by Victor Cruz
She moves fast. Maxson thought.
“I think we’re goin’ to battle!” Colton suggested with excitement. He was more of a lover than a fighter, but still enjoyed himself a good fight.
Yargan grunted and gave a pound of his chest while he walked towards a pile of thick wooden sticks. His hand grabbed the knife tied at his waist and he grabbed a stick. He gave a sharpening motion to Colton who gave him the nod of approval.
Maxson was impressed with the preparations that were going on around him. The rest of the group all looked to be setting out weapons on the driveway. He asked Colton. “Is Cat here?”
“Yup. Upstairs in the women’s room,” Confirmed Colton. “Put me and Yarg-dog here in charge of making us spears. They tried to make us clean up after breakfast, but we said hell no to that. Didn’t we Yarg?”
Yargan heard his name he thought and looked over to Colton. He wasn’t sure what was going on like usual and continued to sharpen a spear.
“The nerve,” Maxson joked. Yargan who was still standing there didn’t offer a smile and just looked blankly at Maxson. He almost had his first spear completed by now.
“Max… did something happen between you and Dustin?” Colton asked.
“Uhh… well… why are you asking? He’s not a fan of mine,” Concealed Maxson.
“I don’t know, he’s just been acting funky today. Forget I asked,” Colton nodded.
“Is Dustin your boy or something now?” Maxson asked. “You guys have been spending time together I’ve noticed.”
“Yeah, we’ve become closer friends. Ever since the night…. That I fucked up. We both kind of are the fuck-ups of the group,” Colton confessed.
“You’re not a fuck-up Colton.”
“Maxson… I got Charlotte killed. Marge and Howard too,” Colton said with grievance.
Maxson sighed, “Look, you might have fucked up once or twice. But that doesn’t mean you’re a fuck-up. That doesn’t mean you always have to be a fuck up or that you’re always a fuck-up. Understand?”
“Easy for you to say,” Colton responded. “Mr.-I’m-Better-Than-Everybody.”
Yargan was looking back and forth between the two men saying nothing. He was sharpening the second spear without looking at it the entire time, attempting to decipher what was going on through the tone and body language.
“I don’t think I’m better than anybody,” Maxson was shocked to hear that. Except Konrad, Eddie, Dustin and now maybe Tyler.
“Uh-huh,” Nodded Colton, obviously in disbelief.
“What the fuck, Colt? Why are you saying this?” Maxson had no idea where this was coming from.
“You know we’ve been friends for almost two decades and you can’t even be truthful with me. Your best friend,” Colton sounded like he had been holding this in for a while.
“Truthful? About what?” Maxson had always told Colton the truth.
Yargan dropped the second spear against the wall causing the men to both look at him for a moment. The red-haired bearded man just stared at them both without saying a word. He reached down and grabbed a third stick and went to work sharpening it.
“Belle… Dustin… the whole situation. Acting like you’re some honorable man who lives by a code until nobody is watching,” Colton accused. “You always have to be the one in control and not just that, but then take any woman you want. Not just woman, but women.”
“You know, Colton. You’re beginning to sound a lot more like Konrad and his boys. Especially that last part,” Maxson said defensively. And also wondering how he knew about Catalina.
“Maybe because what they’re saying is starting to make sense,” Colton said so evenly that Maxson couldn’t even argue with him because there wasn’t an argument to be had. “You seem to have a problem with these guys, but maybe the problem isn’t them. Maybe the problem is you.”
Maxson was speechless and watched Colton walk off calmly and join Dustin, Colton, Tyler and Krystal’s circle. He thought for a moment to go over and drop the bombshell of what he saw from Krystal last night to Tyler, but realized that maybe Colton was right. It was strange to think that maybe he was actually the cause of all of the turmoil that had been occurring.
But that still doesn’t make Konrad’s side venture okay. Maxson wondered what he would do if he was one of the Essex brothers. Would I do the same thing? So, I could escape me?
Maxson thought about briefly.
