COWBOYS AND BELLES |04| © Set in 2020's | Cowboy! Elias 'Stack' x Teacher! Pearline 'May'
Sexual Tension, Slow Burn, Cursing, Killing, Trauma
Previous: Ⅰ Ⅱ Ⅲ
Pearline cradled the house phone between her shoulder and ear, one socked foot hooked around the leg of the kitchen stool as she stared out the open window.
“’Cause why the hell you ain’t back yet?” Briana’s voice crackled through the line. “I thought you left Friday so you could be home by Sunday.”
“I said maybe,” Pearline replied calmly, picking at a chip in the countertop. “And I’m pretty sure I also said probably not.”
“Probably not my ass,” Briana snapped. “You want me to come down there, huh? Help you pack? Keep you company? ‘Cause my phone ain’t rang once in the last two days from you.”
Pearline sighed. “You actin’ like I dropped off the face of the earth. I’m only forty-five minutes—maybe an hour and a half—from you.”
“One hour too damn long. Now, I hope your parents are okay and Papa’s doin’ good,” Briana continued, voice lowering slightly, “but I expect your ass in that loft by eight-thirty tonight. Or else.”
The line went dead.
Pearline stared at the phone dangling in her hand, then slowly set it back into its cradle. “If I ain’t know no better,” she muttered to herself, shaking her head, “I’d think she my parent and pays my bills and gas”
“Somebody got a leash on ya?” The voice came through the screen door, low and amused.
Pearline lifted her head and craned her neck toward the sound.
Standing there like he belonged to the porch itself was Elias. He looked different today—Real proper. No patterned button-up as usual instead a crisp white dress shirt, neatly tucked into black slacks. The usual belt buckle was gone, replaced with a slim black-and-silver belt. Even his cowboy boots looked freshly shined.
“Well, good afternoon to you too, Elias,” Pearline said lightly, shrugging as she straightened up from the counter. “And she would definitely call it that.”
He chuckled, pushing himself off the doorframe. “Fine afternoon to you as well, ma’am. So I’m guessin’ you headin’ out today?”
“That would be the responsible thing to do.” She stepped closer, eyebrows lifting slightly. “You’re dressed all proper. What’s the occasion?”
Elias glanced down at himself, like he hadn’t even noticed. “Memorial,” he said simply.
“Oh.” Pearline reached for the screen door handle and pulling it open, stepping into the space between them. “I’m sorry for your loss. Family or friend… if you don’t mind me askin’?”
“Nah. No kin.” His voice softened. “Couple weeks back, they found a body down by the creek. Little boy. Maybe eight or nine. Couldn’t find no family close enough to notify anyone. So the town figured it didn’t sit right sendin’ him off without fellowship. Candlelight’s later tonight.”
Pearline’s face fell. “That’s awful. Great thing that the community did though."
“We try to look out for our one another around here,” he said quietly, adjusting his hat. Then, more easily, “How was your morning, Miss Pearline?”
That caught her off guard.
Pearline expected the next thing he asked was if she needed help with something. Or if there was anything he could fix before she left.
“Pretty peaceful,” she answered honestly. “Other than the tongue-lashin’ I just got.” She nodded toward the phone. “Nice break from the city.”
Elias nodded, shifting his weight, then his eyes traveled real slow, unhurried up her frame. “May I ask you somethin’?” he said.
“Go on.”
“Would you like to have dinner with me, Miss Pearline?”
Pearline mouth mentally dropped at the sudden question. Letting out a small laugh, the sound soft and surprised. She then glanced back towards the clock. 1:03 p.m. “Well,” she said slowly, turning back to him, “that depends.”
“On?" Eliase straightened up height suddenly become taller
“Is this a send-me-off-proper meal… or a friendly hope-I-see-you-again meal?”
Elias didn’t hesitate. “Its an 'I like you and hope you would give me the time of day to get to know you better meal'. At least before you ride off into the sunset back to Jackson.”
“Oh.”
