by Nick Younker
***
6
The Stow Tavern was filled inside and out with patrons from around the county who had come to see Izzy play. As Pete and Arn served drinks behind the bar, Izzy and her band rolled out song after song. Pete liked to help Arn out when his daughter came to town to play at the Stow. Her shows had a tendency to draw too many people with not enough help.
Izzy wailed out the lyrics to her song “Black Annie” as scores of people drank and danced. Most of the teens had congregated on the outside patio with the doors open so they could hear her play. Some snuck inside and got their hands on some booze, but others stayed outside and smoked their joints in the cool night air.
Harry Keethers sat at a table with his friend Perry Dupont and Perry’s girlfriend Erin Mills. He motioned for a beer from Pete. Izzy announced that was the last song of the night, so Pete grabbed a few beers and sat down beside them. Harry and Pete had known each other for a long time and frequently came out and supported each other at things like this, although Harry was known to drink a lot and would have probably been there with or without Izzy playing.
When Pete got to the table, he handed all three of them a beer and sat down.
“Izzy really is quite talented. I’m very impressed that all of that music is her own,” Erin said.
Pete took a drink of his beer. “She gets it from her father.”
Harry lifted his can and said, “Cheers to that.”
They clinked their beer cans together and took a drink.
Izzy approached them and sat down beside Pete.
“Did you bring me one also?” Izzy asked her Dad.
“Sure I did. You’ll just have to wait two years before you can drink it,” Pete said.
Izzy cocked her head and stuck her parched tongue out, thirsty. Pete laughed and gave her a quick drink of his beer.
“You know, young lady, that’s some impressive music you’ve got going up there,” Harry said.
“Well, thank you, Harry,” Izzy said with a smile as she leaned back in her chair, exhausted.
“Long night?” Erin asked her.
“Yeah. All I want to do now is go home and sleep in my own bed for a change. I feel like I haven’t had a good night’s sleep in months,” Izzy said.
“Are you ready to go on home?” Pete asked her.
“I have to help Mickey and Jason pack the equipment up and then we’re off.”
“We’ll help you,” Harry said, nudging Perry.
“Yep,” Perry said.
Izzy leaned toward Harry. There was something she had been meaning to ask him for awhile now, but she had never gotten around to it.
“Say, Harry. Why’d you leave that awesome job up in Indy to come back here and run for county office?” Izzy asked. She knew Harry liked to make up funny stories about things. He’d been doing it ever since she was little.
“Well, my dear, it’s kind of a weird and funny story. Do you want the long version or the short version?” Harry said.
“Um, how about the extended short version?” Izzy said.
This made Pete laugh. Harry’s extended short version is what most people call the distorted truth.
“Well the truth is, the M.E. job in Marion County was great. It paid well, had great benefits and I liked my work. But that was all I really had up there. You see, my real friends were down here in Fogstow and Barrelton,” Harry said as he patted both Perry and Pete on the back. “So I decided to take a bribe and came down here to run for county coroner. The end.”
They all laughed at that.
“Don’t you know you can’t start taking bribes until after the elections?” Pete said.
“Po-ta-to, Po-tah-to,” Harry said.
Izzy smiled and rolled her eyes. She had known Harry would just feed her a line of bullshit, but it didn’t matter.
They all got up and Izzy started breaking down her equipment with Jason and Mickey. They had been in her band since last winter, and they were enthusiastic about getting into the recording studio with her. Jason played lead guitar and Mickey was her drummer. Izzy both sang and played bass.
Pete pulled Izzy aside.
“Where are those boys sleeping tonight?” Pete asked.
“Don’t worry, Dad. They sleep in the van every night.”
“Well, okay.”
When Izzy walked away, Pete started to think about where Izzy herself slept when they were on the road. Did she sleep in the van with them, or was she using the money he had sent her for hotel rooms? That thought made him quiver for a moment. But just like any father with half a brain, he immediately asked himself, or do those boys come in and sleep inside the hotel room with Izzy?
