Whisperer

by Jeanne Harrell

  Mandy was changing clothes in one of the guest bedrooms when she checked her phone for voice messages. She was pissed – two from her mother. Not going there at all right now. She also had one from Stacy and one from a number she didn’t recognize. What the…? She deleted the messages from her mother, knowing what she would be saying anyway and clicked on Stacy’s message.

  “Hi Mandy. This is Stacy. Hope you’re having a great time and don’t listen to this message until you start home. Ah…bad news…Eddy’s trying to find you. I put off calling about this for as long as I could, but he’s been pretty insistent. I wanted to let you know that he might be calling. So sorry…call me.” And she hung up. Oh, great. Just what she didn’t need in her life right now was that asshole ex-boyfriend calling and ruining her wonderful new life. Curious now, she listened to the unidentified message. It was probably from him.

  “Hi Amanda. Eddy here. I’ve wanted to apologize for the things I said to you. I haven’t been able to reach you and Stacy said you’d left town. I got this number from your mom and would like to come see you, wherever you are. Call me back when you can.”

  Mandy stood stock-still and listened to herself. What did she feel? Anything? Yeah… ‘not much’ would be a good description, right up there with ‘who does he think he is’? It was amazing how little she cared if he was alive or dead. And that felt good… She deleted the message, knowing full well that that wouldn’t delete Eddy from her life. She would probably have something else to do to end things. Should she mention it to Colt?

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  A pretty lively scene was going on -- Steaks were grilling, music was playing, and lots of laughter. Colt saw a game of horseshoes being played and kids running everywhere. His sisters were helping their mother with various dishes that needed to be heated and were bringing out food to the tables set up outside. Colt had helped set up the long tables, so groups of people could visit and eat. He popped a beer from one of the many drink coolers, took a pull, and looked around for Mandy. Where was she?

  He knew Lily and Meg had brought her up to the house to freshen up, but now he couldn’t see her anywhere. Colt walked around. He waved at Jeanne and Sam talking with Jason and Amy, he saw Jesse, with his arm around Audrey, scowling at Miles about something, and brother Joey looked kind of cozy with Jason’s daughter, Anna. When had that happened? He heard Miles and Joey say they had tied with the calf-branding bet, so neither would have to mend fences for a week…

  His dad was grilling the steaks and he could see that Sam had brought several bottles of his great Chardonnay that he made up in Sonoma. Colt knew Mandy would like a glass, but where did she go? He went inside the house and found Lily in the kitchen.

  “Mom, where’s Mandy? You brought her in, right?”

  Lily looked around. “She went into a bedroom to change and I haven’t seen her since. I thought she was with you.” Oh – oh. She hoped there wasn’t trouble in Paradise…

  “I’ll look around, thanks.” He started to go into the bedroom area, when he glanced outside and saw her talking on her cell phone on the side of the house. He went out to join her. She looked over at him and tucked her phone away.

  “Everything okay?”

  “Sure, yeah…fine…” But she didn’t look fine. Maybe it was her crazy mother again. He’d have to meet that woman sometime and wasn’t looking forward to it.

  Mandy shook it off and then laughed. “I could really use a glass of Sam’s Chardonnay. Did he bring any?”

  “Of course and he wants compliments galore. “ He lightly kissed her. “Let’s go find you a glass.” But she didn’t move and wouldn’t let go of him.

  “Are you sure you’re okay?” She looked up at him. Her eyes locked with his and he held his breath.

  “ ‘I need to believe that something extraordinary is possible.’ ” He smiled at her.

  “It’s already happened. We found each other and fell in love. What’s more extraordinary than that?” They kissed a lingering kiss.

  Colt grabbed her hand and started leading her to the patio area and all the noise. He looked back at her, stopped and smiled. “By the way, I know that line is from ‘A Beautiful Mind’. Nice try, though. Remember, I have a movie-toting grandmother…”

  She laughed. “Darn…I thought I would have you with that one. It’s a little obscure and…”

  “Obscure? It’s the best line of the movie when Jennifer Connelly puts her hand on Russell Crowe’s heart. It’s a wow line. A real tear-jerker…”

  She looked deeply into his eyes. “You are easily one of the most sentimental men in the universe. Where did you come from?”