She looked everywhere but at him, heat crawling into her cheeks. “Pretty forward, aren’t you?” she said.
“You used to city men?” he asked, gently stepping just enough into her line of sight to steal it back.
Pearline eyes found his eyes in a second ready to defended against his statement and ask his intentions with that question but there was no denying if she knew what it meant.
"Unfortunately, no matter how bad I want to defend my home...yes"
He shook his head with a small smile. “That ain’t no place for a lady to be lookin’ for suitors, Miss Pearline. Heard it leads to confusion and wanderin’ hearts.”
“Can’t confusion be found down here too?” she countered.
“Not in my neck of the woods.” His smirk was knowing. “I wouldn’t waste your time with nonsense. I enjoyed the moments we had—and I’d like more of ‘em.”
"That's very sweet, Elias and I would like to as well but I am on a time schedule to head back"
"How about a late lunch" he offered
Pearline looked up at the sky. Down at the porch. Back at him. She tapped her finger against her chin. Not grabbing anything or even thinking for the matter just for dramatic effects
She then titled her head. Elias, meanwhile, rubbed his hands together behind his back, nervously warm under the Mississippi sun.
“I could see that,” she finally said.
He laughed. “You one for dramatics?”
“Can’t make it too easy.”
"I don't believe it will be" He answered honestly, stilling Pearline for a moment.
Pearline wondered what that meant. Did she seem hard to crack open or maybe he likes a chase?
Elias cleared his throat as he stuffed his hand in his back pocket, "I know a place a little in the city. Makes a fine snapper. How’s three sound?”
"That's sounds nice, any dress code involved?" she wondered
He shook his head lightly, “Just come as you are.” His eyes flicked over her again, slower this time. “A little dress wouldn’t hurt, though."
Pearline blushed again at Elias's antics, catching every bit of where his eyes landed and honestly, she took a little pride in it. "Well alright," she said quietly. "I'll see you then"
"I hope so" He brought his eyes back to hers, something holding dear in them as he slowly began to back up, almost as if he wanted to wait right here until the clock struck three.
“Probably best you turn around before you trip,” she teased.
He titled his hat, finally turning back and off the porch as he strutted towards his truck
Pearline watched every step. Marking every movement, “My Gosh,” she muttered once the door shut. “I am starin’ at this man like I ain’t never seen ass before.”
Then—
"Oh my gosh...I got a freaking date!" She yelled, like she couldn't believe it happened so fast. She didn't think a little flirting and eye contact here and there for barely two days would make a turn this fast.
Pearline smiled, the expression practically sewn onto her face as she headed toward her room. But with every step up the stairs, a realization hit her square in the chest.
What exactly did she bring back that was worth wearing on a date.
She groaned when she reached the top step, rounding the banister and pushing her bedroom door open. Without much hope, she went straight for the closet, swinging it wide like that might somehow improve her odds.
Red dress—eight grade dance. Nice two piece—oil stain. Nice blouse—more for a club than a dinner.
After a moment, her hand brushed something unfamiliar. Pearline paused, brow furrowing, then tugged it free. A yellow sun dress
The next option was a little older fashion as it screamed fall of 2016 but was a strong contender. Light brown, loosely knitted fabric, off the shoulders, and stopping just about mid-thigh.
Pearline then turned toward the shoe rack hanging behind her door.
Her gaze traveled over it all — from the earliest pair of heels she’d ever owned to shoes she’d accidentally shipped to the house after forgetting to change her address.
Immediately she marked off the heels, if it was something casual then it would be best not to try to hard, Right?
She looked at the flats she had and immediately marked those off next. Now the only options that were liable of getting chosen were her sandals. Glancing over the options she grabbed a hold of one white clothes tied sandal and a brown flip flop styled sandal, liking the way the yellow might tie with the alligator skin.
“There,” she said softly, finally settling on a decision as she laid them across her twin bed.
Two hours flew by in the blink of an eye. After debating back and forth, Pearline finally decided to take out the braids she’d placed in her head, opting instead for a wash and maybe a natural updo—nothing too much beyond casual, she kept repeating to herself.
