“Why. Yes I have, really. And I’m real happy things are working out for you.” He tried to sound as polite and ‘civilized’ as possible. “Actually, I’ve been thinking about you and wondering how you was getting along all alone here.” Man, that was no kidding!
“The food is real good, wonderful!” He tried to smile convincingly. Whole thing’s crazy, he thought. Two weeks ago I was trying to rob her and she was drunker than a skunk! Now look at us—acting like we was in a high-class restaurant—only the food would have to be better!
Looking around at the collection of what he guessed was some kind of African or native art hanging on the walls, he said, “Very interesting art work. Is your uncle one of them collectors?”
“Well, no, not a collector really. You see, my family serve as missionaries. They’ve traveled all over the world. That’s why Uncle Louie has all these pieces. They were mainly gifts from my parents. Uncle Louie wanted to be a missionary too, but he has always had a weak heart. He had to go into banking,” she said apologetically.
“I guess a lot of people can’t really do what they want in life. Like you and me, for instance. Things haven’t worked out very well for either one of us, have they?” She smiled at him. “Have you ever thought about what you’re going to do with your life?”
“Well, ah, no, not much. I guess things are pretty messed up.” Man! He had to get her off this subject. If she thought about it much more, she’d probably throw him out! “So your family’s in the missionary line?” he asked.
She brightened. “Oh yes, my parents have been in India for two years now. I miss them, but they are very happy there.”
She seemed real fired up. I’m on the right track now, McCabe thought. Don’t was to piss her off no more if I can help it. He nodded earnestly.
“And my brother, Jim, is on his first assignment down in Columbia, South America,” she continued. “He’s only been there for a couple of weeks. I did get a chance to see him right before he left. When he found out I was here, he stopped by. I’ve been trying to get in touch with him to see how things are going down there.”
“Must be an interesting life. Have you ever felt like breaking loose and heading to the jungles to save them heathens?”
“Well, actually, yes. That’s one reason I’m trying to get in touch with my brother.” Her eyes lit up and she spoke excitedly. “They need teachers there and, well, I’ve made a mess of things here. Yes, I am thinking about it.”
“What about your husband?” he asked cautiously. “He let you go?”
“Let me go!” she snorted. “I’d like to see him try to stop me! I filed the divorce papers yesterday. It may take a while, but that’s okay. Actually, things had not been too good between us for a while, then I caught him in bed with my best friend,” she said hotly. “I don’t ever want to see Roger Martin again. I’m going to take back my maiden name, too—Whitehead. I’ll be Allison Whitehead again.”
“Yeah, I remember Roger, that sonuvabitch!” McCabe grinned at her. “He musta been some kinda damn fool!”
She grinned back. “Are you still up to your evil ways, McCabe?”
He shifted uncomfortable. Shit! Why did her family all have to be preachers? No damn luck at all. He knew what was coming now. “Ah, well…” he began awkwardly.
“Never mind!” She cut him off. “I’ve been following your career in the newspapers. You’re just building up more debt, that’s all.”
“Debt?” he shouted. “Debt! Like I owe somebody? What in the world are you talking about?”
“This isn’t the right time to discuss it,” she replied calmly. “By the way, why did it take you so long, McCabe?”
She was a damn complicated woman. “Take me so long?”
“I put that banner up out front over two weeks ago. Where were you?” she asked seriously. “After all, you knew you were the only person I had, ah, met in this wilderness. Yes, where were you?”
“Where was I? Man! If you only knew, Allison.” He grinned, hoping he was avoiding that look she didn’t seem to like. “If you need some help, send me a signal. Put something red on the flagpole. I’ll be here.”
* * * *
Again, McCabe thought he ought to do himself a big favor and stay far away from Allison. In the first place, she was crazy. In the second place, she was so damn complicated that half the time he couldn’t figure her out at all. She went to a lot of trouble to invite him to dinner and assure him that she hadn’t turned him in. He believed her. But then she told him that he owed a debt to somebody. She didn’t say who he owed, or why. Then she asked him what he planned to do with his life. What kinda question was that?
