The Reeducation of Savannah McGuire

by Heidi McLaughlin

  “Ah, well I’ll be a monkey’s uncle.”

  “What’s wrong, sugah?” I turn at Della’s voice and hang my head. “Don’t go fallin’ for the Yankee.”

  I look at her questioningly. “How’d you know about her?”

  “Small town. Big bar. Everyone’s talkin’ about the hottie down at the ranch.”

  I look around the bar and shake my head. “Jeremiah gossips like a girl.” Della starts laughing.

  “Too right.” She walks away, only to return with a full glass for me. “From what I hear, y’all knew each other when you were young’uns?”

  “Yeah, she and her momma moved to New York City a few years back. Uncle Bobby says she got into some trouble and her momma shipped her back here to finish out school and for the summer. I don’t know what she did and we ain’t really talking yet, mostly on the count that I made a fool out of myself when I picked her up.”

  Della throws her towel over her shoulder and shakes her head. “Sweetie, I’m sure it wasn’t that bad.”

  I spin around on the stool and cross my arms, resting them on the lip of the bar. “It was bad. I went and made this big ole scene, picked her up and swung her around, you know like you’re always talkin’ about in them books you read? Anyway, it wasn’t her, just some random girl that got off the bus with her and ever since then, her demeanor is cold.”

  Della tries not to laugh, but can’t hold back. I rest my head on my arm and sigh.

  “Listen here, sugah, you have to remind her why y’all were friends to begin with.”

  “How?”

  “Well I don’t know Tyler, you have to find somethin’ that was special and just go with it.”

  “You mean ask her out?”

  Della shakes her head. “Not all girls want to go out. Just remind her of what a sweet, charming boy you are. She’ll be putty in your hands.” Della walks away to tend to the rest of the patrons, leaving me with thoughts of taking Savannah out on the horses or even four-wheeling. Thing is, I don’t know if she likes those types of things anymore. If she were from here, it’d be a no-brainer and even though she is from here, she’s changed.

  Savannah

  Every time Tyler walks by or his voice echoes over the ranch, images of him driving away with me standing on the porch continue to replay in my mind. They serve as a constant reminder that he and I are no longer friends. Being stood up is not high on my qualifying list of being friends. He is, according to Aunt Sue, my boss and I’m to do whatever he asks of me. I also have to complete his requests in a timely manner without any sass.

  However, it’s very hard to be near him right now. He promised me shopping and a stop at his hangout, only to leave me standing on the porch being swallowed by a giant dust cloud. The tears I fought quickly turned to frustration. Doesn’t he understand that a woman needs more than fifteen minutes to get ready? I was standing knee-deep in manure for heaven sakes. I had to shower! He may be used to hanging out with women that smell like crap all day, but that’s not me and it never will be.

  To make matters worse, when he does walk by, he ignores me. Not that I want him to talk to me, because I don’t. I have nothing to say… except I do, and it’s not about taking me to town so I can submit my homework. I want to ask him why he stood me up. Why he made such a big deal about me going if he had no intentions of taking me. I had hoped after our brief conversation that maybe we were turning a corner and he and I would be friends, but it’s clear that he thinks I’m nothing more than an employee to him.

  I know I deserve this. I haven’t exactly been approachable or worthy of any friendship. I don’t want to be here mucking horse stalls or shoveling manure. This. Is. Not. Me. Life’s unfair, I know that, but never in a million years did I expect my mother to decide she can no longer care for me because of my out of control ways. I get good grades and do what I’m told. Just because she found me in one compromising position doesn’t make me a bad person. It makes me human. I know she’s made mistakes in her life. Half the time she makes me feel like one.

  When I boarded the bus to come here… a bus, not a plane… I told myself that a wall is going up and nothing will bring it down until I’m on a plane heading to Paris. My aunt and uncle may be the only family I have, but they don’t know me and they definitely don’t know my mother anymore. She’s not the same person she was when we left here. Sometimes I wonder if moving to New York City was her downfall as well as mine. Frankly, I’m getting irritated hearing “remember when”… because no, I don’t want to remember when I was young, carefree and had no worries in life.

