by Vera Quinn
“You can’t convince me that Dad hit you or anyone. If he did something out of character for him, then he had a reason and you will not tarnish my memories of him. I couldn’t have been made to go back to Dallas after the first year and we all know it. I was emancipated and after that I was free to do what I wanted if I kept up with my education which I have complied with. This discussion is over and you both need to leave.” I see Nick getting out of his truck and he has his phone to his ear. He puts it away as he walks up on the porch beside me.
“I believe the lady told you to roll off her property. I called the sheriff and Roger,” Nick says the latter to me more than the two still standing by their car. “I also called Trask and Botie and they should be here in just a few minutes. You two need to leave Sage alone and go back to Dallas or anywhere but here.” I don’t know why but when Nick mentions Trask and Botie I don’t want my mom anywhere near them. She has always been able to convince most men to see her way of thinking.
“Nick it’s alright. My mom came to state her final plea and I turned it down,” I say facing Nick, so he knows I am handling this much better than I thought I would be when this happened. I turn to face the car in my front yard but not looking at either person standing beside it. “I want both of you gone. Mom, maybe one day we can connect as a family but now isn’t the time. I will get my inheritance soon and I have made temporary provisions for you, but my advice is to get a job or find a man that you don’t need to pay his bills along with yours.”
“You are one ungrateful child. You’re just like your dad. Never considering my feelings before your own. I have obligations that I need money to take care of. I need Greg to keep me sane, he’s my rock and the only person that thinks about me first.” Mom is losing hold on her anger.
“How long do you think it will take for Greg to be gone when the money is cut off? You better get a new rock because he’s not going to hang around and I won’t let him see another dollar of Dad’s money after my birthday. The two of you will not be able to get by when you are forced to pay rent. I’m sorry it has come to this, but you were warned by Roger. Roger is also contesting the life insurance policy that you took out on me. I am over eighteen and I never gave you permission to take it out, so it will be canceled if Roger hasn’t already had it done.” Mom looks shocked that we knew about it.
“We’re not leaving town until we have a meeting between us and our attorney and you and Roger. Katrina deserves more than what she has received from Travis’s estate and I am not going to let anyone run over her that way. We’ll get what is coming to her one way or another.” I see Botie walk around the side of the house and the look he has on his face shows he has heard more than I wanted him to. I thought I could get my mom to leave before it came to this.
“That is about enough,” Nick speaks up.
“No Nick, let the fool talk. Everything that’s coming out of his mouth shows what kind of snake he is. He only cares about the money. He doesn’t care about that woman standing beside him or Sage. The sheriff is coming up the drive as we speak.” I look over Botie’s shoulder and I see the sheriff’s cruiser just turning into my drive.
“My, my, looks like you do have some of my DNA in you, but I really thought you were too naïve to use it,” my mom says while eyeing Botie from head to toe and back. “I’m Katrina the mom. My daughter has seemed to have already found the men she is going to hide behind.” Mom is laying the sweetness on thick, her words are dripping in it. Then suddenly it’s all gone, and my mom’s eyes are back on me. “You can’t hide behind these men. They don’t even know who you really are, now do they? It seems you might have some explaining to do little girl. This one here,” she points at Botie, “can come to the meeting too. I may need something to keep me from strangling you and Roger.” Mom smiles at Botie. Botie is staring at me. “We’re going but make that appointment for tomorrow. The sooner, the better.” The sheriff steps out of his SUV.
“Can I help with something out here? Sage are you having problems?” I don’t know the sheriff very well, but he’s trying to make my mom think that we are friends.
“No officer, my girl is just overreacting to an unexpected visit from her mom. We are going. I don’t want any problems with law enforcement.” My mom barely gets it out of her mouth when Sheriff Jenkins corrects her.
“That’s Sheriff Jenkins and Sage is not one to overreact so if she told you to get off her property I would be doing so, or we may need to take this to city hall.” The sheriff is very direct and straight to the point. Very unlike him but I could hug his neck right now because Greg is already back in the car, but Mom has more to say.
“Remember what I said, tomorrow, if not your business will be told all over this county by night fall and you’ll see how the press loves to tear your life apart. No one here knows who you are, but you won’t be able to hide anymore. If you go to the bathroom, they will have their lenses trained on you to see what kind of toilet paper you use or if you have a bidet to wash and blow dry you. It’s no fun and it’s not what is best for anyone. Think about it, sweetie, before the meeting tomorrow. I know you will come to the same conclusion I have.” Mom’s fake sweetness is back.
“If that was any kind of a threat then I will be talking to you again. Now, please leave the premises and don’t return. I will be filling out the paperwork that you have been warned.” Sheriff Jenkins warns my mom. She waves her fingers at the men—I know it wasn’t meant for me—and her and Greg turn around in my drive. I know that will not be the last time that I see them here. My mom will only take the sheriff’s warning as a challenge and Greg will be enraged. I know the meeting we have is going to be loud.
