Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] (19 page)

“Don’t be too sure. He likes you … a lot.”

“Do you think so? Sugar is being mean about me and Jody spending time with the Putmans.”

“What does your father say?”

“Nothing.”

“Then what do you care what she thinks?”

“I’m afraid of what she’ll say in front of Rusty. She has no sense at all when she’s on one of her tears. She’ll have it in for
you
now. Watch out for her.”

“There isn’t anything she can do to me that hasn’t already been done.”

“What happened between you and Brady?” Mona asked with the frankness of youth.

“Nothing. There’s nothing between me and Brady.”

“I thought you liked each other … a little.”

“No more than I like you and Jody and Rusty.”

The music changed on the jukebox. Someone was singing, “I don’t know why I love you like I do.” Two couples were dancing on the small floor.

“Here they come. Just look at him.” Mona’s eyes were on Rusty. “You’d never know that he’s blind. He’s cheerful all the time and so … smart.”

“Uh-oh. I think you’re falling for him.”

“I can’t help it, Margie.”

Deke set a bottle of cola and a glass on the table and then slid in beside Margie with a bottle of beer. Rusty moved over close to Mona to make room for her brother.

“You should’ve seen Rusty, darlin’. Booger didn’t know he couldn’t see. Rusty pulled a handful of change from his pocket and counted out the coins just pretty as ya please.”

“How do you do that?” Margie asked.

“Easy.” Rusty reached into his pocket and put a handful of coins on the table. “The dime is the smallest and usually the thinnest. The penny is next, then the nickel and the quarter.”

“Well, doggone if ya ain’t right.”

Rusty slid the coins off the table into the palm of his hand and put them back into his pocket as a dark-whiskered man stopped at the booth.

“Ya goin’ to let me dance with yore woman, Deke?” His watery eyes honed in on Margie and he winked.

“Hell no! You’re drunk, Hooter.”

“I ain’t that drunk.”

“Yeah, ya are. ’Sides, I’m goin’ to dance with her. Ain’t that right, darlin’?”

“Right.” Margie gave him her hand. He helped her slide out of the booth. “This is one of my favorite songs.”

“Mine too.” Deke put his arm around her and pulled her close. She was surprised how smoothly he moved. She hardly noticed that he was a couple inches shorter than she was. He sang softly with his cheek pressed to hers. “On a day like today, we pass the time away, writing love letters in the sand.”

“I didn’t know you sang, Deke. You should get together with Rusty before we move on.”

“The blind boy?”

“He plays the violin and the guitar.”

“It’ll be a day or two before I can get that radiator fixed. We’ll have us a singin’ before you go.”

When they finished the dance and went back to the booth, Jody jumped up before Margie could sit down.

“May I dance with your girl, Deke?”

“If it’s all right with her and if ya promise not to get fresh.”

“I swear it. Margie?”

Again Margie was surprised. “Where did you learn to dance, Jody?”

“We danced at home. The folks took us with them when they went to dances, mostly in the homes of their friends.And we had a Victrola. Mama danced with me, and Pop danced with Mona.”

“How nice.”

“Yeah. I look back and wonder how things can change in such a hurry.”

“Maybe they won’t be so bad when you get to California and are settled again.”

“Sugar had a fit when we left tonight. She wanted to come, but with you and Deke there wasn’t room in Brady’s car. She accused Pa of letting Deke take the radiator out of their car so he wouldn’t have to take her out someplace tonight. I keep wondering how long he’ll put up with it.”

“I take it she’s different from your mother.”

“As different as night and day. Mona and I still don’t understand how Sugar got her hooks in Pop, but he may be starting to see that she isn’t all she pretends.”

“He was probably lonely when he met her.”

“He had me and Mona.”

“That isn’t the same. My goodness. Look, Jody. Rusty and Mona are going to dance.”

“She probably talked him into it. She likes him a lot.”

“I can see that she would. He’s a really nice person.”

“I can’t imagine what it would be like to be blind.”

“Especially after being able to see.”

“Mona will keep them from plowing into anyone. I’ll move up over a little closer so if they bump into someone, it’ll be us.”

“Jody, if I had a brother, I’d want him to be just like you.”

“Thank you, Miss Kinnard,” he said, and whirled her around to come beside Rusty and Mona. “Hello, kids. Your mama let you out tonight?”