Water still dripped down her back as she moisturized her hair. Thankfully, by the time the clock struck 2:40, Pearline had made it to the final section. She softly raked the product through her tight curls, separating them with her fingers before following through with her brush, letting the curls bounce back into place.
A sigh of relief escaped her lips once she could finally put her arms down. She thought about diffusing, but time felt like it was racing against her.
Grabbing a container of bobby pins, a large scrunchie, and her just-in-case edge control from the bottom of her purse, she pulled her hair into a ponytail, trying to envision the end result.
“Flat twist? Pony with curls out? French roll?” she muttered, stretching the ends of her freshly defined curls. “Nothing childish. So no puffs.”
She grabbed her phone and headed to the app that never failed to save her, Pinterest—for black women.
Scrolling across the images the search engine generated, she swiped past a few favorites. One style featured a flat twist along the side. Another showed a roller set she would’ve loved for the curl effect, but time kept moving. The clock was now ten minutes away from three, and something about Elias told her he was a punctual man.
She huffed at the silent ticking of the clock and kept scrolling until a style caught her eye. It looked almost like a French roll, but the hair was parted into two sections, still textured with curls—no blowout, no slicked-down sides.
That would do.
Outside, Elias sat in his truck, fingers tapping patiently against the steering wheel. A bouquet rested in the passenger seat beside him
Despite saying three o’clock, he’d pulled up around 2:40—occupational habit, if you asked him. A part of him wanted to knock early, just to see her open the door and say just a second, but something told him to wait.
Those last few minutes dragged.
He eventually got out, stretching his legs, swiping a hand over his brow as the sun and nerves started getting the better of him. He paced beside the truck, taking steps left towards the back of the vehicle then spun around and came forth towards the hood kicking gravel as he went.
After a few rounds, he checked his watch. Three o’clock.
Reaching inside, he grabbed the bouquet, brushing his fingers over the sunflowers, baby’s breath, and the roses he’d added after some advice. Closing the door, he walked toward the porch, whistled up toward the open window, then knocked, letting out a steady breath.
Almost instantly, like she’d been waiting on him, the door opened.
Pearline stepped out slowly, revealing a yellow dress draped over deep mahogany skin and a smile so bright it nearly stopped him where he stood.
They both froze.
Elias shamelessly scanned her from head to toe—white sandals and polished toes, legs shimmering like they’d been dusted with glitter, the dress moving like spring itself in the soft breeze, then his gaze finally landed on her face.
He adorned her new hair style, pulled back into some type of bun, though but some curls managed to slip though or rather intentionally pulled out to frame her face.
“I might just stand right here and be entertained all day,” he drawled, pulling his hat off and pressing it to his chest, momentarily forgetting the flowers still in his hand. “Ain’t you just a daisy on your own.”
Pearline blushed, smoothing her hands down her dress even though the fabric fell perfectly back into place. “Thank you,” she said softly. “You look quite nice yourself.”
“Nothing like you darling” he denied with a grin, glancing down at his clothes. He’d paired black denim pants with a belt sporting a large circular buckle, a fitted white shirt tucked neatly beneath an open dark washed denim button-down, and black square-toe snakeskin boots.
Then he remembered.
“These are for you,” he said, handing her the bouquet. His smile widened when he noticed how well the flowers matched her dress.
“Oh—thank you.” She accepted them carefully. “You ready?”
“I can wait if you wanna put ’em in water.” He offered
“I’ll do it when I get back,” Pearline said. “I wanna keep ’em with me.” She adjusted the paper around the stems. “Sunflowers are my favorite.”
“Anything else I oughta know?” His voice dipped knowingly.
Pearline glanced up catching his smile that never seemed to die down, “I like lilies too. Tulips, any color—but I’m real weak for yellow and white.”
Elias nodded, filing the information away. He stepped aside, eyeing the path she’d need to take—grass creeping up fast, gravel scattered unevenly. All the dirt and dust that would get kicked up, ruining her pretty dress.
