by J. D. Oliver
We sat down and I said a prayer. When I glanced up, Poppy was setting across from me. “Uh, Faith, I think Poppy needs something on top also. I hadn’t noticed before, but she’s becoming a young woman.”
Faith looked, “Yes, perhaps, but will you stop being such a prude. Leave the girl alone, if you don’t like it, don’t look at her.” Faith stuck her tongue out at me. Perhaps I was being somewhat of a prude. I guess it’s all in how you look at it. I sat there thinking as I chewed my food. Yes, Faith was right, I could remember those self-righteous hypocrites in church, when I was a kid, they could make anything seem shameful. It’s all in the eye of the beholder… After all Adam and Eve didn’t wear clothes, that is till the biggest hypocrite of all came along…Satan.
After I finished eating. I stood up and took off my shorts and hung them on the back of my chair. I cleared the table off and then left the room, with all eyes on me. It was the hardest thing that I had ever done. No pun intended.
At the door, I turned, “When we leave here, it’s all clothes back on and that’s final.” I went out to the animals. They looked at me. Nick cleared his throat, “Uh, doesn’t that pull back up?”
“What do you mean?”
“You know like us, we can let it down or pull it back up inside.”
“No, I’m afraid it’s like this all of the time.” I said.
“That seems awful dangerous, it could get caught on a thorn bush or something, that would be really painful.” Luke said.
“Yes, well, you see most of the time we wear clothes, they protect it. But the women, they think I should go without clothes when we are here. But I told them when we leave here, its clothes back on.”
Faith came out of the house. One of the horses nickered. It sounded like a whistle. I looked around, “who did that?” I asked. They all laughed. “Okay, I don’t blame you, she is a knockout, isn’t she?”
We spent the next couple of days just taking things easy, swimming etc. Gabe and Clancy came by, occasionally. You might say we got a peak at what paradise could be like. But noting lasts forever. The animals were getting sleek and fat. It was sort of their idea to leave, they were getting restless, just laying around. Of course they were right, man and animal were made to work. Without a purpose, there was no purpose. Was that redundant?
So we packed up and put our clothes back on, they seemed heavy and itchy, after going without them for days. One thing for sure, we all had a nice even tan, without burning, since all of the sun’s harmful rays were blocked by the mists that covered the valley from stem to stern.
When we put our rifles back in their scabbards and strapped on our other weapons, they seemed gross. Would there ever come a time when we wouldn’t need them?
Gabe and Clancy showed up as we were just mounting up. Gabe said, “Keep an Eagle eye out, they still want you dead.”
“Who does?” I said.
“The one who roams about like a roaring Lion, seeking to devour everyone, since he knows that his time is short.” Gabe said.
“Yeah, but why is he picking on me? I’m nobody special.”
“Aren’t you? He must think you are, so that makes you special. A target anyway.” Clancy said.
“Yeah, I know that, these white blazes in my hair are evidence of that. Why does he always aim at my head?”
“Cut off the head of a snake and he dies, cut off his tail and he lives on.” Clancy said.
“Thanks a lot, now you’re calling me a snake, huh?”
“It’s all relative to who wants who dead. To him, you’re as dangerous as a Rattlesnake. To us, it’s him that’s the snake.” Gabe said.
“Alright, enough of this reverse philosophy, we’re heading out, see you guys later.” I said, as Nick stepped out in the lead, with Matthew and Luke following him. I followed along in the rear, as usual.
Just after we got clear of the waterfall, I looked back, no tunnel, just solid rock! What the hell? “Hey Faith, look under the waterfall.” I yelled. She turned Nick and rode back. We looked at each other, not saying anything, then we lined out again for home.
We got home mid-afternoon, Hope came out of the house, “You guys weren’t gone very long, just over night, I thought you said you was going to stay a few days?”
“Huh? We were gone for four days, what do you mean overnight?” Faith said.
“Well, you just called last night and said you were going to stay for a few days, now here you are.” Hope said, then added, “Where did you get your tans, you look great.”
