“Are ya truly?” she asked. “You’re sure?”
“Yes. Truly.” I nodded. “I admit I was upset, but that was my problem, not yours. I talked to Will about it last night, and everything he said made sense. I just couldn’t see it for all my fear.”
“Thank you!” A tear leaked out of her left eye. “I was so worried you were gonna stay mad. I don’t think I could’ve stood that. I’m gonna need you.”
“Well, I’m gonna be here, so don’tcha worry.” I bit my lip to conceal my grin. “Besides, I’m gonna need you, too.”
Julianne waved a hand in dismissal. “Well of course! That’s what sisters are for!”
“I was hoping you’d say that, because now I have somethin’ I need to tell you.”
She studied me a moment, taking in my flushed cheeks and barely contained smile. Her eyes narrowed, and her lips tipped up in a curious smile. “Okay—spit it out. What is it?”
“Well, ya see …” I cleared my throat. “This is hard for me to say.”
“It can’t be bad—you’re smilin’ too much for that! What is it?”
“No. It’s not bad. It’s just that—well, Will is apparently more observant than I am,” I began. “He—he thinks I’m expectin’.”
“What?” Julianne squealed. “Victoria! I’m gonna be an aunt! We’re gonna have our babies together, and they’ll be best friends!”
Julianne’s excitement was contagious, and I found myself giggling like a little girl. “Yeah, I think we just might.”
For the next two hours, we talked about nothing but babies. What would we name them? When were they due? Would we deliver on the same day? Glancing at the clock, I was surprised at how much time had passed—it was nearly noon and Earl would be back soon! I rose from the table, intending to bid Julianne goodbye, but was interrupted by Mutt’s frantic barking.
“Whatever is that dog goin’ on about now?” Julianne rose and moved toward the door. “I swear he’s the most irritatin’ animal God put on this earth!”
Just as she reached to open the door, it burst open.
“Julianne! Victoria!” Earl entered in a blur and grabbed ahold of Julianne’s arm in a bruising grip, pulling her out the door. “Come quickly! There’s a twister comin’! We need to get down to the cellar!”
“Oh, my God!” I ran to the door, and searched the landscape. “I have to get home! The children are alone, and Will’s gonna be worried!”
I rushed past Earl, but he grabbed my shoulder and pulled me up short. “Ya can’t go right now. We gotta get to the cellar. We don’t have time.”
“But what about Will? I gotta get home!”
Earl shook his head and held firmly to my arm. “He’ll be okay. He’ll see it comin’ and get the children to safety! Now y’all two get in the cellar! Now!”
Still I resisted, but Earl was too strong. With no other choice, I ran toward the safety of the underground shelter, but stopped before descending the steps, and stared in awe at the greenish-hued sky. Wind whipped around me, nearly knocking me off my feet. Less than a half a mile from us was the tornado, its base swirling toward the sky like thick, black smoke.
I’d always imagined a well-defined funnel, but this was so much more immense, and far less defined. Covering about a quarter mile in width, it blanketed the sky in pitch black. The winds picked up steadily and debris floated around the perimeter of the funnel, but it was still a good distance away. I scanned the landscape, wondering if I could get to Will and the children before the twister reached us.
Sensing my hesitation, Earl grabbed my elbow. “You’ll never make it, Victoria, and Will’d never forgive me for lettin’ ya try!”
“Earl, please! Let me go! I need to get to Will!”
“No! Get in the cellar!”
“But—”
Before I could utter another word, Earl tightened his grip on my arm and shoved me toward the open cellar door. “Go!”
I stumbled down the steps, falling on the last one with the force of Earl’s shove. Pulling myself upright, I found Julianne waiting in a corner of the musty, cold cellar. Spider webs hung from the ceiling, and the underground sanctuary stank of mildew. The floors were nothing but red dirt below my feet, and I imagined all kinds of creepy, crawly things surfacing from the earth. In our rush, we’d forgotten to bring a lantern. The only light came from the open hole above our heads, as Earl stood on the top steps watching the storm move our direction. A few minutes passed, and the sky opened up, raining down hail the size of large fists.