He knew he’d better stop thinking about it at all if he didn’t want to fight the ulcer that had been tracing around in his stomach now for years. Izzy was 19 years old and able to make her own decisions. She needed to live without his constant interference, or so he imagined her saying.
He finished helping Izzy and her band load up their equipment, and then took her to their home in the Highland district, which was about twenty yards away from the ’Bend off Locust Street.
***
7
When they arrived in Derbie, Carolyn had a tenderloin and biscuit and gravy dinner ready for Linton, Kelly and Lucy. Linton had put the brainers in the refrigerator for lunch the next day and they all sat down and ate a fantastic dinner.
Even though Kelly worked around tasty food all day, she always loved eating at Carolyn’s. She felt like they were around family.
“Oh, my God, Carolyn. That was so good,” Kelly said as she wiped her face and leaned back in her chair.
Carolyn smiled at her and said, “I’m glad you liked it. I was really excited about seeing all three of you tonight and I wanted to give you my best.”
“Well, I’m stuffed,” Kelly said as she patted her belly.
“Me too,” Lucy added, and patted her belly, as well. It was funny because Lucy had not eaten but maybe two bites, and they were both from the buttered biscuit. Kelly had insisted early on that she eat some of the green beans, but she let go of it pretty quickly because she knew that Lucy was too excited about making the fudge after dinner.
“I got the cabin all made up for you two. There are fresh sheets on and towels in the bathroom,” Carolyn said, winking at Lucy.
Lucy was getting more and more anxious. She wanted to start making the fudge right then, but she knew she had to wait until her momma and Linton were out of the house.
“I also got a room all made up for Lucy upstairs, right next to my room,” Carolyn said.
“Oh! Oh! Can I go see?” She turned to Kelly. “Can I, Momma? Can I? Can I?”
Kelly was taken off guard. “Well, I suppose. As long as it’s okay with Carolyn.”
“Of course it is, sweetie,” Carolyn said as she took Lucy’s hand and walked her upstairs.
Carolyn’s house was gigantic and made of logs sealed from the inside out. The home could have easily doubled as a secluded getaway for summer folks. When they reached the top of the stairs, Lucy saw that not only did Carolyn have a room ready for her, but the bed had Strawberry Shortcake sheets and the walls were painted like the ocean, with sea turtles and dolphins. Carolyn had attached a night light to the back of the bed frame and had left several pages of stickers lying on top of the dresser so Lucy could put them wherever she wanted.
Lucy turned to Carolyn and asked,, “Is this my ACTUAL room?”
Carolyn smiled down at her and answered, “Of course it is, sweetheart. I made it all up just for you. So now every time you come here you have your own room.”
“What about Momma and Win-ton?”
“Oh Lucy, sweetheart, they’re grown-ups. They need more space, so they sleep in the cabin out back.”
“But what if I get scared in here all alone?”
“Just come right next door.” Carolyn led her to the bedroom next to hers. “I will be right beside you. You will never have to be scared. Ever. I will always be right
beside you.”
Lucy smiled at that. “Okay.”
Lucy went back into her room and looked around, joyously. She reached for a hug, so Carolyn picked her up and held her.
Lucy whispered in her ear, “Are you my Gammy?”
Carolyn pulled her away so she could look her in the eyes. She would certainly accept the title if Kelly would allow it. If Linton and Kelly got married, she would be by default, but could she be so bold as to take the title before they ever made such plans? She knew if she did, she would be backing Linton into a corner and forcing undue pressure on him, which she didn’t want to do. But she also knew that Lucy had likely spent her entire four years wishing to have a grandmother, especially one that cared for her and did things like build a room just for her. Carolyn had already done that, and she was probably overstepping her bounds a little bit, but she did not care. She wanted to be Lucy’s grandmother.
Carolyn spoke in a soft, low tone when she answered Lucy. “I’m whatever you want me to be, sugar. If you want me to be your Grammy, you just say it and poof! that’s what I am.”
