July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (6 page)

I shoved it into my pocket, too afraid to take my eyes off the fracas going on.

The two fighting men finally noticed we were leaving and rushed over.

Manuel took my hand before I could react.
“No puedes salir Sylvia, mi pájaro dulce de paraíso.”
His eyes beseeched me and I knew without a translator what he wanted.

“Quítetela las manos gordas.”
Shalem wrenched Manuel’s hand away from mine, leaving a red mark.

I ignored the pain.

Shalem’s face gentled with big pleading eyes as he turned to me. “Please Sylvia do not leave. I will get rid of this rude pig and we can talk.”

Dad pulled me back behind him. “We have to leave now, good-bye.”

Shalem turned to Dad with a glimmer of hope. “But you’ll be back … tomorrow, yes?” He pleaded some more with his eyes. “Come, be my guest?”

“No, we’re on our way to Alaska.”

Sue had the door open and the twins by their collars as she shoved them out.

Manuel called the little man over and had him translating for him.
“No te vayas a Alaska!”

Shalem ignored him. “Are you going there to visit?”

Dad extended his arm in front of me and stepped backwards. “No, we’re moving there.”

Both men shouted. “No!”

Dad backed us out the door. “Yes.”

Manuel raised his fist in the air.
“No lo permitiré! Pepi donde está mi cellular?”

The little man patted Manuel’s pockets while the big man flailed his arms.

Shalem whirled on Manuel.
“No la pondrá en peligro con sus matones.”
He pushed the bigger man up against the counter and continued yelling at him in Spanish. I had a feeling I didn’t want to understand what he was saying.

The door slammed closed and I couldn’t hear any more than the tone of the heated argument. I watched as the two men shook their fists at one another, both red in the face. Dad shoved me in the van and climbed in quickly. Sue locked the doors and got out the map for a hasty retreat.

I buckled my seat belt and watched through the large plate glass windows the tumultuous scene I’d caused. I still wasn’t sure I would survive the next five and a half months. What was worse … would the people around me survive either?

Dad pulled into the traffic of Thirteenth Street and soon I couldn’t see the fight or even the building where I knew they were still yelling … affected. I doubted I would ever see this town again, which was a good thing … for the town. I would never get to look into Shalem’s hot pools of chocolate or hear his velvet exotic voice again. Another chance had slipped away.

I remembered the paper that Marisol gave me. I pulled it out of my pocket and unfolded the wrinkled paper ripped from an order pad. It had Shalem’s name, address, phone number and email. Dad and Sue were busy finding the route to the Beck’s house so I tucked the paper back into my pocket, all the way to the bottom, so I wouldn’t lose it. I knew I would never get to see him again. It wouldn’t hurt to know how the fight turned out, though. If Alaska has internet then I would email him. Just once. Just to find out.

Around one thirty we were bouncing over pot holes on dirt roads looking for the Beck house among all the soybean and corn fields that stretched for miles in every direction.

The third time Dad fishtailed on the gravel. Sue grabbed his arm and almost shoved her foot through the floorboard. Dad slowed and Sue got the blood back in her knuckles. She removed her fingers from Dad's reddened arm and put them in her lap. The stern look on her face stayed put. Tam and I kept hold of our arm rests. We were with Sue and were glad when Dad slowed down.

Tim, being the danger loving boy that he was piped up. "Hey Dad, do that again!"

Sue turned around in her seat. "Timothy Alan be quiet!"

Tam and I shot him scathing looks and he mumbled something about girls and no fun. He didn’t bring it up again.

We were ahead of schedule because of our hasty departure from the restaurant, which was a good thing because the male creed is: ‘Never ask for directions.’ My dad adheres strictly to it.

After turning around twice Sue huffed loudly, grabbed her cell phone from her purse and glaring at Dad as she pounded in the Becks’ number.

“You don’t need to call Jim, I can find their place. This state just needs a few more road signs. If this were Texas we’d already be there.”

Sue rolled her eyes. “If this were Texas, we’d be going the wrong direction.”

“Not so, sweet thing, any road that leads to Texas is the right direction.”

She shook her head. “You and Texas, I swear-” She jerked her attention to the cell. “Hello, Barb?” The honey dripped from her lips. “We’re close, but we can’t seem to find your road. Len says all he needs is a few more road signs and he’ll have us there.” She frowned at Dad who chuckled. “Yes, uh huh …” She fumbled in the glove compartment for a pen. “I’m looking for what? Oh, a graveyard … and a white church with a tall steeple?”

“Oh, I remember that.” Dad stopped the car in a clattering dust cloud, with just enough fishtailing that Tim whooped in glee. Cranking the wheel he maneuvered a T-turn and hit the gas, flying back the way we had just come. Sue grabbed the strap above her door and put her foot on the dashboard. With a bare squeak she hung on, suspending her conversation all the way to the church graveyard where Dad turned quickly in front of a speeding semi pulling two grain trailers.

