July (The Year of The Change Book 1) (15 page)

Dad and Sue sat at the table and visited with
her
while I finished. Tim and Tam, anxious to be outside, had excused themselves half way through my excess.

I was a little self-conscious as
she
watched me eat. All the while
she
smiled, probably at the memories, sometimes looking as though
she
were far away in thought. Gram used to do the same thing.

She
let out a long breath. “I’d forgotten how much Anne ate. At first Father wouldn’t let her have more food. He would lecture her about the sin of gluttony. Anne was hungry all the time.”
She
shook her head. “She took to going out along the stream beds and ditches and digging wild onions and cattails. She got to where she knew every edible plant in the state.”
She
chuckled sadly as
she
looked to
her
past and exhaled heavily. “Father didn’t understand and felt really bad when he finally listened to Grandmother. By then it was too late.”
She
sighed again before
she
rearranged her face and planted a smile there. “Obviously, Len, you’re much farther ahead of the game than your Grandfather Davis was.”

Uncertainty marred Dad’s face. “Mom convinced me.” He looked away and cleared his throat. “I’m glad she did.” His voice was thick with emotion and I wondered if he missed her as much as I did.

She
smiled. “Even though she loved your father with all her heart, she had a good idea what she missed out on. She told me many times that she would make sure her granddaughter had a better chance than she did.”

The conversation turned sad and I had trouble swallowing. On top of that, there were voices outside and Bandit barked his head off.

Tim poked his head in the side door. “Come on, Sylv, it’s time to move the flock.” His excitement made his statement a demand.

He ducked back out and slammed the door too hard. Dad frowned and Sue looked apologetic.
She
chuckled. After five sons, she must be used to the door being slammed.

Dad put his cup down. "Better get going."

I gobbled the rest of my breakfast and chugged my orange juice, grateful to get away from the sadness in the room. Afraid to be away from protection put a lead brick in stomach. My emotions warred. They did that a lot these days.

After wiping my mouth, I turned to Dad. “Maybe I shouldn’t go.” Though worried, I couldn’t bring myself to beg him to go with me. "Maybe it would be better if I just stayed here and read."

I would’ve gladly settled for staying in the frilly room, reading a book if I didn’t look like a coward to him. The look on his face told me he wanted me out doing normal things. Unfortunately, nothing was normal this year.

Dad turned to
her
. “They aren’t going far, are they?” Concern shaded his question.

“No, they’re just going to the upper pasture.” She turned to me. “You’ll be safe with Jimmy and Rob. I talked to them both and they understand they’re to protect you.”

My eyes went big because trust wasn’t an option with her. “What did you tell them?” I snapped my mouth shut and clenched my jaw. I could just imagine what she might say.

She
stared at me a moment before chuckling. “I told them you are a very sweet girl that most boys are attracted to and that you’re shy and needed to be protected."

Dad cleared his throat. "What about this Rob?"

She smiled contently. "I spoke to Rob this morning while we were alone and he understands and is willing to help.”

She
seemed completely confident in my safety, which meant I shouldn't trust it.

Dad watched me expectantly while I thought. I knew he would be very disappointed if I chickened out. So, did I take a chance or have Dad disappointed in me? I would do anything to please my father. I can do this, I told myself. Knowing I had to look like I could handle this, I relaxed my expression a little. It was expected of me. Dad expected me to be strong and Gram -- who I knew was watching -- would also be disappointed if I failed. Besides, what
she’d
said hadn’t been too bad.

“Okay, I’ll go.”

Dad smiled. It felt good to have his approval. Scary, but good. I looked at my father one more time, hoping he would volunteer to go with me. He didn’t, so I left them to clean up while I faced what could be a lion’s den.

The guys and Tam were sitting on the small patch of grass on the side of the house, laughing as I came out. Everyone but Rob, that is. Though not scowling, he didn’t look happy, either.

Jimmy jumped up. “It’s about time, Sylv.” He teased. “We were beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

Rob unfolded his long tanned body and stood. He stayed behind Jimmy.

My knees trembled at the sight of him.
I can do this
I told myself,
I can do this. Choo, Choo!

I ignored Rob and tried to smile at Jimmy. “Sorry about that. I’m a slow eater.”

The twins giggled behind their hands and I shot them a warning frown.

He didn't seem to notice the twins’ obnoxious behavior as he clapped his hands together. “Alright, let’s get this show on the road. We don’t want to be chasing sheep all day.”

I gasped. "Chasing sheep?" We'd be running after them? Was he insane?

Jimmy laughed. "Hopefully, not too much chasing, as we move them to a new pasture."

I could just imagine us running all over the countryside and wasn't so sure about that.

Bandit bounded up and diverted my thoughts. He insisted on my attention, which I gladly gave him. At best I would have Bandit to protect me … I hoped. I shot a sideways glance at Rob. He stared at me, so I quickly looked down at Bandit, keeping my eyes away from the brooding boy. I wondered if the dog would attack if I ordered him to. With any luck it wouldn't come to that. My luck wasn't very good.

Jimmy cocked his head. “It’s weird to see Bandit wag his tail at you. He usually stays away from strangers. It only took Rob a couple of weeks, it took a month before he’d let me within three yards of him.” Jimmy shook his head still bewildered. "And I had doggie treats."

I shrugged. “Dogs usually like me and Bandit is such a sweet and loving doggie, aren’t you Bandit?” I bent down and took his big shaggy head in my hands and rubbed hard. He panted in appreciation, his bad breath made me wince.

Both boys gawked in disbelief. Personally,               I didn’t see the big deal.

We walked across the gravel drive and through the brown, dried out yard with the giant Walnut tree in the middle. On the far side was an old wooden gate that stood sentinel to the field beyond. Jimmy reminded us twice to never leave the gates open as he shut and latched it behind us.

