Page 93 of On the Land, We Shoot Straight
And that set Cole off: he stood, slamming his chair back. He started pacing as he let Grady have it.
“That there is dumb-ass fuckin’ thinking. I ain’t never understood why they go on and givin’ the farms to the eldest when you’re all so stupid.” He spun back and pointed at Grady. “You don’t try and make it back, that’s how you get in the hole! Just be workin’ what you got! Breakin’ even is good, it’s good!”
Grady sipped his beer and smiled.
“Don’t go on smiling about it!”
“How ’bout I take it under advisement,” Grady said and sprawled back in his chair.
Cole groaned and looked to the ceiling as if asking God for patience. He returned his black eyes to Grady, and gave him a look like he was fucking stupid. “Don’t be takin’ it under advisement, be damn well doin’ it.”
Grady adjusted himself and saw Cole clock the movement. Cole flushed and shook his head helplessly at him. Grady smirked.
“You ain’t cute. I ever tell ya that?”
“Oh yeah.” Grady’s smile widened.
Cole shook his head again, but he came over and straddled Grady’s waist. Grady brought his hands up to tug him close, kiss him soft and slow, and he reckoned this was a better way to spend the afternoon than arguing anyway.
48
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here was enough inthe harvest to run them on the two shifts, and Grady lamented not sleeping together. Cole must’ve felt it too because he rolled his eyes at Grady when Grady came walking out of the house at dusk to take the night shift and Cole was coming back in. Cole smiled at him, sly under the summer sweat and his hair in that bun. He put his hand on Grady’s chest, pushed him until he was walking back and falling down on the couch.
And, all right, Grady thought as Cole got his pants open, this was one way to ensure they got some time.
It happened on a crossover a few days later, Cole heading out at dawn while Grady was coming back in, when they heard a car in the distance. Grady turned to the sound and felt Cole doing the same, felt the morning elation at seeing one another drain away as that sound came closer, came on until Grady could see with perfect clarity the white sedan.
“Well, I’ll be,” Grady said and stood on the porch, Cole frozen a little ways behind him.
“I ain’t—”
Grady glanced at Cole, at the paleness that had taken over his face, the terror, and he wondered how in the hell he hadn’t put it together before.
“You ain’t got nothin’ to worry about is what you ain’t,” Grady said and turned back at the same time as he heard the car door slamming.
“Grady,” Tom said, cheerful in a way that solidified Grady’s rage. And then he was looking right past Grady and smiling so sleazy it was like Grady could feel it sliding under his skin and making him dirty.
“Jesse Cole,” Tom said, smile wide and threatening. “You thought any more on my offer?”
Grady stepped forward, leaned against the post, crossed his ankles and spat.
“Cole,” Grady said.
“Yeah…” Cole’s voice broke. He cleared his throat and said, “Yeah?” again more firmly.
“Why don’t you go on down to the basement and get my granddaddy’s shotgun,” Grady said.
“Yes. Yessir,” Cole said, and Grady heard him opening the door.
Tom raised his palms, smile widening, but there was uncertainty in it now. “Whoa, Grady. We’re all friends here.”
“The shells are sittin’ right by the whiskey,” Grady called.
He could hear Cole belting down the basement stairs and knew he’d heard him.
“What’s that boy been tellin’ you, huh?” Tom gave him anAww shucks, kids? What can you do?look. “’Cause I can set the record straight. What me and that boy had—”
