ENLIGHTEN ME
Zac didn't get his opportunity to seek out Millie until after dark. Isaac had come home and, after an intense interrogation from himself and Taylor, turned around and left again, as was his norm lately. Isaac never said where he was going, but he was gone all the time, and Zac and Taylor were growing more and more suspicious every day. One of these days, they would get it out of him. Even if they had to follow and spy on him one night--a notion which they were very close to.
At first, Zac wasn't sure where to find Millie. The idea of walking up to her front door did not appeal to him and, judging by her mood when she'd left Bessie's house earlier that day, he gathered that she likely hadn't gone home. So he put his cap back on his head and he headed to the one place he was sure he'd find her--downtown.
The night was dark and quiet. It was mid-week, so there wasn't much going on in Tulsa after nine in the evening. Zac spent his walk to town with his head spinning a mile a minute. The crickets and the distant hooting of owls reminded him of that magical night he'd spent with Bessie camping under their tree. Not magical because anything had happened, but magical because he'd spent the night with her in his arms and it was the only place he ever wanted to be. Sleep was difficult to find since then. It wasn't practical to sleep outside together every single night, though it was what they both wanted. The reality was, they'd both sleep apart for...well, he didn't know what the future held. But he knew that he would cherish every single moment he would ever have with her, sleeping or awake.
And then he went over what he would say to Millie when he finally saw her. The truth was, he had no idea what to say to her. He didn't know how to approach it. The only role he played here was the middle party who had both a brother and a girlfriend to defend against someone who had more or less been a friend for the past couple of years. The truth was, he was still livid over the incident with Bessie, he felt bad for Taylor, but he knew he had to keep it together in order to accomplish anything.
Oh, how he wished he had a plan.
Finally downtown, Zac made his way toward the speakeasy that he and his brothers frequented, usually accompanied by Judith and Millie. Save for the fact that Zac hadn't been there in at least two weeks now, he was still familiar there and he almost didn't even have to say the password.
Seeing Millie's car, he celebrated a silent victory for trusting his intuition. However, he stopped short when he saw her, curiously, sitting on a bench on the sidewalk by the street.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he walked over to the bench and made himself comfortable on the opposite end of it. She didn't look at him, but he knew she knew he was there. So he waited.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes as he watched her fidget and cross her arms over her chest out of the corner of his eye. Finally, he looked at her and said, "You're not inside?"
"It's not open, yet," she snapped.
He nodded his head in response as he let his eyes fall on the dark store fronts across the street that glowed under the dim street lamps. Then, after another minute of silence, Zac sighed and broke the ice. "You're wrong about her, you know. You're wrong about everything. And what you did to her back there was completely unfair."
"How would you know? You weren't even there. Not for the diner last Saturday, not for this afternoon with Taylor--"
"No. I wasn't. But I know Bessie--"
"It's only been a couple of weeks, Zac, save it."
"Doesn't matter. I know her heart. I know her soul. She's the most pure and good person I've ever met in my entire life and I shouldn't even have to be telling you that. And I don't really care what you think of her, but that woman is the best thing that ever happened to me and when she feels, I feel. And you stand there and you make false accusations and call her horrible names and listen to her beg and plead and tell you that she loves you and you still have the stomach to walk away from her. I just--I don't see how a person could do that. I just don't see it. And you know what the kicker is, Millie? She worships the ground you walk on and she hangs on to every single word you say. And this is how you treat her."
Millie was silent as he watched her pick at something imaginary on her dress. She looked uncomfortable, but he didn't care. "You just--you don't understand--"
"Neither does she. And I think she deserves to."
Finally, she sighed and she looked over at him as the street lamp glowed over them. "Look, I like Taylor. Okay? I like him. And I wish things could be different for us but they're just--not. But that didn't mean I was through going out with him. We had a good thing going. Then he says he talked to Bessie and then he dumps me and, well, what am I supposed to think?"
"Well...I think you went about things completely the wrong way."
Millie huffed in response.
"Really, Millie? Did you really mean all the things you said to her? Do you really not want to be her friend anymore? I mean, you're family...you've been close for so long..."
"Two years," she replied quietly, her voice almost meek. "I've been going out with Taylor for two years. Sure, it hasn't been conventional. And, sure, I've been away at school for much of the time, but--but I thought we had a good thing. I thought we had an understanding. And then here comes Bessie, out of nowhere--" She paused to scoff a laugh. "It was the craziest thing, it's like I left for school this last semester and she's still a child and then I come home this summer and she's blossomed into this--this beautiful young woman and--and she still manages to be the same old Bessie, the same--the same innocent, naïve, pure and good Bessie. And in no time at all, I'm introducing her to you and your brothers and your brother is breaking up with me. I feel like--I feel like you're not the only one who's fallen for her. And I don't understand why."
"No," he objected gently. "You're wrong. Taylor liked you, too. He talked to me not too long ago about trying to go steady with you. If anything, he's been inspired by Bessie--just like I have. But he hasn't fallen for her like me. She just makes him think. She makes everyone think."
"She certainly made him think about ending it with me," she snapped.
"Well, maybe it was time," he snapped back. "Maybe she did you a favor, did you ever think of that?"
"I didn't ask for any favors."
"No, but maybe Taylor did."
She whipped her head over at him and blinked in temporary shock. "What does that mean?"
"Come on, Millie. Get real. How long did you really expect him to let you drag him along? He's twenty-eight years old, he's broke and his future's uncertain. You and I both know you weren't going to ever consider being serious with him. So why put him through it? Why put yourself through it?"
She stared at him in thought for a moment. "You're broke and your future's uncertain and, yet, Bessie just can't seem to get enough of you."
