Page 106 of Always to Remember
In the days after the attack, Clay took his meals on the porch—alone—and spent his time walking through the fields of corn stalks, pulling weeds.
He never raised the shutters on the shed. He didn’t talk about his past or the future. He didn’t talk at all unless the twins asked him a question, and then he discouraged them by giving them an abrupt answer.
Sometimes, Lucian would see him staring in the direction of the Warner farm. For long moments, he wouldn’t move. Then he’d look toward the shed, shove his hands into his pockets, bow his head, and begin walking through the fields of growing corn.
Lucian walked along the row of corn until his shadow fell across Clay, who was kneeling beside a corn stalk. “I was thinking, next year we could rent those oxen to help us plow the fields, maybe take in an extra acre or two.”
Clay tugged a weed out of the soil. “Whatever you think is best.” Standing, he removed his hat and squinted against the sunlight. “Once we harvest the crops, I’ll be moving on, so any time you want we can go into town and have the deed to the farm put in your name.”
“What about the monument?”
“It’s served its purpose.”
“What the hell does that mean?”
Clay looked toward the shed. “It was never meant to be more than shadows of a dream.”
“What the hell are you talking about?”
Clay squinted into the distance. “Do you see that?”
Lucian followed his gaze. Black clouds billowed up from the earth. “Looks like smoke.”
“Joe, Josh!” Clay yelled.
The boys stopped hoeing and rushed to his side. “Go to the barn and get some blankets. It looks like Sam Johnson’s field is on fire. Hurry.”
“You’re not gonna help put it out, are you?” Lucian asked.
“How will he make it through the winter if he loses his crop?”
Lucian jerked his hat off his head. “God damn it! Not one of them would come over here and piss on our crops if they were on fire.”
“I can’t help the way they are, but I’ll be damned before I become like them.”
Clay began running across the field. Lucian followed. He was beginning to think his older brother was the most aggravating man he knew.
The twins caught up with them, their faces filled with exuberance. Clay yanked a blanket away from Josh. “Don’t get too close to the fire and don’t breathe in the smoke.”
Against his better judgment, Lucian took the blanket that Joe offered him.
By the time they arrived, neighbors were already pitching in, beating back the fire. Lucian took his place beside his brothers, slapping the blanket against the bright orange flames. In their eagerness, the twins kept getting too close to the fire, and he and Clay continually dragged them back to safety.
Lucian glanced at Clay’s blackened sweaty face. He probably looked as grimy, but he felt good. It had been a long time since he’d felt as though they were a family, united in a cause. He wished now that he had helped Clay with his side of the barn. His past regrets were many. He was determined to have fewer in the future.
The flames before them died a quiet death, and Clay rubbed each boy’s head. “Good job.”
They began walking over the charred field. Sam Johnson was shaking hands with his neighbors and thanking them for their help. He came to an abrupt halt when his eyes fell on Clay. Clay met his gaze.
“Clay, your hand’s bleedin',” Josh said.
Clay glanced at the blood seeping through the bandage. “It’ll be all right. Come on, we need to get home now.”
In long strides, Lucian set out to follow his brothers.
“Lucian?”
Stopping and turning, he stared at Sam. Sam extended his hand. “I wanted to thank you for helping me out here.”
