Part 8

I cleaned up the house, making sure everything was tidied up. I was glad I was alone for I needed some time to think of what happened last night. I never really thought about my first time. Like most colored women it would be with your husband or you were a harlot for sleeping with someone before marriage. My hands squeezed the broom handle in thought as I swept the porch. I slept with a man who wasn't my husband and I had promised Miles I wouldn't take interest in anyone while he was away. But then again he was still in town which made things worse. He wasn't headed back to school for another week. Oh I felt so horrible, but thinking back to last night, felt so… magical. The look in Howard's eyes as he looked at me made me feel claimed and I liked it. I closed my eyes remembering the firm thrusts, his grunts in my ear. They made me shiver- hell it made me shiver now.

I familiar car was pulling up into the driveway. It was Sheriff Hodges and his deputies, Richards and Abshire. I tensed and watched them get out of their car. Sheriff Hodges approached me removing his hat.

"Morning, Velvet." he replied with a smile. I smiled and nodded respectfully at all of them. Colored folk always abided by the laws. Besides most of the law came from our side of town. From the eyes of the families on the hills, we were all trash to them.

"Hello Sheriff Hodges, deputies." I replied to them and stepped down off the porch so they didn't have to look up at me. "Is everything alright?" The sheriff gave a look of concern.

"We're just going through town letting everyone know there was a colored convict who escaped off a chain gang who was driving through here to the other side of the county, a Willie Mason? Violent man, killed three people. Just wanted to know if you've seen anyone suspicious around here not friend or kin? He'd have a scar over his left eye." I looked up in thought meanwhile his deputies strolled leisurely around both sides of the house, clearly to try and see inside somehow.

"No sir. I've been tending to the house all day… should I shoot him if I see him here?" I asked worriedly, and he raised his head waving his hand some at me.

"If you see him, you just wound him and call us. We'll handle him. I've already talked to yo daddy so he's aware. You just be safe 'round here by yourself." he informed. I nodded.

"Yes sir." I replied watching him fan himself.

"Another thing, some of the homes on the hills is looking for some help around the house. I know you ain't going to school and will be trying to make some money. Heard hard times will be falling on many people. Anyways if you're interested I can put in a word for you for some to the families." he said. So they needed a maid. I never really thought about having a job. I've mostly helped out around the house and daddy made money from his farm. Maybe I should talk to him about it when he comes home. But then again, he's trying to marry me off so why even discuss it with him. But I didn't want to discuss it with Miles either. Did he want a working wife? Not many wives around here worked. I bit my lip and nodded faking gratitude.

"Yes thank you, sheriff for looking out for me." I replied and he smiled, obviously proud of himself.

"No trouble at all." he said. His deputies moved back to the front of the house, Deputy Abshire just shaking his head to the sheriff who nodded and then smiled at me.

"You take care Velvet. Remember just wound if he comes 'round here." he said. I nodded obediently.

"Yes sir." I replied and just like that the law was gone, taking off down the road. I took a few even breaths before moving back inside. Once that work was done, I knew I needed to get a few items from the station. I didn't really go into town a lot alone. A lot of people looked down on a colored who could drive, a main reason I walked a lot, but a woman walking around here too much, someone could take notice. But Forrest's station brings in many goods for our people so we could go to him and pay him for some stuff we needed. He didn't seem to mind and the walk was only a few miles from this house should I choose to walk. But I didn't mind driving this time.

I put on a faded red dress and pulled my hair back. I slid on some black boots and grabbed my keys and headed out the door. I couldn't stop the smile from spreading across my face at the thought of possibly seeing Howard there. Lord what is that man doing to me already? I arrived at The Bondurant station and got out. Forrest was sitting in the front as usual sipping from something in a brown mug. He looked at me with his usual stare of disinterest.

"Hi Forrest." I replied stepping out of my car. He gave a low hum. "I was wondering if I could buy a few things from you, some vegetables mostly." He nodded slowly.

"Is that the only reason why you're here?" he asked. Now I felt flushed in my cheeks but I nodded.

"And some meat." I replied. He peered down at me.

"Hmm. Maggie will ring you up inside." he replied simply and just looked on. I smiled and nodded my thanks moving up the stairs and walking in through the front door. It was quiet as usual, a few eyes on me, but other than that no problem. Maggie was wiping down the bar when she saw me, her eyes genuinely sparkling and her smile matched it.

"Velvet!" she replied happily and I smiled walking over to her.

"Hi, Maggie." I replied.

"What brings you here?" she asked almost mischievously. I blinked rapidly noticing it.

"Oh I was just here to get some vegetables for the house, some corn, tomatoes and green beans." I replied. She nodded.

"Of course. They keep that stocked in the barn in the back. Howard's doing some inventory I am sure he wouldn't mind helping you." she told. I wasn't dumb, I got the feeling she knew about us, but I wasn't about to verbally say it out loud. Not while there were strangers around.

"Thank you." I replied before moving through the back rooms and out the back door. I saw the familiar brown barn in the back with a crudely made sign that just said market. The door was open so I walked on by looking around to see if anyone was around.

I entered the barn now looking around to see rows of shelves with different vegetables on one side and some fruit on the other. No one else was in here. I looked around some more.

"Howard?" I asked. Suddenly I hear a growl as arms wrap around me from behind and I jumped, yelping some as I jump forward and turn to see Howard throwing back a laugh. "Oh! You scared me to death!" I started to hit on his chest and in response, aside from his continued laughter, he just moved into me wrapping his arms around me holding me still.

