Cowboy Courage

by Carolyn Brown

  Chapter Thirteen

  Rose had held Luna close, their tears blending together and dripping off their faces onto their shirts. “I’m so, so sorry. Why would he do that so quickly? You’ve only been gone a little while.”

  “Must’ve been happening right under my nose, and he just waited for me to get mad and leave,” she whimpered.

  “He took the car too, since that was in his name and not mine, and so is the trailer. Reuben, that’s my friend at the trailer park, he said that the trailer is up for sale. Wilbur told him that if I want to pay for it, then I can call him.” Luna pushed Rose away and narrowed her eyes. “I ain’t shellin’ out a single dime of my money.”

  “Aunt Luna, where are you going to live?”

  “After I go home and make a trip to the bank, I’ll make up my mind then. I bet he’s forgot that all the money we got from the sale of the carnival was put in my name,” Luna said.

  “Why would you do that?” Rose asked.

  “We retired because he got colon cancer, and we put everything in my name just in case he didn’t make it. He got over it in a few months, and we just never did get around to changin’ things. When we took out the money for the car and trailer and put some in a fund to live on, he laughed and said that he should have those things fixed in his name,” she explained. “’Course, I did have it fixed so that if I died, it was all his. That’s what I’ve got to go fix.”

  The music box finally stopped playing and Luna slapped the top of the counter. Another note or two sounded but then it quit again. Even a broken music box was afraid to cross Aunt Luna when she was angry.

  “If you could do the business over the phone with the bank, you could just stay here,” Rose suggested.

  “Oh, hell, no!” Luna dried her eyes and glared across the room as if she was looking at something—or someone. “Tomorrow I’m getting on a bus, and I’m going home to take care of things in person. Put a CLOSED sign on the door, and go get a bottle of whiskey. I need a drink even if it is only ten o’clock in the morning. When I get home, I intend to hunt that old sumbitch down and give him a piece of my mind.”

  “Will you promise me that you’ll leave Madam at home?” Rose had sworn she’d never drink with Luna again, but she went to the kitchen and took a half-full bottle of Jameson from the cabinet and a full one of Old Rip Van Winkle, the whiskey Aunt Molly saved for very special occasions. By damn, this was the time for it.

  “I give you my word. I’m going to refill his Viagra for him and take it to him for a weddin’ present,” Luna said. “I found some little blue candy a while back that looks just like them pills. I intend to swap them out. We’ll see how much that hussy likes him when nothing will pop up.”

  When she got back, Luna had cleaned up all the glass from the broken snow globe. “I had to do something or else I would have put a curse on Wilbur, and I need to think about just how mean I want to be when I conjure up my spell.”

  “Whatever you need, I’m right here to do it with you,” Rose assured her.

  “Then call us in a pizza. We ain’t had breakfast and we’ll need something in our stomachs before we get too far into the bottle. Not even Luna Ferry Wilson can hold that lot of whiskey on an empty stomach.”

  “Fairy?” Rose frowned.

  “Not as in little critters with wings, but as in a big flat boat that carries people from one side of the river to the other.” She took the Old Van Winkle from Rose, opened it, and took a long swig. “Molly will pass little green apples when she comes home and finds that we drank all her best whiskey.”

  Rose reached for the bottle, and Luna handed it over.

  “Then we’ll make a green apple pie.” Rose turned it up for a swallow. “Damn, that is some smooth whiskey.”

  “Yep,” Luna said. “You’d best call in that pizza now, because once I get started, I just keep on drinkin’ and drinkin’, like that song on the radio.”

  Rose made the call and asked them to deliver it to the back door, and then she plopped down on the sofa beside Luna. “I’m going to miss you. Do you really have to go?”

  “Yes, honey, I do,” Luna said. “I’ll come visit you when you and Hud have your first child. Maybe you’ll even let me name her.”

  “No, ma’am, I will not ever put my daughter through the teasing that I got because you named me Cactus,” Rose told her.

  “Honey, your grandma’s name was Devine. Your mama’s name is Echo. We couldn’t very well name you Susie or Kathy, now could we?” Luna asked her.

  “Well, I’m going to break with tradition,” Rose declared.

  “How long after you and Hud get married are you going to start a family? You know you’re already older than your grandmother was when she had Echo and your mother when she had you,” Luna said.

  “Aunt Luna, this is about you getting over Wilbur marryin’ another woman, not about me and Hud. Can he even do that legally? I mean isn’t it considered common law when you’ve been together as long as y’all have?” Rose put the bottle to her mouth and pretended to take a sip and then handed it to her aunt.

  “To Wilbur.” Luna held up the bottle. “May you and your new woman fight every day and be miserable until the day you both die.”

