Bella:
I took a step back from the fireplace, clapped my hands together a couple of times to rid them of dirt, and just stared. I cocked my head right, then left, set my hand on my hip and tried to eye what was before me with squinted eyes.
"Mom, I really don't think that old weed is going to make this room look any better. Mostly when you stuck it in a rusty coffee can." Danny put his hand on my shoulder, standing beside me and staring at the plant with a raised brow. I looked at him and then back to the mantle of the fireplace. Ok, so it wasn't the prettiest thing in the world, but it….oh who am I kidding it was a weed planted in a piece of trash!
"Well, we'll just call it art. Did you get the fridge cleaned out?" I knew it was probably cruel of me, but the kid could use the experience. Bullshit? Doubtless.
"I even took an old toothbrush after it. It is clean and mold free, as promised." I nodded, pulled off the tatty old ball cap from my head and ran my hand through my mussed hair. We had had breakfast at Sue's, taken with us a couple of doggy bags for lunch, but I was hoping to actually make dinner tonight. Of course that meant I would have to find a grocery store.
"Go and clean up the kitchen cabinets and counters really good for me, I'm going to head out to La Push and see if I can find a store. I might be awhile if I have to drive into Forks." He just patted me on my shoulder and stomped back off into the kitchen. It is funny how kids always forget we have ears when they are upset. Danny grumbled as he walked away.
So I was able to find a small store, though as with most small towns the selection was sparse. I had been able to get most of what I had wanted, what they hadn't had the nice older lady that ran the cash register promised they could order.
The only thing that they didn't have was the one thing I was really needing at the moment. I never knew that a store could actually run out of aspirin. The older lady, Mary, had directed me to the local pharmacy. Apparently locally owned by the reservations resident widower.
I piled everything in the bed of my truck and headed a little ways out until I saw the large wooden sign Mary had told me about.
Black's Pharmacy from the outside looked like all the other buildings on the reservation. It was rustic, built with heavy woods, remnants of red and white paint chipping off the large posts on the low porch. Though it was obvious that the building was old and in need of a bit of elbow grease, it had a very pleasant feeling about it. Almost calming, mostly with it being surrounded on almost all sides by towering green trees.
I parked my truck and hopped out, my eyes immediately going to the same old truck I had seen at Sue's the day before. Somehow here beside this quaint shop the truck succeeded in looking more classic than rundown.
When I opened the heavy wooden door to the pharmacy I was hit with the scent of vanilla and tobacco. It reminded me of the old pipe tobacco that my granddaddy used to smoke when I was a kid. It only added to the comfort of the place.
I had expected Widower Black to be in his late seventies, possibly early eighties. Cropped grey or white hair set atop a grizzled old face. His large eyes hidden behind thick bottle glasses. A white coat with a little name tag, and a voice rough with age. What I had not expected was a man, tall with long ink black hair and kind eyes.
Mr. Black smiled at me, just a sideways lift of the right side of his mouth. Though he did not wear the cowboy hat he had the day before, he still tipped his head at me.
"Good-day Ma'am, anything I could help you with?" His smile relaxed, but didn't disappear as he leaned on the counter of what appeared to be an old fashioned soda shop. I gathered myself from my shock enough to take at seat on the other side of the counter and take a quick look at the plain white board menu hanging on the wall.
"Lemon coke, and could I get a bottle of aspirin?" He stood up completely, his smile still in place as he grabbed a yellow box from behind him and set it on the counter. I watched him silently as he poured the coke syrup over a glass of ice and cut into a fresh lemon.
"Real lemons?" Ok, so that was rather obvious, but even the soda shop back where I grew up used store bought bottled juice.
"Only the best for my costumers. I grow them myself, along with a few herbs and vegetables." His voice was low, but not excessively deep. It was rough, as I had imagined, but not from age. The rasp sounded more like he had spent a few years smoking. He squeezed the lemon into the glass and added the soda water before handing it to me. I gave him a soft thanks, opened the box of aspirin and swallowed two.
"So I saw you at Sue's yesterday, you go there often?" He raised a brow at me while he used a towel to dry off the lower counter in front of him.
"Almost everyday. We've known each other for years, her husband and I grew up together." I nodded and took a long sip of my coke.
"So I guess you're from here then? What kind of place is this, I mean La Push and Forks? I've only met a few people, but they all seem pretty nice." He placed the towel down and walked from behind the counter in order to unpack a box of sleeping pills.
"Oh, I guess your typical small town. Quiet, everyone knows everyone else, and their business. But generally nice, if a little old fashioned." I turned around on my stool so I could see him better as he placed the small boxes on a shelf. My eyes passed over the name tag he wore, though I was sure he really didn't need one.
"B. Black, what does the B stand for?" He looked over his shoulder at me, his smile still shinning.
"Billy, and since we are talking about names, may I ask yours?" The way he looked at me I was sure he already knew, hell I was sure all of La Push already knew. I mean when I was at the store I hadn't had to introduce myself once, and yet everyone knew my name.
"Isabella Swan-Hunter, though you probably already knew that. But please, just call me Bella." He placed the last small box on the shelf and turned towards me.
"News travels real fast around here, I don't know if it is a good thing or a bad one, but everyone already knew your name and face the moment you left Sue's for the first time." I groaned, I already figured that would happen, but it was still a little annoying.
"What I don't know yet is where you're from." Though he phrased it more as a statement I knew he was actually asking.
"This time, Falcon, Colorado. Though I'm originally from just outside of Phoenix, Arizona. I've lived and worked on a ranch most of my life." I finished up my last couple of drinks of coke, pulled some money from my purse and looked up at him.
"So, how much do I owe you?" He gave me another smile, again the little lift of the side of his mouth.
"Two dollars, and no need to tip, I own the place." I gave him my own little smirk and a lifted brow.
"I wasn't going to." I placed two bills on the counter and stepped down from the stool, heading to the door.
"See ya around Billy." I heard his voice, rough and low saying a quiet 'Well yes Ma'am' as the old door slowly closed behind me.
"So I take it you found a store?" Danny stood in the doorway to the house, his arms crossed as he leaned against the frame. Sometimes he looked so much like his father it was frightening. James always did the same thing when I would come home. He would be leaning against the door frame, one leg crossed over the other with his arms wrapped limply across his chest.
When I was younger I had always thought it made him look sexy as all get out. It wasn't until I grew up and saw him for the lazy bastard he was that I realized just what that stance actually represented. Pure and complete arrogance. Thankfully for Danny it was simply a physical mimic of his father and not his attitude.
"Yes, I found a store. Now get out here and help me get these bags, the sooner we get them put away the sooner we can eat." Danny pushed off of the door frame and ran out to grab as many bags as he could. If there was one thing that could motivate that boy it was food. I wasn't looking forward to the day that I could add girls on that list.
