by Ali Spooner
“Coal had another dancing lesson with Billy Ray,” Melissa said.
“Oh yeah? How did that go?” he asked.
“You should have seen her, Harley; she kicked his ass real good.”
“Mary Leah! Don’t encourage her,” Melissa chastised.
“I wouldn’t want to make her mad at me,” Harley said. “But, damn, that boy sure is hardheaded.”
“Yes, he is,” she agreed.
“The boys and I are going to head on down to the lake. Is there anything you want me to take?” he asked Melissa.
“You can go ahead and load up the cooler and I’ll ride down with you. These two can follow once Mary Leah finishes playing nursemaid.”
Mary Leah shot her sister a grin. “We’ll be down shortly.”
“Y’all can drive the gator down,” Harley said. “I’ll have Gene drive it up here for you.”
“Thanks, Harley,” Coal said.
Harley carried the cooler out to the flatbed truck followed by Melissa. Gene hopped down and ran to the barn to drive the gator up to the front porch. He smiled at Mary Leah before rushing back to the truck.
“It’s good to see the boys enjoying a nice outing.”
“Last week was pretty brutal with the heat and bringing in the hay,” Coal said. “A nice break from the heat is well deserved.”
“I don’t see how you tolerate the heat at all,” Mary Leah said as she smiled at her.
She felt her heart flutter at the look of admiration in Mary Leah’s smile. She returned her smile and said, “You get used to it after a while, but you learn to live for the cooler weather.”
“Are you going to fish?”
“No, I will probably just kick back under the oaks and relax. Do you fish?” she asked.
“I do, but I don’t know if I will today.”
Coal jumped when a rush of cold water soaked through her pant leg. “Damn, that’s cold.”
“I guess you have been iced enough for now,” Mary Leah said, removing the quickly thawing ice. “Just try not to get into any more fights today and the swelling should stay down.”
“Yes, ma’am. Thanks for doctoring me,” she said.
“Not a problem. You were a good patient,” Mary Leah said with a wink.
“Should we go crash the party?”
“I’ll be there in just a minute,” Mary Leah said and stepped inside the house.
She climbed inside the four-wheeler and waited for Mary Leah who returned wearing a ball cap to protect her sensitive scalp. She climbed into the vehicle and Callie jumped up between them.
When they were halfway to the lake, Coal turned her head at the sound of galloping hooves to see Shadow rapidly approaching them. She chuckled at the young horse. “Guess who doesn’t want to be left out,” she said to Mary Leah.
“You really do have animal magnetism,” she said with a grin.
She pulled up next to the truck and turned the ignition off as Shadow trotted up to her. “I guess you could say that,” she said as the horse nuzzled into her, nearly knocking her over. “Easy, you big brute,” she said as she scratched behind his ears.
Harley and the rest of the crew were spread around the lake’s edge, fishing, when they approached. They all turned at the sound of Shadow’s thundering hooves. Harley shook his head and cast his bait across the water.
“I see you have been followed again,” Melissa said, nodding toward Shadow. She turned to Mary Leah. “Harley already has your rod down by the lake.”
“I guess I should go and put in an appearance. I’ll be back in a little while,” she said.
“Don’t show them up too bad,” Coal said.
Mary Leah smiled at her. “I’ll try not to,” she said as she turned and walked to the lakeshore.
“Come sit with me, Coal,” Melissa said.
She picked up a folding chair and joined Melissa under one of the majestic oaks. A cool breeze greeted them as they lounged in the shade.
Chapter Five
Coal settled down beside Melissa. “You don’t fish?”
“Not when I have a crew of men to do it for me,” she said with a grin.
She nodded her head. “Good point. Do you think they will catch enough for a fish fry tonight?”
“They should without any problems,” Melissa said. “How’s the hand?”
She held her right hand up for her to see. “It’s as good as new.”
“It won’t be for long if you keep slamming it against Billy Ray’s hard head.”
