by Easy Jackson
Cracking the egg on the rim of a glass of water on the table, Lupe slipped it from its shell carefully into the water. An older woman, her wrinkled hands looking at least a hundred years old, handed her a piece of straw. Lupe fashioned the straw into the shape of a cross. As she moved toward the glass, it seemed the crowd drew closer and held their breath. Lupe placed the straw gently on top of the yolk. It immediately broke, and thrilled gasps escaped the people, the old woman grinning toothlessly while Lupe looked around the room in triumph.
Tennie regarded the priest with questioning eyes. In English, he whispered as if out of respect for their beliefs. “Someone put the evil eye on your friend, but the immediate breaking of the yolk means that Lupe has taken the evil away.”
Tennie raised a brow, and the priest shrugged. She said nothing more, however.
The priest spoke to the crowd of people, and they began filing out of the house.
Tennie followed him to the door. “I must see about cooking something for my stepsons and Mr. Hawkshaw to eat, Father Francisco.”
“No, no, while you are here, the women of the village will feed you. Go back into the house, lie on one of the beds, and rest, Mrs. Granger. You look exhausted. Your stepsons will be fine.”
When Tennie walked back into the house, she went to Hawkshaw first. He lay on his back staring at the ceiling and did not turn to look at her when she approached. Lupe stood beside him like a guard, eyeing Tennie with an inscrutable face.
“Mr. Hawkshaw, I’m going to lie down across the room. If you need me, all you have to do is call out.”
He nodded his head without taking his eyes from the ceiling, and Tennie let him be. She lay down on a bed directly across the room from him, lying on her side in order to watch him. Lupe carefully placed her chair so she obstructed Tennie’s view. Tennie did not protest, but shut her eyes, falling asleep and dreaming of fish.
When Tennie opened her eyes, Lupe was gone, and the priest was by Hawkshaw’s side. He had moved the chair, enabling Tennie to see Hawkshaw. Father Francisco was leaning over him, talking earnestly. He placed a compassionate hand upon Hawkshaw’s shoulder. Hawkshaw stiffened, his fist clenched. The priest withdrew, saying a few more words of comfort before leaving.
As Tennie rose and went to Hawkshaw, Lupe entered the house. When she saw Tennie she went to the shelves and busied herself there.
“Are you all right?” Tennie said, leaning over Hawkshaw.
He nodded, and Tennie asked if she could get anything for him. Behind her, Lupe made a loud noise. Tennie turned to look, and Lupe shot her an angry glare.
Turning to Hawkshaw, Tennie said, “I’m going to check on the boys.” She went outside and stood under the shade of the thatched straw. Lucas and Badger, seeing her, ran to her side.
“This is a great place, Miss Tennie,” Lucas said. “They know how to catch catfish just by reaching up under the bank with their hands. They are teaching us how to do it.”
Tennie grimaced. “I guess we’ll never go hungry as long as we are near catfish then. Are you and Rusty taking care of the horses?”
“Yes, ma’am,” Lucas said. “All the girls are following Rusty around, giggling at him. The father already had to have a talk with him about it.”
“Good heavens,” Tennie said. “Don’t cause any trouble. We are guests in this village.”
“Oh, we’re not causing trouble,” Lucas said, putting on his best angelic face. He turned to race back down the street to join a gaggle of little boys, Badger following.
Tennie hoped Hawkshaw would hurry up and get well before her stepsons did something that would get them run out of town.
Tennie could not understand the attitude of the villagers. They regarded them with awe and esteem, all except Lupe, who fawned over Hawkshaw, ignored the boys, and treated Tennie as an unwanted interloper. She had no idea what she had done to earn Lupe’s disrespect or the reverence of the rest of the people.
The children were shy and sweet, unwilling at first to approach her as she sat under the arbor. Cautiously, they crept toward her, first standing near. The girls were fascinated with the lace she had carefully sewn on one of her petticoats—plainly visible through the rips in her dress. They gathered enough courage to touch it, pulling their hands back swiftly. Tennie smiled at them, realizing they had never seen lace before. When she’d understood how much Wash Jones loved her and wanted to marry her, she had bought the lace and sewn it on her best petticoat. It had been intended for his eyes only, but it was being admired by girls who loved beautiful things.
