The Heart Of The Matter Ch 03

This is the third and final installment. I suggest you read at lest Ch. 02 for context.

The Heart of the Matter Ch.02

Comments, as always, are appreciated.

*

When Preston woke, the sun was well above the horizon. The clock on his dash said 9:30

Melinda was still snoozing in the back with a Mona Lisa smile. Preston raised his seat back and she stirred.

After a moment he said, "Hey."

"Hey," she replied.

"It's time for me to get moving. Feel like breakfast?" He asked.

"I feel like I should, So, yeah," Mel said.

They found a handy diner, the Big Boy, and settled into a booth. A waitress brought two mugs and a pot.

"Just coffee for me," said Preston.

"Do you have watermelon juice? asked Melinda.

"We do,"

"A tall glass, please," she looked at Preston, "What?"

"Trendy," was all he said, and then added, "Make that two."

They sat silently for a while, each lost in their own thoughts.

Finally Preston spoke, "I'm going to see my family. I don't think it will be a good idea to show up with you. Do you have a plan on what you want to do?"

"I agree," said Melinda. "That's a horrible idea. I thought I might head to North Carolina. Check out the Tarheels. Take a few classes,"

Preston thought about summer classes and Melinda's financial situation but said nothing.

He said, "Maybe get a room and rest a while. Get your landlegs back under you."

"Another champion idea. The hits just keep coming," she said.

They found a clean and quiet motel suitable for Mel's purpose and booked a room.

As he prepared to leave, Preston told Melinda to rest a while and he would be in touch to talk about her plans. He gave her several hundred dollars.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preston pulled through the gate of Ray Harper's farm. A placard on the mailbox said

'POSSUM TROT FARM'

He pulled up to the house and knocked on the door to no answer. After several more attempts he went to sit in the shade of a huge oak in the front yard. He had been sitting for only a few moments when an older SUV pulled in the drive.

The passenger doors opened and out popped his wife and sons dressed in their Sunday best. They came at a run but for some reason hauled up short. An awkward silence ensued. Ray and Mary Beth walked up behind and said, "Say hello to your father, boys." They slowly walked forward and hugged their father around his legs.

Dovey soon followed and hugged Preston closely around his waist. It was a curious sight,

Full of emotion and yet...not.

Ray said, "I'm hungry. Let's have some lunch."

They all entered the kitchen. Mary set her purse on the counter and fetched glasses from the cupboard. Dovey got a pitcher of sweet tea and one of Kool-aid from the fridge. The men took a seat at the table and got waited on. Finally Preston could wait no longer and caught Dovey in a bear hug. When he reseated himself, she sat in his lap.

"Where were you guys?" Preston asked. "When I got here the place was abandoned."

"We were at church. It was so hot." Toby said.

"You had it easy. The first Christians had to fight lions with their bare hands."

"Nuh uh!" said Toby.

"It's true. The Romans used to arrest God's earliest servants and feed them to the hungry lions at the coliseum," said Ray.

Keith looked scared, so Preston added, "They stopped all that foolishness a long time ago.

Know why?

The lions ate up all the prophets." Crickets.

All four adults helped set the table and passed around the food. They had cold chicken salad with walnuts and grapes, pickles and feta cheese. Sliced fresh tomatoes and sugar snap peas rounded out the menu.

"Let's give thanks for this lovely meal," said Mary Beth. "Preston, will you do us the honor?"

They all bowed their heads.

Beans, beans the musical fruit

The More you eat, the more you toot

The more you toot, the better you feel

So let's have beans for every meal

Amen

The boys giggled but none of the adults found much humor in the ribald epistle.

Ray said, "I can do better."

Good bread

Good meat

Good Lord let's eat!

"Amen," they all said.

"It's so nice to see you,Preston," said Mary.

"It's nice to be seen. This country is so much easier on my eyes," he said.

"Are you going to try and make a go of it here then?" Asked Ray.

"I'd love to. Dovey likes it here. You know what they say about a happy wife. It depends if I can find a job that won't starve us out." said Preston.

"The county runs a gravel pit over by Martin." said Ray. "It's not so easy since the mines finished up. a lot of fellas have a side hustle to make ends meet. Sometimes I dig Ginseng root. It pays over $250 a kilo for dried root. I have some growing on my place. I can show you what to look for if you want. We and the boys could walk the woods after we're finished here."

