Harvest of Love

Chapter 7

              When Clem enters our cabin later that night after playing cards with another work hand, he looks at me suspiciously.

"You sure have a pep in your step." I stop my whistling and grin at him as I hang up my freshly pressed jeans and plaid shirt.

"Yeah, I guess I do."

"Anything I should know about?" Clem asks.

"Just taking your advice and getting to know Rebecca a little better is all," I answer. Clem's forehead crinkles up, and his eyes narrow.

"If I remember correctly, my advice was not to be chasing after her." I laugh in good nature and pat Clem on the shoulder.

"No worries, Pop. She asked me." At that omission, Clem's eyes widen, and it takes him a moment to reply.

"She asked you what?" I take my time answering just to tease him. I fix myself a glass of tap water, and just before I take a sip from the lifted glass, I answer,

"Fishing, tomorrow." I take my drink all the while eyeing Clem as he ponders this turn of events.

"At the pond?"

"Where else?" I laugh.

"Mason . . . I should warn you . . . Beccy, she, well, she's strong-willed and has lived a privileged life . . . that can mean trouble sometimes . . . and I,"

"Clem," I interrupt his stammering. "I'm not stupid. I need this job, remember?" He releases an anxious breath and nods his head slowly in relief. I plop down on my cot and reach to turn off the bedside lamp. "Besides, she's eighteen," I say as I turn off the light. I turn to face the wall to hide my mirth at goading good ole Clem. I hear him muttering to himself as he loudly prepares for bed. Obviously, none too happy about my last comment. I awake in the morning feeling nicely rested since not having to get up at the crack of dawn. Clem's at the table eating a bowl of grits with toast.

"I left ya some," he says and nods his head toward the stove.

"Thanks." I scrape the last of the grits into a bowl and take a seat next to Clem. I glance at his hunched over shoulders and closed off demeanor, and I feel bad for teasing him last night. "Clem, I think you should know that this fishing trip . . . We're going just as friends. Her words exactly. I think she feels sorry for me. I told her I had no place to go during our break. So, you have no need to worry, okay?" Clem leans back in his chair and wipes his mouth with a napkin. He looks me up and down and then replies with a smirk,

"I know I don't have noth'n to worry about." 

I smile and shake my head as I go to scoop up some grits from my plate. I'm glad to have ornery Clem back.

            The morning goes by quickly, and before I know it, there's a gentle rap on the door. I answer it to find Rebecca wearing red slim fitting pants and a navy light weight long-sleeved shirt. Her hair is up in a ponytail, and her eyes dance with excitement. I step to the side as I open the door wider and ask her to come in. She enters and places the large picnic basket down on the floor.

"Clem!" She smiles and rushes over to give him a hug. "It's a beautiful day. You should come with us!"

"Well . . ." Clem smiles down at her and then glances over at me. I try not to show my disappointment at her, even offering him to come. Clem looks back at Rebecca and answers, "I'd hate to spoil all the fun. Y'all young pups couldn't keep up with the likes of me." I'm touched by his decline. He must trust me after all.

"Is that right?" Rebecca states, placing a hand on her hip and has a teasing glint in her eye. "Well, if Mason proves to be a bore, I'll have you take me next time."