Paka' - A Novel by Jim Dunlap

FIVE - DEATH

James Leon Cook, a nineteen-year-old new father of just one-month was found early Tuesday morning by his young wife Sarah, lying in a pool of blood on the barn floor. Sheriff Charlie Jenkins said that James Leon somehow fell back onto a hayfork that was propped up on a stall rail. Doc Morris told the family that one of the tines pierced his heart. He died very quickly.

The funeral arrangements have not been made pending the arrival of James Leon’s family from out of town. His wife Sarah and their new baby girl, Claudia Jean who at the tender age of four weeks will never get to know her father, survive him. James Leon’s mother, father, and sister are scheduled to arrive here late this afternoon from Tyler, Texas.

The remains may be viewed at the funeral home from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. Sarah will be accepting visitors at home between noon and six.

     Sarah sat on her back porch in an old rocking chair that had belonged to her father. Claudia was making loud sucking sounds as she enjoyed her lunch at her mother’s breast. Sarah wanted to put a sign on the front gate to the fence that just said, “GO AWAY!” but the people in this rural area would never stand for such a thing. Starting about five minutes before noon there would be a steady stream of neighbors and townspeople showing up with flowers, casseroles, bake goods, offers to fix things around the house, and who knows what else. Sarah silently believed that the townspeople really looked forward to someone dying because it was always treated as the social event of the month. Some of these women just lived to participate in the organization and planning of mourning activities.
     Sarah stared at the little red face attacking her nipple as if someone might appear suddenly and try to take it away from her. Sarah leaned forward and licked the baby’s forehead. That behavior startled the young mother and made her heart race. A lot of questions once again raced through her mind. She blurted out the words in a whisper.
     “What in God’s name made me do that? Why did it feel so good? I’ve lost my mind and I know it! I don’t want to hurt anybody else. What if I turn on Claudia?”
     Her anguish turned to watery eyes, then big tears, and on to body racking sobs. The more she cried the harder Claudia sucked. She got up quickly. Claudia disengaged from lunch and Sarah pushed the back door open with her foot. She knew that the baby would sleep now and that was good. She sat on the edge of the bed and gently rocked back and forth. Sleep was almost instantaneous and Sarah put the baby on the bed. She sat quietly, elbows on her knees and head in hand. The tears stopped. Sarah felt a strange sense of calm come over her. It was almost like her body was warming after a big swallow of the water clear wildcat that James Leon made down in the creek bed.
     Her eyes wandered to the old chest of drawers and the to the bottom cross-board. She hesitated only for a moment and her hand shot out and quickly removed the board. Just as quickly she reached in and withdrew a worn, hand-made notebook. An inserted pencil marked the first blank pages. Sarah crossed her legs and began writing.

June 5, 1917, WD. Dear Secret, That sonofabitch was gonna to hurt my baby. He finally told me why he was asking so many questions. He said the doc said he couldn’t ever father no kids. The stupid shit asked how he got me pregnant. The doc just told him it couldn’t be him. He hurt me so bad that I had to tell him about me and Johnny. He started drinking that cat and stomping around like a mad man. He went out to the barn and told me that when he got back he was gonna take care of Claudia. I watched him go through the barn door and I snuck out and crawled through the other side in a stall. I was strong like I get so I jumped up to the loft and squatted close to the ladder. I could see him walking back and forth under me. He was cursing and calling me all sorts of things. He made me madder. I waited until he was facing me and I jumped down and hit him square in the chest. He fell back against the stall and I was just about to get on top. I was so mad I could barely see anything. After he hit he just laid there and didn’t move. That’s when I noticed the point of the pitchfork sticking out of his chest. I know I smiled all the way back to the house cause I knew he wouldn’t ever hurt my baby. My baby is still a Jacobs. Johnny won’t ever know he was the daddy after too much that cat got him killed. James Leon won’t know he wasn’t the daddy cause he’s dead. I’m the only one and I won’t ever tell

     Somebody knocked on the front door.