“I have to go, bye.” She snapped it shut letting it drop to her lap as she flung both hands on the dashboard. “Are you trying to get us killed?!”

Dad waved her off with a laugh. “Ah Sue, it wasn’t even close.”

Not close?! Man, I needed to go to the bathroom! I looked back to see Tam face first in her pillow with her arms over her head.

“Tam, what are you doing?”

She peeked up at me. “My friend Micah said they had to do this when her plane had an emergency landing. I figured it couldn’t hurt.”

I followed her example.

We finally came to a house nestled between two cornfields, slightly hidden from view by a line of trees that bordered the road in front of their house. The vast fields boasted corn almost four feet tall, and crowded with ears sprouting golden tufts of hair glistening in the afternoon sun. The old white farm house had bright red trim which made it stand out in the sea of green.

As we drove down the long drive a man and woman came out of a side door and waved. He was tall and solid. In contrast, she was shorter and very thin. Dad parked the car as two boys rode up.

Tim could barely contain himself. "Wow Tam, look at the size of those horses!"

Tam already had her nose to the window. "Yeah, Mom do you think they would let us ride them?"

Sue frowned. “We’ll see.”

My guess was no. Sue had never allowed the twins to even sit on a horse. I didn't get as excited about the beautiful animals even though I’d spent plenty of time riding with my grandfather in Texas. No use getting my hopes up. I wouldn't get a chance to ride. Then again they were worth looking at.

The most noticeable was a blood red bay with a black mane and black leggings up past her knees and hocks. Gramps would have whistled at her, she was a beauty. Beside her was a tall, stout gelding with a white stripe down his face. They both looked to be in their prime
and
so did their riders. They were not the awkward little boys I remembered.

It would be nice if Sue would loosen up and let the twins have a short ride, if the Becks were willing. Tam could
ride double with me if her mother would’ve been convinced. That way, at least, I would get to ride. I wouldn’t hold my breath, but I could dream.

I knew there was no way I’d get to go out riding without Dad, who surely wouldn’t want to go. As far as I knew, he hadn't ridden since he went in the Army. He wouldn't ride with me when he came to visit in Texas. Gram said I shouldn't badger him about it so I didn't. No one had ever explained my father’s aversion and I’d been too afraid to ask.

We were leaving very early in the morning so I couldn’t even get up before the boys and go by myself even if I’d been brave enough to run off with one of their horses.

Jim and his wife Barbara greeted Dad and Sue with handshakes and hugs. The boys, that I guessed were Mark and Randy, just sat on their horses and watched. The twins piled out and ran to the large animals that whinnied and shifted their weight. I’d been reluctant to leave the van afraid of what kind of reaction there would be from the boys. I would have to face it eventually. For now, procrastinating seemed the better part of valor.

I looked around to see which direction the wind blew from. The leaves in the trees barely moved. With a little patience I figured out it came from behind the car. The breeze wasn’t enough to blow the effects of The Change all the way to the horses that were on the other side of my dad. Maybe, since there wasn’t much of a breeze, I’d be able to get out and get downwind, if I moved fast enough. I couldn’t stay in the car so I had to do something. No more procrastinating.

“What’s their names?” Tam stroked Randy’s mount.

“Mine is Molly and Mark’s is Scout.”

"How old is she?" Tam was dwarfed by the beast.

"How fast can he go?" It was always about speed with Tim.

The boys were distracted, now was my chance. I unbuckled and slid my door open. Just as I stepped out the wind gusted past me and swept over the hapless riders. As in slow motion, their eyes widened and their heads popped up searching for something, not knowing what. Their eyes locked on me.

Dad must’ve seen their reaction because he called to me. I didn’t waste any time, scurrying over and positioning myself between Dad and Sue.

Mark dismounted tipping his hat back from his still slightly boyish face and led his horse over to where I stood protected, I hoped. Mark was smiling as though it was Christmas and the tree was stuffed full.

Randy watched his brother’s move and quickly followed. If I remembered correctly, he always did whatever Mark did, he hadn't changed.

Dad kept an arm around me and an eye on the older brother, who inched closer with his huge bay behind him. The horse was unsure of the close group of humans. The closer the boys got the more fidgety their animals and I became. The horses stayed much calmer than I did.

Dad is here and he will protect me
,
I kept repeating to myself.

"My golly, how your kids have grown!" Barbara reached over and patted my arm. "And they're all so beautiful."

I liked Barbara.

"Yes, it seems like only yesterday they were runny nosed rug rats." My dad laughed. "Of course we haven't aged a day, right Jim?"

Mark moved closer.

Jim snorted. "Tell that to my mirror, would you?"

The adults laughed. I didn't see anything funny about getting old. Dad was always complaining about his aches and pains. My grandparents used to say how it sucked getting old and they died because they were old. I missed them.

