Depression by cmsix

Chapter 18

That was the oddest job interview I'd ever been invited to, not to mention that I felt funny being there when I wasn't the one doing the hiring or the one looking for a job. Come to think of it, I'd never really had the kind of job you needed to have an interview to get.

Oh, I'd had a few job interviews, but none of them had involved any meaningful conversation. Whenever I'd applied for a job, the interview was mostly a kind of last minute get to know the guy type thing for the one that was going to be my boss. I showed up at his office, we shot the shit for a few minutes, I did my best not to say anything stupid, and I was hired.

Maybe that was the attitude Ethel had used for this. She'd already snooped around on her gossip network and been convinced that Jaycee had the skills she needed, and more really. So she'd invited Jaycee out to see if she thought they'd get along. Ethel went with her instincts and that was that.

Meanwhile, back at the boner, I was coming to grip with the fact that Ethel had hired the closests thing to a sex bomb I'd ever seen in real life. The only trouble with that was Jaycee didn't act like a sex bomb, she just looked and dressed like one. That's the way I saw it anyway. Maybe I was just the type of old fashioned guy who didn't understand these kids today.

Understanding that Jaycee was beautiful and built wasn't a problem though, and she was more than the sum of her parts. Said parts were spread over a five-eight package that was obviously in excellent physical condition. She moved almost like a cat and I liked the little bit of her personality I'd seen so far.

Ethel had pretty much dismissed us and we stood and headed for the door.

"So, what are you going to show me first?" Jaycee asked.

Somehow I managed not to say that I was the one wanting her to show me something. Something hell, I wanted to see everything, now. Instead I steered her outside toward the truck, intending to show her the medical facilities.

"Damn, that's a hell of a taxi," she said, seeing the Western Star was going to be our ride.

"It is at that, but it's Meka's favorite way to get around and I don't guess it hurts anything to use it for errands," I said.

"And Meka is?" she asked.

"Meka is my daughter, my adopted daughter I guess I should say, but she seems like she's a part of me now. She likes the truck because she can raise the seat and see out better," I said.

"Will I get to meet her at your house? You said the first aid station was there."

"No, she's with Doctor Jorge, studying, in the house there," I told her, pointing back to Ethel's house.

"Oh, I see," she said, but from her tone I could tell that she didn't see at all.

At least it meant that the don't ask too many questions fog that They had used on her must be thinning now. Apparently They approved too and she was probably going to be able to question a few things that she couldn't have otherwise. I just hoped I could answer the questions she was able to ask.

She seemed familiar with the workings of air seats when we got in, since she had no trouble adjusting hers.

"Have you been in this type of truck before?" I asked.

"Yes, I learned to drive them in the army. Army trucks don't usually have air seats though, but a few did. I believe the Generals think standard seats keep their captive drivers from going too fast. It's another bit of army wisdom," she said.

"It sounds like it's a piece of carefully hoarded and preserved stupidity to me," I said.

"Right in one. Like I said, the Generals thought it up," she said, and laughed.

Driving down to the house, and forgetting until the last second that she was probably going to be amazed, I'd just turned onto the drive and was about to give her a little warning, but it was too late.

"God almighty, what is all this?" she asked.

"Well, it's my house," I said, trying not to sound sheepish.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to be rude," she said.

"Well I'm the one that was rude, I should have at least said something about it. It's just that I'm used to it by now," I said.

"The first aid station is here, in your home?" she asked, obviously trying to change the subject.

"Yes, it's in one end of the house."

Pulling to the curb, I parked and we got out, heading for the front door. Immediately I saw that Jaycee was probably going to be moving in. I could plainly see a new glowing handprint for her by the entrance. I didn't mention it though and when we approached the door it opened on it's own.

"Wow, the house knew you were coming?" she said.

"Yeh, it's nice after you get used to it. Would you mind putting your hand on that slightly glowing handprint?" I asked.

"Oh, ok, I guess," she said, doing it and then looking at me with an unspoken question.

"It's so the house will recognize you and let you in," I said.

She seemed mollified by the explanation but I could tell that it wasn't going to last for long. I'd have to just go along and see how things went, deciding that I'd have to rely on George's view that I wouldn't be able to even think of saying anything wrong.

When we got inside she was even more amazed and I was comforted by seeing another glowing handprint. Jaycee was going to get the tour of the basement too it seemed.

