Getting to Know You, Bobby, Matilda

[Robert Munroe]

"We weren't doin' nothing wrong! How's it yer business anyhow," Bobby's anger was rising as he glared up at this interloper.

Mattie was down by his side then, gently wiping at his bloody lip. It didn't really hurt that much anyhow, Bobby has his focus completely on the other guy. Suddenly it all became crystal clear. So this was her brother!

"I'm kinda new in town and I ain't seen you either, so?" Bobby snapped back but changed his tone to soft when replying to her worried question, "No, I'm alright."

The brother now threatened to tell their mother.

"What you gonna tattle like some little kid?" Bobby smirked then turned away from Mattie and spit blood before once again facing his tormentor.

A bit late, Mattie attempted civil introductions though Bobby figured her describing him as her beau only made it all worse. Even if it was true, might have been smarter to leave that out.

Unphased, Cyrus now ordered him to leave. Yeah, right, like he was gonna tuck his tail between his legs and scurry away like some coward. Cyrus might be bigger but Bobby wondered how many actual serious fights the boy had ever been in. Having roughed it a few years now, Bobby been in a few. His record was not great in them but he was tougher than he looked and he'd learned a few things in his scraps.

Though Mattie held his hand, he pulled it out from her and scrambled to his feet, tensed and ready for battle. He'd just been sucker punched but it wouldn't so easy for Cyrus now.

"You ain't tellin' me what to do. We're just havin' a picnic is all and we got to swimmin'. You don't take some clothes off when you swim? We weren't doin' nothin' wrong. So you don't like it, you leave!" Bobby formed fists and adopted a fighting stance.

[Matilda Watson]

”It is my business,” he snarled. ”When she’s being taken advantage of by some rapist, it is my business!” Mattie protested this comment, but he ignored her. So he was new in town! Cyrus should have figured as much. The guy was probably just some drifter looking for a one night stand before he headed off to rob a bank or something. Or even worse, he was one of those guys who went around breaking girls’ hearts just for the fun of it. What a jerk, taking advantage of Mattie’s trusting nature. Lord only knows what bull he told her to get her out here. The girl really needed be broken of this trusting thing. She had to learn that not everyone was going to be her friend, no matter how hard she tried.

He scoffed at the boy’s question. ”It ain’t tattling when your sister’s innocence is in danger,” he declared, thinking himself impressive with his differentiation on what was tattling and what wasn’t. Mattie simple frowned at Bobby’s question.

”Don’t encourage him,” she pleaded. She wasn’t really surprised that they had started to egg each other on. Stupid masculine pride. Why couldn’t they just sit down and talk about this calmly like normal humans? Both of them were doing an unfortunately excellent job of making the other angrier and Mattie was essentially at a loss as to what to do. She was better at preventing arguments rather than stopping them midway. As she mentally rushed for a way to end the row, Bobby pulled away from her and stood up, much to her despair. This was not going to happen. She wouldn’t allow it.

”Cyrus,” Mattie said calmly as she approached her brother, ”you are not the one who should be dealing with this. We all need to go and talk to Mama and Pap, right?” She might get an earful from her parents, but at least neither of them would start throwing punches. The girl was terrified that one of them was going to get seriously hurt and she wouldn’t have been able to stand that.

”No! This kid needs to be taught a lesson,” he said defiantly, easily using the word ‘kid’ despite the fact that the two of them were probably rather close in age. Bobby’s comment on swimming only made the brother angrier. ”I don’t take my clothes off around some innocent girl I just met!” He figured that Mattie and the boy couldn’t have known each other long if he’d just come into town. He smirked when he was told to leave. ”Fine,” he said, striding past Bobby and toward Mattie’s horse. ”I'll leave. And I’m taking her with me.” As he spoke, he took up Apple’s reins and led the mare over to where his own horse stood.

Mattie was confused, but starting to feel relieved when Cyrus picked her up and draped her over his shoulder as he brought Apple over crushing any sense of hope she had about the situation. ”Cyrus, stop it. Put me down,” she demanded, sounding almost angry. ”You’re being immature. We aren’t going anywhere without Bobby. We have to talk about this! Ma and Pap aren’t going to be pleased with you, either.” Despite all her struggling and protests, she could not wriggle free of her brother’s grasp. At least he was walking away from the fight.

As he approached his horse, Cyrus turned to face Bobby and spoke, "The next time I see you, I'll teach you a lesson you won't soon forget so clear out while you've got the chance."

[Robert Munroe]

"Rapist? Why I'd never do no such thing, you liar!" Bobby swallowed some more blood but he wasn't swallowing his pride anymore. This guy was not going to get away with this.