"Sorry." he teased before leaning down and planting a big kiss on my lips. I moaned in reply as he dipped me down some. "I missed you." I blinked rapidly.

"You just saw me this morning." I replied smiling some once more feeling at ease from his arms around me.

"Still." he said leaning back up and placing his hands on his hips. "What are you here for?"

"Need some vegetables." I replied and he nodded.

"What do you need?" he asked. I looked around the rows some more and pointed to everything I needed. He grabbed two paper bags and filled them up. I reached into my dress pocket and pulled out a few one dollars. Howard winced and lightly pushed my hand back to my chest.

"It's on me." he said with a smile and I shook my head.

"Howard I couldn't possibly do that. You've taken my money before." I replied.

"Yeah but before you weren't my girl." he said with a smirk and I tried to push my hand back to him, and he just pushed it back. We showed the disagreement in our eyes as we did this for a few seconds. Now he balled his hand over mine. "Velvet." The mild sternness in his voice made me shiver now and I just nodded.

"Fine. But I don't want special treatment, I don't mind paying you for our stuff." I replied. He nodded.

"Next time I will charge you if that's what you want." he said. I nodded.

"It is." I replied and he grinned.

"Girl I love it when you take charge." he said leaning down to kiss me.

"Excuse me!" someone called from outside the barn. Immediately we stepped away from each other as an old white couple came in.

"Came to buy some fruit from ya!" the woman said loudly. Immediately they eyed me and I could tell they did not like me under the same roof as them. I looked at Howard and smile.

"Thank you." I replied and moved toward the door. The couple was in the way, and I could tell they didn't plan to move, so I just walked through the other barn door. Cricket was limping from the back. He seemed to be in a rush.

"Velvet, I was trying to find you. Maggie said I could find you here." he said.

"What is it, Cricket?" I asked.

"Both of your back tires flattened while you were back here." he said. I winced.

"Oh no." I said and hurried to move to the front fo the station. Cricket followed and he was right, both my tires were flat. I observed them trying to figure out my next plan.

"Shit. How can I fix them?" I asked Cricket. He winced.

"You'll need to replace them. I can do em for you. It's the least I could do for you bringing the pies." he said. I looked him over with a sweet smile.

"Thank you Cricket, how much would I owe you?" I asked.

"Fifteen dollars? I usually charge thirty." he said with a goofy smile. I smiled more at him and nodded.

"Fifteen is fine." I replied and we both shook on it. I did my best to drive my car into the repair shop, Cricket had next to the station.

"It'll be ready in a few days." he said. I nodded and looked out to the road ahead.

"Well I guess I should be getting on then." I replied. Howard was coming around the barn when he saw us and approached us.

"You leaving?" he asked glancing at my car. I nodded.

"Yes. Was just about to start walking." I replied. His eyes pierced down at me.

"What's wrong with your car?" he asked.

"Flat tires both of them." I replied motioning to the back of my car. "It'll be here while it's getting fixed." He didn't seem to like my words.

"You don't need to walk. That convict that escaped that chain gang is out there and could be hiding anywhere. You can ride with us." he said. Just as he spoke, Jack was pulling their truck around. Forrest was getting up and moving toward his side the truck and already Howard was leading me toward it. Usually when they were all together they were up to no good.

"What are ya'll about to do?" I asked looking up at him and he smirked.

"Just bootlegger stuff." he said moving to Forrest's window and banging on it once making Forrest eye him with a frown as he rolled the window down. "Hey Velvet needs a ride home. Now I figure with that convict out there, she's safer with us. How about we be good Samaritans and give her a ride home?" As he said this, he just took my bags and held them out to him. The bags didn't hit Forrest but he definitely made him lean his head back from them. Jack looked down hiding his laugh. Forrest grumbled some before snatching the bags and sitting them between he and Jack.

Howard patted his younger brother's shoulder and I smiled.

"Thanks, Forrest." I replied as Howard just guided me to the back of his truck. With two large steps he was inside the truck. He reached out for my hands and once I took them he just hoisted me up inside like I weight little to nothing. He closed the back up and we both moved over to the hood of his car. I thought he would sit down, but he didn't. The truck began to move and I gasped at the movement holding on to him. He just laughed and placed his hands on either side of the top fo the hood with me between his arms, meaning his body was all pressed up to my back. I was nervous at first, but maybe any wise person would see it was just to make sure I didn't fall as the truck kept speed.

Howard road in the back many times, I knew that from seeing him when their truck would pass me on the road I walked on. My body rocked back a bit against him as the wind hit us both. It was… nice to feel this. He was the wall that held me in place, his arms making sure I didn't fall. No one was on the road, and no one had the eyes of God to see Howard sneak kisses to my cheek. At first I thought about telling him to stop, but his brother's didn't see us. No one saw us. Leaves fell atop of the truck sticking to my hair as the wind blew them right at us. I slowly turned my body halfway to him and we smiled at each other before leaning in to share the passionate kiss that was interrupted in his barn.

As the truck went on, we noticed another white truck on our side of the road. Three men in white shirts tucked into fancy pants were waving us down to pull over. The truck began to slow down, it was clear they were the law. Their fancy hats said so. Howard and I looked at each other and he made no move to separate from me until the truck stopped. There was no alcohol in the back which was good. So what did these guys want?