Tex holds his nose and looks up at Bubba. He's filled with rage breathing heavily, his chest and shoulders moving up and down. Tex gets up and flicks open a switchblade. The silver blade shining in the sunlight. He raises his arm and slashes Bubbas arms and hands. Bubba grabs Tex's hand and grips it with force. He bends his wrist back quickly, dislocating it. Tex drops to his knees and also drops the knife.

"Get off me bastard! I'll leave you sick fuck!" Tex yells. Bubba let's go and takes his knife. Tex holds his wrist and walks away, blood on him and glaring at you. You're breathing heavily, tears running down your face. Bubba rushes over to you and wipes your tears with his bloody hands.

"T-t-thank you Bubba..." He nods and sits next to you. Holding you in his arms covering you in blood. You realize what's happened to him and look at his hands and arms.

"Oh Bubba we've gotta get back to the house you poor thing. You're all cut up." You stand up and together you two go back the the house. You take Bubba to the kitchen and wash the blood off of him and yourself. You take him upstairs and sit him down. You pull out your first aid kit again and start cleaning his wounds. He pulls his arm away so you have to grab it to help him again. Eventually you're able to wrap them up.

"There. I'm sorry you got hurt Bubba." He nods and starts stroking your hair. You smile and move his hand. "Whenever I got really hurt my mom would make me some black berry pie. Bubba tilts his head a little. "You know pie. The dessert. Have you never had it before?" Bubba shakes his head. You put on a shirt and Bubba stands up.

"Well maybe we should make some. I saw a black berry bush out there. How about we make the crust and go pick some." Bubba nods and follows you downstairs. "Ok we need flour, ice water and sugar for the dough." Bubba opens a cabinet and grabs a bag of flower and sugar. You really look around this kitchen. It's old and dirty, with meat hooks hanging up in the back. The wooden table in the center is stained a dark red from the meat that was chopped on it. Dried herbs are hanging from the ceiling as well as pots and pans. He places the flour and sugar down on the table. "Now we need a bowl and a spoon." Bubba grabs them and puts them down eager to help.

"Do you have measuring cups?" You ask. He nods and grabs them, placing them on the table. You measure out the ingredients and start to make the dough. "Ok Bubba you clearly can't help kneed the dough with you hands, so how about you help me pick more black berries when I'm done with his?" He nods excitedly. You finish making the dough and wrap it up putting it in the fridge. You turn back to Bubba. "Ok so let's grab a basket and go pick some black berries." Bubba runs off and comes back with a container. You two head off and go back to the farm to pick the berries.

"We need 5 to 6 cups of black berries so let's go for more than less." Bubba nods and you start picking. "Do you have other family around here?" He nods and holds up one finger and spins it around. "Oh so they're all around?" He nods. Being this close you finally get a good look at his mask. It's leathery and sewn together with thick black string, most likely by hand. Through his mask you can see his dark brown eyes. They remind you of deep night skies, comforting in a way, but also full of mystery.

"Why do you wear that mask Bubba?" You ask picking more.

"C-c-comfort..." He says slowly. You nod.

"Like emotional support?" He nods. You hear the animals making noises in the distance. "How many fruits you you grow here?" Bubba thinks and counts it out on his fingers. He hold up five. You know about the blackberries and the pears but what are the other three. You look around and notice a lemon tree, an apple tree and a tomato plant (idk if they're a fruit just go with it). After a bit you've picked a good amount of blackberries and you grab a lemon on your way out. "We need it for the filling." Bubba nods and you follow him back to the house. One there you start washing the black berries and lemon.

"We're gonna need a bowl and a knife." Bubba goes over and grabs them putting them down on the table. "On and turn the oven on to 350 degrees." Bubba nods and goes to the old oven. He frowns and taps your shoulder pointing to the oven. You look over and see it's a wood oven. You sigh and pat Bubbas shoulder, really noticing how much taller he is than you. "Go get some wood and a match then ok?" He nods and runs off. You dry off the blackberries and start crushing them in the bowl. Memories flood your head from the process of making the pie. Memories of your mom helping you crush and mix and fill. Before she relapsed. She's still in rehab trying to get better, you're dad already done with her trying to get a divorce. You feel tears form and Bubba runs back in holding chopped wood and a box of matches. You quickly wipe them away and smile.

"Ok put them In the oven and start the fire." Bubba does as you say and lights the fire. He watches as you combine the blackberries, lemon juice and sugar to make the filling. You take out the crust and start to roll it out. "Can you get me a pie pan Bubba?" He nods and runs over to another cabinet. He grabs one and hands it to you. You smile and put in the crust and the filling. You put the pie in the oven and look back over at Bubba.

"We're gonna have to keep our eye on this ok? We don't want it to burn." He nods and goes over to sit in the dining room to wait. You go sit next to him.

****

After waiting for awhile the pie is finally done. You pull it out and put it on the stove, the sweet smell of pie filling the air. "Now let it cool down ok?" Bubba nods. You smile and hear the front door open accompanied by yelling.

"Bubba Bubba! Come help us we go a good catch right here!" You recognize Chop tops voice. Bubba walks off and you find Nubbins, Chop top and Bubba carrying a large dead deer. You stay out of their way and let them hang it up on a meat hook. Chop top stops and looks over at the stove.

"Well what the hell is this?" He says rushing over to the pie. You walk over and pick up the pie.

"Bubba and I made a pie today." Nubbins come running over and takes a deep whiff of the pie.

"C-c-c-c-can I have some?" Nubbins asks. You shake you head.

"We should wait for after dinner. I don't think it's a good idea for you two to have sugar. They groan and Bubbas hard at work skinning the deer. You quickly set the pie on top of the fridge and walk out of the kitchen to your room, wanting to avoid the sight of the skinning.