Sweet Whiskey Nights

WTH

Marcus

I just stood there watching her walk into the house too stunned and sore to do anything else. Mrs. DeeDee was shaking her head at me, arms folded across her chest. The disappointment on her face was breaking my heart. T’Jay was laughing as he got the horses prepared to leave. What the hell just happened? I keep trying to gather my thoughts but I literally can’t grasp the moment it all went wrong. Maybe it wasn’t my fault though. Maybe that stubborn ass woman is just too much of a pain in the ass and that’s why this whole thing was a disaster. Mrs. DeeDee has changed positions and now her hands were on her hips. s**t. She’s about to scold me I feel it coming. She clicks her tongue at me and slowly shakes her head.

“That’s what you call an apology? Boy you’re a fool, about the biggest they come. Now you’re going to have to step it up and truly prove you’re sorry.” She’s wagging her finger at me while she scolds me. “And sweet tea and biscuits is cut off till you figure this mess out.”

T’Jay comes up behind me and clasps me on the shoulder, “Aight lover boy. Time to go figure out the game plan. Who you wanna ride? Gina or Pam? We can split intel and hopefully get your ass back in Mrs. DeeDee’s good graces otherwise I’ll be taking over your tea parties.” The hell he will. I walk over to the horses and grab up the reins for Gina. I rub my hand down her long muzzle as I tempt her out of all the secrets which is Charlotte. But all she does is pull her face away from me as if she’s already chosen a side. Damn. I turn to wave goodbye to Mrs. Deedee but she already went inside. Double damn. I climb in the saddle and wait for T’Jay to get settled in before we head out and I grill him for his secrets.

“Was she a pain in the ass for you too today? Did she talk about buying up properties or what her company wants to do with the land?” He sucks his teeth at me and shakes his head. “Man, you got it all wrong with this chick. She’s got layers bro. Lots and lots of layers. I watched them all day and let me tell you, your girl is hurtin’ and I don’t think it’s just from you.” He finished that up with more shaking of his head. I think about that for a moment and remember her crying in town. I know David was there. I wonder if he’s hurt her somehow. Maybe she’s holding out on buying up land as a way to get him to come back to her. I need to figure out what her plan is for being here. “You’re thinking too hard over there. I smell your brain frying. Bro, I know you are thinking of all the worst scenarios with this woman right now. And I’m gonna tell you again, you’re wrong. That girl belongs here. She ain’t city, you can tell by the way she appreciates everything out here. The excitement she had at seeing bunnies bro. That s**t was genuine. It’s not like when we take city folk riding and they pretend to care but really they just wanna run back to the city where there’s less nature. And her friend is like a Doberman ready to attack when it comes to that girl. All day she was watching her like she was waiting to catch her if she fell. Something don’t add up but not like in a sneaky way. I think you need to try being nice to her. Make a truce.” Make a truce? How can I make a truce with a woman who wants nothing to do with hearing me out. She reminds me of these horses. Beautiful, but can hurt you if you don’t know what you’re doing. I decide to stop thinking about her for the rest of the ride to the stables and ask T’Jay what’s up with him and the friend. “Her name is Sam but I think it’s short for Samantha. Man. She’s aight. She thinks her s**t don’t stink. She’s a city girl, like for real for real know what I mean. She went to boarding school so you know she comes from money. Miss independent. ‘Don’t touch me you peasant!’ type shit.” I laugh at the way he mocks her. I don’t think I’ve heard her talk yet but I can imagine that’s what she sounds like. “And she don’t like you. She called you dumb and your name dumb too. Charlotte must’ve told them what you said to her cuz she sounded like she wanted to dump you in the river. Know what I mean. She’d be cute if she wasn’t so damn snooty.” I smile to myself as I think about how my brother is definitely going to try to tap that. He loves a challenge whether he admits to it or not and that girl unwittingly just invited him to the biggest challenge he’s had in a long time.

I see the Uncs waiting for us at the stables and my stomach drops to my ass. They already reamed me out this morning. Thought my ears were gonna start bleeding the way they laid into me. I get off of Gina and hand the reins to T’Jay before I compose myself to walk over to them. They look like they’re gonna jump me. “You apologize to that girl?” T’Jay burst out laughing, “No, hell no.” I shot him a look that said I’d murder him in his sleep if he didn’t shut the hell up. I turn back to the Uncs to see they’re giving me the same look. “I tried. She said she didn’t want to talk to me and she hurt me in my ribs. Said she wasn’t accepting no verbal apology. The f**k that means.” Uncle LJ slapped the side of my head, knocking’ my hat clear off. “It means you slow imbecile, that you need to make a grand gesture. Show her you’re sorry by doing something nice for her. I know you ain’t that dumb that you can’t figure that s**t out.” I picked my hat up and dusted it off before asking how. I don’t like her so I’m not trying to wine and dine her. I’m not sure what to do without it coming off as fake. The Uncs do the creepy twin vibe again when they both wipe their hands down their faces at the same time. “Boy If you don’t fix this and Mrs. DeeDee stays mad at us I’m gonna tie you to a tree out yonder and leave you there for a week. No! A month! That girl didn’t do no harm to you, you had no right being nasty to her. I don’t care how you do it. I don’t care if you’re being nice nasty. Just make it nice enough that we’re all forgiven!” Uncle Willie Earl sounded like he was dead serious about tying me up to that tree. “I’m already forgiven. Mrs. DeeDee still loves me. I’m the golden child right now!” T’Jay just had to throw his two cents in from inside the stables.

“I ain’t playing with you boy. Get it together and do it fast. Or you gonna regret it!”

Uuuugghhhhh. I let out a loud groan and swipe my hand down my face now. “Well I’m gonna need y’all’s help since I can’t speak to her.” They shook their heads at me in unison. Creepy. “We ain’t doing s**t. You got yourself into this mess ya gonna figure your way outta it.”