"Yeah, well, I'm a lucky man. But it doesn't come without struggle and you're not helping her any by accusing her of something she had no involvement in. All you're doing is adding to it. And she needs you, Millie. She's--she's really going through it with her dad. And maybe the right thing for me to do is just leave her alone so she can have relief at home, but I can't stay away from her. And I won't. And I'm going to see it through until she pushes me away, but she needs someone on her side."
"What about me?" She whispered. "It's always Bessie-this and Bessie-that. Look after Bessie, take Bessie here, don't let Bessie do this or that. But what about me? When do I get to be the person nobody can live without?"
"Millie," Zac whispered. "Don't talk like that."
"Well, it's true," her voice cracked. "She's always been the baby of the family and I've always been the black sheep. And sometimes--well sometimes I regret ever bringing her to the fair because Tay--and you and Ike--that was something just for me. You were my friends, you guys were somewhere I could get away. And now--now it's like she's swooped in and taken it all away from me."
"None of us said we didn't want to be your friend. I'm sorry if--if maybe that's the way things have been coming across, but the truth is, Mills, I owe you everything. The day you introduced me to Bessie, my life changed. My life did. I truly believe that whatever you and Taylor had going on, well--it was going to run its course eventually. You had to know that, too. Deep down, you knew it."
Her eyes darted around as she dabbed at one of them with her finger. "I never wanted to admit it, but he's been different lately. Even before Bessie came along. Maybe I--maybe I did see it coming, it's just--it's not fair, you know?"
"Relationships are a two-way street. Maybe he wasn't feeling like things were fair, either."
Her eyes widened as she sniffed lightly. "Zac, do you think--do you think I could salvage--?"
He shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, but--the truth is, I wouldn't count on things being the same with you two. Maybe he'd be willing to be your friend, but I wouldn't count on you picking up where you left off. I just--I just want to be honest."
"I really messed up, didn't I? I messed up everything..."
"Maybe not everything. Bessie's your cousin, you know. She's your family. And your best friend--or at least that's what she believes."
"She is," she whispered. "She's always been there, even through my crazy...madness, I don't know..."
"She still wants to be there. She still loves you, she--she's not a grudge-holder, you know. She's not--she's going to love you till the end, no matter who you are or what you do."
"I know. She's...always been that way."
"I can't watch her hurt. And today she hurts. And I had to leave her to hurt so that I could try to fix this for her. But the truth is, I can't fix it. I can just plead with you to fix it. Because again, selfish as this sounds, I can't watch her hurt." He turned his body toward her and rested his elbows on his knees. "If I have to beg, Millie, I will. I'm not above it. Please fix this. I know you love her. I know you don't want to end your friendship with her. Just...please. Please."
"She's so disappointed in me," she said quietly. "I know she is. She said a thing or two to me at the diner that--that she was right. I said some unfair things and she stood her ground and...she was right. I never wanted to fail her. I liked being someone she could look up to."
"Well you don't have to worry about that. To her, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"Until you came along."
At that, Zac sat back against the bench, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied her. "So that's what's going on here. That's the root of it all."
"What is?"
"Me."
"You?"
"Yes. Me. Bessie's never had a boyfriend before. She's never had anyone to spend time with outside of you."
"Except for Joey Martin."
Zac smirked at her. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't count in this conversation." Then he grew serious again. "Millie, I never meant to--to take your cousin away from you. I just--I don't know, maybe we don't think a lot of times anymore, we just--want to be together. I suppose we should make sure to take others into consideration. After all, I think Taylor might be feeling the effects, too. With me being off with Bessie all the time and Ike being off on his mysterious errands--"
"Mysterious errands?"
"Yeah. Ike stays gone. A lot."
"At night?"
"I guess so."
"Well, that's easy. He's in the speakeasy."
"What?" Zac furrowed his brow in surprised confusion.
"Yeah," she said, matter-of-factly, pointing behind her with her thumb. "He's in there right now."
"Every night?"
"Most nights."
"With...with Judith?"
"Mostly."
"With what money?"
"Do you seriously not know?"
"Would I be interrogating you this thoroughly if I did?"
Millie sighed and glanced around them before she lowered her voice. "If you don't know, then I probably shouldn't tell you, but I will anyway. Ike's a runner for Judith's cousin and they work out of the speakeasy."
"A runner?"
"Yeah. He collects bets and takes the money wherever it needs to go. And he gets a cut of it."
"You're kidding..."
"Nope. Judith tells me everything."
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" Zac panicked.
"It'll be even more dangerous if you confront him about it in there, which I know is exactly what you're thinking about doing," Millie hissed. "Trust me, leave it alone and discuss it when he comes home. Do not go in there tonight, not knowing what you know now."
"Millie!" He hissed back. "It's bad enough that he goes in there at all. Now he's working directly for the--? Oh, Millie. How could he be so stupid?"
"From what I understand, he's trying to work toward getting your car fixed. He's a grown man, I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself."
"He is an illusionist. He specializes in fucking card tricks. He knows how to cheat and make things disappear and--how are people even trusting him enough to take their money?"
"Don't ask me all these questions, I told you everything I know. But--but thank you. For coming out here. I just--I feel so lost. You know?"
"Yeah," Zac nodded. "Yeah, of course. No problem."
Zac was happy that he'd helped Bessie with her Millie situation. He was fairly certain that they would be back on track in no time. Now he had bigger fish to fry--his older brother was running money for an illegal gambling ring in an illegal speakeasy. All of a sudden, all Zac wanted to do was go home and talk to Taylor tonight.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"That's an awful light load you got here, Ike. Can I call you Ike? Of course I can, I own your ass."
Isaac's nostrils flared at Johnny Carter's jab at his masculinity. Nobody owned Isaac and he was near the point of letting Johnny know it until his nose caught the faint scent of fresh pine wood and he thought better of it.
"They're still warming up to me," he replied through his teeth. "I told you they'd be wary of me with my...occupational background. I told you this would be a risk."
