That did it. “As opposed to you, who’s so busy being a hardass that you have no man of your own and have to get involved with your sister’s?”
She pointed her sword at mine. “You gonna hang around and jabber, then grab the sword and get to work.”
“I’ve been working all day. I’m tired. I need a drink of water.” I headed for the dome.
She stepped in front of me. “Use the hose.”
“I want ice water like usual.”
“Hose.” She was clearly not moving.
I swerved around her. The woman was tap-dancing on my last nerve. “You want me to leave some money on the counter, that it?” I sneered.
She bumped me. Set me back on my heels.
I cocked my arm to pop her one.
“Stop it, you two.”
I blinked at the new voice, and Glory knocked me flat on my bottom. Then swore.
I raised my head, and there, to my utter astonishment, stood Lorena. My throat worked, but no sound was forthcoming. I glanced from her to Glory, who was frowning to beat the band.
“You said you wanted to hide out,” she accused.
“You’re handling Eudora all wrong.”
“My turf, my choice. Get back inside.”
“Don’t you order me around.”
They were like two squabbling kids. I rose and stepped between them, still gaping. “Lorena, what are you doing here? After—after she—” I pointed at Glory.
“You, of all people should know the answer to that.”
“Me?”
Lorena glanced at Glory. “When you spoke of your sister and how much you long to see her, I couldn’t forget it. I headed toward Abilene, but with every mile, I kept thinking about how I have a sister I never speak to.”
“She says you two don’t like each other. Why not?”
“It’s not that we . . . It’s complicated.”
“Because of Ray, I get that, but what about before?”
She hesitated. They exchanged glances. At last, she spoke. “She and Ray used to date, did you know that?”
Good grief. Soap opera, indeed. “No.” I turned to Glory. “Did you love him?”
An irritable shrug. “I wanted out of Jewel more. I left.”
“And I never wanted to be anywhere else,” Lorena said. “I started flirting with him to get your goat, you know.”
Glory scowled.
“So you were always rivals?” I asked. Though they weren’t paying me all that much attention.
“We had little in common,” Lorena finally answered. “She traveled all over, while I stayed and built a life here. We lost touch. Then she came back to town a few years ago, and I hoped things would be better between us, but . . . things happened.”
I looked from one to the other, sensing I was missing something, but neither would look at me, so I took a stab. “Did you know she’d married Ray before you returned?”
One nod.
“Were you upset?”
“Maybe. He was a good kisser.” Glory smirked.
“Still is,” Lorena countered.
Eww, too much information. Nonetheless, I pressed on. “So you, what—still wanted him? Decided to get even?”
Glory wouldn’t look at us. “I’m not discussing this with either of you.”
The moment was sticky with misery. It would probably have been smarter to change the topic, but not talking had helped no one thus far. Dicey as the subject was, here was an opportunity that might not come again.
Oh, lordy. Oh, man.
I took a deep breath. “Well, that’s just stupid.” Glory’s glare nearly stopped me dead, but I barged on. “You’re sisters, see, and that means something. Yes, sisters hurt each other. Sometimes they say things they wish they could take back, but blood counts. Family counts. You cannot waste it. Do you know what I’d give for the chance you have? Do you?” I could have wrung their necks. “Maybe you were hurt that she married him, but maybe she was hurt that you didn’t keep in touch. You picked a real bad way to get back at her, having an affair with her husband, but maybe—”
I stopped because I’d never seen Glory so vulnerable, her expression so lost as she watched Lorena, and it got to me. “You have to work this out,” I said. “You have to.”
But Lorena wasn’t listening to me, either, totally focused on Glory. At first she seemed confused and then, astonishingly, a curve began to form on her lips. “You didn’t do it, did you? You and Ray didn’t actually have an affair.”
Her voice was so quiet, I wasn’t sure I heard right.
“Did you?” she prodded.
Glory kept staring at her, then one single tear fell down her weathered cheek. Finally, she shook her head.
