Desert Fire

by Marcia Lynn McClure

  Maggie let out a heavy sigh. “Well, darlin’s...when you have boys you better strengthen your faith. Now let’s do some peaches. You haven’t said one word this mornin’, Annie. Not that you could get one in around here during breakfast.”

  “It’s far more entertaining to listen to ya’ll talking,” she said, smiling. “By the way, Mrs. McCall...I’m afraid I don’t know whether or not I’ve ever done any canning.”

  Mary giggled. “Well, it’s easy enough, Annie. Just takes time.”

  

  They canned for nearly five hours without a break and Annie found it exhilarating. They talked and Maggie and Mary gossiped. Annie learned a lot just listening to them. The most disturbing to her was Mary’s habit of bringing the conversation around to Jackson nearly constantly. She didn’t know why it bothered her so. Jackson obviously looked upon Mary with some affection, at least. Whereas he seemed to think Annie a great inconvenience.

  “Those boys get so busy. I hate when they don’t come in for lunch. Mary, take Annie out there to the corral to call those two in for lunch. I’ll go holler for Matthew,” Maggie sighed.

  Mary gleefully slipped her arm through Annie’s and led her out through the door and down to the corrals.

  Annie had never seen such a sight, she was sure. There was Baker sitting atop the fence hollering as he watched his brother. Jackson was astride a magnificent black stallion which was jumping and arching his back furiously, trying to throw the determined looking man off. Mary leaned up against the fence but Annie felt nervous and stood back a few feet.

  “Is he gettin’ anywhere, Baker?” Mary asked.

  “Oh yeah! Look at that! He’s nearly got him now!”

  “He does?” Annie inquired doubtfully. She couldn’t help moving closer to the fence to get a better look.

  “Oh yeah!” Baker chuckled, reaching back, grabbing her arm and pulling her flush with the fence. The dust being kicked up made it hard to breathe.

  “YeeeHaw!” Baker hollered. “You got him now, brother! He’s wearin’ down!”

  “He is?” Annie asked again. She wondered how in the world Jackson was staying on that horse.

  And in the very next moment, he wasn’t. She watched in horror as Jackson’s seat left the horse’s back and landed hard on the ground. Then she stifled a scream as she watched the horse stomp at him as he ran to the fence and jumped it. The horse snorted and shook his head furiously, rearing and stomping savagely.

  “You sorry cuss,” Jackson muttered, clearing the fence just in time.

  “Jackson...your mama wants you boys in for some lunch. But you’re covered in dirt!” Mary laughed. “She’ll have your hide if you go trackin’ in like that.”

  “Then I won’t go trackin’ in, Mary. Now give me a big hug and a kiss, girl,” Jackson said, moving to capture Mary in his arms.

  “No!” she screamed as she giggled and moved away. “You’re filthy!”

  Baker chuckled. “It’s just good ol’ dust, Mary.”

  “He’s filthy!” she laughed.

  Jackson grinned slyly at her. He was dusty, Annie admitted. But it was different than being dirty.

  “Soil doesn’t make a man filthy,” she thought out loud. “A man can be as clean and smell as fresh as evening and still be the filthiest creature on this earth.” Annie hugged herself tightly as she broke out in goose bumps. Something was making her feel sick to her stomach. Something dreadful.

  “Well, thank you, Miss Annie,” Jackson said, bowing. “Coming from you...that’s a real compliment.”

  She was suddenly rather vexed. Why was he so mocking? “What do you mean by that?” she demanded and his eyebrows rose in surprise. “What have I done that has caused you to label me as arrogant? Nothing I’m aware of. In fact, I would say you are the more uppity of the two of us! Overly judgmental of people that you know absolutely nothing about! Why did you even bother bringing me here if I’m such an annoyance to you?”

  Jackson stood staring with a stunned expression on his face.

  “Well,” Baker said, grinning. “We know she has a fuse about as short as Mama’s at least.”

  “I’m sorry, Mr. McCall,” Annie said, smoothing her skirt self-consciously. “I’m just overly fatigued, I guess. I must seem terribly ungrateful to you.” She put a hand to her head as she felt a sudden headache hit.

  “Not at all, Annie. I’m sorry if I made you feel unwelcome,” Jackson apologized, grinning almost kindly at her.