"That sounds interesting," said Preston. "I'd appreciate that." He looked at Dovey and smiled. Her returning look had a certain...hunger.

"I'll take a rain check. I got in pretty late last night or early this morning. I could really use a nap."

"I'll go with you, Grampa," Toby said.

"How about we go down to the pond and catch some crappie? I believe I would like a fish dinner," said Ray. "You up for that Mom?"

"I'm going to show show you how the rabbit eats the cabbage," said Mary Beth.

Once the dishes were cleared away and washed and the fishing expedition was underway, Preston and Dovey climbed the stairs hand in hand to her bedroom. Preston turned on a bedside radio and soft music began to play. Preston laid down and Dovey nestled against his chest.

Preston was hauled back in his mind to when the two had first coupled. They were just kids, barely 18, in the back of a GTO. It was a sultry summer night with humid mist in the low lying hollows. Fireflies drifted aimlessly, signaling their intentions. In her embrace Preston was pretty sure she could feel his. Their naked flesh was stuck together, feeling both cool and warm at the same time.

Back in the present, Preston heard Dovey's breathing change, becoming more ragged.

She unsnapped his jeans and slowly lowered his fly. He was harder than AP calculus.

Walking in Memphis was playing on the radio.

Put on my blue suede shoes

And I boarded the plane

Touched down in the land of the Delta Blues

In the middle of the pouring rain

Then I'm walking in Memphis

I was walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

Walking in Memphis

But do I really feel the way I feel?

Saw the ghost of Elvis

On Union Avenue

Saw him walk up to the gates of Graceland

Then I watched him walk right through

Now security did not see him

They just Hovered around his tomb

But there's a pretty little thing

Waiting for the King

Down in the Jungle Room

She slipped her delicate hand inside Preston's boxers and slowly milked his cock. Preston closed his eyes and tried not to drool. He hooked his thumbs inside the waistband of his pants and underwear and pulled them down to his knees.

Dovey pulled her panties aside, and slowly, rocking her hips, inched his aching prick inside her hot pocket. Once impaled, she began flexing her vaginal muscles. After a few moments of torturous Nirvana, she groaned loudly and squirted all over his twitching prong. Preston was seconds behind her orgasm with his own. Rope after rope of hot semen flooded her womb. She was trembling uncontrollably and with a look of sheer abandon, she clutched him tightly and hung on for dear life.

When I was walking in Memphis

Walking with my feet ten feet off of Beale

Walking in Memphis

But do I really feel the way I feel?

They've got catfish on the table

They've got gospel in the air

And Reverend Green would be glad to see you

When you haven't got a prayer

But boy you've got a prayer in Memphis

Now Muriel plays piano

Every day at the Hollywood

And they brought me down to see her

And asked me if I would

Do a little number

And I sang with all my might and

She said

"Are you a Christian, child?"

And I said,

"Ma'am I am tonight"

"Oh my days! What have you done to me?" Dovey cooed. Her vagina was still clenching spasmodically. "My kitty has a mind of it's own."

Preston was almost incoherent. He was drained, simply too weak to reply.

"I love you so much" was all he could manage.

Preston had just been granted his most cherished desire. He felt, without a doubt, that he was loved.

Dovey inwardly breathed a huge sigh of relief.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The back yard was abuzz when the fishing crew returned. A Washtub full of water contained 6 each crappie and catfish.

The boys were trying to catch the fish by hand while Ray sharpened a filet knife. Mary Beth and Dovey were in the kitchen making up the sides, hush puppies and fried zucchini.

Mary asked her daughter, "How are things with Preston? His savage breast seems soothed. Somewhat." Mother and daughter chuckled. The fig didn't fall far from the palm tree, it seemed. "Everything ok?" Mary asked.

"I think so. The police haven't seen hide nor hair of Jody, thank God."

"Pray that it stays that way."

The fish were in the fryer, and a feast was had by a all.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The next day Preston went to the Job Service office and applied for every position he thought he could manage. He drove to the limestone quarry's crusher to appraise the equipment firsthand. He talked with the site manager and had a short conversation with the man, who promised to keep Preston in mind.

On his way back to the farm, Preston stopped by Melinda's room, but she was out. He hung around for a while until he got antsy and went to get a coffee at the Big Boy diner.