“I know I should do a better job of walking away.”
“Yes, you should, but I appreciate you taking up for Mary Leah.”
Melissa noticed a sparkle in Coal’s eyes when she mentioned her sister’s name. “There was no call for that. If he wants to disrespect me it’s all fine and good, but I won’t allow him to be nasty to Mary Leah, or any other woman,” she said as her eyes turned back to the lake in search of Mary Leah.
Coal’s lips curled into a smile as her eyes located Mary Leah as she squealed with excitement when she hooked a fish.
“Bring him in,” Harley shouted over to her.
“She would be the first to land a fish,” Melissa said.
“Why would that be?”
“Mary Leah is good at everything she does,” Melissa said.
“That sounds like a proud big sister speaking.”
“I have always been proud of her. She was the first in our family to graduate from college. When she became a licensed pharmacist and moved to Dallas, I was certain she had a wonderful future. Then she got involved with Judy.”
“I assume that’s the asshole ex?”
“Yes, in my opinion, Judy took advantage of Mary Leah’s generous heart for five years, and when she needed her most she ran out on her.”
“That really sucks,” she said. “She seems like a very sweet person.”
“She would give you the shirt off her back if you needed it or if she thought you did,” Melissa said with a smile. “She deserves to be loved for who she is, not what she can provide.”
“That’s very true,” Coal said as she watched Mary Leah land a large bass.
Mary Leah removed the hook from the mouth of the fish and handed it over to Harley to place on a stringer. “There’s my contribution. Now I’m going to relax in the shade,” she told him.
“Yes, ma’am,” Harley said as he dropped the fish back into the water.
Coal watched her approach and stood to get a chair set up for Mary Leah. “That was a good-sized fish you pulled in.”
“Yeah, I got lucky.”
“Can I get you something to drink?”
“Yes, a bottle of water would be nice.”
“Can I get you anything, boss?” Coal asked.
“I’ll take a bottle too, Coal,” she answered.
Mary Leah settled into the chair across from her and smiled as she took the bottle of water offered to her. “Thanks.”
“You’re welcome.” Coal returned her smile as their eyes locked briefly.
“I thought we would have a fish fry tonight,” Melissa told her sister. “The boys can dress and filet the fish, and I can cook some corn and cheese grits to go along with the fish.”
“I can make some hush puppies,” she volunteered. “I think we have everything I will need.”
“I’ll help you,” Mary Leah said.
“So, we just need the boys to catch enough fish to make a meal,” Melissa said.
“That shouldn’t be a problem,” Mary Leah said as Gene hollered that he had a big one.
Callie came and sat between Coal and Mary Leah, and Coal found her hand scratching the dog behind the ears as she watched Shadow grazing close to the lake.
“He’s a beautiful animal, isn’t he?” Mary Leah asked.
“Yeah, he is, and I can’t wait to ride him tomorrow,” Coal said.
“Will you work with him first?” Melissa asked.
“Yes, I can hardly wait,” she answered.
; “Would you mind if I watched?”
She smiled at Mary Leah. “No, not at all, but I train very differently from most.”
“How so?” she asked.
“You’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out,” she said with a grin.
“Oh, that’s cruel. Now you will have me up all night wondering about tomorrow.”
“Not after you get a belly full of food. You have been up a long time today,” Coal said.
“You are right about that. I bet I sleep well tonight.”
Melissa smiled at how well the two women were getting along. “I don’t know about y’all, but I’m getting hungry,” Melissa said. “Will you help me set out the food while Coal gathers the boys?”
“Sure,” Mary Leah said.
“I guess that’s my cue to get up out of this chair,” Coal said. She stood and started to walk toward the lake with Callie on her heels.
“I’ve noticed a few looks pass between you two,” Melissa said.
“What do you mean looks?”
“Oh, the locking of gazes and soft smiles, and I noticed how easily your hand rested on Coal’s thigh as you nursed her hand.”
