Moving Serafina

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337 Clay came downstairs late on Saturday evening just as Bea was taking plates back to the kitchen. “I’m closing,” she grumbled. “Just wondered if Jo had been over for supper?” “No,” Bea said. “I took food over there, though. That hearing’s been going on all day.” “Till midnight,” Clay said. “That’s what they put in the notices.” “Yes,” Bea said and when Clay turned to leave, she softened. “Clay?” He stopped and turned around. “I made tacos tonight. My special.” “Sounds good, Bea,” Clay said. “But I really gotta get going.” “You sure?” “Yeah,” he said. “One thing though, Bea . . .” “What?” “Would you come up to the cemetery in the morning? I’m trying to get some others too.” Bea looked at him and understood. She nodded. “Sure,” she said. “What time?” “Early,” Clay said. “About dawn, maybe five thirty or six? Is that gonna be too early? I know you got your Sunday brunch an’ all, Bea, but I’d appreciate it.” “It’s no problem, Clay,” Bea said. C H A P T E R 36 Bob Cherry 338 Clay nodded and left the hotel. He walked across the street in the darkness and went into the county commissioners’ meeting hall. Jovita and Dobb and Yebbie were sitting at the front facing a small group of residents. One of the ranchers from the area was talking and Jovita was writing down what he was saying about the new water regulations. When Jovita saw Clay standing at the back of the room, she gave the notepad to Dobb, rose and walked back to Clay. “Can you come out in the entry a minute?” Clay whispered. Jovita looked back to the front then turned again to Clay, “Sure, just a minute, though.” “This won’t take long,” Clay said and when they had left the room he went on, “I haven’t had a chance to talk to you, but I wanted to thank you again for taking us out there to get our trucks Thursday morning.” “Sure,” Jovita said. “And for not asking what the hell is going on. . . .” “Sure.” “How’s it going in there?” “Except for Simik,” Jovita said. “It’s going fine. Most of those who’ve come in just thank us and ask for clarification on what’s going to be happening after tonight.” “Simik?” “Yes. He’s back in town. He came in this afternoon bellowing and flinging a stack of papers at us and making threats.” “Y’all read them?” “Dobb told him we’d look at them later when we MOVING SERAFINA 339 got a chance.” “Well, did you?” Jovita smiled. “Looked at them, yes. Read them . . . no. Didn’t waste time on that.” “What’d Simik say?” “He said he was moving his jackknife drilling rig out the county road toward your place.” “When?” “This afternoon, I guess,” Jovita said. “And a heavy dozer too. He’s probably out there as we speak.” Clay thought about this and then said, “Well, I’m going over and see if Locket will go out there with me tonight. I’m meeting Gus out there around eleven.” “Don’t need to do that,” Jovita said. “What?” “Ask Locket to go out.” “Why?” “I already asked him,” Jovita said. “He’s out there also as we speak and he’s got the complete regulations with him.” “I see,” Clay said. “Just in case anyone who might be standing by out there wants to see exactly what goes into effect at . . .” “Midnight,” Clay said and he smiled. “That’s right. Now I gotta get on back in there. It’ll take till then to hear all these folks,” Jovita said and then, “Oh yes, Simik also said he might just have a surprise for you if you come out.” “A surprise? He say what?” “No,” Jovita said. “But you need to be cautious about how you plan to do it if you and Gus are thinking about . . .” Bob Cherry 340 “Moving Serafina?” Clay interrupted again and then said, “That’s something else I wanted to ask you.” “Go on.” “I was wondering if you’d come up to the cemetery around five thirty in the morning? Maybe you could ask Dobb and Yebbie too?” Clay paused and then said, “That is if they want to. I may not be their friend anymore, but they’re still mine, Jo. And you...