The Last to Know

by Michel Prince

  “How long was he out for?” the doctor asked Savannah.

  “I don’t know. That girl came running in saying she thought he was dead. When I went outside…” A hard lump formed in Savannah’s throat as the memory came back to her. Acid burned and she tried to help the situation.

  “Oh daddy please say he’ll be okay?” Hope pleaded as she crashed into the room. “He was defending my honor from Cash and his friends. They were making the most awful comments about me.”

  “Clay?” Dr. Matthews asked him him and flashed a light in his eyes. “Did Cash Trundle do this to you?”

  Clay’s eyes moved from side to side as if he was processing the question. His tongue came out of his mouth and he winced.

  “You remember what happened?”

  “I’m at the medical plaza huh?” he asked as he tried to sit up.

  Dr. Matthews placed a large hand on his chest and pushed him back down. “You need to tell me what hurts, then we’ll get you patched up. You don’t look much worse than you did after the game against Tri-City in the state finals. Except your head. You aren’t gonna be the handsome one in the family now.”

  A nurse had been cleaning his wounds while another took pictures. They removed his clothes and put him into a hospital gown as the doctor noted each bruise forming on Clay’s body. Police showed up and were questioning Clay.

  Then a man who looked just like Clay only about ten years older came in. “I got the rest of the family in the waiting room,” he said as he entered. “But you know with MeMaw, if you don’t let her see her baby in the next three minutes—”

  “I’ll go talk to Theresa,” Dr. Matthews interjected. “Last thing I need is a dozen people flooding his room. I’m sending him off to x-ray then the police need a statement, but I’m sure they’ll let your grandma be here for that.”

  “I ain’t tellin’ Theresa Long she can’t be with her grandson,” the cop scoffed. “I plan on retiring from this job, not be killed in the line of duty.”

  “Now sweetheart, don’t get your people confused,” the voice of an elderly lady carried through the exam area.

  “Theresa, I swear woman,” Dr. Matthews said as he left the room.

  Clay’s brother looked at him lying on the gurney and shook his head. “Do I want to know?”

  “There were twelve of them,” Clay’s voice came out scratchy.

  “Bullshit.”

  “Okay, twenty, we both know I could of handled twelve.”

  “We need to get him down for x-rays,” a nurse said as mechanical thump sounded and she unlocked the wheels.

  No one noticed Savannah, she could have left without a second thought.

  Walt was staring…no glaring at Hope who was washing off some of her makeup and using the metallic paper towel dispenser as a mirror. “Hope?” Walt called out making both women jump. “My brother nearly dying somehow, disrupting your day?”

  “He was defending my honor Walter Long. I need to look my best for when he can really see me. Right now, daddy’s in his way, but I know the first person he’ll be looking for is me to make sure I’m all right.”

  “And why would my brother need to defend your honor at almost nine o’clock at night?”

  “Because she was stripping him down in the Hard Root,” Savannah answered as she stood.

  “You were at the Hard Root.” Walter let out a loud laugh as he turned back to Hope. “You that desperate?”

  “It’s not desperate. The Matthews and the Longs should be joined in marriage. Why my daddy is the most respected doctor in the county, and your daddy, well he’s the most respected man in three. So why not, have us get hitched?”

  “Because Clay Long was raised to not put a woman in her place, doesn’t mean he likes you,” Dr. Matthews replied as he ran his hand over his face. “Hope, you get on home to your mother.”

  “I will not.” Hope stamped her foot like a child. “Clay was defending me when he got attacked by men who wanted to defile me.”

  “From the phone call I got from Carolyn, you were puttin’ it out there for everyone.”

  “Not everyone,” Hope defended with a harsh indignance. “Mama said—”

  “Dear lord, don’t go quoting that woman.” Dr. Matthews turned to Walt. “I’m sorry son, I’m not sure what she did, but I know your brother and my daughter’s issues with him.”

  “Daddy!” Hope cried. “Don’t be mad at Clay for standing me up at the dance.”

