Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] (21 page)

Grace frowned. “He wouldn’t leave her with someone unless he was sure she really wanted her and would take good care of her. He cares a lot for that child.”

“He puts up a good front. I’ll give him that.”

“Forevermore! Why do you say that? You liked him … at first.”

“Never trust first impressions. It takes a while to get to know a person, especially a smooth-talkin’ man. I’ve been burnt before. It’ll not happen again.”

Margie dumped the bucket of water into the iron pot, then poked a few sticks of wood in the fire beneath it.

“The water will be hot for Mona in no time at all.”

“Aunty Grace, Margie—I gotta go.”

“Come on, puddin’.” Margie grabbed Anna Marie’s hand, and they ran toward the outhouse.

When they came out, they were both laughing. “We made it just in time,” Margie called to Grace. “We’ll go tell Mona she’d better shake a leg and get her wash on the line so it can dry.” Swinging hands, they headed for the campground.

At first Margie didn’t notice, but when she did, she stopped dead still and a feeling of déjà vu washed over her.

Elmer’s truck was gone.

Was history repeating itself? Had he left her here and taken everything she had in the world except the sixty dollars she had pinned in her brassiere and the clothes she had drying on the line?

“Honey,” she said to Anna Marie, “go to Mona. She’s there in front of the garage.” Feeling as if a rock had fallen into the pit of her stomach, she hurried down into the campground where Alvin was tinkering with the motor on his truck. “Mr. Put … man?” Her voice cracked.

“Hello, Margie.” Alvin brought his head up from under the hood of the car.

“Where did Elmer go?”

“He didn’t say.” Alvin wiped his hands on a rag. “I heard the truck start up and thought he was working on the motor. Then he pulled out and headed down the highway toward Sayre.”

“He didn’t say anything?”

“Not to me. And as far as I know he didn’t go near Rusty and Jody. He probably went into town to get a few groceries or some ice.”

She shook her head. “He heard Deke say the iceman comes today.”

“Are you thinkin’ he might not come back?”

“I’d not put it past him. He’d think it’s what I deserved.”

“For what?”

“For being born,” she said bitterly.

“He’ll be back. I can’t believe he’d just go off and leave you or us without some explanation.”

“You don’t know him like I do.”

“I guess I never knew him at all. He was very congenial while we were planning this trip. I haven’t been able to get a decent word out of him since that first night up in Missouri. I decided that the best way to get along with him was to leave him alone.”

“Everyone probably heard me screaming at him last night. I just lost my patience.”

“We heard and … frankly Grace and I wanted to give you a pat on the back.”

“I’m taking my things out of the truck. That is, if he comes back. Deke will help me get to a bus station. I can’t continue on with him. His constant disapproving silence and his sly remarks are making a nervous wreck out of me.”

“You could make arrangements to ride with Brady—”

“No!” Margie shook her head vigorously. “Elmer told Brady that I’m a … a thief. I’m surprised he hasn’t told the rest of you that I’m not fit company for decent folks.”

“Brady hasn’t said anything. I’m sure he didn’t believe—”

“Oh, but he did. But that’s … Never mind about that. I’m sorry I interrupted your work. I’d better go look after Anna Marie so Mona can do her wash.”

“There’s a cloud bank building in the southwest. It could mean rain or could be a dust storm.”

“Grace has her clothes on the line. It won’t take long for them to dry.”

“Don’t worry, Margie. You’ve got friends here.”

“Thank you, Mr. Putman.”

As she passed the Luker tent, she glanced in to see Sugar sitting on the mattress plucking her eyebrows. She was leaning back against a box, her feet on the mattress and her thighs spread, exposing herself all the way up to her crotch. A large bottle of NeHi soda pop sat beside her. Shocked at the vulgar display, Margie hurried on by.

Margie was sitting on the bench with Rusty and Jody was putting gas in a car that had pulled in off the highway, when Brady’s car turned in and stopped in front of the garage. His eyes caught hers as soon as he stepped from the car. His bitter stare made the color rise to flood her face. Margie managed to turn and smile at Rusty, although she didn’t have the slightest idea what he had said.

“Howdy, darlin’. How’s my girl?” Deke came and nudged her chin with his fist.

“Did you get what you went after?” She felt that she had to say something. Brady was listening.

