Shay shook his head and started laughing. “Princess, you are such a city girl!”
Well, that was my last day doing chores. Guess he didn’t know a good hand when he saw one, I thought to myself.
***
Speaking of good hands, we had one of the best. Shay was a good judge of character. He was all business when it came to running the farmstead, but he had a kind heart toward his hands. Rolland, one of the crew, told Shay about his brother-in-law who’d lost his whole family in a car accident and needed a job; he was about fifty-years old and didn’t speak any English, but he had a good heart. Rolland told Shay his name was Louis and he was a real hard worker. Louis was living in a homeless shelter in Omaha. He usually followed the crews that picked vegetables, but it was the off-season, and he was in need of a job.
My sweet Shay told Rolland that he would send Steve, our chopper pilot, to Omaha to get Louis. Rolland could accompany Steve. Louis was so appreciative of the job, and a bunkhouse to live in. He was an exceptionally good hand. There was nothing he wouldn’t do and he didn’t have to be told, he just knew what needed to be done. Sometimes when he saw Kelly and Wessy, I could see tears well up in his eyes. Louis loved our kids. He called Kelly “little green eyes,” and Wessy, “little hombre.” He loved watching Kelly play with Starling. Louis was a hard worker and a fast worker. Sometimes when I saw him working, I felt like he was working so hard, it was like he was running while he worked, trying to run from the pain in his heart.
One evening in March, I didn’t get home from shopping in Hudson until 5:30 p.m. I had stopped at Mom and Dad’s to get the kids, and the kids had cried until I let them stay. Shay and I were good parents, but I’m sure people thought my parents had the kids too much. Still, I loved sharing Kelly and Wessy with them. The kids were Mom and Dad’s whole life. They adored them and the kids felt the same. I knew how the kids felt—I had felt that way all my life. I didn’t ever like being away from Mom and Dad. They had so much love to give and they also gave the kids their time.
I always said Mom and Dad were ‘professional parents.’ Someone once asked me what that meant, and after thinking a minute, I said, “They never traded our time, my sister’s and mine, for money. Mom was there twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. That’s a professional mother.”
Shay came in, showered and walked into the kitchen saying, “I don’t smell anything cooking, isn’t supper ready babe?” Then he asked, “Where are my little rug rats? Oh, let me guess, they wanted to stay at Grandma and Grandpa Mitchell’s, right?”
“Right,” I said, “I haven’t started supper yet, so go watch TV and have a beer while I get it ready. It won’t take long.”
Shay slipped past me toward the den, smacking my ass with one of his love swats on the way. I stood there a second thinking to myself, ‘We have the house to ourselves; I should give Shay something special for supper.’
Then I moved the chairs away from the kitchen table he’d built in the center of the room. I moved the flowers from the table to the counter, undressed, and lay down in the middle of the table. All I was wearing was a bunch of grapes I had nestled between my legs. I had another bunch of grapes in my hand to feed to Shay.
“Oh, Shay, darlin’!” I called in an enticing voice. “Supper’s ready.”
“Already? That was quick,” he said as he got up off the sofa.
I would have given anything to have had a camera when he walked in. The look on his face was priceless—pure surprise and delight.
“Wow,” he said, “it’s a princess buffet.”
He circled the table, slowly, several times, like a wolf around his prey. “Gee, I don’t know what I want first, the salad bar, dessert, or the main course,” he said with his Shay smile.
What a few hours that was! My body was sore for days from that granite tabletop (no give!) But the sore bones and muscles were worth it. Later, Shay ended up taking me to Westover for a burger. Then home, hot shower, and a few hours of enjoying a good old soft bed.
It seems like Shay and I did nothing but make love. But like all couples we had our ups and downs. Oh, we had our arguments. We just never ever let ourselves go to bed without making love. I think the very worst fight that Shay and I had was one summer day when he had the boat and the pickup parked out front. His buddies were coming over and they were all going water skiing. Well, that pissed me off, as girls usually showed up at the lake. After arguing about the fact that I thought he should stay home with us, I ran out the front door.
I was still Little Fire Pants Callie with my temper, and I really was a spoiled brat. I picked up a rock from my flowerbed, about five inches in diameter, and threw it at the side of Shay’s new boat. The boat was fiberglass, so the rock didn’t dent it, but it really scratched the side.
Shay came out of the house, grabbed my arm, threw me over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes, and carried me upstairs. I was getting a little worried I might be headed for another spanking. He took me to our bedroom and stood me on the floor. Then he got his pocketknife out. Now I was really wondering what was up.
Well, I had just had a new matching bedspread and drape set made, and Shay took that knife and cut a circle, about eleven inches round, in the center of the bedspread.
“How do you like it, Callie?” he asked, throwing the piece of fabric at me. “Having someone destroy something that’s yours? Now you take the afternoon to think about that. I’m going boating, and we’ll talk when I get home.”
He stormed out, leaving me openmouthed, just staring at the hole.
That night I begged Shay to buy me a new bedspread to replace the one he’d cut.