“I will need you to come to the office and fill out the paperwork for a no-trespassing notice, so it can be filed about you wanting the two of them to stay off your property.” I think the sheriff is going to leave but he looks at me instead. “Sage are you sure about this. Your mom and you may have had a misunderstanding between the two of you, but don’t you think she has a right to be in your life? She did give birth to you,” I start to answer him, but he holds his hand up, “and you only have one mom in this world and around here children don’t shun their parents for any reason. You’re not going to make a lot of friends around here like that. I understand about the man, but it is hard for me to see your side in this. My children and I always have differences of opinion. I am the sheriff, and I take that job seriously and I’ll file the paperwork once it’s signed, just please think it over if for nothing else but your own sake.”
“Sheriff Jenkins this is more than a difference of opinion, much more and I will be in this afternoon to sign those papers. I would like to make friends here but not if I am going to be judged by every decision I make. My personal life is exactly that—mine. I thank you for thinking of my feelings and the probability that I might not make many friends. I am sorry for interrupting your day but mostly thank you for your help with this matter.” I know it’s time to let everyone in on who I am, so they can understand my situation with my mom, but I am just trying to live my life without having to worry about cameras flashing and people treating me differently because of who my dad was. I just want this farm and the life I have always dreamed of.
“I’ll see you later, then. Nick have a good day and you too Botie.” The sheriff walks to his cruiser and leaves. I look at Nick and then Botie. Nick has a look of concern in his eyes but Botie has nothing but questions in his. Questions I’m just not ready to answer yet. I turn to Nick and Botie.
“Thank you both for your support but I don’t want my mom’s venom leaking over to either of you.” I am embarrassed for the scene my mom just caused. I need to get on the phone to Roger—he will know what Mom is demanding now.
“Don’t be going on about it. We knew she would show up sooner or later, but I didn’t expect her this soon. Better sooner than later, I guess. We’ll get you into town, so you can sign the complaint.” Nick is as understanding as always. I look at Botie next
.
“Is it true?” I don’t know what he’s asking. “Are you lying about who you are? Are you not Sage Collins? Have you been hiding things from everyone and just using us, so you could get this farm from Nick? Are you acting all shy, so Nick will feel protective, because that is not flying with me?” Botie is mad and I don’t know where the anger is coming from. Botie has come closer to me as he has been yelling at me. I don’t feel threatened, but I don’t know why Botie is so angry.
“You don’t understand,” I try to tell the enraged man.
“I understand the truth from a lie so what is it Sage? Are you a damn liar like all the other women around here?” I feel like someone has kicked me in my belly. I am lying. Nick wedges his way between me and Botie.
“I don’t know what has gotten into you Botie. Step back and quit calling Sage a liar. I know everything I need to know about Sage so calm down.” Nick is trying to calm Botie down, but I still see the anger.
“I don’t owe you or anyone in this town anything. Haddie and Nick know everything about my past so the two people I owe an explanation to has it. I have known you how long? The first time I met you, you weren’t friendly towards me, but not because of something that I did but something someone from your past did to you. I didn’t pry or demand answers. I accepted it as you protecting yourself from being hurt again. Why can’t you give me the same respect? Why can’t you see that this is something that I don’t want to discuss and leave it at that?” I am on the verge of tears and I hate it. I hate being emotional.
“Keep your fake tears and your lies to yourself then. If you need any more work done on your farm, you need to contact someone else. I won’t be available.” Botie is gone before I can wrap my mind about what he’s doing.
“I don’t know what has gotten into that boy. Sage, do not take anything he said to heart. I know he will come back and apologize to you sooner or later.” I look at Nick and I see he’s worried.
“No, Nick, Botie is not going to apologize to me. He was talking from somewhere deep in his soul. He has been hurt by a woman that lied to him and from that minute on every woman he meets will pay the price. I can understand that raw emotion. I feel it every day towards my mom and I know the only way to deal with it is to get it out. Let him work through it because I have a feeling, he has been keeping it locked down tight inside of him. When he has had enough, he’ll blow up on someone and if I can help release some of that blackness inside of him, then I am alright with that. Botie, did make me realize it is time to go public, so everyone will know what they think they are entitled to even though it’s none of their business. I need to talk to Roger and do what he has wanted me to do for a long while.” I hate that is what this has come to. “I don’t owe anyone, anything but I want to set down roots here and make it my home and if I alienate everyone before I can accomplish that then I’m the one that loses. I must stop running and face my past, so I can move on with my future in more ways than one. I always say I stand on my own two feet, but I want to be a part of this community and fit in.” I can tell that Nick doesn’t know what to say so I save him from having to say anything. “I am going to call Roger and see if he has time to come and spend the night, that way we can make that meeting happen tomorrow. Do you think I could get Fran from the newspaper to interview me tomorrow after the meeting? The Comfort’s newspaper is going to be getting the only interview that Tra Dade’s daughter ever gives, and her phone will be ringing for days if not weeks.” I see the worried look in Nick’s eyes, but he’s smiling so it can’t be that bad.
“Sounds like we need to be making some phone calls and then we can look at some trucks.” Nick seems more like himself now, so everything is going to be just fine. “Haddie is going to love this.” Yes, she will.
