Howl For It
Page 9
Sounded like a lot of work to Darla. Shed stick with managing bread dough, thank you very much.
Darla pushed the remainder of the macaroni and cheese toward Eggie.
What? he asked.
Youve been eyeing it. You might as well finish it.
Have you had enough?
Eggie, Ive had enough if I was three people. So go on. But when he didnt move fast enough for her, Darla helped him out by putting one of the steaks on his plate and followed that up with several big spoonfuls of the mac and cheese.
He studied his plate for several seconds before he looked at her. You tryin to tell me something?
Yes. Now eat.
While the wolf ate, Darla picked up her glass of sweet tea and looked around his kitchen. She had a feeling his mother had a lot to do with this room. It was nicely equipped and roomy. Maybe she used it when she needed extra space.
So, Egbert Ray ... what do you do in the Marines?
He stopped eating, his fork hovering by his mouth. His eyes focused on her and narrowed a little bit. Why are you asking?
Because Im a spy.
He lowered his fork. What?
Oh, yeah. Im just sittin here pumping you for information. Thats what I do for the, um, Viet Cong.
His fork hit the plate. Do not joke about that, Darla Mae.
Oh, come on, she scoffed. Whod believe that I would be helping the Viet Cong?
Everybody. Theyre all paranoid right now, so I wouldnt joke about that if I were you.
Nice Southern gals like me dont spy.
Then why did you say it?
Because Im trying to get you to talk. Its called a conversation, Egbert Ray.
I aint chatty.
Fine. Darla pushed back her chair and picked up her plate and fork. She carried them to the sink and turned on the faucet. As she began to search for soap and a sponge, she realized that Eggie stood next to her, carefully placing his own dish and fork in the sink.
Ive never been to Vietnam, he told her, his gaze out the window. Never had a tour there.
Nearly everyone that Darla knew whod been in the military in the last ten years had spent some time in that war-torn country.
But youve been somewhere, right? She could tell by the scars, the way his body always seemed coiled and ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. This was not a man untouched by battle.
Eggie scratched his forehead before facing her. Im in what theyre about to start calling the Unit.
Oh! She nodded. Uh-huh.
Youdont know what that is, do you?
Do I need to? When he rolled his eyes, she quickly added, Look, I dont believe in all this war and fightin. As a matter of fact . . . Im a pacifist.
Eggie stared at her. How can you be a predator and a pacifist?
Its possible.
Do you still hunt down your own meat?
Im a pacifist, Eggie Ray. I didnt say I was a vegetarian.
A vege-what?
Forget it. She motioned him away from the sink. Go on and get the rest of the bowls and things. Ill do the dishes.
You should be resting.
Do not annoy me, Eggie Ray.
Thought you were a pacifistow! What was that for? he demanded while rubbing his ankle.
Gettin on my nerves. Now do as I tell ya and dont even think about arguing with me.
He lowered his leg. You sure are a pushy pacifist.
Darla grinned. Because Im also a feminist.
Eggies head tipped to the side, reminding her a little of a dog hearing a weird noise. Why?
What do you mean why? Do you actually believe that women are treated fairly in this society?
No. But youre a She-wolf.
So?
So no wolf is ever going to tell you that you cant do something unless he really hopes to get his throat torn out.
And what really annoyed her was that he was right, but that wasnt the point. Thats true, but Im thinking about all women.
But youre a She-wolf.
I know what I am, Eggie.
Then I dont see the point.
You know what? she snapped. Were done talking about this.
You were the one who said you wanted a conversation.
Well I changed my mind!
No need to yell, Darla Mae. Im standing right here.
She let out a heavy sigh and again faced the sink. Get the rest of the dishes, she ordered.
Sorry, he muttered. Didnt mean to make you mad.
Startled, Darla looked at Eggie. Im not mad.
Youre not?
Lord, no, Eggie. Annoyed? A bit. But not mad. When Im mad . . . you can really tell.
Is it worse than . . . this?
This? Darla laughed and patted Eggie on the arm. This is nothing.