She was built like a brick shit-house and dressed in tight jeans that made her body look great, but she didn’t like the way he looked at her! Hell! How was a man supposed to look at her? She was not only the most beautiful girl he’d ever known, she was also the most tormenting. She wasn’t like any of the women he’d ever known before. They often said one thing and meant another, but it was usually, “No, NO!” while they helped him with their blouse buttons! Yeah, the more he thought about Allison, the more confused he got.
* * * *
McCabe spent a day sectioning up the meat from three fat white-tailed does. No sense waiting for the season to start, he reasoned. Then they’d be so gun-shy, he never would’ve been able to bag these here tender little beauties! He knew he’d have to get all the deer meat packed away in Jake’s chest freezer by that evening. Jake was always glad to see him, as most of the meat would end up on Jake and Jan’s dinner table. Yeah, Jake was O.K.. It was Jan who worried McCabe. He thought she didn’t look too happy to see him these days. Didn’t seem to want him hanging around with Jake no more, neither. Matter of fact, the last time he’d seen her, she’d looked at him like he was an ax murderer!
As he was packing the boxes of deer meat into the pickup, McCabe thought about taking a package over to Allison. Shit! He was always thinking about Allison. Then he remembered the leaking squirrel mess and her cool response.
He tried to picture Diane in the same situation. This wasn’t easy because Diane could turn out some mean fried squirrel. But anyway, if Diane had been pissed at him, the whole world would have known it. No polite but icy: “I know nothing about cooking squirrel, Mr. McCabe.” Diane would have thrown the squirrel back in his face and said, “Take your damn shit outta here, McCabe, you sonuvabitch!” And then she’d have probably tried to backhand him! He grinned. That reaction he could understand!
* * * *
Using the binoculars, he had checked Allison’s place every evening for the last few weeks. Nothing. But today an old red T-shirt fluttered from the flagpole. McCabe smiled. And this time he was sure it was the smile she didn’t like. He was going to see her again!
She ain’t gonna turn me over to the cops, he told himself as he circled the house. She would’ve already done it by now. Still, he checked things out. Finally, he walked up to the front door and knocked.
“McCabe,” Allison said as she opened the door, “I’m glad you’re here. Come in!”
There she goes, he thought as he stepped through the door. She’s saying one thing, but probably meaning another. This sure ain’t no glad type greeting! Aloud, he said, “Hi. You O.K.?”
“I’m doing fine. No problems. That’s what I wanted to tell you.” She looked relaxed, and yeah, she looked happy. Not so bitchy. This was very good!
“Great!” He tried to sound casual. “I’ve been wondering how you was getting along. You look, ah, good.”
She shot him a sidelong glance. “I did have a couple of reasons for getting in touch, for one thing, I’ve heard from my brother, Jim.”
“Still saving souls in the jungle, is he? Ain’t ended up in no cooking pot yet?”
Allison rolled her eyes. “He just sent me a video from the mission. And I thought since you were one of the few people I, ah, knew here, you might want to watch it with me.”
Woman has no sense o
f humor. Looks like I pissed her off again. Well hell! What am I supposed to say? I don’t give a shit about her brother. He said, “Just kidding! Sure, I’d like to see the video.”
Allison busied herself with the DVD. “The police were here yesterday,” she said. “They were checking with all the residents in the area. They wanted to know if I’d seen or heard anything out-of-the-ordinary. One of the officers said it could be dangerous for me here alone.” She grinned up at him. “But then, I already know that, don’t I.”
McCabe grinned back. He wasn’t surprised that the cops were checking up. Finally doing their jobs—lazy bastards. Fat lota good it’d do ’em! “Don’t worry about the cops,” he said confidently.
“Un huh. Well, for your sake I hope you’re right. Get yourself a drink, McCabe.” She gestured toward the coffee table. “I made some whole wheat sandwiches if you’re hungry.”
McCabe looked over the food without much hope. At least her uncle’s booze was first class.
The video, shot from a plane, panned over blue mountain ridges. The silver thread of a river ran through the valley. “My God!” McCabe said, “Looks like West Virginia. Beautiful!”
