by Tara Gabor
“Nearly 8 pm,” she nodded.
Kyle wriggled in his chair, moving his shoulders to a more comfortable spot. The parrot was not disturbed and continued to snuggle against Kyle.
“I told you that bird was right for you,” May commented. “When help arrives and you head home, you should take that bundle o’ feathers with you.”
Kyle came more awake. He looked down at the bird nestled quietly in his arm and grinned.
“Now, Miz May, I cannot take this bird home with me. I have no cage, no food, and no plans for a bird in my life. And that’s that.”
May did not respond, and Kyle felt relieved. The ludicrous scenario that he should end his day of misadventure by arriving home late via police escort, given that May’s plan even worked, with a large parrot in tow forced Kyle to sit up straight and shrug off his drowsiness. He could easily have nightmares with those images meandering in his mind: the great Appalachian Cafe Heist’s four-man gang chasing him, perhaps ending in a gun battle with police, while a parrot squawked orders to carrier pigeons flying to and from May Gayland’s cabin. No, he rather thought he would prefer to stay alert and wait for the help or the trouble that was surely on its way.
Kyle slowly stood up, still cradling the bird. The parrot stirred and, as Kyle’s torso rose from the chair, he stepped daintily onto Kyle’s arm, opening his beak in a wide yawn. Kyle clenched his fist, expecting a bite, but the parrot was apparently simply giving a yawn. May continued to knit, but watched silently as Kyle crossed to the perch, homemade of split firewood and dowels, embellished with a divided dish filled with food and water. The bird reached out to his familiar stand, and Kyle eased his arm away.
“That poor creature does not even have a name, sir. And he certainly seems to have taken to you,” May began her sales pitch.
“Miz May, please, we’ve been through this. I am not interested in a bird.” Kyle whispered, unwilling to wake Thomas who snored softly from the far chair.
“I’m just saying you should name the poor creature,” May argued.
“Sure. I know not of parrot names,” he shrugged and stood closer to the open flames. “His speaking is aces. Call him ‘Ace.’”
He would have said more, but he stood still, listening. He thought he heard something, a stirring, perhaps a nocturnal animal crawling around the perimeter of the house, looking for food or warmth. Kyle’s neck stiffened as he stuck his head out at an angle, tilting his ears at the back wall. May’s expression turned somber. She raised her eyebrows slightly. Kyle shook his head. Whatever he thought he heard had moved on.
Chapter 25
“Yes, Mama,” James said into the phone. His mouth was a fraction of an inch from the mouthpiece. Though the family had a phone at home, it was a party line and not used for long conversation. Telling his mother about Callie was the type of conversation he could have with her sitting on their front porch or walking through the nearby woods. Using the telephone for such a personal heart-to-heart was awkward.
Franklin sauntered in. The store was his, after all, and he exhibited his ownership like a well-worn pair of jeans.
“Need the phone, Sport,” he said easily.
James gulped, nodded.
“Gotta go, Mama, but I’ll remember.” He hung up without the normal valediction, “I love you,” the family normally employed over the phone. Elizabeth had instilled the custom into each child as well as her husband.
“No one knows when they will meet their end, so three little words at the end of an argument, end of the day, or end of a telephone conversation is a small enough thing, isn’t it? But then if it should be the last chance you ever had to say those words, you would have no regret that you didn’t use them,” she had taught them.
After the intimate nature of their conversation, James could not bring himself to utter the phrase with Franklin looking on. James hung up the phone.
“Gas is in the back of the truck. That’s thirty-five cents, sport.”
“Oh, right,” James dug into his pocket and counted out three dimes. He looked at the three coins in his hand. He had never thought to ask his father for money.
“You owe me a nickel,” Franklin said, plucking the dimes out of James hands and advancing to the telephone, dismissing James with his body language.
James headed to the door. Callie had the truck turned around. She motioned to him to hurry. He obeyed, picking up his pace. He liked doing as she directed, hoping she would direct another kiss for them soon. He bounced around the front of the truck to the passenger side and hopped in. The truck was already in gear, and Callie put pressure on the gas pedal before James could lock his safety belt.
Callie eased the truck back onto the road, looking both ways first. She increased their speed as much as she dared. The headlights broke the darkness ahead of them. Moonlight lit the entire mountainside like a soft white bulb in an overhead lamp. Shadows danced on either side of the vehicle, which bounced slowly with the urgency James felt.
“Mama says you and me would make a good couple, maybe even husband and wife,” James spoke first. Callie smiled to herself, happy at the sign of conversational assertiveness. She was worried she would have to take the lead in absolutely everything, and happy to see a sign that James could hold his own.
“Hmm. Is that right? What else?”
“Well, she said it was good you are so headstrong because you will succeed at going to school and I should plan to work hard, but to go to school part-time, too. Auto-mechanic school.” James paused. “She wants to meet you.”
“I want to meet her.”
Callie chanced a glimpse at him, but she couldn’t risk taking her eyes from the road for more than a second.
“Where are we going now?” he asked.
“I have to go to May’s now. Franklin will be along with some other men, probably a few of the deputies, too. If you need to get out before I get there, tell me when. You can take the truck after we get there if you need to.”