Mary Leah blushed. Melissa did not miss much, and she knew her baby sister all too well.
“Normally, I would give this speech to her about not hurting you, but she’s pretty fragile right now too,” Melissa said. “Her lover died with Mitch, and she was there to witness both.”
“Damn, that must be really hard on her. Did she know Mitch was your husband?”
“Not until she saw some of the pictures hanging in the den yesterday. She took them for Mitch to send to me, and when she recognized them I thought she was going to die on me.”
“I will treat her gently,” Mary Leah said.
“I know you will, little sister,” Melissa said. “I think given some time, you two would be very good for each other.”
“You wouldn’t be playing matchmaker here would you?”
“Who me?” Melissa asked.
“Uh-huh, you,” Mary Leah said.
“You could do much worse for a mate,” she said.
“I’m not sure I will ever have another,” Mary Leah said.
“What makes you say that?”
“My scars are pretty repulsive.”
Melissa chuckled, “Don’t sell yourself or her short. When the right one comes along, the scars won’t matter.”
“That’s easy for you to say,” Mary Leah said, sounding doubtful.
“Trust me,” Melissa said.
“I guess time will tell,” she said as she placed sandwiches on the bed of the truck.
†
They all gathered around for lunch and then the men fished for another hour before they felt they had enough fish for supper.
“I will set up the fish fryer to cook the fish if you ladies will handle the side dishes,” Harley said.
“You have a deal. Let’s plan to eat in the bunkhouse since you have more space.”
“Sounds good to me, boss,” Harley said. “Are we ready to head back?”
The chairs and the fishing gear were returned to the bed of the truck. Coal and Mary Leah followed them in the gator as they made their way back to the house.
“I’ll use the stove in the bunkhouse for the hush puppies,” she told Melissa.
“Do you need my help, sis?”
“No, I can handle the corn and grits so you can help Coal.”
“Great,” she said and smiled at her sister.
Coal parked the gator in the barn and met Mary Leah as she walked across the yard. “So you are going to keep me company?”
“Or help you, if there is anything I can do.”
“Once we get the ingredients mixed the rest is easy,” Coal told her as they entered the bunkhouse kitchen. She washed her hands at the kitchen sink and opened a cabinet to pull out a large ceramic mixing bowl.
Mary Leah watched as she sat the bowl on the kitchen table. “Bring me the bag of cornmeal from the pantry along with two cans of corn and two of diced tomatoes,” she said as she rummaged through the refrigerator to find a large onion. “Will you open the cans and drain the liquid off them?”
“Sure,” Mary Leah said as she went to work while Coal sliced and diced the onion. Coal also found a large pot and filled it with cooking oil and set it on the burner to heat.
She opened the bag of cornmeal, emptied it into the bowl, and then placed the diced onion in the bowl as well. She poured the whole kernel corn and tomatoes into the bowl and located a large mixing spoon. “Will you bring me two cans of beer from the fridge?”
“Beer,” Mary Leah asked.
“Yes, beer, don’t worry, you won’t be able to taste it.” She started to mix the ingredients in the bowl. “Pour it in for me if you would, please.”
Mary Leah poured the beer in a large circle around the rim of the bowl as Coal stirred. “This is a very curious mixture,” she said as she poured the remaining beer into the mix.
“I hope you’ll like the end product,” Coal said.
“Something smells good,” Gene said as he walked in to the kitchen. “Harley needs a cookie sheet and some paper towels,” he said as he searched the cabinet. He took a roll of paper towels from the pantry and disappeared as quickly as he had come.
“Will you bring me a glass of water?”
“Sure,” Mary Leah said.
Coal poured the water into the mix and stirred until she felt the texture was right. She carried the bowl to the counter beside the stove and took out a tablespoon. She scooped a spoonful of the mixture and rounded it before dropping it from the spoon into the heated oil. The hush puppy started to sizzle as it cooked. Coal kept dropping small rounded portions into the oil. When the first batch started to brown, she turned to Mary Leah. “Will you place some paper towels on that cookie sheet to drain the oil?”