Only seeing how upset Mattie was prevented Bobby from going right for Cyrus and settle this mess with a fair fight. Mattie was doing her best, bless her heart, to reason this all out but even her idea of ALL of them going to their folks to let them know......Bobby sure wasn't ready to do that now that her brother was on the warpath. All Cyrus had to do was testify Bobby was trying to rape his sister and he could just imagine the father shooting him down like a dog. Oh no, he wasn't about to die for something he never did.

Cyrus just wasn't listening to anything his sister said anyhow and grabbed for her this time. Bobby sputtered, "Hey, let her go."

Mattie didn't want to go either and she was struggling. Bobby followed, fists clenched just looking for an opening, "She don't wanna go with you."

And the other boy gave him exactly the chance he needed when he turned around to face Bobby and warn him about 'next time'. Bobby just glared then punched Cyrus right in the gut, following up on his instant advantage with a second punch, this time a shot to the face as his target let go of Mattie.

"Next time? Why wait? Let's go at it right now, you n' me," Bobby jumped back and got into his fighting stance.

[Matilda Watson]

As Cyrus turned to address Bobby once more, Mattie lost sight of the boy. She hoped that he wouldn’t do anything, but she really couldn’t blame if he did. She doubted he’d walk away after Cyrus called him a rapist. ”Just go home, Cyrus,” she begged. ”Me and Bobby weren’t doing anything. You’re overacting.” Cyrus simply shushed her, though, and was about to turn back toward his horse when Bobby came up and punched him. Even though she hadn’t seen what happened, Mattie figured she had a pretty good idea when Cyrus stumbled back. Bobby swung again, this time connecting with Cyrus’s face which caused him to loosen his grip on Mattie

She took the opportunity to twist free and fell to the ground, barely keeping her balance as her feet hit the earth. Cyrus was still recovering from the second punch when his sister turned on him. ”Son of a…” He wasn’t able to finish his thought, for without warning, Mattie slapped him across the face. The action silenced the boy quickly, not because it hurt but because he was completely shocked. She’d never raised a hand to anyone before, much less her own brother. He thought he’d be one of the last people she would strike.

”You should be ashamed of yourself,” she scolded, sounding more like her mother than she probably ever had before. ”Bobby’s had a rough time of it and he’s just looking for a place to settle down. He’s a nice boy and you would know that if you acted civil long enough to talk to him.” She’d never been so angry before. Her brother wasn’t the easiest person to get along with sometimes, but the two of them had never really had a real fight. Not like this, anyway. It broke her heart. ”There won’t be any fighting so long as I’m here,” she said forcefully. She was looking at her brother as she said this, but it was meant for both boys.

With a final glare at her brother, she turned toward Bobby, her expression softening as she did so. ”Please don’t be too upset,” she said gently, taking his face in her hands. ”He’s too prideful for his own good and he jumps to conclusions and he doesn’t know when he needs to stop.” As she spoke, she found her eyes were starting to tear up again. ”Please don’t fight. I don’t want anyone to get hurt.” She wondered if Cyrus and Bobby would ever be friends after this. She wasn’t going to give up either of them, though, so they might as well get used to each other.

Behind the pair, Cyrus rolled his eyes as he tended to his now bloody nose. ”Give me a break,” he grumbled quietly. ”This is ridiculous.” He would have liked nothing more than to deck the other guy, but he knew Mattie wouldn't let him near the boy and he definitely didn't want to hurt her.

[Robert Munroe]

Though Bobby was ready, in fact almost eager, to finish this fight he never got the chance. Mattie surprised him, and most definitely, her brother too when she slapped him a good one right across his face! Bobby lowered his fists and listened as she lit into him in full fury. He'd not seen her like this and actually it was quite impressive. He could tell the brother had the wind taken out of his sails too by it all.

Then she turned to him and her anger vanished as she tried to soothe him both with words and by taking his face into her hands. He just melted, the fight was over because that's what she wanted and he'd do almost anything for this girl.

"I won't, Mattie, I won't hit him anymore. I'm sorry but I wasn't just gonna take anymore from him, brother a yers or not," Bobby sighed.

"You got my word, I'm done," he promised in all sincerity even as he heard the other boy muttering his disgust with the whole thing. Much as he wanted to punch him some more, he wouldn't. Mattie was too important, Cyrus meant nothing to him.

"I reckon you should go now," he realized the reality of it all, this fun time was over. In fact, once her folks found out, it all might be over between them.

"Hope yer folks don't get too mad."

[Matilda Watson]

Mattie smiled and felt a wave of relief wash over her as Bobby assured her that he’d stop fighting. ”Thank you,” she said genuinely, giving him a soft, short kiss. Despite the seriousness of the situation, she couldn’t help but laugh a little at the next part of his remark. ”I don’t blame you,” she admitted. ”He likes to think he’s a big man. I’ll have Pap break him of his hot temper.” Although he acted tough, Cyrus had only ever been in a few fights. When the Watson patriarch found out about these, though, he gave his son an earful, calling his son’s actions childish, immature, and rash, among other things. Certain occasions aside, Isaac was not at all a fan of using violence to solve a problem, not unlike his daughter.