“You buy me a new boat and I’ll buy you a new spread, you spoiled little brat,” was his reply.
After about six months of making the bed and filling the hole with the round piece of fabric like a puzzle, Shay gave in and bought me a new bedspread. But I never did anything like that again. His “eye for an eye” method certainly had the desired effect on me.
***
Around the first of May, most of the snow had melted and the river was running deep and fast from all the run-off water. We were out riding around in the Impala with the kids, when Shay said he’d love to raft down that fast river from the lake to Nine Bridge Road. Hell, that must have been at least ten miles.
I was hoping he would change his mind. But after Shay had driven home, gotten his rubber raft, taken it down to the lake and inflated it, I was beginning to realize he meant business, which I guess I’d known all along.
“Now, Callie,” he said, “I’m taking off from here. You wait a little while and then you and the kids pick me up at Nine Bridge Road, that’s the big bridge, princess.”
“Are you crazy?” I asked. “You have no idea what’s in that churning black water. Trees, barbed wire washed down from the farms, trash—anything could puncture the raft. Shay don’t do this, I’m not picking you up. This is insanity!”
“Hush,” he said, “or I’ll take you with me.”
Well, that did shut me up. I knew he might just try something like that.
“How long before we have to be there?” I asked.
“Give me a couple of hours. It’s pretty windy. I really can’t judge the time. Never done it before. Go get some cheeseburgers, take a blanket with you, and wait there for me,” he said, as he shoved off.
Idiot! I thought to myself.
When we got to Nine Bridge Road, the big bridge where we were supposed to wait, there was no sign of Shay. We spread our blanket and just sat there. We were there at least an hour before I spotted the yellow raft coming around a bend. It looked very small, so I knew it was a long way away. I kept watching it get closer. Then with a jolt I realized I couldn’t see anyone in the raft. It was empty!
I started screaming, “Shay, Shay! Please God, no!”
I was at a breaking point. I thought I was going to pass out. But when the raft got closer to us, Shay popped up. He had been laying down just to play a joke o
n me. I was so damn mad I threw my hamburger and coke on him and called him a fucker. Needless to say, this didn’t go over too big; but I was so angry. How could he scare me like that? I thought I’d lost my love! My Shay Man…
I guess this is what people do when they don’t grow up and act their age. We never did act like the adults we were supposed to be. I guess that was part of the fun though.
1970
Above The Bones
We got through about a year and a half of what I’d call smooth sailing. Everything seemed to quiet down for us, for a while. Well, now let me see, what’s that old saying? Oh yes, all is calm before the storm.
It was mid-summer and our anniversary was coming up in two weeks. Shay had been asking me what I wanted to do. I told him we could go out or stay home with Kelly, who was now seven, and Wessy, who was now five. I still really looked forward to that day, I deemed it the luckiest day of my life, but I didn’t care what we did as long as I was with Shay.
When Shay brought the mail in the next day, we had received a special invitation to the grand opening of The Golden Spur Steak House and Club. Shay’s family knew the guy that owned it.
“Gee,” I said, “It looks mighty grand from the outside.”
“Right between Westover and Hudson,” Shay said, looking at the details. “Prime location. They’re going to get good business.”
Then he showed me the date of the opening: July 3rd, our anniversary! Well, that decided it.
The invitation said to bring a guest couple. We knew we’d take Karen and Kevin. I had two weeks to get our clothes ready for the big night. I bought a black lace stretchy knit dress. It was darling, very simple. Form fitting and tight at the waist, with a turtleneck and long sleeves. The short little skirt flared out so if you were twirling on the dance floor, it would flare out just right. I bought black pantyhose and black high-heeled, knee-high fashion boots. I would wear my long silver chain with the one pearl at the end, and the matching pearl drop earrings, which Shay had given me for our anniversary the year before.
For Shay I bought new black slacks with a bit of a bootleg flare, something that would make that beautiful body of his stand out. I chose a long sleeved, black turtleneck knit shirt (I knew he would be wearing his new black western boots.) In the department store, I spotted a gorgeous camel cashmere blazer. The mannequin wearing it had a little black handkerchief stuffed in the breast pocket. Well, that black hanky just made it pop, so that was it. He was wearing all black with a turtleneck and this camel blazer with the touch of black peeping out of the pocket. I really liked what I had picked out, and Shay liked my taste. I can’t remember ever having to return or exchange anything I bought for him.
Mom said they would keep the kids all night so we wouldn’t have to worry about being out late and wanting to get Yonnie home at a decent hour. Maggie and Sterling were going to Chicago to spend a week with their daughter, Debbie, or I’m sure they would have offered to keep the kiddies. We were all set for the big night!
***
I must have looked okay, because when Shay saw me come out of the bathroom at home wearing my anniversary night dress, we ended up undressing each other, and were down on the bedroom floor for an hour or so. Then we really had to hurry and get dressed for the second time. We had planned to arrive about an hour early for drinks. Well, hell we blew that one. Finally, we got to the Westover Bar, where Karen and Kevin were waiting for us.