She watched as Mary Leah covered the surface and then took a slotted spoon and dipped out a crunchy, golden-brown morsel and placed it on the cookie sheet. “Would you dip them out as they get done, and I’ll keep adding new?”
Mary Leah took the slotted spoon and stood next to her as they cooked together, their shoulders brushing as they moved.
After several minutes, Coal stopped dropping the batter into the oil and turned back to the cookie sheet to break a hush puppy in half. Mary Leah turned her head to see what she was doing. Coal placed the hush puppy in her mouth and waited.
Mary Leah chewed slowly enjoying the taste and texture. “Those are heavenly. I have never tasted anything like that,” she added.
“You approve then?”
“Oh, most definitely,” Mary Leah said as Coal offered her another bite. “I’m not sure one batch will be enough though.”
“We still have quite a bit of batter to cook yet,” Coal said with a grin as she moved back beside Mary Leah and started adding more batter.
Gene slipped back into the kitchen. “Damn, that really smells good now,” he said.
“Go ahead and try one,” Coal said.
Gene eagerly took a hush puppy from the cookie sheet and took a bite. “That is the best hush puppy I have ever eaten,” he raved.
“Thanks. You can take a small bowl to share with the others while we finish up in here and then come in to set the table.”
“Okay, Coal, I’ll be right back.”
Several minutes later Gene and Lucas came in and began setting the table. “Those hush puppies are great,” Lucas said.
“Thanks, Lucas.”
When they had finished setting the table, she turned to them. “Would you two please go to the house to see if Melissa needs some help?”
“Sure,” Lucas said.
When Melissa entered the bunkhouse with the two young men carrying large bowls of cheese grits, and corn, she and Mary Leah had finished making a large mound of hush puppies. “Those smell good,” Melissa said.
“They taste really good too,” Gene said.
“Have you already been
sampling?”
“With permission, boss,” Gene said.
Harley walked in carrying a large pile of crispy fried fish followed by the rest of the crew. They took seats around the table and enjoyed the feast until no one could eat another bite. Gene reached for the last hush puppy. He popped it into his mouth as he rose and began clearing the table.
“Save those grits and I’ll patty and fry them for breakfast tomorrow,” Harley said.
“Is it breakfast yet?” Gene asked.
“You cannot possibly be hungry still,” Melissa said.
“No, ma’am, but I love Harley’s fried grits,” Gene said with a slight blush.
“Thanks for a great day and a fabulous meal,” Melissa said to the group. “We’ll have to do this again soon.”
“I agree,” Harley said. “It’s been too long.”
“If you guys can finish the cleanup without us, I think we ladies will head for the house,” Melissa said.
“We got this. Good night, ladies,” Gene said.
†
The sun was slowly setting as the three of them walked across the yard. “I think I will walk down to the lake to watch the sun set. Would you care to join me?”
“I would love to,” Mary Leah said.
“I’ll pass. I need a hot shower and my pajamas,” Melissa said.
“See you in a bit then,” Coal said as she and Mary Leah walked toward the lake.
“I had forgotten how peaceful it is here,” Mary Leah said.
“Beats the hustle and bustle of the city,” Coal said.
“You don’t miss it at all?”
“Not in the least.”
When they reached the scarlet oaks, she and Mary Leah leaned against a low branch and watched the orange ball of the sun sink beneath the horizon as darkness quickly surrounded them. Neither of them made a move to leave, content with the other’s company. It wasn’t long before Coal started seeing green and yellow flashes down by the lake. She pointed toward the lake and said, “Look, fireflies.”
“I see them,” Mary Leah said as she leaned closer to her and shivered.
“Are you cold?”
“I just got a chill,” Mary Leah said.
Coal wrapped an arm around her shoulder and pulled her close to her body. “I’ve got plenty of heat for two, but we can start back if you’d like.”