Southern Charms

by S. E. Kloos

  Turning his head to look at her, he got a great shot of her profile. From where he was standing, he could see there was still swelling. No, not a lot, but it was noticeable if you were close enough at the right angle. The thing that got him was that it was at least a month old, and it wasn’t fully healed yet.

  He was pulled back to the stables by a hand asking him if he needed anything. Glancing at the little lady again, he nodded to her. “Get her a Coke.” Once the hand was off to grab the girl something to drink, he moved from the side of his truck, crouched down in front of her again, and moved his gun from his shoulders to between his bent knees. He grasped it with both hands while looking up at her, trying to catch her eyes. They were still distant, full of fear and confusion, but she had finally seemed to stop crying. Thank God, too, because ladies and tears were the one combination he couldn’t handle.

  As he was getting ready to talk to her, she beat him to it, but her voice was still quiet and unsure. “Thank you.”

  Xander smiled at her. “Weren’t nothin’ Little Darlin’. Just ‘member this now; the sun don’t shine on the same dog’s tail all the time.”

  She blinked at him a few times before speaking again. “What does that mean?”

  His smile grew more. “Means that boy is gonna get everythin’ he deserves someday.”

  She lowered her eyes from his, which he found himself a tad upset at, then she snorted softly. “Karma, right?”

  He took a deep breath through his nose and let it out slowly, humming a bit while he did. “Karma, Little Darlin’, takes a coon’s age to catch up to someone. What I said pertains to the closer future than that.”

  Nodding, her eyes then moved to the gun he was using to hold himself up. “Would you really have shot him?”

  There was no hesitation at all on Xander’s part when he nodded. “You bet your ass I would’ve. I’ll break any fucker that raises a hand to a lady with no regret, and damn the consequences of it. My mama raised me to respect and cherish a lady. Those that mistreat ‘em, don’t deserve the life God gave ‘em.”

  Elizabeth shook her head with a sigh. “They sure don’t make guys like that where I come from.”

  Before he had a chance to say anything back to her, there was a shout of ‘Elizabeth’, scaring a shriek of terror out of her, causing her to shove herself back into the truck bed. In response to that, Xander cocked his rifle again. In a motion as fluid as water in a stream, he stood and turned, raising the barrel and taking aim.

  Seeing that it was his brother with a security guard and two older adults, he raised the barrel and flipped the safety back on before stepping to the side, so the little lady could see who it was that called for her. However, her eyes had once again gone completely out of focus.

  While the girl’s aunt and uncle went over to the truck, Kyle went straight to his brother, grabbing the barrel of the rifle before yanking it out of his hand. “You grounded boy. You ever point this at me again, and I shove it up your ass, ya hear?”

  Xander just rolled his eyes as he lit a cigarette. Taking a hit and blowing out the smoke, “You’re the dipshit that left it with me.”

  “You asked me to.”

  “You listened.”

  “Mr. Steele?”

  Both boys looked behind them at the medic standing there, responding at the same time. “Yeah?”

  When Xander saw who it was though, he jerked his head at his truck. “It’s the Little Lady in the bed.” Once he was heading the right direction, Xander turned back to Kyle. “And I ain’t fuckin’ grounded.”

  Kyle just rolled his eyes at him before they both turned their attention to the young lady who was about to crawl out of her skin. She wasn’t putting up a fight or anything, but she wasn’t really making it easy for the medic to check her out, either.

  The older gentleman who came over with Kyle turned to the brothers a second before glancing to his niece. Making up his mind, he turned back to the boys, gratefulness in his eyes when he held a hand out to Xander. “Much obliged, Son, that you helped my niece.”

  Xander smiled at him as he clasped the man’s hand in the grip his Pa taught him when he was a kid. “As I told the little lady, Sir, weren’t nothin’. My mama would beat me with a switch, had I stood there an’ done nothin’.”

  A respectful light lit in Marshal's eyes at that. “I reckon you right, but thanks just the same.” He looked at the boys hard for a minute before something clicked in his mind. “You two Jim and Bev’s boys, ain’t cha?” At their nods, he smiled wide. “I ain’t seen y’all two since you was knee high to short Indian.” Then he glanced over his shoulder at his wife. Seeing her looking back at him with an expectant look, he crossed his arms. “You boys gonna be in town long?”