  “Have you been taking your meds?” Dr. Matthews barked. “I swear Walt, it’s her mama not me. Sue,” he called and a nurse appeared. “Take my daughter to a consultation room and lock the door.”

  “But daddy—”

  “Now, Sue.”

  Once Hope was removed, Savannah felt a bit embarrassed about her jealousy. Rocking from foot to foot, she wasn’t sure what to do. Was this her place?

  “You’re the Winston bastard aren’t you?” Walt asked.

  “Jesus Walt,” an older black woman said as she came in the room and took the chair Savannah had left. “It ain’t the child’s fault her parents sinned and you’re the last person to be casting stones. I knew you since the day you were born and how Tina kept your eye locked on just her is a testament to my prayers and her feminine whiles. So…” the woman said as she scanned Savannah from head to toe. “…You’re Connie’s daughter, funny Dorothy always said I was too young to be a grandmother when this one came along. Look at you, why she couldn’t of been even forty when you were born. I’m Clay’s MeMaw.”

  “I’m Savannah Georgio.”

  “A dago, I dated me one them before your grandpa snagged me. He was going off to war.” A smile lit her face up.

  Walt shuddered. “MeMaw,” he scolded.

  “I’m old and ain’t about to censor myself because ya’ll get your panties in a bunch. You aren’t offended are you girl?”

  “I guess it’s better than being called the Winston Bastard.”

  “See? And I wasn’t sayin’ anything bad about the guy except he had a chest full of hair and big nose.”

  MeMaw demanded they bring a chair for Savannah as they waited for Clay to come back from x-ray. Walt went out to the waiting room to give an update to the rest of the family as MeMaw kept Savannah company making her feel as welcome as Teddy and Grandma Dorothy had at the Winston’s.

  “Help me up child,” MeMaw ordered as Clay was wheeled into the room.

  He was sitting up with and ice pack on the left side of his face. When he saw his grandmother, he tried to smile and the dimple showed up.

  “There’s my little bit of mess. Oh, what have you gone and done with yourself?”

  “MeMaw why did they bother you? It’s late and I’m not that bad.”

  “Not that bad child?” MeMaw had both hands gripped tight to the safety bar on the side of the bed. “My goodness, you look like someone strapped you to a bull and waved a red flag. Why you go and do this to yourself? First Mellie, now you. The Longs ain’t had this much trouble since before your pappy was hitched.”

  “Then I best get hitched, so I stop causing trouble.”

  “My goodness child, it will take a lot of praying for that. I saw that crazy Matthews girl when I got here. I think her daddy went and locked her up.” MeMaw patted Clay’s hand. “At least, this one was nice enough to stay with me, without trying to steal your underwear to put a root on you.”

  “Can’t put a root without a home,” Clay said as he looked over at Savannah. “She’s a wanderer.”

  “Well then, she needs to wander right over to the Long Ranch, we love strays, especially ones as pretty as she is. Did I tell you I dated a dago once?”

  “Theresa,” Dr. Matthews interrupted as he came in the room. “I need to talk to Clay alone.”

  “Why that’d just be a waste of time. We’re family. You tell him, he tells us, but he screws it up because he doesn’t understand what you said. You’ll tell him he needs a hemorrhoid removed and next thing you know, we’re all trying to
figure out how a young man needs a hysterectomy. No sir, you tell me and mine everything together. In fact, Savannah you go and grab that pack of kinfolk I have out there. They stick out. They’re the black ones, except Sunny, Mellie’s like my Clay here and interested in a little cream in her coffee. You know what I’m talking about. Of course you do, give me five years and they’ll be nothing but light skinned babies running around the ranch.”

  “MeMaw,” Clay said trying to reel her in.

  Then he got the same response everyone did, “I’m old. I can say what I damn well want. Now, Savannah, go get the family and I’ll make sure you get ten minutes in a broom closet with Clay before you leave.”

