On Wednesday night, I drove to my night class. At first I'd gotten flack from my brothers about driving myself. They kept pointing
out that driving with a cast on my right hand would affect my driving ability.
Finally, to solve the issue, Brian went out driving with me, and I was able to prove to him that I could drive just fine.
He, in turn, talked to Crane and Adam, telling them I'd be alright.
So, I set out on Wednesday after supper, although not without directives and admonishments from all of them about how careful
I needed to be, and all of that.
I took a few deep breaths as I drove out of the driveway, feeling free. Free!
I was one of the first ones to arrive in the classroom, and Miss Noel looked up from where she was sitting on the edge of a desk,
talking to another woman in the class.
"Harlie," she said. "Hello."
"Hi," I greeted her, and said hello to the other woman, too.
I found a desk and sat down, and Miss Noel came over to stand beside me.
"How're your injuries?" she asked me, gesturing towards my hand.
"Better," I told her. "I'm getting used to the cast."
She asked me how I'd liked the assigned reading.
We talked for a few minutes, and then when class began, time passed quickly.
It was much later when I realized that she hadn't asked how I'd broken my hand, or asked any other questions.
7
Halfway thru the class time, we took our customary break. I went to get a cup of water, and then stood before the vending machine,
trying to decide whether I should risk a candy bar or not. I remembered that there were some granola bars in my truck.
That was good, I thought. They were sweet, but not as bad for me as a candy bar. I went outside to the parking lot.
I had opened the truck door, and was leaning in, shining a flashlight into the seat, looking for the granola bars. I saw the folded piece
of paper laying in the seat. I grabbed it and a granola bar, and went back inside the school. I wondered if it was a piece of paper that
had gotten left from when I'd driven last, but then I saw the front of it under the lights, where my name was printed, in square, neat letters.
I knew, even before I opened it, who it was from.
7
I should have waited to read it, until after class was over. But I didn't have that kind of restraint.
"Darling Harlie
I enjoyed our time together on Friday. So much! I only regret that you weren't allowed to keep the gifts I brought. And also,
of course, I'm saddened by the lack of restraint your brothers have with anger. I will be traveling a bit to take care of
some important business in the coming week. You can leave a message at the number I gave you, should you need to reach me. I
understand there may be things that are difficult for you to accept, and to understand, but I have faith in the strength of our
relationship, and know that you will see these things to be for the best. For both of us. Talk soon.
Your Aunt Karissa"
I stood there in the hallway, leaning against a locker, feeling stunned. What a weird message. Insulting to my brothers and a little
cryptic at the end. What in the heck did she mean by that? I reread it over again. "I know you will see these things to be for the best. For both of
us." What was that about?
"Harlie?" I heard someone say, and I turned, a little startled.
"Everything alright?" Miss Noel asked, standing in the doorway of the classroom.
"Umm, yeah," I said, stuffing the note into the pocket of my jeans.
"We're getting ready to start class again," she said.
"Okay," I said, and followed her back into the classroom.
I tried to focus, to concentrate during the rest of class time, but my mind kept going over that note.
On the drive home, my thoughts were still on that, and not where they should have been, which was on my driving. I wasn't driving real fast,
either. Maybe a little faster than I should, but still, everything would have been fine, except for the deer. I hit the brakes as soon as I
saw him run in front of me, in the darkness. I ended up cross-ways at the edge of the ditch, and sat there watching as the deer gave me
a look, and then ran off into the woods.
I tried to get my bearings, relieved that I hadn't hit the deer. Or a tree. Still, I felt panicked. I put the truck in reverse, trying to back
up, but the wheels just spun. I tried several more times, but nothing happened, except the sound of rocks being throw by the tires.
I got out, using my flashlight to look at the back tires. I wasn't stuck, I didn't think. I just needed some traction.
I was debating what to do. I was about two miles or so from home. I could walk to the house, and get help. I sighed. I
didn't see any other choice. I turned on my flashers, so my truck wouldn't be hit by anybody that happened by. I grabbed my wallet
and started walking. I hadn't gone far, maybe a half-mile or so, when an oncoming vehicle's lights approached.
Living in the country like we do, and as close to home as I was, I felt no real concern or worry about danger. Still, it would be dumb
to advertise the fact that a girl was out walking a country road in the pitch-dark alone. So, I switched off my flashlight, and stepped down
into the ditch, waiting for the vehicle to pass by. The truck slowed down as it got closer, and I felt my stomach jump in nerves, thinking I
might need to run, if it was a stranger.
The headlights shone in my eyes, and then the truck stopped. When I heard a familiar voice, I sighed in relief.
"Harlie? Is that you?"
Brian.
I came up out of the ditch, and to his open passenger window.
"Yeah," I said, a little breathless.
"What are you doin'?" Brian demanded, getting out of the truck, and coming around to meet me. He took hold of my arm. "Are you hurt?"
"No, I'm fine," I assured him.
"What happened? Flat tire?"
"There was a deer," I began, and Brian looked concerned in the light of the headlights.
"I didn't hit it," I hastened to explain. "I was able to stop in time. It ran off."
"Why you walkin' then?"
"I need some traction or something. I hit a soft spot. The tires won't move."
"Okay. Get in," he told me, and after we were both in the dark cab of the old truck, he asked again, "You sure you're alright?"
"Yeah. I'm sure."
"How far?"
"About another half-mile or so," I told him. "I left the flashers on."
"That's good. So, are you stuck or what?" he asked.
