The Bean Pot

Bobbie Jo Fugate wiped the sweat from her brow using the sleeve of her favorite cotton nightgown. It had seen better days since Granny had made it but Bobbie Jo didn't care. She was gonna wear that gown till it fell to shreds around her, simply cause Granny loved her enough to sew it.

It was hot work, stirring that big pot of beans. Only burner that worked on her cookstove was about half the size of the pot she was using so she had to keep stirring to make sure they would cook good and even. Even with the stirring Bobbie Jo thought she was going to faint, standing in the heat in that tattered grey sack as she tried to ignore the sensation by focusing on the smell.

Those beans smelled so good.

Sheriff rapped on the screen door before walking in the house. "Bobbie Jo," he called out, "I've got news for you."

Bobbie Jo kept stirring as she turned to face the Sheriff in his stiffness. "You found Billy Ray?"

"Nope," he replied as he stepped over to the stove. "Even called over to the NoCounty Sheriff's Department; had them go look at all of Billy Ray's old hangouts. Not even that ole whore Tammy Faye's seen him since a couple of days ago."

"Hey, is that beans you're makin'?" He bent over and took a sniff. "Ooh, boy that sure smells good. What type of meat are you using to season those things?"

"Daddy kilt a wild hog the other night over on Frozen Hill, out past Grampy's place," she replied as she stirred. "Said it looked too tough to him to fool with so he brought it over to me."

Sheriff took another sniff. "That's the strangest smelling pork I believe I've ever seen," he replied. "You sure those beans gonna taste okay using that funny meat?"

Bobbie Jo chuckled. "Oh sure, it's okay. I fried some up last night just to check it and it tasted alright. Would you like a bite? Beans aren't done but I can give you a chunk of the meat if you like."

Bobbie Jo rustled around and found her least-chipped bowl to give him a scoop while Sheriff grabbed a cup of coffee. He scraped up a spoon and took a final sniff before dumping the mixture in his mouth.

Bobbie Jo thought he looked like an old cow, sitting there chewing on those half-done beans but he finally swallowed as he grinned. "Damn, Bobbie Jo!" He scooped up another shovelful and chewed. "These things are good!"

"Yeah, I think that ole hog gives them a really good flavor," she agreed as she returned to her pot.

"Hell yeah it does!" Sheriff quickly scraped the edges as he finished. "Did your daddy say if he saw any more of those hogs out on Frozen?"

"Naw, he just spotted the one" she replied.

"Well, that's a cryin' shame. I'd like to find me a hog just like that--it's got a lot of flavor in it. You tell your daddy I'll pay for the next one he kills, okay?"

"I'll do it," she agreed. "What happens now since you can't find Billy Ray?"

"Honestly, I hope he's done lit out for good, Bobbie Jo. I've told the boys not to worry about it too much--it's not like we got anything to charge him on anyway, and if we get caught warning him off a hitting you we could lose our jobs, you know?"

"I know, Sheriff," Bobbie Jo nodded. "I appreciate it so much when you talk to him for me though--he's nicer to me after you and the boys talk to him."

"That's why I do it, Bobbie Jo. It's my job to keep the peace and protect this town, so I gotta keep him from killing you if I can."

Sheriff stood up and slowly moved to give her a peck on the cheek. "That scoundrel comes back you shoot up in the air a couple of times, you hear? I got the neighbors looking out for you; they'll get me if they hear you shootin'."

Bobbie Jo nodded as a ghost of a smile brightened the bruises. "I will, Sheriff--I keep the shotgun by the bed when I sleep, and I can take it with me when I go to the outhouse even. He comes back I'll empty it in the air, okay?"

"That's a good girl!"

Bobbie continued to stir the pot as Sheriff took his leave. The meat had cooked down a bit and little pieces would break off as she tapped them with her battered spoon. She added a bit more water and continued to stir in silence, occasionally lifting the spoon to her mouth for a taste.

After a while she collected Sheriff's bowl and filled it almost full of the bubbling mixture. She turned the burner down, broke off a piece of yesterday's corn bread and took her place in the single chair by the table.

"Heavenly Father, I thank you for this meal that you have placed before me. Thank you for feeding me in such an unexpected manner and for making it taste so darn good!"

She ate like a starving woman, crumbling up the cornbread and mixing it with the liquid. The cool well water washed it down as she imagined what it was like when the Israelites served up their Manna from Heaven. Did it taste as good as these beans? She wondered as she chewed.

The last bite finished, Bobbie Jo stood up and began washing her utensils at the sink. She scrubbed every piece, making sure that each chip was clean before drying them off with a rag. Finally she returned to her post at the bean pot.

"Billy Ray," she said to the pot as she stirred. "Sheriff said that him and his boys done looked all over for you, even calling out to NoCounty to dig through all of your haunts. Wonder what he'd think if he was to find out you were in this kitchen all along?"