  Chapter Nine

  Clay loved his grandmother more than anyone in the world. She’d watched over him as a child more than his brothers or cousins. Well over eighty years old, she didn’t act it. The wrinkles on her face had gotten deeper, even with the roundness she’d had since she was a small child. It could have been her bluntness that he hadn’t noticed until it was directed at him that made others uneasy. Not that anyone in Tender Root or the surrounding counties would question Theresa Long. No sir. So, Clay knew better than to even try, but he had to make an effort since Savannah got roped in with no notice.

  Dr. Matthews continued to check spots on his body, but didn’t dare speak until the whole family was there. At least not about Clay’s injuries.

  “You remember the first thing you said when you came around?” Dr. Matthews asked.

  “Didn’t I say something about a dance?”

  “Yep,” Dr. Mathews replied, right as he flashed a light in Clay’s eyes again and he saw spots. “That’s a good thing, that woman in here. The dark haired one. Who is she?”

  “Savannah, she’s Connie Winston’s daughter.”

  “And how do you know her?”

  “She works at the Hard Root.”

  “That it?”

  “Dr. Matthews…” Clay swallowed hard, although Dr. Matthews was working at urgent care it was staffed by clinic physicians, and Dr. Matthews had delivered a few members of the Long family. “…You know Hope’s a wonderful woman, but Savannah is my girlfriend.”

  At the end of his bed, Savannah stood with his whole family behind her.

  Monty burst into laughter that went above and beyond the situation. “Oh man, Cash really knocked his head hard! Clay, with a girlfriend?”

  Savannah stared at him and he could see the panic in her eyes. He’d labeled them. He staked a claim on someone who rarely stayed at a job for a week. Unlike in Dallas, where she could just move on and probably never see a person again, Tender Root was too small. Sure, she met a few new people now and then, but she’d begun to remember names. She had to, people weren’t passing they stayed. They stuck and late at night in bed she’d confessed her fear. Now he had gone and done the most knuckled headed thing he could. Tied down a wild mustang he’d barely gotten to eat from his open palm.

  She swallowed hard as the whole room was staring at her, instead of Clay laying battered and bruised.

  “Why ya’ll acting like he just had a sex change or something?” MeMaw groaned to break the silence. “Clay likes a girl, damned if I remember when he didn’t. The only shock is a woman is putting up with him.” MeMaw shifted back to Dr. Matthews. “Now, is my baby gonna be okay?”

  “He seems to remember the attack, although he lost consciousness I think he only has a mild concussion. I’d like to send him to El Paso for observation.”

  “All the way to El Paso to have someone make sure he remembers to wipe his ass?” MeMaw asked. “Clevon done taught him that years ago, didn’t you son?”

  His father had been silently standing at the edge the door. A man of few words and today wasn’t the day he would start running his mouth. Maybe being MeMaw’s son meant he never got a word in, so he wasn’t used to the option. “Whatcha worried about Doc?”

  “Same thing with any concussion, plus you said you had a nasty kidney punch. Want to give a urine sample?”

  “With everyone watching?” Clay teased.

  “How about Savannah walks you to the bathroom? Just in case, you have a bit of the wobbles.”

  “Wait,” Miles chimed as Savannah came to the side to help him. “Who was with Cash?”

  “No,” Aunt Loretta said while she came to the other side of the gurney as back support while Clay twisted and placed his now stocking feet on the cold tile. “No retaliation.”

  “Woman,” Uncle Henry warned.

  “Who you sayin’ woman to?” she asked with an arched eyebrow. Even though Aunt Loretta was all of five seven with a fit figure to Uncle Henry’s six one muscular build he’d made a critical error crossing his wife. “I know you’re not about to send my children out in retaliation for an ass whoopin’ Clay probably earned years ago.”

  “Love you too auntie,” Clay whined a bit. “It’s the love and unconditional support of my family that’s made me the man I am today.”

  “Please,” his aunt groaned. “I’ve known you since you were filling diapers with your doo-doo and you’ve spent more time scrapping with the boys in town than any Long in history.”

  “Six on one isn’t a fair fight. Besides, if Monty or Miles was on this gurney, you’d be calling for blood and I’d answer that call.”

  “There’s been too much blood lately. First Melody, now you. When is it going to stop?”