The girl’s smile faltered a bit when he said she should go. He was right, of course. Her mother would want her home immediately after Cyrus told her what had happened. Mattie didn’t want to go, though. Not if Bobby wasn’t coming along. She didn’t want to leave him alone in this state. Did he know how to care for his wound properly? What if it got infected? Even if he hadn’t been injured, she still would have been hesitant to leave. To be honest, she was suddenly terrified that if she let him out of her sight for even a moment, he would leave. Getting punched days after arriving wasn’t exactly a warm welcome and, for many people, would be enough of an incentive to move on.

She shook her head as he spoke again, her smile returning full force. ”I bet they’ll be angrier at him for trying to start a fight,” she said, nodding in her brother’s direction. She was lying a bit, though. While they would be very upset with Cyrus, they’d be furious with her. Her mother would be, at least. ”Please don’t be afraid to come with us,” she said, suddenly earnest, ”or to come by the house anytime. They won’t be mad with you so much as me and Cyrus. And they won’t think you’re a rapist, not matter what Cyrus says, because I’ll tell them you’re not. I think they’ll like you.” She was certain that her father would come to like the boy in no time after the air was cleared. Her ma was different story, though.

”He better not come around the house,” Cyrus stated, still dabbing blood from his nose. "I’ll shoot him if he does.”

”Just don’t leave, alright?” Her last plea slipped out without her permission. She didn’t want him to think her too clingy. She quickly decided that she wasn’t going home until he agreed to stay. She heard Cyrus groan as she spoke, but ignored him again. He just didn't seem to realize when he wasn't being listened to.

[Robert Munroe]

His acceptance that the fight was over brought him a sweet little reward too as she kissed him. He didn't have much faith though in her declaration that her Pa would do something about that temper of her brother's. The guy hated him, that was plain as day.

"Well, if I had any money to bet, I'd bet they're gonna be really angry with you. Especially the way Cyrus'll be telling it," Bobby sighed.

She was back then to trying to convince him to go with her but despite her optimism he simply didn't share it. The anger of a father when it came to his daughter was something he just didn't wish to risk. And Cyrus next remark only reinforced those fears, as the boy threatened to shoot him if he even set foot on their property.

Bobby glared past Mattie, "I got a gun too so you better think twice before you start shootin' anybody."

The last thing he wanted though was to get into a shootout with her very own family, that could never turn out good no matter who got shot. No, it had to be avoided.

"Sorry, Mattie, but that's exactly why I ain't comin' along right now. This was a few punches, no big deal but it could turn out real ugly if I go with you now," he went back to concentrating on her.

"And no, I ain't leavin' town. I plan on settlin' here for the long run and your brother ain't gonna scare me away. Don't you worry about that," he promised her.

[Matilda Watson]

She smiled sadly as he insisted that her parents were going to be angry with her. It was obvious she wasn’t going to be able to convince him otherwise, true or not. ”I’ll set them straight,” she assured him. ”But it's my fault. I should have told them about this yesterday. Besides, they’ll get over it. Eventually.” She was quite sure that they’d only be mad at her for keeping secrets, not for the relationship itself, unless Cyrus kept up his rapist nonsense. Relationships were good things, after all, and they certainly couldn’t expect her not to form one like this. Mattie was nearly grown, anyway. Her parents themselves had only been a few years older than her when they got hitched, so it was only natural that Mattie start testing the waters, so to speak.

The girl gave Bobby a stern look as he warned Cyrus off. ”Now, now,” she said, lightly but firmly, ”no one’s shooting anyone, right? I’ll be the one having to beat the blood stains out of his clothes. And blood stains are hard to get out.” She couldn’t count the number of times her brother or father had come home with some sort of wound sustained while working. She sometimes thought they did it on purpose just to annoy her.

Cyrus scoffed at her comment, though. ”He’d never get the chance,” he huffed. ”Probably don’t even know how to use a gun properly. Just hurry up, would you? You don’t need to be hanging round such a bad influence.” As far as he was concerned, Mattie wouldn’t be seeing this boy again, no matter how good a soul she said he was, so he let her have her moment. She’d forgive him in the long run, he was sure.

”Hush,” Mattie scolded, sending a quick scowl over her should at her brother. ”I can promise you that he’s had more experience with a gun than you’ve had.” She turned back to Bobby, nodding as he rejected her offer to join them. She wasn’t happy with his decision, of course, but it didn’t surprise her. Frankly, she would have been scared to go, too, if she’d been in his place and her plea had been a long shot, anyway. Would he have come with her today if Cyrus hadn’t shown up? She’d never know now. ”You’ll come when you’re ready.” It should have been a question, but it came out as a statement, almost a demand, so she added ”Won’t you?” She didn’t want to force him into anything he was dead set against.

