On Emma's Bluff by Sara Elizabeth Rice, edited by davebccanada (audio ebook reader txt) 📕

but a cold edge of nothingness radiated from his eyes.

"No, no," she spoke to the shell of Bill Simmons. With a sudden burst of furry she propelled herself up from the mat. Coarse particles of sand stuck to the back of her legs and she brushed them off as she backed away. With a thud she collided with something solid. Emma turned to see an oversized Barbara Lee, almost nine feet tall, anchored behind her. Barbara Lee with a hand on her hip pompously smiled down on the scene.

"So try to dream about him. It wont' make him real." The amazon nodded to the mat and Emma followed her gaze. Where Bill had once stretched out was a fetid mouldy old blanket with tufts of cotton exposed from its numerous tears.

"He's dead, he's dead, he's dead" Barbara Lee chanted in a nursery rhyme singsong lilt.

Emma turned to flee from the taunting, but the room closed in around her. Inky darkness engulfed her every access and as she tried to run she tripped and stumbled over any obstructions.

"You won't get far." Barbara Lee's voice promised as she took after her in long clean strides.

"Where do I go?" A voice inside of Emma screamed as she became lost in the maze of midnight. She had lost all sense of direction and time as she mindlessly hurried down intertwining corridors.

"Shhhhhhhh." A small voice called to her from her left. "Over here, baby girl."

Emma stopped still and got down on her hands and knees and crawled toward the voice. She found herself in a small- concealed corner. As she knelt there she could feel a bundle that moved beneath her hand when she touched it.

"Under here." The voice compelled her. She could make out an opening as the corner of the blanket rose and a faint glow poured out. It seemed the bundle was actually a make shift tent. Inside a small figure huddled. "Hurry in here. You'll be safe." Emma scurried under the blanket and tucked the corner in under her.

"I've been so worried about you child." Deep concern filled the words. Emma felt a wave of serene comfort from the eyes beamed at her. "You need rest. Come, lean close and old Viola will protect you." Emma moved to cling to the warm soft body. Viola's even breathing uncoiled the tendrils of tension that had wrapped her. The desire for sleep filled her body. "Can't rest just yet though," Viola jostled her. "She'll be coming for us," Then Emma could hear the scuffing footsteps of her cousin. "We must get rid of her," Viola spoke deeply. Emma looked up to her in fear. Where could they go to be safe? " You must do it." Viola moved to look directly at her. "You must do it," she repeated.

"Do what?" Emma asked hollowly.

"End her," came back Viola's words. "I can only tell you how."

"How?" Emma pressed.

"She will destroy your existence." Viola evaded.

"Yes, but how?" Emma continued.

" You must want to," were the cryptic words.

" Want to?" Emma echoed.

"Yes, there is a way if you want it to happen."

Barbara Lee's footsteps grew louder and nearer. "Emma, Emma, I am going to find you and I am going to tell them. I am going to tell them all of it." Emma could hear her cousin's threatening words right inside her head.

"What must I do?" she whispered.

"Your hair, your nails, your spittle." These were the confusing words that came from the ancient one.

"My hair, my nails, my spit? But that doesn't make sense to me. You must tell me exactly what."

"They must share water and you must want it to happen," was the only answer.

"I don't understand. I don't understand." Emma's word grew louder

"Emma," Barbara Lee called, "I will find you."

"I don't understand." But the old woman did not answer. She just kept her steady stare on Emma. "I don't understand," Emma screamed.

"Well there you are." Emma could feel the blanket above her being pulled and plucked as her cousin grabbed at her. Barbara Lee ripped into the blanket like it was a cheap paper sack.

"I don't understand." Emma shrieked as Barbara Lee's hands found her throat and started to squeeze.

Emma awoke from the dream in a cold sweat. "Help me," she whispered from her bed.

Sunday morning Emma stood silently in front of her dresser mirror. The cool wooden floor caused her to draw her toes into a curl. She watched the wide toothed comb separate her hair into dozens of parts. The previous evening had left her devoid of feeling and bone weary. She detected the voices of her aunt and cousin coming from the kitchen below. The words were indistinct but she could guess at their subject. Still in her long flannel gown and robe she braced herself before descending to the kitchen.

"So I told her she was lucky he had left with that old girl, after the years of misery he had already caused her," Liz was explaining to her daughter. Emma found herself unable to stop swallowing as she scanned their faces.

"Oh, Emma, there some sweet buns in the oven."  

Liz returned to her conversation with Barbara Lee. Emma stood still for a five count. "She must not know yet," Emma concluded. Then she met Barbara Lee's gaze. Pure contempt and malice leaped out at her. "She is waiting for just the right time," Emma realized. Emma's blood ran cold as she bit her bottom lip. With gripping effort she pulled her eyes away from Barbara Lee and stepped to the cabinet to find a plate. "I wonder when she is going to do it? I wonder when she's going to do it?" This thought circled Emma's mind in a frenzy. Emma fought to keep her face blank. She felt as though the gambit of emotions she felt racing inside were obvious on her face.

