I opened the door and leaned against the jamb and inhaled fresh pine air. I would go back to the holler where Mama grew up and my family settled, where my feet were first planted and where I could be away from the law.
It was all I had now.
Seventeen
I had just finished sweeping the floor when Junia bawled several warnings. I swallowed hard, then parted the curtain and dared to peek out Retta’s window. With everything happening, I’d forgotten about my dinner invitation to Pearl.
“Come in.” I opened the door, and we stood there for a long moment, looking at each other but not saying a word, not being able to hide my sadness. Finally, I uttered, “I’m sorry I can’t offer you anything. I’m on my way back to my homestead. Retta passed on Wednesday,” I blurted out, knowing it would be stacking another lie onto our new friendship if she didn’t hear it from me first.
“Oh, I’m sorry, Honey. How dreadful!” She set down the bottle of blackberry wine she’d brought and gave me a small hug.
“This place was sold, and I’m just packing up the last of it.” I looked around the almost empty room, satisfied that Alonzo had managed to get everything but my bed and the table down to his cabin. I folded my quilt and hugged it in my arms along with some of Retta’s old scarves.
“What will you do?” Pearl asked, worried.
“I need to get over to my grandparents’ place for a while.”
“Let me help. There’s a new relief ranger staying over at the base camp for my lookout replacement. He said I could take an extra day off if I wanted. Happy to keep you company,” Pearl said with a comforting smile.
“That would be nice, thanks, Pearl. I could use the company about now.” I was warmed by this new friendship. And I could feel the grief halved and the loneliness lifting from my heavy heart as I squeezed her hand in gratitude.
“I can stay as long as you like,” she offered. “My relief man is at the base and won’t go anywhere till I return.”
“I’d like that. And I remember when the lookouts had to share the tower with their reliefs when they had time off. They finally built the base cab a couple of miles away from you a few years ago.”
“I’m glad no one is sleeping in my bed or going through my things while I’m gone. Had enough of that with whoever broke in. And I think my relief wants to spend extra time with his girl, because when I rode Pie over there to tell him I was leaving, I saw one playing house. Helping him hang his wash on the line. And the man didn’t look like he was in any hurry to leave.” She grinned and lifted the pile from my arms, her charm bracelet tinkling in the shaft of a sunbeam. “Here, Honey, let me carry that.”
I picked up the photograph of Retta and me and stood at the threshold looking around one final time. Pearl came over and softly shut the door. Taking me by the hand, she walked me out into the yard.
Retta’s cat cried and circled me, mewing for her mistress. “You best come with us,” I told Pennie. “You’d only be supper for a fox or coyote if you stay.” After I mounted, Pearl lifted the little cat into my arms. At first, I thought Junia might fuss, but she just shook her head and snorted.
We rode down the path, winding around the trails into the forest, both of us quiet in our thoughts. I inhaled and took a deep breath.
“What was Retta like?” Pearl finally spoke.
I smiled, remembering how much unlike the ol’ woman was from everyone else. “Retta was something else.” I recalled my fond memories, forgetting the sad and troubling ones.
“Mama saved my beautiful layette Retta sewed me,” I told Pearl. “Retta had ordered expensive satin to make my gown and matching jacket and hat. She embroidered it and added lace to all the pieces, even my bloomers. Always dressing me up like I was her dolly.”