  Except I’m starting to and I’m afraid to ask any questions for fear they’ll be happy and think I’m enjoying my time here. I’m not. If it’s not the heat, it’s the humidity and the smell. It’s the looks I get when I come downstairs dressed in shorts or a dress. My aunt and uncle can’t honestly say they’ve never seen a girl in a sundress before. I have eyes, I see the girls that show up to feed Jeremiah lunch. Their clothes are no skimpier than mine and lord knows what goes on in the barn when they get here. As soon as I hear the catcalls, I hightail it back to the house and hide in my room. It’s the only safe place where I can escape. Tyler can’t bother me there and watching him eat lunch in my aunt’s kitchen really bugs me.

  I fill the horses’ water trough and replace the hose where Tyler likes it. I’m done for the day and now have to find the courage to ask Tyler if he can drive me into town. I know it’s something my uncle discussed with him before I got here, but I have to make the arrangements. Uncle Bobby says that Tyler’s in charge on the ranch, I do what he says and Tyler will be accommodating. We both know the latter is not true.

  I kick off my unfashionable pink boots and leave them by the back door. My toes wiggle from the freedom they’re feeling at the moment. I know I’m missing the essential clothing necessary to survive on a ranch. I was hoping to take care of that minor issue last week when Tyler offered to take me shopping. Little did I know he was just kidding with that invitation.

  He’s leaning up against the counter when I enter the kitchen. The non-benefit of having a big ole country house is that when the screen door slams, it alerts everyone in the house that someone’s coming. Maybe that was my intention, because I definitely could’ve snuck up on him and if I had done that, he wouldn’t be facing me right now, eyeing me up and down like he has done every day since I arrived. I’m not sure if he’s expecting something with me to change or not, but if he is, he’ll be waiting an awfully long time. I’m me. He can take it or leave it. Part of me wants him to take it, but I’m not willing to admit that out loud. I’ve done enough pining over high society boys, and the rejection that they dish out is enough to last someone a lifetime. To them, it doesn’t matter what your mother does now, it’s whose blood runs through your veins. Regardless of her checkbook balance and club memberships, I’m still an outsider to them.

  It took me a year of speech therapy to drop my Texan accent. Being teased one too many times about saying “fixin’” or “y’all” had me visiting five days a week until I could speak without a southern drawl. I was still an outsider, but they were my friends. Tyler used to be my friend and so did Jeremiah. The memories of the three of us running in the fields, climbing hay bales and swimming in the pond are slowly starting to come back. I can try to fight them, pretend they don’t exist and just live my life as this outsider on a ranch not really fitting in anywhere, or I can start exploring on my own.

  I walk right up next to Tyler, my hip brushing him out of the way. My elbow bumps into his back as I maneuver to make my lunch. I don’t need to be in here, but it’s where I want to be. I feel his gaze on me, but refuse to acknowledge him. He’s breathing loudly... either that, or we’re just close enough that I can hear him clearly. Everything in me is screaming for me to turn and glare at him, but I don’t. I just continue to make my lunch and allow my arm to touch the back of his shirt every chance I get. If he wants to be a jerk, fine. I’m going to be a tease.


  Tyler clears his throat and adjusts his legs, crossing one over the other. I’d like to think that I’m getting to him, but the reality of the situation is that I’m probably getting on his nerves. One final elbow to his back, followed by a shallow groan and I’m moving away.

  “Did ya have to elbow me?”

  I turn and set down my sandwich. I mimic his stance with my ankles crossed and my hands resting on the countertop behind me. I tilt my head slightly, open my mouth just barely and say, “Huh.”

  “Huh? Is that how they taught you to articulate yourself in that fancy private school in New York?” His words bite.

  “What do you know about my school?” I bite back.

  He shakes his head, pursing his lips. “Nothin’,” he replies, walking out of the kitchen.