"A risk, yes. A liability, I will not tolerate. Don't become a liability, Ike. Do you know what we do with liabilities? Can't you smell it?" Johnny Carter inhaled the air dramatically and then he sat back in his chair and smiled a smile that made Isaac's stomach churn. However, as he stood in the office of the lumber yard, he couldn't help but be reminded that he'd likely be afforded the dignity of picking the wood that his box would be made of upon leaving the operation.
"Look. If I didn't think I could do it, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I'm doing you a favor, agreeing to this. There isn't a jackass for miles who has the cunning to do this that I have. If I were you, I'd be a little nicer to me," Isaac threatened. "I've made many things disappear over the years."
"Yeah?" Johnny said, pounding his fist on the desk and lunging forward in his chair. "Well I've made a lot of people disappear--"
"Yeah?" Isaac challenged. "Well it's my understanding that you sought me out specifically because you need me. Because I'm talented. Because I've been around. I've been around a lot more than you have. And to be honest, I didn't come here to be someone's whipping boy. I came here to help you generate a profit. Now are you gonna let me do that or not?"
Johnny stared Isaac down for a moment, his dark eyes hard, before he finally sat back in his chair and flopped the money clip holding the bills down on his desk. "You're lucky I like you, Ike. More importantly, you're lucky my baby cousin likes you. If it weren't for her, I'd have offed you already for bringing me shit like this. I expected better from you. I expected you to come to me with full pockets, not full of excuses. My patience is wearing thin. These guys gotta bet more. Figure it out."
"Then let me do it my way."
Johnny howled in fake laughter as he glanced at the two goons that stood in the room as "witnesses." "Did you hear that, boys? His way. Man, I needed that laugh, Ike, thanks a million."
"I'm serious. I've been around. I've been all over. I've gambled everything, everywhere, from Las Vegas to New York City, even against the hardest of men. This little ticket game you're running? Sure, it's effective. But it's child's play. There's no challenge."
"Challenge? Who needs challenge when there's a chance to hit it big?"
"Hitting it bigger in a poker game."
Johnny sat back in his chair again and stared Isaac down, rubbing his chin in thought. "Poker, you say? You know, normally I don't like my boys getting too big for their britches and thinking and such. It's not their place to order me around and tell me how to run things. But like I said, I like you. And, you know, being who you are...I'm forced to admit, you intrigue me at the notion of poker. Tell me more."
"Cards are my specialty. It's no secret. Even with the best of poker players looking over my shoulder, he can't catch the slight of my hand. Men love poker. They'll love it even more with Judith by my side helping me deal the games. Give me a couple of weeks to get in good and get it going. And if you aren't pleased, we'll go back to ticket pulling."
"Judith, huh?" Then he covered his heart in insincere shock. "Are you suggesting we exploit my sweet, baby cousin to rake in a little extra dough?"
"It's a lot better than what you've probably got her doing now. I don't like not knowing where she is. It rubs me the wrong way."
"It's really not your place to be rubbed one way or the other, is it?"
"It is if you want me running poker games for you. That's the deal. I'll run the games, make sure you profit large, I want Judith by my side at all times. Take it or leave it."
"And if I leave it?"
"Then I leave this entire operation."
"You won't leave out of here wearing anything less than a pine box."
"Don't forget where I live, Johnny. Don't forget who has my back." Isaac felt bad using the gypsies' false notoriety the way he just had. The gypsies were completely harmless. But most of Tulsa thought they were dangerous savages, including these simpletons, so he'd used the myth to his advantage. To his delight, it worked.
"Fine. I'll reserve a table in the back of the speakeasy for you to run your games. Make sure Judith wears something appealing. This better work, Ike, I'm warning you."
"Don't worry. I'll be bringing you bigger wads of dough in no time, no sweat."
"We start this weekend. Two weeks, magic man, that's all I'm giving you. Two weeks to impress me. If you don't, it's curtains."
"I thought it was a pine box?"
"Don't get cute, Ike. Get out of my office."
With fear turned into a nervous confidence, Isaac walked out of the lumber yard office. Trying to watch his back and where he was walking at the same time, he nearly collided into Judith when she rounded the corner to meet him. "So?" She pressed quietly. "Why were you in there so long?" Then she frowned as she picked up stride alongside him. "What's with the face, Daddy?"
He glanced down at her and then took her by the hand, speeding their walking a little. "There's been a slight change in plans. But I don't wanna talk about it here. Your father expecting you tonight?"
"Does he ever expect me?" She muttered.
"Wanna stay with me tonight?"
She smiled up at him and gripped his hand. "Yeah, of course I do. Will your brothers mind?"
"I don't really care, honestly."
"Uh-oh," she pouted. "Trouble at home?"
"No, no trouble, I just--kinda don't feel like sleeping alone tonight, that's all."
Isaac led Judith, with her short blonde curls and a black dress reminiscent of a flapper from several years earlier, from the lumberyard and into the street, making their way toward the gypsy camp. Once out of earshot, Judith whispered, "So what's this plan change you're talking about?"
"Judith, what does your cousin have you doing? Where are you when I'm pulling tabs?"
"Well--I mean, I'm there..."
"Doing what?"
"Making money."
"Doing what?"
"Ike, don't ask me to--"
"Tell me, Judith. What does your cousin have you doing?"
Finally, she sighed and replied dejectedly, "I give private shows in the back."
"Excuse me?"
"It's real easy. And he keeps me well-guarded--"
"I can't believe this. He didn't even mention that."
"Well, he wouldn't--"
"So you're taking off your clothes for money?"
"Um...well...not all the time..."
"Are you having sex with them? Are you--?" His stomach churned just to say it. "Are you prostituting?"
"No! No, I am doing no such thing! It's just, you know, a little dancing...a little peep show here and there..."
