Halley

by Faye Gibbons

  Halley spoke to her grandfather without her usual caution. “Do you want coffee or don’t you? I don’t care either way, but I’ll need money, if you want it.” Turning to her grandmother, she asked boldly, “Do you need anything?”

  Ma Franklin shook her head. Pa Franklin stared hard at Halley, as if seeing the change that taken place in the last few minutes and trying to figure it out. “My, ain’t we got bossy?”

  Halley shrugged and looked at her grandfather until he averted his eyes.

  “You and your Mama act like I’m made o’ money,” he said. Standing, he dug into his pocket and handed Halley two dollars and some coins. “Now you bring back ever’ penny of my change.”

  Halley ignored him and turned to her grandmother. “You think you can manage the churning?”

  Ma Franklin nodded. “I done it yesterday, didn’t I? Carrie’s tea is fixing me up.” She was no longer bothering to keep the home remedy a secret.

  Pa Franklin grunted. “I think it’s more Doc Graham’s medicine than that old bat’s herbs.”

  Halley ignored him. “I got the churn close to the stove so the milk ought to be sour enough.”

  Ma Franklin nodded.

  Halley went out to draw a fresh bucket of water. The winter sun had brightened the yard a little, and Goliath was curled up on the sunny side of the oak near the wood shed. The dog looked so thin.

  “You’ll need to stir the beans every now and then,” she said to her grandfather when she returned with the water. Thinking of Goliath, she scooped two biscuits from the warming oven and put them in her pocket. “The kettle has hot water in it, if the beans get too dry,” she went on, ignoring her grandfather’s scowl.

  “You better help the Old Woman with the chamber pot ’fore you take off loafering,” said Pa Franklin.

  “No need,” said Ma Franklin. “I’ll manage.”

  “You sure?” Halley asked.

  Ma Franklin nodded.

  Moments later Halley was outside. It felt like being released from prison. She tossed the biscuits to Golly and then looked back at the front window. There stood Pa Franklin watching her. She looked straight back and lifted her chin. “I’m not going to be here long,” she muttered. “I can stand anything for a little while.”

  At last Pa Franklin turned away, and Halley set out for Belton by way of the trail her mother used every day. It followed their pasture fence for a good distance and then it left Franklin property. From what Gid and Pa Franklin said, it went over the MacAfee land and skirted the edge of the two hundred-acre Tyree place before reaching the outskirts of Belton. Though she had never taken the path before, she wasn’t worried about getting lost. There were side trails here and there, but the main path was well-beaten and easy to follow.

  Hope bubbled up inside her like a spring. She was going to write Miss Berry in Rome, Georgia, this very afternoon. She would tell the woman that she was Gid’s niece and that she wanted to go to school more than anything.

  But the old worry came—what would happen to Robbie? She argued with herself that Kate was beginning to stand up to Pa Franklin. She had not allowed him to whip Robbie this morning. But on the other hand, Kate was gone a good bit of the time. And what about after school? What about Saturday mornings?

  But what about me? she thought. What about my life and what I want? And like Clarice said, how was Robbie going to learn to take care of himself if Halley kept doing it? Nobody had ever looked after Halley that way. She’d had to learn to take care of her own problems.

  Halley’s pace grew slower and slower as she debated back and forth. Suddenly her eyes caught a movement across the field. A dog. It had to be Mr. Tyree’s dog, Blackie. Despite what Robbie had said about the dog, she wanted to keep her distance. “Just don’t never run from it,” Robbie had said. “And don’t look ’im straight in the eye.”

  Quickly averting her eyes, Halley made sure to keep her pace slow. The trail began to drop and soon the dog was out of sight. Gradually she became aware that she was smelling smoke. Not, she thought, from anyone’s chimney. The MacAfee house was probably closest and it was far back behind her. This smoke was much nearer. As she looked about, she spotted it—a trail of smoke rising from a little wooded ravine down to her left. Was it a forest fire? Unlikely, since the ground was so soaked from recent rains, but if so, she would need to tell someone.