Author's Note: Thanks again to Mist who took the time to Beta this, thankies Sugar! This chapter for some reason was a pain. I knew what I wanted, but it didn't want to come out right. So hopefully this sounds ok and not forced. More Bella/Billy interaction coming next chapter! :D
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own! Not Twilight and not Murphy's Romance.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Chapter Two: The Girl Next Door
Bella:
I was beginning to think that even when Old Farmer Clark had been alive, he hadn't taken care of the place all that well. Some of the damage in the house could not have been caused by abandonment. The wiring, well what wiring there was, was shot. This was something I had figured out the hard way.
After leaving Sue's we had stopped off at a small gas station and picked up something for breakfast the next morning. I had been carrying the bag of food in one arm into the kitchen and went to turn on the light. Only instead of flicking on with, or at least simply staying off, it lit up, flickered and spluttered and then with a sound very much like a gun, blew up.
The light in the bathroom had been no better, I am not sure fire is suppose to shoot from a light socket. It was a good thing I always knew to be prepared. Even as a kid a strong enough storm could blow the generator, and Pop hadn't had enough money to fix the backup after it had finally blew. We ended up getting ready for bed by candlelight.
Even if the wiring had been in pretty good condition, I still would have needed to do some upgrading. The light in my bedroom was an old converted gaslight.
I was currently trying to get the kitchen in order, what with small pieces of an old light bulb scattered around the room. Danny and I were having to utilize the daylight as much as we could, the electrician I had called had said he wouldn't be able to come by until next week. I was envisioning most meals at Sue's diner. The old fridge still had the remains of whatever Old Farmer Clark had bought before he died.
"The fireplace is cleaned, but where do you think we could get some wood? I don't think it stops raining long enough here for anything to dry." Danny stood in the doorway, he was covered head to toe in old ashes. I was going to have to do laundry before long.
"I figured we'd ask around. Someone around here has to sell firewood. It will cost, but it will have to do until we can figure out a way to dry out some timber." I dusted off my hands, grabbed the towel from the counter and tossed it at him.
"Go clean up, we'll get something down at the diner to eat."
Pulling into the lot just outside of Sue's Diner, my eyes settled on a truck that had to be in even worse shape than my old thing. It had to have been red at one time, now it was more a faded pink with patches of white. It most likely had been a beauty back in its day, now though I was seriously doubting that it actually ran.
I parked my old beat up truck two cars down, jumped from the cab and still didn't make it to the diner door before Danny.
It was earlier than the last time we had eaten here, so of course there were also more people. Just as last time all heads turned towards us. Most curious, some even pitying. I had no doubt that they all knew who I was and that I was divorced. In a place this small gossip moved faster than light.
Danny and I sat down at a booth this time, both of us picking up the menus. I tried to ignore the stares, it wasn't as though I was not use to them. Every time we moved it was the same. My eyes shifted off the plastic covered menu to take a glance around the room.
There were a few older people, none of them the same as the first time. A family or two and a group of teenagers. None of them seemed rude, all gave me a friendly smile as my eyes passed over them. Though when I found myself glancing over at the only man at the counter, I found them resting on him a little longer than the rest.
He had to have been a little above average height, not too skinny and yet not overweight either. His hair is what struck me the most. Though he had to have been at least in his fifties, his hair still slick oil black. I could only make out one or two strands of grey. What surprised me the most though was the length of it. I was sure he hadn't cut it since he had been a teen, it almost reached his hips.
Sue had walked up while I continued to look at the man. Men seriously shouldn't be allowed to have hair that pretty.
"Well, it is nice to see you two again. How is the cleaning coming?" Sue's sweet voice brought the man's attention to our table. Like the rest he gave me a kind smile, unlike the rest he lifted his hand to grasp the brim of his old cowboy hat. With that same friendly smile in place he tipped his hat before turning back around to finish his meal.
I brought my attention back to Sue, only to find that she was giving me a knowing smirk.
"He sure cuts a pretty picture I know. Even some of the young girls have noticed that, not that he does." I just nodded, not really sure what to say. The man looked friendly enough. I just cleared my throat and smiled at Sue.
"Well, as I was saying, how is the cleaning coming?" Sue slipped her pencil behind her ear, leaning her hip on the edge of the table. It seems that Sue might just be the queen of this particular beehive. I doubted she would take our orders before I answered her. At least she was friendly. I had met many gossip-mongers who would rather beat it out of you instead of coax it.
"It going good, would be better if the wiring wasn't shot. We are working mostly by candlelight right now." Sue's eyes softened slightly and she pulled her pencil from her ear, seemingly satisfied with what I had said.
"Alright, then what shall I get ya?"
Billy:
I had closed the pharmacy a bit early today, all my regulars had already been in and I was rather hungry. Sue always had a steak or fish dinner set back for me, even if I didn't come in. Tonight was fish, fresh caught by Harry.
I heard the bell on the door chime, but ignored it. Sue's diner, while not the only place in La Push, it was the favorite. I once teased Sue that she should just take the door off, it would keep that damn bell quiet. It wasn't until the entire diner went silent that I realized that something was different. I turned slowly around, and sure enough Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son had just walked in and sat down.
The boy had to be around ten or eleven years old, maybe a year or two older. Hair a dark blonde, just a bit curly. All in all a rather general appearance. His mother on the other hand. I might not have called her gorgeous, she wasn't one of those girls with the huge hair that you saw on the cover of magazines. No, she had long hair of a deep brown that she had woven back in a braid. She wore simple jeans and a red buffalo plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her little elbows. Though I couldn't see her face, I could easily tell you she was cute. More like the girl next door. I turned back around before she caught me looking and started back on my meal.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sue weave her way around the tables and towards where Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son were sitting. I loved Sue like a sister, but she was one of the nosiest women you would ever meet. I felt bad for those two, Sue would keep pestering them until she had all the information she wanted. I had once talked to Harry about this habit of her's, but it seems my old friend is just as bad as his wife.
Sue's voice as she questioned Mrs. Swan-Hunter brought my attention back to them and I turned once more. Only this time I wasn't the only one looking. I had been right, she was cute. I lifted my hand, gave her a smile and tilted my hat towards her. Her eyes were wide, but she still gave me a sweet little smile before I turned to take the last few bites of my dinner.
I had hoped that I would be able to set my money on the counter and leave before Sue got back, sadly I hadn't been quick enough. She had just handed the ticket to Jared in the back as I sat down what I owed her. She smiled widely at me and took the money.
"So, what do you think of Mrs. Swan-Hunter?" She had that smirk on her face, the same one she had every time she caught me looking longer than a second at a woman. She had tried many times to set me up, the first time being five years after Sarah's death.