"Not anymore."
"What?"
"I'm running poker games from now on and you're doing it with me. You'll be with me at all times, that was part of the deal."
"You made a deal with Johnny?"
"Yup."
"And he let you?"
"Let me? Of course he let me, he's not gonna let someone with my talents slip through his fingers. I have the upper hand here."
"For now."
"We'll see."
"So...so that's it? I just deal cards? I don't have to--"
"No. As far as I'm concerned, you never have to touch any of those dirty bastards ever again."
Judith stopped them in the middle of their path and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, Ike," she whispered as she hugged him. "Thank you so much. You really are a knight in shining armor, you know that?"
He pulled away and he looked at her, her brown eyes glistening under the moonlight. "I know you and I aren't...you know, terribly serious and such. But I care about you, princess. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."
She placed a soft kiss on his lips and she took him by his hands. Glancing down at them, she said quietly, "I think I'm developing feelings for you, Ike. More than...you know, more than the normal ones. I just--I just thought I'd put that out there."
Not waiting for him to respond, she took his hand and started them on their walk again. As they walked, he found himself smiling into the night. She was his little partner in crime. There was no way he was letting this one get away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Zac and Taylor both had decided to wait up on Isaac that night. Taylor kept dozing off, Zac kept hitting him in the arm, and finally Taylor had had enough and popped him right in the mouth. "If I get a fat lip from this, you're gonna get it," Zac warned him.
"Then stop fucking with me," Taylor argued.
"Then stay awake!"
Before too long, Isaac finally came through the trailer door and both brothers were a little surprised to find Judith at his side. Zac sighed and shook his head. "Look, man, there's no camping with Bessie in the plans tonight and I got nowhere to go. Pretty sure Tay doesn't, either--"
"Don't worry, it's not one of those nights," Isaac huffed, annoyed. "I asked Judith to stay, no big deal."
"So," Zac started, getting comfortable and crossing his arms over his chest. "Where've you been?"
"Out."
Zac looked over at Taylor who was suddenly awake now and Taylor, keeping his mouth shut, nodded at Zac. "Out where? And don't lie about it."
"It's really none of your business."
"Really? Because if my brother was running an illegal gambling ring in an illegal speakeasy, I sure would like to know about it. Wouldn't you, Tay?"
Taylor simply nodded in agreement.
Isaac let out a sigh as he sat down next to Judith on what would turn into his bed. "Shit," he said under his breath. Then he looked up at his brothers. "You weren't supposed to know about that."
"Yeah, well, news travels. What in the hell are you thinking, Ike?"
"Look, it's decent money and it's gonna help us get the car fixed."
"Yeah, but running money--?"
"There's no work anywhere else. And, besides, I don't see you or Tay hot on the trail to find any steady work anyway. At least I'm bringing something in."
"But at the risk of what, getting killed or put in jail?"
"Interesting choice of words coming from the jailbird, himself."
Zac chose to ignore the jab and pointed at Judith. "So, what, you got Judith roped into your schemes, as well?"
"Come off it, Zac, it's not like--"
"I got him the job," she said meekly.
"Oh, well this just keeps getting better," Zac said sarcastically. "So what kind of trap did you set for him, Judith? Huh? Broken legs? Paralysis? Are they gonna kill him?"
Judith's eyes widened and she looked up at Isaac without an answer. Zac almost felt bad for the suggestion, but his anger was getting the best of him.
"Hey, lay off, huh?" Isaac replied. "She didn't set any kind of trap for me, she was looking out for me--"
"Looking out for you would be letting you know there's a job opening at the plant or something."
"Oh, please, Zac, if I got a steady job somewhere, you'd flip your shit in a minute. You're scared to death to let go of this act and it's not going anywhere!"
"It brings in money when we need it!"
"Not like it used to! It's coming in slower and slower and we can't even afford to fix the car to get us anywhere! I'm contributing! What are you two goons doing?"
Zac looked at Taylor and Taylor returned the glance. Finally, Taylor spoke up. "Ike, I think you're missing the entire point here."
"Enlighten me," he snapped.
"It has nothing to do with what money you're bringing in, it has to do with your safety. Both of yours, you and Judith. It's bad enough that liquor is illegal anyway. But now gambling? You're not just placing a bet or two, you're running the whole damn show. If you're not killed by any of them, you'll probably get life in prison or something. What you're doing isn't only risky, Ike, it's scary. It's scary for all of us."
"Don't be wimps," Ike said. "I didn't want you two to know about any of this because of this very thing right here. And to protect you two. The less people who know about this, the better. For everyone involved."
"How do you get out of it?" Zac asked.
"Who said I was looking to get out?"
"Goddammit, Ike," Zac muttered, exasperated.
"Look, I'm tired," Isaac said, kicking off his shoes. "I've had a long night. You guys can either turn off the lights or you can finish this conversation outside without me, I don't care. But Judith and I are getting some shut-eye."
As his brothers painstakingly turned down their beds and made the necessary preparations, Judith's small voice spoke up. "Please don't be upset at me, guys. I--I understand everything that you're saying. I do. It makes me nervous, too. But these guys are my cousins and they'll take care of me. And Ike. I promise."
Zac and Taylor glanced at each other, each one muttering an inaudible response and left it at that. Isaac, on the other hand, let out a silent breath at her words. Sure, Judith's cousins were taking care of them, all right. Just like they allowed her to dance for money or how they threatened to kill him in not so many words, several different times. He chose not to say anything to her. As long as he kept her in his sight, and as long as he turned a good profit running poker, nobody had anything to worry about.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. But it came easier than normal with Judith tucked under his arm.
Zac didn't get his opportunity to seek out Millie until after dark. Isaac had come home and, after an intense interrogation from himself and Taylor, turned around and left again, as was his norm lately. Isaac never said where he was going, but he was gone all the time, and Zac and Taylor were growing more and more suspicious every day. One of these days, they would get it out of him. Even if they had to follow and spy on him one night--a notion which they were very close to.
