jg.paintedhouse-第27章
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The knife shocked everyone； and for a few seconds there was silence。 No one moved。 The only sound was heavy breathing。 Hank was staring at the blade； which seemed to grow。 There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Cowboy had used it before； knew how to use it well； and would happily behead Hank if he took another step closer。
Then my father； holding the bat； stepped between the two； and Miguel appeared beside Cowboy。
〃Put it down；〃 Hank said again。 〃Fight like a man。〃
〃Shut up！〃 my father said； waving the bat around at both of them。 〃Ain't nobody fightin'。〃
Mr。 Spruill grabbed Hank's arm and said； 〃Let's go； Hank。〃
My father looked at Miguel and said； 〃Get him back to the barn。〃
Slowly； the other Mexicans grouped around Cowboy and sort of shoved him away。 He finally turned and began walking； the switchblade still very much in view。 Hank； of course； wouldn't budge。 He stood and watched the Mexicans leave； as if by doing so he was claiming victory。
〃I'm gonna kill that boy；〃 he said。
〃You've killed enough；〃 my father said。 〃Now leave。 And stay away from the barn。〃
〃Let's go；〃 Mr。 Spruill said again； and the others…Trot； Tally； Bo； and Dale…began to drift toward the front yard。 When the Mexicans were out of sight； Hank stomped away。 〃I'm gonna kill him；〃 he mumbled； just loud enough for my father to hear。
I collected the baseballs； the gloves； and the bat； and hurried after my parents and Gran。
Chapter 12
Later that afternoon； Tally found me in the backyard。 It was the first time I'd seen her walk around the farm； though as the days passed； the Spruills showed more interest in exploring the area。
She was carrying a small bag。 She was barefoot but had changed into the same tight dress she'd been wearing the first time I'd seen her。
〃Will you do me a favor； Luke？〃 she asked ever so sweetly。 My cheeks turned red。 I had no idea what favor she wanted； but there was no doubt she'd get it from me。
〃What？〃 I asked； trying to be difficult。
〃Your grandma told my mom that there's a creek close by where we can bathe。 Do you know where it is？〃
〃Yeah。 Siler's Creek。 'Bout a half a mile that way；〃 I said； pointing to the north。
〃Are there any snakes？〃
I laughed like snakes shouldn't bother anyone。 〃Maybe just a little water snake or two。 No cottonmouths。〃
〃And the water's clear； not muddy？〃
〃Should be clear。 It hasn't rained since Sunday。〃
She looked around to make sure no one was listening； then she said； 〃Will you go with me？〃
My heart stopped； and my mouth was suddenly dry。 〃Why？〃 I managed to ask。
She grinned again and rolled her eyes away。
〃I don't know；〃 she cooed。 〃To make sure nobody sees me。〃
She could've said； 〃Because I don't know where the creek is；〃 or 〃To make sure there are no snakes。〃 Or something； anything that had nothing to do with seeing her bathe。
But she didn't。
〃Are you scared？〃 I asked。
〃Maybe a little。〃
We took the field road until the house and barn were out of sight； then turned onto a narrow path we used for spring planting。 Once we were alone； she began to talk。 I had no idea what to say； and I was relieved that she knew how to handle the situation。
〃I'm real sorry 'bout Hank；〃 she said。 〃He's always causin' trouble。〃
〃Did you see the fight？〃 I asked。
〃Which one？〃
〃The one in town。〃
〃No。 Was it awful？〃
〃Yeah； pretty bad。 He beat those boys so bad。 He beat 'em long after the fight was over。〃
She stopped； then I stopped； too。 She walked close to me； both of us breathing heavily。 〃Tell me the truth； Luke。 Did he pick up that stick first？〃
Looking at her beautiful brown eyes； I almost said； 〃Yes。〃 But in a flash something caught me。 I thought I'd better play it safe。 He was； after all； her brother； and in the midst of one of the many Spruill fights； she might tell him everything I said。 Blood's thicker than water； Ricky always said。 I didn't want Hank ing after me。
〃It happened real fast；〃 I said； and started walking off。 She caught up immediately and said nothing for a few minutes。
