Sweet Whiskey Nights

Stay Over Yonder

Charlotte

“Mama let me pay the bills and get you out of foreclosure. Once I do that, I think I’m going to head back home but I want to make sure this property is good before I go. If you don’t want to take Mr. Stark’s deal I’m good with that but I’m not good with you losing the land.” I was sitting on the floor in between Mama’s legs as she wrapped my hair for me like she did when I was a little girl. “Child, hush. It’s not your responsibility to pay my bills. I just fell behind cuz I was grieving. But I’ll work it out and be just fine, you’ll see. Now hold still so I can put your scarf on.” She worked my head for me and then tapped the back of my shoulder to let me know she was done. “Sam, how come you don’t take care of your hair? It’s wavy, you should at least wear a bonnet. No one ever taught you?” Sam kinda blushed and I could tell she was a little embarrassed. “No ma’am. My mom was always busy with work and then when she passed my father sent me to boarding school.” Mama went and grabbed an extra bonnet and a basket of hair care products before telling Sam to sit in front of her. I took this as my opportunity to escape. I quietly slipped on my tennis shoes and snuck out the back door. It was evening so not quite dark yet, not like it mattered. I knew this path like the back of my hand and could get to where I was headed with my eyes closed. My destination was my climbing tree near the neighbor’s property line, a few feet away from where the goats now reside. When I was younger I’d climb into the tree and watch the horses next door. It was so calming watching them. I finally got there and began climbing as I listened to the horses. It always sounded like they were having conversations with each other right before they settled down for the night. As a child I would imagine them all telling each other good night or telling bed time stories to each other. I smiled at that memory. Just as my body and mind were relaxing, movement nearby caught my attention. It was too big to be a goat but I couldn’t quite make out what it was in the shadows.

“Stupid Uncs. Stupid T’Jay. I don’t give a flying damn bout that snooty girl. You hear me Petunia? She can go straight to hell with her city ways.”

I know that ain’t the man from the fence and I know damn well he better not be talking bout me! I strain my eyes to see who Petunia was and realized it was a stray goat he was bringing back to the pen. “Don’t you be nice to her, ya hear me? She tries to feed you, you chase her like the chickens do. Chase her all the way back to the city if you have to. It’s your duty Petunia. I’ll even give you some apples as a reward.” This b***h is really bribing the goats to attack me! That’s it! I’m done with him!

“Excuse me sir. But if you’re going to try to bribe animals to do your dirty work for you then you might want to make sure your target can’t hear you. You’re a dog! Petunia I’ll give you apples and carrots if you bite him right now! On his ass!”

He about jumped ten feet in the air when I called out to him, looking around like a ghost was talking to him. Dummy. “I’m up here stupid.” He looks into the tree but I can tell he still can’t see me so I decide to grace him with my presence and climb down. I glare at him as I walk closer hoping to make him shrink the way the men do back in the boardroom. To my surprise though he stands taller the closer I get.

“Why are you on my land in my tree? Are you spying on us? Trying to get word back to your boss on my property? Tell him I said he can shove his offer up a pig’s ass! I ain’t selling!”

This mother — “Your land? Your tree? Are you high? This is my climbing tree and has been since I was little which means it’s on my property. You ignorant backwoods jolly green giant.” Okay, not my best insult but damn, he’s tall! “No one wants your janky property and your run down old ranch.” The fire in his eyes could scorch this whole field. I step back a little as it dawns on me we’re the only ones out here and I don’t really know him well enough to be antagonizing him. He looks down on me, “You really are a piece of work huh? I know you work for the developing company. I know you’re here to get everyone to sell. I’m glad you were crying in town, I’m glad everyone told you no. Why don’t you and David link back up and get out of my town. No one wants you here. You’re just another weasel like him. Y’all belong together. I don’t see how someone as sweet as Mrs. DeeDee could be cursed with such an atrocity of a daughter like you!” His words felt like a slap in the face. I recoiled as if he really did slap me and I could feel the tears welling up in the corners of my eyes. I didn’t even think before I grab a rock and chucked it at him. The bastard caught it before it could hit him so I picked up a couple of more and threw them at him. One hit him in the shoulder with a satisfying thump. “You don’t know me! You don’t know s**t! My mama’s land is going into foreclosure! I’m trying to save it! Not like it’s any of your business! You’re just like the rest of the town folk! Stupid and small minded, thinking you know me! Screw you! Screw your ranch, I hope it gets bought out and torn down! You ain’t s**t!” By the time I got all that out I was fully crying. I picked up another rock and hurled it at him while I screamed. “I hate this town and everyone in it! You all are cruel and stupid! I hope this town burns to the ground!” He just stood there, unmoving with fire in his eyes. His shirt had dirt on it from where my rocks hit him. I wish I had hit him in his face. He crossed his arms across his chest and I hated him. I hated that he wasn’t phased in one bit by my crash out.

“Are you done woman?” His voice was deep with bass. Much more manly than David’s and it had the authority my daddy’s had in it. Being defiant as I am, I crossed my arms too and straightened up as much as I could. I put my nose in the air and stared him down. I wasn’t done but my emotions were so fragile at the moment I didn’t know how far this crash out would end up going. “You stay over yonder. Don’t come near my land or you’ll regret it. I love your mama but you are not welcomed here. Don’t come near my goats. I don’t want you tainting my animals with whatever’s wrong with you. Hurry up do what you gotta do and then get back to the city. This is the only warning you’ll get.” Now the tears are flowing freely down my cheeks. I stand my ground staring at him and watch as he turns to leave. I refuse to let this bastard see me break down. As soon as he’s out of sight I run back to the house crying the whole way. I tripped once and almost fell but I kept upright and continued running. I burst through the door scaring Mama and Sam and ran straight to the bathroom where I locked the door and slid down it letting my sobs overtake me.