“Here we go!” Earl stepped inside and pulled the doors closed, locking them with the pull-down board attached to the door on his right. “Hang on!”
With the cellar doors closed, we were enveloped in darkness. The only light was provided by the tiny seam between the two closed doors. Even that wasn’t enough to see by. The darkness covered us, and the musty scents of damp dirt and mildew assaulted me. I shook violently. Finding his way in the darkness, Earl joined us and pulled the both of us into his embrace as though to shield us from harm.
We waited in the dark as the wind picked up and swirled above us. The cellar doors rattled, as the winds yanked them forcefully back and forth. I was certain that, between the wind and the chunks of ice pelting the doors, it wouldn’t be long before the doors either broke free or the hail broke through.
As quickly as the rain began, it stopped. Silence surrounded us. I’d thought the worst had passed, but then the ground above us rumbled and shook. The winds picked up again, blowing more violently this time beyond the doors above. The storm roared like the sound of boxcars racing over the tracks of the Rock Island Railroad where my daddy used to work. It was deafening, yet Julianne’s screams rang in my ears. Earl and I moved closer and held her more tightly.
The storm raged on. The cellar doors creaked and pulled viciously against the bar holding them shut. I was sure they would break free at any moment. Standing in the dark, I lost track of time as the wind pitched and howled for the longest time before finally slowing to a stop. Huddled together and holding each other tightly, the three of us waited in silence. I didn’t know what we were waiting for. I just knew Earl would know, and would get us out safely.
After a long time, Earl pulled away. “I think it’s passed.”
Leaving Julianne and me huddled together, Earl climbed the cellar steps and approached the now still doors. Cautiously flipping first one door open, then the other, he peeked outside at the bright sunshine above. The storm had passed, leaving behind only the rays of the bright Oklahoma sunshine. We were blinded by the intensity after so long in the dark, yet grateful to see the sun’s rays.
“Oh, my God! Oh, my God!” Julianne moaned and sobbed.
“It’s okay, darlin’.” Will returned to her side and gathered her into his arms. “We’re safe. It’s okay. Shhhh.”
“It’s not okay! We forgot Mutt! We left him out there!”
Earl and I froze. In all the commotion, none of us had considered the dog. He’d been there, barking at our feet when the storm began, but where was he when we ran for the cellar? If he’d been there, we surely would’ve taken him with us! But he wasn’t there. Where had he gone?
“We’ll find him, honey,” Earl said. “He must be out there. Dogs’re smart. He saw the storm comin’. He knew where to go for safety. I’m sure he’s okay.”
“No, he’s not,” Julianne sobbed. “He’s a stupid dog, and ya know it. He’s out there somewhere. It’s my fault for forgettin’ him!”
Leading her up the stairs and through the hole of the cellar, Earl soothed Julianne as best he could. Following behind, I had only one thought on my mind: Will and the children. I was sorry for Julianne’s dog, but Earl was right. Surely he’d be okay. I needed to get home.
“Mutt!” called Julianne, now standing on the barren ground outside the cellar. “Mutt!”
Shielding my eyes from the now-bright sun, I assessed the damage. The storm had made a path about fifty yards south of the house. It h
ad taken the roof off the barn, but had left the house standing. The trees were stripped completely bare of their leaves, mangled, broken, and filled with debris on one side. The other side remained entirely untouched.
“MUTT!” shouted Julianne, her voice frantic.
Turning to Earl, I pleaded with my eyes. “I’m so sorry, Earl. I have to go.”
“It’s okay, Victoria. Julianne will understand. Go.”
Just as I turned to tell Victoria I was leaving, we heard barking in the distance. Julianne shouted for Mutt, her voice now a prayer. Moments later, the dog burst through the wheat field some 200 yards away.
“Mutt!” Julianne screamed and fell to her knees. “Mutt!” She opened her arms wide to embrace him. Tears of relief streamed down her face.
Not wishing to interrupt her reunion, I nodded at Earl and raced toward home.