Just over a small rise, fluffy white blobs grazed nervously and watched our every move. I worried Bandit would take off and scatter the flock. Surprisingly, he stayed by my side, never getting more than a few feet away. I had to admit, it made me feel safer with the big, strong dog at my side.

“You do your thing and we’ll watch.” I stopped the twins and we stood off a short distance.

My brother and sister fidgeted. It took most of my attention to grab and pull them back each time they thought I wasn't looking.

Jimmy and Rob rounded up the flock. It looked a lot like herding cats to me. There had to be an easier way. The twins wanted in on the perceived fun and begged. It didn't look as though they could cause any damage so I let them go. They bounded off with whoops of glee. I stayed put just watching. They didn't need me getting in the way, too.

The frown was gone and Rob whistled while he waved his hands. He was at ease with the flock. I’d intended to only watch him circumspectly. However, I found this side of him very interesting. If I hadn't known it was Rob, I wouldn't have recognized him. Even so, his serene mood didn’t stop the sheep from darting around just out of reach and definitely not in the direction it looked like the boys were trying to get them to go.

Bandit whimpered and looked up at me with soulful eyes. This was his job and he didn’t like being left out. I didn’t understand his reluctance to leave me even after Jimmy called him to help.

“If you want to have fun, don’t let me stop you.” I waved him to go.

He looked at the sheep, then at me before he loped off to help Jimmy with a small group that split off and huddled by the barbed wire fence. Bandit was good. He looked to be doing a better job than the boys. Still the sheep weren’t moving the direction the boys or Bandit wanted. It didn’t seem like they were making any headway at all.

Tam was shooing a small group when she fell in the middle of them. Her group scattered and reassembled before coming to stand around me. I didn’t move for fear of scaring them. Another group scurried over and milled around with the first group. This didn’t bode well.

Jimmy’s group dodged him and Bandit to crowd around the first two groups.

The last of the flock, that Rob and Tim had tried to move, joined the rest of the flock about the time a cute little lamb, which I’d been petting, decided to take a leak on my right foot. The moisture soaked into my tennis shoe and I grimaced. The smell wafted up and my stomach turned.

The boys stopped in frustration and watched the flock cluster tightly around me. Jimmy’s smile never wavered. Rob's brows arched and he scratched his short crop of hair. Everyone shook their heads at the spectacle. I looked down at the flock that had squeezed in so close there was no room to step, so I couldn't get away from the little piddler straddling my foot. Bandit, not sure what to make of the flock's behavior, whimpered and paced beside Jimmy.              

Jimmy grinned at my expression. He didn’t know the real reason behind my chagrin. “I guess dogs aren’t the only animals that like you.” He chuckled.

I lifted my wet foot and shook it. “I guess not.”

A yellow stain covered my white shoe. They laughed at the sight. I didn't think it was funny.

As gently as possible, I pushed through the flock on my way back to the house to wash my shoe and sock. I wonder if soaking my foot in Clorox would be okay.

“I’ll see you guys later.” Hopefully, much later
.

If I had to have an excuse to go back to the house, this was as good as any. The boys whistled and shouted at the sheep as I followed the path towards the house and clean socks. I was halfway over the first hillock, almost to the gate, when Jimmy called to me.

“Sylvia, we need you to stop.”

The urgency of his voice made me pull up short and look back at the others who watched me, or so I thought.

Behind me was the flock that quickly caught up and surrounded me, again. I gawked at the fluffy swarm until I felt warm moisture saturate my other shoe.

“Ah, man.” I groaned as I looked down.

The same flop eared lamb looked up at me with innocent eyes. I lifted my foot and the others burst into laughter. If it hadn’t been so disgusting, it might’ve been funny.

It looked like I would have to stay and help move the sheep. “Which way?” I yelled over the noisy flock.

Bandit hovered on the fringe of the sheep, pacing back and forth. The sheep must not be acting like they usually did and he was at a loss. Confused he sat on his haunches and looked from human to human waiting for someone to tell him what to do. He barked when no one paid attention.

Jimmy motioned for me to follow him. The twins trailed off to the sides where I could see them and make sure they weren't getting in any trouble. Rob took up a position behind the flock. I couldn't see him. All the same, I tried not to let it show how much it made me jumpy. I fought the urge to keep looking over my shoulder -- at the frown I knew was on his face -- to make sure he wasn’t too close.

All the while, I followed Jimmy, the moisture squished in my shoes. What I wanted more than anything in the world at that moment was clean socks and shoes, after I soaked my feet in Clorox. The thought of - I shuddered at the name - of
it
in my shoes made the smell worse in my mind.

Bandit ran around the perimeter, like he usually did, to make sure there were no stragglers. There weren’t any. The whole flock stayed bunched up as though I were a magnet pulling bits of metal along. Even though his actions were redundant, Bandit looked happier on the move.

By the time we reached the dry upper pasture, my shoes were dirt and mud encrusted. The twins held the gate open while Jimmy stood inside the higher pasture and motioned to me. I walked right up to him and the flock gathered around us as Rob closed and latched the gate after the last woolly critter was inside.

Jimmy grinned. “Boy, that was the easiest herding I’ve ever done. Any chance you could stay all summer?”

I shook my head and then one of my shoes. “No way.”

He chuckled and led me over to the gate, shooing the sheep as we went. We climbed over leaving the sheep franticly crowding around the shaky entrance. The little flop eared lamb that had enjoyed marking my shoes clamored at the postern, bleating, desperate to get through. The other, bigger sheep took no heed of the small lamb, knocking it about. It wrenched my heart to see the small animal so unhappy.