Leading her down the hall, toward what she was calling the first aid station, I braced myself for her reaction. I'd always thought of it as the operating room but I guess it would have been better to call it a clinic. We'd see what she thought about it.

As we walked down the hall, I got a little thrill when I saw another handprint for Jaycee near the bedroom door next to mine. Ethel hadn't said anything to her about moving in but I knew it was a done deal now. Too damned bad her handprint hadn't been beside the door to my bedroom. At least I had something to work on.

Who was I trying to kid? It hadn't come up, but Jaycee couldn't be a day over twenty-five and probably wasn't that old. I counted my chances of bumping fuzz with her as slim and none. It was probably more likely I'd get a royal straight flush for the next five poker hands I was dealt.

Sensory overload was my guess about what Jaycee felt when we walked into the first aid station. She just stood and gaped. Without trying to talk I watched her look around. Shortly she started roaming and looking more closely and I followed and let her see it for herself.

She spent nearly an hour examining things and thankfully she didn't ask any questions. I knew she had some, or should have had some, but I guessed that they were being put on hold somehow. When she'd seen it all she turned to me.

"This is much better equipped than I thought it would be. In fact, it's hard to believe," she said.

Recognizing an excellent chance to change the subject without the embarrassing questions I was sure I wouldn't be able to answer, I took my shot.

"Ready to see the other parts?" I asked.

"There's more?"

"Much more," I said, and when she nodded her head I turned back to the house, heading for the elevator.

It was either something They were doing or else something about the army way, but Jaycee didn't ask many questions. She took the elevator in stride and didn't even gasp when we walked out into the giant basement. She was shocked again when I showed her the armory though, but she was able to maintain. That's mainly the way things went through the whole tour.

After we toured the barn it was getting close to lunchtime and I suggested we stop and head back to Ethel's.

"That would be great, I was too nervous to eat this morning before I came out for the interview," she said.

"You were? That's a little surprising," I said.

"It can't be nearly as surprising as the job, or the salary. I probably shouldn't say it but I would have signed on for a lot less," she said.

"Don't worry about it. Ethel is glad to have you and I'm sure you'll earn your keep," I said.

"Maybe, but so far I still don't know what I'll be doing," she said, letting it trail off as if she hoped I'd elaborate.

By now I knew exactly what George and Ethel meant when they said they just couldn't think of what to say, because I couldn't either. I could understand that I wanted to tell her the whole story but the words just didn't come into my mind. So I kept my mouth shut and drove us to lunch.

The train horn was a surprise for Jaycee, and she actually squealed. It was a becoming reaction but I didn't have time to dwell on it, because Meka came flying out the back door, holding Tutsie, and no doubt expecting me to get on the ground and pick her up. I did.

Jaycee came around the truck to join us and I did the introductions. There was the usual misconception on her part. The surprise for me was that Meka was now ready to handle it, kinda.

"I'm glad to meet you, Meka. Who's that you're holding?" she asked, nodding her head toward Tutsie.

"This is Ch'uht'uh dìitsi?," Meka said, the she giggled when she saw Jaycee's reaction.

"Meka's getting to be quite the little trickster. She doesn't speak much English yet, but she's catching on quickly," I said.

"His name Tutsie. Ch'uht'uh dìitsi? is fuzzy dog you talk," Meka said, explaining.

"Exactly what language is that? I've heard a lot of different languages but nothing ever sounded like that at all," Jaycee said, and I was worried about how I could explain things.

"I Caddo Indian," Meka said, solving the problem, for a while.

For some reason Tutsie was very glad to see me. He gave me a thorough licking all over the face. Meka laughed about it after a minute and then let me in on the joke.

"Tutsie glad see Daddy. Mean lunch time," she said, and Jaycee helped her laugh at me then.

Meka was probably right. Tutsie knew that food was on the way when I showed up. We went inside then and since most everyone was already sitting at the big table we headed that way.

Jaycee's seat ended up being to my left, between Ethel and I. I could tell that she was a little surprised at the crowd that showed up to eat. She'd get used to it.

Thankfully Ethel did a good job of keeping Jaycee company during the meal. Pig that I am, my concentration was on the fried chicken, cream potatoes, black-eyed peas, and later on the German chocolate cake. I did have time to notice that Tutsie's chicken had been removed from the bone beforehand. He didn't seem chagrined in the least to be missing out on a bone to gnaw. He was too busy eating more chicken than could have possibly been good for him.