At first, Zac wasn't sure where to find Millie. The idea of walking up to her front door did not appeal to him and, judging by her mood when she'd left Bessie's house earlier that day, he gathered that she likely hadn't gone home. So he put his cap back on his head and he headed to the one place he was sure he'd find her--downtown.
The night was dark and quiet. It was mid-week, so there wasn't much going on in Tulsa after nine in the evening. Zac spent his walk to town with his head spinning a mile a minute. The crickets and the distant hooting of owls reminded him of that magical night he'd spent with Bessie camping under their tree. Not magical because anything had happened, but magical because he'd spent the night with her in his arms and it was the only place he ever wanted to be. Sleep was difficult to find since then. It wasn't practical to sleep outside together every single night, though it was what they both wanted. The reality was, they'd both sleep apart for...well, he didn't know what the future held. But he knew that he would cherish every single moment he would ever have with her, sleeping or awake.
And then he went over what he would say to Millie when he finally saw her. The truth was, he had no idea what to say to her. He didn't know how to approach it. The only role he played here was the middle party who had both a brother and a girlfriend to defend against someone who had more or less been a friend for the past couple of years. The truth was, he was still livid over the incident with Bessie, he felt bad for Taylor, but he knew he had to keep it together in order to accomplish anything.
Oh, how he wished he had a plan.
Finally downtown, Zac made his way toward the speakeasy that he and his brothers frequented, usually accompanied by Judith and Millie. Save for the fact that Zac hadn't been there in at least two weeks now, he was still familiar there and he almost didn't even have to say the password.
Seeing Millie's car, he celebrated a silent victory for trusting his intuition. However, he stopped short when he saw her, curiously, sitting on a bench on the sidewalk by the street.
Shoving his hands in his pockets, he walked over to the bench and made himself comfortable on the opposite end of it. She didn't look at him, but he knew she knew he was there. So he waited.
They sat in silence for a couple of minutes as he watched her fidget and cross her arms over her chest out of the corner of his eye. Finally, he looked at her and said, "You're not inside?"
"It's not open, yet," she snapped.
He nodded his head in response as he let his eyes fall on the dark store fronts across the street that glowed under the dim street lamps. Then, after another minute of silence, Zac sighed and broke the ice. "You're wrong about her, you know. You're wrong about everything. And what you did to her back there was completely unfair."
"How would you know? You weren't even there. Not for the diner last Saturday, not for this afternoon with Taylor--"
"No. I wasn't. But I know Bessie--"
"It's only been a couple of weeks, Zac, save it."
"Doesn't matter. I know her heart. I know her soul. She's the most pure and good person I've ever met in my entire life and I shouldn't even have to be telling you that. And I don't really care what you think of her, but that woman is the best thing that ever happened to me and when she feels, I feel. And you stand there and you make false accusations and call her horrible names and listen to her beg and plead and tell you that she loves you and you still have the stomach to walk away from her. I just--I don't see how a person could do that. I just don't see it. And you know what the kicker is, Millie? She worships the ground you walk on and she hangs on to every single word you say. And this is how you treat her."
Millie was silent as he watched her pick at something imaginary on her dress. She looked uncomfortable, but he didn't care. "You just--you don't understand--"
"Neither does she. And I think she deserves to."
Finally, she sighed and she looked over at him as the street lamp glowed over them. "Look, I like Taylor. Okay? I like him. And I wish things could be different for us but they're just--not. But that didn't mean I was through going out with him. We had a good thing going. Then he says he talked to Bessie and then he dumps me and, well, what am I supposed to think?"
"Well...I think you went about things completely the wrong way."
Millie huffed in response.
"Really, Millie? Did you really mean all the things you said to her? Do you really not want to be her friend anymore? I mean, you're family...you've been close for so long..."
"Two years," she replied quietly, her voice almost meek. "I've been going out with Taylor for two years. Sure, it hasn't been conventional. And, sure, I've been away at school for much of the time, but--but I thought we had a good thing. I thought we had an understanding. And then here comes Bessie, out of nowhere--" She paused to scoff a laugh. "It was the craziest thing, it's like I left for school this last semester and she's still a child and then I come home this summer and she's blossomed into this--this beautiful young woman and--and she still manages to be the same old Bessie, the same--the same innocent, naïve, pure and good Bessie. And in no time at all, I'm introducing her to you and your brothers and your brother is breaking up with me. I feel like--I feel like you're not the only one who's fallen for her. And I don't understand why."
"No," he objected gently. "You're wrong. Taylor liked you, too. He talked to me not too long ago about trying to go steady with you. If anything, he's been inspired by Bessie--just like I have. But he hasn't fallen for her like me. She just makes him think. She makes everyone think."
"She certainly made him think about ending it with me," she snapped.
"Well, maybe it was time," he snapped back. "Maybe she did you a favor, did you ever think of that?"
"I didn't ask for any favors."
"No, but maybe Taylor did."
She whipped her head over at him and blinked in temporary shock. "What does that mean?"
"Come on, Millie. Get real. How long did you really expect him to let you drag him along? He's twenty-eight years old, he's broke and his future's uncertain. You and I both know you weren't going to ever consider being serious with him. So why put him through it? Why put yourself through it?"
She stared at him in thought for a moment. "You're broke and your future's uncertain and, yet, Bessie just can't seem to get enough of you."
"Yeah, well, I'm a lucky man. But it doesn't come without struggle and you're not helping her any by accusing her of something she had no involvement in. All you're doing is adding to it. And she needs you, Millie. She's--she's really going through it with her dad. And maybe the right thing for me to do is just leave her alone so she can have relief at home, but I can't stay away from her. And I won't. And I'm going to see it through until she pushes me away, but she needs someone on her side."