“Sure did. Brady’s fixed up with tires, and we got a radiator for Foley’s car. It’ll take us the rest of the day to put it in.”

“We sold ten gallons of gas, Mr. Bales.” Jody dug into his pocket and brought out a few bills and some change.

“Tell you what, son. Keep a dollar of that and hang here for the rest of the day so I can work on your pa’s car.”

“No, I’ll watch the pump and do anything else I can to help, but I’ll not take your money.”

“Well, hold on to it for now.”

Margie, feeling out of place among the men, inched by Deke and slipped around the side of the garage. Once out of sight, she walked faster. Then a hand on her arm pulled her to a stop. She knew who it was without turning around.

“Where’d Elmer go?”

“How would I know?” She tried to pull away from him. “Let go of my arm. I need to help Grace get the clothes off the line.”

“Deke told me what happened when you were here before.”

“So? I’m supposed to be thrilled about that?”

“I didn’t believe what Elmer said.”

“That just plumb tickles me to death.” She drew in her lower lip, her face stiff with brittle cynicism.

“How many times do I have to say it?”

“Actions speak louder than words, Mr. Hoyt.”

“I was rough when I kissed you. I admit it.”

“I’ve forgotten all about
that
. Now, let go of me.” Her voice had savage, raw feeling in it.

“You haven’t forgotten it, and neither have I.”

“Why would I remember the kiss of a footloose cowboy? I’ve kissed hundreds—”

“Shut-up lyin’. You’ve done no such thing.”

“Ask Elmer. He’ll tell you, if he comes back, about all the men in Conway, Missouri, that I serviced. I had a real good business going, but decided business would be better in California.”

“I could shake you.” He looked at her set face and blazing eyes for a long time. Then he muttered, “To hell with it.”

The instant his hand left her arm, Margie walked quickly away before the tears she fought so hard to hold back disgraced her.

Noon came, and still Elmer hadn’t returned. Embarrassed to be at loose ends while everyone was preparing the noon meal, Margie found a hoe in the shed and went out to Deke’s garden patch. She was sure Grace would invite her to eat with them, and she didn’t think she would be able to bear the clicking tongues, the pitying glances and the unspoken questions about what she would do if her father had gone off and left her.

She had cleared weeds from one row of beans when Deke came to the edge of the garden and called to her.

“Darlin’, whater ya doin’ out here?”

“Clearing out some weeds. I love working in a garden. When I was here before, Leona and I canned a bushel of beans and one of tomatoes from this patch.”

“Mama sent me to find you. She’s cooked up some ham and beans and made a bread puddin’.”

“I had a big breakfast, Deke.”

“I ain’t takin’ a no, darlin’. Come talk to me while I eat.”

She batted her eyes continually as she walked back down the row toward him. The closer she got to him, the harder it was to keep the tears at bay.

He knew, and held out his arms.

“Oh, Deke, what’ll I do?” It was all she could get through the sobs that clogged her throat. She leaned her forehead on his shoulder and let the tears flow. He stood silently holding her, his hand stroking her back.

Neither of them was aware that Brady had come around the corner of the barn and was watching them, his eyes hard, his mouth grim.

“I’m sorry, Deke.”

“Don’t be sorry, darlin’. Do you think your pa has gone off and left you?”

“I don’t know. He’s so … ornery.”

“Tell ya what, darlin’. We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Come on now, let’s go have a nice cold glass of tea.”

Deke carried the hoe and put it in the shed on their way to the house. The cozy kitchen was as she remembered it. The table was set for three, and Mrs. Bales was taking a pan of corn bread from the oven.

“You can wash up there at the washstand, Margie. Deke washed on the porch.”

Margie ate. She enjoyed the meal after a week of food cooked over a campfire. When it was over, Deke went back to the garage and Margie stayed to help Mrs. Bales do the dishes.

“If you have anything you want to iron, dear, we’ll just set the sad iron on the stove and put up the ironing board.”

“Thank you. I’m grateful to have washed clothes; to have ironed ones will be a real treat.”

“I’ll be surprised if we don’t get a storm out of those clouds.” Mrs. Bales came in after throwing the dishwater off the end of the porch. “It’s been trying to storm off and on for a week.”