“It sure is!” Allison agreed. “Jim said in his letter that these next scenes of the Indian village were shot from a jeep on the day he arrived.”
Small groups of smiling Indians ran after the jeep. A few shabby wooden structures bounced into view, but most of the homes were small, rounded huts. Now the jungle closed in around the jeep. “Look, McCabe, a monkey!” Allison said.
He picked out the small creature jumping around excitedly on a high tree limb. The jeep must have slowed down, as the focus improved. Allison was watching him expectantly.
“Cute little fella,” McCabe said. Don’t look like there’s much meat to fry up on that bugger, he concluded silently. No wonder them Indians all looked so scrawny. McCabe eyed the dense vegetation with interest. What would the hunting be like? Man would need to make hisself a tree stand and wear camouflage. That’d be the thing to do. Probably be hot as hell.
“Now there’re entering the mission compound,” Allison explained. Several dingy white frame buildings clustered around a larger building, which was topped with a cross. Orange dust seemed to cover everything. Distant mountain ridges loomed over the hillside mission.
The jeep bumped to a stop and the screen went blank. Then the camera steadied and focused on a tall young man walking toward the church. He stopped, turned and smiled broadly at the camera. Groups of skinny children were running toward him.
“That’s Jim. The kids are from the mission school,” Allison said. “It is so great to see him there. Wait until you hear him preach his first sermon—that’s at the end of the video. He’s a fantastic speaker. The Indians love him!”
Oh Christ! McCabe groaned inwardly—a sermon! He’d heard all the preaching he’d ever wanted to hear when he’d been dragged to church by Grandpap! He took a big gulp of whiskey.
Dressed in clerical robes, the Reverend Jim Whitehead smiled down at his congregation. “Brothers and Sisters,” he began. “You are all children of the Lord. He watches over you. His love is all around you and his mercy is all-forgiving. Even those of you who have been sinners can once again walk in the light of His love!” He paused, but wasn’t smiling. Man! He’s got ’em squirming, McCabe thought. They must know what’s coming!
“How many of you have strayed from the path of the righteous?” Jim demanded. “How many have taken what wasn’t theirs?” He stopped again, his stern gaze travelling around the church. Several of the men lowered their heads. “How many have looked with desire on their neighbor’s wives? How many have lusted in their hearts? How many have committed adultery?” Jim’s voice grew louder, sterner. His eyes moved slowly from face to face. This accusation was met with shuffling and faint coughing noises. The camera panned over the congregation, catching their uneasy glances and averted black eyes.
Poor bastards! Well, every one of ’em is a damn sinner and he knows it. Just like in West Virginia, McCabe decided. Shit! He’s even got me squirming—all that talk about stealing and lusting. He glanced over at Allison, who was watching the screen intently.
“Isn’t he wonderful?” She said. “In the letter he explained that there had been an explosion of moral problems just before he arrived. The mission had been without a minister for several months.”
“He’s sure setting them poor devils straight. Puts me in mind of my Grandpap,” McCabe said.
“I’m so proud of him,” Allison was saying. “I really look up to him, putting up with all the hardships just to help those people.”
“Yeah,” McCabe agreed. “Hardships.”
“Oh yes, he writes that there’s never enough money to do what needs to be done. The crops fail. Diseases cause many deaths among the Indians. There’re never enough medical supplies.” But instead of looking saddened by this list of woes, McCabe thought she looked, well not exactly happy, but definitely fired up.
“There’s so much to do.” She looked at him intently. “I can’t wait to get there!”
“Git there?”
“Well, I’m trying to work things out. I could really be useful there. I applied for my visa weeks ago.”
McCabe couldn’t believe it. She was really leaving? Going to some hole in the jungle to work herself to death—and for what?
“That’s it,” Allison said as the screen went blank. “What did you think of Jim?”
“He sure does some powerful preaching. Bet he has all them sinning Indians whipped into shape by now!” She smiled at this. He noticed that her eyes took on an almost hazel shade when she was happy. Damn, now she was talking about leaving. Just his shitty luck!