"What about me?" She whispered. "It's always Bessie-this and Bessie-that. Look after Bessie, take Bessie here, don't let Bessie do this or that. But what about me? When do I get to be the person nobody can live without?"
"Millie," Zac whispered. "Don't talk like that."
"Well, it's true," her voice cracked. "She's always been the baby of the family and I've always been the black sheep. And sometimes--well sometimes I regret ever bringing her to the fair because Tay--and you and Ike--that was something just for me. You were my friends, you guys were somewhere I could get away. And now--now it's like she's swooped in and taken it all away from me."
"None of us said we didn't want to be your friend. I'm sorry if--if maybe that's the way things have been coming across, but the truth is, Mills, I owe you everything. The day you introduced me to Bessie, my life changed. My life did. I truly believe that whatever you and Taylor had going on, well--it was going to run its course eventually. You had to know that, too. Deep down, you knew it."
Her eyes darted around as she dabbed at one of them with her finger. "I never wanted to admit it, but he's been different lately. Even before Bessie came along. Maybe I--maybe I did see it coming, it's just--it's not fair, you know?"
"Relationships are a two-way street. Maybe he wasn't feeling like things were fair, either."
Her eyes widened as she sniffed lightly. "Zac, do you think--do you think I could salvage--?"
He shook his head regretfully. "I'm sorry, but--the truth is, I wouldn't count on things being the same with you two. Maybe he'd be willing to be your friend, but I wouldn't count on you picking up where you left off. I just--I just want to be honest."
"I really messed up, didn't I? I messed up everything..."
"Maybe not everything. Bessie's your cousin, you know. She's your family. And your best friend--or at least that's what she believes."
"She is," she whispered. "She's always been there, even through my crazy...madness, I don't know..."
"She still wants to be there. She still loves you, she--she's not a grudge-holder, you know. She's not--she's going to love you till the end, no matter who you are or what you do."
"I know. She's...always been that way."
"I can't watch her hurt. And today she hurts. And I had to leave her to hurt so that I could try to fix this for her. But the truth is, I can't fix it. I can just plead with you to fix it. Because again, selfish as this sounds, I can't watch her hurt." He turned his body toward her and rested his elbows on his knees. "If I have to beg, Millie, I will. I'm not above it. Please fix this. I know you love her. I know you don't want to end your friendship with her. Just...please. Please."
"She's so disappointed in me," she said quietly. "I know she is. She said a thing or two to me at the diner that--that she was right. I said some unfair things and she stood her ground and...she was right. I never wanted to fail her. I liked being someone she could look up to."
"Well you don't have to worry about that. To her, you're the greatest thing since sliced bread."
"Until you came along."
At that, Zac sat back against the bench, crossed his arms over his chest, and studied her. "So that's what's going on here. That's the root of it all."
"What is?"
"Me."
"You?"
"Yes. Me. Bessie's never had a boyfriend before. She's never had anyone to spend time with outside of you."
"Except for Joey Martin."
Zac smirked at her. "I'm pretty sure he doesn't count in this conversation." Then he grew serious again. "Millie, I never meant to--to take your cousin away from you. I just--I don't know, maybe we don't think a lot of times anymore, we just--want to be together. I suppose we should make sure to take others into consideration. After all, I think Taylor might be feeling the effects, too. With me being off with Bessie all the time and Ike being off on his mysterious errands--"
"Mysterious errands?"
"Yeah. Ike stays gone. A lot."
"At night?"
"I guess so."
"Well, that's easy. He's in the speakeasy."
"What?" Zac furrowed his brow in surprised confusion.
"Yeah," she said, matter-of-factly, pointing behind her with her thumb. "He's in there right now."
"Every night?"
"Most nights."
"With...with Judith?"
"Mostly."
"With what money?"
"Do you seriously not know?"
"Would I be interrogating you this thoroughly if I did?"
Millie sighed and glanced around them before she lowered her voice. "If you don't know, then I probably shouldn't tell you, but I will anyway. Ike's a runner for Judith's cousin and they work out of the speakeasy."
"A runner?"
"Yeah. He collects bets and takes the money wherever it needs to go. And he gets a cut of it."
"You're kidding..."
"Nope. Judith tells me everything."
"Do you have any idea how dangerous that is?" Zac panicked.
"It'll be even more dangerous if you confront him about it in there, which I know is exactly what you're thinking about doing," Millie hissed. "Trust me, leave it alone and discuss it when he comes home. Do not go in there tonight, not knowing what you know now."
"Millie!" He hissed back. "It's bad enough that he goes in there at all. Now he's working directly for the--? Oh, Millie. How could he be so stupid?"
"From what I understand, he's trying to work toward getting your car fixed. He's a grown man, I'm pretty sure he can take care of himself."
"He is an illusionist. He specializes in fucking card tricks. He knows how to cheat and make things disappear and--how are people even trusting him enough to take their money?"
"Don't ask me all these questions, I told you everything I know. But--but thank you. For coming out here. I just--I feel so lost. You know?"
"Yeah," Zac nodded. "Yeah, of course. No problem."
Zac was happy that he'd helped Bessie with her Millie situation. He was fairly certain that they would be back on track in no time. Now he had bigger fish to fry--his older brother was running money for an illegal gambling ring in an illegal speakeasy. All of a sudden, all Zac wanted to do was go home and talk to Taylor tonight.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
"That's an awful light load you got here, Ike. Can I call you Ike? Of course I can, I own your ass."
Isaac's nostrils flared at Johnny Carter's jab at his masculinity. Nobody owned Isaac and he was near the point of letting Johnny know it until his nose caught the faint scent of fresh pine wood and he thought better of it.
"They're still warming up to me," he replied through his teeth. "I told you they'd be wary of me with my...occupational background. I told you this would be a risk."