  “Your mama is gonna think we got lost comin’ to get you boys,” Mary reminded. “You all right, Annie?” she asked when she noticed the frown on the girl’s face.

  “I’m fine,” she whispered.

  “Maybe it’s this hot air not agreein’ with you,” Baker suggested, tipping her head up and searching her face.

  “No. No. Actually, I find it much nicer than all that sticky dampness. A body can’t even dry off after bathing, there’s so much moisture in the air there,” she mumbled as she began to feel dizzy. Suddenly she was shaken back to her senses by Jackson’s strong hands on her shoulders.

  “What do you mean? Where is it damp? Where?” he growled into her face.

  “Dang it, Jack. Give her some air.” Baker said, removing his brother’s grip and scooping Annie up in his arms. And then everything was dark.

  Annie regained consciousness almost immediately. “Put me down! Please, Baker!” she demanded, feeling completely aggravated. “I’m fine. It’s only a headache.” She was not the weak blooded, silly girl they were taking her for. She pushed firmly against Baker’s broad chest until he put her down.

  “You sure you’re all right, Annie?” he asked, sincerely concerned.

  She looked up into his handsome face and felt the urge to smooth the frown from his brow. Smiling she said, “I’m fine. I’m sorry to be so much trouble.” Mary and Jackson looked at each other and then at her.

  “Where is it so damp and all, Annie?” Jackson asked casually.

  Annie tossed her head and rolled her eyes. “Louisiana, of course! Where else would I be...” her voice trailed off and the others watched as the color drained from her face.

  “Louisiana? Where in Louisiana?” Jackson asked, taking several steps forward until he stood directly in front of her with his eyes burning into hers.

  “Just...Louisiana,” she choked out.

  “Jackson,” Baker said, taking his brother firmly by the arm. “That’s good, darlin’,” he continued. “You’re beginnin’ to remember. See. Now, let’s get in there for lunch before Mama has kittens.”

  Still holding his elder brother by the arm, Baker pushed Jackson ahead of himself and through the screen door.

  “What’s the matter with you all?” Maggie asked when she noticed the two brothers glaring at each other as they washed up in the basin.

  “Nothin’,” Baker answered bluntly.

  “Mary? Annie? Now I know you girls will tell me what’s goin’ on. You weren’t hurt tryin’ to break that horse were you, Jackson?” she asked.

  Mary looked at Annie and then cast her eyes to the floor. “I think I must have come here from Louisiana, Mrs. McCall. In fact, I’m sure that’s where I’m from. I think your eldest son is impatient and irritated with me because I can’t remember anything else. That’s all.”

  The cloudy memory, as small as it was, was gradually helping Annie’s confidence and personality to re-emerge. She felt that maybe she would eventually be able to remember everything. And that no matter what, she could endure it. She had felt like a little lost puppy until now. But that would change. She hoped.

  “That’s wonderful, honey!” Maggie exclaimed, but Annie thought she sensed a look of regret in the woman’s eyes. “Now, you take Jackson with a grain of salt, dear. He’s an impatient boy. And, Jackson McCall, you find some manners and compassion in that hard heart of yours.”

  “Oh, he’s not so hard-hearted, Mrs. McCall. It’s an act, I think,” Mary said, coyly smiling at Jackson.

  Ann
ie didn’t miss the look in Mary’s eyes as she watched Jackson sit down at the table next to her.

  “Got that mean thing broke yet, Jackson?” Matthew asked as he came through the back door and began to clean up at the basin.

  “Give me another hour or two, little brother. He ain’t as tough as he lets on,” Jackson answered, smiling.

  “Most people ain’t either,” Baker said, winking at Annie and motioning subtly at his elder brother.

  As Matthew sat down Annie noticed how his eyes lingered on Mary for a moment then darted around nervously to see if anyone had noticed. Mary’s gaze never left Jackson, though he seemed oblivious to the fact. Annie felt a little stitch form in the pit of her stomach. Obviously Matthew had feelings for Mary, and obviously Mary had eyes only for Jackson who didn’t seem to be aware of it.

  “Why don’t you tell us about Louisiana, Annie,” Jackson suggested after they had begun their meal.