I ran every step of the way, sometimes maneuvering through large branches or pieces of debris on my way. I ran until I had a stitch in my side. I could barely breathe in the sweltering Oklahoma sun, but I didn’t stop. I ran with everything in me until I reached the path leading to our property, then picked up my pace and ran even faster. As I approached the house, its structure became clearer—the tornado had missed it entirely! The livestock barns had survived as well. The trees nearest our house were missing most of their leaves but appeared in good shape. I scanned the landscape for Will and the children, but they were nowhere in sight.
Now about a hundred yards from the house, I called to them. “Will! Caroline! Olivia!” Nobody answered, so I ran harder and yelled louder. “Joseph! Daniel!”
I was almost to the yard, still screaming their names, when the front door to our house flew open. Will ran out with the children behind him.
“Victoria! You’re okay!” He met my distance and scooped me into his arms. “I was just fixin’ to come lookin’ for ya!”
“I’m okay!” I whispered, my voice clogged with tears. “Everyone’s safe?”
“We’re all good. The boys and I saw the tornado comin’, and rushed in from the field to tell the girls. I was gonna take one of the horses to come get ya, but there wasn’t time. It just came down so fast. We almost didn’t make it to the cellar.”
“I was just fixin’ to come home from Julianne’s when the storm hit,” I said. “Earl rushed us down to the cellar so fast I barely had time to think! Oh, my God, Will! Did you see it? I’ve never seen anything like it!”
“We did! We stood out by the cellar and watched it for as long as we could, but we had to go underground when the hail started. It was comin’ straight at us.” Will scanned our property. “It must’ve taken a turn or lifted, otherwise there’d’ve been nothin’ left standin’.”
“Oh, God, Will! You’re okay?” I examined him, trying to convince myself he was unscathed.
He pulled me against his chest, squeezing me so tight I almost couldn’t breathe. “I was so worried ya might’ve been on the road on your way home when the tornado passed. Thank God you’re okay!”
“I am. Really. But you’re crushin’ me.” I was crying now, tears of relief mingled with fear.
Will placed me on the ground and took my face in the palms of his hands. His eyes scanned over my face, then down my body. “You’re okay? You’re sure?”
I nodded. “I’m fine. I was so afraid for you and the children! I tried to come home when we saw the storm comin’ toward us, but Earl wouldn’t let me.”
Will stepped back, his eyebrows drawn together in an angry frown. “Ya tried to come home? What the hell were ya thinkin’? You’d never’ve made it, and could’ve been killed!” It was the first time Will had ever shouted at me.
“I wasn’t thinkin’! I could only think of y’all! I needed to be here with you. I needed to know y’all were safe.”
Wrapping his arms around me again, Will placed a kiss on the crown of my head. “Thank God for Earl. I owe him!”
Standing around us, the children were reluctant to intrude. Each had a look of combined fear and relief on their face. I reached my arm out toward Catherine, who rushed toward me. She embraced me tightly, then the other children quickly followed her lead. The seven of us stood sweltering in the haze of the Oklahoma sun, thankful to be together.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
THE NEXT TWO WEEKS PASSED IN A FLURRY OF activity, as we helped our nearest neighbors rebuild what was lost in the tornado. Luckily, the damage was minimal. Earl Sykes lost the roof on his barn, but the livestock were all unharmed; and most neighbors had damages requiring similar repairs. Though the twister completely missed Atticus’s place, we found it had destroyed the corral on our property that Will used for breaking horses. Everything else seemed in good shape.
During this time, Will’s mother was a constant presence in our lives. Her intense dislike for me had not changed, and she’d taken to calling me “girl” rather than my given name. Will was furious, but I’d soothed him by insisting it wasn’t important. His love and support were all I needed to deflect the meanness of her words.
Imogene Harrison’s behavior became so confrontational that we’d chosen to withhold news of my pregnancy until my condition was obvious. I’d hoped the baby would soften her; but Will feared it would intimidate her more, causing her to lash out even more viciously. So we kept the information to ourselves, sharing it only with Julianne, Earl, Veronica and Atticus.
As the men finished assembling Will’s corral, the women prepared a meal to share when the men were done. Mrs. Harrison had disappeared, so our conversation turned to the babies Julianne and I carried.
