Forever This Summer by Leslie C. Youngblood

Author:Leslie C. Youngblood [YOUNGBLOOD, LESLIE C.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2021-07-06T00:00:00+00:00

17

SLOW DOWN

The horse in front of us was so black that it shone a deep shade of purple. Its mane was thick and braided with green and red twine. Ms. Hannah looked majestic atop it. Her silver hair was parted down the middle and two braids, one on each side, hung past her shoulders.

Seems like somebody would have mentioned that Ms. Hannah was a real-life cowgirl.

“Well, you two are a beautiful sight.” Then she focused in on Markie. “So, you must be ready now?” Ms. Hannah said, tugging on the horse’s reins. Two buttons were undone on her denim shirt, revealing a thin gold necklace.

“Yes, ma’am,” Markie said.

“And you’re sure? That’s not how you felt a few weeks ago.”

Markie never said anything about talking to Ms. Hannah a few weeks ago, which only surprised me a little. I was learning that Markie didn’t lie straight out, she just omitted things. Important things.

“And let me guess who we have here.… You must be G-baby, Katrina’s daughter.” Ms. Hannah got down from her horse.

“She likes the name Georgie better,” Markie said in a respectful correction.

“Well, that makes sense for a young lady,” Ms. Hannah said. The horse high-stepped and neighed. “Hush up, now. Nobody leaving you out. This here is Bessie.” Ms. Hannah stood next to Bessie and smoothed her mane. “Markie, why you acting like Bessie’s a stranger?” Markie walked over to Bessie and stroked her side. “She likes to meet new people,” Ms. Hannah said to me, “especially Vie’s family.” I stepped over and rubbed Bessie, too. It was like the warmth of my hand in an oven mitt.

“Well, it’s good to see you again, baby.” Her “baby” didn’t make you feel childish, but like she was welcoming you into a special club. “I’d know you anywhere, you and your mama have Vie’s same deep-set eyes. Everything fine with Vie?” she asked. “I mean, as well as can be expected?”

“Yes, ma’am,” Markie said.

A few chickens appeared from around the corner, along with a pig that was shaking off flies.

“Shoo! Shoo!” Ms. Hannah said as she tied Bessie’s harness to a metal rod jetting from the column. “Now, I take it that you two have to get home sooner than later, so we best take care of business. Have yourselves a seat on the stairs if you like. I’ve got some fresh lemon tea brewing. I’ll be right out.”

Ms. Hannah must have known just where to walk because the steps didn’t creak as much. I was nervous that if for whatever reason Bessie decided to take off, she’d pull that wobbly column right along with her and we’d be lost under the front porch rubble. As soon as Ms. Hannah opened and closed the door behind her, I turned to Markie.

“Think we’ll make it back before dark?”

“I do,” she said. She barely mumbled the answer. I knew she was thinking about what she wanted to ask Ms. Hannah.

Bessie watched us as the chickens and pig circled around her and then went off about their business.

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