〃Do you think they'll arrest him？〃 she asked。
〃I don't know。〃
〃What does your grandpa think？〃
〃Hell if I know。〃 I thought I might impress her by using some of Ricky's words。
〃Luke； your language！〃 she said； quite unimpressed。
〃Sorry。〃 We walked on。 〃Has he ever killed anybody before？〃 I asked。
〃Not that I know of；〃 she said。
〃He went up North once；〃 she continued as we approached the creek。 〃And there was some trouble。 But we never knew what happened。〃
I was certain there was trouble wherever Hank went。
Siler's Creek ran along the northern boundary of our farm； where it snaked its way into the St。 Francis； at a point you could almost see from the bridge。 Heavy trees lined both sides； so in the summer it was usually a cool place to swim and bathe。 It would dry up； though； and quickly； and more often than not； there wasn't much water。
I led her down the bank to a gravel bar； where the water was deepest。 〃This is the best spot；〃 I said。
〃How deep is it？〃 she asked； looking around。
The water was clear。 〃 'Bout here；〃 I said； touching a spot not far below my chin。
〃There's nobody around here； right？〃 She seemed a bit nervous。
〃No。 Everybody's back at the farm。〃
〃You go back up by the trail and look out for me； okay？〃
〃Okay；〃 I said； without moving。
〃Go on； Luke；〃 she said； placing her bag on the bank。
〃Okay；〃 I said； and started away。
〃And； Luke； no peeking； okay？〃
I felt as if I'd just been caught。 I waved her off as if the thought hadn't crossed my mind。 〃Of course not；〃 I said。
I crawled up the bank and found a spot a few feet above the ground； on the limb of an elm。 Perched there； I could almost see the top of our barn。
〃Luke！〃 she called。
〃Yes！〃
〃Is everything clear？〃
〃Yep！〃
I heard water splash but kept my eyes to the south。 After a minute or two； I slowly turned around and looked down the creek。 I couldn't see her； and I was somewhat relieved。 The gravel bar was just around a slight bend； and the trees and limbs were thick。
Another minute passed； and I began to feel useless。 No one knew we were here； so no one would be trying to sneak up on her。 How often would I have the chance to see a pretty girl bathing？ I could recall no specific prohibition from the church or the Scriptures； though I knew it was wrong。 But maybe it wasn't terribly sinful。
Because it involved mischief； I thought of Ricky。 What would he do in a situation like this？
I climbed down from the elm and sneaked through weeds and brush until I was above the gravel bar； then I slowly crawled through the bushes。
Her dress and underclothes were hung over a branch。 Tally was deep in the water； her head covered with white lather as she gently washed her hair。 I was sweating； but not breathing。 Lying on my stomach in the grass； peering through two big limbs； I was invisible to her。 The trees were moving more than I was。
She was humming； just a pretty girl bathing in a creek； enjoying the cool water。 She wasn't looking around in fear； she trusted me。
She dipped her head under the water； rinsing out the shampoo； sending the lather away in the slight current。 Then she stood and reached for a bar of soap。 Her back was to me； and I saw her rear end； all of it。 She was wearing nothing； which was exactly what I wore during my weekly baths； and it was what I expected。 But confirming it sent a shudder throughout my body。 Instinctively； I raised my head； I guess for a closer look； then ducked again when I regained my senses。
If she caught me； she'd tell her father； who'd tell my father； who'd beat me until I couldn't walk。 My mother would scold me for a week。 Gran wouldn't speak to me； she'd be so hurt。 Pappy would give me a tongue…lashing； but only for the benefit of the others。 I'd be ruined。
In water up to her waist； she bathed her arms and chest； which I could see from the side。 I had never seen a woman's breasts before； and I doubted if any seven…year…old boy in Craighead County had。 Maybe some kid had stumbled upon his mother； but I was certain no boy my age had ever had this view。
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