6

Father was late to see the sheriff because of Ray and Howard's fight. When he got home my brothers and I were sitting on the couch waiting for him. Mom was also there waiting. There was no covering up Ray's wounds and so we just sat down while dad paced around.

"You…got into a fight with a Bondurant. After I specifically told you three not to go anywhere near em!" he shouted. My shoulders tensed and I looked down with guilt.

"Dad it's my fault I drove us there. It was my idea." Ray said looking up at him. Dad stopped and glared at him then looked at Arliss.

"Did you try and stop him?" he asked. Arliss, ashamed by doing nothing simply looked down and shook his head. Dad huffed and paced again.

"You went into battle half cocked boys. Who knows what could've happened. Them boys could've have guns and could've shot you all down and buried your bodies, and we wouldn't even know about it!" he yelled out. I shook lightly and mom came over and touched his shoulders and looked at Ray.

"You put your sister and brother in danger because of a little stupidity. Now…we are all going to wash up and get rested and we'll forget about this." she said. Father looked up and stared at us all.

"As long as you three live under my roof and follow my rules…you will never disobey me again." he said. We nodded.

"Yes father." We mumbled.

"Get the hell out of my sight." he said. Arliss was the first to go and Ray and I followed. Later on that night I showered and spent a few minutes on the front porch. The wind was cool against me and I looked up at the sky. Father was there sitting in a chair smoking.

"Was I too hard on them?" he suddenly asked. I shook my head and smiled looking at him.

"You were being a dad. And they are Kincaids; we run from no one and let no one intimidate us." I informed. He nodded and looked forward.

"I'm proud of them both. They didn't back down from a fight." he said and I smiled happy he wasn't too upset. I enjoyed looking at the stars with my father. It showed almost the soft side of him. A month passed now and things were pretty straight forward however I still did not have a job. It was proving to be difficult to find one. If a white person owned the store I wasn't getting the job. It was a bit depressing and it began to show on my face. The boys were working more everyday so I was left to be on my own. Father had been hunting things and selling them to whoever wanted the animal.

This left mother and I more time to ourselves. Every now and then we'd have a run in with the Bondurant boys. Ray and Arliss must have been keeping father's words in their heads for they did not fight the rival brothers, only glared. Jack proved to be innocent in some ways. After a fishing accident gone wrong he had cut himself about a week ago, on a rock, and was walking by our housing bleeding from the thigh down. I offered help and he refused it, but I insisted and he gave in. That's how we became friends yet it sort of a quiet friendship since our brothers didn't like each other. The sun was hot on this Tuesday afternoon. Father and mother were asleep in their rooms and my brothers were off at work so I took the car and drove around a bit. I was in a light blue dress and matching sandals. I figured I would try and sneak around to see Jack. Up ahead I saw two white figures near a barn. I leaned over a bit and saw it was Jack and his friend Cricket. There were carrying something into their truck and I slowly moved on the side of the road.

"Hey. Jack, what are you two doing?" I called out. Jack looked at me then went 'shhh'. I blinked and my lips thinned into a tight line.

"We are trying to move the whiskey Eula." Cricket told. Jack glared at him now then sighed. I chuckled.

"I knew it you were bootlegging here." I told. So my father was right. They quickly placed the box in the truck then Jack came around to my side and leaned over towards me.

"Eula you can't tell anyone. You it being illegal and all." he said frantically. I chuckled.

"Does your brothers know you're doing this?" I asked. He grinned with confidence.

"Who do you think taught me how to make this stuff? Now please don't tell anyone." he begged. I tilted my head and smiled.

"Hey now just because I'm a Kincaid doesn't mean I'm bad. Your secrets safe with me," I replied then smirked at an idea I had, "If you get me a free drink at your bar."

He smiled now and nodded.

"Sure. We're heading that way anyways." he said and moved to his truck. Cricket smiled bashfully at me before following Jack. Once the truck began to drive off I followed behind them. The sun was blazing down on me and it annoyed me surprisingly. Once we arrived at the bar I got out and looked at Jack who gave me a look. When around other people we pretended to be simply polite to one another. We didn't get too close so our brothers wouldn't find out. I opened the door to see Cricket standing there with his hand out to me. I smiled knowing his intentions.

