Page 26 of Grounded
Beulah felt a big grin stretch across her own face to hear her father’s word’s come out of Annie’s mouth.
Beulah parked the Marquis on Main Street, a few doors down from Duke’s Hardware, her first stop. She was easing herself out of the car, hoping her left knee would cooperate, when she heard her name called out. When she turned, she saw it was Jake, grinning and coming toward her.
He was in blue jeans and a blue collared shirt, setting off the color of his eyes. “When did you get into town?” she asked as he offered his arm. He had fine lines around his eyes that crinkled when he grinned.
“Just a few minutes ago. I’ve got a lunch meeting at the diner with some friends. Where are you headed? I do door-to-door deliveries.”
Beulah laughed. “I’m going right here to Duke’s, so you’ve already delivered me.”
“Mom said Annie’s back. Will she be home this afternoon?”
“Should be working in the garden,” Beulah said.
“Well now. That I would like to see. I’ll stop by a little later,” he said, walking backward for a step or two then turning to cross the street.
He reminded her so much of a young version of his father Charlie, tall with dark hair and a confidence that put everyone at ease.
But he has Evelyn’s blue eyes and some of her soul,Annie thought.
Chapter Eleven
Choke, gas, starter. Annie leaned down and pulled hard on the starter chord. It didn’t start. She pulled again. Nothing. Hands on her hips, Annie stood and tried to think of what to do next. Then she saw a black pickup ease up the drive and stop.
Betty and Joe Gibson got out and Annie met them between the garden and the drive. Betty waved excitedly while Joe trailed behind her.
“Law have mercy, our little Annie here at last!” Betty Gibson pulled Annie into her comfortable folds of flesh.
“It’s good to see you,” Annie said, trying hard to get her breath from Betty’s tight grip. When Betty released her, Annie turned to Joe, who tipped his hat. He was a wiry, little man, the polar opposite of his wife both in appearance and demeanor.
“Child, we are so glad you’re here! I declare, I could nearly pinch myself.”
“You still flying?” Joe asked.
“Not right now, but I’ll start back in a few months.”
“Oh law,” Betty said. “Joe, fetch those pies out of the car, please. I plumb forgot what I came for.”
Joe returned carrying two pie plates, each covered with a kitchen towel.
“Are those your Derby pies?” Annie asked, her mouth watering at the thought.
“Yes.” Betty grinned. “Except we can’t call them Derby pies anymore because of some trademark business. Now we call them Kentucky nut pies, but we all know what they are.” Her full lips outlined perfectly straight, white teeth, and her blue eyes grew big and she leaned in as if to tell a secret.
“We had a pie auction at church last Saturday night, and don’t you know my pies went for fifty dollars each? Course, it was for the youth’s annual mission trip up in the mountains, so it was for a good cause, but I declare, I never heard tell of sellin’ a pie for fifty dollars. Tickled me pink, I must admit.” Betty glanced up to the sky meekly. “Lord forgive me.”
“Come on in,” Annie said. “I’ve got some coffee on.”
“No, no, we have to go,” Betty said. “We’ve got to run to town for some groceries.”
“I’ll get your tiller started for you,” Joe said. “Sometimes it needs a little gas poured on the carburetor.”
In less than a minute, Joe had the motor roaring. He turned it over to her and she yelled her “thanks” above the engine noise. Annie waved and waited until they left before allowing the machine to inch forward by pulling the bar below the handle. She settled it into the row she wanted to till, then pulled the lever to lower the tines. Steadying the machine and trying to direct it in a straight line meant a strong hold on the handles. Great for upper body conditioning, she thought, as she felt the muscles in her arms tighten.
As she guided the machine slowly down the row, black dirt was tossed like a salad behind the twirling tines. It looked so rich and loose, she regretted having to leave her footprints in the soil as she walked over the newly worked dirt.
She released the tines, moved out on the grass, turned and went back into the garden.Release, turn, engage, forward,she thought. It was almost rhythmic, like a familiar song she hadn’t heard in years.Release, turn, engage, forward.It felt good to do something physical, something outside in the sunshine rather than closed up in a fuselage or a tiny apartment.
At the last turn, Annie saw a man walk around the corner of the house. She felt slightly irritated. How did anyone get any work done with neighbors stopping by all the time? She made the turn and ignored the approaching man behind her, determined to finish the row. Before the next turn, she flicked the off switch and let the motor purr to a stop.
