Who knew big sister Maddie had a covert relationship with a special guy? It was easy when all the focus was on Kat potentially being impregnated by an Indian spirit. Had she “done it” with a spirit? How could that be? She knew her body, but…how different would it be if it truly was a spiritual union as Big Crow with Little Feet promised. Add tequila to the mix of questions, and Kat promises to share the story again with Maddie’s special guy, Benny, a Tequila Jedi.
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Chapter #10 – Extra Anejo
Recovering from shock, the two women sat in the den, lost in their private thoughts. Neither spoke nor made eye contact as each fought to make sense of that morning. Maddie struggled with the prospect of having a spirit presence with her…in her…or wherever a presence would be. Why had she asked for proof? Why couldn’t she leave the situation alone and be satisfied to listen to her sister’s bizarre tale? If this spirit thing was a reality, should she be afraid? What does one do with an unwelcome and uninvited spirit?
Kat, on the other hand, had much more on her mind. Was she destined to become pregnant from Shadow Eagle’s seed? From what Big Crow said, it sounded like a done deal. She tried to rationalize her predicament, weighing options to end it with a morning-after pill, terminating what could become a personal catastrophe. When she contemplated a quick fix, a feeling swept over her from someplace, emphasizing that her primary role was to protect what would potentially grow in her womb. Confusion clouded her thinking as she struggled to justify terminating any possibility of being pregnant, but why did she feel a deep sense of ownership and duty to ride out the journey no matter what happened? Where was this influence coming from? She knew what Big Crow said about her role, but this feeling was unexplainably different.
“I do not want that medicine man…or his spirit…or his presence…in my head,” said Maddie, breaking the silence.
Kat looked at her and said, “At least Big Crow is only mind-fucking with your head. I, on the other hand, have experienced several traumatic moments being mind-fucked and possibly the real thing under the guise of a so-called spiritual union. Call it whatever you want, but I know my body and exactly what I felt. Dammit, Maddie, I could soon carry the great-great-grandson of Big Crow with Little Feet…and he’s only a spirit presence. What am I supposed to do with that?”
Maddie did not say anything.
Kat continued, “I’ll share something else Big Crow told me when I asked, ‘Why me?’ Well, believe it or not, we can thank Mom.”
“What? Mom? She’s been dead for three years. How does she fit into this nonsense?” asked Maddie.
“Big Crow told me I had Puye blood from mom’s side of the family running through my veins from many, many years ago, and that was how he found me in a dream. Don’t ask me how that works, but you and I both have a genetic blood link to whatever tribe came from the Puye area from God knows how long ago. From what I researched, the Puye cliff dwellings were constructed in the late 1200s and early 1300s. Somehow, many generations down our family tree, the bloodline picked up Indigenous genetics,” explained Kat.
Maddie stared at her sister, saying nothing. Finally, she said, “I guess that explains the straight black hair.”
“And the love of tequila,” added Kat, attempting to lighten the mood.
Maddie fielded the shift in thinking and changed their course of action. “I doubt the love of tequila is a genetic thing, sweetie, but I think it deserves more research…one shot at a time…at The Toros. It’s time to get out of this funk, and a good buzz is in order. Agree?”
“I agree totally, just…no barking at the moon this time,” Kat said, hoping for a reaction.
Maddie fired a throw pillow…aptly named…at her sister, “We’ll see who’s barking at what after we have been properly medicated, little sister.”
Kat ducked and laughed, “That sounds like a challenge, big sister.”
“Nope,” said Maddie, “it’s a collaboration to investigate the truth and put our Puye blood to the test.”
The Toros was Maddie’s favorite Mexican restaurant. Her loyalty included driving past several others on the way there that were also good, as one might expect in Phoenix. However, it wasn’t so much the food as it was her relationship with Benny, owner of The Toros. He was a close friend and seemed to enjoy recommending new tequilas whenever he returned from a visit to his family’s home in Mexico. Maddie thought for a second; maybe there was a genetic link to tequila after all, but why jump to conclusions when scientific research was in their future…and made more sense?
Alejandro, who went by Alex, greeted Maddie as they walked into the restaurant, “Hola, Maddie, como esta?” (how are you?)
“Hey, Alex, bien gracias!” (doing well, thanks!) This is my sister, Kat.”
Shaking Kat’s hand, Alejandro said, “Encantado de conocerte.” (nice to meet you)
“Tú también,” (you as well) said Kat.
“Ahh, habla español,” (you speak Spanish) complimented Alejandro.
“Muy poco,” (very little) laughed Kat.
Maddie asked, “Say, Alex, is Benny in this evening? I want to introduce him to my little sister.”
Benny was probably not his given name, but then neither was Alex’s. He had only ever been introduced as Benny…nothing else mattered to her.
“Si,” said Alejandro, “I tell him you are here. The booth you like is open,” pointing toward the back corner. “Still good for you, señorita Maddie?” he questioned in his abbreviated English.
“Perfecto, gracias,” (perfect thanks) said Maddie.
