Chapter Text
The Mississippi heat beams down through the small door hitting the shoulders of the young lady as she sits with her back turned against it. She is working on packing up some herbs while Annie is getting an order ready and talking to some of the young children.
“It seems hotter today, don’t it”, she asks before picking up a towel and gently dabbing it across her forehead.
“Posed’ to get hotter later. Probably cool down by time night falls”, Annie replies.
The young lady goes to respond before she freezes and her head turns slightly towards the entrance door as a soft rumble fills her ears.
“Who can that be”, she asks but Annie doesn’t respond but she can see her shoulders tense up slightly and her hand shake a little as she finishes up the packing for the kids before sending them away.
Annie walks over to the side window and peers out as he steps out of the car and goes to the little memorial site. Gently he removes his cap and then places a few flowers in front of the rock, gently patting the small handprint that covers the rock.
“Stay here, Rose”, Annie says leaving no room for discussion and the younger woman nods as Annie disappears.
Even though she is only two years younger than Annie, she treats her almost like a daughter or younger sister.
Rose goes back to her task at hand when a soft wind passes by the top of her left ear and she raises her head, the room feels suddenly cooler and her senses become hypersensitive. She glances around the room, looking for what could have caused it.
Annie comes back into the room with a gentleman behind her and her skin bristles as she raises her head to look at him. Her breath hitches as a man she hasn’t seen in seven years comes into focus, his hat resting in between his hands as he looks around before they fall on her.
“Scarlett Rose? Is that you, girl”, he asks as he takes in her facial features?
“Who the hell else would it be”she snipes.
“Whew. Mouth still as slick as oil”, he says with a low whistle.
“Smoke, leave that girl alone. What are you doing here?”, Annie says.
“Stack and I are opening up a juke jam spot. Going to the the flyest thing here in Mississippi and we need your help”, he responds with a country accent that never left even after he fled to Chicago.
“Stacks? So both of yall came back”, Scarlett asks as she rises up?
“Yes ma’am. He’s in town getting everything together and then we’re going to meet later and set everything up. I’m sure he’d like to see your face”, Smoke says.
“Stacks doesn’t need to see more than I don’t need to see him. He made that clear seven years ago”, Scarlett says with a click of her tongue.
Smoke’s eyes drop down to look at the wooden floor of the shed before slowly raising them to see Annie looking over at him from across the room as she works at a table.
“We didn’t want to leave. Didn’t want to leave any ya. Had no choice”, he says softly.
“You had a choice and yall chose. I’m doing the same. I’ll see ya later Annie”, Scarlett says before gathering her things and about to walk out but she pauses once she brushes against Smoke’s shoulder as that previous sensation comes over her again.
She turns her head and stares at him with an inquiring stare, one that makes Annie step forward and look at her because she knows that look.
“You’ve gotten yourself into trouble and danger is followin’. Best to stay out of sight tonight”, Scarlett says.
“I ain’t never been scared of danger and I ain’t bout to start now”, Smoke replies as he turns his head to look at her.
“This danger is different”, she replies.
“Rose. That’s enough. You go and head home now”, Annie says gently.
“Yes, home is probably safest for me. When the storm comes, I don’t wants to get wet. Take care Smoke”, she says before walking out the door.
“What was she going on about”, Smoke asks?
“Why are you here Smoke? After all of this time”, Annie asks?
“I told ya. Stacks and I are opening a juke joint and we want you to fry up some catfish for us”, he replies as he looks at her.
“Elijah. Why are you really here”, she asks and his eyes soften as he takes her fully and looks around. His eyes flicking out the window to the small memorial and then back to her.
-X-
Across town, Stacks is at the train station with Sammie, he has just announced the juke jam loudly to everyone in the crowd who is listening and basking in the applause he received. His back is turned but he glances over when Sammie walks over to him, slightly spooked.
“There’s a white woman staring at you”, he says.
Stacks pauses before asking if he is sure that she is white.
“Yes and she’s coming over”, Sammie replies before the lady appears behind them.
“Is this Smoke or Stack”, she asks and Stacks looks around, keeping his head down before telling Sammie to walk away.
“What are you doing, Mary”, Stacks asks?