I would. Maxson realized and said softly aloud to himself. “Shit. Maybe I am a hypocrite.”
Maxson looked over to Yargan. Yargan grunted. Maxson grunted back and gave him a thumbs up. Yargan gave one back and a grunt as he continued to work the end of the stick with his knife.
Inez and Reggie both were exiting the backdoor of the Parson home to rejoin the rest of the group. Maxson looked around, but couldn’t find the pickup truck. He decided he better go talk to Catalina to see what was going on. Colton’s words were ringing in his head and he felt like he was off balance the entire walk to the house, upstairs and to the room they were in. A polite knock was given on the door and he used a hand to keep himself propped up against the wooden frame.
“Come in,” Catalina’s voice called.
The door opened and Colton’s words were wiped away by the image he was looking at. Belle and Catalina were both standing in front of mirrors and being fitted by Mabel and Suzie. Each of them was wearing black heels and black leather pants so tight that it looked like they were painted on their beautiful figures. They were both facing away and both of the women that he was sleeping with were right next to one another. Catalina’s butt was larger and firm, but Belle’s was plump and perky. It was impossible for Maxson to decided whose body he preferred and decided to settle on choosing both. Their breasts both were spilling out of their tops that were form fitting and pushed them up and together.
“Wow, I’m…” Maxson didn’t even try and finish the sentence.
“You like?” Belle asked.
Maxson could see their rears perfectly in their pants. “Oh yeah. I like.”
“How could any man not?” Suzie exclaimed. “These women have bodies of Goddesses!”
“Suzie!” Catalina looked at her funny.
“What? You’ve got the ass of a Brazilian woman and breasts that I thought were too large to be possibly natural!” Suzie complimented before turning to Belle. “And you, little lady, better just enjoy that hot body of yours while you’re young. You’re tight now, but when you get to be my age.”
Suzie put her hands out and blew out her cheeks to make herself even larger than she was already. She swayed back and forth like a ball rolling around and twirled making everyone, including Maxson, laugh.
“You both are very pretty women,” Mabel agreed, in a more conservative manner. “And good women too. Not like some.”
“Gossip?” Maxson asked with suspicion.
“There’s always gossip, Maxson,” Belle filled him in.
Maxson came into the room and shut the door behind him. “What’s the scoop?”
“Well, we talked about what happened with you guys last night,” Suzie said.
“And?” Maxson tested the temperature of the room.
“Boy, you can come into my room and take control any day you want,” Suzie said immediately.
“Thanks, Suzie. I’ll keep that in mind,” Maxson playfully said back.
“Mabel?” Maxson asked the kind older blonde woman. Her hair had been put in a long pony tail and was wrapped with fabric. Mixed inside the fabric were a copy of sticks that shaved down and put in the back of her hair. A small dreamcatcher hung from the back of one and a feather hung on another. Beyond that, mostly colorful beads were attached to the sticks.
“I don’t judge. I just want you boys to all get along. We’ve all been through enough violence to already last a lifetime,” Mabel said in a soft voice without any hint of judgement.
Belle was hushed and looked very uncomfortable, but Catalina looked at him with suspicious
eyes. They stare at one another and she shrugged her shoulders.
“It’s your choice,” She said before turning back around.
Suzie found a spot to talk again, “We also found out that Krystal might be messing around on Tyler.”
“Oh yeah? That’s interesting,” Nodded Maxson, not hinting that he knew that she was.
Suzie gave her opinion, “That young dumb girl walking off on that handsome boy. He can come cry to me. Big Mama and her girls will give him somewhere to lean. He’ll never want to go back to that twig after he’s been with me.”
Suzie began to shake her large breasts.
“Suzie!” Belle covered her mouth to wildly laugh.
“Is that all you ladies do? Sit and talking about who is having sex with who here?” Maxson asked.
“We also talk about who we want to have sex with,” Suzie said spicily.
“We do not, Susan,” Mabel looked at her firmly.
“We have before,” Suzie stood firmly.