“We’re doin’ the town. Can’t you tell? Has he gotten fresh yet, Margie?” Rusty asked.

“No, and I don’t expect him to, doggone it.”

“I could put a bug in his ear.”

“I don’t need your help, Romeo.” Jody flashed him a grin. “And don’t get fresh with my sister.”

“Jody!” Mona hit her brother on the arm. “Tend to your own business.”

Margie’s eyes locked with Brady’s as they passed near to the bar. He stood with his back to it, his arms folded over his chest. The scowl on his face goaded her into a slow smile.

The cowboy was not having a good time!

They were in the middle of the dance floor when the music ended.

“My turn.”

Before Margie’s mind could jerk awake to what was happening, Brady had her hand and was pulling her out onto the dance floor and into his arms. She was too surprised to speak and totally unaware the song coming from the jukebox was one of her favorites, “You Made Me Love You.”

They swayed to the music for a short while before they began to dance. He turned so that his big body shielded her from those in the booth, held her firmly, lowered his head and pressed his cheek to hers.

“Stop playing up to Deke. He’s crazy about you.” The words were growled in her ear. She pulled back so that she could see his face.

“He is not. That’s just the way he is with everyone. But if he wants his friends to think I’m his girl, it’s all right with me,” she snapped.

“What will he tell them after you leave to chase your rainbow in Hollywood?”

“
My
rainbow? What about
your
rainbow, cowboy?” She tried to move away from him, but he was holding her so tightly against him that she could only tilt her head back and glare at him.

“What about it?”

“You want to palm a sweet little girl off on someone she doesn’t even know so you can go on your merry way free of responsibility.”

“You know nothing about it.”

“Don’t tell me I don’t know what it’s like to be dumped. It’s the story of my life.”

“What’s put your back up?”

“You don’t know? You’re the most insensitive clod I’ve ever met.”

“There’s a limit to how far you can push me, little tease.”

“Your threats just scare me to death.” “I mean it when I say stop playing up to Deke. He’ll begin to think you mean it. I doubt he’s had many women as good-looking as you pay attention to him.”

“Maybe I do mean it. What’s it to you? Deke and I understand each other. I don’t need you telling me what to do.”

“You need someone, you little twit, or you’d not be in the mess you’re in.” The hand holding hers came to her chin and lifted it. Light green eyes as cold as ice glared down at her.

“Whatever mess I’m in has nothing to do with you, Mr. Know-It-All Hoyt.”

“I’m warning you, Margie. Climb down off your high horse or—”

“Or what? Now, let go of me before I kick you. I don’t want to dance with you. I don’t want anything to do with you.”

“Too bad, Miss Mule-Headed Kinnard. We’re finishing this dance. And if you kick me, I’ll swat your butt right here on the dance floor.”

“I’m surprised that the upright Mr. Hoyt would dance in public with a thief and a strumpet.”

“Hush up!”

“I won’t—”

“You’d better hush or I’ll whirl you right out the door and lay my hand down hard on your rear end.”

Margie missed a step and stumbled. “And I’d scream ‘rape’ so loud every man in this place would be on you like a duck on a June bug.”

He said nothing, but she knew he was angry. The arms encircling her pulled her so close her breasts were crushed against his chest. She had to admit that she and Brady fit perfectly against each other. She could feel the warmth of his body through her dress, and the wild beating of her heart against his. Was his breath coming faster than usual, or was it just wishful thinking on her part that she had disturbed him just a little?

If I could be with you one hour tonight. If I was free to do the things I might…

Margie floated along in a haze, only vaguely aware of the crooning voice coming from the jukebox or that the arms holding her had loosened and now held her gently. Brady pressed his cheek to hers. Her steps matched his as if they had been dancing together forever. She closed her eyes and wished just for an instant that the song would never end. But it did.

Brady took her arm and led her back to the table and shoved her at Deke when he stood.

“Here’s your girl. Thanks for the loan.”

With a feeling of anger and frustration Brady strode back along the booths toward the bar. As he approached it, he was suddenly knocked off his feet by a meaty fist that slammed into his face.

Chapter 14

W
HILE BRADY WAS DANCING WITH MARGIE
, two men had come into the PowWow and moved down the bar to stand behind a big, rough man in a billed cap.

“That was a shitty thin’ to do,” one of the men said to the other. “Slashin’ a man’s truck tires is low as ya can get.”