James thought of the men waiting for him. The bus was in this general direction, and his father looking for a vehicle to use. He wasn’t sure why they were all converging near the same place, but he doubted it was good.
“Wow. That’s nice of you to lend me your truck,” he said, trying to work out in his head what was happening. He had clues, but he was unaccustomed to piecing bits of information together.
“If we are going to move in together and live in Lexington, James, I should be able to trust you with my things, and likewise you with me. Don’t you agree with that?”
“Yes, sure. I only meant, well, I would never want to let you down.”
“I don’t think you will,” she responded.
“Yeah, well, what brought you out tonight anyway? You didn’t think you were going to pick me up on the road and, well, talk to me, did you?”
“No, how could I know that?” Callie gave a small laugh.
James shrugged. “Mama says Miz May knows things before other people. Says she has a way with plants and animals. Even has a brown bear to do her bidding. That in olden times she would be called a witch.”
“Oh, she still is called a witch, and worse,” Callie said, her tone suddenly dark. “She is a smart mountain woman, for sure. I learned a lot from her, beekeeping, and how to bake an apple pie without breaking the crust. But really, what people say sometimes just amazes. The story of that bear has been around as long as I can remember. Where do people get these ideas?”
James shrugged again, unsure how to respond. He did not have as many opinions about people as Callie, and the bear story had come from his own maw.
Callie pumped the break several times in anticipation of the turn onto the slim dirt road leading to the cabin. Both Callie and James fell silent as their ride came to an end. James scanned the surrounding area, expecting his father to jump out, or Jed to whistle to him.
The truck pulled up in front of the cabin without any obvious spectators. Candlelight glowed from the front windows, but all was quiet
. Callie cut the engine and looked at James. He nodded towards the front door. They both got out, closing their respective doors softly.
Callie rapped twice and paused. May opened the door before Callie could repeat the knock. Without a word she let the pair in.
Chapter 26
David and Guy heard the crunch of tires on gravel and exchanged a look. They were immediately alert. They stood up and silently made their way around the side of the cabin, David in the lead. Jed was nearly left behind, content to sip the serendipitous liquor and allow his mind to wander back to Daisy. Spending the cold night in Daisy’s warm embrace appealed to him. Wasn’t that a fine plan, better than chasing some dentist who posed a possibility of a threat?
Strong spirits may have mellowed Jed’s outlook, but the booze brought out a meanness in Guy normally masked by playing gigs and getting stoned with his band. Guy wanted action, and he wanted it now. Walking behind David with silent footsteps took control, and Guy exercised it because he felt a confrontation was near at hand.
Jed slowly realized both his father and cousin were on the move. He stumbled up behind them as they reached the corner of the building. David peeked around the edge allowing Guy enough room to crane his neck for a glimpse of the front door.
The truck was in plain view, and the backs of two people disappeared through the lighted doorway.
Jed looked numb with cold and incomprehension at the two men who turned back to huddle.
“Now whose truck do you figure that is?” David asked.
Jed shook his head, wide-eyed. Guy mimicked him, exasperated with his cousin’s lack of acuity.
“Help for the doc?” Guy hissed.
“Maybe,” David answered, glumly considering the implications.
“Why don’t we go back to Daisy’s house?” Jed suggested, overlooking the other’s examples of whispering.
“Quiet!” his father mouthed.
“Oh, right,” Jed began again in a stage whisper. “Let’s get out of here. By morning that fellar’ll be gone and forget all about us.”
David nodded, considering the angles.
“Why don’t you two go on back? I’ll wait for James. We’ll head off towards home,” David said.
“No way,” Guy objected. “He saw us.”
“He didn’t get a good look at you. He’d know my face the best. He’ll forget it soon enough and besides, he saw four men. Staying together is more dangerous than taking off.”
Jed nodded enthusiastically, like a puppy waiting for a ball to be thrown for him to chase.
“No way,” Guy repeated.
David sighed and took a breath, wondering what he could say to convince Guy to leave.
“Jed, why don’t you go on ahead? Guy can follow you shortly,” David nodded at his eldest.
Jed looked at David and Guy in turn. He wanted to go, but he wanted their approval even more.
“Yeah, go ahead,” Guy said.
Jed nodded. He turned and started off picturing himself cuddling up with Daisy in front of a warm fire.
David had a few thoughts of wisdom to try on Jed. Over the years there had been a few occasions when he, with or without Elizabeth’s help, had to counsel the boys over what Elizabeth called, “learning life’s lessons.” In this case, David would have no chance to make a case for prudence. Life’s lessons would be taught the other way, the hard way.
Chapter 27
James looked at Kyle, too surprised to look scared. His lips pressed together in a straight line as he extended his hand to Kyle’s. His eyes expressed concern. Callie felt affection towards him for caring about the stranger her adopted mother had just introduced as Kyle, an unfortunate motorist whose bus was stranded on the mountain road. His accident was the reason for her 911 air delivery, and indirectly, Callie’s chance meeting with James. Callie wanted to share James’ decision to go to Louisville with her, but it would have to wait. After all the emergencies that might have prompted May to call for help, a stranded man in need of a ride to town was urgent, obviously a priority to him, though not the catastrophe Callie had feared.
