Lila couldn’t help it. Her ire was up, and suddenly her mouth had a mind of its own. She would no longer be a doormat. “Candy Faye, why are you really here? Because it sure isn’t for the potato salad,” Lila said, her voice steady despite the anger bubbling inside her.
“Oh, I just came to see if Whit remembers what it’s like to be with a real woman,” Candy Faye replied, her tone dripping with challenge.
Before Whit could hold her back, Lila stepped closer, her smile vanishing. “Oh, trust me, he knows. Why don’t you take your memories back to the land of steers and beers, and leave us alone?”
“Make me,” Candy Faye shot back, her eyes glinting with defiance.
“What are you? A child?”
Candy Faye nearly hissed like the snake she was. “No, dear. I’m all woman.”
“A woman who lost her man,” Lila snarled.
A small crowd had gathered, sensing the impending confrontation. The argument grew louder, the tension thicker.
“Lila, Candy Faye, let’s not do this here.” Whit tried to intervene, his voice pleading.
But it was too late. Candy Faye shoved Lila, who stumbled back but quickly regained her footing. Lila’s eyes narrowed as she spotted the mud pit nearby, set up for the tug-of-war competition.
“You want to play dirty? Fine, let’s play dirty,” Lila said, her voice low and dangerous. She’d stood aside and taken whatever was dished her way long enough. It was time to stand up for herself.
Without warning, Lila lunged at Candy Faye, tackling her into the mud pit. The crowd gasped, then erupted into laughter and cheers.
Reva raced over. “Lila! What are you doing?”
Capri joined them. “You go, girl!”
Camille rushed forward, grinning with excitement. “Yeah, go Mom! You can take her.”
“Well, this is more entertaining than the three-legged race,” Albie Barton said to Whit, chuckling. “I might have to make this the headline story in next week’s paper.”
Whit watched in disbelief as Lila and Candy Faye wrestled in the mud. He tried to pull Lila away but was unsuccessful. “Stay back,” she warned, her voice firm and resolute, determined to see this through.
The scene was chaotic, messy, and hilarious. Mud flew everywhere as the two women grappled, each trying to gain the upper hand.
“You’re crazy, Lila!” Candy Faye gasped, struggling to free herself.
“Maybe, but I’m not losing Whit to you!” Lila let out a laugh, her determination unwavering.
The crowd, now fully invested, cheered and jeered as Lila and Candy Faye continued their muddy brawl. Both women were covered head to toe in mud, slipping and sliding as they fought.
Eventually, a few brave souls from the crowd helped pull the muddy combatants apart. Both women were exhausted, panting heavily and covered in mud, but Lila stood tall, victorious. She wiped her hands off, completely satisfied with the results of her impulsive actions.
“You didn’t have to do that, you know,” Whit said, grinning as he helped Lila up.
“Oh, but it was worth it,” Lila replied, breathless but smiling. “I’m tired of stepping around roadblocks. It was past time to run some down.”
“This isn’t over, Lila,” Candy Faye muttered, wiping mud from her face.
“Yes, it is. Now, go clean yourself up,” Lila said firmly, her eyes locked on Candy Faye’s. “And then go back to where you came from. Because if you don’t…I’ll make sure that mean mouth of yours is filled with worse than mud.” She offered up a fist as proof.
The crowd applauded as Candy Faye slunk away, humiliated.
“Well, I guess my woman took care of things,” Whit said, laughing.
Whit pulled Lila next to him and they shared a muddy but heartfelt kiss, solidifying their bond in front of everyone. Only then did Lila see a trail of dirt-caked toilet paper trailing from the top of her dress. She tucked it back in place, laughing.
As they walked away from the mud pit, Capri patted Lila on the back. “Remind me never to cross you, Lila Bellamy.”