“Mom,” Poppy said, “we were gone for four days, we were in a wonderful valley with all kinds of animals that spoke English, can you believe that?”
“No, I can’t, cause you were only gone overnight. Check the date on your cell phone Clay, what does it say?” Hope said. I looked at my cell phone. She was right.
“I can see the date, but we were gone for four days, no matter what it says. I can’t explain it, but it happened.” I said.
Hope lifted Alita from her saddle, “My but aren’t you as brown as a berry, all over too. What did you do run around naked?” Hope said.
“Yes, we all did. We even swam naked. It was so much fun. Even Daddy did, after Mommy told him to, he didn’t want to, but he did.”
“Well, you all have your story’s straight, so I guess you are telling the truth, but after you take care of your horses, come in the house and tell me all about it. And also, Rosie’s back.”
“Yeah, I seen the nose of the plane sticking out of the hanger. Where is she now?”
“Her and Tiff are in the office working, what else? That’s about all they do.”
“Yes,” Faith said, “that does worry me. They both need to have some fun, they work too hard.”
I led the stock to the barn and unsaddled them. Then went to the oat bin and gave them each a generous helping. The oats were getting low in the bin. I went to the silo, where we kept the grain. It was empty. I guess I would have to take a truck to town for some more.
When I got back to the house, everyone was gathered around the dinning room table, including Rosie and Tiff. Faith was telling them about our adventure. I sat down and listened.
Rosie was asking all sorts of in-depth questions about the valley. She said, “You know, Jake and Alona was telling me about another place on the Chama that sounded a lot like your valley, I thought they were just funning me, but I guess not.”
“So Rosie, how did the business trip or your sojourn go?” I asked.
“Fine, we are making in roads in the supply of low cost gas. The big oil company’s are getting nervous. It worry’s me a little bit.” Rosie said.
“How so?” Faith asked.
“Well, they’ve tried to get the courts to shut us down, but that’s failed, so-I don’t know, they may try sabotage. But I’ve beefed up our security, both here and down there, so I don’t think there is much danger from that. But I did hear, that they think, you Dad, are the one who is running the show. So watch your back, huh?”
“I’ve been their target for quite awhile now. What I’m scared of is, that they might miss me and hit one of my loved ones. They’ve tried to blow my brains out twice now and it hasn’t worked.”
Faith had a twinkle in her eyes as she said, “Well you have to have some brains before they can blow them out.” Then she giggled some more.
“HaHa, very funny Dear. But you might be right, I always come back for more…That, I guess does show like of smarts.” I said.
“Oh fiddle, you know better than that, you’re one of the smartest men that I know. So, don’t belittle yourself sweetheart. You’re the backbone of this family.” Faith said.
“Yes Dad, without you, none of us would be here, lord only knows where we would be, dead probably.” Rosie said.
Hope spoke up, “So who’s going to help me with supper?”
Everyone, but me, said they would, then they got up to do so. I stopped Rosie,
“Rosie, stay a bit, I want to talk.” She sat back down.
“So, did you have any trouble? How did the Hoeffer boys do?”
“They did alright, Dale was always calling Tiff, but otherwise they did a good job.”
“Do you think they are capable enough to take on more responsibility?”
“I guess so, I trained them some on self defense. They can shoot pretty straight now. They’re not too good with knives, but passably so.”
“Good, I need to go to town tomorrow and get a load of oats. I thought I would have them go with me.” I said.
“Are you expecting trouble?” Rosie asked with a heavy note of concern in her voice.
“I’m always expecting trouble. That way I won’t be surprised. You can go help the women now, if you want, I’m not trying to tell you what to do.” I said.
“I know you’re not Dad. I do have to make a few phone calls, so I think I will do that. You don’t think Mom will be mad if I don’t help with supper?”
“No of course, not. Besides I think I will set the table, that don’t require any brains.” I said with a smile….