Both Catalina and Belle were looking uncomfortable in front of Maxson and he enjoyed it. Two beautiful women, feeling nervous with him in the room when he should be the one feeling unnerved.
“Suzie, I think we should get together one night and talk over drinks,” Maxson kept on the offensive.
“Gladly!” Suzie said excitedly.
“Enough!” Catalina finally said, stomping her heel into the platform she stood on. The entire room stared at her and she took the time to regain her composure. “I didn’t allow you in here to gossip, Maxson. I allowed you in here to give you orders.”
Maxson stood upright and saluted her. “Yes Captain Catalina?”
She gave him no reaction. “Ladies? Could you excuse us?”
The room of women understood and exited the room. Belle was allowed to stay in the room because the halter top, she was wearing barely contained her breasts.
Catalina then spoke. “Remember what we talked about last night. They found that thing.”
“Did they?” Maxson asked.
“You were right. A lot of our stuff was there,” Catalina nodded.
“I had no doubts that would be the case,” Maxson stated confidently.
“We have it in our possession now. I was just told,” Catalina said.
“Already? Wow, you move fast,” Maxson was impressed. “But aren’t you worried they’ll realize that it’s gone?”
“Yes. Which means one thing,” Catalina said.
“And that thing would be?” Maxson had a feeling he knew already.
“We take the resort now.”
“Now?”
“Right now.”
Maxson divulged the information and thought about it. There was no time to argue and he nodded. “Alright, I’m in.”
“Good. Now gear up and get over there to clear it out. We’ll stay back to clean this place out of everything valuable and meet you over there,” Catalina said.
Maxson accepted what he was told and turned towards the door to leave.
“Cat, don’t forget!” Belle finally broke her silence.
“Oh yeah!” Catalina said. “Go to the closet.”
Maxson walked over towards the closet. The two of them were both looking at him and one another. “What is going on? Is something going to jump out of the closet at me?”
The both giggled and almost rolled their eyes at the exact same time. Maxson looked inside the closet to find a long black leather duster hanging from rod. He took it off the hanger and tried it on before coming back out to show it off. It was tight, but surprisingly loose and did not restrict his movements in the arms.
“This feels really nice…” Maxson said as he looked at himself in one of the mirrors.
“We picked it out for you. It took leather from three different jackets to make it,” Belle gushed.
“You both picked this out for me? Together?” Maxson looked over at them.
They shared a silent smile with one another before turning to him and nodding.
“Wow… thanks. Well, how do I look?” Maxson asked.
“Fucking sexy,” Belle admitted.
“You know you look good,” Catalina said with a grin.
“Check the pockets!” Belle said.
Maxson put his hands in the pockets and found something balled inside each one. Pulling them out, he found a pair of fingerless gloves in each one. They matched the jacket and fit his large hands. When he squeezed his fingers to clench his fist, he could hear the leather stretching and he felt the power they gave him.
“We thought it’d look good with the Comanche,” Added Catalina.
Maxson was touched. “I’d cry, if I didn’t think you’d both make fun of me for it.”
“Good, because we would,” Catalina joked.
“No, we wouldn’t! It’s okay, babe, let it out,” Belle encouraged.
“Maybe later, but right now, there’s no time for tears. Only time for kicking ass.” Maxson said, giving a few slow punches into the air as ducked and weaved towards the door. “I’m going to fill in everyone on the plan and get going ASAP. You all might as well tell Mabel and Suzie when I leave.”
“Good luck,” Catalina said.
“Yeah, Maxson… please… be careful,” Belle said very softly.
“Don’t worry. I’ll see you both soon,” Maxson assured before he left.
lakeside storm
Maxson rounded up every abled member of the farm. None of them needed an excuse to sit around and relax. Deservedly so, the entire group had been working hard, outside of the normal lazy sack of bones. It would have been the perfect day for rest and recreation if it weren’t for the circumstances.
Just a little longer. Maxson thought. We’ll be able to relax once we taken that resort.