Holy cow. “But—What—” I was clearly talking to myself. The two of them had eyes only for each other. Lorena took one step toward Glory, then another. Glory didn’t move, but all the fight had gone out of her.
“Why?” Lorena asked. “Why make me believe you did?”
“He thought it would get you mad enough to talk to him. The distance was killing him.”
“He was the one who refused to speak to me first. He could have broken the silence at any time.”
“He’s a man. Ergo, an idiot.” They shared a smile. “Anyway, I owed him.”
The air around them was so full and charged, it was practically a tornado. I had the inescapable sense that something more was going on here than I understood.
Glory cleared her throat. “He’s a good man. You belong together.”
They stood so close yet so far apart, across a chasm of years. Of misunderstandings. Slowly, Lorena’s arms encircled Glory’s shoulders, and I realized that while Lorena seemed small and Glory huge, they were actually close to the same size.
Glory’s shoulders started to shake, and it was Lorena who comforted her, Lorena who, despite Glory’s bluster, was the strong one. Two sisters together at last, holding each other the way I wanted so badly to hold and be held again by my own.
They forgot I was there. I should have gone then and left them alone, but for a minute, I just wanted to stay. The love was spilling over, and I yearned to lap it up a little while. I heard them murmuring to each other, and it was beautiful and it hurt.
I picked up my sword, stuck it in its scabbard and looped the strap over my shoulder. Started down the hill toward the bike.
“Don’t tell him where I am yet, Eudora.”
I halted, think of how Ray looked the morning Lorena left. How decent he’d been to me, pitching in that way. I turned. “Why make him wait? Why not straighten things out?”
“No.” Her head shook vigorously. “I’m not ready. I was only watching out for him, trying to keep him from getting himself killed. Instead of apologizing, first he froze me out, then he made things worse by deliberately creating an impression he knew would hurt me. If we’re going to have a future, he has to make the first move.”
“Do you know what the so-called rat bastard did the morning you left? He helped me cook.”
Lorena’s eyebrows rose. “He didn’t.”
“I was freaked because first Val took a powder, then I find out you did, too. He—” I was interrupted by Glory’s snort. “What?”
“Coulda seen that coming a mile away.”
“I disagree,” said Lorena. “I believe Valentine was rather smitten with you.”
“Well, you were wrong.”
“I’m so sorry, dear.”
Lorena’s sympathy would tease out tears I refused to shed. “Doesn’t matter. I knew better.”
“Durga,” Glory muttered.
“What?” Both Lorena and I stared at her.
“You could both take a lesson from her. She’s a Hindu goddess born from the combined breaths of all the gods, who were losing a battle with an army of demons. She emerged a full-grown warrior who won the battle. Her name means beyond reach. She’s a virgin in the full sense of the word, not just sexual but beholden to no man. Her power is not dependent on any m
ale, no father, no husband. That’s where she gets her strength.”
“Is that supposed to be some sort of lesson?” I asked. “Men can only make you weak? Well, I got the memo about that already.” I couldn’t stand thinking about my mistakes another second. “I’m out of here.” I started walking away.
“Eudora.” Lorena’s voice was gentle. “Come back.”
I wanted to. So much.
But I couldn’t. I shook my head and kept going. “Take some time. Just—”
“What?”
“Nothing.” Just please hurry so I can find Sister and get my own chance. But I didn’t say it.
“Come back tomorrow. Promise me.”
Why? So I could watch them together and wish? Eat my heart out? “I don’t think so. Let me know when you’re ready.”
“Don’t chicken out on your lessons,” Glory taunted. “Unless you’re too soft, after all.”
“What’s the point?” I whirled. “Why should I?”
“Because you’re not through learning who you can become,” she said.
“I agree,” said Lorena.
They were standing beside each other, two faces of a goddess. Earth Mother and Sword Woman.
I’d learned that many goddesses came in threes. Three Fates. Three Muses. Kali, the Celtic Morrigan, the Greek Moerae, the Norse triple Norns. A triad was powerful, and I was suddenly and insanely jealous that I couldn’t be part of such a set.