"Cute, definitely cute. But Sue, don't. She just moved here, and I've told you before I am not looking for anybody." She shrugged her shoulders and went to help Sam after he sat down. I took this chance to get up and leave before Sue got back. As I grabbed my coat from beside the door I noticed Mrs. Swan-Hunter looking my way again. I slipped my coat on and tipped my hat one last time.
She really was cute.
Bella:
I shut the door to the house with a bit more care than I normally would, but I was tired and full from dinner. I just stood there and looked over the place once more. It was going to take a lot of hard work and money to fix this place up. As I thought about Sue, the others in the diner that had come to say hello and introduce themselves, I knew that it was going to be worth it.
This place may have been rundown, but so far the people I have met were nice. The diner had good food, and in the end this place was our's. This was our place to do with what we wanted. We were not living with others, working for our food and lodging, no, this belonged to us.
I pulled off my button down shirt to expose the slightly stained t-shirt underneath. There was cleaning and fixing still needing to be done, and a few hours before bed. I might as well do what I could, tomorrow I needed to head into La Push or Forks and see if I could find a store. Even though I wouldn't use the refrigerator, we could get some boxed items and fruits and vegetables.
Gathering a bucket filled with water and a few torn up rags I started on cleaning the front room, my mind wandering. The image of that man in the diner, the one Sue had briefly spoke about, popped up in my head. He had a very memorable face, lined with age, but not unattractive. No, not unattractive at all.
He had a sweet smile and a kind feeling about him. I was sure he was a gentleman, not many guys tipped their hats to ladies anymore. Of course I hadn't had much experience with gentlemen to actually recognize one when I saw one. But I was sure he was.
Plunging the old rag and my hand into the bucket of cold water and soap, I put him out of my mind and set rag to wall and scrubbed like my life depended on it. It was hard work, but it was good work.
Author's Note: Thanks to Mist for betaing this.
Ok shorter than the last chapter, but I had a bad week and my mind and muse hadn't wanted to work for me on this.
The bit at the beginning with the lights, yeah some of that has happened to me. The fire shooting from the light socket, yeah not fun.
For those that asked, Bella is 33, Billy is 60, the same as in the movie. This takes place about 1985. This also will be updated every Saturday, though the exact time will vary.
Now I am going by the movie, but changing just a few things, like using Sue's Diner. Also in the movie he has a well kept vintage car, I decided that Billy would have an old worndown truck that he refuses to get rid of.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it!
I was beginning to think that even when Old Farmer Clark had been alive, he hadn't taken care of the place all that well. Some of the damage in the house could not have been caused by abandonment. The wiring, well what wiring there was, was shot. This was something I had figured out the hard way.
After leaving Sue's we had stopped off at a small gas station and picked up something for breakfast the next morning. I had been carrying the bag of food in one arm into the kitchen and went to turn on the light. Only instead of flicking on with, or at least simply staying off, it lit up, flickered and spluttered and then with a sound very much like a gun, blew up.
The light in the bathroom had been no better, I am not sure fire is suppose to shoot from a light socket. It was a good thing I always knew to be prepared. Even as a kid a strong enough storm could blow the generator, and Pop hadn't had enough money to fix the backup after it had finally blew. We ended up getting ready for bed by candlelight.
Even if the wiring had been in pretty good condition, I still would have needed to do some upgrading. The light in my bedroom was an old converted gaslight.
I was currently trying to get the kitchen in order, what with small pieces of an old light bulb scattered around the room. Danny and I were having to utilize the daylight as much as we could, the electrician I had called had said he wouldn't be able to come by until next week. I was envisioning most meals at Sue's diner. The old fridge still had the remains of whatever Old Farmer Clark had bought before he died.
"The fireplace is cleaned, but where do you think we could get some wood? I don't think it stops raining long enough here for anything to dry." Danny stood in the doorway, he was covered head to toe in old ashes. I was going to have to do laundry before long.
"I figured we'd ask around. Someone around here has to sell firewood. It will cost, but it will have to do until we can figure out a way to dry out some timber." I dusted off my hands, grabbed the towel from the counter and tossed it at him.
"Go clean up, we'll get something down at the diner to eat."
Pulling into the lot just outside of Sue's Diner, my eyes settled on a truck that had to be in even worse shape than my old thing. It had to have been red at one time, now it was more a faded pink with patches of white. It most likely had been a beauty back in its day, now though I was seriously doubting that it actually ran.
I parked my old beat up truck two cars down, jumped from the cab and still didn't make it to the diner door before Danny.
It was earlier than the last time we had eaten here, so of course there were also more people. Just as last time all heads turned towards us. Most curious, some even pitying. I had no doubt that they all knew who I was and that I was divorced. In a place this small gossip moved faster than light.
Danny and I sat down at a booth this time, both of us picking up the menus. I tried to ignore the stares, it wasn't as though I was not use to them. Every time we moved it was the same. My eyes shifted off the plastic covered menu to take a glance around the room.
There were a few older people, none of them the same as the first time. A family or two and a group of teenagers. None of them seemed rude, all gave me a friendly smile as my eyes passed over them. Though when I found myself glancing over at the only man at the counter, I found them resting on him a little longer than the rest.
He had to have been a little above average height, not too skinny and yet not overweight either. His hair is what struck me the most. Though he had to have been at least in his fifties, his hair still slick oil black. I could only make out one or two strands of grey. What surprised me the most though was the length of it. I was sure he hadn't cut it since he had been a teen, it almost reached his hips.
Sue had walked up while I continued to look at the man. Men seriously shouldn't be allowed to have hair that pretty.
"Well, it is nice to see you two again. How is the cleaning coming?" Sue's sweet voice brought the man's attention to our table. Like the rest he gave me a kind smile, unlike the rest he lifted his hand to grasp the brim of his old cowboy hat. With that same friendly smile in place he tipped his hat before turning back around to finish his meal.
I brought my attention back to Sue, only to find that she was giving me a knowing smirk.
"He sure cuts a pretty picture I know. Even some of the young girls have noticed that, not that he does." I just nodded, not really sure what to say. The man looked friendly enough. I just cleared my throat and smiled at Sue.
"Well, as I was saying, how is the cleaning coming?" Sue slipped her pencil behind her ear, leaning her hip on the edge of the table. It seems that Sue might just be the queen of this particular beehive. I doubted she would take our orders before I answered her. At least she was friendly. I had met many gossip-mongers who would rather beat it out of you instead of coax it.
"It going good, would be better if the wiring wasn't shot. We are working mostly by candlelight right now." Sue's eyes softened slightly and she pulled her pencil from her ear, seemingly satisfied with what I had said.
"Alright, then what shall I get ya?"