Mark edged in beside Sue and his horse nosed up between them. Sue had been leery of the behemoth, a slight tremor to her hand, and was quick to move when Molly shifted her weight. If Sue had been any slower she wouldn't have avoided the large hoof that thudded the grass a few times.

"That's it, Mark, take Molly to the corral. You, too, Randy. Scout shouldn't be here, either." Jim frowned a warning at his sons.

Barbara moved to Sue's side. "Are you alright?"

Sue blushed. "Oh I'm fine. I moved before it could get me." It was a credit that she smiled despite her obvious fear. It seemed to me that if it walked on four, six or eight legs my stepmother was afraid of it.

Mark frowned as he turned Molly around and led her away. Tim was right beside him like a noisy shadow. "Can I hold the reins?" Mark handed Tim the reins and he took a hold of the halter. "How much does she eat?"

Mark took one more look at me before he led horse and boy around the house. I didn’t hear Mark's reply.

Randy let Tam hold Scout's reins and she happily chattered on about her horse dolls and how she’d never been this close to a real horse before. To their credit, the boys were patient with all the questions and treated the twins very well. I was relieved they went away so I could get inside and find a place to hide.

After helping the adults unload the suitcases, I followed them to the house. Barbara put Tam and me in Kevin’s old room where there was a double bed. Sue slipped in after us and put the food basket on the other side of the bed so I could eat without being seen. She was gone before I could tell her thank you.

My stomach whimpered so I grabbed two power bars and devoured them … ugh … I was still hungry. Under the circumstances it was best to stay near the food basket and out of sight. At any rate my stomach thought so. This time it was right. I could hide out until dinner time in hopes that Mark and Randy wouldn’t find me. I eyed the closet just in case I needed a place to stash myself.

The room was a nice boy’s room. The red, white and blue bedspread set off the patriotic theme. I didn’t appreciate the signed University of Nebraska, Lincoln cheerleader poster, though everything else was tasteful. It was best Kevin wasn’t here. There was no way I could deal with a college man.

A photo on the dresser of him in his track uniform drew me over. The memory of Kansas flashed in my mind and I shuddered. He was cute in an athletic sort of way. He definitely wasn’t a soft city boy. From what I remembered he was just the kind of guy I would’ve done anything to attract. He hadn’t been the cutest boy I knew -- Calvin had that sewn up -- but he’d been a lot more fun to be around than most boys. He was a lot like my friend Donny.

Since the boys were busy with the horses and the twins were busy bothering the boys I had some time to relax where it was quiet and eyed the comfortable-looking bed. A soft, flat surface that didn’t move was just too tempting. I lay on his bed and closed my eyes. The thought of how nice it would be to spend time with Kevin and his brothers floated through my head. With no worries about The Change, I could flirt and get his undivided attention. I smiled at the fantasy that he could be interested in me and would want to follow me to Alaska … Only in my dreams.

The smile that tickled my face dropped as I came back to reality. Not this year.

A deep male voice interrupted my thoughts. “It’s comfortable, isn’t it?”

I about jumped out of my skin. I sat up straight and pulled my legs under me. A mature Kevin stood in the doorway, arms crossed over his chest. I tensed to run. My mouth went dry. A big grin on his ruggedly handsome face had my stomach doing funny things. I wasn’t laughing.

A couple of blinks assured me I wasn’t day dreaming. A day dream would have been nice. He wasn't supposed to be here so there was a possibility he wasn't real. I thought about going over and touching him to make sure. I shook myself. That was a stupid idea.

He blocked the only exit. What was I to do? The more his eyes bore into me the more I wanted to stay right where I was … a deer in his headlights.

After an hour of silence-- okay, it was only a minute, but seemed like an hour-- he dropped his grin. “I didn’t mean to bother you. I just came in to grab something from my closet.”

He seemed alright.

I found my voice, and it cracked. “Go right ahead.” I waved my arm toward the sliding doors on the other side of the room.

At least he would be away from the only escape. He walked over to the closet and slid the door open. He rummaged around the shelf. After a little bit he pulled out a large shoe box and opened it.

I waited.

He lifted the lid and looked in.

Wait for it.

He shifted the box as he rummaged some more.

Wait for it.

I didn’t have to wait all that long. He stiffened and slowly turned with a small box in his hands and a smile on his face. BINGO!

A gun couldn’t have shot a bullet faster than I moved off the bed. I was out the door before he could completely register what he was feeling. It was a reflex action I’d honed this year. I ran down the stairs coming to a screeching halt in the quiet living room. Empty. There wasn’t anyone around.

From the stairs Kevin called my name. My heart kicked into overdrive. I ran out the front door looking wildly for my family. Voices came from around back. I couldn't move fast enough as I rounded the corner and looked for my father, my bodyguard.