These two didn’t need a third, however. They were already complete. Halves of a pair when I had lost my own. They belonged, and I did not.
But if I could find Sister, I would, too. “I have a journey to complete,” I reminded Glory. “As soon as Lorena’s ready to come back.”
“And what do you hope to accomplish on some wild goose chase after a ghost?” Glory challenged. “Stop kidding yourself.”
Lorena doubted. Val, too, and so did Alex. Now Glory.
“Sister’s not a ghost.” But she seemed so far away from me, I wanted to clap my hands over my ears. Chant really loud. “And who are you to talk, with your obsession with myths, your stupid sword games? I’m no warrior goddess and neither are you.”
“Don’t do this.” Defeat was in Lorena’s voice. “Forget it. I’ll go back.” Her posture echoed her tone.
I couldn’t help but think of all she’d done for me, how she’d taken a chance on me, how much I’d learned from her about being strong and wise and kind, and I was about to repay her by taking a powder just like Val. By not staying the course a little longer.
But Glory’s words echoed and made me shiver in fear. Wild goose chase. Doubt crept in on stealthy predator feet.
“No.” Sure of so little, I was nonetheless positive that I couldn’t make Lorena leave yet. “Don’t. I’ll keep quiet. It’s the least I can do for you. Just . . . will you let me know when you’re ready?” There was a boulder-sized lump in my throat. “Maybe Glory’s right, but I have to try. Otherwise . . . ” I could not bear to think about otherwise.
Then I took off running, even though they were calling to me. The sound of their voices died off as I grabbed the bike and pedaled down the hill to the road.
WASP Training Base
Women’s Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) trained here in military aircraft during World War II from Feb. 21, 1943, through final graduation Day, Dec.7, 1944.
Avenger Field first served as a training base for British Royal Air Force Cadets in 1942, then for U.S. Army Air Forces Cadets Aug. 1942-April 1943.
The WASP program was started under Gen. H.H. (“Hap”) Arnold to train women to fly every kind of mission short of combat, releasing male pilots for overseas duty . . . .
Of 25,000 girls who applied for WASP flight training, 1,830 were accepted; 1,074 won their silver wings. The WASPs flew 60 million miles on operational duty; 37 lost their lives serving their country. WASPs had civil service—not military—status, but were granted eligibility to apply for reserve commissions in the Air Corps after the WASP program ended when the Allies were winning the war in Europe and the U.S.A. pilot shortage was past.
Avenger Field was closed after a short post-WASP span of service as a missile base.
PEARLS LIKE A HAIR SHIRT
I pumped like crazy in the opposite direction of Jewel. I didn’t want to talk to anyone I knew. Didn’t want to see a single soul.
I saw the lights of the Rough and Ready ahead and considered stopping for a drink. Anything to make this ache the size of a mountain go away. The only times I’d been in there were with Val, though, and he was the last thing I wanted to be thinking about. Not that he was anything to me, except a good example. He got out while the getting was good.
Give me a few days, and I’d be the same.
I was pedaling so hard I didn’t hear the shout at first, coming from a pickup in the parking lot.
“Well, lookee here, boys,” said a voice I’d just as soon never have heard again. “It’s the nosy bitch. Your poker stud split, sugar. Wanna come have a drink with us?”
The menace in Bigot Brad’s voice chilled me. I remained silent and kept riding as fast as I could. There were four of them and one of me.
“Stuck up, too, I guess. Thinks she’s too good to drink with us.”
I glanced over my shoulder and saw them getting into his pickup, and I knew I wouldn’t get around them easily. The pickup engine cranked up. I rose and started pumping hard.
It wasn’t nearly fast enough. The truck soon passed, then swerved in front of me. I skidded on the gravel, and the bike slid from beneath me. Rocks cut into my bare legs, and the spokes of the wheel caught my foot. As I fell, all I could hear was laughter.
