“Nice to see you too Frank, but I just put supper on and we were about to eat.” She started for the front door, trying to ignore him. It didn’t work.
“Hear that, boys? Hattie’s got supper on. Well come on, looks like we came just in time.” He smiled into her face and took her arm. “Hattie’s about the best cook in these parts. This will be a treat.”
Hattie’s eyes widened. “Why don’t you go play somewhere else, Frank? I’m busy.”
He let out a howl, determined that she would not see his disappointment.
When that didn’t discourage him, she turned and firmed her lips. “Look, I didn’t cook a mess of food. Jest enough for us,” she replied with a frown centered on Frank. “I got three kids to feed, and there isn’t enough to go around.”
“Aww, now, these two are hired hands I reckon. Hired a white one, did you? Well, lookie here. More white trash. Ain’t even got two arms. Now ain’t that somethin’? Cain’t even shave. Surely they don’t eat with you too, do they?”
“They most certainly do. I don’t have time to fix two meals at each mealtime and take them out to them. They can come to my table and eat. I’m sorry, maybe I’ll invite you another time,” she insisted, turning away from him.
“But I want to come now,” he insisted with a chuckle, grabbing her arm and circling her waist with the other hand. “In fact, I insist on it.”
“I’m sorry, but…”
Just then, Luke jumped between them. “She said you wasn’t invited, this time.”
“Well now.” Frank looked Luke up and down, and smiled, glancing at his friend. “What we got here, boys? Who the hell you think you are, mister? Do you know who you are speaking to?” Frank spoke with all the arrogance of money and position. “Why, shorely you don’t or you wouldn’t put your mouth in trouble’s way. You better learn your place around here, boy. You’re just the hired help. A one-armed hired help at that. Can’t be much use to you, Hattie. Reckon I’ll have to set you straight as to how to hire men next time, won’t I? Now, do you understand me, mister? Get out of my way.”
Frank’s brothers watched and laughed as Frank pushed past Luke as though he were a pesky fly. “You shore put him in his place, Frank.” The others dismounted and joined them.
Hattie’s mouth fell open for a moment. She gathered the children to her. Her limbs trembled and her frown grew. “Please, I don’t want no trouble. They are welcome, but they won’t get much. And he might be only one armed, but he works like a mule, so leave him be.”
“Hattie, you need to set your help straight before he gets killed for a little bit of nothing. I’m sure you boys don’t mind takin’ your meals in the barn tonight, do you?”
Hattie looked from one to the other. She could see that Luke was bristled and ready for a skirmish as was Frank. She pulled on Luke’s one arm. “Please…just for tonight…go eat in the barn.”
“Well now, that’s not the way to tell hired help anything, Hattie. You gotta be firm and set them straight. Somethin’ like, ‘You know your place, don’t you, white boy? In the barn with the rest of the riff-raff.’ I don’t know if I want them eatin’ with you Hattie. After all, you done hired you a white boy, and he might get ideas that you like him or somethin’. And we shore can’t have that now, can we?”
The others snickered.
“What happened to your shed, Hattie?” Frank looked about the place for a minute. “Looks like it went up in cinders.”
More snickers from his brothers followed them.
“I had visitors…not very polite visitors…” She frowned and stepped ahead of him again.
Luke watched, barely controlling his anger.
Luke gave Frank a warning glare then he and Joe went to the barn as the three men laughed at them. “Dumb farmers, gotta keep ‘em in their places. You let them get the upper hand, then you’ll never get nothin’ done around here.”
When Hattie didn’t comment, he laughed.
“Where’d you pick up that white trash?” Frank laughed, looking over his shoulder at Luke.
“He needed a job, I gave him one. You don’t frown on someone that is down on their luck,” Hattie replied. “Said his place burned during the war. But I don’t think I owe you an explanation as to who I hire…”
“Ooh, hear that boys? She’s sassy tonight, ain’t she? I like sassy women. They don’t bore you to death.” Frank laughed, his hand going to the round of her hips and patting her there. She removed his hand quickly.
She moved away again.
The kids followed her, all of them frowning and speechless.
“So, tell me Hattie, where you been keepin’ yourself…lately…” Frank asked as he waltzed up to her again, this time hurting her arm ‘til she relented and let him put his arm around her waist...and just under her breast. Hattie’s breath hitched like a snake.
Hattie glanced back at Luke, but didn’t say a word.