***
From atop the lookout’s circling catwalk, Pearl waved and hollered down to me. “Oh, Honey, it’s good to see you. Come on up.” She slipped back into her cab.
I trekked up the winding stairs. The trapdoor was open, and I climbed up inside.
“I’m glad you’re here,” she said.
“Retta went into town and I thought I’d drop by,” I said, a little out of breath from the stairs.
“Well, since you’re here, have a seat. I’ll fix us something to drink.” I slipped off my coat.
She pulled out a pitcher of tea from her icebox and poured two glasses. She glanced down at my gloved hands. “It’s okay, Honey. You don’t have to hide who you were meant to be.”
A blush warmed my face, and I pulled off the gloves, grateful.
Pearl set the drink in front of me, then peeked at the Osborne and took a seat. “I could use a friend. Can you stay for dinner?” She fidgeted with one of the buttons on her blouse and kept glancing out the windows. Finally she got up, peered out the glass, and cranked open one of the small glass window frames. The bottom half pivoted out, while the top half swung into the cab, letting in the sweet mountain air.
“I have to be back early,” I said, concerned about Retta. “What’s wrong?” Pearl seemed a bit agitated. She’d put the ax beside the trapdoor.
Pearl frowned and plopped back onto her seat. “My telephone lines were cut the other day, and my woodpile was set on fire. Poor Pie got so scared, he broke out of his stall and fled to the hills. Took me most of the day to round him back up, and part of the evening to soothe him.”
“Oh, how awful! Who would do that?” I looked at the telephone.
She picked up the receiver and pressed it to her ear, then slammed the handset back down. “Still dead. I’m sure it was Robbie Hardin. I heard Pie making a fuss out there and looked down just in time to see Robbie’s red cap as he slipped off into the woods.” Pearl crossed her legs and kicked one up and down, annoyed. “Had to use that old rusty radio to call R.C. Barely works.” She jerked a thumb over her shoulder to where the radio sat.
“Real sorry, Pearl. What did R.C. say?”
“He thinks Robbie is angry because his cousin didn’t get the job. He said he’d have a word with him. Other than that, unless he caught him, there was little he could do. Same as the sheriff said when R.C. brought him up here.”
“Hardins are rabid mean,” I whispered.
“Why I brought the ax up until I get my .410.” She sighed and stood. “I made a lemon cake. Would you like a slice?”
“Looks delicious, but not today. Retta’s been ailing a bit, and I want to get back home.”
Junia brayed outside. “Ol’ Junia’s tired. Me too. Thanks for the tea.” I pulled the satchel into my lap.
Pearl handed me the newspapers and book she’d borrowed from me, and I stuffed them inside and stood.
“Hold on, Honey, I’ll grab my coat and walk you down. I want to feed Pie his oats and brush him.”
I watched as Pearl lead Pie out of the stall. She rubbed his muzzle and patted his spotted neck, running a loving hand across the silky mane. “Handsome boy, Pie. Such a strong beauty,” she talked sweetly to the horse. I watched Pearl’s worries disappear with each stroke, softening her taut face.
She tied him to the landing and inspected his legs. Pie turned and quickly untied the rope with his mouth and tossed it back at her. Pearl put her hands on her hips and laughed.
Surprised, I clasped a hand across my mouth, giggling. “Oh, Pie, I sure hope you don’t teach Junia this trick.”