His brow lowered but he didnt look angry this time. Just confused. Really?
Darla pushed the remainder of the macaroni and cheese toward Eggie.
What? he asked.
Youve been eyeing it. You might as well finish it.
Have you had enough?
Eggie, Ive had enough if I was three people. So go on. But when he didnt move fast enough for her, Darla helped him out by putting one of the steaks on his plate and followed that up with several big spoonfuls of the mac and cheese.
He studied his plate for several seconds before he looked at her. You tryin to tell me something?
Yes. Now eat.
While the wolf ate, Darla picked up her glass of sweet tea and looked around his kitchen. She had a feeling his mother had a lot to do with this room. It was nicely equipped and roomy. Maybe she used it when she needed extra space.
So, Egbert Ray ... what do you do in the Marines?
He stopped eating, his fork hovering by his mouth. His eyes focused on her and narrowed a little bit. Why are you asking?
Because Im a spy.
He lowered his fork. What?
Oh, yeah. Im just sittin here pumping you for information. Thats what I do for the, um, Viet Cong.
His fork hit the plate. Do not joke about that, Darla Mae.
Oh, come on, she scoffed. Whod believe that I would be helping the Viet Cong?
Everybody. Theyre all paranoid right now, so I wouldnt joke about that if I were you.
Nice Southern gals like me dont spy.
Then why did you say it?
Because Im trying to get you to talk. Its called a conversation, Egbert Ray.
I aint chatty.
Fine. Darla pushed back her chair and picked up her plate and fork. She carried them to the sink and turned on the faucet. As she began to search for soap and a sponge, she realized that Eggie stood next to her, carefully placing his own dish and fork in the sink.
Ive never been to Vietnam, he told her, his gaze out the window. Never had a tour there.
Nearly everyone that Darla knew whod been in the military in the last ten years had spent some time in that war-torn country.
But youve been somewhere, right? She could tell by the scars, the way his body always seemed coiled and ready to spring into action at the slightest provocation. This was not a man untouched by battle.
Eggie scratched his forehead before facing her. Im in what theyre about to start calling the Unit.
Oh! She nodded. Uh-huh.
Youdont know what that is, do you?
Do I need to? When he rolled his eyes, she quickly added, Look, I dont believe in all this war and fightin. As a matter of fact . . . Im a pacifist.
Eggie stared at her. How can you be a predator and a pacifist?
Its possible.
Do you still hunt down your own meat?
Im a pacifist, Eggie Ray. I didnt say I was a vegetarian.
A vege-what?
Forget it. She motioned him away from the sink. Go on and get the rest of the bowls and things. Ill do the dishes.
You should be resting.
Do not annoy me, Eggie Ray.
Thought you were a pacifistow! What was that for? he demanded while rubbing his ankle.
Gettin on my nerves. Now do as I tell ya and dont even think about arguing with me.
He lowered his leg. You sure are a pushy pacifist.
Darla grinned. Because Im also a feminist.
Eggies head tipped to the side, reminding her a little of a dog hearing a weird noise. Why?
What do you mean why? Do you actually believe that women are treated fairly in this society?
No. But youre a She-wolf.
So?
So no wolf is ever going to tell you that you cant do something unless he really hopes to get his throat torn out.
And what really annoyed her was that he was right, but that wasnt the point. Thats true, but Im thinking about all women.
But youre a She-wolf.
I know what I am, Eggie.
Then I dont see the point.
You know what? she snapped. Were done talking about this.
You were the one who said you wanted a conversation.
Well I changed my mind!
No need to yell, Darla Mae. Im standing right here.
She let out a heavy sigh and again faced the sink. Get the rest of the dishes, she ordered.
Sorry, he muttered. Didnt mean to make you mad.
Startled, Darla looked at Eggie. Im not mad.
Youre not?
Lord, no, Eggie. Annoyed? A bit. But not mad. When Im mad . . . you can really tell.
Is it worse than . . . this?
This? Darla laughed and patted Eggie on the arm. This is nothing.
His brow lowered but he didnt look angry this time. Just confused. Really?
