Only 06 - Winter Fire

near ’em. My ma shot one of Ab’s uncles from ambush for forcing hisself on me when I was twelve. Didn’t kill him, sorry to say.”
    Sarah looked as shocked as she felt.
    â€œHe weren’t the first,” Lola said, “or the last. Ma brung me into the business as a young’un.”
    The older woman shrugged and gave a gap-toothed smile.
    â€œI only mention it,” she said, “so’s you won’t go to nagging Conner for him doing what’s got to be done to protect his own.”
    â€œI don’t want that for my brother,” she said with quiet desperation.
    â€œMan does what he’s going to do, and women take the hindmost.”
    Sarah’s mouth flattened. She wanted to argue but knew it was herself she was fighting with, not Lola.
    To hell with firewood , Sarah thought harshly. I’m looking for Spanish silver tomorrow and the day after and the day after that .
    I’ll find it .
    I have to .
    â€œSpeakin’ of man doing and women taking,” Lola said, “you looking to get big from more than you et?”
    â€œExcuse me?” Sarah said, confused.
    â€œYou do know where babes come from, don’t you?”
    â€œOf course I do.”
    â€œThen do you want a young’un or do you have something to keep you from catching?”
    â€œIt’s not a problem. Half of what I need to get pregnant is missing.”
    â€œHell it is,” Lola retorted. “Case has just what you need, an it’s by God loaded for bear every time he looks at you.”
    Sarah felt her cheeks getting hot as she remembered bathing Case when he was asleep.
    He was indeed quite capable of getting her pregnant.
    â€œHe wouldn’t force me,” Sarah said tightly.
    â€œHe wouldn’t have to. Or ain’t you figured that out yet?”
    â€œWhat?”
    The older woman threw up her hands.
    â€œLong on book learning and short on female learning,” Lola said, disgusted.
    Sarah didn’t say a word.
    â€œYou want Case,” Lola said flatly. “It’s plain as the nose on your face.”
    â€œWhether I do or not,” she said in an even voice, “Case doesn’t want me.”
    â€œHorseshit.”
    â€œPlease, don’t use—”
    â€œDon’t go to chewing on me for speaking plain,” Lola interrupted curtly. “Plain speaking is downright needful unless you want to be breeding Case’s babe. Do you?”
    â€œIt doesn’t matter. He won’t touch me that way.”
    â€œHell, gal, they all say that whilst they put their pecker up your skirt.”
    â€œCase hates wanting me,” Sarah said bluntly. “He told me so.”
    Lola blinked. “How come?”
    â€œHe doesn’t want to feel anything.”
    â€œOnly critter that don’t feel nothing is a dead critter.”
    Sarah’s smile was weary but real.
    â€œCase doesn’t mind feeling something toward the land,” she said. “It’s people he doesn’t want to care about.”
    â€œHuh.”
    Lola pursed her weathered, wrinkled lips, reached into her pocket for a plug of chewing tobacco, and remembered where she was. She sighed.
    â€œWell, makes no nevermind what a man’s two-eyed head wants,” the old woman said. “His one-eyed head gets the last word.”
    When Sarah figured out what Lola was saying, she couldn’t help laughing.
    â€œAin’t you never heard it called that?” the older woman asked, grinning.
    Sarah simply shook her head.
    â€œFor a widow woman, you sure are green,” Lola said. “How did you keep from gettin’ a big belly when your husband was alive? Or was he just too old?”
    â€œPartly. Usually he was too drunk to run me to ground.”
    Lola’s big shoulders moved in silent laughter. Then she reached into a pants pocket, pulled out a small leather bag, and threw it.
    Instinctively Sarah caught the bag. It weighed hardly anything.
    â€œWhat is it?” she asked.
    â€œBits of sponge. Case ain’t no drinker and he ain’t too old to plant kids in your belly.”
    Sarah looked at the bag. “So?”
    â€œSo when you get to feeling randy, soak one of them bits in vinegar and put it where your monthlies comefrom. Poke it up as far as you can. Then go do what you got to.”
    â€œI won’t get pregnant, is that what you’re saying?”
    â€œOh, you might catch now an’