Lo and behold, Mel was there waiting on patrons at the counter. As he sat down at at an empty stool, Mel came up and said, Well look what the cat coughed up."

"Hello to you too. Looks like you fit right in here, Daisy Mae. Coffee please. Is this part of your plan?"

"Part of it," Mel said. "Coffee it is. I thought Lil' Abner preferred Mountain Dew."

"Smart-ass," he said.

"It takes one to know one is all I can say to that," replied Melinda.

"If you need anything, do you have my number?"

"I don't, have a phone, Einstein."

Preston stopped by the diner again on his way back to Possum Trot and dropped off a 4 hour burner.

Back at the farm Preston asked Ray, "Can you show me some ginseng today?"

"I can. First, we can't be seen coming and going. So we'll go out like we're fixing fence and actually fix some fence. We'll need a little hardware. A backpack, a claw weeder, and a pointed walking stick.

Plants with three leaved whorls are at least five years old. We're after mature plants.

Ginseng root has been sought after for centuries. It is an antioxidant and is claimed to reduce fatigue, ED, hepatitis C, symptoms of menopause and other conditions.

Once you find plants mature enough to harvest, Carefully remove loose soil and take care not to break off parts of the root.

Replant the ripened berries where you dug up the root.

Here are some plants. Show me the ones that you think are mature."

Ray showed Preston and let him dig the next. They replanted seeds in the place of the ones they took.

Ray said, "Dried Ginseng root is selling for more than $250 per kilo and poaching is rampant.

I'll show you how to dry it at the house."

They spent the rest of the afternoon fixing fence.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After their glorious reconnection, Dovey began feeling more comfortable with her adventure in the exploration of her independence. She was confident Preston would understand and not want to stifle her.

She was scheduled to work that night, so she intended to get a nap in some time during the day.

Preston could watch the kids. She could really see this arrangement working out well.

Preston, on the other hand was on edge. It was against his nature to be idle when he could be productive. It was time passing that he would never have again. It gave him dyspepsia.

Mary Beth set him to weeding the garden and cutting the grass. Her list of chores was a steady scroll as the day rolled on.

Ray appreciated Preston's skill in all things mechanical. Catching up with preventive maintenance was a mission with unforeseen benefits.

Damn the mule. Load the wagon.

Days became weeks, weeks became a month. There was no word of employment from Job Service other than occasional day work like haying on local farms or loading/unloading trucks and warehouse work.

Dovey continued her job at the Piggly Wiggly. At the end of one graveyard shift her boss Russell called her into his office. He began the conversation by saying, "You have been doing a fine job here, Ms Burnett, but I feel you are capable of more. How do you feel about more responsibility?"

"I would welcome it. I've been hoping to get off the night shift and if the job comes with a raise, it would be perfect." she said.

"This sounds like a win/win. You would be my personal assistant and take care of the day to day details of jigging the Pig. Think you're up to it?" Russell asked.

"It remains to be seen, but I'm confident that I can."

"I am too. You can start on Monday."

In just a few weeks, it became, "Russ does this. Russ says that." Dovey was beguiled. He knew just what to say. Each compliment, every innocent touch added to her confidence.

Russ had been down this road before.

Dovey's new outlook had not gone unnoticed. She had less interest in household matters and the kids, leaving Preston to pick up the slack. The boys noticed too, as did her parents.

"Doesn't Mom love us anymore?" Toby asked his Grandma.

"Of course she does. Don't be silly." She said.

"She's almost never around anymore. And when she is, she goes to bed." said Toby.

"Her new job is a lot more demanding. Once she gets a handle on it, she will be around more, you'll see. Never doubt that she loves you. She can't help it, she's your mom."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Preston and Toby had been out roaming the hills scouting for ginseng. Hunting on public land didn't start until September but he felt the urge to get out and stretch his legs. He still had no leads in his hunt for a serious job despite the regular circuit he made twice a week.

The waiting was the worst. Dovey being the breadwinner didn't make it any easier.

He was rounding the north face of a cliff when he walked right into the double barrel of a sawed off 12 gauge pointed at his face.

"Hold it there skipper," said the voice with it's finger on the trigger. You're trespassin',"

"My mistake. I'll turn right around," said Preston.

"Not so fast. Look around"

Preston noticed a big copper vat sealed by an inverted cone on top and a copper pipe. Another barrel, copper tube. Lots of copper. He was standing on a still site.

