Chapter 6 – Draw
J ared walked the property around the farmhouse, inspecting the yard while removing the debris from the torrential downpour from the storm during the night. The mosquitos would be bad in a day or so if he didn’t take care of the standing pools of water and implement some form of drainage for the deep puddles. A cistern closer to the house would help with the rainwater from the roof, giving it a home and path instead of allowing it to pool into the sunken patches in the yard. A piece of farm equipment would take care of the job, to grade the soil around the home to make drainage beds.
He moved from the yard to the barn and brought out the ladder from the shed. His leg still ached like a son of a biscuit baker from the injury during the tornado, but work needed to get done and he had to earn his keep as well as repay a debt. The truck sat forlornly, reminding him of the number of problems which sat before him and not enough time nor resources to complete any of the tasks before he moved on. First, the ladder wasn’t tall enough to climb to slap a giraffe in the nuts. Second, the wood she had on hand was low grade yellow pine shit, but he needed to patch the holes before more rain came; therefore, he would use what was available.
“This is going to be about as fun as getting a rash on my nut sack during the summer in the jungle,” he mumbled to himself.
He turned to spot Micah Delgado standing watching him. Jared nearly jumped a foot in the air. “Jesus, where did you come from?”
“The house, over there,” Micah said, watching him. “Did I interrupt the morning chit-chat with yourself?”
“I am not chit-chatting with myself; simply thinking out loud,” he said, turning to look at the kid fully.
Jared found himself smiling after reading the tee the kid wore, which boldly stated, everything is bigger in Texas, including my butt .
“That’s some tee,” Jared said.
Micah looked down at it. “It is one of my favorites. I got it from Ms. Lucy down at the Ranch in Texas. She tossed it to me when they were doing the roundup and I was taught to brand cattle. I did not like that activity. I do not wish to do it again. Ever.”
He moved silently, barely breaking an air current, lifting a rope. “I shall tie the ladder to the building, affixing it so it will not give way when I climb. It would also help if you held it while I rig a pulley system.”
“No, I’m not taking the risk of you falling off a ladder, breaking your neck, then your father comes and breaks mine,” Jared said.
“You cannot climb. The right leg, you are favoring it with an injury. This will go much faster if you follow my directions,” Micah explained.
“Your directions?”
“Yes, I live and work on a farm,” he said. “Repairs are a daily way of life.”
Jared watched him secure the ladder with the rope, creating a pulley system. Micah was agile and his knees didn’t creak when he moved, shimmied up the rungs, and hoisted up the wood. He called down to Jared, “Toss up the hammer.”
The hammer went flying, and the kid caught it with one hand. Jared stepped back to see what was happening on the roof as the kid worked with precision, pulling out nails and broken pieces and replaced them with fresh wood. In what seemed like minutes, the hole was no more. Micah called down again, “Do you have the roof tiles?”
“I found a few. I have them here,” Jared said.
“Start sending them up,” Micah replied.
Jared followed his instructions and sent up the tiles using the hoist. Micah hammered and nailed, and soon the patch was complete. He shouted he was coming down. He came down the ladder at the same time a car arrived.
A woman, stunning and impeccably dressed, exited the vehicle. She walked over to Micah, speaking in a low tone and passing a small canvas bag to him. “Wheels up in 90,” she said to him.
She left, disappearing into the landscape as if she were never there. The only proof of Jared actually seeing the woman was the sack in the young man’s hand. Jared pointed at the direction the woman went, which was also in the line of sight of his truck.
“Your truck will need much work,” Micah said. “Were you the drunk and crashed it in the night?”
“No, I wasn’t drunk! A tornado picked it up while I was still in it and dumped me in a field about five miles down the road, hence the injury to my leg,” he said. “And wait a nail hammering minute, who was the woman, and what’s in the bag?”
“Coffee. I prefer to drink our coffee for breakfast,” Micah replied, his eyes going from the banged-up truck to the banged-up driver, “So... you do not live here.”
“I don’t.”
“You like the woman who owns the house?”
“No, I don’t,” Jared replied.
“The other one, she has a man. She is also too much woman for you,” Micah said, almost smiling. “That one, I wouldn’t mind spending an evening in her embrace. She would put a few hairs on my tattoo.”
“Senor, I don’t like that kind of talk about ladies, especially not those ladies,” he said, pausing to process his words. “What do you mean, she has a man? There’s no ring on her finger.”
“Relax, we are having the chit-chat,” Micah said. “Besides, she doesn’t need a ring. Whoever he is has a ring on her heart. The relationship is new, and at times, you can catch the dreamy look in her eyes. He, whoever he is, has made the confession of love to her.”