  “Well, if you talk to my dad – he’d say I came from the barn one stormy night. However, Mom would say I came from a night in sunny San Francisco. Take your pick.”

  “I do love you, Colt.”

  “I so adore you, Mandy. Maybe later you can tell me why you’re upset.”

  He looked at her and she just nodded.

  “Later.”

  “Okay.”

  And the good times were rolling…People had started dancing off to one side and others were eating. The steaks smelled divine.

  “What’s your pleasure, sweetheart? Food, drink or dance?”

  “Drink first, then food, lastly dance.”

  “Let’s do it.”

  They joined Jesse and Audrey who were talking to Jason. The noise level had cranked up a notch with the music. Lily had surprised Sandy with a local cowboy band determined to keep things hopping.

  Jeanne, who had seen Colt and Mandy’s serious discussion by the house, whispered to Sam, “I think we’re in Act Two now, Sam.”

  “What makes you say that, honey?” He looked over at the couple.

  “I know movies and this has all the feel of going from ‘All’s well’, to ‘maybe something’s up’.

  “How do you know?”

  “I just know, that’s all. ‘Philadelphia Story’? Not, that’s not right. ‘Footloose’? Possibly, when the creepy ex-boyfriend comes back to bother Kevin Bacon and Lori Singer.”

  “You’re saying there’s an ex-boyfriend in the picture? How in Heaven’s name could you know something like that?” He turned to stare at her.

  “Darling, when you look as good as that girl, there’s ALWAYS an ex-boyfriend.”

  Sam laughed. “Colt can take him.”

  Several bottles of Chardonnay later, or beer, take your pick, the party guests were having a great time. Dinner was excellent, with the birthday boy as chief chef, and lots of old family stories were told. Jeanne had brought her famous red velvet cake for Sandy’s birthday and too many candles were now being lit.

  “Seriously, Dad,” said Miles, “the house is going to burn down with all that fire.”

  “You said that last year, bro,” laughed Janie. “Think of new material. You’re the author…” Everyone roared and Miles looked sheepish.

  “We need a toast, someone,” said Lily. “Colt, how about it? Want to toast your father? That almost sounds like a Freudian slip. And I mean toast and not roast.” Laughter all around.

  “Sure, Mom.” He paused and looked over at his dad. “I’d like to give a toast to Sandy Johnson. A unique man who put me in my first pair of cowboy boots and taught me about life. Raise your glasses, here’s to my incredible father.” A few tears in the audience and then, “To Sandy…” Everyone applauded and Sandy went over to hug Colt. Mandy got tears in her eyes too. This family really loved each other -- it was obvious to see. She was very happy to be a part of it.

  After blowing out birthday candles and sharing pieces of cake with everyone, Sandy was ready for something else.

  “Okay, let the entertainment begin,” he announced. “Who’ll start us off?” He looked around the room. “Any takers?”

  Mandy whispered to Colt, “What’s up?”

  “After an event like this, we all do a little something for fun. It can take any form.”

  “You first, Sandy. It’s your bir
thday… Give us a poem,” said Sam. “What do you think, everybody?” The audience applauded raucously. Lots of whistles and catcalls. A few raspberries…

  Colt explained to Mandy. “Dad’s a cowboy poet and has participated in many cowboy poetry gatherings around Nevada. His poetry is well-known in several western states.”

  The audience fell quiet. Sandy stood up and began speaking. He spoke eloquently of his love for his family and the land in which he was born. As usual, he closed his eyes. He passionately spoke of those big Nevada skies and the pine and pinion-covered landscapes. Rhythm, rhyme, image, meter – it was all there. Mandy had closed her eyes too and could hear the thunder and visualize the lightening. She could hear the wind in the aspens and see hawks flying above.

  When he finished, the audience actually hooted and hollered. The Old West is still alive and kicking, she thought and smiled. He was good…

  Miles got up next and had brought a copy of his latest book, Tales of Nevada. It was a collection of short stories, he explained, and proceeded to read one of them. The story was bittersweet about the plight of the Paiute Indian tribe – what had happened to them over the years. His story posed no activist position. It was a mere reflection of actions that occurred and were still occurring. The audience applauded when he sat down.