The little boys wanted to get close to her. She had been without a hat so long, the sun had streaked her hair blond, mesmerizing the children. One small brave lad with large brown eyes gingerly touched her hair. He smiled at her, and she smiled back.
She stayed under the arbor in front of Lupe’s house, sitting on a bench with the children and observing the rest of the village. As she watched the women busy in a communal outdoor kitchen in the center of the town, she thought they looked like those in any other place. But as she continued to gaze, it came to her that there were no young men. Only little boys and old men. Father Francisco was the only man in his age-group she saw. When she thought about it, she realized the men who had brought them to the village had all been hardened, but gray-haired. There weren’t even any teenage boys. Where were all the men?
That evening, before dark, Lupe brought in a bowl of food for Hawkshaw and one for Tennie, placing it sulkily on the table.
Tennie, who felt guilty for not helping despite the father’s instruction not to, said, “Gracias,” and sat down at the table while Lupe took Hawkshaw his, glancing over her shoulder at Tennie.
Tennie picked up a spoon made of cane and took a bite. Tears sprang into her eyes. The food was screaming hot with spice, but rather than spit it out, she swallowed it whole, causing her to choke. Lupe, watching her, smirked. Hawkshaw was having no trouble eating his. Tennie picked up her bowl and went outside to join her three stepsons as they crouched on haunches, eating with the other children under the arbor.
She watched them gobbling their food. “That’s not too hot for you?”
“No, ma’am,” Rusty said, while Lucas shook his head.
“I can’t eat mine; it’s too hot,” Tennie said.
Rusty finished his bowl, and she offered him hers. He took one bite and spit it on the ground. “Whoa!”
“Let me try; let me try.” Lucas took the bowl and spooned a bite into his mouth. Spitting it out, he made an awful grimace. The other children took turns, trying food from the bowl, making a contest of who was able to swallow and who had to spit theirs out.
One of the older women saw what they were doing and came over to question the children in a sharp voice. They explained, and the next thing Tennie knew, the woman had grabbed the bowl and entered Lupe’s house, screaming rapid sentences at her. The old woman stomped back to her pots, returning with a fresh bowl for Tennie.
“Gracias,” Tennie said once again, trying to keep from crying. She took a bite of the much milder and savory food, saying gracias twice more.
As it began to grow dark, she reluctantly reentered the house. Lupe ignored her. Tennie went to Hawkshaw. Whatever faults Lupe had, being a bad nurse was not one of them. Hawkshaw’s leg already looked better. His color was coming back, his breathing deeper and more even. Tennie didn’t hold much faith in the egg treatment. It had been too much of a dog-and-pony show, but she was intrigued by the use of the moldy bread.
Tennie left Hawkshaw and went to bed. The house filled with people—people all over the beds, lying on the floor, curled in the corners. Tennie felt guilty she had a bed all to herself. The boys slept outside under the arbor, using horse blankets to lie on. As Tennie lay listening to the sounds of breathing and muttering around her, she brushed tears from her eyes. She wanted Hawkshaw to be well so they could leave and go to Waco. She wanted Wash or Lafayette to come get them. She wanted Lupe to stop hating her. She wanted the corn
husks in her mattress to stop making so much noise when she turned.
Although Hawkshaw appeared on the mend in the morning, he still refused to look at Tennie, staring at the ceiling when she spoke to him.
“Don’t speak to me when Lupe is in the house,” he muttered without turning his head or his eyes. “She thinks you are talking about her.”
“All right.” Tennie tried to give his arm a reassuring touch, but he grimaced and turned his face away. She rose and left him, feeling all alone in the world.
She walked outside, and not wishing another incident over food, decide to brave walking to the outdoor kitchen. The women clucked over her, handing her something wrapped in what appeared to her to be a flat pancake. She wondered if it was the tortilla Poco had described to her.
“Tortilla?” she asked, holding it up.
“Sí, sí,” they said, their pretty faces smiling.
