by Ann Hite

Rose Gardner was the only person Hobbs Pritchard ever truly loved, and part of the reason he loved her was for her guts. That’s why she didn’t think twice when she marched up Black Mountain nearly three years after he came up missing. That family of his never even bothered to come down and tell her he was guessed dead. Nope, instead that brother of his showed up noising around with a bunch of questions. Rose had to hear the details on the street from Hobbs’ whiskey customers. The news didn’t drop her to her knees. Her soul was purely past that emotion. Voodoo was the source of his death. How did she know this? Because Rose put the voodoo on him. It was her intentions to rid the world of that little marriage of his, but it seemed to have backfired because Hobbs was gone, missing.

Going up that mountain was really the last thing Rose wanted to do, but when she spied that little wisp of a wife alive and well, the sight crawled under her skin and ate away at her. She had gone to the seashore with Mr. Carl Ramsey. Mama threatened to beat Rose if she left Connor, her son, Hobbs’ son, with her too long. Mama liked the nightlife and that’s where Rose learned her ways. Connor was the innocence in her life, the purity. Anyway, Mr. Carl Ramsey led her to believe he was taking her to a big hotel on the seashore, where they’d be waited on hand and foot. It turned out to be a big old house on some deserted beach. All that old man wanted was to keep her in bed, which wasn’t so bad except the water was too loud to concentrate on pleasing a man.

On the second night of her trip, Carl sulked in the front room of the house and she coaxed him out to walk on the beach. And, there was Hobbs’ wife. Rose had only seen her once when Hobbs took her up the mountain. She was plain and simple like a buttercup and alive, having the last laugh on all those folks up that stupid old mountain, who told the story she died. In those three years she, she’d grown into a woman; wisdom showed in her face as she chatted with the man whose arm was looped through hers. They had love and money written all over them. And that’s when Rose realized Hobbs owed her something. He’d used her up and left her an old woman before her time, not to mention how she spent a good three months wondering if he were dead or alive. It wasn’t like Rose worried over his wrongs so much when he was around. Lord, she just liked him there; he wasn’t much of a giving person, but he sure knew what worked her over. He owed her. He owed Connor. He was always bragging over the money he had hidden up on that mountain. Hobbs bragged a lot, and he was capable of just about anything.

Yep, Rose stood right there in that hot sand and it crossed her mind to walk right up to Miss Hoity-toity and introduce herself, watch that woman’s shinning face cave, but what point was there in hurting her. She got away and if she killed him; well really he had it coming because he was meaner than a wild cat. And Rose had to bear some of the guilt; her voodoo had played a big part in the whole matter.

Rose cut that little trip short—and boy Mr. Ramsey wasn’t a bit happy. She stopped at Mama’s long enough to gather Connor and pulled him right up that mountain before she had too much time to think. Connor was a Pritchard and there was no denying that. The family owed him something, even if it was just history.

When Rose got to the Pritchard farm, she just stood in the front yard, holding Connor on her hip until Hobbs’ old aunt came waddling out the door. She heard enough about her to do her a lifetime. Hobbs only honored two women in his life: his mama and his aunt. This was probably due to the fact both women had no clearer vision than the rest of the women, and they held him in a higher place like a prince or something.

“Who are you?”

Rose sat Connor on the ground and looked real hard at the woman. “I’m Rose Gardner, and this here is Connor. I’m sure you’ve heard of me.”

“No one’s never mentioned a Rose or a child.”

Rose yanked Connor out of the dirt, which caused him to wail like a hurt cat. It wasn’t his fault the old biddy didn’t know his mama. “Hush now.” Rose tried to sound sweet. Connor only wailed louder.

“Is that baby okay?” The woman moved closer.

“This baby is Hobbs’ son, and I’ve been raising him alone. I’m the woman he left this old mountain and that pretty little wife for.”