Billy:
I had closed the pharmacy a bit early today, all my regulars had already been in and I was rather hungry. Sue always had a steak or fish dinner set back for me, even if I didn't come in. Tonight was fish, fresh caught by Harry.
I heard the bell on the door chime, but ignored it. Sue's diner, while not the only place in La Push, it was the favorite. I once teased Sue that she should just take the door off, it would keep that damn bell quiet. It wasn't until the entire diner went silent that I realized that something was different. I turned slowly around, and sure enough Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son had just walked in and sat down.
The boy had to be around ten or eleven years old, maybe a year or two older. Hair a dark blonde, just a bit curly. All in all a rather general appearance. His mother on the other hand. I might not have called her gorgeous, she wasn't one of those girls with the huge hair that you saw on the cover of magazines. No, she had long hair of a deep brown that she had woven back in a braid. She wore simple jeans and a red buffalo plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up to her little elbows. Though I couldn't see her face, I could easily tell you she was cute. More like the girl next door. I turned back around before she caught me looking and started back on my meal.
Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sue weave her way around the tables and towards where Mrs. Swan-Hunter and her son were sitting. I loved Sue like a sister, but she was one of the nosiest women you would ever meet. I felt bad for those two, Sue would keep pestering them until she had all the information she wanted. I had once talked to Harry about this habit of her's, but it seems my old friend is just as bad as his wife.
Sue's voice as she questioned Mrs. Swan-Hunter brought my attention back to them and I turned once more. Only this time I wasn't the only one looking. I had been right, she was cute. I lifted my hand, gave her a smile and tilted my hat towards her. Her eyes were wide, but she still gave me a sweet little smile before I turned to take the last few bites of my dinner.
I had hoped that I would be able to set my money on the counter and leave before Sue got back, sadly I hadn't been quick enough. She had just handed the ticket to Jared in the back as I sat down what I owed her. She smiled widely at me and took the money.
"So, what do you think of Mrs. Swan-Hunter?" She had that smirk on her face, the same one she had every time she caught me looking longer than a second at a woman. She had tried many times to set me up, the first time being five years after Sarah's death.
"Cute, definitely cute. But Sue, don't. She just moved here, and I've told you before I am not looking for anybody." She shrugged her shoulders and went to help Sam after he sat down. I took this chance to get up and leave before Sue got back. As I grabbed my coat from beside the door I noticed Mrs. Swan-Hunter looking my way again. I slipped my coat on and tipped my hat one last time.
She really was cute.
Bella:
I shut the door to the house with a bit more care than I normally would, but I was tired and full from dinner. I just stood there and looked over the place once more. It was going to take a lot of hard work and money to fix this place up. As I thought about Sue, the others in the diner that had come to say hello and introduce themselves, I knew that it was going to be worth it.
This place may have been rundown, but so far the people I have met were nice. The diner had good food, and in the end this place was our's. This was our place to do with what we wanted. We were not living with others, working for our food and lodging, no, this belonged to us.
I pulled off my button down shirt to expose the slightly stained t-shirt underneath. There was cleaning and fixing still needing to be done, and a few hours before bed. I might as well do what I could, tomorrow I needed to head into La Push or Forks and see if I could find a store. Even though I wouldn't use the refrigerator, we could get some boxed items and fruits and vegetables.
Gathering a bucket filled with water and a few torn up rags I started on cleaning the front room, my mind wandering. The image of that man in the diner, the one Sue had briefly spoke about, popped up in my head. He had a very memorable face, lined with age, but not unattractive. No, not unattractive at all.
He had a sweet smile and a kind feeling about him. I was sure he was a gentleman, not many guys tipped their hats to ladies anymore. Of course I hadn't had much experience with gentlemen to actually recognize one when I saw one. But I was sure he was.
Plunging the old rag and my hand into the bucket of cold water and soap, I put him out of my mind and set rag to wall and scrubbed like my life depended on it. It was hard work, but it was good work.
Author's Note: Thanks to Mist for betaing this.
Ok shorter than the last chapter, but I had a bad week and my mind and muse hadn't wanted to work for me on this.
The bit at the beginning with the lights, yeah some of that has happened to me. The fire shooting from the light socket, yeah not fun.
For those that asked, Bella is 33, Billy is 60, the same as in the movie. This takes place about 1985. This also will be updated every Saturday, though the exact time will vary.
Now I am going by the movie, but changing just a few things, like using Sue's Diner. Also in the movie he has a well kept vintage car, I decided that Billy would have an old worndown truck that he refuses to get rid of.
Disclaimer: Nope, don't own it!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Chapter One: Moving In, Moving On
Chapter One: Moving In and Moving On;
Bella:
I loaded the last of the boxes in the back of the truck, tying it securely down with the bungee. I slammed the hatch before turning around to stare at the house Danny and I had called home for the past five months.
Ever since the divorce finalized two years ago, we had been traveling from state to state. We would find a farm or ranch and offer our services. The Parsons had kept us on the longest, Mrs. Parson being of the mind that it was unhealthy to keep uprooting my boy. Even though I agreed, it still rankled when she would get on the subject.
The Parson ranch had started to look like home by the time I was contacted by a lawyer three months ago. My father had died, and even though I had believed that he had washed his hands of me I found he had left me what money he had. Things were certainly starting to look up.
I had found a farm house in Washington State, located just outside of a reservation. It had just been in our price range, leaving us just enough to eat on for the next few months. Hopefully by then I would have been able to get a loan in order to buy our animals.
"Come on Danny, we should be heading out before the sun sets." My son, only twelve years old, dragged his bag behind him as he stepped down off the porch. He was a good boy, and it hurt me to know what all of this has done to him. He didn't ask for a good for nothing father and a mother that could barely keep him in clothes.
"Why couldn't we just stay here? Mrs. Parson is real nice and I have just started to make friends in school." The look on his face made my stomach hurt, but I knew that this was the best thing.
"Danny, look honey, I know none of this has been easy on you. Believe me when I tell you that I have never wished this for you, but things are going to change. We finally have our own farm, it will take hard work but it is going to be ok. I promise." Danny lifted his bag over his shoulder and trudged by me without a word. I wished things were different, he deserved better.
The ride was quiet and uneventful. Danny rarely spoke, even when we would stop off at night at a hotel. Once we entered Washington my eyes grew huge. I was mostly used to deserts, this place was green. Very green.
"Well, it sure doesn't look like the picture. When was it taken, do you think?" We were currently leaning against the front of the truck as we took in our new farmhouse. Danny was right, this looked nothing like what we had been expecting.
Most of the grass had been killed out, now only weeds remained. The windows in the house were so dirty you couldn't even tell they were made of glass. The front door had been torn off, and the porch looked like it was barely hanging on. I was not looking forward to seeing what the inside or the barn looked like.