  Xander’s eyes caught his brother’s for a moment before he answered. “Couple days at least I reckon. Gotta spend some time with mama ‘fore we head back on out, or we’ll face the wrath of our Pa.”

  Still looking at his wife a minute longer, Marshal turned back to the boys. “My wife would skin me alive if I didn’t invite y’all over for dinner, to thank ya proper for what y'all did for our girl.” That light in his eyes got brighter, filling with amusement as he chucked. “If you decline, y’all get to be the ones to tell her.”

  Both boys paled no small amount at his words. They looked at each other, easily read fear in their eyes. Never mind what their mama would do to them if they said no under the circumstances, they were far more afraid of what their daddy would do for telling a lady ‘no’ at all. What made it worse was it would seem the guy knew it, too.

  Xander gulped hard before turning back to the girl’s kin and nodded. “Thank ya kindly for the offer, Sir. We would be overly obliged to accept.”

  Marshal snorted. “Smart boy. You make your mama proud. Matter of fact, why don’t y’all bring her and your Pa with you tomorrow night. Haven’t gotten to see them in coon’s age.”

  A smile formed on Xander’s lips, despite the blackmail, at the mention of his mama. He was certainly the definition of a mama’s boy, and he would stomp anyone that thought less of him for it. “I’m sure they would be obliged as well, Sir.”

  It was then that there was a lady’s voice in the conversation. “Marshal, the medic said we can take Eribeth home, now.”

  All three men turned to Steff, who stood over by Xander’s truck with the still pale little lady drinking the Coke that Xander had asked a hand to get for her. She had her head propped up by her palm on her forehead, eyes closed as the medic took the arm cuff off her. There was a shiny sheen of sweat coating most of her skin, making the already tight tank top cling to her. She looked god awful at the moment, about a second from just passing out completely. A combination of absolute terror, exertion, and the 105 degree temperature Xander was sure.

  She was still gorgeous, though.

  Xander glanced at his brother. “Rocky saddled up?” At the confused nod from Kyle, he explained. “I'ma give the lady a ride out. I doubt she can make it on her own.”

  Kyle looked at the girl as she swayed, then nodded. “I’ll get him. You just make sure you’re back in time, ya hear? You got ten minutes.” He turned and jogged over to where Xander’s horse was being tended to.

  Xander watched after his brother while shaking his head. He didn’t give a damn if he missed one ride, or was disqualified from the round completely.

  Once Kyle came back with Xander’s stallion, Xander took the reins, pulling the horse over to his truck so the lady wasn’t walking much. Letting the reins go, he turned to crouch down in front of her again as he sought her eyes. Once she was sorta focused on him, he asked, “Hey, Little Darlin. You ever ride a horse before?” When she shook her head, he nodded his. It looked like he was riding with her so she didn’t fall. Giving her a smile, “Well, first for everythin’.”

  Elizabeth glanced at the stallion behind him. Her eyes went wide, making Xander chuckle a bit as he looked back at Rocky. “I reckon he looks big,” then he turned back to he
r, “but he ain’t nothin’ but a big ol’ softy.”

  Then he stood up and held his hands out to her, pulling her to her feet when she put her hands in his. Clicking his tongue in command to the horse, he turned the lady to him. After lifting her up in one smooth motion, he sat her side saddle on Rocky before putting his boot in a foothold, climbing up to settle behind her. After getting situated in the saddle, Xander wrapped an arm lightly around the little darlin’ to keep her steady, then used his free hand to pull at the horse’s reins to turn him toward the exit.

  Elizabeth was dizzy, plus the sway of the horse’s walk was making her feel sick. She grabbed onto the arm that was around her stomach, then pressed her face into the shoulder attached to the torso, which she was leaning heavily against. As mortified as she was about running into the man who didn’t even seem to mind, she was even more so right at the moment, because she was positive that he could feel her stomach rolling against his forearm. As she sat there, she prayed with everything she had that she didn’t throw up all over the beautiful black horse… or the hot ass cowboy.