“I guess he’s dead. Do you think he’s dead? I miss him something awful even if he were the meanest boy that ever walked this mountain. He ran my sweet little Liz off, but I love him. He’s mine.” The old woman’s face cracked open. “I don’t believe all that nonsense of his skull being found in that old hollow tree. Nellie told me it was a coon, and Nellie wouldn’t lie. She was a truthful little thing. She’s gone too, you know? They never found her body.”

In that woman’s words, Rose saw her own heart, her love and need for Hobbs Pritchard. Why? Why would she long for a mean drunk who did nothing but abuse the folks around him? Lord, he’d kill a man in a heartbeat. She knew because she seen him kill Hark Parker. Stabbed him with one swift movement of a knife. The man shouldn’t have become all chummy with him, and he sure shouldn’t have stole from him. What was wrong with all of the folks that allowed Hobbs to be Hobbs?

“This is Connor. He looks just like Hobbs. It hurts me to think on it too long.”

“Hobbs never had no children.”

“I guess I know! This here is his son.” Rose was getting a little tired of the craziness.

“He was mean to that little wife. He beat her and I didn’t do a thing. I let it happen. I caused it all.”

“You didn’t cause a thing. I put voodoo on him. I made him restless, tired of this old place. He was leaving here. That I can tell you for sure. I don’t know what happen, but my voodoo worked too good.”

“How I know that’s Hobbs’ son?”

“Look at him.”

The old woman looked real hard at Connor. “I guess you’re right. The old home place is empty, been empty since Nellie walked off and died. Did your voodoo do that too?”

“Never had no quarrel with her. She was just plain stupid.” And, Rose knew this was the truth.

“That place ain’t nothing but bad luck. Hobbs’ mama and step mama died up there. You can go if you want. No skin off my back.” She turned to leave. “I’ll send Tom up later to see after you. You bring that boy down here to see his old aunty.”

“I make my own luck. I’ll be fine, no need to send anybody.” Now, she had to tend to the matter of money and then off that mountain she’d be.

The cabin sat in a clearing with a lost look as if it were left over from another time and life. The main room was musty with a tangy smell like over cooked, spoiled meat. A cold feeling rushed over Rose as she walked in front of the fireplace, and outside the window, on the edge of the woods, stood a man, staring. He was dressed real nice, but the knees of his pants were ruined. Well, Rose had been doing voodoo too long not to know a restless spirit when one appeared. When she went for a closer look, the man dissolved into the air, and Rose knew he had some part in the murder. She took Connor’s hand and put him on the old bed in the bedroom. She started going through the room. When she opened an old trunk, a shirt that belonged to Hobbs laid on top. She held it to her nose just to see if he were there. You mean old son of a gun. I miss you so bad. I ache like some kind of fool. But, the shirt smelled like mildew. His presence was missing from the whole place, unless she had no sense of his true presence.

Two hours later as Connor slept and Rose went through each room, a knock on the door interrupted her peace.

A man filled the door. Lord, he was a big man, but Hobbs was reflected in his brother’s face, kind of soft around the edges like the man Rose imagined Hobbs to be. This man was the one who came asking the questions that terrible night. Of course, Rose didn’t study on him too much that night. Her mind was filled with anger and then sorrow concerning Hobbs.

“You gave me a shock.”

“Why is that?” His voice echoed through the empty rooms with a familiar tone.

“You look like him, sort of.”

“I’m not sure I like that.”

She held out her hand. “Rose, Rose Gardner. I was your brother’s girl, the one he didn’t choose to marry. The one you visited with questions.” The truth rang through the room, a freedom bell.

“This is a broken down mess.” He pushed past her into the room. “You know the kids around here say they see Hobbs out by the hollow tree just watching.” He walked to the window. “I ain’t never seen him, don’t want to. I have no use for him.” His stare was dark. “My first guess is Nellie killed him. Can’t say I blame her. It was a shame she just didn’t walk out of here. No one would have pointed one finger at her.”

“How do you know she didn’t just go out on her own and make a life?” Rose watched his face for a sign.

“I guess anything could have happened ”

If he had only knew.

Connor came into the room, sucking his thumb. “I not like that bed. A bad man talked to me.”