"Ok, well I said it was going to take a lot of hard work. We will just have to work a bit harder than we planned." Not to mention a bit more money. Alright, a lot more. I was going to have to go into town to visit the bank sooner than I had planned.
"Come on, let's see what we can do to make this place look like home." Taking a look back at the bed of my truck I just sighed. What furniture I hadn't sold beforehand, I sold within months of the divorce. Besides the fact that we had no need of them while boarding at a ranch, we needed the cash. During the past two years Danny and I have been living as thriftily as we could. Buying just what we needed and putting the rest of the money away.
I stopped where I stood the moment we opened the door and went inside. No wonder the last owners were eager to sell, and were all too happy to do it over the phone and through the mail and the bank.
"Well Mom, it is a good thing you like hard work, because we sure are going to be doing a lot of it." Danny patted me on the back and went off to explore the house more. I just stood there with wide eyes and my mouth hanging open.
The entire place had more dirt on the inside than it did on the outside. Quite a few spiders had made their home in the corners, and what was left of the walls were caked with grime. To say it was going to take quite a bit of elbow grease and money to fix this place up was an understatement. It might be better to actually level the place and start from scratch.
Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the smell of mildew in the air, I shut the door and headed off to inspect what else was going to need done.
By the time that we had assessed the damage on the house, barn and chicken house it was growing dark. There were two rooms on the second floor of the house that at least looked livable enough. The glass in the windows weren't cracked, there were no cracks in the ceiling and no holes in the walls. Other than that they were just as dirty as the rest of the house.
Danny griped a bit when I handed him a bucket of water and a sponge and told him to start cleaning. His mouth clamped shut as soon as I said he could sleep in the truck if he wanted.
I wiped my hand across my forehead, I'm sure smearing dirt and who knew what else across it in the process. It was getting rather late and with no food in the house we were going to have to find a restaurant. One with a budget menu.
"I don't think anyone has lived in here since the forties, even then I don't think they ever cleaned it." Danny was leaning against the door frame to my room. His face was covered in dirt, as were his hands and clothes. He looked like a pig that had been rooting around in a mud hole.
"If you've finished cleaning your room, why don't you go out to the truck and get the old army cots? Go ahead and set yours up, we'll get everything else situated tomorrow." He nodded his head and set off outside. I wasn't looking forward to sleeping on the cots, we hadn't had to use them since before the divorce was final.
We had to sell the house in order to be able to eat. I had found a small one room house for rent, and Danny and I crammed ourselves inside on a couple of old cots I had found at the Salvation Army. It was a tough time in our lives, but I was determined to make it for my son's sake. Just as I was now.
We both finished setting up our rooms and cleaned off the best we could. Seems as though I would have to add propane to my shopping list. I didn't fancy cold showers all that much.
We drove into La Push hoping to find some place still open at eight, even if all we found was a convenience store with cold sandwiches. Eventually we found a small diner with their open sign still showing in the simple glass door.
I parked the car and we headed inside. The place was quiet, with only a few people still lingering at the booths. We sat down at the counter and pulled the menu from between two napkin holders and looked it over. Thankfully the meals were reasonably priced.
"Well, I haven't seen you two around before. Tourists?" I lifted my head from the plastic coated menu to come face to face with an older native woman. She was most likely in her early to late fifties with long ink black hair, and a sweet face. She was the type of woman you could easily become comfortable with.
"No, actually we moved into the old farmhouse just a ways from here. Just got in this afternoon, been cleaning all day." The woman smiled and nodded her head. She set down her pencil and wiped off her hand on her apron before she extended it to me.
"So you are the family that bought the old Clark farm? Well it is nice to meet you. I'm Sue Clearwater, the owner of this place." I took her hand and gave it a quick shake. At least so far the people around here seemed nice enough.
"I'm Bella Swan-Hunter, and this is my son Danny." She shook my boy's hand and picked her pencil up to put to her notepad.
"What can I get you two? The grill is off for the night, but we've got some chili left and some hot roast beef. We've got Coke only, and the coffee flows until ten pm for a dollar fifty." I looked over at Danny and he just handed me his menu with a shrug of his shoulders. I closed mine and set the both of them back where I had taken them from.
"Two chilies, a coke for him and coffee for me, thanks." She winked at both of us and went into the kitchen. While waiting for her to return with our dinner I looked around. When I turned my head it was to find that the two of us seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone was either staring straight at us or watching us out of the corner of their eyes. A few were even whispering behind their hands as they threw glances our way.
"I wouldn't worry about them, Honey." The clink of porcelain bowls on the counter announced the arrival of our hostess. I turned back around to be greeted with her friendly smile as she poured my cup of coffee.
"It is not unusual for white folk to come around here, many of the younger ones are friends with the kids in Forks. Even a few of the older generation can be found coming round for fishing. It's just we don't see very many new faces around here.
"Most of the people living here or in Forks were born here, and most of them will die here. I think the last time we got new blood was when the Cullen family moved into Forks back in nineteen sixty-five. People will talk for awhile, but things should die down soon enough." She set a glass filled to the brim with ice and coke down in front of Danny and wiped her hands off once again before she slipped a bit of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not worried. Danny and I are used to being the new ones in town. This would be our…oh let's see, this would be our forth time. Hopefully final too." Sue leaned down on the other side of the counter, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry if I'm being nosy, but isn't there a Mr. Swan-Hunter?" That was the only problem with small places like this, everyone had to know everyone else's business. Well it was better to get it out now, I found it only ended up worse if it appeared as though I had been hiding it.
"There is, well a Mr. Hunter. Not that I know where he is. We're divorced, it is just Danny and me now." Sue's eyes lit up like I had just told her the secret to life before she caught herself and stood up to straighten out her apron.
"I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't easy raising children period, I bet it is even harder when you are on your own. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my Harry to help with mine.
"I have two children, a daughter who is full grown and a son that is not that far behind." I just nodded and ate my chili. Sometimes it was just best to allow them to talk.
Sue cleaned up the counter and tables, waited on the others all the while Danny and I ate. Once finished I pulled opened my purse in order to pay.
"How much do I owe you?" Sue looked at Danny and back at me while she tore the ticket from her pad and crumpled it up.
"Oh, let's say five dollars should do it. If you two have bought the Clark farm you are going to need all the money you have. No one has lived there since Old Farmer Clark died twenty years ago. His son hadn't wanted it and moved to California. No one has heard from him since." I set a five dollar bill down on the counter and closed my purse.
Sue gave a wave as we headed back out to the truck, as did a few of the others in the diner. Even though I was sure that the news of my divorced status would be all around La Push and Forks by tomorrow afternoon, they seemed nice at least. Though only time would tell for sure.