  Xander glanced down at the lady when he felt her grab onto him. He tightened his grip on her in response, pulling her closer to him and more centered, to make the ride smoother for her. Lowering and softening his voice, he dipped his head a bit to whisper in her ear, “How ya doin’ there, Little Darlin’?”

  Her response was muffled and quiet, but he heard it nonetheless. “I feel sick.”

  Xander lifted his eyes to see the parking lot coming into view, as well as the girl’s uncle pointing out where they were going. Turning his attention back to her, he offered, “just breathe, Little Darlin’. Almost there.”

  Pulling Rocky to a stop a few minutes later, Xander dismounted and set his hand on the little lady’s waist, to help her down once her uncle got the truck door open. Once it was open, Xander lifted her off his horse like she weighed nothing more than a newborn puppy, setting her on her feet, but held on for an extra moment when she grabbed his arms to keep her knees from giving out.

  Once they were both sure that she was gonna stay up, Xander helped her over to the truck, handling her inside like the southern gentleman his mama raised him to be, before tipping his hat with a ‘Ma’am’ and doing the same for her aunt.

  Steff looked at Xander with a smile. “Well, ain’t you just sweet as Pie, young man?”

  Xander just winked at her before closing the door, leaning on the open window. “What time should I tell Mama for?”

  Steff hummed a moment before tsking. “Hows about, four?”

  Xander nodded with a small smile. “I’ll pass it along, Ma’am.” Then he looked over at Marshal, “I'ma call my cousin, have him keep an eye on the farm tonight, ‘case that boy don’t listen for shit.”

  Marshal cocked a brow at him, but didn’t say anything before Xander went on. “He lives about a mile from y’all these days. Just didn’t want ya worried if ya get home and someone was there. That boy was dumb enough to pull that here, he dumb enough to do just about anythin’… like not listen to someone who pointed a gun in his face.”

  Marshal just nodded at him in thanks as he turned the key, starting up his truck. Before be backed out of his spot, he leaned forward to call to Xander, who was mounting his horse again. “You tell that Pa of yours that he owes me a bottle of whisky.”

  Xander snorted with a smirk. “I’ll tell ‘im, but you know Pa.” Then he kicked Rocky’s ribs, making the horse rear up on his hind legs with a ‘nay’ before leaping into a full gallop heading back to the stables.

  Chapter 7

  When they pulled into the drive an hour later, there was a truck sitting by the porch. Pulling his to a stop next to it, Marshal got out to look around, pausing in his search when a big son of a bitch came walking around the side of the house with a rifle over his shoulder.

  Steff had gotten out of her side, blinking when she realised the man she had always known to be a scrawny little thing had certainly grown up. Setting a hand on her hip while holding on to the top if the open truck door, she astonished. “Lord have mercy, Boy. What has that mama of yours been feedin’ you?”

  Mark’s booming laughter bounced around the yard as he patted his stomach. “This wasn’t my mama, Mrs. Johnson. Got hitched few years back. This was all the wife, barn raisin’, and land workin’ for my daddy.”

  Steff smiled at him. “Well, late congratulations are better than none, I suspect. You growed up real nice, Mark.”

  A light blush spread across his cheeks at that. “Awe, go’n now, Ma’am.” Clearing his throat, he turned to Marshal. “I checked the barn and stables, Mr. Johnson. Didn’t see no one. Only thing that seemed off was that I found an open window ‘round back. Wasn’t sure if you left it like that or not. Prolly wouldn’t’ve thought nothin’ of it, had Xander not told me ‘bout what happened. I was fixin’ to go in and check when I heard y’all pull in.”

  Marshal shook his head a bit, closing his door before walking around to the other side, to help his niece out of the truck. “It’s over the kitchen sink. Damn thing got stuck ‘bout a month ago. Can’t get it to budge an inch. Ya mind comin’ in and seein’ if you can?”