"A risk, yes. A liability, I will not tolerate. Don't become a liability, Ike. Do you know what we do with liabilities? Can't you smell it?" Johnny Carter inhaled the air dramatically and then he sat back in his chair and smiled a smile that made Isaac's stomach churn. However, as he stood in the office of the lumber yard, he couldn't help but be reminded that he'd likely be afforded the dignity of picking the wood that his box would be made of upon leaving the operation.
"Look. If I didn't think I could do it, I wouldn't have agreed to it. I'm doing you a favor, agreeing to this. There isn't a jackass for miles who has the cunning to do this that I have. If I were you, I'd be a little nicer to me," Isaac threatened. "I've made many things disappear over the years."
"Yeah?" Johnny said, pounding his fist on the desk and lunging forward in his chair. "Well I've made a lot of people disappear--"
"Yeah?" Isaac challenged. "Well it's my understanding that you sought me out specifically because you need me. Because I'm talented. Because I've been around. I've been around a lot more than you have. And to be honest, I didn't come here to be someone's whipping boy. I came here to help you generate a profit. Now are you gonna let me do that or not?"
Johnny stared Isaac down for a moment, his dark eyes hard, before he finally sat back in his chair and flopped the money clip holding the bills down on his desk. "You're lucky I like you, Ike. More importantly, you're lucky my baby cousin likes you. If it weren't for her, I'd have offed you already for bringing me shit like this. I expected better from you. I expected you to come to me with full pockets, not full of excuses. My patience is wearing thin. These guys gotta bet more. Figure it out."
"Then let me do it my way."
Johnny howled in fake laughter as he glanced at the two goons that stood in the room as "witnesses." "Did you hear that, boys? His way. Man, I needed that laugh, Ike, thanks a million."
"I'm serious. I've been around. I've been all over. I've gambled everything, everywhere, from Las Vegas to New York City, even against the hardest of men. This little ticket game you're running? Sure, it's effective. But it's child's play. There's no challenge."
"Challenge? Who needs challenge when there's a chance to hit it big?"
"Hitting it bigger in a poker game."
Johnny sat back in his chair again and stared Isaac down, rubbing his chin in thought. "Poker, you say? You know, normally I don't like my boys getting too big for their britches and thinking and such. It's not their place to order me around and tell me how to run things. But like I said, I like you. And, you know, being who you are...I'm forced to admit, you intrigue me at the notion of poker. Tell me more."
"Cards are my specialty. It's no secret. Even with the best of poker players looking over my shoulder, he can't catch the slight of my hand. Men love poker. They'll love it even more with Judith by my side helping me deal the games. Give me a couple of weeks to get in good and get it going. And if you aren't pleased, we'll go back to ticket pulling."
"Judith, huh?" Then he covered his heart in insincere shock. "Are you suggesting we exploit my sweet, baby cousin to rake in a little extra dough?"
"It's a lot better than what you've probably got her doing now. I don't like not knowing where she is. It rubs me the wrong way."
"It's really not your place to be rubbed one way or the other, is it?"
"It is if you want me running poker games for you. That's the deal. I'll run the games, make sure you profit large, I want Judith by my side at all times. Take it or leave it."
"And if I leave it?"
"Then I leave this entire operation."
"You won't leave out of here wearing anything less than a pine box."
"Don't forget where I live, Johnny. Don't forget who has my back." Isaac felt bad using the gypsies' false notoriety the way he just had. The gypsies were completely harmless. But most of Tulsa thought they were dangerous savages, including these simpletons, so he'd used the myth to his advantage. To his delight, it worked.
"Fine. I'll reserve a table in the back of the speakeasy for you to run your games. Make sure Judith wears something appealing. This better work, Ike, I'm warning you."
"Don't worry. I'll be bringing you bigger wads of dough in no time, no sweat."
"We start this weekend. Two weeks, magic man, that's all I'm giving you. Two weeks to impress me. If you don't, it's curtains."
"I thought it was a pine box?"
"Don't get cute, Ike. Get out of my office."
With fear turned into a nervous confidence, Isaac walked out of the lumber yard office. Trying to watch his back and where he was walking at the same time, he nearly collided into Judith when she rounded the corner to meet him. "So?" She pressed quietly. "Why were you in there so long?" Then she frowned as she picked up stride alongside him. "What's with the face, Daddy?"
He glanced down at her and then took her by the hand, speeding their walking a little. "There's been a slight change in plans. But I don't wanna talk about it here. Your father expecting you tonight?"
"Does he ever expect me?" She muttered.
"Wanna stay with me tonight?"
She smiled up at him and gripped his hand. "Yeah, of course I do. Will your brothers mind?"
"I don't really care, honestly."
"Uh-oh," she pouted. "Trouble at home?"
"No, no trouble, I just--kinda don't feel like sleeping alone tonight, that's all."
Isaac led Judith, with her short blonde curls and a black dress reminiscent of a flapper from several years earlier, from the lumberyard and into the street, making their way toward the gypsy camp. Once out of earshot, Judith whispered, "So what's this plan change you're talking about?"
"Judith, what does your cousin have you doing? Where are you when I'm pulling tabs?"
"Well--I mean, I'm there..."
"Doing what?"
"Making money."
"Doing what?"
"Ike, don't ask me to--"
"Tell me, Judith. What does your cousin have you doing?"
Finally, she sighed and replied dejectedly, "I give private shows in the back."
"Excuse me?"
"It's real easy. And he keeps me well-guarded--"
"I can't believe this. He didn't even mention that."
"Well, he wouldn't--"
"So you're taking off your clothes for money?"
"Um...well...not all the time..."
"Are you having sex with them? Are you--?" His stomach churned just to say it. "Are you prostituting?"