“Okay, and why am I having this conversation with you before my coffee?”
“We are having the man talk amongst friends,” Micah said, laughing.
“No, the hell we aren’t! What do you mean friends? We aren’t friends,” Jared said.
“You seem as if you could use one. I have none,” Micah said, taking a breather. He used the time to walk to Jared’s truck. He looked back at the man, waiting for him to catch up. He set the coffee on the roof of the truck. He walked around the damaged vehicle, assessing the wreckage. “My brother, the oldest one, made a friend in a professor who lives in North America. The professor has a cousin here in Ohio whom I shall visit relatively soon. It is an odd pairing, my brother and the professor, but it works. This professor is a confidant of my brother, who offers advice and guidance to him.”
Jared squinted at him, feeling nervous about where the conversation was headed. “You need advice and guidance?”
“No, I could use a friend,” Micah said. “You are not what you seem and your eyes give away who and what you are. Men like us can’t talk to simply anyone. There are times I need to talk, and my father will not understand what I desire for my life versus the life we must live. I seek to find, what is the word, ah si , the balance .”
“Son, you’re not going to find any balance until you can sort out what is happening between you and that assistant of yours,” he said softly. “If I can see it, I’m sure your father can as well.”
“Ah, so you do understand without the spelling out,” Micah said.
“I see a lot of things and only understand some,” Jared replied. “Why her as your guard and not a big Norwegian like your brother?”
“I have Asperger’s,” he said. “My father has taught me how to lean into it, use it to my favor, but it only makes me even weirder than being the son of the drug Czar of a country. Other kids don’t want to be around me, for that reason or another; plus, I’m not really a kid, never have been.”
“Maybe what you see in me is a like spirit. I was never truly a kid. We lost our father when I was twelve, and I had to man up, especially with three sisters. Men wanted to prey on my mother, get into the house, and also prey on my sisters. I wasn’t having it,” he said.
“Ah, makes sense, the question of me and my intentions, regarding the protecting of Bria and Ayanna,” Micah stated, nodding his head.
This was as good of a time as any since the young man had opened the door. “Speaking of that, what did you mean they are children in your eyes?”
Micah popped the hood on the truck. He looked at the engine and checked the oil and other fluids. “The engine is good,” he stated.
Jared was intrigued, “do you know a lot about cars and car repair?”
“ Si ,” he said. “My Abuelo, on the farm in Colombia, used Jeeps for the mountainous terrain for coffee since they were much more practical than mules. I recently discovered one in an old barn that I restored for my personal vehicle on the farm. It is old, but the restorative process, made life easier in my head. My father and I spent the time, together, making it operable.”
He dropped to the ground, checking under the vehicle to see if there were structural damages to the chassis. Finding none, he shimmied out from under the truck. Standing, he continued the conversation as if the break gave him space to collect his thoughts. “I was twelve when I learned to pilot my father’s helicopter. At thirteen I could drive anything with a steering wheel, including his yacht. When I was 14, I was assigned a woman who spent three months teaching me how to make love.”
“What?” Jared said, shaking his head as if to clear his hearing.
“I have received a new instructor every three to six months for the past four years. Six months is the longest they are allowed to interact, you know, attachments, lofty ideas, and potential illegitimate children sort of things. Recently, I refused the last one,” he said. “Again, I have no need for a child in my bed.”
“But you want your assistant in your bed?”
“Look who is being crass now, Senor Jared.” Micah said, staring at the man as if he wanted to help him stop breathing. “No, sex is sex. I can achieve the same release of endorphins by taking a life or running five miles. I want a new way forward and am uncertain what it is I see for myself.”
“If I were your friend, my advice would be to take it slow,” Jared said. “Wanting and needing are two different things. You spoke a great deal about colleges, let that be the first step. Decide on where you’re going to school, then iron out the chinks in the armor. I’m also ignoring the taking of a life statement, but I understand what you’re saying.”
“The chinks? I do not know this word,” Micah said.
“Dents in the covering of protection. Smooth out the rough spots with your father and family and hers as well,” he said. “If you choose a college out of South America, you will be taking her with you. Make the choice that will be best for you both.”
Micah stared him deep in the eyes. Jared didn’t flinch. The young Czar in the making gave a head nod. “Nice chat. My plane is departing soon. It was good to spend a night in a bed versus sleeping on that thing...very uncomfortable, and it feels, what is the word, claustrophobic? ”
“You have a plane?”