Somehow Ethel managed to steer the after lunch conversation well clear of Jaycee's new job, and especially, clear of what it might involve. She also did yeoman's service when something else came up.

"I'm so happy to have found this job. Now if I could find a place nearby to rent I'd be set," Jaycee said, while they were talking about not much.

"Didn't that big goofball show you your room?" Ethel said.

"My room?"

"Sure, he has plenty of space down there and we furnish room and board for everyone that works for us. That's the only way to run a ranch," Ethel said.

"Well, no, John didn't mention it," Jaycee said.

"I thought it was your place to tell her about it, Ethel. You're the one that hired her," I said.

"Well, you must have passed right by. You could have mentioned it. No matter, I guess I should have said something. Jaycee might have taken it wrong if you'd invited her to move in with you right off the bat," Ethel said, and of course everyone howled, including Jaycee.

I only thought that was the worst of it, but Jaycee joined in after the laughter died down a little.

"Well, ya know a girl can't be too choosy when she don't have a place to stay, and he don't look so bad for an old cowboy," she said, and the earlier fun at my expense had been mild compared to this latest.

Meka's understanding of the words didn't stop her from figuring out that everyone was laughing, and my red face let her know the joke was on me. She wasn't about to be left out either. She didn't really give us a good laugh, but she did giggle like hell.

After lunch was over, and at least some of the blood had drained from my face, Jaycee wanted to go back to the house to see her new room. Meka gave both of us a goodbye kiss before we left and Tutsie didn't cheat us out of any licks.

After she did her thing with the handprint, to let us inside the room, Jaycee was impressed with it, even though there was no furniture, of course. She fretted about it for a few minutes.

"I wasn't expecting to find a place so quickly and I don't have anything in the way of furniture. I don't even have a bed," she said.

When I told her that wouldn't be a problem she gave me a funny little sidewise glance, as if waiting for me to finish my thought. I could see that she was expecting some type of offhand proposition. Even though I was glad she didn't cloud up and rain on me right away, I realized that I'd better tell her what I meant.

"I'm sure Ethel has some things you can use. In fact, Meka and I just went to Canton last week and brought back a lot of Antiques for Ethel," I said.

"I can't ask her to let me sleep on her antique furniture. She probably intends to show it off somewhere," she said.

"I don't see why you can't, she bought the stuff for Meka and I, mostly for Meka since she'd already sent the bed she wanted me to use down here. Let me call her and ask about it," I said, whipping out my cell phone and punching in Ethel's number before Jaycee could stop me.

"Ethel," I said, after she answered.

"Oh, ok," I said, and hung up.

"That was quick," Jaycee said.

"She didn't have time to talk, she was deciding which of the hands were coming down here with she and Wanda. They are ahead of you about the furniture. The hands are coming down to move it and set it up," I said.

"Oh, I guess all I need to do it go get my clothes and stuff," she said.

"That's my guess. Can you get it all in your car?"

"It'll take a few trips, but I can make it," she said.

"Would you like to use a truck?" I asked.

"I don't have that much stuff, and unless you have a pup from a set of doubles, I don't think it'll work. There isn't room where I'm staying for a full sized trailer. Now that you mention it, I haven't seen a trailer anyway," she said.

"I was thinking more along the lines of a pickup. We have trailers for the tractors of course, but even I didn't think you'd need one," I said.

"A pickup would be great," she said, ending the confusing conversation.

Of course I knew there'd be more surprises for Jaycee coming up shortly, since we hadn't been in the garrage yet, but I was hoping the questions would be few. Normally they wouldn't be, but I was counting on some help I didn't really understand.

We left the house through the back door and walked to the garage. The first door was already open, the one where my pickup was parked.

"Wow, this is some garage," Jaycee said, and I was glad that's all she said.

It wasn't exactly all though, she made some comments about the Model A and the Caddy but she didn't ask any questions. That was the important part. She was surprised by the Hum-V type pickup and ambulance but again, no questions.

The only other remarkable thing was the surge through my balls when she saw my 63 Vette and raved about it. She even said the S word, claiming that she'd always loved that model, since it was easily the sexiest Vette.

"You can take my pickup or the Hum-V, and if neither suits you we can get George to let you use one of his one ton Silverados. They have plenty of room," I said.

"I think I'd be more comfortable with the Hum-V, I'm used to driving them," she said.

