This Is Where It Ends by Cindy K. Sproles

Author:Cindy K. Sproles
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Historical Fiction;FIC042030;FIC014000;FIC074000
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2023-04-18T00:00:00+00:00

Nineteen

WHEN I WOKE, Satchel had plastered himself at the foot of my bed. I raised up on my elbows and peered at him. His chin laid firmly on my ankle, and his front legs was stuffed under his chest. When I spoke to him, he just rolled them big brown eyes toward me and lifted his brow as if to say, “You’re wakin up now?”

I bent my knees to set up, but the hound crawled across my legs, pressin them deep into the down mattress. He whined, then scooted his backside against my legs. I reached down and scraped his haunches with my fingernails. “You’re a good boy. But you ain’t supposed to be on my bed.”

He looked backward over his shoulder and laid his head over the other side of my legs.

“I ain’t never seen a dog lay in such a twisted-up way. I need you to move.” I pulled hard to release a captured leg from under him. My legs ached and they were still swelled. The weight of that animal wasn’t helpin me.

It took me a minute, but I finally got Satchel off me and my bed. Every step I took, he was right on my heels. The beast knew. I reckon the good Lord blessed man’s best friend with a way to decipher a person’s feelins. Satchel knew I was broken, and he had no intention of leavin my side. A faithful hound indeed. He lapped at my hand, beggin for me to rub his ears.

“Rotten hound,” I said.

I had no idea what time of day it was, only that the sun hung on the west side of the house and my stomach grumbled a lot, so I figured I’d missed dinner and was headin up to supper.

“Del. You here?” I eased into the kitchen. I uncovered a loaf of bread and pulled a knife off the shelf to cut myself a slice. When I looked out the window, I saw Del and his buddy cutting back vines.

“Ain’t that nice of you?” I whispered. As quick as the words left my mouth, it come to me what they was doin.

“Lordy mercy. Stately’s grave!” I dropped the knife and hobbled my way outside and around the cabin.

I wasn’t sure what to say without soundin like I was hidin something, but I took a stab at it. “That knot on your head makin you a little vengeful over a vine?” I chuckled.

“Miss Minerva.” Del dropped his hatchet and come to my side. He took my shoulders and pulled me close. My arms hung straight to my side like they were frozen. “That’s a hug,” he mumbled.

“I know what it is. I ain’t—”

“Stupid. I know. You’re just old.” He grinned.

“That’s right.” I eyed my vines. “How much of my vines do you plan to cut back? I like my plants.” I felt a twinge in my stomach, which I figured was the good Lord proddin me for that white lie. “Well, I don’t love them. But Stately grafted and planted them.

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