5

After breakfast was done the boys and I began to head out. I was in a white dress with white sandals and a white summer hat which fit snug on my pinned up curls. Arliss and Jay left in white shirts and brown overalls with muddy boots.

"By mom, bye dad." I called out. Father hadn't left yet to the sheriff so he let us take his car.

"Boys watch your sister now." Dad called out. Mother waved with a smile and we now were outside. We got in the car and drove away. I sat in the back and I didn't mind. It was like I was being driven somewhere like a famous singer.

"So where we gonna go?" Arliss asked. Ray shrugged.

"There's a food storage place that I saw on the way into town. We could go there." he told. Arliss nodded.

"Sounds good…we gotta get Eula a job too." he added. I rolled my eyes.

"I don't need help finding a job." I replied. Ray looked at me through the rear view mirror."

"We want you to have a decent job Eula somewhere we can keep an eye on you so you aren't pestered those Bondurant boys." he explained and I rolled my eyes again. Once we were in town the boys parked the car and told me to stay in. I always felt safe with my brothers when I wasn't with my father. I relied on all the men as a kid. The boys use to walk around with bats whenever they and now they walk around with pistols hidden in their jackets. I was lucky they found me wondering the forest those dark years ago. I watched as Ray spoke to the manager about something. Arliss simply stood there looking intimidating.

The manager already seemed impressed with the size of them because he looked them up and down as he nodded. These two blonde women passed the car and looked at me with a sneer. They were in old dresses, not too fancy like mine, but they looked at me with hate filled blue eyes. I looked down at my lap and then saw a familiar truck driving up beside my car. I tensed hoping it wasn't him, but it wasn't. It was Howard. The truck slowly stopped beside me and I looked up into the driver side of the truck.

"Morning Ms. Eula." he replied. I tensed and kept an almost stuck up pose as I looked forward.

"I'm not a teacher Bondurant I am just an eighteen year old girl. My name is Eula." I replied. His face tensed a bit but he nodded.

"Look Eula I'm sorry for what happened yesterday. I was drunk and I didn't know what I was saying. I love the Negro people here and I sure didn't mean to hurt you or fight your brothers." he replied. Alcohol brings out the truth in some men so I thought being drunk was a poor excuse. I looked up at him.

"Did Forrest send you here?" I asked. He looked at me with confusion on his face.

"No." he replied with a shriveled face.

"Hey asshole!" I heard Ray shout and I tensed and looked over to see my brothers stalking over towards us with anger glued to their faces. Howard looked as if he were trying to stay calm. My brothers moved between the two cars and Arliss looked down at me.

"Is he bothering you?" Arliss asked. I curled my lips and shook my head.

"No I'm fine." I replied. Ray and Howard shot glares at each other.

"You come near my sister again and I will fucking kill you." Ray threatened. Howard frowned.

"Why wait?" he asked starting to shift as if he was going to open his door. I lifted my head.

"Boys please." I replied. The men stopped in their movements and stared at each other. Howard's frown remained on his face.

"You wanna crack at me meet me in front of our bar and we will see who will kill who." he replied and stepped on the gas driving away. Ray's eyes enlarged with rage as he watched the man drive away. If there was one thing Ray would never turn down, it was a challenge and that was a clear challenged smacked against his face.

"Get in the car Arliss." he said with a threatening voice and moved to get in the driver side. My eyes widened.

"What are we doing?" I asked frantically and Arliss jumped in the passenger seat and whooped loudly.

"Yeah let's kick some ass!" he yelled and the car began to speed forward and the motion surprised me that I was pushed back and I placed my palm over my hat.

"Ray don't do this. Dad needs the car." I reminded him. Ray was silent for a second both hands on the wheel and eyes remaining forward.

"This won't take long." he stated. I winced and we began to move faster driving forward until we could see the back of Howard's truck. I almost thought Ray would ram into the back of him but he didn't. I wondered what was going through his head. We were supposed to stay away from them, but we were only moving closer. Forrest would be there I just know it. I saw the bar up ahead and soon both vehicles parked their cars. Arliss jumped out of the car, literally, and Ray smoothly began to open his door and step out. I moved to the left side of the door and Ray looked at me.

"Stay in the car." he demanded and I didn't plan on getting out but I nodded nonetheless. Howard jumped out of his truck and I looked around at the front of the bar to see the youngest, Jack staring in awe at the scene before him. I looked over to the right to see Forrest sitting in a rocking chair sipping something from a mug. Howard took off his jacket as well as Ray. It was like everyone knew they were going to fight because no one moved a muscle. Maggie came out and stood by Jack and I watched as Ray handed his gun and Jacket to Arliss. Once they were out of all their top layered clothes the two began to confront each other fists up and I placed my hands on the top of the door and the two ducked their heads a bit and Howard threw the first punch and Ray leaned back then swung his fist under his other and then came up hitting the other man dead in the chest. Howard wrapped his entire body around Ray now and I was frightened as they threw themselves to the ground.

"Come on Ray." Arliss shouted. I looked up at Forrest who seemed so calm and didn't even move a muscle except for his arm which brought his drink to his lips. His eyes watched the boys then fell on me and I immediately looked away. Howard had Ray on his back and he threw a punch into his side and Ray grunted before punching Howard in the face and rolling the other man over. He threw a punch directly into Howards face and he continued to do this, but Howard came up with a punch to the chest. I gasped and placed my hand over my mouth as Ray fell back on his back but rolled over completely and stood back up. Howard did the same and the two began circling each other yet again and I looked around to see if anyone would stop it. Maggie and Jack stayed near each other and I watched as more punches began to fly at one another and neither was going down.

Violence was stitched into my head and it was something I grew accustomed to seeing but when it was on my own brother it made me almost angry and thoughts of violence moved into my head. I gripped the door tighter and continued to watch. By now blood stained their faces as well as bruises and cuts to their lips and blacks puffiness around their eyes. They were sluggish and panting a lot but neither would go down. Howard through a punch and Ray blocked it before throwing one last punch and it connected with Howards cheek and he fell back onto the ground.

I gasped at the action and I watched as Forrest slowly began to frown. When Howard didn't get up Arliss took this as a sign and moved by Ray. Ray swayed a bit and looked up.

"That goes for all you Bondurants. No one fucks with the Kincaids." he said and looked up at Forrest then down at Howard. "Stay the hell away from my sister or I will kill you."

With that said Arliss moved Ray into the passenger's seat and then got in the driver's side and I looked up at Maggie and Jack who ran to Howard's aid. I felt so bad for Howard for he tried to apologize and ended up getting into a fight and losing for it. The car began to turn around and I looked up at Forrest who was no standing and he looked at me and I continued to look at him as his form grew smaller and smaller. I looked down with a sigh and remained quiet all the way home.