“I can carry you,” he said. “Grass’s grown out, and I hate for you to hurt yourself on the gravel or get your dress dirty"
He took her hand as she stepped forward. Pearline looked at the path, then back at him.
“Oh—no thanks,” she said peering at the path as well. "I have some boots I should have worn" she sucked her teeth sharply in defeat, "I'll go put those on instead. Pearline turned slightly, ready to head back inside.
Elias shook his head slowly, like he already thought this through, "No, ma'am. I offered to carry you.”
“That’d just be a hassle.” Pearline declined worrisome. She hesitated, eyes drifting down the uneven stretch of grass and gravel between them and the truck.
He followed her gaze, then let his own travel deliberately from the hem of her dress to her sandals and finally back to her face. “Lemme ask you something?" He said, voice calm. "You like your outfit?”
Pearline blinked, caught off guard by the questions, then said. “Well… yeah.”
“Then you gon’ wear it,” the decision was already made, “and I’ll make sure you get to that truck without gettin’ a speck of dust on you.”
Their eyes met and held
Pearline searched his face, noticing how steady he was, how his hands stayed at his sides, not reaching, not rushing, only waiting for her permission. She pulled a small face, lips pressing together, then let out a soft sigh. “…Okay.”
Elias's shoulders eased, like that was the answer he's been hopin' for as he didn’t waste a second. He stepped in then, careful of where his hands touched. One arm sliding behind her back, the other firm beneath her knees. Pearline’s breath hitched as she instinctively brought the flowers closer to her chest and rested a hand against his shoulder.
“Got you,” he said softly, more promise than reassurance.
And just like that, the ground wasn’t her concern anymore. Elias already cutting across the grass making his way to the truck.
“Do me a favor and open that door, darlin’.
She did, and he set her gently on the truck's step. Pearline adjusted her dress, placed the bouquet between them, then settled into the seat. Only once she looked comfortable did he close the door.
He jogged around the truck, pulling himself up and inside. "You buckled? "He turned to look as she already was, Pearline nodded her head
The air between them settled into something warm and pleasant. Elias's manners and his way of words enticed Pearline in way that satisfied her unexplainably and for Elias, Pearline presence alone did everything for him.
Elias turned the radio on low, enough to fill the silence without stealing space from her. It wasn’t long before she spoke. “So… can I know where we’re going, or is it a surprise?”
Elias answered as he pulled the truck into reverse. “Ever been to the Watermark?”
She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “Sounds new, I haven't been before. What's the food like?
“Little bit of everything. I’m partial to their steamed snapper and short ribs.” He said, then asked. "What do you prefer? You got a favorite type of food?
"After much thought, I don't think I have a preference. When I left Clevland and traveled a little bit in college I've come to find out there's nothing I won't try and obsess over"
Stack nodded, "Where you've been?"
"Cape town, Brazil, Cabo, New Zealand...majority of the states"
"You went for fun?"
"Little bit of fun, mostly school. My school offered students spring trips or full semesters at other countries, and I took as many as I could while they were paying for it"
He whistled low. “You studied abroad, huh?”
"Yep" A slither of pride rolled of her shoulders, "I think the only full year I spent at Jackson was my senior year"
Elias glanced over at her, the corner of his mouth lifting, “I’d love to hear more 'bout the places you been to,” he said, genuinely. “Sounds like you done seen more of the world than most folks ever get the chance to.”
Pearline smiled, lips parting like she was about to start right in—but she stopped herself. Instead, she shifted in her seat. Her eyes dropped to the flowers in her lap, fingers brushing over the petals as if she was steadying herself.
“I’d love to share,” she said softly, lifting her gaze back to him, “but first, I think I’d like to know a little more about you.”
That made him laugh under his breath.
“Well now,” Elias said, shaking his head as he kept his eyes on the road, “I was under the impression I already gave you the rundown. Where I’m from. What I do. My family. Seemed like I covered most of it.”