"This doesn't have to end in tragedy. I can forget what I saw and where I saw it."

"I saw it too dad, said Toby.

"Stay out of this son," said Preston.

The man studied Preston for a long moment, then lowered his weapon. He extended his free hand.

"Vern Slater"

"Preston Burnett" He still stood in front of Toby.

"No worries, man. Let's have a toast. To new friends." He produced a pint mason jar full of a clear liquid, took a sip and handed it to Preston. Preston took a sip. His eyes bulged and he gasped for a breath.

"Good God," Preston said.

"There's two fights in every pint, brother. Proceed with caution." said Vern.

Preston checked out the site. "This is de luxe. All the way out here." he said.

"You still managed to find it," said Vern. "I don't like the idea of moving the still, but I'm going to. It's been compromised."

"It's my fault," said Preston. "I could help you move. Any idea where you want to take it?"

Vern looked at him like he was an alien. "You're who I was trying to hide it from, doof."

"Let me and Toby help you haul these pints off the hill and we'll talk about it."

The hauling done and the liquor stashed, Preston and Toby turned to go.

"I'going to make another run next week and could use some help. Would you and your boy be interested? We'll have to clean and move the still first.

"I'm not keen on getting my boy involved but I am interested. Just let me know where and when."

"I will do that," said Vern.

On their hike back to their truck Preston said, "You don't have to tell your.mom about this, you know."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Dovey and Russell had grown close. Confidante close. Dovey liked the heady feeling of Russell's attentions. He saw her, he listened. He got her.

Russ felt that he was in the home stretch to poontown.

"Sales are up again for the third week in a row. You are a lucky lucky charm, Dovey. If you keep this up, I'm going to have to give you another raise. I should have made you my assistant long ago. This deserves a toast."

He poured each of them two fingers of bourbon and held his glass toward her in her honor. "Here's mud in you eye," he said. " I didn't realize it had gotten this late. Won't your husband be missing you?"

"I'd be surprised if he did. He seems distracted lately, like I'm an afterthought. He's a good father to our boys. I just don't know where I fit in the program."

"Well you're important to Piggly Wiggly. To me."

Reluctantly she headed for the farm. She would be late for supper. Oh well, she thought.

She knew she was neglecting her family and should feel some guilt, but really, she didn't.

She had found some purpose to her life. She wasn't going to apologize for that.

She walked in the kitchen to find supper over. Mary and Preston were clearing the table and washing dishes. Dovey smiled pensively and tried to hug her husband. He smelled the whiskey on her breath and kept a distance.

"Tough day?" Preston asked, "You're later than usual. And you've been drinking. Is there a problem?"

Mary Beth stopped what she was doing and stared at the dishwater. Ray stood silently in the doorway of the kitchen.

"We had a good week at the store is all. We had a drink to celebrate," she said.

"Who is we?" her dad asked.

"Russell Mulholland and I," she said.

"Dovey, you know better. He's married. YOU'RE married!" her mother said.

"You bring shame to Preston! To your mother and me! To yourself!" her father said, clearly offended.

Dovey was thunderstruck. She had not expected this reaction. It was innocent. Wasn't it?

"We're just friends, he gets me," she offered.

"He's not you friend, he's your boss! And as far as getting you, that's exactly what he is after.

If you can't see that, you are a fool!" her mother said.

"Stop this nonsense immediately." Ray said.

Preston said nothing at all, but as they lay next to each other in bed later that changed.

"Do you want to tell me what's going on with you?" He asked.

"What do you mean?" Dovey asked.

"I suggest you don't try to bullshit a bullshitter. What's going on between you and your boss?"

Preston asked.

"He gets me. He makes me feel good about myself," she said.

"And you want me to be ok with that? Or you don't care.

"We're just friends," she said.

"He's trying to seduce you. Or he already has. I'm not OK with that," Preston replied.

"It's not like that," Dovey complained.

"Oh I think it's exactly like that. So do your parents. You can't deny that you're spending more time away from this family. The boys have mentioned it. You're a full grown woman capable of making grown up decisions. I want you to feel happy and fulfilled.

The boys love you. I love you. If you still feel the need to give even a part of your love to another man, do it, but I'm not interested in sharing that part of us. It's better to go our separate ways I think. And we definitely will," Preston said.