20

Three months had passed and father had let me work again finally. It took me three days to convince him to let me work back at the Bondurants bar again. Of course he had a long talk with Forrest about how my safety was important and how I was his only little girl and that he would end all of them if I was hurt again. I had not seen Brandon since the party three months ago and I was a bit saddened but something told me I would see him again one day. Jack began making more white lightning and selling them and getting more money. He bought a new suit and was going with some woman named Bertha. I met her a few times and she was really nice. I thought of Maggie sometimes and I wished she was here. Jack bought me a nice fur coat and even though my father and brothers didn't like it my mother stood up and protected me by saying "they're just being nice" and "they mean no harm". There were other fights with my brothers and the Bondurant boys as well. Sometimes it was Ray vs. Howard or Howard vs. Arliss or Ray vs. Forrest and Forrest vs. Arliss. They continued to fight and get arrested and nothing seemed to be going right when they were in the same area. When we were alone, Forrest and I would go into the back rooms and make love. We couldn't get enough of each other almost.

Things were pretty well until one hot Saturday. I was working at the bar giving people drinks and food. People seemed to get use to me being around the bar and I felt very thankful for it. After it grew a bit quiet I moved out onto the porch and sat down on a chair and simply leaned back with a yawn.

"Hey Eula." I heard Howard say and I looked up at him. "I have a hole in my shirt can you sow it up for me?" he turned on his side to reveal the whole and I nodded with a smile.

"Sure." I replied. I needed something to do while I baked in the heat. He walked over and began sliding off his jacket and then threw off his shirt and that's when I noticed the well sculpted body the older Bondurant had. I looked away very casually for a second then back at him and he handed me the shirt and I smiled.

"Thanks. Right next to your chair is some needs and stuff." he said with a warm smile and moved back into the bar.

"No problem." I said and lied his shirt down on my lap. It had an alcohol smell to it, but I didn't mind. I hummed and looked up as some men were leaving the bar.

"See ya Eula." one of them said and I waved.

"Bye Jimmy." I replied and continued to sow up the shirt. As the car of the men drove away two cars began to drive up. One I knew was the sheriff's car but the other one looked different. I had never seen it before. I looked back down and continued to sow the shirt. Once the cars stopped the sheriff got out with his deputy, Henry, and then in the back another man got out and he looked dangerous. He wore a grey suit and his hair was gelled back and parted down the middle.

"Forrest! Can you come out here please!" sheriff Pete called out and I heard calm footsteps leaving the bar and Forrest slowly came out and I watched as he moved down the stairs and Jack came out and stood right beside me.

"What can I do for you…sheriff?" Forrest asked in an almost calm tone with a hint of bitterness behind it. The sheriff tipped his hat.

"Just came down to introduce the new special deputy. He's from the city and he came to help us out." he explained. I looked the man over and he seemed to be full of trouble.

"And what help is it that you need?" he asked. I saw the man laugh and turn his nose in a high stuck up fashion and Forrest looked at him with a sort of a stair.

"Something amuse you?" he asked. The man looked at Forrest slowly and grinned.

"My name is Charlie Rakes and I'm from Chicago." he introduced. At that moment my whole body tensed and I inhaled silently at his words. Charlie Rakes. Like most policemen in Chicago, they brutalized and terrorized black people. Jack placed his hand on my shoulder and rubbed over my shoulder blade with his thumb. He began to move towards Forrest whose eyes were on the sheriff but slowly turned to the deputy when the man grew too close. After a second of silence he looked at the sheriff.

"Pete, who the hell is this son of a bitch?" he asked calmly and Deputy Rakes smirked.

"Me? I'm the one who is going to make your life real difficult if you don't tote the line country boy." he said and I saw him place two fingers on Forrest's chest and push him back, yet my love did not move an inch and his eyes looked at the deputy slowly.

"Don't you ever touch me again." he said. By now things looked intense and Jack patted my back.

"Go inside Eula." he whispered and I stood up with Howard's shirt in my hand and moved towards the door.

"You!" I heard Deputy Rakes call out and I paused for a second as well as Jack.

"Um…me?" he asked.

"No…the Negro woman." he stated and I hid my frown and slowly turned to the men and I noticed Forrest's hand began to tighten up into fists.

"Yes sir?" I asked. One thing I didn't need to be taught is when white authority spoke to me I spoke to them with an either sir or ma'am unless they were citizens. The slick haired man smiled.

"Go in there and fetch me a drink of water." he commanded and I tensed now not sure of what to do and Jack looked at me and I nodded and moved inside to look for a cup behind the bar. Howard was in front of me on the other side.

"Eula don't go back out there." he told. I found a cup and looked at Howard as I began to fill it with water from the sink.

"I don't have a choice, Howard." I told and he winced and I turned and moved back out into the hot sun. My hand shook a bit as I slowly moved down the steps and Forrest's head turned to me a bit watching me as I moved. I wasn't sure if he wanted me to get the man water, but he was a white cop and I was a black woman and those two words meant second class with unequal rights. Deputy Rake's eyes scanned over me with a satisfied smirk and once I was near Forrest I stopped and looked down before reaching out and handing the cup to him. He smirked and reached out for the cup, but instead of grabbing for the cup he took my wrist hard in his black gloved hand and I whimpered as I was caught off guard. Forrest now gripped my other wrist now. Deputy Rakes slowly moved my arms towards him, and he placed his lips on the cup and began to take a sip and he drank all of the water and smirked, but did not let me go just yet.

"Your Negro is very obedient, very different from the other black trash here." he commented. I glared now and ripped my hand from him.

"Look who's talking white trash." I hissed and this time he frowned and in seconds Forrest placed his hand on my stomach and moved me back placing himself in front of me.

"You all get off my property." he said and I watched how tensed his body was and it surprised me. Deputy Rakes frowned and then smoothed his hair down before getting back in his car. Sheriff Pete tipped his hat and began to move back into his car with Deputy Henry and once all the cars drove off I finally felt myself breath again. Forrest looked down at me.

"You okay?" he asked. I nodded and tucked some hair behind my head.

"Yeah… I think I need to go home." I replied with nervousness. I just insulted a white man, that resulted in hanging and who knew what the other policemen would do. They'd tell their buddies and that would anger them and I knew that would only result in a lynch mob being formed. Forrest shook his head.

"Stay with me tonight." he said and I looked into his deep brown eyes and knew he really wanted me here. I nodded.

"Okay." I replied and Jack ran over to us.

"Eula are you okay?" he asked. I nodded and Forrest placed his hands around my shoulder.

"Jack run on over to the Kincaid residence and tell old Dohn that Eula is needed for a few extra hours and I'll be bringing her home." he told. Jack nodded and ran over to his nice new car and drove off. I sighed softly and Forrest leaned in and kissed me softly and slowly.

"I didn't think you'd have it in you to insult a white man." he replied. I smiled against his lips.

"I am a Kincaid." I replied with confidence.