He cut his eyes toward her, amused but curious. “What else you lookin’ to know, hm?”
Pearline leaned back, folding her arms loosely, a small knowing smile tugged at her mouth. “You must not know how nosy I get,” she said. “Especially when I’m interested.”
Elias’s grip tightened just a bit on the steering wheel before he relaxed again, a slow grin spreading across his face. “Nosy, huh?” he drawled. “That somethin’ I oughta be worried ’bout?”
“Only if you plan on keepin’ secrets,” she teased, eyes flickerin’ a flame before drifting back to the windshield.
Pearline paused and thought a little bit about what to say, "You every want to travel yourself." She wondered. "I know you said you love it here, your home and job but what about going to Canada or Mexico or maybe just going to see the Grand Canyon"
"I've been around before, traveling with my daddy and what not. Out of the country I've never been but.." he shrugged
“So it was never a dream?”
“My dream was gettin’ back here,” he said. “Keeping the land in the family—for my kids, and theirs after that....Travelin’s more of a side quest.”
She hummed softly at that.
“…Unless I had the right person,” he added. “Like my daddy always said—life’s better with good company.”
“I agree,” Pearline said, playing with the baby’s breath. She glanced down at the bouquet. “Where’d you get these?"
“Family friend’s got a flower shop nearby. Told her I had a pretty girl to impress.”
“She picked them?”
He shook his head. “No darling I did. She did help with the wrapping though"
Pearline became a little taken back at the effort, it was nice to say the least
"Oh, I’ve been meaning to ask,” Pearline said, turning slightly toward him. “How do you know my parents? They seem real fond of you.”
“Got to know ’em through Elijah,” he began. “While you was away I guess, there was some things happenin’ out on their property.”
Her fingers stilled. “Things like what?” she asked, brow knitting.
“Well,” he said, “minor stuff at first. Small animals turnin’ up dead. Wires cut. Lights busted out. Nothin’ that’d scream danger all at once but enough to make folks uneasy.”
“They reached out to my brother,” Elias said. “Asked if he could keep an eye out. He set up some cameras, checked in regular. Whatever was goin’ on slowed down… then stopped altogether.”
"Then Elijah had a case pull him outta town for a couple weeks. Asked me to check in. Make sure things stayed quiet. Didn’t want your folks feelin’ alone out here.”
“And you just…stayed?”
Elias shrugged one shoulder. “Your daddy started comin’ by the station. Talkin’. Drinkin’ bad coffee until night. Next thing I knew, I was stoppin’ in more often than necessary.”
Pearline sat straighter in her seat now, stomach tightening and confused. “So… somebody was tryin’ to run them off their land?”
Elias glanced over at her, catchin’ the shift immediately. He softened his tone.
“Could’ve been,” he said. “Or could’ve just been some real messed‑up kids with too much time on their hands. Hard to say for sure.”
Pearline huffed softly, though there wasn’t much humor in it. “So while I was off livin’ my life, they were goin’ through all that.”
He glanced at her again, voice firm but reassuring. “It’s handled now. Ain’t nobody botherin’ the land no more.”
She nodded slowly, absorbing that. Then she shook her head once, more annoyed now than afraid. “To think I should be the one holdin’ secrets over here,” she muttered. “Wait till I catch ’em.”
Elias let out a small chuckle. “Hope I ain’t gone and got nobody in trouble.”
“Oh, not you,” Pearline said, finally managing a faint smile. “But them? Absolutely.”
He grinned at that, easing the truck into a gentle turn. “If it’ll make you feel any better, we can stop by the station. Elijah can tell you more than I can.”
Pearline hesitated, chewing on the inside of her cheek. She knew if she asked her parents outright, they’d keep it light—brush it off, ask where she heard it from.
She clasped her hands together in her lap, fingers interlacing. “If you really don’t mind.”
Elias didn’t hesitate. “Of course I don’t mind,” he said easily. “Ain’t nothin’ I won’t do to put you at ease.”
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