  “Be careful,” Meg called. “People will begin to think you can be thoughtful, Miles.”

  “That’s not nice, Meg,” said Lily. “That was terrific, Miles, thank you.” Lily gave Meg a stern look that she just laughed off.

  “How about you, Lily?” said her husband. “Got a poem for us?”

  “Okay, if you insist.” She stood up and took out a piece of paper from her pocket.

  “Crib notes?” called Sam.

  “Nope, just wanted to be prepared this time. Last time I forgot my poem. Oh, but this time it’s not mine.”

  She started reading with dramatic flair,

  “ ‘On the shores of Gitchee Gumee,’ ” A few people laughed, until she continued seriously,

  “ ‘Of the shining Big-Sea-Water,

  Stood Nokomis, the old woman,

  Pointing with her finger westward,

  To the purple clouds of sunset.’ ”

  She stopped and looked at Colt who rose and continued,

  “ ‘As unto the bow the cord is,

  So unto the man is woman,

  Though she bends him, she obeys him,

  Though she draws him, yet she follows,

  Useless each without the other.’ ”

  Lily smiled and went on…

  “ ‘Much perplexed by various feelings,

  Listless, longing, hoping, fearing,

  Dreaming still of Minnehaha,

  Of the lovely Laughing Water,

  In the land of the Dacotahs.’ ”

  Colt and Lily had the group spellbound. They left out a collective breath that had been held and started applauding.

  “And that’s from Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, another appreciator of the American West,” said Lily. “Colt and I used to recite verses back and forth, when he was a little guy.” He walked over to her and kissed her on the cheek.

  “Good job, Mom,” he said. Mandy’s mouth had dropped open during their recitation. Unbelievable! They were a family of artists…

  Meg offered to whip up a San Francisco breakfast for everyone the next morning -- Lots of applause and ‘we’ll take you up on that’ from people.

  Joey and Anna got up to sing. “When did this happen?” Colt whispered to Jesse.

  “You’ve been gone six or seven months. If you’ve going to be gone so long, you might miss a few dramas.”

  Joey was the artist, but also played the guitar beautifully. Anna had a nice singing voice. They harmonized on ‘Tumbling Tumble Weeds’.

  “You’re kidding,” whispered Mandy to Colt. “These are Stepford people. They’re not real, right?” Colt just laughed.

  “How about Janie?” yelled Jeanne.

  “Yeah, Janie can arrest someone,” laughed Miles. Everyone turned to look at her. Being in the Sheriff’s program, they knew she was no pushover.

  “Oh, yeah? I can do better than that,” she said looking purposefully at her

  obnoxious brother. Everyone turned to look at Miles. The gauntlet, apparently, had been thrown down. Sandy looked at Lily and grinned. Miles was going to get his ass kicked.

  “What’ cha got, little sis? Bring it on…” Miles dared her.

  “Come over here,” she pointed to an area that was clear of people and anything breakable.

  He walked up to her and in two minutes, she had him flat on his back with her foot at his throat. People blinked and then started hollering, “All right, Janie!”

  She was absolutely tickled that she finally got the best of her brother who had teased her incessantly. Miles thought he might have to redefine his relationship with her.

  “Tae Kwon Do?” he mumbled with her foot still at his throat.

  “You bet,” she slyly smirked at him. Then she let him get up. They shook hands and Miles even praised her.

  “Good work, kid. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.” Janie just smiled and sat back down where she had been before.

  Colt raised his eyebrows at Mandy. “That’s new too,” he said. Mandy laughed.

  Jesse bowed out of tonight’s entertainment. Too tired, he said. Jason and Amy did likewise.

  “How about Mandy?” someone yelled. “Doesn’t she get a chance?”

  Colt jumped in. “Come on, she’s new. Give her a chance to acclimate to the Johnsons et al.”

  “No, that’s okay, Colt. I might have something to share,” she smiled mysteriously at him. He wondered what she was up to.