That night when I gave Faith a kiss goodnight, I said, “Oh, by the way, I thought I would go to town tomorrow and get a load of oats. Thought I would take the Hoeffer boys with me.”
“Oh? Alright, but I’m going with you.”
“You don’t have to if you don’t want to.” I said.
“I want to, do you actually think I would let you out of my sight?”
“Swell, no problem, but don’t forget your weapons.”
“Of course I won’t, do we ever go anywhere without them?” Faith said.
“No, I guess that’s why we’re still alive.” I turned over to go to sleep.
“Hey Mister, you do know it’s been four days without any lovemaking?”
“No, according to Hope, it’s only been overnight.” I said.
“Well not according to my clock, it’s been four days, so turn over here mister and get busy.” I did as I was told….
At the breakfast table the next morning, I asked Rosie if she would watch her sister for the day. She said she would be pleased to watch her. Said she would start teaching her the oil business. At first I thought she was joking, but looking at her, I could see that she wasn’t.
I went over to Red’s place to see the Hoeffer boys. They were just heading to work when I stopped them.
“Chip and Dale, I need you to get the one ton duelly and fuel it up. We need to get some oats for the horses and mules. We’ll get just get enough to last till we can get a semi load for the silo.”
“Sure no problem, you had better tell Red though, he wanted us to check the stock up by the oil drilling today.”
“Sure, you guys go ahead and get the truck ready, Faith and I will be going with you.” I walked over to Red and Daisy’s house. Some of the hands were just finishing breakfast. I went into the dinning room. Red turned around with a sour look on his face.
“So, what do you want now?” He said.
I looked around at the hands that were just getting up, I hooked my thumb toward the door, they took the hint. Daisy was clearing the dishes from the table, she looked at me…her face turned pale and she hurried from the room.
I walked over to Red and jerked him out of his chair. Holding him at arms length, with his toes an inch from the floor. My hand was slowing tightening around his throat. My vision cleared and I sat him back down.
“Red,” I said, as he coughed and tried to get his breath, “now you know better that to talk to me like that, it gets my German up. I just wanted to tell you that I’m taking Chip and Dale with us to town to get some oats. How come you let them get so low?” Then I turned and left the room.
Daisy had gone out the kitchen door and around to the dinning room door, she met me. “I’m sorry Clay, he’s been so surly lately. I don’t know what’s getting into him. Please don’t kill him.”
I stood there a minute and then said, “Kill him? Why in the world would I do that? He’s your husband and you’re my mother’s cousin. He’s family isn’t he?” Then I walked away…
Kill him? Why would Daisy think I would kill Red. Was Red into something that I didn’t know about? I guess I would have to put Rosie on to that, she could find out if anybody could.
Faith wasn’t quite ready so I went into the office where Rosie and Alita were. “Rosie, would you do me a favor? Red has been up to something, would you nose around and see what’s going on?”
“What do you mean Dad? What do you think he’s been up to?”
“I don’t know, I’ve noticed right along that he don’t seem to like me, but it’s all been under the surface, well no more, he was just down right disrespectful. I’m afraid I lost my cool and grabbed him out of his chair. Daisy thought I was going to kill him. Why would she think that?”
“I don’t know Dad, but I will put out some feelers. I have a lot of contacts, not only with the hands and the oil workers. But people in town also. I’ll find out what’s going on.”
I leaned over and gave Alita a kiss and then hugged Rosie, then kissed her on the cheek. I held her for a couple of seconds. “Dad, are you alright?”
“Yes, of course, it’s just that I love my girls and I’m afraid I haven’t told the two of you that, very much.”
Rosie had a quizzical look in her eyes as she nodded and gave me a peck on the cheek. I turned and met Faith at the foot of the stairs. I told her all about it, as we walked to the truck shed.
“What do you think his problem is?” Faith asked.
“I don’t know. But Rosie is looking into it. If anybody can get to the bottom of it, she can.”
