Howl For It
Page 12
You son of a bitch, Janie Mae Lewis snarled as she stormed into the room with Darlas three other sisters behind her. You bastard, murdering son of a bitch!
Janie Mae! Darla snapped, scrambling to her knees.
Shut up, Darla Mae. Let me handle this.
Handle what? What the hell is wrong with you?
Ignoring Darla, Janie pointed at Eggie. Taking advantage of my sister?
I did no such
Was she even conscious when you had your dirty, disgusting way with her?
Before Eggie even had a chance to be insulted by thatand he would have been insultedDarla Mae roared out, That is enough!
The She-wolf took several breaths before she looked down at him. Eggie, why dont you go deal with your brothers downstairs. I need to talk to my sisters for a minute.
If they werent all kin, Eggie would never leave Darla alone with a crazed She-wolf, especially a pregnant crazed She-wolf. But at the end of the day, they were all kin and it wasnt Eggies place to get between them.
He slipped off the bed and walked out of his room and down the stairs. His brothers were just coming through the back door when he stepped into his kitchen.
He nodded at them. They nodded back.
It was a typical Smith boys morning greeting.
Once Eggie had gone downstairs, Darla faced her sisters. What is your
Darlas question was cut off when Janie suddenly grabbed her and hugged her tight.
You poor, poor thing, Janie said, her hands brushing down Darlas hair. Should we get you to a hospital?
Hospital? Darla pulled away from her sister. What are you talking about?
You dont have to lie to us, darlin, Francine soothed. Or be ashamed. This was beyond your control.
What are yall talking about?
Just tell us if heRoberta glanced back and forth between the othershurt you.
Hurt me? Why would Eggie hurt
Again cutting off her sisters words, Janie yanked Darla back into her arms, pressing Darlas head to her big chest and annoyingly patting the side of Darlas head.
Shhhh, darlin. Shhhh. Everything is going to be all right. Lets just get her out of here, she said to the others. Well deal with Egbert Ray Smith later.
Darla pulled away from her sister again, this time moving out of arms length. Youll do no such thing.
Darla
Eggie Ray saved my life and he has been a complete gentleman.
Yeah, Janettemuttered, he seemed real gentleman-like on his bed with you two all twined together like that.
Theres only one bed in the entire house.
And a couch.
Did you see that couch? I couldnt let him sleep on that thing. Might give him nightmares.
You and your thing about ugly furniture, Roberta sighed.
The man saved my life. Im not about to allow him to spend the night on ugly furniture. She snapped her fingers. That reminds me. I need to help him take that ugly furniture back to his aunt. Im afraid if I dont help him, hell just let her get away with it.
Listen to yourself, Janie ordered her. Helping him return furniture? Not telling us the truth about how he took advantage of you last night?
He didnt take advantage of me last night!
Poor thing, Roberta said sadly, patting Darlas shoulder. Youre just so innocent.
She slapped her sisters hand off. I am not innocent.
You mean that loss of virginity story? Janette asked.
Yeah, Francine sighed. None of us really believed any of that. But it was a nice try.
Fed up, Darla asked, Did you bring me clothes?
Your bag is downstairs butwhere are you going?
Away. From you.
Her sisters followed behind her, Janie Mae leading the way.
Just before she reached the stairs, Janie caught Darlas arm and swung her around. Now wait one second, little miss
I dont report to you, Janie Mae.
Im trying to protect you.
From who? Eggie?
You dont know anything about him.
I know enough.
Let me guess, Janie said with the tone that always set Darlas teeth on edge. You looked into his soul and saw he was pure of heart.
Her sisters snickered and Darla took a moment to get a little bit of that Southern control she was so proud of. I know yall dont believe me when I say that Great Aunt Bernice taught me the way of
Blah, blah, blah, Janie cut in. Weve heard this all before, Darla Mae. But you cant see peoples souls, you have no fancy mystical powers, and you are not going to spend another second around that murdering hound dog!