When she got in it, the door started up behind her and she gave me a little grin as she backed out and left. I went back into the house and met Ethel coming in the front door with Carolyn, Wanda, Geneva, and five of the men.

"Where's Jaycee?" Ethel asked.

"She took the Hum-V pickup to go and get her clothes and such," I said.

"Just like a man. You didn't even ask her if you could help, did you?" Ethel said.

"No, I didn't think about it," I said, admitting my failing.

"I'll call the place she's staying in a few minutes and see if we need to send some slave labor. Meanwhile, these guys have some serious totin' to do," Ethel said.

It surprised me when they headed for the elevator. I couldn't help it, I had to ask.

"Where are you going?"

"Down to the storage room, the little one across from your armory," Ethel said.

"I didn't even know there was another room down there."

"Of course you didn't, you took off before the lifting and carrying got started last time. Come on down with us, you can find the storage room and help us carry furniture," Ethel said, giving me a mean little grin.

Hell, I didn't mind doing a little work every now and then, as long as it didn't get to be a habit. I followed along.

The storage room was a lot more than little. It was probably fifty by fifty if it was an inch. It was in a handy place too, not ten feet from where the spooky loading dock rose and descended for unloading. I could see that once you had things out of a trailer and onto the dock it was simple to let it down and walk into the storage room with whatever you'd unloaded.

"Can Jaycee drive a big truck? I forgot to ask her," Ethel said, when we were inside the storage room.

"She said she could, said she learned in the army," I said.

"That might come in handy. The antique man called and he's found some more things I want. Maybe we can get Jaycee to drive a truck down there too," she said.

"It can't hurt anything. She can go if I'm doing something else," I said, innocently.

"There you go again, thinking when you're not qualified. She'll need to go too, as in also. There's more than one truckload of stuff down there already, and no sign I'm through buying yet. Besides, Meka told me about that car she liked, the black one. She said she thought you told her it was a bird," Ethel said.

"It was a 1956 Thunderbird, and they weren't asking way too much for it, but the body work for the restoration was bad," I said.

"Body work ain't no problem. Carl and Stewart, out to Lonnie's Body Works do top notch work, and they don't cull jobs that are tricky. They ain't runnin' just a crash shop out there; they can do real body and paint work if you got what it takes," Ethel said.

"Got what it takes?" I asked.

Ethel didn't say anything, she just held up a hand, rubbing her thumb up and back over the fingers, in the universal sign for plenty of money.

Sometimes things could get a little surreal around Ethel. Since she seemed just like a normal rancher's wife most of the time, it was hard to remember that she was one of the richest women in this part of the state. If she wanted something, for herself or someone she cared about, money did not come up in the decision to get it.

I never asked them about their wealth, it just didn't come up, but I'd always known they had plenty of money. The thing that would fool you was the mineral rights they owned.

I was pretty sure that oil royalties brought in more money every year than the cows and horses ever could. George had mentioned off handedly once that the producing wells he had interest in always seemed to keep pumping after the ones near them played out. Just lucky I guess.

He was going to make out like a bandit on the land he'd just bought too. There was a lot of timber on it, and with housing still going well, he could sell the timber for plenty. His best advantage was that he didn't have to sell it if the price wasn't right.

So it didn't shock me that Ethel was thinking about buying Meka the old T-bird. I didn't think it was that good an idea, but I don't guess it would hurt anything. Still, it did seem odd, and a little out of character.

"Getting things back here won't be a problem, Ethel. I don't mind at all and I'm sure Jaycee won't either. The old Thunderbird was in nice shape except for the poor bodywork, and you're right about Texas-T, they can get it in tip-top condition. But what will Meka do with it, we've already got more vehicles than she can ride in, and she didn't even sit in the car, she might not like the view out," I said.

"I guess you're right, but I don't want her missin' out on anything she wants. When you get right down to it, John, Meka is a miracle on earth. I can't get it out of my head that nothing is too much for her," Ethel said, and I could tell that she was sincere.

When I thought about it I knew Ethel was right. It was a miracle and more that Meka was here, and I sure as hell didn't begrudge her anything. I was with her when she looked at the car though, and my best guess was that she was just showing passing interest. I was afraid that Ethel was latching onto something that Meka didn't care that much about. Trouble was, I didn't have any way to explain the situation to Meka, so I'd have to try and get it over to Ethel.