“I hope not. It’s not even rained since we left home.”

“We’ve got a good storm cellar. We’ve been in it once already this spring.”

Deke came into the house in the middle of the afternoon to get a rag to tie around a cut on his hand. Margie held it over the washdish while his mother dabbed it with iodine.

“That hurts!”

“Too bad.” Mrs. Bales continued to dab. “I keep this on hand because he’s always getting cut. He’d just tie a dirty rag around it and go on if I didn’t watch him,” she scolded.

“Mama likes to fuss.” Deke looked at Margie and winked.

“How’s the work going?” she asked.

“Good. That big cowboy knows about as much about it as I do. He’s a big help. We’d be farther along than we are if Foley’s wife would stop prancin’ around gettin’ in the way. I wasn’t surprised a-tall to learn she ain’t the mother of his kids. They’re two damn nice kids.”

“Why, Deke, I thought you’d be bowled over by Sugar,” Margie teased.

“You know better’n that, darlin’. She flirts with Brady right under her husband’s nose.”

“Brady could put a stop to it if he wanted to.”

“He’s between a rock and a hard place, darlin’. The woman’s a barracuda.”

“What’s that?”

“It’s a little fish that eats everything in sight.”

“Ugh!” Margie made a face. “If he keeps messing around with her, her husband will knock his block off.”

“Darlin’, I didn’t say that
he
was doin’ the flirtin’.”

“Now, don’t let that come off.” Mrs. Bales finished tying a clean cloth around Deke’s hand.

The afternoon wore on. Margie did her best to stay busy. She ironed a couple of dresses for Anna Marie and a blouse for Mona. Every so often she would look toward the campground to see if Elmer’s truck was there.

By late afternoon she had resigned herself to the fact he was not coming back and that when the caravan left tomorrow she would not be with it. She knew that she would be welcome to stay with Deke and his mother until she could get a small suitcase for her meager possessions and make arrangements for a bus ticket. It hurt to think of the box of treasured keepsakes in Elmer’s truck. But, she reasoned, they were only
things
.

Knowing that Brady was still in the garage with Deke, and wanting to get the dresses she’d ironed for Anna Marie to Grace before suppertime, Margie folded them over her arm and left the kitchen. She rounded the end of the house to see Elmer’s truck turn into the drive and proceed on to the campground and park.

Margie stopped beside the garage. Her feet refused to carry her any farther. Sudden anger raged through her like a forest fire scorching everything in its path. She began to tremble.

The lousy, conniving horse’s ass had deliberately stayed away all day in order to worry her. He wanted to make her so angry that she would stay here when they pulled out in the morning.

He wanted to be rid of her without his losing face with the others.

Chapter 16

E
LMER WAS SITTING IN HIS CANVAS CHAIR
beside his truck, his hands tucked into the bib of his overalls, his feet stretched out in front of him, when Margie passed by carrying the dresses she had ironed for Anna Marie. Refusing to give him the satisfaction of even looking at him, she went on to the Putmans’ camp and placed them on the back of the straight chair.

“He came back.” Grace spoke in low tones. “Alvin wasn’t sure he would.”

“Neither was I. Where’s Anna Marie?”

“She and Mona went to look at the chicken again. She thinks it’s grand.”

“It is strange. Several carloads of people stopped today to look at the snake, the chicken and the buffalo. All but one of them bought gas.”

Grace’s laugh was soft … and nice. “Mona won’t go near the snake. She made Jody lift Anna Marie up so she could see it.”

“Mona and Rusty danced last night. You would have been so proud of him.”

“I am proud of him. It’s been good for him to be with young folks.”

“I guess you know that Mona has a crush on him.”

“Yes, and I hope to God she don’t break his heart.”

“Or he hers. Young girls can be hurt easily.”

“I know.”

Grace watched Margie walk back past her father without giving him as much as a glance and wondered how she could put up with that cantankerous man.

Under lowering clouds darkness came early. It was nearly dark when Margie returned to the truck with her neatly folded clean clothes. She laid out the clothes she would wear the next day and repacked her suitcase. After mulling it over in her mind she had decided to ride with Elmer until they reached a town where she could catch a bus. It would be a clean break from the others in the caravan. There would be no explaining to do and no good-byes.