  I shake my head at his retreating backside and turn away. “Oh my god, he’s so frustrating,” I mutter under my breath.

  “I’m frustratin’?” he roars. I turn in time for him to step right into my personal space, his face inches away from mine. His finger is pointing at me and his lips are moving but nothing is coming out of his mouth. He bites down on his lip and says, “I’m not frustratin’, Savannah. You are.”

  Okay so now we’re in first grade and we’re going to do the – ‘you are, not me’ game. No thanks. That game I do remember and hated it.

  “How am I frustrating? I didn’t invite you out and then stand you up,” I challenge as I step toward him, forcing him to take a step back. “I didn’t promise shopping and a little bit of freedom only to drive away leaving a dust bowl in my wake.”

  “I waited for you. You never came out. I told you fifteen minutes.”

  I scoff. “Seriously, Tyler, I’m a girl, I need more than fifteen minutes to get ready. I don’t know what type of girls you like, but I, for one, would like to not smell like crap when I’m going out. It’s hot outside, I was sweating and you had me shoveling poop all day.”

  He covers his mouth and steps away from me laughing. I punch him in shoulder and turn away, only for him to grab me by my waist, holding me in place. My skin warms where his palm is resting on my hip. An unknown sensation courses through my body making me feel nervous. I didn’t feel like this when… I shake my head, trying not to think about what happened in New York. Chalk it up to a bad experience with the wrong guy and what not.

  “You’re laughing at me. I don’t need or want to be here right now,” I say to break the tension in the air.

  “I’m sorry, Savannah. I’m only laughin’ because you said poop and I think it’s cute. In fact, I thought for sure you’d start cussin’ up a storm by now, but I haven’t heard a single one come out of your mouth. I’m sorry about the other day. I waited, I did, but when you didn’t come out I figured you weren’t comin’ and I bailed. I got pissed and took off, lettin’ my temper get the best of me.”

  I turn slowly, noticing that his hand hasn’t moved yet and is still firmly holding onto my hip. “I stood on the porch and watched you drive away.” I know I sound whiney, but when we were kids, that’s all it took for Tyler to make sure I had my way.

  His fingers dig into my hip as if he’s trying to hold on. “I’ll make it up to you,” he whispers as he steps closer. His fingers relax and I feel them move over my skin ever so lightly. I look at him for some type of sign that he wants to be my friend and am taken by the small smile that forms. It’s not the same one he gives to my aunt Sue when he sees her. This one is different. It’s mine. His hand disappears the moment the screen door slams, but it’s too late. Jeremiah is snickering in the doorway and pointing. I step away, putting space between Tyler and me.

  “We headin’ to Red’s or what?”

  I look at the clock and wonder why he’s going to the bar now.

  “Yeah,” Tyler replies as I feel myself sag with disappointment. “First, I have to take Savannah shoppin’. I promised her last week. I’ll meet you there.” I smile, but still feel let down. I’m not good enough for this Red’s place, clearly.

  “Don’t forget the condom.”

  I blanch at Jeremiah’s retreating backside. Tyler is looking at the doorway he occupied not seconds earlier. I see his face turn blazing red. He turns back to face me, but keeps his eyes focused on the ground.

  “Ignore him. I’ll wait while you shower.”

  Tyler doesn’t give me an opportunity to respond. He’s walking away muttering something under his breath that I can’t understand. I jump when the screen door slams and he yells for Jeremiah. I step over to the window just in time to see Tyler tackle him and they get lost behind the fence and tall grass. It’s funny to see two grown men play fighting. For the first time since arriving, I’m smiling because I’m happy; even if I have a feeling it will be short-lived.

  Tyler

  “You’re such an idiot, Jer. I swear you were dropped on your head as a kid!” I kick him in the ass as I move away from him. He’s such a little punk sometimes, saying that crap in the kitchen. The last thing I need is for Savannah to think I’m into her, or that I’m looking for a quickie. I’m going to deny any feelings I have for her until I’m blue in the face, especially to Jeremiah. That boy is the town gossip. I want Savannah to feel comfortable around me and if that means I have to hide how I’m feeling and pretend that I’m just trying to get my friend back, or get to know the person my friend has become, then so be it. I don’t need Jeremiah making a fool out of me in the love department. I can do that just fine on my own.

