The Kerr Construction Company by Larry Farmer

that mean? “Yeah,” I answered again.
    “You better be. This is a stick of dynamite here in my hand.”
    He lit it and threw it my direction. I didn’t look back until I heard the explosion. There was a hole ten yards from where I used to be.
    “Come on,” he shouted again, not bothering to laugh. “Let’s go home. Go get your shovel if it’s still there.”
    Later I thought of Ira’s shenanigans, sitting in the restaurant, savoring the rich garlic aroma. He would have made a good Marine, I decided. I never made it to Vietnam, but I get to tell my grandkids about when I worked for the Kerr Construction Company.
    I heard Carmen’s voice come from beside me. “You got a look about you, hombre ,” she said as she walked over to me and planted a small kiss on my lips. “Is that a smirk? What wickedness are you contriving? Better not leave me out of it.”
    “Nearly got blown up by dynamite today,” I said as my smirk turned into laughter.
    “Good Lord, man. How did that happen?”
    “Aw, not really,” I said. “It’s a long story anyway.”
    “Don’t eat here tonight, Sweets,” she said with a wink. “Mother has supper ready for us. She’s going to bring up Monument Valley. She knows what the hell we did there. And I ain’t talking the scenery or our intimate little conversations. I’m talking she put two and two together and she knows we’re not virgins.”
    “She would’ve suspected what was going to happen even before we left.”
    “Yes,” Carmen said with a grin, “but we’ve been so honorable that she felt she had to give us benefit of the doubt. But she was blunt when I got in last night. You coward, you knew it was coming, the way you dropped me off and hightailed it. So, I thought the best defense is a good offense and let her know how glorious it was. I added about classical music and our talks, for effect. I knew it wouldn’t work, but it kept her busy for awhile.”
    “You admitted to her we made love?”
    “You’re telling me that an ex-Marine and a divorcee in their twenties don’t know what they want when the stars align? She knew it was going to happen. She just wants us to respect each other and not make it the centerfold of our relationship. Wait, centerfold, that’s a pun, isn’t it?” She laughed and gave another wink. “The centerpiece of our relationship. She adores you. You come over and exude virtue around her and she’ll let it slide. She’ll settle for just letting you know that she knows.”
    Carmen leaned over and planted a long, juicy kiss on me. I grabbed her as she readied to break away, pulled her back to me, and gave her one in return.
    “Behave yourself,” she said, feigning shyness. “The customers are looking. I hope so, anyway. Have a beer on me, mi amour ,” she said with a smile that sparkled. “Read your book and wait on me.”
    As she turned to walk away, she stopped, turned back, and embraced me. “I’m the happiest I’ve ever been. I’m one hundred percent your woman. I feel like brand new.”
    ****
    The crew was later than usual in leaving for the reservation the next day, as we gathered impatiently around the pickup. Finally the straggler we waited on appeared.
    “Doug fired me,” the Navajo worker said with contempt. “I gave my two weeks’ notice, and he fired me on the spot. He said I wouldn’t work hard now. Can you believe that son-of-a-bitch? I need the money. I’m going to Flagstaff.”
    “I could have told you,” Jose said sympathetically. “I wish I knew you were quitting, and I would have warned you. That’s his style.”
    “You wouldn’t have told me nothing, Jose. You’re his boy. His lackey.”
    “I would have warned you,” Jose replied sharply. “It’s nothing to me to warn you. Can I help it if he likes me so much? Have I ever not helped anyone just because the boss man likes me?”
    “Sorry, Jose. I’m just angry.”
    “I would be too,” Jose sympathized. “I don’t like Doug for this, and for