Alejandro turned on his heel and led them toward a circular booth in the corner that Maddie preferred because it wrapped around, partially closed on three sides, and was more private than the rest. Having a special booth and being known by the staff is part of why she liked coming to The Toros, and, of course, there was Benny.
“Hola, señorita, Maddie,” (Hello, Ms. Maddie) como esta?” (how are you?) greeted Benny, clapping his tattooed hands together as he approached their booth.
They exchanged pleasantries and made introductions verbatim to those shared with Alejandro. Maddie scooted further around the circular booth and invited Benny to join them. When his bottom hit the seat, she got straight to important business. “Benny, I’ve been singing your praises as the ultimate source for finding extraordinary tequilas.”
He laughed, folded his hands on the table, and leaned close like whatever would cross his lips would be a conspiracy toward revealing his sources. Kat noticed his rich brown eyes flashed in perfect synch with an infectious grin. She also noticed how there was more than a flash when he looked at her sister. There was more to Benny and his rumored tequila acquisition talent, and Kat would bet money on hidden humor. “Your timing is good. I just returned from home and have several selections you should try. The first is Corralejo Extra Anejo, a tequila so smooth lime and salt are disruptions.”
Maddie refused to agree until there was liquid proof. “I know about the regular Corralejo, thanks to you, and it is my favorite so far. It’s the one that comes in the blue bottle, right?”
Benny nodded, reached over, put his hand over Maddie’s, and said, “Oh, señorita, this Extra Anejo is the best. If either of you decide on salt or lime, I will be forced to ask you to dejar mi establecimientole. (leave my establishment) It will put you both on the ground and barking at the moon.” …confirming his humor was not only hidden…but quite dry.
Kat sucked in a sharp breath and shot a glance at Maddie with a silent WTF telegraphed in her eyes that her sister skillfully avoided.
Benny chuckled at Kat’s reaction and said, “Yes, I know all about the lost sunglasses and the misinterpretation in my parking lot on a moonless night. We are like family here.” He squeezed Maddie’s hand and slipped out of the booth, leaving behind the bomb on what Kat thought was a family secret.
After Benny left, Maddie braced for the interrogation, still avoiding Kat’s eyes.
“I may be wrong…and often are,” said Kat gently, “…but I do believe I just witnessed you not so subtly pull poor Benny into your web.”
Maddie did not have a chance to raise a defense when Benny walked up with a small serving tray, diverting Kat’s momentum into delay mode. The tray he placed on the table held three shot glasses filled to the rim of dark golden nectar, and he slid back in beside Maddie, who stole a glance at her little sister, who pretended not to see the glance, but Kat smiled and winked at Maddie and thought, You’re so busted, big sister.
Each held their shot glass up, anticipating throwing back an opening shot. Benny broke into that thought when he said, “This tequila can be shot, but why…why hurry when much of what is offered will be missed? So, raise your glass and prepare to sip slowly. Saludos! (cheers!)
They sipped and immediately confirmed Benny was indeed a tequila genius…maybe even Jedi status. Maddie knew after the first sip, lime and salt would disrupt what she savored.
After her first taste, Kat asked him, “You’re not going to get busted for drinking with the customers, are you?”
Benny snorted, “Soy el puto dueño!” (I own the fucking place!) and to add punctuation, slipped out of the booth. “Ahora vuelvo!” (I’ll be right back)
Kat pounced from delay mode, “So, big sister, who shares secret family shit with strangers…has Benny inseminated you yet?”
Maddie’s blush negated anything she might say to push back, so why defend the indefensible? “Benny is not a stranger, and I did not draw into my web. If you must know, we’re already in a web, and I’m not sure who drew whom into it. Honestly, it does not matter a whit to me, and everything else about him falls under my good friend, Mom,” explained Maddie, showing a little defensive moxie.
“With benefits,” added Kat, wagging her shoulders, “and that’s cool big sister; after all, I just fucked a big ol’ Indian on a mountaintop. Who am I to judge?”
“Now that sounds like a story to share, señorita Kat,” said Benny, startling them when he returned to their booth, having heard enough to want more. The tray he placed on the table held the open bottle of the Corralejo Extra Anejo they had enjoyed their first of many shots. Benny slipped back into the booth and poured three more. “Señorita Kat, maybe you should start this story while we take our time for good care of this bottle.”
Maddie said, “It’s one heck of a story, amigo, and I would not recommend listening to any of it without a bit of a buzz. I will say this; however, if we finish that bottle, we won’t be able to find the parking lot.”
The Anejo buzz had already made its presence known because the second shot did not last as long as the first as each put their shot glasses down in unison. Benny resolved the dilemma by pouring three more, saying, “My friends, I have already taken into consideration the downside risks, so rest easy.” Benny raised his glass for a toast, nodded at Kat, and said, “To a good story.”
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Hope you enjoyed chapter #10! I’m still editing and writing, so this is a work in progress that may become a novel one day. I’ll continue to share each chapter, so keep checking back. I would love to know your thoughts so far at gdogwise@live.com …If not, enjoy the read!
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