  “Good gravy, Jackson! Leave the girl alone,” Maggie exclaimed.

  “It’s okay, Mrs. McCall,” Annie said, sensing the tone of almost ‘I don’t believe you’ in Jackson’s voice. “I don’t remember much, Mr. McCall. It’s a feeling almost more than a vision. Moist, heavy air. Rain. The smell of a million different green things and a million different bug noises in the breeze. Magnolias come to mind. And grand old, black oaks.” Suddenly a shiver went through her. The dream she had had the night before returned and for a moment she was silent as she tried to remember more about it.

  “What makes you sure that it’s Louisiana you’re rememberin’?” Baker asked.

  “I’m uncertain,” she answered, hugging herself to dispel the goose bumps that had sprung up all over her.

  “I take it that our Annie here is from Louisiana,” Matthew stated. “Not that anybody bothers tellin’ me anything nohow.”

  “I think she’s the very picture of what I’ve heard a Creole girl should look like,” Mary added. “They’ve all got dark hair, milky skin, and are as beautiful as princesses,” she added in a dreamy voice.

  “Well, then I’m surely not a Creole girl,” Annie added in complete sincerity. When she looked up from her plate, everyone at the table was staring at her with odd expressions on their faces.

  “At least she’s humble about it,” Jackson said, chuckling and returning his attention to his food.

  Matthew stood to leave. “Thank you, Mama. I feel a whole lot better. Ready to run down ol’ Root now. He got out while I was repairin’ that fence. Wanna help me, Baker? You seem to have a regular talent in catchin’ that bull.”

  Baker shook his head vigorously. “You kiddin’? What would ol’ Jackson do without me out there to make sure he don’t get hurt. Naw. You better take care of ol’ Root yourself, Matt.”

  “I’ll come with you, Matthew,” Annie volunteered, standing up and folding her napkin neatly.

  “I don’t know, Annie...” Matthew began to protest.

  “I’ll be fine. I just can’t imagine a ring in a cow’s nose. I’ve got to see that for myself.”

  “Bull, Annie. Ol’ Root is a bull,” Maggie chuckled.

  Matthew glanced at Mary who was still staring dumbly at Jackson, who was still cleaning his plate.

  “Okay, Annie. You a fast runner?” he asked, and they left laughing.

  5

  CHAPTER FOUR

  “What’s the matter, Matthew?” Annie asked, surprising the man.

  “What do you mean?” He stopped walking and looked curiously down at her.

  “You like Mary, don’t you, Matthew?” she asked.

  He looked away rolling his eyes as if he thought it a silly question. “You’re loco, Annie. Mary’s been in love with Jackson since she was six years old. She asked him to marry her when she was thirteen. Why would I be interested in her?”

  “Because she’s pretty, and sweet. You’re nearly completely silent whenever she’s around, you know.”

  He began walking again. “Where has that bull gone off to?”

  Annie was beginning to feel that maybe her feet weren’t used to walking through pastures and climbing fences. But as far as her encouraging Matthew where Mary was concerned, she was undaunted. “Maybe if you weren’t so silent...more yourself when she was around...she’d notice you,” she went on.

  Matthew laughed and stopped, looking down at her. “You’re a persistent little gal, you know that? You don’t even know me, Annie. How are you so sure who I like and what I should do about it?” His smile was like sunshine.

  “It’s a gift I have, Matthew. Truly it is. You just need to catch her attention.”

  He took her hand in his own and patted it with the other. “I’ve seen other men try to take women’s attention away from my big brother, Annie. It don’t happen. They’re always second choice once the female realizes that Jackson won’t ever be interested. I don’t want to be second choice, Annie. I’ll wait for a girl who sees me first.”

  “She’s just infatuated, Matthew. He’s quite rough, mysterious...she’ll get over him, I’m sure,” Annie encouraged.

  “You are a sweet thing, Annie. But I’m a lost cause. Hey! There he is! Come on!” And he took off toward an enormous bull standing some one hundred feet away.

  Annie hiked up her dress and petticoats and took out after him. She stopped when they got close and the bull lowered his head and snorted. He looked mean and Annie didn’t like the ominous look of his horns.

  “Matthew?” she whispered. She could clearly see the shiny copper ring that pierced the animal’s nose.

