to leave in the morning. I’ll be glad to see Zeke.”
Momma wagged a finger at me. “You bring my boy back, you hear?”
I ducked my head. “Yes, ma’am.” I hadn’t told her of Zeke’s heart problems, afraid of her reaction.
“And where’s that man of yours? He should be helping out with his young’un.”
I glanced at Aunt Jenny, and she took the hint and answered for me.
“Michael is busy, Molly. He would help if he could.”
A half-truth and I hated lies, but Momma was so unreasonable. I had only taken a couple of sips of coffee when I suddenly felt sick to my stomach. No wonder with all that had been going on.
I got up, poured the rest down the drain, and rinsed my cup. “Laurie, we need to go.”
“Where y’all going? You just got here. A chunk of lighter burning a hole in your pocket?” Momma asked.
“No, Momma. We have things to do. I’m sure Laurie needs to get home.”
“I sure do. I’ve got laundry piled up. Come on, Jay.” Laurie was on her feet, still holding J.C.
“Tell Granny and Aunt Jenny bye,” I told J.C.
“Bye, Grammy. Bye, Aunt Jeeny,” he said obediently.
Laurie and I scurried out before Momma could stop us. I breathed a sigh of relief when we got back to Laurie’s house. We went in, and I made a pallet on the floor, hoping J.C. would take a nap. But his nap on the way to Dr. Burch had done its job. He was wide awake now.
I took him outside, and Laurie made supper. Just to be on the safe side, I checked her woodpile to make sure the axe was put safely away. It was, and I felt slightly ashamed for double checking her. J.C. ran around in the yard. I sat on the steps and watched him. He spotted Michael before I did. My son came to me, wrapping his arm around my leg. I didn’t move but watched Michael walk close to where I sat. He stopped about five feet away.
“Are you okay?” he asked.
My anger had not fully dissipated, and I had to bite back an angry retort. I shrugged my shoulders.
He ran both hands through his hair. “Please try to understand. Argos is not an ordinary dog. He’s saved my life countless times. I can’t get rid of him.”
“Please understand me. I can’t put J.C.’s life in danger.”
“James Colton.”
“What?”
“I asked you to use his full name.”
“I think you’re being a little silly, insisting on it like this.”
He grimaced and shrugged his shoulder. “Call him what you want to.” He reached down to pluck a blade of grass from the ground.
“Let’s get back to the problem — Argos,” I said.
“You’re the one who sees him as a problem.”
I looked down at my throbbing arm but didn’t respond, only raised my head to stare at him.
He took a couple of steps back, watching me. His dark head bent, and something in his stance made me stand. “James Colton, go in and see Aunt Laurie.”
Once the door closed after him, I went to Michael and placed my left hand on his arm. “Michael, I love you more than life. Surely we can discover an answer. Coby —” My voice broke, but I swallowed the lump in my throat and went on. “When you gave me Coby, you asked for a second chance. And now Coby is gone.”
He turned to look into my face. “Only because of your stubbornness. The dogs have to work out their own problems. We can’t interfere. I didn’t ask you to take him away.”
I sighed. “We’re not going to agree on this. Argos is dangerous. I want him chained or fenced until he can be rehabilitated.”
“What you’re asking me to do, I cannot. I’m sorry.” His eyes held mine in a war of wills.
“What you’re asking me to do, I can’t either. I’m sorry.”
Michael looked away first. “Give Argos a chance to adjust. You don’t know what he’s been through.”
“No, I don’t. I can’t even pretend to know. But I simply can’t put my child’s life in danger. Michael, if and when you can prove to me Argos is not dangerous, I’ll come back. I’m going to Plainsville to see Uncle Howard and Zeke.”
He nodded. “How long will you be gone?”
“Three or four weeks. It’ll give you time to think things over.”
“And time for you to do the same,” he shot back at me.
“Michael! I’m not changing my mind.”
“I’m not either.”
“So you don’t want me to come back? You’d choose Argos over your family?” My voice was raised. I’m sure Laurie heard me.