"Come and sit down," her aunt was saying over her shoulder, "Come and sit and talk with Barbara Lee and I for a bit."

Stiffly Emma took a chair at the table. Barbara Lee was seated directly across from her.

"So did you have a good time last night? " her aunt was asking Emma.

"Yes ma’am." Emma tried to not look up.

"I just bet you did," Barbara Lee said flatly.

"That Bill Simmons is the nicest boy. Has he asked you out for next weekend yet?" Liz asked hopefully.

"No ma’am."

"Why Emma, what's the matter with you?" Liz peered at the down turned face.

"Nothing, nothing. I guess I am just still real tired." She tried to appear normal in order to take the attention off of herself.

"Well, wake up. I was just telling Barbara Lee we ought to drive over to Finley this afternoon and pick up some pecans. I can start putting them up for the holiday cookies. Can you believe how late in the year it is already getting to be. Next week it will be November and then Thanksgiving and Christmas will be here before you know it."

"That's true," Barbara Lee agreed. "Momma, are you going to come up and get me for the Thanksgiving week so I can bring more things home?"

"Maybe Emma and I both will. Emma hasn't been up there before and I know she would love to meet some of your friends.   What do you say, Emma?"

"Momma," Barbara Lee broke in, "Emma doesn't have to come with you if she doesn't want to. Maybe she will not be available."

Liz buttered a corner of a sweet bun and stuffed it in her mouth. "Barbara Lee, would you be so kind as to get me some milk?" Barbara Lee merely leaned back in her chair and grabbed the refrigerator handle to open it. Emma noticed how huge Barbara's arms were, both long and muscular. Yep, Barbara Lee was a big girl. She carefully lifted the milk carton from the refrigerator and placed it in front of her mother. Liz poured a generous amount into her coffee and then dumped some of the brew on her saucer to cool.

"You know Momma, there is something I need to discuss with you and Daddy when he gets back." Barbara Lee's eyes bore into Emma as she said this.

"Oh me, sounds so serious," Liz chuckled.

"It could be." She sucked in her lips in a stern manner.

Emma's eyes flicked back and forth between the two. Her time had come.

"Are you sure you just don't want to talk to me first." Liz said in that tone of worldly female camaraderie. "Your Father doesn't always understand the problems of a young woman."

"No I think you both should hear this together."

"My goodness Barbara Lee, you sure sound mysterious about this. I don't know if I can wait. Can't you give me just a little hint?" Liz loved surprises both good and bad. "But it doesn't look as if you will have to wait long. I believe that's your Father's pickup I hear."   A crunch of tires could be heard on the front driveway.

"I should go to my room." Emma rose shakily.

"No, you stay," Barbara Lee commanded. The front door could be heard opening and Roy's footsteps in the front room. The three woman turned toward the door that he would be entering. Roy Wilson walked heavily into the room.

"Morning Liz, girls." There was a dead seriousness in his tone.

"Morning hon," Liz spoke. "What's the matter?" she immediately asked.

He looked from one to the other or them as if making up his mind before speaking. "I am afraid I don't have very good news." He placed his hands in his pockets and let out a deep sigh. "Red Humphries was killed last night." Stunned silence filled the kitchen. "Just like the others."

"But Roy, where? How?" Liz flew at him with questions.

"They found him over at the Caine place. Now don't ask me why he was there. He was in his car." He stopped to run his hand through his hair.

"Dear Jesus, help us," Liz spoke to the ceiling in earnest.

"I've got to go back into town. The men folks are forming a task force to look for," he paused at this, clearly unsure as how to finish, "well it's better to just say to look for something important." He turned to his wife. "I thought you might want to come with me, Liz. A bunch of the ladies are going over to sit with his wife, Vera. She needs folks with her now; her and the children."

"But I don't have anything made to carry."

"I am sure there will be plenty of covered dishes already."

"Well, yes, of course." Liz was already up and looking for her purse.   "Barbara Lee, you and Emma take care of them dishes while I am gone. And for heaven sakes stay in this house and lock the doors." She stopped and looked apprehensively at her daughter.

"Momma, we'll be fine."

Through all of this Emma sat stock still, rattled by the image of another murder. The whole world was going crazy around her. Roy followed his wife out of the room and Emma could hear Liz still asking frantic questions. She looked up at Barbara Lee, but her cousin was already at the sink starting the dishes. Without looking around Barbara Lee said, " Looks like you got a reprieve this time. But don't count on one later.”

Emma silently rose and slipped from the room.

 

Chapter 18