It tasted delicious, and she tried to make hand signals telling them how much she liked it. They smiled and nodded in return, but Tennie couldn’t help get the impression they were respectful, in awe, and wished she would get away from them.
She found her stepsons racing horses with the village boys. When Lucas reined the Appaloosa next to her, Tennie smiled.
“Having a good time?”
“You bet!”
“That’s good, but make sure you leave Mr. Hawkshaw’s horse alone,” Tennie said. “Brush it, feed it, take good care of it, but don’t ride it.”
“Oh, we won’t.” Lucas nodded.
“Don’t even get on him,” Tennie said.
Lucas flushed, and she knew her arrow had hit home.
“Yes, ma’am,” he said.
“Badger,” she said, looking over at the younger boy, who was munching another of the tortilla wraps like she had eaten earlier, “you mind your brothers.”
He swallowed. “Yes, Miss Tennie.”
She smiled and left them to their playmates, returning to her solitary spot on a bench by Lupe’s front door. She was under no illusions about their conduct. If they weren’t afraid of possibly facing the wrath of Hawkshaw, there was no telling what they would be doing and saying. At the same time, the remembrance of their incredible cunning and bravery in coming to her rescue made her ready to forgive any future lapses in behavior.
She spent the next hour waiting. The little girls interrupted her vigil. They were fascinated with her rubber comb, so different from the porcupine tail they used on their hair. She found herself letting them comb her hair and put it into braids. Her mother had detested lice and issued dire warnings to Tennie about loaning her comb to anyone. But her mother was dead, and she was stuck in the middle of nowhere. Besides, she could delouse herself later if she had to. So, she combed the little girls’ hair and tried to put it up with her pins, but it was so thick, it was hard to get them to stay in. That turned into another session where they combed her hair out again and tried to put her hair up with the pins.
Lupe came outside and spoke to them in Spanish. They scattered, and Lupe left the house, walking to the center of the village. Tennie waited a minute before going inside.
“Are you feeling better?” she asked Hawkshaw again.
He turned his head to look at her. “Yes. Don’t go anywhere. Stay near this house.”
Tennie shook her head in bewilderment. “Mr. Hawkshaw, I’m not going to leave you here alone.”
“I know that,” he snapped, as if cross with her because of it.
“You don’t have anything to worry about with me. Father Francisco is the only man in this whole village under the age of fifty who’s also not under the age of twelve. Something strange is going on here.”
“Just do what I ask, please.”
Lupe came back in the house, staring at her. Tennie didn’t try to give Hawkshaw any reassuring pats but nodded her head and went back outside again to wait.
Later, Lucas came to check on her. He paused by the door and stared inside. The intentness of his gaze made Tennie get up and look. Lupe was leaning over Hawkshaw, crooning and caressing his forehead with a damp cloth. A shot of anger went through Tennie. Hawkshaw got upset with her for even patting his arm, and he was letting Lupe stroke his forehead.
“Mr. Hawkshaw can’t stand anybody touching him, can he?” Lucas whispered.
Tennie opened her mouth to object, until she saw Hawkshaw’s white knuckles clutching the blanket. She motioned Lucas to come away from the door.
“No, he can’t.” And she added almost to herself, “He didn’t mind me sewing up his arm, or taking a bullet out of his leg, though.”
Rusty had walked up and heard them. “You weren’t trying to show him any feelings or wanting anything from him. As long as it’s impersonal, he doesn’t care.”
Tennie shook her head. “I just want him to get well so we can get out of here.”
“Aw, heck.” Rusty laughed. “It’s not so bad.”
Tennie gave an exaggerated curl of her lip and a sideways scowl that made him laugh.
The boys walked off, smiling and laughing. Tennie stared at the door. Hawkshaw would be the perfect candidate to visit one of Lafayette’s ladies of the night. He could pay them and leave, without any emotion being expended on either side. Tennie was willing to bet he had never been with the same woman twice in his life. She blushed at her own crudeness and sat on the ground against the wall, crossing her arms and putting her head down to dream of Wash Jones.