  “Man, you’re ornery.” Jeremiah stands and brushes off the imaginary dirt and grass from his shirt and pants. “I reckon you have an itch that you’re about to scratch.”

  I lunge at him, only for him to sidestep and laugh. I’m breathing heavily out of frustration, my chest puffing in and out. I’m going to kick his ass. He pulls off his hat, twists it a few times and takes a bow before walking away from me.

  “You need to learn to keep your yapper shut,” I yell at his backside. He doesn’t stop, but raises his arm and flips me off. Stupid asshole. “She’s our friend,” I say, for both my benefit and his.

  I take off my ball cap and run my hand over my face. I’m afraid to look at the house because I have a feeling she’s watching this whole thing go down. If she is, maybe I’ll be lucky and she’ll just think that we’re two stupid morons who like to wrestle in the grass. I glance at the window, and sure enough, she’s standing there. I can’t see her face clearly, but she notices me staring and moves away quickly. Hopefully she’s going to go shower or do whatever she needs to do so we can head into town.

  I’m mentally taking a note of the kind of clothing she needs to survive out here. She may not want to “Countrify” her wardrobe, but I’d feel better if she was adequately protecting herself when she’s out here working. Her uncle put me in charge of her chores and the day-to-day lack of proper apparel puts limitations on what I can have her do. Not to mention her aunt’s boots are too big for her and she looks like she’s wearing clodhoppers, which she is too dainty for.

  “Ugh,” I chastise myself for even thinking of Savannah as dainty. Since when do I have thoughts like that? I shake my head in an attempt to clear them. Except, I’m failing miserably. It’s not because I don’t want to, but she’s making it impossible with the barely-there sundress she now has on. She stands not far from me, one long, perfect leg drawing all my attention as she taps it impatiently. Oversized sunglasses, the same ones she was wearing when she got off the bus, shield her eyes, making it impossible for me to see her expression. Her lips are pursed and painted. A large red bag hangs from her shoulder, the same type Annamae carries and I can’t help but wonder if Savannah has her “life” in there. I know I should look away but I can’t. My eyes follow the path of her long, tanned leg until it reaches the hem of her dress. Without much control I swallow hard and adjust myself discreetly. I close my eyes and berate myself for allowing Savannah to turn me on.

  I move toward her and her posture immediately changes. For the love of all things h
oly, I want to rip those sunglasses off her face so I can see her expression, so I can read her. I hate not being able to see what her eyes are trying to tell me.

  “Are you going to change?” her tone is snotty and just like that she’s back to being the bitch she’s been since her arrival. I want to know what happened to the girl that was in the kitchen with me not so many minutes ago and why the ice queen is back.

  I clear my throat. “Yeah, at my house,” I answer as I walk away from her. Just like day one, she can follow or not, but either way I’m done with her hot-and-cold attitude. I don’t really give a flying shit if she wants to come to town with me. I can’t continue to put myself out there if she’s going to act like a Class A bitch all the time.

  Surprisingly, she follows in line behind me. I pause briefly when we get to my truck and contemplate whether or not I should open her door. After some debating, I decide against it. It’s not that I’m not a gentleman, but she has no respect for me. Here I’m willing to take her to town, and she has attitude. Girl seriously needs to be put on a bull and have that shit bucked out of her.

  She seems to have no qualms about opening her own door and we both hop in at the same time. As chivalry dictates, I could shut the sliding window behind us, but I think I’ll wait until the princess asks nicely. Besides, maybe the wind will blow sweet nothings into her ear and she’ll come out of the funk she’s in.

  We drive approximately three hundred yards before I park. Savannah raises her sunglasses, resting them on top of her head. She looks out the window and then at me, her face full of confusion.