  Leaving the trail, Halley crept downhill, circling around clumps of underbrush. Just ahead was the ravine, and that’s where the fire was. Then she was at the edge and, looking down, saw a man or a tall boy squatting with his back toward her. In front of him was a pile of burning boards. White boards and crosses, she suddenly realized, with lettering on them. Jesus messages! She sucked in her breath sharply and backed up, and as she did so, a shower of pebbles and debris broke loose under her foot and cascaded downward.

  “Hey!” a voice yelled. “Stop!”

  Halley ran uphill toward the trail. Behind her she could hear someone scrambling up the bank of the ravine. Just as she reached the trail, a hand grabbed her shoulder and swung her around to face—Elmer Logan.

  “What you mean, spying on me?” he asked so close to her face that she could smell his foul breath.

  “I wasn’t spying,” she said. “I—I thought the woods had caught fire.”

  “Likely story, wet as it is!” Now he had her by both shoulders, and his fingers were squeezing through the layers of her sweater and coat into her flesh. “You seen what I was burning.”

  Halley tried to think of a lie he would believe, but couldn’t. Finally she nodded.

  “The Jesus man s’posed to be a preacher, but he treats me and my family like dirt. Well, I’m getting even. You ort to be helping me. He treats you like dirt, too.”

  Halley shook her head.

  “I’m burning on Tyree land, which is fitting—Old Man Tyree ain’t treated us much better than the Jesus man. Nobody’ll ever know it was you and me done it.”

  “No.”

  “Oh no, not miss good-goody. She wouldn’t dare do nothing wrong. Now I guess you’re going to tell on me.”

  “If you stop, I won’t,” Halley promised. “If you don’t take any more of his signs, I’ll keep your secret.”

  Elmer pushed her up against a tree. His knee shoved between her legs. “Miss Halley Owenby,” he whispered. “Thinks she’s too good to walk to the spring with me. Laughed at me for asking.”

  “No, I didn’t. Some of the other girls laughed, but I didn’t. And it wasn’t you, I swear. I didn’t walk with anybody.”

  “See if I’m good enough for this,” he said and thrust himself up against her. Then his mouth was on hers.

  Halley flung her head from one side to the other. “Stop!” she screamed. “Stop.”

  “Scream all you like, and I’ll do whatever I want. Your great big dog ain’t here to pertect you now.”

  “Mr. Tyree’s dog is. He’s right up the trail. He’ll come, and he’ll kill you. Blackie!” she screamed. “Blackie! Come!”

  “Hush!” Elmer put one big hand over her mouth and knocked her head against the tree so hard she saw stars. “Shut up!” he looked up and listened, his eyes fearful. To Halley’s surprise and relief, a volley of barking erupted and it was coming closer and closer.

  “Damn!” Elmer said, dropping his hold and tearing out toward the ravine.

  Halley ran in the opposite direction but had only gone a few feet when Blackie appeared. Halley squatted. “Git ’im!” she said, pointing in the direction Elmer had run. “Git ’im!”

  Even as she spoke, she heard the crashing through the underbrush. Blackie heard it too and took off in that direction. Immediately, Halley was on her feet again. Then she was on the trail and running toward Belton. She was crying with both fear and relief and could not seem to stop.

  Then the sound and the smell of the mill were in the air. M
inutes later she was in town, and she could see Shropshire’s Store across the street and down a piece. Halley stopped in front of the Methodist Church and sat on a low stone wall along the sidewalk. She had to compose herself before going to the store. If she told what had happened, it would be all over town before the day was out. By tomorrow, the story would be that Elmer actually did rape her. No matter what she said, from then on, that story would follow her. If she lived to be ninety, the main thing the people around Belton would have to say about her was, “That there’s the woman that got raped by that Logan man.”

  Well, they would never be able to say that about her because nobody was ever going to know anything happened.

  15. A Surprise

  “Hello,” someone called.

