Creation Ranch 3

new order

Chapter 3:  She is whose

 

 

When Eli found those he was sent to, Eric and Tom were squaring off in front of the woodpile where it seemed to Eli they worked unceasingly for weeks cutting and splitting the logs for the many fireplaces in the enclosed area, often called the fort where the entire family would winter as it did every winter; the problem was that it was only summer and far too hot for that activity, but the firewood needed to dry you know.  Eli thought he just might hide and see who would win the fight, but his mother, Zoe had sent him, and he would rather sit on a hornets’ nest than upset Zoe.

“I damn well told you to leave her alone she’s got Zola’s cousin’s blood to her and Zola’s my daddy.  So she’s mine,” Tom was not exactly whispering as they circled like two bareknuckle brawlers in the ring in town.  “You’re only here because Zola was so fond of his wife’s uncle and you ain’t even got the name of Havoll to prove you belong here!  D****t!  Leave her alone?” he finished saying and disappointed Eli by sitting on a chopping block instead of swinging at Eric who was not very much kin to  Zola as could be seen; he was definitely not one of the sons.

“I-I know she’s your favorite, Tom,” Eric said standing a split piece of firewood on end and perching on the wobbly seat it made for him.  “Zola adopted me though, because he loved me as a son.  And, you’re wrong Tom I am a son by law!  And I have as much right to her as anyone.  All is fair in love and war you know?”

“You ain’t a Havoll!” Tom suddenly screamed and putting his head down like a bull charged Eric who fell off his stick of firewood before Tom even arrived and lay groaning and giggling in the rest of the sticks he had just split while Tom started to storm off in the direction he assumed Lora had gone after he caught her and Eric smooching minutes earlier.

“She’s the one what should decide, Tom,” Eric giggled, “and what are you going to do if she chooses me?  Tell me that lover boy.  Tell me that!”

Tom almost ran over me as he set out to find Lora, whom people called his favorite sister because it bothered him so much.

“You going to find Lora, ain’t you?” Eli said as he turned and picked up speed next to the human steed.  “You going to give her a piece of your mind, ain’t you?  Ain’t you?”

Tom reached out and put his hand on Eli’s head as they walked  … slower now … in the direction of Lora Havoll’s family cabins, smiling to think where he was going, and changing his mind as to why.

“What are you doing here squirt?” Tom asked.

“Oh, that!  That can wait.”

“Zoe sent you, didn’t she?” Eli squirmed, and Tom continued, “Well?  Spill it kid.”

“She has a special … she said it was a task, but I think she means a lot of work for you involving a lot of travel.”

“No way; I am not leaving Lora alone here with that damn wolf around?  No way, no way … no, way!  He don’t get that lucky … I’ll kill him!” he shouted and changed his direction toward the woodpile again only to find Eric was gone.

“Tom!  Tom!” Eli was yelling over and over again as he almost ran sideways to both keep Tom in view and in hearing range at the same time.

Tom yelled, “What you damn little b*****d!” and hurt Eli’s feelings for it cut deep to be called that.  For that he was; the byproduct of intentional rape.  Eli stopped and began fighting tears and began to leave for Zoe again.

“Look Eli,” Tom said, “I-I didn’t … I can’t help but think on it, you know?”

Tom now kicked a woodchip away from the path someone like Lora might have tripped on.

“It ain’t your fault your daddy is the biggest joke for a man there is, and your mama is … well, Zoe?”

Eli did have tears in his eyes now.

“I still love you, kid” Tom said and flicked his hat off with a quick middle finger on his left hand.

Eli was quick to catch his hat as now they were walking again and Lora’s cabin was in sight, and so was Lora and Tom looked at her proud to be in her life; but no!  How could it be?  Eric had beaten them to Lora’s house and was just then letting an armload of firewood fall to the ground as the couple squared off for a different reason than when Eric had squared off with Tom earlier.

“Hey?” Tom yelled perhaps pretending he couldn’t see they were clearly together.  Then he stopped and stomped his foot as Lora giggled and slipped into Eric’s arms.  A moment later and Eli thought he was going to square off with Eric again when he suddenly scuffed at the ground with his left foot, and picking up a handful of the dirt hurled it in the air in their direction.

Lora took it as a wave and smiling waved back, looking first at Tom back in the woods apiece and then at Eric so close at hand.  Then she smooched Eric, and ran off to Tom, seeing Eli was there, and figuring Zoe had sent him.

Tom’s stormy look did not change as she approached even when she was close enough to see the scowl.  Then when she saw what a mood her activity with Eric had put Tom in, she rushed past him and gave Eli a smooch on the cheek but not on the lips like she had Eric at all.

“I’ll smooch who I damn well please!” she said and then asked Eli, whom she had not turned away from yet, “What does Zoe want?”

Eli smiled, “She wants you … and Tom …” Tom’s look turned to one of surprise as Lora looked back at him.  “To … uh … find Lois’ ma for her to be verified.”  Tom was clearly frustrated, thinking it might take a day at most.  “Lois’ ma is hard to find … she travels … goes by many names … frequents few towns twice … hates Lois …”

“Lois this and Lois that?   What the hell is Lois to Daddy?” Tom complained.

“Deag says she’s only a daughter … outright?” Eli said and cringed thinking he might get slugged.  “Her … um … mother…?  And Zola … after his last wife died … get it?”

Tom yelled at Eli, “Liar!  I know Zola would not do such a thing?”

“Boy have you got a lot to learn,” Lora said.

“Yeah, and what is the difference if I learn it, you’ll still be smooching it up with every guy in Creation and I’ll be watching you from afar,” Tom said as Eric walked by on Tom’s blind side and slapped his hat off into the mud.  Then as Tom bent to pick it out of the mud, cussing as he did, Eric said to him, “I’ll miss you?” as he proceeded to the woodpile for another load assuming the task Zoe had in mind for Tom whom she admired and Lora whom she had designs on herself would be ingenious as always and a way to keep him from his fiancée.  Oh, Lora didn’t know it yet, but she was all Eric’s and Tom knew it too in Eric’s opinion.