Kevin just said with a grin, “Don’t even bother to tell us. We know!! Happy anniversary, you guys.”
We arrived at The Golden Spur and were escorted to a magnificent table. There was a sign on the table that said Reserved For The Shay Westover Party. Life couldn’t be more perfect. Shay was so handsome, turning heads in his new threads. Champagne was complimentary. Shay so wanted me to have a glass, but with my stubborn nature I was unmovable. I stuck to my tea and orange juice. We decided to dance awhile before ordering our steaks. Dancing with my handsome Shay Man, with his arm around my back and one hand cradling my neck, I literally had chills running up and down my body. His touch was so tender, and he looked directly into my eyes. I remember tears started to run down my cheeks and Shay just held me closer.
“Don’t cry, princess, I know what you’re thinking and what you’re feeling. I feel the same things. Don’t cry. Think happy thoughts of our future together. Happy anniversary, my love. Do you think you can just relax and enjoy the evening and remember how much your Shay Man loves you?” he asked in his low, sexy voice.
I just looked at him and smiled. I could do that, but it was going to be hard when all I wanted Shay to do was pull my body to the floor, rip my clothes off and make mad, passionate love to me.
It was a little after ten when we decided to order our food; it was delicious. We hadn’t been at our meals long when the manager came to our table, bent down and told Shay there was a phone call from the farmstead: they had asked him to tell Shay our stable was on fire. He told us the fire department had already been called.
“Thanks, Matt. We need the check,” Shay said in an alarmed voice.
“Hell no, Shay!” said Matt. You guys just get out of here and get home. I hope everything’s okay for ya.”
Out the door we went, Karen and Kevin right behind us. They jumped in their car, we jumped in ours, and we were off.
“Shay, what about Samson and Sunset?” I cried hysterically in the car. “Oh, God! What about Starling? Hurry, hurry!”
Believe me, I didn’t have to tell Shay to hurry. He had the pedal to the metal. Kevin was right behind us. We could see the flashing red and yellow lights from the fire trucks and the ambulance ahead of us. I noticed there were several trucks coming up behind us with their red lights flashing, but Shay didn’t slow to let them around, he just kept a fast pace out in front of them.
As we approached the stables, I could see the sky was orange and, with smoke and flames shooting into the sky.
“Shay, please don’t let anything happen to them,” I whimpered. “Please. I love them so much, what will we tell Kelly?”
You would never believe the commotion going on as we drove the road toward the house. There were neighbors’ cars and people running everywhere. I tried to get out of the car before Shay even stopped.
“Oh no you don’t, missy,” Shay said as he grabbed me. “You take those high heeled boots off right now so you don’t twist your ankles.”
I knew what he was doing. He was giving me something to keep me busy until he stopped near the stables. Shay threw the camel blazer into the backseat, jumped out the door and ran toward the stable. I was out and running to the stable right behind him.
The barn was totally engulfed in flames. I tried to go in and Shay grabbed me and held me back. I was screaming, I could smell burning flesh and hair; I was so hysterical that Shay shook me by my shoulders.
“Callie, stop it. Get a hold of yourself,” he said. But he couldn’t get me under control. I was wild. At that moment he slapped me across the face. It was actually quite hard but it seemed to snap me back to reality.
Shay pulled me to his chest and held me saying, “I know, babe, I know…” He smoothed my hair. “You’re okay, princess, you’ll be okay. I didn’t slap you to hurt you, but you were out of your head, woman. I’m so sorry.”
Then he called to Kevin, “Come here a minute! Can you and Karen spend the night in the guest room?”
“Sure, Shay,” said Kevin.
“Callie needs to be put to bed,” said Shay. “If Karen could call our doctor and ask if he can come out and give Callie a sedative, I think she needs one.”
Shay picked me up, sobbing like a baby, and carried me into the house. He took me upstairs to our room and undressed me, putting me into bed naked and covering me with a sheet.
“Callie,” Shay said, kneeling by the bed, “Karen is going to be here with you. She’ll get your doctor to come out and give you something to help you relax.”
I told Shay that I still had two pills the do
ctor had given me after Marie’s surgery. “They’re in the bathroom,” I said between sobs.
Shay went and got the bottle and gave me a pill and a glass of water. I took it and lay back on my pillow, sobbing like a baby.
After Shay left the bedroom, Karen came upstairs to be with me. She was such a good friend. She went into the bathroom and got a damp washcloth, which she put on my forehead. Then she rubbed my arms soothingly.
“Karen,” I sobbed, “how am I going to tell Kelly her beloved Starling burned to death in a fire? How is she ever going to understand that? I don’t understand it.
“I try not to get too caught up when everything’s going well, because, you know, Karen, I’m still Kathrine Mitchell from the wrong side of the tracks. Who am I to think life owes me any favors? I’ve already gotten more than I deserve. Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve to be happy.”
Samson and Sunset Page 25