I thought for a moment, then looked at Molly,
"What do you want to do?"
She stared at me, wide eyed,
"I can't go down there! Your sperm is running down my legs for fucks sake!"
I just shrugged it off. I knew she would eventually have to deal with him, but I wasn't getting involved and she could do it in her own time.
I dressed and went down. Elsie was sitting with him at the table, talking.
Garrett stood up when I came in. He stuck his hand out, which I accepted with no real enthusiasm.
"Mr Hudson. What can I do for you?"
"Hey Jacob. Maggie told me you were making payments?"
I nodded and headed to the living room and went in the closet. I opened the safe and got out his contract, counted out half the money, took it back and sat it in front of him. I got out a pen and bottle of ink and gave it to him, pointing to where he needed to sign.
He looked the money over and sat the pen down.
"Uh, that looks to be a little short there."
I nodded.
"That's your half. The other went to Mrs Hudson."
"Now hold on a minute here! I never said I'd go for that!"
"Well sir, she came here for various reasons I don't figure to be any of my business. Seeing as how the law says a man and woman split everything, it just stands to reason she gets half the money. You'll have to take that up with her. Like I said, what's between you two ain't none of my business."
"Well, where is she then? I'll get to the bottom of this."
"Mr Hudson, I reckon you and me need to finish our business here. I'd appreciate it if you waited until later to take the other business up with your wife. I ain't wanting to get tied up in it. I did what I figured was fair. That's as far as i'm willing to go with it. I gave you both equal amounts to the dollar."
"Jacob, we had an agreement."
"Yes, and you both signed it. I paid what I said I would. Not a penny less. There's your money. Mr Hudson, I'd suggest you take it and go home. You can sort the rest out with your wife."
"Where is she?"
"I told you, I'm not getting involved. I'm about tired of saying it."
"She's still here, isn't she?"
That tore it with me. I finally lost my patience.
"Mr Hudson, take your money and go home. I'm not telling you again."
He stared at me for a long minute.
"Ok. But if you talk to her, please tell her I need to see her."
I nodded as he signed the document then gathered up his cash and left.
I shook my head. How do I wind up in shit like this?
I turned and went upstairs with Elsie in tow.
I looked over a her,
"Where's the kids?"
"Outside playing.'
I went to the room. My mother and Molly were sitting on the bed.
Molly looked over,
"Thank you."
"For what?"
"For saving me from having to deal with him right now."
She stared out the window briefly, then spoke up again,
"You know, I kinda think I may get pregnant here. I know I'm ovulating right now and the amount of sperm you just put in my womb almost guarantees it. I'm not going back to him. I don't trust him anymore. I'll probably take my money and go back to my family home and settle there. Anyway, thank you for all you've done."
She stood up and got dressed. On the way out, she turned back to me,
"I want a truck like you've got. Could you help me get one?"
I just nodded, thinking about everything she said. I turned and walked out. I needed to think. To get my head wrapped around business again. All this nonsense was getting out of hand.
I went to the camp and looked around. It was relatively empty. I headed to the mess tent and saw only a handful of people eating.
The cook looked up questioningly. I shook my head and walked over to him.
"Where is everybody?"
"It's payday. Them that ain't working are all over to that juke joint you set up."
I nodded.
"You seen JT?"
"He came in earlier and ate. I ain't seen him since."
"If you see him, tell him I need a word."
"Will do."
I went to my truck and headed out to the rigs. On my way, I passed a line of tank trucks hauling oil out. I waved one down and got out. He set the brakes and got out to meet me.
"What can I do for ya?"
"How many loads a day y'all bringing out?"
Chuckling he replied,
"Young man, not enough! Y'all are pumping it out faster'n we can haul it. The boss has more trucks ordered, but the way y'all are drilling, we'll never get caught up."
I shook his hand and thanked him.
I got back in my truck and sat there thinking. There had to be a way to move more oil. The pipeline might handle it. But, I'm thinking maybe the train. A couple hundred tank cars being filled by the trucks sounded like a quicker solution.
I closed my eyes. After paying off the Hudson's, I'm still flush. With what I'm earning now, I can focus on other aspects of business. The co-op. I drove to town and went to the train stop.
All around it were business buildings of one sort or another. I drove out a ways. There it was. A plot of land about twenty acres or so. I could see about a small spur line off the main track. Set up the grain silos and warehouse. An ice house. A curing and smoke house for pork. A holding pen for beef cattle waiting to be loaded on the train. That's where i'd start. I went to the court house and asked the lady about the tract of land.
"Who owns that?"
She looked it up and came back.
"You do, honey. Along with the 240 acres out past it."
I thanked her and left.
I didn't recall buying it. Then again, I'd been too busy to really sit and think about too much concerning my life these days. What I needed was pussy. My mama's pussy. There was something about the feel of being inside her that just seemed to make everything ok.
I turned back toward the house. My pecker already starting to stir around just thinking about the hot wetness waiting for me between my mother's legs.
I rolled into the driveway and saw a hand sitting by the barn. He got up and trotted over to me.
"Sir, JT wants to see you. He's down at the camp."
"Ok, thanks."
He trotted off. I wondered what the problem was as I watched him disappear around the barn.
Oh well. I guess I might as well go see about it. I followed him to the camp and went in the mess tent. I saw JT sitting with two men I'd never seen before. They were well dressed and out of place around here.
I headed over and JT smiled when he saw me. He motioned for me to sit.
"Jake, these men represent the oil company. They've been working on your pipeline idea and want to move on it."
He introduced them and we shook hands around. I sat back down and looked them over.
"So, y'all are just now getting around to working this deal up?"