“I have not chosen him. Fate, God, whatever, put me in that place in the Pacific with those men and those dogs. Argos chose me by following me, obeying me, laying down his life for me. He has the scars to prove his value, his worth.”
I held up my arm. “I guess my value went up a notch with my new scar. I reckon I should thank him.”
He grasped my shoulders. “If you had not gotten between him and Coby, it would not have happened. You’re responsible for your own actions.” He released me and took a step back. “Argos was willing to give his life for me, for others. How can I walk away from him? How?”
His voice had risen with each word. The front door of the house swung open, and Laurie stepped out. She had a shotgun in her hands.
Michael laughed harshly and turned to face her. “You going to shoot me, Laurie? Go ahead. I’ll stand right here, an easy target for you.”
When Laurie didn’t move or respond, Michael threw his hands up. “Save your shells. I ain’t worth killing.” He spun on his heel and walked quickly away, down the red clay road. He whistled, and Argos came from behind a bush to follow. I gasped. Argos had been not ten feet away the entire time. And had not made a sound.
I glared at Laurie, frowning. “You really planned to shoot my husband?”
Laurie laughed. “Only in the leg.”
I was so exasperated with both of them that I was breathing heavily. “Thanks a lot. He made it back from the war in one piece, and you want to maim him!” Well, back in one piece physically, perhaps not mentally.
She grinned. “I’m joshing. I looked out the window and saw that durn dog. I was going to shoot him if he so much as moved a muscle toward you.”
“Oh.” I should have known better than to think Laurie would shoot Michael. “Well, why didn’t you tell Michael that?”
She shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t think he’d take too kindly to the idea of me shooting his dog. Heck, it’s only birdshot, but I was gonna powder his behind good.”
I hoped she was still talking about Argos. I nodded my head. “Nope, he wouldn’t have liked it at all. He thinks Argos is some kind of hero.” But the dog was, wasn’t he? Still, to treat Argos like royalty! Better than he treated me.
Laurie went back in, letting the screen door slam behind her. I climbed the steps. A few weeks away might make things clearer to me. But what kind of wife was I to leave my husband after he had been home only a couple of days? I sighed heavily and dragged my feet into the house, not knowing how to mend the breach between us.
I had to leave, sort out my feelings, give Michael time to sort his out. I would write him a letter when I got to
Plainsville. Explain things. Make him see reason.
Somehow, we had to mend our marriage.
Chapter 12—The Visit
The next morning, J.C. and I were on the bus, headed to Plainsville. Marla met us as she had promised. My hair hung limp around my shoulders, and I lifted it from my neck to allow the gentle breeze to evaporate the sweat. The crowded bus, filled with the odor of unwashed bodies, perfumes, and various other smells, not to mention dealing with J.C., had my temples throbbing.
J.C. was all smiles when we walked toward Marla. He had been energized by the ride, seeing it as a grand adventure. He held out his thumb to Marla as if it were a trophy. “Joe Joe hurt me.”
Marla swept him up in her arms, kissing his bandaged hand. “That was a bad Joe Joe to hurt my J.C.”
J.C. shook his head, his eyes widening. “Joe Joe not bad. He sorry.”
Marla and I laughed as I stuck my suitcase in the trunk.
“Jay! What happened to your arm?”
“Dog bite.” I put J.C. in the back before climbing into Marla’s new car, a Cadillac with leather seats. The car purred to life, and I gazed around in admiration.
I ran my hand over the dashboard. “Nice.”
“It is, isn’t it? Dan surprised me the other day.” Her makeup was perfectly applied, her lips painted a bright red.
I knew my lipstick was long gone but was too tired to rummage through my purse to reapply it. “I thought you and Dan were separated.”
Concentrating on backing out of the parking space, she didn’t meet my gaze but shrugged. “Maybe it’s his way of saying sorry.”
I started to roll down the window to allow in some air to cool us down, but Marla stopped me. “Roll your window back up.”
“Oh, I’m sorry. You don’t want dust to blow in?”
She laughed her silvery laugh. “No, silly. I have air conditioning.”
“What? Like in a theater?”
When she turned it on, air blew through the vents, and I held my face closer, enjoying the sensation
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