  “How about a challenge to Jeanne. Movie quotes – who said them and in what movie?”

  Lily and Sandy started laughing so hard, they almost fell off their chairs. Sam doubled over, as did most people around the patio. It was a great challenge, but unthinkable that anyone could outdo Jeanne in movies.

  Jeanne narrowed her eyes at her. “Okay, but ground rules. Three quotes each and nothing horribly obscure. No foreign films or animated. All right with you, missy?”

  Mandy squared her shoulders, took a drink from her wineglass, licked her lips and set down her glass. She paused for dramatic effect. Then she purposely wiped the back of her mouth with her hand. Colt smiled at her attempt at comic delivery. She could be funny…

  “Let’s do it.” Mandy and Jeanne came around to sit facing each other in the center. People got excited and started moving their chairs or finding seats in better locations to see the action.

  “Who starts?” Jeanne said.

  “Let’s flip a coin,” added Sandy. He took a quarter out of his pocket. “Call it, Mandy.”

  She looked at Jeanne and said, “Heads.” Jeanne smiled

  Sandy flipped the coin way up over his head – what a ham, thought Lily – and it finally clinked on the hard patio bricks.

  “What is it, Dad?” yelled Jesse.

  “Tails. Grandma starts with the first movie quote. Let’s put a time limit on this -- contestants can only take three minutes to respond. And no helping from the anyone,” he warned.

  A hush fell over the audience as everyone watched Jeanne and then Mandy for reaction. Mandy looked composed, while Jeanne was lost in thought.

  Suddenly, she brightened.

  “Got one. Ready?”

  “Let’s have it,” said Mandy. She winked at Colt.

  “ ‘Fasten your seatbelts. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.’ ” A few people gasped. Who in the world said that in a movie? A few minutes passed and then Mandy smiled.

  “Bette Davis in ‘All About Eve’.”

  “That’s correct. Good one, dear. I thought that might be before your time.”

  “Love Bette Davis, Jeanne. She’s one of a kind.”

  “Mandy’s turn,” announced Sandy. Apparently, he had appointed himself host of tonight’s game show.

 
Jeanne looked tense. She knew this girl was good…

  “Ready?”

  “Go.”

  “ ‘I love the smell of napalm in the morning.’ ” Mandy smiled.

  “Oh, I know that,” said Jeanne. “What is it….let me think.” Tick, tock, went the clock. Sandy looked at his watch.

  “Got it – Robert Duvall in ‘Apocalypse Now’.”

  “Correct…”

  Sandy announced, “The score is one apiece. Next quote.”

  Jeanne thought hard. She needed to come up with something good. Hmmm…Pause.

  “Okay. Here it is: ‘I am big. It’s the pictures that got small.’ ” She sat back and smiled at Sam. Mandy would never get this one.

  Colt looked at Mandy. He had never heard that one – he was stumped. Even Lily was wondering…

  Mandy laughed. Then she tilted her head back, widened her eyes and laid her hand at her throat. Jeanne knew exactly what she was doing and started laughing. What, the audience was thinking…

  “Gloria Swanson in ‘Sunset Blvd.’ ”

  “Absolutely correct and great imitation, my dear...” Jeanne looked at Colt, “This girl is good…”

  “Okay, Jeanne, ready? I’ve got a one for you. Probably too easy...”

  “Let me have your worst.”

  Mandy’s voice became silky and low, “ ‘You know how to whistle, don’t you, Steve? You just put your lips together and blow.’ ” Whew. Colt felt beads of sweat pop up on his face and grabbed a napkin to wipe them off.

  Lily started laughing at Colt’s reaction and thought, ‘You go, girl.’

  Sam and Jesse looked at each other and gulped.

  Jeanne laughed. “Good one. Lauren Bacall in ‘To Have and Have Not.’ She was a vixen in that movie…”

  People started talking and whispering, “Two to two.” A few bets were made and money exchanged. Really, smiled Mandy?

  “All right, calm down, everyone,” said Sandy. “We have the final round. The score is tied with two quotes for each side. Mom, you’re up.”

  Jeanne and Mandy looked at each other. This was it. May the best movie nut win…