“Is that because you love me, Gammy?”
Carolyn smiled. “That’s right, sugar. I love you very much.”
“Do you love Momma too?”
Carolyn tickled her nose. “Can you keep a secret?”
Lucy shook her head yes, firmly looking into Carolyn’s eyes.
“I love your momma too. And from what I can see, Linton does also.”
Lucy reached her arms back around Carolyn’s neck and held her tight. She gently pat Carolyn’s back with her four small fingers and a tear rolled down her little face. She was happy. She wanted it to stay this way forever. She had a Grammy now and she didn’t ever want to let go of her.
As she started to regain her voice, she said, “We love you too, Gammy.”
* * *
Linton and Kelly walked outside to make their way to the cabin. The rain was still coming down hard and it was a good 50-foot hike to the front porch of the cabin, where Carolyn had left the front porch light on for them. They both pulled their raincoats over their heads before they left the porch of the main house.
“You ready?” Linton said
“Ready, Freddy,” Kelly replied. They made a mad dash out into the stormy night and across the gravel parking area onto the path that led to the cabins. As soon as they reached it, they stopped and shivered, laughing.
“Oh my God, that rain was cold! I felt raindrops hit my back and roll down my spine -- and it almost gave me a seizure,” Kelly said.
Linton shook off his raincoat before he opened the door.
“I know. What a drastic change in the weather we’ve had today. This morning, I thought I was going to have to change into short sleeves. Now I could use that long underwear packed away at the office.”
Kelly took off her raincoat and gave it a shake, then cuddled up to Linton, trying to warm up.
“Say, handsome, what do you want to do now?” Kelly asked as she gently ran her hand down Linton’s chest. She smiled up at him like an innocent schoolgirl. Linton smiled back and pulled her close as he kissed her gently, running his hands firmly up her arms.
“Well, I guess the first thing I need to do is warm my girl up.”
Kelly smiled at him in a way that confirmed she was okay with being seduced.
“Then you better get me out of these wet clothes.”
Linton shut the door and rapidly turned Kelly around, embraced her and started kissing her. He ran his hand down her back and groped her bottom. She reached her arms around him and rubbed his neck as they both panted with desire.
She lifted his shirt and he raised his hands. The wet shirt pulled against his skin as it resisted removal, but Kelly yanked it quickly like she was pulling a Band-Aid off a wound.
Linton undid the belt to her jeans and they slid off her with ease. She removed her shirt and Linton removed his pants. As he held her, he moved closer to the bedside table and turned the lamp off. They both removed their underwear and as soon as they were naked, Linton firmly lifted her with both hands from her bottom. She wrapped her legs around Linton and he slowly climbed onto the bed by his knees, holding her suspended in front of him, still in the air.
She reached down and grabbed his manhood, then quickly realized there was no need to stroke something that was already primed and ready for delivery. She kissed him one last time before they looked each other in the eyes, for only a moment. Kelly, still holding his unit, angled it up. Linton held her effortlessly in the air in front of him. Her legs were still wrapped around him, feet firmly locked together behind his back.
They both knew it was about to be the greatest experience of their lives. They’d had sex before, but never quite so passionately. Their desire for each other had grown since then and it was still growing. They had not even reached their summit, and they both knew that staying together meant years of happiness.
Linton slowly lowered her down. She let go of his unit as it made its way inside of her. One inch, two inches, then a full invasion. Linton was still on his knees as they passionately made love. Not one part of Kelly’s body had touched the bed. Kelly buried her mouth in Linton’s neck in an attempt to stifle her strained sounds. Linton muffled his own mouth on her shoulders.
But they had gained too much momentum and they could not hold their voices at bay any longer. Strained excitement and joy released into the night, only masked by the hard-pouring rain and thunder outside.
* * *
The rain was starting to let up about the same time Cam Wright was sailing down the Ohio on the Bucky Cole and Izzy Brown was packing up her equipment at the Stow.