"I don't think I'm stuck. I think I just need some traction."
When we got to where I'd left my truck parked, Brian pulled over to the opposite side of the road, and parked, turning on his own flashers.
Brian went to look at the rear tires, and then went to grab a shovel from the back of the ranch truck, and began to scrape away
at the grass and gravel miring down the tires.
"Yeah, you're in a soft spot," he told me. "Get in, and let's see what happens. I'm gonna get around front, and you
put it in reverse and then put it to the floor, while I push. Alright?"
"Okay," I said, climbing in.
"Wait a minute," he said, getting in a position in front of the truck. "Now make sure you put it in reverse," he called out to me. "I don't
feel like bein' ran over today."
"Funny!" I called back at him, putting the truck into reverse, and keeping my foot on the brake.
"Alright. Count of three, and then you gun it," Brian called.
"Okay!"
"One, two, three!" he hollered, and I pressed the accelerator to the floor, as Brian pushed from the front. It felt as though to me
I was moving a little, but mostly I guess that was from Brian pushing and rocking the truck.
"Hold on!" he yelled, and I pressed on the brake.
He left his position, and went around to the back, where he scraped some more grass and gravel away from the tires.
Once he was back around front again, his shoulder against the front of the truck, ready to push, he called out, "Go!"
This time, I was able to back out, onto the road. I put the truck in neutral, and Brian came to my open driver's window.
"Alright, I think you're good to go," he said.
"Thanks," I told him. "Did you get really muddy?"
"I don't know," Brian said. "Not too bad, I don't think."
"Where were you going?" I asked.
"Just running an errand real quick."
I gave him a curious look. "It's late for an errand," I offered.
"Yeah, it is, Miss Nosy," Brian said. "See if you can make it all the way home without a problem this time, alright?"
"Funny, funny," I mumbled.
"Okay. See you after a bit."
We said goodbye, and Brian walked back over to the ranch truck, and I drove the short distance home.
Adam and Hannah were sitting on the couch, close together, and holding hands. Clare was sitting in the recliner opposite of them,
looking pale and washed out.
I said hi to all of them, and then went ahead and told Adam what had happened. He didn't say anything at first. He just looked
thoughtful, and said, "Hmm."
"I'm glad you didn't hit the deer," Hannah said, sounding relieved.
"Me, too," I said. Adam still hadn't said much, so I added, "I wasn't driving fast," in defense.
"The deer are everywhere," Hannah said, helpfully, in support.
"You're alright?" Adam asked me. "Didn't hit the dashboard or anything?"
"No. I'm fine."
"How was class?" he asked then.
"Good. I've got a lot of assigned reading to do." I gave a look around, wondering where Crane and Guthrie and Evan were. "Where is
everybody?"
"Evan and Crane are out somewhere, and Guthrie's in the shower," Hannah said.
"You'd better be gettin' to bed," Adam said. "It's gettin' late."
"Okay." I stopped beside the chair that Clare was sitting in. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"
"I'm okay. Just wiped out from my shift at the hospital," Clare said, with a wan smile.
I nodded, and told them all goodnight.
When I went upstairs, I paused at the bathroom door, where I could still hear the water from the shower running.
I pounded on the door. "Guthrie!"
"What?" he yelled back.
"Turn off the water quick! Quick! Hurry!" I called, trying to sound urgent.
I heard the water shut off, and a moment or two later, Guthrie stuck his head out the bathroom door, his hair dripping.
"What's wrong?" he asked, and I smiled serenely.
"Nothing. Just wanted to say hello," I said, and stepped back as he made a grab for me.
"I'm gonna kill ya," he threatened, glowering at me.
"Oooo," I said, pretending to shake in fear. Guthrie promptly shut the door with a slam, and I laughed, and went back towards my
bedroom.
I got into my pajamas, figuring that I would take a shower in the morning, since Guthrie had likely used up all the hot water anyway.
Besides that, I was tired.
I was doing a few minutes of reading before going to sleep, when there was a knock on the door. An impatient knock.
"Enter!" I called out, fairly certain of who it was knocking.
Guthrie entered, wearing a t-shirt and sweatpants, barefoot, and with his hair still dripping slightly.
"What's the idea, funny girl?" he demanded.
I grinned at him. "I couldn't resist."
Guthrie waved a hand at me. "I'm goin' to bed."
"Wait. I want to show you something."
"What?" he asked, coming closer to my bed.
I reached over on my nightstand to pick up the note that Karissa had left me. I handed it to him, and he read over it, his
eyebrows raising a little.
"She left it in my truck while I was inside at class," I told him.
"Wow." Guthrie sat down on the edge of my bed. "What does this stuff she wrote mean? It sounds weird."
"I don't know. I've been trying to figure it out."
"I'm beginning to think she's near impossible to figure out," Guthrie said.
"It's probably nothing," I said. "I just wanted to show it to you."
"Yeah." Guthrie looked over the note again. "Probably more of her nonsense."
He handed it back to me, and I pulled open the nightstand drawer, and dropped it in.
"You think you should show it to Adam?" Guthrie asked.
I hesitated. "I don't think I really need to. He'll just get mad. And like you said, it's probably just more of her theatrics."
"Well. Okay," Guthrie said. "But if she leaves you another one that says more stuff like this, then you should show 'em."
"I will."
"I'm beat," Guthrie said, standing up. "I'll see you in the mornin'."
"Okay. Night, Guth."
"Night, hyena."
7
