Wrapped around your finger - Post Malone

56

The bus stop is quiet and Hazel is thankful for it. The last thing she wants right now is to sit here with her bags and a sullen face as she waits for the bus. "Figured you could use this," Tina says passing her a coffee as she sits down. "Should you be drinking coffee? You know...with," Hazel asks pointing to her pregnant belly. "I am not even showing yet and besides, this is the country. Our children play in the rivers and catch snakes, they climb trees and bounce when they fall out of them. Whiskey is for drinkin' and cleanin' cuts. There ain't no bubble wrap in sight - they grow up tough and hard-headed, but their hearts are always sweet. A little coffee ain't gonna do a dam thing," Tina says and winks at Hazel. "You are gonna make a good mama," Hazel says softly. "Takes one to know one," Tina says bumping her shoulder. Hazel's head snaps to Tina as she looks at her in shock. "Evelyn is not my daughter...I wish she was, but...she is not," Hazel whispers, biting her bottom lip to stop from crying - it hurts to say. Tina sits up and turns her body to face Hazel full-on.

"Things work differently in the country, miss Hazel. Time is just a concept made by man. Out here we rise and set with the sun. Breakfast is when the sun is full and round, lunch is when the sun is high and dinner is when it is low. We know spring is commin' when the first lamb births and summer when the apple blossoms show. The ranchers could hire men and sit, relaxed, on their porches while the money rolls in, but they choose to work beside their men until their backs break. Honor and respect are sought after, aimed for, and held dear...and words like ma'am, sir, mother, and father are not given but earned. You may not have birthed that baby from your belly, but the love you gave her has earned you a title...you are the closest thing to a mama that girl has got, and don't you go forgetin' that."

Hazel can't talk so she just hugs Tina tight. She has no right to staking a claim on Evelyn but her heart won't let her go. Even if Austin never lets her see Evelyn again she will always, always love her. She pulls back and wipes her tears. "I don't think Austin will ever speak to me again and that breaks my heart. I will never stop loving him, but...do you think you could ask him something for me? Ask him if I could still see Evelyn. I want to move to Salt Lake City. I would move here, but...I couldn't do that to Austin. I am going to live in Salt Lake City and I want to see Evelyn as much as I can. Could you do that for me?" Hazel asks. Tina watches her carefully, Hazel knows it's a lot to ask - having a conversation with that stubborn man would be like talking to an old steady oak tree. But Hazel has to try - she can't let Evelyn go.

"Miss Hazel, Austin is as angry as a bull right now. I know my hormones are up shit's creek and all but even I am not that dumb."

"No, I know. Not right now...but when the time is right."

Tina looks at her a little unsure, but then gives her a nod."Thank you," Hazel says and hugs her again. "I can't promise you any good will come of it though...Austin is..."

"Stubborn? Hard-headed? Obstinate? Mulish? Iron-willed?"

"To put it mildly...yes."

Hazel sits back on the bench and lets her head fall back. "Uhg, I love that man...everything about him...everything. Do you know he is hung like a bull, a metal bull?" Hazel says lifting her head and looking at Tina with a serious face. Tina giggles and screws her face up as she shakes her head.

"I think you are having a mental breakdown."

"That's putting it lightly."

"Austin's mama always said he would make her lots of grand babies...so it must be true."

"I wish I had met her."

"You remind me a lot of her. That's probably why I like you so much. She used to drive Mr. Post nuts with her naggin'...at least that's what he said. But he loved her, like no man I have ever seen. She too was a wee little thing, thought only with her heart and never with her head. She had the men up there on Cottonwood jumping hoops for her. She was tough as nails, she took no one's shit and stood fast to her beliefs...even when she shook with fear. Her hands though were always soft and her smile was always kind. It broke her heart when Austin left Cottonwood to soothe his restless soul, cried every day he was gone. I told her to call him home - he never had the heart to deny his mother. But she refused, saying that he knew where home was and would one day come back. He came back faster than he left. The idiot."

Hazel listens to Tina speak and then they sit in silence. She runs her hands through Christmas Dinners feathers and wonders if Austin will let her have him once she has moved to Salt Lake City. She loves this dam turkey who has been pressed up close to her side since she sat down. She and Evelyn could take him to the park for a picnic or walks around the neighborhood. Evelyn will hate the city but Hazel thinks she could rent a house in a small country town if Evelyn gets too restless on her visits - if Austin ever allows her to visit. The bus pulls up all too soon and Tina starts fussing with her bags, eventually when it's time Hazel hugs Christmas Dinner one last time and then stands to face Tina.

"I will call you. I still want you to help with my wedding and I will speak to Austin and I will tell Evelyn that you love her."

"And the baby. I want to know about the baby."

"Yes, yes," Tina says hugging her. Then Hazel hands her Christmas Dinner's strong and climbs onto the bus. As the bus drives out of town she looks up on a hill and sees a giant cowboy seated on the back of a great big black beast of a horse. His back straight and his Stetson held high. Beside him, standing in the long grass is his little cowgirl. Her rhinestones glistening in the sun as her hair is whipped by the breeze. Hazel may be leaving, but her heart is buried in the middle of the ranch house yard on Cottonwood.