.....................................................................................................CHAPTER TWENTY...........................................................................................
The horse was a once beautiful white horse. He name had slipped Buttercup's mind.
Buttercup had watched on the porch in sheer horror as Calvin carried the carcass from the barn in a black bag.
The horses from inside the barn were going wild.
Probably in grieve, Buttercup thought.
When Calvin dragged the horse far out in the field, buttercup went back inside to talk to her aunt about what she knew.
"What's Calvin doing?"
"He's going to bury her." Sophie said quietly from the kitchen counter. She was making breakfast. "We can't have vultures or coyotes pickin' up her scent."
"Do you know what happened to her?" buttercup was afraid of the answer.
"Coyotes probably. Something attacked her but whatever it was, they left the rest of the horses alive. I had Calvin check all the stalls. He said none had a single scratch or hair out of place. They were all frightened though." She looked out the window watching the small speck of Calvin as he dug. "He'll be out there all day digging that grave." She sighed. "He was so pale. I don't think he's even seen a dead animal before in his life."
Buttercup pulled out a chair by the table and sat down. All of the thoughts she had of Calvin last night were replaced from anger and her embarrassment to pity and sympathy. "It must have been frightening to find her. Was he close to the horses?"
"He's been taking care of them for a year now. It wasn't his favorite but it was enough to hurt him inside. I'll be done with breakfast in a moment. Could you take out his breakfast to him?"
"I will."
Butch sat on the bed waiting for Buttercup and looking at his hands, still trying to remember. He had looked out his window and seen Calvin drag the dead animal to the field.
Butch couldn't have killed the horse. He wouldn't believe it.
He lay back on his bed and looked at the ceiling, sighing.
Butch had never killed anything before. Bugs don't count. Hope doesn't count…Taking a life…it was new to him; even an animal's life. He would never have killed an animal or person…but then why did he feel so responsible?
Butch rolled onto his side, clutching his stomach and closed his eyes, trying to think of something else.
Calvin pushed the shovel into the earth and grunted as he pulled it out, dropping the soil to the growing pile next to him.
He's knees ached as he held his stance and pushed the shovel in again. Last night he had bandages the cuts on his knees and the bruise on his eye wasn't as bad today. It was hardly a bruise to begin with but the sting still seemed to remain.
He looked over at the carcass not far from him. The dead smell was wafting over and his nose twitched.
Her name was Beauty and she was the last horse that let him pet her. She was shy but that seemed to have made her more beautiful.
Calvin sighed and went back to digging.
He had wiped the blood from his hands onto his shirt but some blood on his forearms dried and became sticky from the heat.
As he pulled out the next heap of dirt, he turned away again and this time to the house.
'If you try and hurt her, I'll rip your heart out'
Calvin thought about Butch and his threats. He looked at the guest window and saw movement.
He didn't noticed Buttercup until she said his name.
"Calvin?"
Calvin turned from the window to Buttercup who was holding a plate of eggs and bacon.
"Buttercup."
She held the food out to him. "Take a break and eat some breakfast." She soothed and Calvin hesitated before dropping the shovel and walking over.
He took the plate, never looking away from her.
She wouldn't return his gaze.
"…You must be upset with me." He said, holding the plate but not engaging with it.
She shook her head slowly. She wasn't upset. She was embarrassed and disturbed. Two thoughts colliding but standing in front of Calvin the embarrassment rose. She would feel disturbed when she brought Butch's breakfast.
"I was going to—"
"You don't have to give me excuses about last night. I understand." She interrupted but he put up his hand to stop her.
"No, I was going to come by and talk to you last night. I was. I didn't want to leave you behind but…there was…sort of a crisis I had to deal with first."
"Crisis?"
"My cousin, Jackie. She told me something last night and, well, I couldn't bring you anymore…I had something else to do but I really, really wanted you to come…I'm sorry. I tried to come and talk to you after I spoke with Jackie but—" He stopped. But Butch stopped him first. Could he say that too her?
"What?" She asked, curious. She was relieved but Butch flashed across her mind. Butch had smelled like BBQ last night. He must have confronted Calvin, she assumed.
"I ran into someone who stalled me a big longer than I had planned." Calvin said. "By the time I got onto the road it was too late to come and see you."
Buttercup looked down. "I understand now." She looked up again. "I'm sorry I thought you stood me up. I should have known you would have a good reason."
"I had a good reason but I should have stopped by your place first. I was just so caught up with my cousin that—"
"It's okay." Buttercup smiled. "Maybe we can hang out another time?"
Calvin stared at her then smiled softly. "I'd like that."
Butch glared out his window at Buttercup and Calvin.
He wondered what they were talking about and he hoped Calvin wouldn't tell Buttercup about his threatening.
Butch turned away and sat on the bed, waiting.