ONE

When a bull comes runnin' towards you, you are supposed to jump right outta the way and avoid it like the plague. The last thing you need in your belly before dinner time is a horn. Gauging you out relentlessly. A terrible way to die.

"What do you think you're doin'?!" I drop my barrels and run to the fence.

My best friend since before I could even walk, Gaven Draper, otherwise known as, Oukonunaka, is who I'm talkin' too. Gaven is his Christian name. Everybody calls him by it since his real name is too hard for most to pronounce. It ain't hard when you put your mind to it, more bothersome than anything.

He turns his head in my direction. "Hey, Gracie Belle!" he flashes a big white smile at me. All innocent as if he isn't seconds away from bein' disembowelled. "How's your morning?"

"Don't, say 'hey'!" I scold. "Get outta there, you idiot!" I go under the beam and stand far away.

He makes loud hooting sounds before hoppin' just outta the way. The bull is still runnin', but his eyes are on me now since he ain't gotta turn to take me down.

I yelp and turn on my heel to climb back over the fence. Halfway there before I swear I can feel the hot breath of the monster on my back.

"Gracie!" I'm tackled from behind and Gaven and I both hit the ground hard as all hell.

With him laughing in my ear hysterically, I slap at his arms until he lets me go. That way I can get to my feet and kick him as hard as I can.

"What is wrong with you, boy?" I huff and pout at his carelessness.

Slapping the ground and shakin' his head like a wild animal, his eyes meet mine.

"Gracie," he stands and darts to pick up my barrel, coming back to put it right back in my hand. "It was not my fault this time. I promise." the first thing that catches my eye are his own. That strange blue.

I smile, not able to be mad at him for long. "You are an animal, Gaven Draper. Doesn't your mama always tell you not to bother these bulls?" I go to the bull, fuming with his eyes on my friend. He bucks a bit when I reach to touch him, but he settles down and nuzzles my palm. "These poor things don't want to be messed with."

"All I want is to get them to like me as much as they like you." he admits, rubbin' his neck with his free hand.

"Is it not enough that I like you?" I kiss the bull and snatch away my barrel. "And your mama likes you? And your daddy and your sister. Your whole tribe likes you, even the Lil' Ol' babies." I remind him of how important he is all the time. It don't ever seem to stick though.

He laughs under his breath. "If you like me, I don't need anybody else to." he stops and pulls on my braid. "But, you gotta admit. That was kinda fun."

I roll my eyes and take my hair back. "No, it wasn't." I wave a finger at him. He lifts a brow at me in response and starts to poke at my sides. "Stop it." I laugh. "Seriously..." he doesn't quit it. "Gaven Draper!" I step on his foot and take off a little bit up the road. And then I stop "Okay, it was funny! But, stop doin' it."

Grinnin', he runs to catch up with me.

We walk another mile, talkin' and pointin' out little things as we go. His company always nice to have, especially when I am on my way to my home. I don't very much like bein' here so I stay away or spend as much time with someone other than my family members as much as I can.

Here, I live with my mama, my Nana, my little sisters, and my stepdaddy.

Mama is kind. She has a good heart and always tries to do right by us. But, when daddy died she kinda...fell off. She focuses on the cows on our farm and the other animals. Keepin' 'em fed and happy best she can like they were all her children.

Nana is my daddy's mama and is almost in her sixties. And sometimes I don't know what to do with her. She's a coot and always hoppin' around, reminiscin' about her hippie days and makin' yogurt to sell at the local markets.

My younger sisters, Charlie and Carlie, they are demons. Always stealin' hay to make beds for baby animals up on the high level in the barn. Causing mischief wherever they go. They have a different daddy than mine. They're little seven-year-old twins, yellow-haired, like my mama.

Their daddy, my step-daddy, is the worst. I try not to think about him when I don't have to.

"Gracie, hurry up with that barrel, girl!" speak of the devil. Earle stands on the patio of the house with a hand shieldin' his eyes. "Somebody in the house to see you!"

I stop in my tracks.

Gaven steps a bit behind the bush. "Hey," if Earle had seen him already, he would've said somethin'. "Do you have any visitors comin' to see you today?"

I shake my head. "Not that I know of."

"This doesn't feel right." he stares at me. The light catchin' the white stripe in his black hair. "Come home with me, my dads been dyin' to see you again," he assures me. Urges me.

Again, I refuse. "No, he's already seen me. I gotta go now or I'll get in trouble." I stretch his cheek out. Enjoyin' the looseness of his skin since I was little. "If I can get on the phone tonight, I'll call you. Promise."

He pulls my braid and rests a kiss on my temple. "Don't forget." then he waves me off. Makin' sure to stay behind the bush until me and Earle go inside the house.