At supper, the women of the village solved all problems by sending two little girls over with Tennie’s food. She smiled her thanks to the girls, and turning her head, smiled and nodded her thanks to the women at the kitchen.
The mob of boys and girls around her lost their shyness and chatted happily. When Tennie finished eating, she listened for a little while, then looking at them, she picked up her spoon and said, “Spoon.”
It didn’t take them long to figure out that she wanted them to repeat the word to her in Spanish, and they spent the rest of the time until dark picking up things and repeating the Spanish name for her, laughing as they did.
Even though she had done nothing all day, Tennie was tired. She went inside to lie on her bed, soon falling asleep amidst the noises of other people retiring for the night.
She dreamed Lupe had her hand against her throat choking her. She began to cough and gasp, rising from the deep sleep she had been in to realize she was being strangled. Her eyes flew open, seeing Lupe standing over her by the dim light of the moon coming in through the door and windows, one hand on her throat, the other grasping a raised knife.
With a burst of strength fueled by terror, Tennie pushed her off. Lupe came at her again, and picking up a nearby clay pot, Tennie smashed it against her head, sending her reeling backwards.
Pandemonium broke out in the room. Candles were lit, screams were heard. In less than a heartbeat, the house filled with snarling people. More candles were lit and the room became illuminated. Two women held back a growling Lupe. On one side of the room, a group of angry people with homemade knives drawn glared at a group on the other side ready to attack with their homemade knives. Lucas took one look and fled.
People began screaming and spitting at one another back and forth across the room. The women took turns seeing who could shriek the loudest, while the men brandished knives back and forth. Tennie backed up against the wall, wishing a hole would open up and swallow her. Rusty and Badger squeezed through the mob and stood beside her. Lucas came hurrying back with Father Francisco by his side.
The priest spoke strong commands to the crowd. They reluctantly put down their knives. Tennie began to breathe again. What had happened to the nice, peaceful villagers she had seen the day before? It had become a battlefield inside the house.
Father Francisco came over to Tennie. “I am sorry this happened.”
“I should sleep somewhere else, Father,” Tennie said.
“No!”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and saying to look at Hawk
shaw. He had raised up on one elbow and was looking like murder.
“No, she’ll stay right here.” He gave Lupe as hard a look as any man ever gave a woman. “Lupe’s not going to cause any more trouble for Mrs. Granger.”
Lupe understood what he meant. Everyone in the room knew what he meant. Lupe cast her eyes downward in submission.
The father spoke to the crowd, shooing them out of the room. He addressed Lupe, who refused to look up and meet his eyes. She nodded understanding instead.
“Come, Mrs. Granger,” the priest said. “Go back to your bed. I will stay here for a little while if it will calm you.”
Tennie nodded and went back to bed. The priest sat in the chair beside Hawkshaw’s bed, taking a pipe from his pocket and filling it with tobacco. He ignored Hawkshaw and said nothing to anyone. Tennie had intended to stay awake until morning, but the soothing presence of the priest soon had her asleep.
* * *
The next day, it was as if all was forgotten. Lupe didn’t cause Tennie any trouble, and Tennie took care to stay out of her way, trying not to aggravate her. Outside, Rusty and Lucas ridiculed the older woman’s obsession with Hawkshaw.
“The kids make fun of her,” Lucas said.
“How do you know?” Tennie asked. “You can’t understand that much Spanish yet.”
“Because they point to her and smooch their elbows and bat their eyes, holding their hands over their hearts, muttering Hawkshaw.”
“Yeah,” Rusty agreed. “She’s even worse after he laid the law down to her about you.”
Tennie sighed. “Nothing like obedience to foster love.”
“Good luck to her with that old chunk of ice,” Rusty said.
“Rusty!” Tennie chided, but she laughed. “She’s so hot-blooded and beautiful, she just might be the one to turn him into a warmhearted human being.”
“Shorty would say ‘when pigs fly,’” Lucas said. “But Mr. Hawkshaw’s better, isn’t he?”
Tennie nodded. “He’s sitting up. If he keeps going like he has been, we should be leaving here soon.”