“You seem like a man of many talents, McCabe. Just what type of work did you do before, ah…before now?”
“Actually, I can turn my hand at just about anything,” he drawled. “Last summer I worked with a river crew dragging tourists down river. Before that I worked construction in the city. I’ve done a little electrical work,” he finished, thinking of the jerry-rigged line to his trailer.
“Mmmm, Jack-of-all-trades,” she murmured. McCabe thought her eyes took on a calculating look. “With all that talent, you could still be…I mean, you could still lead a very useful life if the right opportunity came along.”
“What’s that?” He said, suddenly alerted. The sound of a car engine drew nearer. Tires crunched over the gravel driveway.
Allison ran to the window. “It’s the police car again!” Panic made her voice shrill. “Quick, hide in the back bedroom.”
Well, this is it, McCabe thought. She’s done turned me in. Could all this have been a trap?
“Yes, Officer.” He heard Allison’s voice clearly from his hiding place. “Everything is fine, no problems.” He eased his breath out in relief. “No, it’s not necessary to check on me every night. I know you’re very busy.”
McCabe couldn’t pick up the low response. He was pretty sure there was only one cop in the house. He edged to the window. The patrol car looked empty. Of course, the guy’s partner could be sneaking around outside right now. He didn’t know whether it was riskier to go or to stay.
Undecided, he listened to Allison. “No, really I’m not afraid to be here alone. I’m used to the place by now.”
Carefully, he leaned around the doorframe. Allison had her back to him, but he could see the cop clearly. Something about the way he’s standing there bothers me, McCabe thought. For one thing, he’s standing much too close to Allison. He was able to catch the cop’s next words.
“You see, ma’am, I just never would forgive myself if anything happened to a pretty young girl like you. It’s no bother stopping by.” His voice was smooth and deep.
McCabe stiffened. “Damn bastard,” he swore under his breath. “He’s putting a move on her.” Protection of the law, HA! Well, at least he knew HE was safe. This here cop wasn’t interested in catching crooks tonight. Sonuvabitch should hear
one a Reverend Jim’s sermons! Probably got a wife and five kids at home. McCabe realized that his fists were clenched and the pulse in his neck was throbbing. He’d deck the guy if he laid a hand on Allison, cop or no cop!
He heard the front door slam shut and saw Allison racing toward him. “It’s O.K., he’s gone,” she said jerkily. “But you’ve got to go! It’s not safe for you here anymore!”
He wanted to reach out and comfort her, but he sensed this wasn’t the right time. She looked very jumpy and scared now. Hell, there was never no right time!
She was hurrying him along the hall toward the back door.
“I’ll be gone for a week or so.” She spoke in short, out-of-breath gasps. “I’ve got to collect my belongings in New Jersey and settle things there. Maybe the law will give up on me if I’m not around for a while. Take care,” she said while pushing him through the door and slamming it behind him.
McCabe got in a quick, “You too,” before the door shut. He stood there in the silence. Would he ever see her again?
* * * *
The next morning McCabe awoke groggy and depressed. Never shoulda finished off that bottle of ‘Beam’ last night, he told himself. Big mistake!
While he shaved, he examined his lean, dark features in the mirror. With quick strokes, he shaved off the moustache he had just painstakingly grown. “Man, you gotta change more than that there moustache if you’re gonna git anywheres with the lady,” he said aloud. “You’re gonna have to change your whole damn life! Look at you, you’re a loser!”
Yeah, a loser. Couldn’t work in the city. Couldn’t work in the hills neither. Nothing suited him. So look at him now. “You’re a damn crook, boy! You are a renegade from the law!” he shouted. “Every cop for miles ’round is hunting you. Sooner or later they’ll git you. So you go and get hooked on a preacher’s girl. You are one dumb ass!”
But Allison, what kinda man did she look up to? He already knew, her brother, Jim,—that’s who. The preacher. By now he was pacing up and down in the confined space. His chances of following in the footsteps of brother Jim were about as good as a snowball’s in hell.
Wicked Women and Other Stories Page 7