  “Oh, he’s full of beans and other stuff, Annie. Don’t worry.”

  But when the bull started on a headlong run straight for her, she turned and began to run.

  “Jump the fence, Annie!” she heard Matthew holler, and she obeyed, rather ungracefully, when she reached it.

  The bull charged headlong into the fence and she let out a startled scream as she turned to see him ramming it over and over again with his massive head. Matthew reached him finally and jerked hard on the ring protruding from Root’s nose. The bull turned his head and Matthew began to lead him back to the pasture.

  He looked back at Annie, who was still panting from her sprint, and called, “He’ll get to know you, Annie. You run on back to the house and tell ol’ Baker he ain’t the only one ‘round here that sticks in ol’ Root’s craw!”

  Matthew’s laughter was contagious and Annie giggled to herself. What a sight she must have been!

  When she entered the house, it was to hear Maggie’s concerned voice scolding Jackson.

  “I knew it! I knew it! That horse is mean, Jackson! Look at this! He could’ve really hurt you!”

  “Mama, I’ve been nipped before...it ain’t no big...” Jackson started.

  “Nipped? Nipped? Jackson, it’s beyond me, son, how this is considered a nip!”

  Jackson was standing in the kitchen taking off his shirt and Maggie was frantically wetting a towel at the basin.

  “Mary, fetch some water and get it boilin’! Oh, Annie! Thank goodness! Get that boy to sit down!”

  Annie looked at her dumbfounded. What did she mean? Was she to command him to ‘sit’?

  “Just look at that! Will you look at that?” Maggie exclaimed.

  “Mama, go out and gather the eggs or somethin’. Please. Baker and Annie can take care of this,” Jackson said calmly.

  Annie stood still, not quite knowing what to do.

  “Jackson. Quit ordering me around. I’m your mama!” Maggie wailed frantically.

  “I’ve helped with horse bites before, Mrs. McCall. I can do it. You go out for some air,” Annie said, understanding the situation at once.

  “I just don’t handle it well when my babies get hurt, Annie. I don’t handle it well at all,” she said, wiping the perspiration from her brow.

  Mary returned and handed the water to Annie.

  “Mary, take Mama out for a walk, will you?” Baker said, winking at Annie and handing his mother to Mary.


  “Come on, Mrs. McCall. Let’s get you some air,” Mary suggested, leading the woman out the door.

  “Those boys!” Maggie sighed heavily as she left. “They keep my stomach in knots! I’ll probably end up with twenty-five grandsons and not one granddaughter in the litter.”

  “It is a pretty bad one, Jack,” Baker said, examining the bite mark on Jackson’s shoulder.

  “Well, it feels pretty bad. That ol’ cuss. Nipped me when I had my back turned. I’ve gotta break him now, Baker. I can’t let him get away with it.”

  “You wanna clean this out, Annie. I ain’t too thorough at cleanin’ wounds,” Baker said, wrinkling up his nose.

  Annie walked over to inspect the wound herself with great reluctance.

  “Neked men make her nervous,” Jackson whispered to Baker and they both smiled broadly.

  “Perhaps,” Annie agreed. “But unclad adolescent boys do not concern me in the least.”

  Baker snickered. “She’s gettin’ wise to you, Jack,” he mumbled to his brother.

  The wound was more severe than Annie had first thought. “Do you receive these kinds of injuries on a regular basis?” she asked.

  “Yep. Impressive. Ain’t it?” he asked, though he grimaced as she pressed on it.

  “Where I come from we call it, ‘stupidity,’“ she stated.

  Baker and Jackson raised their eyebrows at each other.

  “Well, well, well! Miss High and Mighty, I’m sure that where you come from the boys all smell like girls and ride sidesaddle, too,” Jackson chuckled. “You come sit here on my lap and I’ll show you what a real, hard workin’ man feels like.” And he pulled her to sit down on his lap.

  She was caught off guard and automatically clutched at his arms for support. He grinned slyly at her and she felt like slapping him. He was either flirting or rude every minute of the day! No in between it seemed.

  She intentionally squeezed his wounded shoulder as she righted herself.

  “Where I come from, Mister McCall...men like you are welcomed only in brothels and drinking establishments,” she informed him as she began to dress the wound.