Read Online The Devil's Beating His Wife by Siobhán Béabhar - Free Book Online Page B

him. "I guess you mean the war?"
    Nixon nodded. He crawled closer to me and lowered his voice. "Did you get to kill many of them?" His eyes flowed over my face. His perusal was almost sexual in its intensity. "I envy you, Baxter. I would have done anything to be over there, killing the Krauts. I damn near shot myself when they told me I wasn't fit enough for service. I felt like such a failure. I wanted to fight for my country." He grabbed his pistol and waved it in the air. "But look at me now. I would have made a good soldier, don't you think?"
    His words were said with such despair that I almost felt sorry for him. "Only cowards choose suicide. You've proven yourself not to be a coward, Nixon."
    He smiled at me and nodded. Richard and Charlie shared distressed glances. Were Nixon's crazed words affecting them also? Or maybe they shared his sentiments and found shame in their rejection?
    The occupants of the truck remained quiet as Carver drove us to his home. When he finally turned on to the dirt road that led to his farmhouse, Richard laughed and rubbed his hands together. "You smell that, boys? Smells like supper's ready!"
    Rejection. It was the theme of the day. My stomach rebelled at the scent of greasy beef.
    When the truck stopped, we all leapt from our seats. Carver, Richard, and Nixon entered the house. I stood back, apart from them. I didn't want to go inside. I didn't want to sit around a table, pretending everything was alright.
    I dragged my feet in the dirt and then made my way slowly towards the barn. I stepped inside and walked over to a bale of hay, where I sat down and began to rub my thigh. I tried to ease the pain in my leg and the turmoil in my heart. I needed to have a clear head as I figured out my next steps.
    Spicey had held a gun to my head. There had been no fear in her eyes as she forced me out of the store. If only the poor girl knew. It wasn't going to be that easy to force me from her life.
    I knew deep in my heart that we were destined to be together. I couldn't envision a life without her. She had been made for me, and I intended on keeping what was mine.
    As I massaged the tense muscles in my thigh, I recommitted to my course. "She will forgive me. She will love me. We will be happy together." I recited this over and over, letting the words flow over me. Reassuring me.
    This was only a misunderstanding. She blamed me for what happened to her brother, but she would understand that I had no part in his murder. My thoughts turned inward. I concentrated on soothing my pain. "She will forgive me," I pledged.
    "Ain't you comin' in to eat?" asked a timid voice.
    My heart clenched in my chest. I wasn't aware that someone else had entered the barn. Rage began to consume me as I turned to confront the intruder.
    "Go back to the house, Mary-Alice," I ordered, staring her down.
    She looked back at me with concern on her face. She glanced over my body and took notice of my fingers rubbing my thigh.
    She knelt down before me. Her fingers reached out to touch my thigh. "Do you want me to help you?"
    I slapped her hand away and fought down revulsion. The lingering smell of fried beef and fresh onions clung to Mary-Alice's body. "I'm okay, Mary-Alice. Go back to the house."
    Instead of following my order, she sat back on her heels. She placed her hands on her thighs, causing her skirt to lift and expose her satiny skin. "I don't want to be in there at the moment." She glanced towards the house. Through the kitchen windows I could see Carver, Nixon, Richard, and Charlie seated around the table.
    Mary-Alice turned back towards me and smiled sadly. "I'd rather keep you company, if you don't mind."
    I pushed away from my spot on the hay. I grabbed her upper arm and pulled her to her feet. My fingers clenched her skin tightly as I started to drag her back to the house.
    She grabbed onto my hand and squeezed. Her feet dug into the ground, abruptly stopping our progress. The sudden move caused me to lose my