Kyle looked directly into James’ eyes and smiled.
“I appreciate your concern and help,” he said.
James nodded. Was it possible Kyle didn’t recognize him?
May and Callie exchanged a look, and the older woman ushered the group into the main room.
“Why don’t you two warm yourselves in front of the fire before you take off? Surely the good doctor can wait a moment longer, he has been patient with our humble hospitality this long.”
“If we wait much longer he’ll have a choice of who to ride home with,” Callie said. “Franklin will be here shortly. I wasn’t sure what you needed, so he’s bringing a posse.”
May ushered the couple in. Kyle followed. He recognized James, but the young man, accompanied by Callie, no longer appeared threatening in May’s warm cabin. Kyle couldn’t be sure they weren’t setting a trap, but he believed it possible the gang could have come to their senses and split up, scattering their pack mentality like loose marbles across a smooth floor.
The group made their way into the living room. They moved lightly, but their presence was felt by all that tried to sleep. Thomas opened his eyes. They slowly focused on Callie, who smiled down at him.
“Callie! You came. We got your message. Alco1 got back just fine!” Thomas hurled himself off the couch where he had been curled in sleep and wrapped his arms around his cousin.
“Oh, Thomas! I came as soon as I could. I was worried about you.”
“What’s Up Doc?” the macaw said in a drowsy voice from his perch.
James’ head twisted behind him. The bird seemed to be looking at Kyle who stood at an angle to the perch and the rest of the room.
“How does that bird know you’re a dentist?” James asked.
“He’s a dentist?” Callie asked. “How do you know that?”
“Indeed,” May said evenly.
“Perhaps we should sit down,” Kyle offered.
Chapter 28
While James and Callie described the events of the last several hours with Kyle and May, Thomas curled up next to Callie, James close on the other side. They filled the couch, forming a soft-spoken alliance against the two adults sitting across from them.
Unseen outside, Guy stomped around the corner, threatening to pound on the door and demand entry.
“Guy,” David called from the side of the cabin, “Get back here. Be smart about this.”
Guy continued moving with heavy footfalls, but he made his way back to David.
“Why not find out what’s going on in there?” Guy demanded. “Get that college-educated, baby killer out here and have it out with him once and for all.”
Jed stood a few paces back. His hands moved nervously together and his eyes darted between his father and cousin.
“Maybe we should leave the feller alone and go see Daisy and Ruth,” he said, swallowing the last syllable when Guy leveled a malevolent look at him.
“You go, go on,” Guy taunted, “go back to your woman while we take care of this other coward.”
“But, you said he was a killer,” Jed began.
David shook his head to silence his son.
“Jed, I want you to head on back up to Daisy.” He nodded his head for emphases. “Go on right now. I’ll take care of things here. We don’t even know the dentist fella is in this cabin. Maybe he’s been here and gone already and that truck is arriving back again.” He paused to look at Guy. “Do as I say, now. Get warm and get some sleep tonight. I’ll see you back at home tomorrow.”
Father and son nodded at each other. Jed gave his cousin a hopeful look. Guy transferred weight from side to side, unable to look Jed straight in the eye. Jed gave a farewell shrug and turned toward the road and the walk back to Daisy’s place.
“I really want to go with Callie and pursue my education. My maw gave me her blessings, and I would like your blessings, too, Miz May.” James stopped
talking and alternated his eyes from Kyle to May and then Callie, where his gaze loitered softly.
Kyle was quick to forgive all of the day’s transgressions, noting, “I perceive a great deal of sincerity in you, James. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
When May did not add any affirming statement Kyle added, “Jesus preached forgiveness, after all.”
The room waited for May’s reaction. Even the parrot remained still, perceiving this was not a good time for his voice.
“Jesus preached forgiveness, aye. Far be it from any one of us to cast judgment on another’s soul. But young man, do you believe you can commit armed robbery, a crime against honest, hardworking friends of mine, without consequence?” May spoke with a firmness of authority. She had no need to raise her voice. “No sir, this will not stand.”
Her words inspired trepidation. James turned to Callie, wordlessly beseeching some way out of the trouble he had made for himself. Now that he saw a future with Callie, the folly of his earlier decision to go along with the robbery crushed his spirit.
Callie blinked back tears. She had not grown up under May’s supervision to harbor any misconception that May was speaking mere hyperbole. When May Gayland spoke of consequences, there were consequences. The world followed May’s directives, whether enforced by her or by some other, seemingly independent authority. Be it a doctor, a teacher, an officer of the law, or an act of God Almighty, when May spoke of consequences, best to take heed and follow her advice.
Callie looked deeply into James’ eyes. He was such a boy, so easily bruised and influenced by others. Callie directed James to respond to the older woman with a tiny drop of her head. Her eyes spoke to him as one soul mate to another.
James gulped and turned toward May.
“Miz May, what can I do to make it right? Do I have to turn myself in?”
Callie’s breath caught in her throat. Even Kyle forgot to breathe, and Thomas sat suspended by the drama in front of him.
“If you were robbed, young man, what would you want to happen to the evildoer?”