Billy:
One thing could be said about living on a small reservation like La Push, you always had enough free time. I owned the local pharmacy, a small but productive place with a soda shop built inside. My father started it as a project to keep himself busy in his old age.
I had taken over during the last couple of years of his life, and just never left. It was a good way to make a living. Customers came from not only the rez, but Forks as well. I knew them all by name, and they were loyal to shop only at Black's Pharmacy. I never had a customer before eleven on the weekdays and ten on Saturday, allowing me to have my breakfast down at Sue's diner.
The bell on the old glass door of the diner rang out as I opened it up and made my way to my usual booth. Sue's husband, Harry, and I grew up together. We had both met our wives around the same time, even courted them at the same time. We would double date, taking our girls down to the beach for bonfires.
We proposed within months of each other and married not long after. My Sarah was pregnant first, twin girls that I rarely saw now that they had both married and moved away. Sue came next with a daughter I used to tease Harry would be breaking hearts everywhere she turned.
When Sarah gave birth to our son, Jacob, her and Sue would talk for hours about how wonderful it would be if he grew up to eventually marry Leah. Something I wish she had been able to live to see.
Jake had just been two years old when my Sarah had left to visit Sue, only to be hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully she had died instantly, with no pain. Harry and Sue helped out a lot after that, never giving up on me even when I tried to push them away.
I finally woke up after three years, realizing that I still had a young son to care for. Over the years my heart has mended, and I allowed people back into my life. I've watched as both my girls married and even though it hurt to, watched them move away. I stood beside Jake as he vowed his life to Leah Clearwater, and helped him move into his house on the other side of the reservation.
I would always miss my Sarah, but life went on and I was content in mine. I had friends and grandchildren, and my pharmacy.
"The usual Billy?" I set down the menu that I picked up more out of habit than anything, and looked up at Sue. Being a normally happy person by nature it wasn't strange to see her smiling brightly at you, but the wide smile that now spread from ear to ear was rare. It could only be caused by one thing, she had gotten a hold of some new and juicy gossip.
"That would be wonderful, thank you Sue." She leaned over and turned the coffee cup in front of me over and filled it from the pot she had been holding. Every morning was the same here. I would look over the menu even though I already knew what I would be having, she would ask my order though she already knew. She would give me my coffee and leave only to return a few minutes later with a plate of eggs and bacon and a half of fried steak. I would thank her and she would proceed to ask me how I have been. Today though I was sure I was going to be treated to a report from the grapevine. In a place this small even the smallest piece of gossip was like gold.
Sue slid into the bench seat across from me as soon as she set my breakfast on the table. Apparently this was going to be quite juicy. She twiddled her thumbs for a moment and bounced in her seat. I went to take a bite of my eggs, but she was making the table jump along with her.
"Out with it Sue, before you cause my coffee to spill in my lap." Her eyes went wide and she stilled herself immediately. I never did understand why women would lean in and basically whisper something to you that they were just going to go and tell it to everyone she sees afterwards. Sue was no exception to this as she leaned in a bit and kept her voice low.
"So you heard that someone bought the old Clark farm? Well they came in last night. About gave Old Quil a heart attack when they sat down at the counter." I nodded my head and sliced into my steak, there was never a need for me to speak. I learned early on it was best to allow them to flap their mouths and just nod and 'umhm' every now and then.
"I was expecting a man, but wouldn't you know it was a woman. Mrs. Bella Swan-Hunter and her son Danny. They look like the good sort, quiet, clean and well dressed. Mrs. Swan-Hunter said they had been cleaning that place all day, and you know what shape that old farm is in." Sue absently refilled my cup of coffee as she rambled on. Poor Mrs. Swan-Hunter, she probably didn't know what she was getting herself into when she stepped into the door of Sue's diner.
"Well I was surprised when it was just her and her boy, and I didn't see any ring on her finger. Of course I didn't want to think the worst of a person, I mean she didn't look like the kind of girl that would have gotten herself in trouble. So I asked after a husband, and not to sound awful, but hoping to hear she was a widow." She paused here and remained quiet. It took me a moment to realize this was a place where I should have nodded, so I looked up at her and tilted my head just a fraction.
"She's divorced. Can you believe it? Divorced, and she couldn't be that old, I'd say with the age of her son she is around thirty or so. That poor woman is raising a young boy all on her own, and she told me she doesn't even know where that wayward ex-husband of hers is.
"I bet you he up and ran off on her, she is too nice of a lady for it to have been her fault. To think any man could just abandon his wife and son like that. The poor dears, and now they are trying to fix up that old farm. I was just telling Harry last night, I think we should get some of the young ones to go out there and help get it cleaned up. What do you think, Billy?" I set my fork down and wiped my mouth with my napkin. For our small community this sure was some big news, people rarely divorced here. If a couple had problems they just dealt with it quietly in their own homes, not that the entire reservation didn't know about it. Everyone just normally pretended when either of the couple entered a room.
"What do I think? Well Sue, I think everyone should just leave Mrs. Swan-Hunter alone until she asks to do otherwise. She is new here, and she doesn't need her home being descended upon by a group of people, well meaning or not.
"Let her get settled before you bring the welcome wagon out to the farm. Now, I thank you for the meal and the gossip, but I have to get to the shop. Ms. Call will be by soon to pick up her prescription." I set down a couple of dollars, the most that Sue would allow me to pay, and walked to the door. I plucked my hat off the stand, put it on and tipped it to Sue and the others at their tables.
"Good day."
Author's Note: I want to thank Mist, who has taken her time to Beta this for me.
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Twilight or Murphy's Romance.
Bella:
I loaded the last of the boxes in the back of the truck, tying it securely down with the bungee. I slammed the hatch before turning around to stare at the house Danny and I had called home for the past five months.
Ever since the divorce finalized two years ago, we had been traveling from state to state. We would find a farm or ranch and offer our services. The Parsons had kept us on the longest, Mrs. Parson being of the mind that it was unhealthy to keep uprooting my boy. Even though I agreed, it still rankled when she would get on the subject.
The Parson ranch had started to look like home by the time I was contacted by a lawyer three months ago. My father had died, and even though I had believed that he had washed his hands of me I found he had left me what money he had. Things were certainly starting to look up.
I had found a farm house in Washington State, located just outside of a reservation. It had just been in our price range, leaving us just enough to eat on for the next few months. Hopefully by then I would have been able to get a loan in order to buy our animals.
"Come on Danny, we should be heading out before the sun sets." My son, only twelve years old, dragged his bag behind him as he stepped down off the porch. He was a good boy, and it hurt me to know what all of this has done to him. He didn't ask for a good for nothing father and a mother that could barely keep him in clothes.
"Why couldn't we just stay here? Mrs. Parson is real nice and I have just started to make friends in school." The look on his face made my stomach hurt, but I knew that this was the best thing.