  Mark set his rifle on the porch railing while shaking his head. “Not at all, Mr. Johnson.” He waited at the bottom of the steps in case the slip of a lady needed any extra help up. Xander had told him she was whiter than a sheet when he last saw her. That description was still pretty close to being true. He wasn’t sure if she was still freaked out, or if she was just that pale normally. He tipped the brim of his hat to her when she gave him a tight-lipped smile. “Little Lady.”

  Following them inside to the kitchen, Mark went over to the window for a look. He hit one side hard enough to shake the glass in the frame before sliding it shut. He reopened it, then shut it again to make sure it was gonna behave. When he was sure it would, he turned to lean on the sink, looking over at Marshal. “Came out of its slide. Should work fine for ya now.”

  Marshal nodded to him. “Thank ya, Youngin’. Damn thing pissed me off somethin’ fierce.”

  Mark snorted quietly before pushing himself off the sink. “Well, I should be gettin’ on home ‘fore the misses starts to worry.” Stopping next to the phone, he picked up the pen to write his number on the message pad. “If y’all have any trouble or need anythin’, I can be here lickady split. Val and I’ll keep an eye out. I’ll call Jed to have him do the same on the other end. That sumbitch not gettin’ nowhere near here without someone knowin’ ‘bout it first.”

  Mark’s attention was pulled to the little lady at the dining room table when she whimpered quietly. His eyes lost their menacing heat as he sighed, then crouched down in front of her, giving her a reassuring smile. “Don’t you worry none, Little Lady. Ain’t no punk ass city boy gonna be able to do nothin’ ‘round here. Everyone here grew up here, and these stompin’ grounds are second nature. If he still here, he can’t hide better than we can hunt, and we don’t miss.” Then he hummed quietly in his throat before speaking again. “Matter a fact… be right back.”

  Elizabeth and her uncle watched as Mark stood up and went outside. She looked up at him with a confused face, to which he shrugged with a shake of his head. With that boy, it could be just about anything, and none of it would surprise him.

  About three minutes later, Mark came back in with a long, flat black case in his hand. Taking up a seat next to Elizabeth at the table, he unlatched the locks and opened it up, revealing the BB gun that was inside, turning it toward the wide eyed lady.

  Snorting, Mark smiled at her. “This ain’t what you think, Little Lady. It’s only a BB gun. It won’t actually kill someone, ‘less you hit ‘em in the eye or somethin’, but it does hurt somethin’ fierce... make ‘em think twice about doin’ somethin’ stupid. Looks real ‘nuff to stop pretty much anyone in their tracks, though.”

  Taking a few minutes, he showed her how to load it, cock it, and the proper way to hold it to get the most accurate aim. Wh
en she thought she had the gist of it, Elizabeth smiled at him. “Thank you, Mark.”

  Mark shrugged as he stood up to leave. “Weren’t nothin’ Little Lady. It wasn’t gettin’ used. ‘Sides, everyone ‘round here learns to shoot with one of those, so we don’t kill anyone. Practice on that, and I’ll come back in a few days to see how well you doin’. Know my Val wants to meet ya, so I’ll bring her ‘long, too.”

  Elizabeth nodded at that, thanked him again, then watched from her chair as her aunt walked Mark to the door. After a light sigh, she turned to her uncle, “How the hell did he find me here? I don’t understand. I left everything that he could have used to find me back home.”

  Marshal shook his head as he sat down at the table with her. He was quiet for a moment before he spoke, his voice quiet. “I don’t know either, Eribeth. I’m sorry about this. He wouldn’t have known, had I not forced you to go somewhere.”

  Elizabeth plopped back against the chair with a snort, crossing her arms as her gaze fixed on the table top. Her voice was flat when she responded back. “No, you were right. I was hiding, letting him ruin my life and all that. As least it was a public place with people around that he saw me, not here with you guys at home.” Then she folded her arms before setting her chin on them. “What am I going to do, Uncle Marsh? This was the only place I had to go.”

  At that, Marshal hummed in his throat while leaning back in his seat, crossing his own arms. “Welp... the way I see it, Sug, you got two choices. You can run again, hope for the best. Or, you can stay right here and show him that you ain’t scared of him.”