For the next hour or so, Colton taught Ian how to maintain his newly acquired accoutrements. He wrote some things down on a pad so he wouldn’t forget. Colton
assured him that he and the boys would be happy to pitch in. Ian even felt comfortable enough to tell him that he had plans to eventually tear down the wall. Colton even went over to help him inspect it and made some suggestions on how to go about it.
They ended up at the old rotting gate. Colton rattled the handle a little but it wouldn’t budge. It was a thick and heavy, and reeked of rotted wood. Ian was determined to at least get it down. His weekend would not be complete unless that thing was gone.
Colt disappeared for a moment and came back with a large sledgehammer. It was heavy enough to make the big man’s biceps bulge just carrying it. “Stand back buddy, if this won’t take ‘er down, the damn thing will outlast us both.”
With that he picked it up and swung as hard as he could. It landed square on the old gate with a thud. They both laughed.
“I think I just lost confidence in my manhood.”
Ian beat his chest, “It’s just some iron and wood, Colt, give it one more shot!”
Colton took a deep breath and swung at the door one more time. This time they heard a crack and then a bark.
They looked at each other blankly. “It’s alive!” Ian said and then they heard some scratching and another bark. Then a creak and some more scratching. Slowly the door swung open toward them.
“What idiots!” Colton said, “It opens from the other side.” Ian reached his fingers in the crack and pulled. The gate swung open freely and revealed a happy Irish setter on his haunches wagging his tail.
The excited setter jumped through the opening, his size knocking Ian backward onto Colton. Ralphie jumped and licked them both over, the two men laughing and struggling. Ian finally managed to remove himself from the pile and pulled at the dog’s collar enough the free up his new friend.
The dog quickly settled himself down as Ian and Colton brushed themselves off and laughed. “I think his name is Ralphie or at least that what I heard some man calling out.” Ian said.
“So it’s that guy’s dog. I’ve heard one around, but not seen it. The guy who lives over there hasn’t been there too long either. Haven’t had the pleasure yet but, Tippy says she’s seen him jogging in the morning a couple times. We don’t see him around otherwise.”
Colton cocked his head to one side and thought a moment. “His name’s Jackson something or something Jackson,” as he scratched the dog behind the ears. “Miss Elizabeth was rather fond of him, and she didn’t take to just anybody.”
“Miss Elizabeth knew him?” Ian asked.
“Had to, he rents from her. She owns that house and the apartment building on the other side of you.”
Remembering the majesty of the building he was referring to, Ian said in surprise, “That’s an apartment building?”
“Used to be one of the mansions around here, but the Elysians turned it into an apartment complex, years ago. They were always very picky about anyone they rented to. That Jackson is an ex-cop. Miss Elizabeth said he’d be good to have around, would make everyone safer.” Colton stood up and brushed himself off. “As long as it made her feel safer, they were fine by us.”
“I take it she didn’t care to be alone much.”
“No, seemed so lost after Mr. Herman died…”
“Well at least that answers a question or two in my head.” Ian mused to himself.
“Oh?” Colton prodded.
Ian smiled. “She sold me this caviar of a house at a bubble gum price and I wondered why. Don’t get me wrong I jumped at the deal, but since she obviously is in no need of income, I don’t have to feel like I took advantage of her generosity.”
Colton smiled reassuringly. “Ian, my friend, no one, and I mean no one, took advantage of Elizabeth Elysian. She was one tough cookie. She had a reason for doing everything, and if she made you a deal, you can rest assured that she got exactly what she wanted.”
“She did say that money wasn’t an object in the sale. She just wanted to be sure that it went to the right person.”
“Then, obviously, you’re the right person. Relax, enjoy your new home, no guilt, no worries.” He scruffed Ralphie’s ears one more time. “Now let’s see if we can redeem our manhood, buy getting this old gate down.”
Within fifteen minutes, and the aid of a screwdriver Colton produced, they had the gate down. It was heavy enough that the both of them could only drag it. They managed to get it inside Ian’s yard and lean it up against the wall. Colton said he’d get his chainsaw and help cut it up and then call someone to have it hauled off.
The rest of the day flew by, Ian enjoying Colton’s help and company, and Colton enjoying getting to pal around and as he said “do man things with a buddy.” They piled the four inch thick pieces in a large unruly pile in a shadowy corner of the back yard.
They were just wiping the sawdust off themselves when they were interrupted by a woman’s voice from just behind the shrubs on Colton’s side.
“Honey, I’ve got dinner ready. Why don’t you hard workin’ boys clean up and come over here and let a woman serve you some supper?”
Ian hadn’t even thought about eating. He was starving but was embarrassed to eat a meal cooked by a woman he hadn’t met, unless of course he was at a restaurant. He was a small town boy, but they did have restaurants in Southwest Virginia.
“Thank you ma’am,” he yelled into the greenery, “but I reckon I’ll just see if I can get this dog tied up so he doesn’t run out in the road and go on in. Thank you, though.”
The shrubbery was silent for a moment, and then the woman’s voice drawled very definitely back across. “Honey, I didn’t ask you to come and eat. I told you to come and eat. Now go tie up that dog, wash your hands and sit your butt down at my table!”
Colton looked Ian in the eye. “Miss Tippy has spoken.”
“Uh, yes, ma’am”
“That’s better.” The shrubs said. “You, too!”
“Coming!” Colton stepped to a small opening between the trees, stopping momentarily to speak to Ian. “I’ll see you in a moment” and disappeared.
The shrub shouted again, “You got fifteen minutes, honey. Don’t make me come after you.”
Ian was actually kind of terrified. “Yes, ma’am’, fifteen minutes, ma’am!”
Ian heard the shrubs giggle and faintly say, “I think I’m gonna like him, now give me a kiss.”
At first Ian thought about leaning over and busing the unruly ewe, but realized that she was probably talking to her husband now on the other side. He looked at Ralphie, who seemed to be a little afraid to move himself.
“Well you heard her, let’s get you secured so I can wash up and have some supper.” Ralphie turned and immediately walked back to his side of the wall.
Ian found a chain on a spike hammered in the ground but couldn’t figure out where Ralphie had come out of or gotten away from, remembering the only time he had seen him, the dog was inside the house. Ralphie allowed Ian to clip the chain to his collar. He went over to his own kitchen, filled a bowl with water and placed it back in the shade near Ralphie.
He left a note taped to the back door, explaining that the dog had gotten lose and he had chained him up afraid he might get out on the road. He started to sign it “See You Later” or “Thanks”, but then decided “Your New Neighbor” was better.
He quickly washed his face and hands, pulled on a fresh pair of jeans and clean shirt and headed toward the bushes. As a final thought, he since he didn’t have a bottle of wine or a dessert to offer, he grabbed a pitcher of iced tea that he’d made last night and took it with him.
He walked to the shrubs and hesitated before stepping through the small opening to the other side. He was a little afraid of ‘Tippy”, but he took a deep breath, clutched a blue plastic pitcher of Tetley to his chest and pushed himself through.
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