“Well, well, well.” A door slammed and footsteps approached.
Frantically, I was trying to get my foot free. At last I did, and I scrambled to rise. I wanted with everything in me to run, but I stood my ground, though my insides were shaking.
“So how you and Glory doing, huh? You two gotten real cozy?” Brad swaggered toward me as his friends piled out of the other side.
“Get back.” Come on, Dark Agnes. Big Lil. Someone.
Help me.
“Make me,” he taunted, and his buddies sniggered.
But the voices were silent. There was no help for me.
Sister, I need you, I pleaded.
“Not so brave without ol’ Val, are you? You know, boys, she’s got one hell of a rack on her.” His leer sickened me.
I thought of Dark Agnes and the black-haired brute. She was all alone in the world, and she managed. I remembered Sister taking on the system single-handed to defend me, to keep me safe.
There was no one but me now. I had my sword, but I wondered if I had what it took.
Don’t wait on your enemy. Take the fight to them, Glory had taught me.
I dug deep for the courage and drew my weapon.
“What the hell?” Bigot Brad and his boys started pointing and laughing.
I swung it in a single deadly arc Dark Agnes would have been proud of.
And sent Brad scrambling backward. “You crazy—Get around behind her,” he roared to his friends.
Fear ripped through me. He wouldn’t hesitate to hurt me if he could. I feinted, then slashed at them, but they circled me like a pack of wolves. I jabbed and sliced. Focused hard on every last move I’d seen Glory demonstrate. I might be doomed, but I’d go down swinging.
Suddenly, a light swept over us, freezing them for a second.
Tires squealed to a stop. “Move, Eudora!” came a shout.
Glory?? I didn’t dare take my eyes off them to look.
“I said move!” she yelled.
But where to? It was definitely her, though. Thank heaven.
A shotgun blast brought a tree limb crashing right behind my attackers.
“Hey!” cried one of them. “She’s got a gun!”
“No shit,” yelled Bigot Brad. “Distract her. I’ll get mine.”
“Glory, watch out!” My words died off as her
jeep leaped forward, cutting Brad off from his vehicle.
“You crazy—”
“Get going,” she ordered. “Now.”
“I’m calling the cops,” postured one of them. “They’ll put your ass in jail, you whacked out, murdering—”
“You’re on probation, Ronnie Earle. You’ll be right there with me.” A rack of the shotgun sounded like thunder. “Throw your weapon out, Brad.”
He glared at her, his fingers flexing on the pistol. At last he cast it to the ground. “You’ll pay for this.”
Glory lifted the shotgun slowly and pointed it straight at him. “You sure jabber a lot.” Her smile was chilling. “Bring it on, boy.”
I wouldn’t have gone near Glory again, if I were them. Bigot Brad, though, was not someone whose test paper I’d want to copy from.
“Don’t think we’re done.” In his face was pure menace, but in seconds, they were gone.
The only sound I could hear was Glory’s engine running. She bent to pick up his weapon and stuck it in her glove box. “Best load up your bike and let me drive you home, Eudora.”
My knees were locked in place, otherwise, I would surely have collapsed to the caliche.
“You can drop that blade now.” She pried it gently from my hand. My arms fell to my side, and I started shaking.
“How bad you hurt?”
I looked at her, still mute.
“It’s okay.” Her voice was gruff yet oddly gentle. “Just lean on me a spell.”
She couldn’t possibly imagine how much I wanted to, but I stayed where I was. “What are you doing out here?”
“Looking for you,” she said.
“Me? Why?”
“Lorena was worried, the way you took off.”
“And you?”
She shrugged. “Maybe.” She glanced over. “Your form was pathetic.”
That startled a bark of laughter out of me. “It scared them, though—at least for a minute.” If I ever stopped quaking, I thought I might be a little proud of myself.
“It’s a start,” she conceded. “We’ll work harder tomorrow night.”
Tomorrow night. That assumed I’d return to the dome. “What if I decide not to?”
The Goddess of Fried Okra Page 22