Linton and Kelly lay side by side in the bed. Kelly pressed her back against Linton under the covers, and Linton wrapped his arm under her neck, hand resting on her naked chest. They had turned the bedside light back on and were lying there, devoid of energy but still too involved with the each other to fall asleep.
Linton had been making small strides to confide in Kelly the parts of his life that he hadn’t told anyone about. He was now at the point where he felt like he could trust her with anything.
She held his hand on her chest and gently caressed his thumb. He had made her feel the joy of sex that no other man had given her. Although she had been with three other men in her life, that was the first time she experienced the wonderful release of an orgasm. She knew it was not just lust. She trusted him and she allowed him to open her up. He had done so with such ease. As if he were destined to set her free.
Kelly rolled over to face Linton. She rubbed his shoulder and kissed his arm. He slowly ran his hand through her hair as they both relished in the revelations the night had brought them.
Linton knew that if he wanted her to be a part of his life, her and Lucy both, then he had to open up to her about who he was and, more importantly, about who his family was and what they did. It was something that being a lawman puts him at odds with, but a necessary struggle to help people who need it.
“Do you ever wonder why Mom has so many cabins around the lake, but not very many tenants?” Linton said.
Kelly was a little taken off guard, but delighted to discuss the topic. “Well, I supposed that Carolyn has had enough financial security in her life that she can pick and choose who enjoys the reservation with her.” Kelly sat up beside him. “Don’t the boy and girl scout troops in the area camp here in the summers?”
“Well, yeah, but that’s only one week at a time. Two weeks total for both troops combined.”
“So what does she do with the other fifty weeks of the years?” Kelly asked, amused at the topic.
“That’s just it. She has a purpose for the reservation, but no one except me and the Sheriff know about it. Well, actually, a few others know about it, but I can’t mention who they are.”
This piqued Kelly’s curiosity. “Okay, so does that means she runs moonshine in the back cabin?” she asked with a foolish half smile.
Linton stoo
d up from the bed, still naked, and looked out the front window of the cabin. Kelly sat up a little higher and pulled the sheet over her breasts.
“Linton, I was just kidding,” she said.
Linton sheepishly looked back at her and smiled, then sat back down beside her.
“I trust you, Kelly. I have reached a point with you that I’ve never reached with anyone else. I want you to know everything about me, including where I came from and what my family does.”
Kelly looked concerned and reached up and caressed his face. “It’s okay, baby. I feel the same way about you. What most people don’t realize is that trust and love, they are two of the same things wrapped in different boxes, one with a bow tie and another with a hemp string.”
Linton stared into her eyes and knew that her knowledge of things, her ability to adapt to the greater good, were ever-present. He knew he could trust her completely.
“Well, for starters, we’re not a family of moonshiners,” Linton said jokingly. “And we’ve never robbed any banks, at least not that I know of.”
Kelly was both amused and attentive to his words.
“Go ahead.”
“Well, you see, Mom, her and Dad, they got together back in the ’60s, when this area, just like so many others in the country, was particularly tolerant to male dominance over women,” Linton said. He took a breath to search for his words. “Dad wasn’t a wealthy man by any means, but Mom, she came from a family of entrepreneurs, some of whom owned the docks up in Fogstow.”
Kelly nodded. She knew that was the old Weyerbacher Coal Docks, and she knew Carolyn was a Weyerbacher.
“But Mom, she came together with Dad . . .”
“Sammy, right?” Kelly said, cutting Linton off.
Linton smiled. He was amused that she knew his Dad’s name.
“Yeah, that’s right,” Linton replied. “Mom and Dad, they came together because Dad was helping a woman and her two children escape an abusive man, whom she lived with across the river in Loudon. Mom helped Dad get the woman in contact with a network of volunteers that help women run away from abusive husbands and establish new identities.”
Kelly was rubbing his hand, awestruck by his story. She seemed to be holding Carolyn in high regard.