“I see you’re back. After you fucked me so good and licked my cooter like it was favorite ice cream and then left, you can be a little nicer”, she says.
“Shhh. Keep your fucking voice down”, he snarls at her, glancing around to make sure no one heard her.
“Why? You don’t mind me being loud that night. You just told me to stay away”, she responds.
“Yeah as usual, you ain’t fucking listen. I meant that shit then and I meant it now”, he snarls at her.
“Hmm. I don’t think you do. Wise you would have walked away a long time ago”, she says and tilts her head as she looks at him.
“Ain’t ya married? Found you a white man to settle down with”, Stacks asked?
“Oh please. You know I never wanted this or him. I had no choice when you left”, she says rolling her eyes.
“Good. Go back to him and stay the hell away from me”, Stacks growls at her.
“You don’t mean that”, she says.
“I don’t? Watch this”, Stacks says before walking away and over towards Sammie and the little group they formed.
“Who was that”, Sammie asks?
“Nobody. Come on, let’s head back. Smoke should be done with his tasks”, Stacks says and puts his red hat back on his head only to stop when he glances up and sees her less than ten feet away.
She is standing in a black dress with the sleeves missing, a necklace with a feather and jewel hanging from her neck and black heels. Her small hand clutch is her hand as her natural hair is pulled back into a bun.
It’s been seven years since he has seen her and she has filled out her shape since then, her hips are wider and her breasts are fuller.
The sun beaming down on them, peaking over the trains gives her dark skin a golden shine as her eyes bare into his.
Her eyes widen and then slit into saucers as she turns her back to him and walks away.
“Hold on, Sammie. Wait here”, Stacks says before running off after her. When he gets close, he grasps her elbow and turns her around to look at him.
“Get your hands off of me, Stacks”, she says and shrugs her arm out of his grip.
“Wow. Is that how you treat a gentleman? I just wanna talk to ya”, Stacks says.
“About what? How you just left me”, she asks?
“I ain’t leave ya, Scar. I just had to leave, it wasn’t safe”, he says.
“It’ll neva be safe. We live in Mississippi where the Klan hides in plain sight”, she responds.
“I ain’t scared of no Klan”, he says.
“Hmm. Smoke said the same thing. It’s like yall like danger”, she says.
“I like you. I missed ya”, Stacks says.
“Ha. You miss me? This coming from the man I heard was selling ass in Chicago? The man who had women hanging over him when we were younger”, Scarlett says.
“I’ve changed”, Stacks responds.
“So have I. I heard about your juke spot. It’s supposed to be a real ring a dig”, she says and crosses her arms across her chest.
“Yeah. You can come and be my special guest”, he says.
“Not sure that white woman who I just saw ya with would like that very much”, Scarlett says.
“Who? Mary? That’s a childhood friend. She’s not important”, Stack replies.
“Hmm. When did whites and negroes be childhood friends? Something isn’t right, Stack. I can feel it”, she says softly as she looks around and sees Mary’s eyes trained on them.
Her eyes are filled with a range of emotions but the main three are rage, jealousy and determination.
“Not this again with ya feelings? I heard enough about you feeling things years ago. Let that belief go”, Stack says.
“Your brother and you were always quick to undermine and ignore the signs. That was your downfall not heeding my warnings or Annie’s”, Scarlett says.
“Annie? The hell ya hanging around her for”, Stack says while raising an eyebrow.
“Hmph. We were both mourning over the loss of you and Smoke. Mainly how you both left us with no call or even a letter. Honestly, I’m looking at you now and bringing back all of those emotions. Why couldn’t you just stay away”, Scarlett asks?
“We came back for our girls. Chicago wasn’t all of that. It’s just like the south but with higher buildings”, Stack says and Scarlett looks at him as he brushes it off.
She knows when he is hiding something from her or not telling the truth.
“You’re running from something, ain’t ya? What did yall get into up in Chicago”, Scarlett asks?
“Nothin’. I told ya what happened”, Stack says.
“Hmm. You’re lying to me and I know it. Danger is lurking near you and your brother. Tonight is the night. It’s best for ya to hide out until tomorrow”, Scarlett says.
“Let it come then”, Stack says and takes his hat off, bowing to her and then walking away and leaving her there.