“Yeah, ’specially when he’s got a load in the back.”

The man in the billed cap turned slowly around. “Whater ya talkin’ ’bout?”

“We was sittin’ out front and seen that feller there dancing with the blonde in the blue dress come out and slash a tire on a Model A truck with a side door off. I was sayin’ it was a shitty thin’ to do.”

“Sounds like my truck.” The big man slid off the stool. “If it was, I’m tearin’ his head off. Back in a minute,” he said to the barkeep.

Homer and Chester followed the man outside and heard his roar of rage when he saw his tire.

“That’s a damn shame,” Chester exclaimed.

“Can we help ya change the tire, mister?” Homer asked. “I’ll change the damn tire after I take the head off that son of a bitch!” The big man headed back into the bar.

Homer and Chester followed. The trucker waited until Brady left the dance floor and approached the bar before he stepped out and planted his heavy fist in his face.

The unexpected blow caught Brady flat-footed. He scarcely saw the man as he backpedaled to gain his balance. The next blow knocked him to the floor. He bounced to his feet like a cat.

“What the hell is the matter with you?”

Brady threw up an arm to weather the windmilling attack of arms and fists. He sidestepped and swung a jarring right to the mouth of his assailant. The blow would have stopped a bigger man, but it merely slowed down the trucker, who let out a bellow of rage and came at Brady again.

“Out! Get the hell out!” The shout came from the bar-keep, Booger, who waded in between them swinging a shotgun. “Take your fight outside.”

“I don’t know what’s got his ass up, but if he wants to fight, we’ll fight.” Brady wiped the blood from his mouth on his shirtsleeve.

“Ya know, ya goddamn tire slasher!” the trucker shouted.

Brady backed out of the doorway and into the space in front of the honky-tonk. While he eyed the man who wanted to whip him, a fierce love of battle welled up inside him. It had been a year or two since he had a good fight, and he was in the mood for it. He didn’t know and didn’t care what the man’s bitch was. If he wanted a fight, he’d get one.

The trucker, tall as Brady but outweighing him by forty pounds, rolled up his sleeves. His friends gathered around him shouting encouragement.

Deke, Jody behind him, spilled out the door and hurried to him. “What’s going on?” Deke asked Brady.

“I’ve no idea. The man wants a fight.”

“Get outta the way, Deke. No need you gettin’ hurt.”

“Brady’s with me, Booger. Ya think I’ll stand back and let that bunch beat him up?”

“It’ll be one-on-one. We’ll see it’s a fair fight—fer yore sake, Deke, ’cause he came here with ya.” Booger cradled his shotgun in his arms. “If it was my tire he slashed, I’d stomp his ass in the ground.”

“Whatta ya mean? Slashed whose tires?”

“The low-down polecat was seen slashin’ Miller Evans’s tire.”

“That’s a damn lie.” Brady stepped out and pushed Deke behind him. “Who says they saw me?”

“Two fellers came in and told me they saw ya doin’ it,” Evans said, “and I’m taking the price of that tire outta yore hide.”

“They lied, but if you want a fight, come on, ya big blowhard.” Brady’s eyes blazed with a leaping light, and his teeth bared a little.

“Wait, Brady! Wait!” Jody was tugging on Brady’s arm. “Your tires have been slashed too.”

“What?” Turning his back on the trucker, Brady went to where he had parked his car. All four tires were flat. The car was sitting on the rims. “Son of a bitch!”

“Here’s the sheriff. Take over here, McChesney,” Booger called. “I’ve got to get back inside.”

“What’s the problem?”

“How ya doin’, Rex?” Deke said. “Miller Evans come plowin’ into my friend here accusin’ him of tire slashin’. His truck wasn’t even here when we got here. Brady was in the PowWow with me all the blessed time. ’Sides, his tires were slashed too.”

“What makes you think this fellow slashed your tire, Evans?”

“He was seen doin’ it, Sheriff. Some fellers came in the bar and told me.”

“Loaded pretty heavy tonight, aren’t you?”

“No more than usual. Got some feed to take to the ranch.”

“Got anything under the feed, Evans?”

“Ah, hell, Rex. Maybe a bottle or two. Ain’t nothin’ to get in a sweat over.”

“Where are the men who told you they saw this man slash your tire?”