Chapter Eleven
Botie…
I know I overreacted yesterday, but I can’t bring myself to think about it. I took an ax handle to the old chicken coops mom wanted torn down. I felt so much anger and I know it had nothing to do with Sage. I know Sage doesn’t owe anyone here the story of her past. Nick is happy with what he knows and he and Haddie are the only two people in this town that know Sage very well. I can’t imagine what Nick and Sage must think of the scene that played out. I need to get a tighter grip on my feelings. I had hoped that Sage and I might be friends. I was beginning to think that just maybe we might go to dinner or to one of the barn dances, but I am sure Sage thinks I am a raving lunatic now.
Trask called and told me to meet him in town this morning and that there is supposed to be some big interview taking place on Haddie’s big porch and I am not going to want to miss it. I don’t know why I would need to be at any interview but he’s buying lunch and this time we will get to eat it. I see Trask park his truck close to me. I get out of my truck and meet him at the front door of the diner.
“Today we become damn gossips like everyone else in this lovely community. I need to catch you up on a few things. For once in my life being related to Branton has come in handy. I am starving so let’s eat first.” I follow Trask through the diner door and to a table close to the kitchen. The place hasn’t started filling up yet so it’s quiet and only a few tables are full. The waitress is at the table with our drinks in no time. She knows us and knows exactly what we want—two iced sweet teas with no lemon.
“What can I get you two cowboys today?” Lesley, the waitress, asks us. Neither of us look at the menu.
“Mayo burger and fries.” Trask smiles at the woman.
“Mustard burger and tots.” I give Lesley a small smile.
“Seems like you two would try something different every once in a while.” Lesley is all smiles mixed with a little sass.
“Why mess with perfection, darling? I only come in here for the scenery anyway. If you get any prettier, I am going to confess my undying love.” Trask gives Lesley his best good ol’ boy smile.
“Trask, you can save your panty-dropping smile for someone that isn’t married and hasn’t known you since you were the skinny-nerd boy. You grew into that big head of yours, but I don’t have the time to swap flirts with you right now. I have it on the best authority that The Comfort Banner is getting the interview that will put Comfort on the map today. The diner is expected to fill up fast since everyone in the county will be here today to witness whatever is going to happen.” Trask and I look at each other.
“Has anyone said who is being interviewed or why it’s happening now?” I have a feeling I know but I don’t like surprises.
“No, Botie, but there are whispers that it has to do with that new girl that is always hanging around Nick and Haddie. People are saying her mom came looking for her yesterday and there was a big blowup. Would you know anything about that Botie? I heard the sheriff gave her a real dressing-down about her treating her mom like yesterday’s trash.” I knew the sheriff wouldn’t keep his mouth shut and Lesley probably isn’t the only one to hear it.
“I work for a living, so I wouldn’t know anything. Trask and I just decided to eat lunch in town today or we would have missed everything. We don’t hear much out in the country—we mind our business, not everyone else’s.” I know this will get Lesley to move along so I can get information out of Trask.
“I’ll have your order out as soon as it’s up.” The flirty tone is gone, and her voice is flat.
“Thank you darlin’.” Trask smiles at her again and then turns and looks at me. “I would be looking at my burger before I take a bite out of it. What has gotten into you lately? You are one ornery ass these days.” I know Trask is right, but I can’t get one certain woman out of my head. I don’t know how to deal with the feelings I have, and I haven’t even had any one-on-one time with the woman. I don’t know the woman at all.
“I know, and I am trying to control my short fuse, but I have feelings about Sage and it’s keeping me distracted. I can’t concentrate when I’m working, and I’m fixing my screw-ups more than anything. I need to get it under control because I have a full load n
ext week. Our lunches are going to be put off until fall. If I don’t get my head back on my work, then Dad is going to start hiring more bodies to help me and we can’t afford that until harvest time or when we start getting money from the inseminations—then we will be sitting pretty. We just need to get there.” I know the only thing bothering me is Sage. I am used to the pressures of the farm.
“I am calling you on your bullshit. Your dad has more money than most people in this entire county. He can afford to pay for whatever he wants to do or who he wants to hire. This is all about Sage and you wanting her in your bed.” Trask calls me on my lie before I can barely get it out of my mouth. I smell the burgers before I see them. I neglected to eat this morning. I wanted to get a head start on my work.
“You are right, but I don’t want to touch a dime the farm made last year. My dad and mom are not getting any younger and they should be thinking about retirement soon. I haven’t gone back into the earnings from the year prior for eight long years and I don’t want to start now. Everything is on a schedule and I like it that way. If I watch the pennies, then the dollars will be drawing interest.” I sound like an old man.
“Now you sound like both our dad’s. Don’t forget you need to take some time and enjoy the day too. Which brings me to why I asked you here.” I look at Trask, but Lesley brings our food over. I noticed it’s the same food I had been smelling for a few minutes now. Lesley was ignoring it since I pissed her off. I should say something, but it will get me nowhere.
“Can I get you two anything else?” Lesley asks only looking at Trask.
“Ketchup, please, and maybe a refill on the tea.” Trask is turning it on thick.
“I’m on it,” Lesley says and walks away. It only takes her a few minutes and she is back with the ketchup and fills our tea glasses.