Whenever Earle sees Gaven on the property these days, he gets mad. Thinks that Gaven could influence me to do somethin' bad. He never explains to me what those bad things could be. All he keeps sayin' is natives are trouble and I need to stay focused on helpin' him take care of the family. I'm too old to be playin' with my friend.

"Who's this guest?" I put my barrel down and wipe my hands off on my skirt. I didn't even realise how dirty I was until I did that.

Next thing I realise, before my question is answered with words, I see who it is. Leo Marshall. This man was a farmhand for my daddy back when he was alive. Eight years ago was the last time I saw him. Or, rather, talked to him. Every so often, I see him in town. He just happens to show up where I am sometimes and I make sure to at least wave. He worked for daddy, but I'm not all that familiar with him. Only maybe a month before daddy died did he stay here. After that, Mama couldn't afford to keep him around, and his daddy died too, so he just left.

"Remember me, Gracie Belle?" he takes my hand and kisses the back of it. "Rare for a farm girl to have soft hands like this."

Mama walks in with a plate of cookies. "She mostly takes care of the babies and the heifas." she tells him. "Girl's got soft skin and a gentle soul."

This whole scene stands to confuse me. Earle is actin' all nice and proper. Mama is servin' up desserts rather than attendin' to the chickens outside like she always does at this time of day. Even Nana is sittin' in the corner all quiet like as if she knows somethin'. Her thin lips remain pinched.

Leo Marshall is dressed up nice. Wearing clothes like you would to church. His reddish blonde hair is combed over and his beard is trimmed. His slacks are pale and his button down is baby green. The look in his warm brown eyes gives me mixed feelings.

"Is everything alright here?" I ask when the adults stop talkin' and sorta just stand around lookin' awkward.

Mama comes to me and puts her hand on mine. "Gracie, dearest," she refers to me the way daddy did whenever she wants me to be calm or relaxed. It makes me feel anything but right now. "Mr Marshall here wants your hand." she keeps her blue eyes on me. "In marriage."

My heart pounds. "What? What did you say?"

Marshall reaches in his pocket and goes to kneel in front of me. "Gracie Belle Everett, will you marry me?"

"N..." I start to refuse, but I'm stopped.

Nana hops up. "Hold on, lemme speak to my grandbaby." she smiles and reaches with both hands for me. "Y'all cain't just come in here and drop this on her. I'm gonna get her some fresh air." she guides me away. "We'll be right back."

Takin' me to the back, we go out the door and the first thing I notice are my sisters.

Watchin' from afar from the chair swing in one of the barren olive trees. They know what's up and didn't even bother to meet and warn me before I came back.

If I had known what I was walkin' into, I would've taken Gaven up on his offer and went to see his family.

"Nana, what's goin' on?" I didn't realise I was tremblin' until she sits me down on a wood workin' table. "Do I have to marry him? I'm... I'm sixteen..." my fingers fiddle with my locket.

She shushes me and gives me a cup of water. "Dearest, this... This farm is goin' under. Fast." she admits. "It's been hard on your mama and Earle."

"What?" I haven't heard anything about this. We ain't ever been rich, but we ain't poor. Or so I thought...

She pinches her lips again. "Leo Marshall is a police officer in town. He has a little olive farm and an okay livin'." she explains to me. "He came to Earle and your mama and agreed that if he got you, he would pay off all the debts and help us get our olive business back up and runnin'." she sits beside me. "I would usually be opposed to...sending away my grandbaby, but..."

My tears well up and I sit up straight. "This is daddy's farm. And his daddy's. And his daddy's daddy." I don't go through the generations of men that owned this land. It's basically a family keepsake. Full of pride and love. And memories. "I'll do it." I get to my feet and give my sisters one last glance. "But, I cain't promise I'll be peaches and cream about it."

Going back in the house with her on my heels, we come across the three we left in here sittin' down at the dinner table.

Mama stands up abruptly and Earle just stares. I bet he is just jumpin' for joy on the inside. Happy to get rid of the first daughter. The one that ain't even his own. He always complains about there bein' too many women on this farm. Yellin' at my mama for not givin' him a boy.

"Gracie?" mama has a hint of pleadin' in her voice.

I swallow my pride and walk to Marshall. "Mr Leo Marshall, I will, in fact, marry you." I hold up my left hand and poise my fingers.

Without hesitation, he slips a traditional cut diamond ring on my finger.

"It was my grannie's." he lets me know before standin' up in front of me.

This man is a whole head taller than me. Now, I'm not tiny, but I ain't tall. Barely average, I guess. Feelin' so small next to another person makes me uncomfortable. The only people larger than me that I feel okay around are Gaven and his daddy.

I wonder how he'll react when he finds out about this.

"It's beautiful." I smile at him tryin' to show satisfaction.

An overwhelmin' feelin' to throw up bubbles in my guts.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***