Show t r Wf f SLOW AND CAREFUL I I V J By JOHN SCOTT DOUGLAS CAREFUL II OU cant can't make fast moves when YOU handling bees so a beeman learns to be slow and careful no matt matter matter mat mat- what happens I remembered ter t Sat that the day I stopped by Oakknoll ranch arch and found a stranger sitting I r in tO the farmhouse kitchen and watching watching watching watch watch- ing Emmy prepare a fat fryer Now Ive I've been in love with Emmy Since ce she was 16 The 10 years that ha have passed since then have changed her so little that if I were buzzing around round looking for something sweet eId Id I'd e still pick Emmy The western iun slanting through the window made roade sun a halo of her fair hair and her face was flushed from rom the hot stove She waved a floury hand as she popped a drumstick into the sputtering sputtering sputtering grease Hello Bill she said I want to meet Fuller Hes He's yOU TOU bought the Ha Hall place and is raising horses Where Where'd d you come from I answered Sierra foothills Im taking my bees down to Redlands Redlands Red- Red lands to pollinate the Farland or or- chard Bill has a pollinating service Emmy explained ned Arsenic sprays bees that kill loll so many pay him to bring his hives so the trees will bear fruit I see said the wisp of ofa a black mustache over his thin lips barely moving I couldn't make up my mind whether he was one of those rob rob- ber-bees ber that steal honey from Crom another another anther an an- I other ther hive or whether he was a drone that lets the work workers rs support support support sup sup- port him De Be had black eyes and a a. waspish face And there was contempt contempt contempt con con- tempt in the way he looked at my swollen hands that mighty near put me in a stinging mood I cant can't bother with gloves when Im I'm handling handling handling hand hand- ling beehives all the I asked about his horses while Emmy Emmy Emmy Em Em- my cooked supper but he seemed to resent my dropping in and wouldn't say much However he admitted that his old man had plenty of money and thought that since Fuller Laun Laun- son wasn't much good in his business business business busi busi- ness he might as well try to raise horses Now Emmy has a heart as big as a super six-super hive and she's always feeling feeling feeling feel feel- ing sorry for queer characters She never Dever talks much about herself but she's a good listener Still I couldn't figure what she saw in except except except ex ex- ex- ex that he had a college degree and she respects education I could have told other things about her She's been lonely since her folks died however so if she found him good company that was all right with me A beeman learns not to disturb the queen unless he has to After supper I had to leave to get et hives set up in the fields of the Redlands Redlands Redlands Red- Red lands orchard before sun Laun Laun- son showed no signs of swarming so soI soI soI I guessed he planned to visit a while longer with Emmy But a beeman doesn't jump to conclusions As I Isay Isay Isay say he learns to be slow and careM care care- ful M It was two weeks before I got back to Oakknoll again sat satin satin satin in the same chair as if he hadn't moved in all that time He didn't seem real friendly and acted bored when I asked about his horses Well supper didn't go so well that night Emmy treated me as she al always always always al- al ways does but sulked as bees do on a rainy day when they cant can't gather pollen After supper L a u n s son o n said theres a good movie in town Like to go Emily She started shaking her head but I spoke up You go right along Ive I've been driving nights and working days until Im I'm Im I'm too wore out to be fit company for anyone Ill I'll just catch a few winks on the sofa and push along about 11 11 Oh Bill Bill Emmy said anxiously dc de you have to work so hard You haven't an ounce of flesh 1 No keep me driving this I way I admitted Now that the wars war's over and we got to help feed the world we need bigger fruit crops weak chin would hurt my swollen hands much I decided not to try it I said Im putting some hives out under the trees here If you aint afraid of bees I want you to give m me a hand When I came inside later to wash up Emmy was just putting the last steaming dishes on the table J 1 i- i i li r 1 F 1 i r a lY tl f t tl l 4 t tr r 11 4 i S w wr r o vi 3 a. a Well supper didn't go so well that night Emmy treated me as she always does docs but sulked as bees do on a rainy day when they cant can't gather pollen But the spring pollinating is almost over and soon I can take it easier Not here I hope said unpleasantly when Emmy went into the bedroom to get her hat I knew V then how bees feel when you shake their hive on a cold day but I was too tired to argue I was asleep before they drove away and the clock alarm awakened me before before before be be- fore they returned It was nearly a month before I could get back When I drove past the old Hall place it looked like hadn't given give his horses much care He stepped out of the house after Id I'd stopped the truck and spoke as if he owned Oakknoll You back Yep I said Just in time tune for supper I didn't know Emily was expecting expecting expect expect- ing you he snapped I wondered whether Wheres Mr she asked Last I saw of him I said tucking tucking tucking tuck tuck- ing in my napkin he was running toward his house with a veil of bees trailing behind him He dropped a hive he was carrying and instead of backing away slow and careful like he began swatting bees They kind of resented it Emmy didn't say anything for a minute Im glad hes he's gone she said and nd smiled Id have told him I things before but I get so lonely when youre you're away Bill What made him drop the hive I guess something I said startled him You see hed he'd just advised me meto meto meto to move on saying Id I'd never get any any- anywhere where were with you Emmy I The idea What'd you say to that Bill Why I told him he was crazy crazy- that wed we'd been married 10 years |