Maxson was surprised that he had bended so easily for Catalina in the moment. He felt slighted, but he could also understand her plan. Konrad came strutting over and Maxson could see that he had something on his mind that he was conjuring up to say to him.
“Oooh, niiiice jacket, Maxson,” Konrad said. “Is that new?”
“You’ll understand why I’m wearing it after we get everyone here. I’ll explain everything,” Maxson assured Konrad.
Each member of the group slowly stumbled towards Maxson. One by one they stood next to one another awaiting him to speak. Some of them were ready for orders, while others looking for leadership. A few looks of confusion and even some glares filled with hate were now all Maxson’s eyes.
“What’s up o-fearless leader?” Konrad impatiently asked when almost everyone had assembled.
“As you all know, we have been looking for a place to move. The winter was harsh on us here in this old farm and it is too hard to defend.”
“Maxson is trying to say we found a new place,” Henry asserted from the back. Catalina must have filled him in on the situation. Everyone turned back to him for a second and then looked back up to Maxson.
“A new place? Really? Like nicer that this type shithole new? Is this true?” Krystal asked looking around.
At least someone looks excited. The crowd right now is definitely suspicious. He noticed with the crowd talking amongst themselves. Maxson glared over the crowd at the old man who had since turned and began to walk away. “Thanks a lot Henry.”
“Glad I can help, sonny, now I’ll be right back. Don’t mind me,” Henry said walking back to the barn.
“Where exactly?” Konrad asked. Maxson could see a million thoughts racing in his mind.
“Near Greenbrook. In the woods near a lake. Found a resort up there called Paradise Falls. Only problem is, we have to break it and clear it out first.” Maxson explained.
“Oh great, so we have to do your dirty work,” Konrad replied.
“Our dirty work, you mean? We’re moving there so we all have a nicer place to live. Unless you had some sort of other plans, Konrad,” Maxson retorted.
“No, I never said that, I thought we were staying here till after winter,” Konrad huffed
.
“Catalina got you whipped into following her now?” Eddie added. “What give’s Wonderkid?”
Dustin could be seen cringing out of the corner of Maxson’s eye at the nickname he had given him. “Because we have time to take it before winter hits. Why put off tomorrow what we can do today?”
Konrad and Eddie shared a look. A look of uncertainty that made Maxson have to stifle a smile.
“I’m in,” Reggie said.
“Me too,” Inez followed.
Yargan had a blank stare in his eye, but he gave Maxson a thumbs up.
“But how are we all getting over there? Our ride broke down when we got here, remember?” Konrad rebutted.
As if on cue, the sound of an engine came from the barn. The semi-truck began to roll out of the barn and unveil the attached school bus that trailed behind it like it was a trailer. Everyone stared at the hybrid vehicle a few seconds in wonder and admiration.
“We’ll be taking that beast,” Maxson nodded toward it.
Konrad looked shocked to see the vehicle approaching them. He had been so invested in his own plots and schemes that he didn’t know that Henry was already done working on their exit vehicle. Henry parked the semi-bus right next to them and got out of the vehicle with a big wide grin of accomplishment hiding under his big furry mustache as he stood in front of it.
“What do you guys think?” Henry asked.
Colton gave him an applause and Diego followed. Yargan was stroking his beard and nodding in approval. Reggie, Inez had already seen it, but joined Diego and Colton in applause.
Diego then said over his clapping, “Okay, me too. I’m in.”
Pete, Scott, Tyler, Colton were all nodding their heads in agreement that they were willing to go as well. Henry’s vehicle had the unintended effect of giving the entire group some sort of beacon of hope. Even from those who Maxson would least expect.
“Well, alright, then, Maxson. I guess you’ve got the support of the Essex boys too,” Konrad wrapped an arm around Eddie. Eddie pushed his older brother off of him to stand alone.
“Yeah. What he said,” Eddie nodded towards Konrad.
“Alright then, everyone take themselves ten minutes to pack up the essentials from the house. Put the bags next to Henry’s rig and those staying back will load it up.” Instructed Maxson.