Chip and Dale had the truck setting there idling. I got behind the wheel, with Faith in the front seat with me. Chip and Dale got in the back seat. The truck was a Diesel, four door long box, 1 ton. It would hold enough sacks of oats to tide us over till we could get a semi load in.
I got out on the county road and set the cruise control to seventy. It was a long straight stretch to town. I had went but a few miles till I seen a flashing light in my rearview mirror, it was county deputy. I pulled over…
I got out and met him, “What’s the problem officer?” I asked.
“You were going over the speed limit, you were going seventy and the limit is sixty-five. I’m afraid I will have to take you in.” He said with his hand on the handle of his revolver. I looked at him, he was a new one….
“Uh, just give me the ticket, I’ll take it to the Judge in town.”
“No afraid I can’t do that, you have to go to jail.” He pulled out his gun, I reached forward and grabbing his hand I bent it back till I heard the bones snap.
He was screaming in pain, I backhanded him across the face, he was out like a light. Faith had jumped out and was running up. “What the hell did you do that for?” She snapped at me.
“He wanted to take me to jail for exceeding the speed limit, five miles over he said. He pulled his gun. Right then I knew he wasn’t a real cop, check his I.D. if you don’t believe me.” I said, as I kicked his prone body in the ribs and then I walked over to his cruiser and yanked the door open.
I was right, there was no two way radio or anything. I yanked the clove box open and pulled the registration out; it was registered in the state of New York, but the plates were from a county vehicle, probably stolen.
I walked back to where he was laying, he was just waking up. I grabbed him by his collar and lifted him to his feet. “Who are you and why did you almost commit suicide?”
He was holding his mangled wrist and whining. “Oh knock it off, that pain tells you that you are still alive, be thankful.” He didn’t pay me no mind. Faith said, “His I.D. says he’s from Washington D.C., he’s on the White House staff.”
I whistled, “Oh boy, you do have your problems, don’t you? You know of course, that they will kill you. You failed in your mission, they won’t let you live, I’ll tell you what, you get back in that car and head north through Montana and get your ass into Canada; th
at’s the only chance you have, even there they might find you, but you’ll have a chance anyway.”
I took his gun, he whimpered all of the way to his car, he backed it around and headed north, I guess he knew the deep shit that he was in.
Chip and Dale were standing there taking it all in. Dale said, “Rosie said that you were hell on wheels, I sure can see that she was right.”
“You didn’t know that before?” I asked.
Chip said, “Oh we knew alright, you forget we grew up around you, we know alright.” They both got back in the truck…..
“You guys drive, Faith and I will set in back.” they crawled over the seat. They held it to the speed limit. I put my arm around my wife, I could feel her weapons under her clothes, she felt me, then she smiled. She could feel hardware (guns, just the guns).
I put the bogus cop’s gun in the back seat pocket in front of me. Who knows it might come in handy sometime. We came into town at the crawl, I think the boys were afraid to attract attention to us.
We pulled up at the feed store, all four of us went in. The same people were still there from when I was a boy. They were glad to see me. I ordered the oats, they said it would take a week or so for the semi load, but they had plenty of sacks, so they loaded the truck up.
It was coming on to lunch time when we were done. So we went to lunch. The place that we usually went was under new management. That’s what the sign said anyway. It was combination bar/casino. The place was mostly full, we found a table and sat down. The waitress was busy, but she seemed to be ignoring us.
I went up to the bar and caught the bartender’s attention. He sort of sneered and came over. “We don’t serve Indians in here, hit the road redskin.”
I stood there for a second, digesting that. There were some hard cases setting at the bar. They turned on the stools and said, “Yeah, get out of here you stinking Indian, and take that Indian loving slut with you.”
I just stood there. Four of them got off of their stools and came toward me. I seen Faith get up and adjust her skirt, she was making easy access to her weapons. They grouped around me. Two more of them headed toward Faith.
Now I can take a lot of shit, but threaten my wife and you had better start singing your death song. The room had taken on a red haze. I smiled and stretched raising my arms up beside my head, I laid my hand on the shaft of my Bowie Knife.