"Danny, look honey, I know none of this has been easy on you. Believe me when I tell you that I have never wished this for you, but things are going to change. We finally have our own farm, it will take hard work but it is going to be ok. I promise." Danny lifted his bag over his shoulder and trudged by me without a word. I wished things were different, he deserved better.
The ride was quiet and uneventful. Danny rarely spoke, even when we would stop off at night at a hotel. Once we entered Washington my eyes grew huge. I was mostly used to deserts, this place was green. Very green.
"Well, it sure doesn't look like the picture. When was it taken, do you think?" We were currently leaning against the front of the truck as we took in our new farmhouse. Danny was right, this looked nothing like what we had been expecting.
Most of the grass had been killed out, now only weeds remained. The windows in the house were so dirty you couldn't even tell they were made of glass. The front door had been torn off, and the porch looked like it was barely hanging on. I was not looking forward to seeing what the inside or the barn looked like.
"Ok, well I said it was going to take a lot of hard work. We will just have to work a bit harder than we planned." Not to mention a bit more money. Alright, a lot more. I was going to have to go into town to visit the bank sooner than I had planned.
"Come on, let's see what we can do to make this place look like home." Taking a look back at the bed of my truck I just sighed. What furniture I hadn't sold beforehand, I sold within months of the divorce. Besides the fact that we had no need of them while boarding at a ranch, we needed the cash. During the past two years Danny and I have been living as thriftily as we could. Buying just what we needed and putting the rest of the money away.
I stopped where I stood the moment we opened the door and went inside. No wonder the last owners were eager to sell, and were all too happy to do it over the phone and through the mail and the bank.
"Well Mom, it is a good thing you like hard work, because we sure are going to be doing a lot of it." Danny patted me on the back and went off to explore the house more. I just stood there with wide eyes and my mouth hanging open.
The entire place had more dirt on the inside than it did on the outside. Quite a few spiders had made their home in the corners, and what was left of the walls were caked with grime. To say it was going to take quite a bit of elbow grease and money to fix this place up was an understatement. It might be better to actually level the place and start from scratch.
Taking a deep breath and trying to ignore the smell of mildew in the air, I shut the door and headed off to inspect what else was going to need done.
By the time that we had assessed the damage on the house, barn and chicken house it was growing dark. There were two rooms on the second floor of the house that at least looked livable enough. The glass in the windows weren't cracked, there were no cracks in the ceiling and no holes in the walls. Other than that they were just as dirty as the rest of the house.
Danny griped a bit when I handed him a bucket of water and a sponge and told him to start cleaning. His mouth clamped shut as soon as I said he could sleep in the truck if he wanted.
I wiped my hand across my forehead, I'm sure smearing dirt and who knew what else across it in the process. It was getting rather late and with no food in the house we were going to have to find a restaurant. One with a budget menu.
"I don't think anyone has lived in here since the forties, even then I don't think they ever cleaned it." Danny was leaning against the door frame to my room. His face was covered in dirt, as were his hands and clothes. He looked like a pig that had been rooting around in a mud hole.
"If you've finished cleaning your room, why don't you go out to the truck and get the old army cots? Go ahead and set yours up, we'll get everything else situated tomorrow." He nodded his head and set off outside. I wasn't looking forward to sleeping on the cots, we hadn't had to use them since before the divorce was final.
We had to sell the house in order to be able to eat. I had found a small one room house for rent, and Danny and I crammed ourselves inside on a couple of old cots I had found at the Salvation Army. It was a tough time in our lives, but I was determined to make it for my son's sake. Just as I was now.
We both finished setting up our rooms and cleaned off the best we could. Seems as though I would have to add propane to my shopping list. I didn't fancy cold showers all that much.
We drove into La Push hoping to find some place still open at eight, even if all we found was a convenience store with cold sandwiches. Eventually we found a small diner with their open sign still showing in the simple glass door.
I parked the car and we headed inside. The place was quiet, with only a few people still lingering at the booths. We sat down at the counter and pulled the menu from between two napkin holders and looked it over. Thankfully the meals were reasonably priced.
"Well, I haven't seen you two around before. Tourists?" I lifted my head from the plastic coated menu to come face to face with an older native woman. She was most likely in her early to late fifties with long ink black hair, and a sweet face. She was the type of woman you could easily become comfortable with.
"No, actually we moved into the old farmhouse just a ways from here. Just got in this afternoon, been cleaning all day." The woman smiled and nodded her head. She set down her pencil and wiped off her hand on her apron before she extended it to me.
"So you are the family that bought the old Clark farm? Well it is nice to meet you. I'm Sue Clearwater, the owner of this place." I took her hand and gave it a quick shake. At least so far the people around here seemed nice enough.
"I'm Bella Swan-Hunter, and this is my son Danny." She shook my boy's hand and picked her pencil up to put to her notepad.
"What can I get you two? The grill is off for the night, but we've got some chili left and some hot roast beef. We've got Coke only, and the coffee flows until ten pm for a dollar fifty." I looked over at Danny and he just handed me his menu with a shrug of his shoulders. I closed mine and set the both of them back where I had taken them from.
"Two chilies, a coke for him and coffee for me, thanks." She winked at both of us and went into the kitchen. While waiting for her to return with our dinner I looked around. When I turned my head it was to find that the two of us seemed to be the center of attention. Everyone was either staring straight at us or watching us out of the corner of their eyes. A few were even whispering behind their hands as they threw glances our way.
"I wouldn't worry about them, Honey." The clink of porcelain bowls on the counter announced the arrival of our hostess. I turned back around to be greeted with her friendly smile as she poured my cup of coffee.
"It is not unusual for white folk to come around here, many of the younger ones are friends with the kids in Forks. Even a few of the older generation can be found coming round for fishing. It's just we don't see very many new faces around here.
"Most of the people living here or in Forks were born here, and most of them will die here. I think the last time we got new blood was when the Cullen family moved into Forks back in nineteen sixty-five. People will talk for awhile, but things should die down soon enough." She set a glass filled to the brim with ice and coke down in front of Danny and wiped her hands off once again before she slipped a bit of hair behind her ear.
"I'm not worried. Danny and I are used to being the new ones in town. This would be our…oh let's see, this would be our forth time. Hopefully final too." Sue leaned down on the other side of the counter, a soft smile on her face.
"Sorry if I'm being nosy, but isn't there a Mr. Swan-Hunter?" That was the only problem with small places like this, everyone had to know everyone else's business. Well it was better to get it out now, I found it only ended up worse if it appeared as though I had been hiding it.
"There is, well a Mr. Hunter. Not that I know where he is. We're divorced, it is just Danny and me now." Sue's eyes lit up like I had just told her the secret to life before she caught herself and stood up to straighten out her apron.