  “Quit being a simple fool,” MeMaw scolded. “You’ve had more peaceful ones that violent and that’s sayin’ somethin’ in these parts. Those boys did wrong and it’s Miles, Monty and Walt’s job to put things right.”

  “Wow, the whole family is here,” Sherriff Rust stated as he entered the room. “At least you guys are letting us handle Cash and his buddies.”

  The room got silent and Savannah stared at Clay, still not speaking since he’d declared her as his. Instead, she held her hand out, but he didn’t want to put his weight on her. He had at least a hundred and fifty pounds on her. She leaned in closer and braced herself as if she was going to toss him over her shoulder and take him to the bathroom.

  “I’ve gotten stronger since coming to Tender Root, sorry I panicked for a minute,” she softly said in his ear. “Don’t worry I can handle you.”

  She did, even though he didn’t want to brace himself on her he needed to, just for a moment and he felt secure in her arms. Tiny as they were. He felt anything could be possible.

  * * * *

  “Sorry about before,” Clay said as Savannah was trying to just focus on getting him safely to the bathroom.

  She’d once again been overwhelmed by family, only worse then when Teddy tried to tell her about every branch of the family tree.

  “Well, we—”

  “It’s okay,” Savannah said as she opened the door to the bathroom and found him a cup to pee in as he held the handicap rail. “There’s something empowering about being the girl to tame Clay Long.”

  Clay leaned down and tried to kiss her only to howl in pain from his swollen lip.

  “Well, that’ll start a few good rumors.” Savannah laughed. “I’ll just be on the other side of the door.”

  Walter was peering from the room at her standing outside the bathroom door.

  She gave a half hearted wave before focusing on her post.

  Carolyn came through the lobby doors with bags of to-go containers and Savannah’s purse. “I’m just doing a drop and run,” she said in a rush. “I left Izzy and Earl in charge, lord knows what I’ll see when I get back there. Is he okay? He woke up right?” Carolyn was unloading the bags on Savannah who had to use all her waitressing skill to not topple over. “He must be okay. You’re still here. Is he going to El Paso? Of course not. Kisses.”

  “What was that?” Walt asked as he walked up and took the bags off of Savannah’s hands. “I’ve never seen her so flustered.”

  “You’ve never seen her outside of the Hard Root when it’s open.”

  “True.”

&n
bsp; An awkward silence had Savannah rocking back on her heels.

  “I heard you’ve taken over the ranch.”

  “I guess, but Patty’s fighting it.”

  “What are you planning on doing?” Walt asked but his question seemed to have more than a passing interest. They did share a property line, so it made sense he wanted to know. “I’m part of the lawsuit with Federated, but I know you still have land and no livestock right now.”

  “At least I was able to keep Maggie from the glue factory for now.”

  “You’d get more from Federated if you put her down. Every day she gets older, her value decreases.”

  “Some things aren’t about value.”

  “You ride her?”

  “No, not yet, but Clay took me out on Trixie and I bet you’re not about to put her down for a few extra bucks.”

  “So, Patty is fighting for the ranch huh?”

  “Yes.” Savannah knocked on the bathroom door. “You doing all right in there?”

  “Almost done,” Clay called back.

  “You know even with Patty contesting the trust, you could just sell the land.” Walt looked back at the exam room then to Savannah.

  She caught a chill from the whole conversation. Something about Walt rubbed her the wrong way. If nothing else, her instincts had been dead on since she arrived.

  “That is if you’re not planning on staying at your daddy’s place.”

  A click followed by a swoosh had the door opening and Clay looked at the two of them in the hallway. “You can’t be seriously think I’m giving you a tip,” Clay teased. “You know how long I’ve been waiting for my wrap. And don’t even get me started about you giving me a bottle instead of from the tap.”

  “I hope you’re talking about beer not milk,” Walt chided as Savannah helped Clay back to the room making sure the back of his gown was closed.

  “You may not be getting tips tonight, but I could have. Don’t hide the money maker,” Clay said this time kissing the top of her head with just the right side of his lips.