  Halley looked up to see Richard Bonner. He pulled his car alongside the sidewalk and stopped. Folded spreads and spools of yarn were piled high in the back seat.

  “You have your own route now,” she said.

  Nodding, Richard got out, and sat down beside her. “Can I add you to my list of tufters?”

  Halley shook her head. “My grandmother’s still sick.”

  Richard put an arm around her and pulled her closer. He smelled wonderful—clean and nice—but she was nervous from Elmer’s attack. She pulled away.

  He smiled. “Anything I can help with?”

  “Nothing,” Halley said. She folded her arms. She could hardly think. His right hand touched her shoulder. How different from Elmer’s rough touch. I’m safe, she told herself. He’s not like Elmer.

  “You sure you’re okay?”

  “Yeah,” she said.

  At that moment Halley spotted a familiar truck with a house on back. “The picture woman is still here,” she said, glad to change the subject. “I figured she’d left months ago. What on earth is keeping her around so long?”

  “I think she wants to show the rest of the country what it’s like to live here in the mountains,” Richard said.

  “You mean show what hicks we are.”

  “No, I don’t think it’s like that for Theodora. I think she studies people the way some people read books or raise crops.”

  Richard’s hand was on her shoulder again, and Halley was astonished at her own reaction. She wanted him to kiss her. Her entire body was a fever of wanting. In that moment she understood why girls “got in trouble”—why Bootsie let things go so far with Stan. Frightened, she pulled away, and this time she stood. She wasn’t ready for this.

  “Right now I’ve got to go ask Tate Shropshire to buy my mother’s wedding band.” She stopped, wishing she had thought before speaking.

  “You’re selling your mother’s wedding ring?”

  Halley pulled out the ring and the drawing of Robbie’s foot. “Mama wants me to get rubber boots, candy, and a toy for my brother’s Christmas, and we don’t have any money. I’m afraid Tate Shropshire will never pay enough for all that. But I’ve got to ask.”

  “I think he’d do it for me,” Richard said thoughtfully. “Why don’t you let me handle it while you wait outside.”

  “I couldn’t ask you to do that,” Halley answered, looking at the hand that had been on her shoulder. The nails were clean and trimmed. The fingers were muscular and strong.

  “You didn’t ask. I’m offering. Come on.”

  He opened the door with a bow and Halley got in. She felt about as graceful as Sukie pulling her foot out of the mud.

  Halley rode with Richard to the store and waited on the bench out front. He was back in only a few minutes, handing her two boxes and a bag. “Here you are, the boots, a top, and some candy,” he said, “and here’s your change.”

  “Ten dollars!” said Halley. “I can’t believe he gave you this much!”

  “I’m a regular customer,” he replied. He did another bow. “Anything else I can do for you?”

  “No,” she said, still looking at the money. “I’ve got to go in and buy some things for my grandparents.”

  “And I’ve got to head out on my route,” Richard said. He took her hand and squeezed it. “Don’t mention to Shropshire that the ring I sold was yours.”

  “I won’t,” Halley said.

  “And it’d probably be best to leave the shoes and things on the bench while you go in.”

  Richard squeezed her hand once more and got in his car. With a wave he was gone. Halley watched him drive away.

  If only she thought like Dimple, this might be her way of escaping the Franklins. Being married to Richard wouldn’t be bad, she thought. He probably made a good living. He had a car. He was good-looking.

  “That can’t be your boyfriend,” someone said. Halley turned to see one of the town girls she’d seen on her first day in Belton. The girl looked at Halley up and down, from her faded head scarf down to her muddy shoes.

  “And why not?” Halley asked, looking right back at the girl. She even managed to wrinkle her nose the same way the girl did.

  With a toss of her head the girl walked away and Halley went inside the store. It smelled a lot like the rolling store where she traded in Alpha Springs. And it was almost as crowded with merchandise. The dimness was lit by a number of light bulbs hanging on cords from the high ceilings. A couple of men warmed themselves by the big pot bellied stove in the center of the store, and three women were doing their shopping. A young man in an apron was stacking canned goods on a shelf.