She smiled, relieved once more, when he assured her that he’d stay. ”Thank you,” she said again, now taking both his hands in hers. ”He’s just full of hot air. His bark’s worse than his bite, really.” She couldn’t leave it at just that, though, and gave him a goodbye kiss, this one longer than her earlier one. ”I’ll come see you tomorrow?” This statement came out as more of a question, just so she’d be sure that Bobby would still have her. ”To check on you?” She didn’t think about it at the time, but she’d probably have a nearly impossible time convincing her mother to let her go and visit him.

Cyrus, of course, didn’t like the idea. ”Nope,” he said, moving forward and taking his sister by the arm. Enough was enough. ”You’ll be lucky if Ma lets you out of the house at all over the year. And would you stop kissin’ on him? It ain’t right.”

[Robert Munroe]

Mattie was so sure that her folks would end up being alright with this whole incident, Robert wished he could have half her optimism. He was more...what did that one old codger call it once? He was a cynic. Or as the old man had declared about optimists:

"an optimist is the person BEFORE the event happens"


She could also joke about shooting and cleaning bloodstains from clothes but to Bobby it was nothing funny at all. He'd seen folks shot and it was ugly, the lucky ones die right away but some take a long time in lot of suffering before they pass.

That fool brother of hers had to open his big mouth again and spout off him not even being able to use a gun properly. Bobby glared, "Oh, I can alright."

It took every bit of his self control not to say a whole lot more and use some rather foul language too while he was at it. But that would only upset Mattie and he didn't want to do that.

She kept encouraging him though as if she was afraid he'd run off and go to another town, another place of total strangers? He wouldn't. She prodded him to say he'd see her tomorrow so he nodded. A part of him doubted though her folks would be allowing that, might be a good deal longer...if ever. His gloom was interrupted by another sweet kiss from her though.

And then Cyrus had to grab her yet again and say the words aloud pretty much what he'd been already thinking. She'd be like a prisoner in her own house for a long long time. That tore it! He snapped.

"Wait! I changed my mind. I AM gonna go with ya, Mattie. This here was two people not just you. You shouldn't have to face'em alone even if they are yer folks," he declared in a firm voice.

And he had something for Cyrus too, "And if you wanna shoot me, well you'll be able to get yer gun easily enough when we get there. I'll even help ya load it, if you don't know how."

He suddenly realized he was more than a cynic, he was crazy, doing this. But Mattie was worth it.

[Matilda Watson]

Cyrus stopped in his tracks and blinked at the boy’s sudden declaration, taken by surprise quite a bit. It seemed as though this boy had guts after all. Either that or he was just stupid. Regardless of whichever one it was, he’d get what was coming to him, much to the brother’s delight. He would have been happy enough if the boy had just disappeared, but now his parents could deal with him before he vanished. Unlike Mattie, Cyrus was fairly confident that their parents would skin the boy alive, though this assumption was based mostly on his own feelings and what he wished would happen to the jerk of a guy.

After the pleasant shock subsided a bit, Cyrus couldn’t help but snicker. ”You’re a fool, boy. You won’t make it out alive,” he laughed. ”They’ll string you up for sure.” Of course he knew no such thing would happen, but he threw it out there anyway. There was always the chance that the guy would chicken out at the last minute and a good scare was exactly what he needed. Just in case.

Mattie frowned at her brother. ”Stop it,” she hissed at him. ”They’ll do no such thing and you know it.” She shook him off irritably and then smiled at Bobby. Even though she knew the looming encounter with her parents would not be pleasant, she couldn’t help but grin at him when he proclaimed that she shouldn’t have to face her parents alone. ”This is good,” she chirped. She wanted to kiss him again for being so brave, but she spoke on. ”They’ll see what a good, brave person you are and they won’t be able to think badly of you!” She hugged him again, exclaiming, ”Everything’s gonna be alright!” Mattie, unlike her brother, could only see things turning out for the better now. After her mother’s predictable fit, of course. As far as she was concerned, her parents wouldn’t be able to help liking Bobby if he showed up to defend himself.

Bobby spoke once more, this time shooting an insult toward Cyrus, who scowled at the other boy, unable to do anything with his sister in the way. This guy was just pushing his luck. As soon as Mattie left an opening, Cyrus would beat the living daylights out of that boy. He could probably find out where the boy was staying with little effort and, whether their parents did anything about this or not, he could be dealt with. Plus Mattie wouldn’t be there for him to hide behind. He wondered if Bobby would talk so big without Mattie around. ”Come on, then,” he said impatiently as he mounted his horse. ”I can’t wait to see this.”