The Hogg House

This is a joint effort for Portraint of Words and Sunday Scribblings. Plus I have provided a happy ending for Dr. John and Bettygram.

It was hot even before the sun broke through the fog over Moss Lake. An eagle circled high above Salt Lick Creek, spied an unsuspecting rabbit, and dived down to retrieve its prey. A doe lifted her head, listened, and went back to the destruction of Edna Faye’s garden. Bobbie tucked the old frayed sheet under her chin and covered her head with the extra pillow. It was way too early to start the day, so she tried to go back to sleep—unsuccessfully. As if the birds were not loud enough, Edna Faye’s mutt started barking. Bobbie was ready to permanently silence the flea ridden creature, when she heard Grandma Hogg moving around in the kitchen and caught the first whiff of bacon frying. Bobbie sat up in bed, remembering why she had returned to the hills of Tennessee.

Although Bobbie Jean had grown up on Badger Mountain, she moved away as soon as she could after graduating from high school. She knew there was a better life out there somewhere, and she promised herself she would find it. But, without a degree, her options were limited. The only thing she really knew how to do was wrestle. She was a champion wrestler in school, so Bobbie Jean Hogg took a job as a mud wrestler in a dive down in Possum Hollow. When she had enough money put back, she moved to the city, changed her name to Bobbie Hogan, and took another job mud wrestling at a club in Knoxville. The job didn’t pay much, but the tips made up for the pitiful wage. So, even though she loathed her job, she blocked out the cat calls, fought hard every night, and saved her money. From there she began her career as a WWF wrestler named, Bobbie the Bad. She was one of the top names in the business, which allowed her to branch out into commercials and eventually television.

Moving to California made her a rich woman. Now she wanted to help her family. If only she still had a family. Her parents were killed two years ago when a tractor trailer rear-ended their car on Highway 67, and since Papaw died before she was born, Granny Hogg was her only living relative. With her sitcom on hiatus, Bobbie came home to hire a contractor. She planned to surprise Granny Hogg with a new house filled with modern conveniences.

Dressed in a pair of newly cut off jeans and t-shirt, Bobbie looked overdressed in a room with only a chair and the rickety, old bed Papaw built using rough hewn wood. She tucked the sheet neatly under the mattress and went in search of breakfast.

Granny wasn’t in the kitchen. To keep flies off the food, Granny always placed a tablecloth over the table. Bobbie lifted the age-yellowed cloth to reveal eggs, hash browns, and bacon. She folded the cloth and threw it over the back of a chair, filled her plate, and poured a cup of coffee from the pot left warming on the stove. She carried her plate outside and sat down on the steps. Granny was across the road chatting with Edna Faye. If it was possible, Edna Faye’s two-room shack was in more disrepair than Granny’s. Both were no more than cabins most people wouldn’t even use for camping.

When Edna Faye saw Bobbie Jean, she waved. Granny smiled. Bobbie waved back and took a bite of bacon. As she chewed and watched the two friends laughing and talking, she had an idea. She would build two new houses, one for Granny, and one for Edna Faye.

With her mind busy formulating plans, Bobbie didn’t notice the truck until it stopped in front of her. She read the name on the side, Moss Lake Contractors. As the door opened and a man got out, Bobbie Jean stood up.

A man about Bobbie’s age got out of the truck and slowly walked toward her. She met him halfway. He held out his hand, “Hi Bobbie Jean. It’s good to see you again.”

Bobbie took his hand and looked up into familiar green eyes. Her mouth opened to speak, closed, and then opened again. She finally managed one word, “Marshall?”

“It’s been a long time.”

Bobbie nodded, and let go of Marshall’s hand as if it were a hot coal.

In a voice laced with hurt, Marshall said, “You left.”

“I had to.”

“You left without answering my question.”

“I answered your question by leaving,” Bobbie took a step back. “We’re not here to talk about the past. I want to hire a contractor, and you’re obviously one, so let’s talk business.”

It wasn’t easy convincing the two women to accept Bobbie’s gift. Yet, after a lot of friendly banter, they both agreed. As days turned into weeks, Bobbie and Marshall worked together to make sure Granny Hogg and Edna Faye had houses they could be proud of. The Hogg's house was gone, as was Edna Faye's shack. In their place were two small, ranch-style homes. Granny’s house was gray with white trim, Edna’s yellow with green trim. Marshall even built a matching dog house for Old Pete, Edna Faye’s dog. It was almost time for Bobbie to go home. California waited.

Edna Faye’s niece, Trixie Sue, had been hanging around the job site. At first Bobbie thought she was merely visiting her aunt, until this morning when she saw Trixie’s hand on Marshall’s arm while they talked with their heads together. The sight caused Bobbie to clench her fists. It was all she could do to keep from grabbing the woman by the hair and tossing her off the mountain. Her reaction opened her eyes. She was falling in love with Marshall all over again, and he was obviously smitten with Trixie Sue. It was time to leave.

That night, Granny Hogg invited Marshall to stay for dinner. He tried to decline, but Granny convinced him to stay and enjoy a celebratory meal. After dinner, Bobbie excused herself, stating she was tired. Yet instead of going to bed, Bobbie escaped out the back door. She took a path through the woods toward Salt Lick Creek. She found her favorite spot next to a shallow pool of water, and sat down on a rock. It wasn’t just any rock, it was her special rock. As a child, this was where she came to dream.

Bobbie pulled her knees up to her chin and wrapped her arms around her legs. She took a deep breath, marveling at how fresh the air smelled. She listened to the night creatures singing, realizing how much she missed this place, and how much she missed Marshall. She was so deep in thought she didn’t hear footsteps on the path until Marshall sat down beside her.

“I thought I might find you here,” he said, placing one arm around her, pulling her close.

Bobbie relaxed against him, “You remembered.”

“Of course I remembered. This is where we had our first kiss. This is where I fell in love with you.” Marshall gently tipped her chin up until he could see her eyes, “Why did you leave without giving me an answer? Without even saying goodbye?”

“Because I had to go and I knew if I looked into your eyes, I would have stayed.”

“Would that have been so terrible?”

“I thought so at the time.”

Marshall held his breath, “And now?”

After a long pause, Bobbie whispered, “If I could, I would stay.”

“Then stay. With me.”

Bobbie pulled away and stood up. She leaned against the hard bark of a tree, bringing herself back to reality, “What about Trixie Sue? You two seem pretty cozy.”

Marshall laughed, “Trixie Sue is married to Curtis. You remember Curtis? My best friend since forever? We have been planning a surprise party for his thirtieth birthday next week.” Marshall laughed again, “You thought we were?”

“Well, you were always whispering together.”

Marshall’s smile faded. He took Bobbie’s hands in his, and said, “I’m going to ask you again.”

Bobbie’s hands shook. She couldn’t speak.

With one hand, Marshall reached into his pocket, pulled out a small box, before bending down on one knee. He opened the box, revealing a large marquis cut diamond, and said, “I’m not a pauper, I make good money as a contractor. I even built a house up on Eagle Peak. Victorian, like you always wanted. It’s our dream house. Remember? I know you have a job in California, but you can commute. We will find a way around the obstacles. Bobbie Jean Hogg, Hogan, or whatever you call yourself these days, how about changing your name to Bobbie Sadler? Marry me?”

Without hesitation, Bobbie Jean answered, “Yes!”

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