“What about names?” Veronica asked. “Have you decided on one yet?”
“Not yet. It’s still too early.” I laughed and turned toward Julianne. “What about you?”
“Oh no!” Julianne replied. “Earl and I decided we’d wait until the baby’s born to see what he looks like. It would be just awful to decide upon a name like James, only to discover he looks more like a Charles!”
“When will you tell Imogene?” Veronica asked.
“I’m not sure,” I replied. “I think I’ll leave that up to Will. She’s his mother, after all. She dislikes me too much for me to give her the news.”
“I sure wish you’d do it soon,” Veronica replied. “Imogene’s gonna do whatever Imogene’s gonna do. The longer ya wait to tell her, the harder it’s gonna be. Ya think she’s disagreeable now, just wait until she finds out you’ve kept this information from her. I’m tellin’ ya now: heads will roll!”
“What exactly am I gonna do, Veronica? Whose head’s gonna roll?” Imogene Harrison stepped around the corner of the house, greeting us with her steely gaze. “And what is it you’re keepin’ from me, girl?”
Startled, I jumped and my heart raced in my chest. How long had she been standing there? What had she heard? Where in the world was Will?
Mrs. Harrison arched an eyebrow. “I asked ya a question, girl. What is it you’re keepin’ from me?”
I didn’t know how to respond. I was a terrible liar, so I tried for a partial truth. I hoped I could salvage some small amount of peace.
“Hello, Mrs. Harrison,” I said. “Nothin’, really. It’s just that Will and I have some news we’d hoped to share with ya, but we just haven’t found the time.”
“Well, I have time right now. What is it?”
“I—we really should wait for Will, Mrs. Harrison.”
“Why?” She folded her arms across her ample chest. “I’m standin’ right here, and I have time. Go on with it—I don’t have all day.”
I looked around for Will, but he was nowhere in sight. The men had moved away from the corral, presumably to wash up for dinner. How long could I stall before she made me tell her about the pregnancy?
“I said I’m waitin’, girl. Give me your news, and get it over with.”
“Well,” I said slowly. “I’m expectin’. You’re gonna be a grandmother again.”
I’m not sure what I expected from her. What I received
was her laughter. She stood right in front of me and laughed in my face as though I’d told her the most amusing story.
Gaining control of herself, she narrowed her eyes at me. “Tell me, girl: who’s the father?”
Veronica and Julianne gasped. My jaw dropped. Did I mishear her? Surely even she wouldn’t be so cruel?
“I beg your pardon?” My voice was barely a whisper.
“I asked ya, who’s the father?”
“W—Will, of course.”
“Humph!” she snorted. “I highly doubt that. A young girl like you, and a man more than double your age? I wondered why he married ya, and why it was done so quickly. He never even consulted me. Now I know. If ya can’t be pretty, or even strong enough to pull your weight, then at least it’s good to know you’re good at somethin’. It takes all kinds, I s’pose.”
Hot blood rushed up my neck and to my cheeks, yet I stood there stupidly. I didn’t know how to respond. I wasn’t alone. Next to me stood Veronica and Julianne, both equally speechless.
I lifted my chin and threw my shoulders back. Pulling my pride around me like a cloak, I looked that nasty old woman in the eye. I refused to let her see me broken. “If you’ll please excuse me, Mrs. Harrison, I have things to accomplish.”
I walked away with deliberate steps toward the creek some distance off. I needed time to think, and I was afraid I might cry. The idea of crying no longer upset me as it once had, but I’d be damned if I’d cry in front of that awful woman. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction.
WILL FOUND ME some thirty minutes later. I’d been standing at the creek, near the water’s edge, skipping rocks across the surface. I’d seen Will teaching the boys and Catherine so many times before, but I couldn’t get the hang of it.
I heard Will approach before I saw him. He made no attempt at stealth; I think he intended me to hear him. Reaching my side, he selected a rock from the edge of the water. Pulling his arm back, he released it to skip across the water’s surface. When I didn’t comment, he cleared his throat. “Julianne and Earl went home.”
The Edge of Nowhere Page 10