Darla pointed her finger in her sisters face, something she knew for a fact Janie hated. You will not talk about him like that, Darla warned her. Not around me.
Janie Mae! Darla snapped, scrambling to her knees.
Shut up, Darla Mae. Let me handle this.
Handle what? What the hell is wrong with you?
Ignoring Darla, Janie pointed at Eggie. Taking advantage of my sister?
I did no such
Was she even conscious when you had your dirty, disgusting way with her?
Before Eggie even had a chance to be insulted by thatand he would have been insultedDarla Mae roared out, That is enough!
The She-wolf took several breaths before she looked down at him. Eggie, why dont you go deal with your brothers downstairs. I need to talk to my sisters for a minute.
If they werent all kin, Eggie would never leave Darla alone with a crazed She-wolf, especially a pregnant crazed She-wolf. But at the end of the day, they were all kin and it wasnt Eggies place to get between them.
He slipped off the bed and walked out of his room and down the stairs. His brothers were just coming through the back door when he stepped into his kitchen.
He nodded at them. They nodded back.
It was a typical Smith boys morning greeting.
Once Eggie had gone downstairs, Darla faced her sisters. What is your
Darlas question was cut off when Janie suddenly grabbed her and hugged her tight.
You poor, poor thing, Janie said, her hands brushing down Darlas hair. Should we get you to a hospital?
Hospital? Darla pulled away from her sister. What are you talking about?
You dont have to lie to us, darlin, Francine soothed. Or be ashamed. This was beyond your control.
What are yall talking about?
Just tell us if heRoberta glanced back and forth between the othershurt you.
Hurt me? Why would Eggie hurt
Again cutting off her sisters words, Janie yanked Darla back into her arms, pressing Darlas head to her big chest and annoyingly patting the side of Darlas head.
Shhhh, darlin. Shhhh. Everything is going to be all right. Lets just get her out of here, she said to the others. Well deal with Egbert Ray Smith later.
Darla pulled away from her sister again, this time moving out of arms length. Youll do no such thing.
Darla
Eggie Ray saved my life and he has been a complete gentleman.
Yeah, Janettemuttered, he seemed real gentleman-like on his bed with you two all twined together like that.
Theres only one bed in the entire house.
And a couch.
Did you see that couch? I couldnt let him sleep on that thing. Might give him nightmares.
You and your thing about ugly furniture, Roberta sighed.
The man saved my life. Im not about to allow him to spend the night on ugly furniture. She snapped her fingers. That reminds me. I need to help him take that ugly furniture back to his aunt. Im afraid if I dont help him, hell just let her get away with it.
Listen to yourself, Janie ordered her. Helping him return furniture? Not telling us the truth about how he took advantage of you last night?
He didnt take advantage of me last night!
Poor thing, Roberta said sadly, patting Darlas shoulder. Youre just so innocent.
She slapped her sisters hand off. I am not innocent.
You mean that loss of virginity story? Janette asked.
Yeah, Francine sighed. None of us really believed any of that. But it was a nice try.
Fed up, Darla asked, Did you bring me clothes?
Your bag is downstairs butwhere are you going?
Away. From you.
Her sisters followed behind her, Janie Mae leading the way.
Just before she reached the stairs, Janie caught Darlas arm and swung her around. Now wait one second, little miss
I dont report to you, Janie Mae.
Im trying to protect you.
From who? Eggie?
You dont know anything about him.
I know enough.
Let me guess, Janie said with the tone that always set Darlas teeth on edge. You looked into his soul and saw he was pure of heart.
Her sisters snickered and Darla took a moment to get a little bit of that Southern control she was so proud of. I know yall dont believe me when I say that Great Aunt Bernice taught me the way of
Blah, blah, blah, Janie cut in. Weve heard this all before, Darla Mae. But you cant see peoples souls, you have no fancy mystical powers, and you are not going to spend another second around that murdering hound dog!
Darla pointed her finger in her sisters face, something she knew for a fact Janie hated. You will not talk about him like that, Darla warned her. Not around me.
