Read Online The Messenger of Magnolia Street by River Jordan - Free Book Online Page B

what ? He drives over to see Trice. This is one time he’s hoping she’s seen something, anything out of the ordinary, or had any strange feelings at all, particularly where Nehemiah is concerned. Then he realizes that he hasn’t even told her about Nehemiah being home, so he drives on past the house, down to the river, just to think for a while. And maybe, while he’s at it, he’ll drop a line.
    Back on Magnolia, Magnus is sitting in her porch rocker, rocking fast and clippity, her feet touching the floor then pushing offquick and hard again. Was that Billy that just drove past too darn fast? She thinks it was and makes a mental note to tell him he better slow down. Did I mention that Magnus dips snuff? Right now her bottom lip is full, jutting out below her top one. She is rocking and dipping too fast for the cats to ride along in her lap, but they are keeping an eye on her just the same.
    Occasionally, her feet come to a solid stop, then she looks hard off into the distance until she nods to herself and takes off again. She is sorting through some business. She is making up her mind.
    In the midst of this decision-making, Trice opens the screen door, sits absently on the porch swing. Her swinging is slow, rhythmic, her toe barely touching the porch to push off again. This has an effect on Magnus. Without her realizing, she begins to slow, to rock more comfortably, to keep a steady beat. General jumps up in her lap, stretching his paws out almost to her knees. Magnus spits off the porch, her fingers forming a V beside her lips.
    â€œIt’s gettin’ dark,” Trice says.
    â€œYep.”
    â€œLooks like those dahlias could use some water. I’ll get them in the morning.”
    â€œWell, then, while you’re at it, check those tomato plants for weevils, Mr. Daffin said the other day his were ate up with ’em.”
    â€œAll right.”
    They are still swinging and rocking when Billy pulls up in the front yard.
    â€œHey, don’t you bring that dog up in here.” Magnus is saying it like she always does, but as usual it’s too late. Sonny Boy is out of the truck, down to the ground sniffing around.
    â€œHe ain’t gonna chase no cats, Magnus.”
    General puts out his claws, stiffens his fur, growls low under his breath.
    â€œTell General that before he claws me to death.”
    Magnus spits again through her fingers. She is aiming for the dog but falls an inch short of the target.
    â€œWhatcha up to, Trice?”
    â€œYou’re lookin’ at it.” Trice is running her fingers through her hair; she is thinking about eclipses. She is picturing the one that she saw when she was little. How Kate had told her not to watch it or she would go blind.
    â€œYou up for taking a short ride?”
    â€œWhat for?”
    â€œI got something at the house that I want to show you.”
    â€œCan’t it wait till morning?”
    Magnus snorts under her breath. “Oh get up and go on. You ain’t doing nothin’.”
    Trice is hard to get moving, but once she does, it’s as if all the lazy energy in the world comes out in one spurt. Then she can’t be still. If Magnus let it, this would drive her crazy. She wants Billy to get that hound dog out of here because all the cats have run up the trees and under the house, where he is nosing and sniffing. She can just picture them under there, crouched down, furred-up, shaking, ready to run or to fight to the last breath. She has tried to explain this to Billy to no end. It’s not that the dog will hurt the cats, it’s that they think he will and that’s enough for her. They are at home minding their own business. On top of this, she knows in an hour or two Trice will get wound up (for no apparent reason), and she will begin to talk to her about whatever foolish book she is reading and follow her around, try to get her to sit down and listen to her talk about Mr. Einstein like he