"No! No, I am doing no such thing! It's just, you know, a little dancing...a little peep show here and there..."
"Not anymore."
"What?"
"I'm running poker games from now on and you're doing it with me. You'll be with me at all times, that was part of the deal."
"You made a deal with Johnny?"
"Yup."
"And he let you?"
"Let me? Of course he let me, he's not gonna let someone with my talents slip through his fingers. I have the upper hand here."
"For now."
"We'll see."
"So...so that's it? I just deal cards? I don't have to--"
"No. As far as I'm concerned, you never have to touch any of those dirty bastards ever again."
Judith stopped them in the middle of their path and wrapped her arms around his neck. "Oh, Ike," she whispered as she hugged him. "Thank you so much. You really are a knight in shining armor, you know that?"
He pulled away and he looked at her, her brown eyes glistening under the moonlight. "I know you and I aren't...you know, terribly serious and such. But I care about you, princess. I'm not gonna let anything happen to you."
She placed a soft kiss on his lips and she took him by his hands. Glancing down at them, she said quietly, "I think I'm developing feelings for you, Ike. More than...you know, more than the normal ones. I just--I just thought I'd put that out there."
Not waiting for him to respond, she took his hand and started them on their walk again. As they walked, he found himself smiling into the night. She was his little partner in crime. There was no way he was letting this one get away.
_______________________________________________________________________________________________
Zac and Taylor both had decided to wait up on Isaac that night. Taylor kept dozing off, Zac kept hitting him in the arm, and finally Taylor had had enough and popped him right in the mouth. "If I get a fat lip from this, you're gonna get it," Zac warned him.
"Then stop fucking with me," Taylor argued.
"Then stay awake!"
Before too long, Isaac finally came through the trailer door and both brothers were a little surprised to find Judith at his side. Zac sighed and shook his head. "Look, man, there's no camping with Bessie in the plans tonight and I got nowhere to go. Pretty sure Tay doesn't, either--"
"Don't worry, it's not one of those nights," Isaac huffed, annoyed. "I asked Judith to stay, no big deal."
"So," Zac started, getting comfortable and crossing his arms over his chest. "Where've you been?"
"Out."
Zac looked over at Taylor who was suddenly awake now and Taylor, keeping his mouth shut, nodded at Zac. "Out where? And don't lie about it."
"It's really none of your business."
"Really? Because if my brother was running an illegal gambling ring in an illegal speakeasy, I sure would like to know about it. Wouldn't you, Tay?"
Taylor simply nodded in agreement.
Isaac let out a sigh as he sat down next to Judith on what would turn into his bed. "Shit," he said under his breath. Then he looked up at his brothers. "You weren't supposed to know about that."
"Yeah, well, news travels. What in the hell are you thinking, Ike?"
"Look, it's decent money and it's gonna help us get the car fixed."
"Yeah, but running money--?"
"There's no work anywhere else. And, besides, I don't see you or Tay hot on the trail to find any steady work anyway. At least I'm bringing something in."
"But at the risk of what, getting killed or put in jail?"
"Interesting choice of words coming from the jailbird, himself."
Zac chose to ignore the jab and pointed at Judith. "So, what, you got Judith roped into your schemes, as well?"
"Come off it, Zac, it's not like--"
"I got him the job," she said meekly.
"Oh, well this just keeps getting better," Zac said sarcastically. "So what kind of trap did you set for him, Judith? Huh? Broken legs? Paralysis? Are they gonna kill him?"
Judith's eyes widened and she looked up at Isaac without an answer. Zac almost felt bad for the suggestion, but his anger was getting the best of him.
"Hey, lay off, huh?" Isaac replied. "She didn't set any kind of trap for me, she was looking out for me--"
"Looking out for you would be letting you know there's a job opening at the plant or something."
"Oh, please, Zac, if I got a steady job somewhere, you'd flip your shit in a minute. You're scared to death to let go of this act and it's not going anywhere!"
"It brings in money when we need it!"
"Not like it used to! It's coming in slower and slower and we can't even afford to fix the car to get us anywhere! I'm contributing! What are you two goons doing?"
Zac looked at Taylor and Taylor returned the glance. Finally, Taylor spoke up. "Ike, I think you're missing the entire point here."
"Enlighten me," he snapped.
"It has nothing to do with what money you're bringing in, it has to do with your safety. Both of yours, you and Judith. It's bad enough that liquor is illegal anyway. But now gambling? You're not just placing a bet or two, you're running the whole damn show. If you're not killed by any of them, you'll probably get life in prison or something. What you're doing isn't only risky, Ike, it's scary. It's scary for all of us."
"Don't be wimps," Ike said. "I didn't want you two to know about any of this because of this very thing right here. And to protect you two. The less people who know about this, the better. For everyone involved."
"How do you get out of it?" Zac asked.
"Who said I was looking to get out?"
"Goddammit, Ike," Zac muttered, exasperated.
"Look, I'm tired," Isaac said, kicking off his shoes. "I've had a long night. You guys can either turn off the lights or you can finish this conversation outside without me, I don't care. But Judith and I are getting some shut-eye."
As his brothers painstakingly turned down their beds and made the necessary preparations, Judith's small voice spoke up. "Please don't be upset at me, guys. I--I understand everything that you're saying. I do. It makes me nervous, too. But these guys are my cousins and they'll take care of me. And Ike. I promise."
Zac and Taylor glanced at each other, each one muttering an inaudible response and left it at that. Isaac, on the other hand, let out a silent breath at her words. Sure, Judith's cousins were taking care of them, all right. Just like they allowed her to dance for money or how they threatened to kill him in not so many words, several different times. He chose not to say anything to her. As long as he kept her in his sight, and as long as he turned a good profit running poker, nobody had anything to worry about.
Sleep didn't come easy that night. But it came easier than normal with Judith tucked under his arm.