“I couldn’t bring highly toxic snake venom into the U.S. on Spirit Airlines, Senor Jared,” Micah said, squinting at him for asking a dumb question and walking away. “Good talk. Thank you. Let me deliver and make this coffee before I depart.”
****
I NSIDE THE HOME, LEMON , awake and starting breakfast, nearly jumped a foot in the air when she turned to place the casserole in the oven and found Alita standing in the doorway. She stood silently watching Lemon prepare the food and couldn’t be heard breathing. When the bake went into the oven, she moved away and took a seat at the table.
“Morning, Alita; would you like coffee?” Lemon asked.
“Yes; when it arrives, I shall make,” she said, pausing, taking a seat at the table with Lemon. “Rephrasing. When his coffee arrives, I shall make a pot for us all.”
“Do you often catch yourself and rephrase like that?”
“The order of the verbs in English...you know.”
“I do,” Lemon said. “You were watching me make the food to learn or to ensure I was doing nothing that would hurt your boss?”
“Both,” the girl said.
“You care deeply for him; it is obvious in your actions in his presence,” Lemon said. “Does he know how you feel about him?”
Alita rose from the table. “ La Doctora , you speak on matters which are out of your purview and being none of your concern.”
“Incorrect,” Lemon said, rising as well. “I am a Technician. My role on this planet is to protect young women, whether they are in the employment of a charismatic, rich, young Czar-to-be or just a sleazebag uncle sneaking in the back door while his drunk brother is passed out.”
“You think I need protecting?”
“Yes, from yourself,” Lemon said, grabbing a container of juice from the fridge and bringing it to the table. She took a paring knife and began to peel and core an apple. “We often love with everything in us because sometimes we have nothing else to cling to in the moment. He trusts you with his life, which is major. However, you must think of your life as well.”
“He is my life,” Alita said.
“For how long?”
“What do you mean?”
“Please sit; I shall not harm you,” Lemon said to the young woman. She poured juice and shared the apple slices with the girl. “When he goes to college, you shall go with him correct? You will attend every class, every lab, and conference. However, you won’t get any credit for doing any of it. May I ask, when you graduate from school, will you receive a diploma as well?”
“I shall,” Alita said.
“Then have you put into place that when he attends college, you are enrolled in the classes with him, so you will be in class as a registered student, not just some weird chick watching everyone?” Lemon asked. “Did you work on the synthetic venom with him in the lab?”
“I did,” Alita replied.
“Is your name also on the patent?”
Alita’s one eyebrow went up. Her name was not on the patent, although she had aided in typing the paperwork, maintaining the records, and entering data. The woman had a point; she would be working beside him and coming out with nothing.
“My darling,” Lemon said, “He will soon be engaged. Then he shall marry and I can almost guarantee you that his wife is not going to be okay with a beautiful creature like you sleeping in the same room as her husband when he’s away from home. To make matters worse, you shall share these memories with him since, I assume, you guys to grew up together, leaving her on the outside of the triangle.”
A vehicle arrived in the yard. Lemon rose from the table to see the woman in the car. She was stunning and impeccably dressed, and she handed a canvas bag to Micah Delgado. She uttered a few words to the young man and left.
“Who is that?” Lemon said aloud.
“The flight attendant from the plane,” Alita said. “The Senor gets, what is the word, the squirrelly if he is locked in too long? He does not like sleeping on the plane; it feels claustrophobic to him. We are grateful to you for allowing us to stay in your home last night with your family.”
“You arrived on a plane?”
“ La Doctora , we could not enter your country on the Jet Blue plane carrying toxins,” she said. “Besides, too many people in an airport...the comedown is very hard for him.”
“So, you also help manage his autism?”
“Asperger’s Syndrome. He manages himself,” Alita said. “What that man has accomplished is nothing short of amazing. No one manages Micah Delgado. He is a man of science with focus and precision in all that he does. It is my honor to protect him, guard him from this world, and to be his friend.”
Lemon smiled at the protectiveness of the woman. She imagined the two of them had been through a great deal together. The love the girl had for him was evident. “Understood, but you also deserve someone who loves you back, and if you want a family of your own, in time, versus living on the outskirts of his life, you will need to think about that.”
“You say that with a man you don’t know sitting at your table, living on the outskirts of your life,” Alita said. “I know the man who I sleep near each night. Can you say the same?”
“I’m not certain what you mean?”