  Tate Shropshire leaned over the counter next to the cash register. “How do, young lady. Can I help you?”

  “I need five pounds of coffee,” she said.

  “Your face looks familiar,” said Shropshire. “I can near about say your name.”

  “I’m Halley Owenby,” she told him.

  “Oh yeah. Your father was Jim Owenby. Sorry for your loss.”

  “Thanks,” Halley said stiffly. “How much will I owe you?”

  The noon whistle sounded as Halley started out. The mill workers began streaming out of the building, headed for the gate. The ones who lived in the mill village would rush home to eat. Some would go to the store to buy moon pies or candy bars and soft drinks. The rest, like her mother, would try to find a spot of sunshine outside and eat something from home. If Halley hurried, she might speak to Kate. She needed to tell enough about Elmer, so her mother would know to watch out for him. Even though he was likely to be too afraid of the dog to try anything on Kate, she had to make sure.

  Halley picked up the bag with the boots, top, and candy, and headed for the gate. A truck passed her and parked just short of the gate, so Halley would not be able to see her mother until she got past the truck.

  “Hey, Halley!” called Bootsie, who was in the crowd headed home for lunch. She waved her sister and mother on and stopped to give Halley a quick hug. “Everything okay, honey?”

  Halley nodded and held up her packages. “Just getting Christmas for Robbie.”

  “Good!"

  It was the first time she had seen Bootsie since the day Stan ran them off the road. She stole a look at Bootsie’s waist and whispered, “Did you for sure lose the baby?”

  Bootsie nodded sorrowfully. “For sure, not that I had any doubt. I was with my mama when she lost one. I’m telling myself that I’ll have more babies. Gid’s babies.”

  Halley squeezed her hand. “I’m glad we’re going to have you in the family.”

  “Same here,” said Bootsie. “But I gotta hurry or I won’t have time to eat.”

  Halley turned back toward the mill gate. The truck was still there, but the motor was running. At that moment the passenger side door slammed, and the truck pulled on down the street a short distance. It stopped and the motor turned off.

  Halley looked at the people in the yard around the mill. They were collected in groups of twos and threes, eating lunch. Her mother was not among them. She looked again. Surely her mother had not staye
d inside with all the lint. She’d promised Halley to always eat outside if weather permitted. That at least gave her thirty minutes of fresh air.

  Halley went right up to the gate guard. “I’m looking for my mother, Kate Owenby,” she said.

  Without turning, the guard pointed down the street to the truck.

  Puzzled, Halley really looked at the truck for the first time and realized it was familiar. It was Bud Gravitt’s truck. Then she realized that the person who’d just gotten in on the passenger side was Kate. Even from where she stood, Halley could see her mother’s face. Kate was smiling. But it didn’t make her feel like smiling. In fact, she was angry. Her mother didn’t have time to buy Robbie’s gift, but she had time to carry on with Bud Gravitt in his truck. She probably thought Halley would be through shopping and gone before noon.

  All the angry, hurtful things she wanted to say boiled up inside her. That Kate had betrayed her father’s memory. That she was shaming them all by sneaking around with a man this soon after both their spouses had died.

  Finally, she turned away and headed for the trail back to the Franklin place. Her feet felt like lead. She did not even think of Elmer until she reached the place where she had last seen him. There was no sign of the boy or the dog, and all traces of the smoke had vanished.

  16. Bud Gravitt Returns

  Halley spent part of Friday writing and rewriting her letter to Martha Berry in Rome, Georgia.

  She wrote it three times before she was satisfied. She made sure to mention that Gid Franklin was her uncle. She told how she’d longed for an education beyond the eight years she had.

  The letter was finally as good as she could make it. All she had in the way of an address for Miss Berry was the city and state. Maybe the post office in Rome would know Miss Berry and her school.