“He was born with a caw. All his life, he’ll see the spirit world, you know. It makes him real special to many folks.” Babies born with a caw over their face were known as magical, good luck. Rose was right proud of that.

Tom Pritchard took one look at Connor and his face went all soft. Rose’s heart flipped over.

“Well little man, we don’t believe in that silly old stuff do we? All that mumbo-jumbo stuff.”

Connor watched his uncle.

“Now, he looks like Hobbs. All the good stuff. It’s like magic how all the meanness in Hobbs’ face is ironed out all smooth in his.” He looked at Rose.

“Yeah, he’s all the good parts of Hobbs, maybe a little of me.”

“You’ll have your work cut out for you. I never could figure out where that horrible smell came from. I don’t know how you’ll get rid of it. This is a good house. I was raised here with Liz and Hobbs. It was a wonderful place when Mama was alive, even old Hobbs softened with her.” Tom Pritchard looked at the room as if he saw a different place in a different time.

“I’ll make due here.” Now, Rose had different plans, and it didn’t include making some kind of home.

“I’ll bring you some supper.”

“Me go.” Connor held out his arms.

Tom Pritchard threw back his head in a laughter that rattled the windows. “I could have a houseful of children.” He turned to go out the door, but looked back at Rose. “Come get me if you need anything.”

“You mean if the headless Hobbs comes after me? Don’t worry. I’ll run down that road so fast.” Laughter stuck in her chest. She just had to keep thinking after that money and get on out of there.

After a quiet night’s sleep, Rose began searching the barn. The house was peaceful as if the evil and meanness had finally been dealt with in a proper way. The next morning while she had her head buried in the moldy hay, Tom Pritchard made an appearance.

“What are you doing?”

She thought of burying herself in the hay. “I’m looking for money.”

“Come and play.” Connor yelled from his perch in the hay. “The bad man said you like to play.”

Tom picked Connor up.

“Connor don’t bother this nice man. He has business somewhere.”

“I’m content to be right here. I love this place. I love this mountain. I’ve never hankered for anything else. Folks just seem to love Black Mountain.”

“I’m not made of the stuff it takes to live here. I’m more like your brother. That’s why I loved him so much. I just wanted to find his money. It’s here somewhere. He owes me.”

“He owes a lot of folks. I don’t doubt there’s money hidden around here somewhere. But, money’s ain’t going to fix your problems.”

“Easy for you to say.”

Tom just looked at her.

“You know I killed Hobbs.”

His face never flinched.

“I put voodoo on him. The spell was supposed to make him leave his wife and come off this mountain for good. It worked a little too good. Cause now they’re both gone. And, well now you know what kind of woman I am.”

“I don’t believe in voodoo, and I don’t believe you’re a bad woman.”

“Um uh.” Connor took Tom’s hand in his tiny hand.

“I knew you came looking for money. I expected you long ago. Hobbs was always starting something but never finishing it. Up here you don’t need a lot of money. The mountain provides. We ain’t rich, but by gosh, we’re happy. Hobbs used things up and never was a happy man. I don’t blame Nellie a bit for killing him. And, I know she did it. Let’s just say the feeling is in my bones. Some things are just best left to hoodoo and voodoo. Don’t you think?” His grin made her smile.

He looked at Connor. “This here is Hobbs’ second chance at life right here on this mountain. This boy will grow up to be strong and smart, but with no meanness.” Tom looked her over. “I’d be purely satisfied if you stayed. You’ll never be happier.”

One year later, Rose married Tom Pritchard and became an honest woman. She always saw herself as a Pritchard. Life just took a sharp turn and there she was planted on that mountain like one of them. Three months after she married Tom, while planting flowers in the old garden bed outside the house, her spade hit glass. The lid of the jar had begun to rust and moisture had built up inside, but not enough to hide the contents. Money, lots of money. Nellie didn’t take it after all. It was right there all the time in her garden. The rich dirt held something personal. Rose just felt it in her bones.

She stood with that old jar in her hand. Some things are just left best to hoodoo and voodoo.