"Thank you Cricket." I replied and took his hand and he helped me out of the car.

"Anytime." he said. He was a good kid. Jack had already gone inside so I decided to go in now. The place was empty, except for the Bondurants and Maggie. Forrest was in that back room of his and I knew he didn't notice me. Howard saw me and looked a bit stunned. Maggie looked at me with a smile.

"Eula." she called and I noticed Forrest's head lifted in shock. I knew it would be best to avoid him. I moved over to the bar and smiled at Maggie.

"Hey Maggie." I replied. In a second Jack walked past me with a bottle coke and walked off to the back room beside the room Forrest was in. So much for trying to be discreet. Maggie arched a brow and looked at me.

"I haven't seen you in a while. What brings you here?" she asked. I shrugged and opened the glass bottle.

"Boredom. My parents are busy and so are my brothers with their job. I have to do something before I die." I replied.

"Die." I low voice said and I turned and looked to see Forrest standing a few feet away with his mug in his hand and his other hand in his pocket. "You sick?"

I blinked not knowing if I should answer.

"She has nothing to do around the house, Forrest." Maggie answered. Forrest arched a brow and leaned his head back.

"Is that so?" he asked. I felt my breath get caught in my throat and I looked at Maggie.

"I was just saying hi. I'm not staying long." I replied sipping my drink. Maggie looked at Forrest and then at me.

"Eula… how about you work with me here." she stated. I lifted my head in shock now.

"Pardon?" I asked. She nodded with a smile.

"I could always use the extra help. Plus in a few weeks I'll be leaving back to Chicago and someone is going to need to help take care of the Bondurant boys." she explained. I looked down the bar at Howard to see him nodding politely at me and I nodded back then I saw Jack in the door way of the hall with his arms crossed watching us. Then I looked at Forrest who watched me and I tilted my head a bit and deepened my gaze a bit and he soon looked down away from me. I should've denied the offer, but I liked Jack and I wanted to my friend too. I nodded.

"Alright. When do I start?" I asked.

"Get your folks permission first. I don't want your brothers coming down here and getting their asses handed to em over miscommunication." Forrest said. I frowned now and looked at him.

"My brothers, lose a fight to you? I think they proved themselves once before that they aren't intimidated by you." I replied. A small smirk play on his lips now.

"And you? Could you handle a Bondurant boy?" he asked. I tensed at his question and my mind started to drift off back to my dream. I lifted my head at him.

"I can handle you anytime anyplace." I replied with so much strength and confidence but I was immediately shaken up the minute I said it and somehow I knew Forrest saw this. Maggie smiled with delight.

"You'll fit right in here." she said and I turned back to her.

"You sure a Negro working here won't scare away your customers?" I asked.

"Please," Forrest said. "You ain't no Negro." I watched him go back into his room and Maggie handed me another coke.

"Don' to worry you'll be fine. Customers will always come here." she said and smiled. "Be here tomorrow evening around three alright?"

I nodded and picked up both coke bottles.

"Thanks a lot Maggie." I replied. She chuckled.

"No problem hon." she replied. I looked at Jack to see him smiling with happiness. I waved at Howard before leaving and he swayed his glass mug around as if saying good bye.

I left the bar and got in my car hoping my parents would be okay with this. Once I returned home I walked inside and put my cokes away.

"Where were you?" I turned see dad looking at me, the sleep long gone from his eyes. Should I lie to him or tell him the truth. I bit my lip and looked down.

"I was a the Bondurant bar." I replied. I saw his nostrils flare up.

"Why?" he asked steadily. I lifted my head and looked at him.

"I needed a job and they gave me one. You have been getting on to me about not having one so I went out and looked for one and now I found one." I replied. His eyes stayed on me for a while and I could tell he was thinking. Instead he said nothing and walked away. I couldn't tell if he was mad. "I start tomorrow."

"Yeah yeah." he replied and I knew that was his accepting tone. I smiled with happiness but wasn't sure how Arliss and Ray would take the news.