"I'm sorry to hear that. It isn't easy raising children period, I bet it is even harder when you are on your own. I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have my Harry to help with mine.
"I have two children, a daughter who is full grown and a son that is not that far behind." I just nodded and ate my chili. Sometimes it was just best to allow them to talk.
Sue cleaned up the counter and tables, waited on the others all the while Danny and I ate. Once finished I pulled opened my purse in order to pay.
"How much do I owe you?" Sue looked at Danny and back at me while she tore the ticket from her pad and crumpled it up.
"Oh, let's say five dollars should do it. If you two have bought the Clark farm you are going to need all the money you have. No one has lived there since Old Farmer Clark died twenty years ago. His son hadn't wanted it and moved to California. No one has heard from him since." I set a five dollar bill down on the counter and closed my purse.
Sue gave a wave as we headed back out to the truck, as did a few of the others in the diner. Even though I was sure that the news of my divorced status would be all around La Push and Forks by tomorrow afternoon, they seemed nice at least. Though only time would tell for sure.
Billy:
One thing could be said about living on a small reservation like La Push, you always had enough free time. I owned the local pharmacy, a small but productive place with a soda shop built inside. My father started it as a project to keep himself busy in his old age.
I had taken over during the last couple of years of his life, and just never left. It was a good way to make a living. Customers came from not only the rez, but Forks as well. I knew them all by name, and they were loyal to shop only at Black's Pharmacy. I never had a customer before eleven on the weekdays and ten on Saturday, allowing me to have my breakfast down at Sue's diner.
The bell on the old glass door of the diner rang out as I opened it up and made my way to my usual booth. Sue's husband, Harry, and I grew up together. We had both met our wives around the same time, even courted them at the same time. We would double date, taking our girls down to the beach for bonfires.
We proposed within months of each other and married not long after. My Sarah was pregnant first, twin girls that I rarely saw now that they had both married and moved away. Sue came next with a daughter I used to tease Harry would be breaking hearts everywhere she turned.
When Sarah gave birth to our son, Jacob, her and Sue would talk for hours about how wonderful it would be if he grew up to eventually marry Leah. Something I wish she had been able to live to see.
Jake had just been two years old when my Sarah had left to visit Sue, only to be hit by a drunk driver. Thankfully she had died instantly, with no pain. Harry and Sue helped out a lot after that, never giving up on me even when I tried to push them away.
I finally woke up after three years, realizing that I still had a young son to care for. Over the years my heart has mended, and I allowed people back into my life. I've watched as both my girls married and even though it hurt to, watched them move away. I stood beside Jake as he vowed his life to Leah Clearwater, and helped him move into his house on the other side of the reservation.
I would always miss my Sarah, but life went on and I was content in mine. I had friends and grandchildren, and my pharmacy.
"The usual Billy?" I set down the menu that I picked up more out of habit than anything, and looked up at Sue. Being a normally happy person by nature it wasn't strange to see her smiling brightly at you, but the wide smile that now spread from ear to ear was rare. It could only be caused by one thing, she had gotten a hold of some new and juicy gossip.
"That would be wonderful, thank you Sue." She leaned over and turned the coffee cup in front of me over and filled it from the pot she had been holding. Every morning was the same here. I would look over the menu even though I already knew what I would be having, she would ask my order though she already knew. She would give me my coffee and leave only to return a few minutes later with a plate of eggs and bacon and a half of fried steak. I would thank her and she would proceed to ask me how I have been. Today though I was sure I was going to be treated to a report from the grapevine. In a place this small even the smallest piece of gossip was like gold.
Sue slid into the bench seat across from me as soon as she set my breakfast on the table. Apparently this was going to be quite juicy. She twiddled her thumbs for a moment and bounced in her seat. I went to take a bite of my eggs, but she was making the table jump along with her.
"Out with it Sue, before you cause my coffee to spill in my lap." Her eyes went wide and she stilled herself immediately. I never did understand why women would lean in and basically whisper something to you that they were just going to go and tell it to everyone she sees afterwards. Sue was no exception to this as she leaned in a bit and kept her voice low.
"So you heard that someone bought the old Clark farm? Well they came in last night. About gave Old Quil a heart attack when they sat down at the counter." I nodded my head and sliced into my steak, there was never a need for me to speak. I learned early on it was best to allow them to flap their mouths and just nod and 'umhm' every now and then.
"I was expecting a man, but wouldn't you know it was a woman. Mrs. Bella Swan-Hunter and her son Danny. They look like the good sort, quiet, clean and well dressed. Mrs. Swan-Hunter said they had been cleaning that place all day, and you know what shape that old farm is in." Sue absently refilled my cup of coffee as she rambled on. Poor Mrs. Swan-Hunter, she probably didn't know what she was getting herself into when she stepped into the door of Sue's diner.
"Well I was surprised when it was just her and her boy, and I didn't see any ring on her finger. Of course I didn't want to think the worst of a person, I mean she didn't look like the kind of girl that would have gotten herself in trouble. So I asked after a husband, and not to sound awful, but hoping to hear she was a widow." She paused here and remained quiet. It took me a moment to realize this was a place where I should have nodded, so I looked up at her and tilted my head just a fraction.
"She's divorced. Can you believe it? Divorced, and she couldn't be that old, I'd say with the age of her son she is around thirty or so. That poor woman is raising a young boy all on her own, and she told me she doesn't even know where that wayward ex-husband of hers is.
"I bet you he up and ran off on her, she is too nice of a lady for it to have been her fault. To think any man could just abandon his wife and son like that. The poor dears, and now they are trying to fix up that old farm. I was just telling Harry last night, I think we should get some of the young ones to go out there and help get it cleaned up. What do you think, Billy?" I set my fork down and wiped my mouth with my napkin. For our small community this sure was some big news, people rarely divorced here. If a couple had problems they just dealt with it quietly in their own homes, not that the entire reservation didn't know about it. Everyone just normally pretended when either of the couple entered a room.
"What do I think? Well Sue, I think everyone should just leave Mrs. Swan-Hunter alone until she asks to do otherwise. She is new here, and she doesn't need her home being descended upon by a group of people, well meaning or not.
"Let her get settled before you bring the welcome wagon out to the farm. Now, I thank you for the meal and the gossip, but I have to get to the shop. Ms. Call will be by soon to pick up her prescription." I set down a couple of dollars, the most that Sue would allow me to pay, and walked to the door. I plucked my hat off the stand, put it on and tipped it to Sue and the others at their tables.
"Good day."
Author's Note: I want to thank Mist, who has taken her time to Beta this for me.
Disclaimer: Nope, I don't own Twilight or Murphy's Romance.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)