“Senor Bane,” Alita said. “He is more than he seems. The inclination in him ...the protectiveness he has over you and those girls...you’ve let the dog inside to warm by the fire. He sleeps in the barn now, but soon, the couch in front of the fire shall be where he ends his days, and then your bed. You can offer all the motherly advice in the world, but as a self-appointed protector of young women, have you placed in the safeguards to protect yourself?”
Lemon fixed her mouth to answer as the back door opened with Micah and Jared entering the home. Her eyes immediately went to Jared, who was also looking at her. The bag of coffee in Micah’s hand was thrust at Alita, who proceeded to make a pot from his special blend of beans from the family farm. No conversation was made as the kitchen filled with the aroma of freshly ground and brewed coffee. The egg bake came from the oven, but both Micah and Alita asked for only a slice of bread and cheese. Helen arrived as the cups were poured, and everyone, at the same time took a sip.
“This is the best coffee I have ever had in my life,” Helen said.
“It is my special blend. I am considering marketing it,” Micah replied, nearly blushing. “I shall take this travel cup and leave the bag with you.”
Briefly, he looked back at Jared, noticing the same thing Alita had. An arched brow was his comment about the situation and to his assistant, he asked, “Alita, are we prepared to depart?”
“We are, Senor,” she replied.
“Bueno, we make haste to the airfield to be home in time for supper. I think Mama is making the chicken I like,” he said, looking about for the girls, who had yet to make an appearance. “Thank you, La Doctora, for the hospitality.”
Micah walked over to Helen who was enjoying the coffee as if manna was melting on her tongue. He bent slightly at the waist, taking her hand and flipping it to kiss the inside of her wrist. “ Gracias , for the meal and attention to my care. I will say, he is a lucky man. Had I more time, I would make him work to hold the honor of your affections,” he said, dropping her hand and giving a quick wink.
“What in the hell?” Helen said, watching him saunter his way to the door.
Micah turned to look back at them all, his gaze going to Jared. “If you can make it work, this will be a very nice family for all involved. I shall be in touch.”
“You don’t have to be,” Jared said, watching the twitch of the young man’s lips.
“When you are settled in here, I shall come back, then we will have more of the man talk,” Micah announced.
“No, we won’t because I won’t be here,” Jared refuted.
“Yeah, right! Alita! We ride,” Micah added with a crooked attempt at a grin as he exited the house.
Lemon, now looking at Jared, asked, “What kind of man talk did you have with him, and what does he mean, making it work and a nice family and when he comes back?”
Helen, finding herself rather uncomfortable, also had questions. “Did that teenage boy...never mind? What did he mean, he is a lucky man? Is he talking about you, Jared?”
Jared didn’t see a need to answer any of it. “The roof is repaired, thanks to Micah. Anyone interested in more of that amazing coffee? He had that stunning woman drive it out for us. I mean, where did she get a car to drive it out, hell, where did they get a car...and how did she...never mind. That dude just leaves us with more questions. But, hey, that coffee is outstanding. His special blend. I wonder if he picked the beans himself and adding in some cocaine leaves when he was cross breeding it in his little lab? Either way, it’s like sipping a cold one with a Busch.”
A sleepy-eyed Bria arrived in the kitchen, looking about for the brooding, but handsome young man. Ayanna appeared moments later, peering around the corner, also searching for Micah. Disappointed by the lack of his testosterone in the space, she asked, “Where is my future husband? Did he leave?”
Lemon was over it all. “Listen, you are no match for that young man, now or even after five years of college life. Calm yourself and go eat breakfast. And you, Mr. Jared, what is next on your list ? repairs to your truck?”
He grimaced a little as a pain shot through his leg. He needed time for it to heal. Jared also needed to do more repairs on the farm. The Sheriff gave him the icks, and the girls needed to know how to do basic self-defense, along with minor repairs about the place. Slowly he spoke, “The yard needs to be graded with all the pools of water; if not, the mosquitoes are going to eat you alive. A small tractor with an attachment would get it done. My truck is going to need tires, but I have to find out if there is more damage to the axles. Tomorrow, I can contact my insurance company and set a course of action.”
Ayanna, not missing a beat, said, “Don't know why you're in such a hurry to run off. We need a man around here to look after things, to look out for us. Too many hunters. We are easy prey.”
Jared sighed deeply. “Any woman who keeps deadly snakes is not prey to anybody. Neither are you. Before I leave, I'll make sure you know some basic self-defense moves and how to do basic repairs if that's okay with Doc Myrtle.”
“It's okay,” Lemon said, thinking about the odd young woman's words. A man was needed around the place. She simply wasn't sure the man needed to be him.