  Rose took the bottle and said, “To Wilbur. I hope that you regret the day you left my aunt for that other woman.” She set the bottle on the table.

  Luna picked it up again and kissed the side of it. “I remember the first time Wilbur kissed me and the last. The first time rocked my world, as you kids say. I was only seventeen and he kissed me out behind one of the tents. The last time, it was a peck on the forehead, because we were arguing. He said that he’d see me when I got over my snit.” She put her lips to the bottle and took another drink. “He ain’t never goin’ to see me again, because I refuse to go to hell, and after this stunt God ain’t goin’ to let him into heaven.”

  Tears began to roll down her cheeks again, settling in the wrinkles until they were full and then going on to drip off her jaw. “We even made a pact that we’d go together like in that movie The Notebook, so neither one of us would have to grieve, and look what he’s done.”

  “I’ve heard there’s many steps to grief, and the first one is denial, and it’s for divorce and death alike,” Rose said.

  Luna dried her eyes and cheeks on the tail of her shirt. “He’s not dead. Put the cap on that bottle. Wilbur is about to see the wrath of Luna Ferry Wilson. Call the bus station and put me on the first one going east, and don’t let me forget Madam.” She hopped up and headed for the bedroom.

  “What are you fixing to do?” Rose asked.

  “Pack,” Luna threw over her shoulder as she left the room. “I want to be ready when the next bus leaves Bowie.”

  Rose looked up the phone number, made the call, and charged the ticket to her own credit card. One was leaving at eleven thirty that morning and would arrive in Sweet Water, Alabama, at nine o’clock that night. She picked up the two bottles of liquor and put them away. She’d started toward Aunt Luna’s bedroom when someone knocked on the back door.

  “Pizza!” She slapped her forehead as she grabbed up her purse and headed toward the door. She paid the delivery girl and carried it with her to Aunt Luna’s bedroom. “Next bus leaves in half an hour, and then there’s not another one until tomorrow. I went ahead and booked you a ticket.”

  “Thank you, darlin’. You can cancel the reservation that I made for Monday. I’m just about packed. Us carnie folks know how to travel light.” She smiled for the first time since she’d gotten the news of Wilbur’s marriage. “Gimme a piece of that pizza to eat right now. Then while I finish up, you can wrap up a couple more for me to eat on while I’m riding.”

  Rose opened the box and Luna took out a slice, folded it lengthwise, and took a bite. “Anything else I can fix for you? Maybe a bottle of water or some cookies?”

  “Honey, you just make me up whatever you think I might need or want, and I’ll be real happy with it.” Luna laid her sli
ce of pizza on the dresser and hugged Rose. “I’m really glad I finally got to spend some time with you. We’ve made lots of good memories that we can both hold on to, and now, you got to promise me that you’ll write me a letter once a month and tell me what all’s going on around here.”

  “What makes you think I’ll stay here?” Rose remembered the feeling she’d had when she thought about the beach or the mountains. “I can live anywhere.”

  “Your heart is here,” Luna answered. “Now, get on out there and make me up a tote bag of goodies. I like to eat when I’m riding. It helps pass the time.”

  Rose went on to the kitchen, found a zippered lunch box in the cabinet—probably something that Aunt Molly carried cold food to a church potluck in—and packed it full.

  When she got back to the foyer, Aunt Luna was waiting with her suitcase right beside her. “We only got fifteen minutes so we’d better get movin’. I hate to leave you on such short notice. I didn’t even have time to read the cards for you again.”

  Rose carried Luna’s suitcase to the car, and put it in the backseat, then drove straight to the bus stop. She pulled up to the curb right behind where the bus had already parked, went inside, and brought Luna’s ticket back to her.

  “What do I owe you?” Luna began to dig in her purse.

  “Nothing, they were giving away tickets free today to anyone over thirty-nine.” Rose leaned across the console and kissed Luna on the cheek.

  “You are full of bullshit”—Luna laughed—“but thank you for this and for the whole time I’ve been here. Now help me get my baggage out on the sidewalk and then leave. Goodbyes are not my thing.”

  “Aunt Luna”—Rose got past the lump in her throat—“I hate goodbyes too, but I’m going to give you a ‘see you later’ hug. I want you to call me as soon as you get to Alabama tonight so I know you’re safe. One more thing, promise me no more hitchhiking. Ride the bus when you want to come see me or Aunt Molly.”

  “A hug is fine, but I’ll make no promises,” Luna said as she got out of the car.

  Rose got the suitcase out first, rolled it up onto the sidewalk, and then hung the tote bag full of snacks over Luna’s shoulder. She gave her aunt a brief hug and turned and walked back to the car. She watched to be sure that Luna didn’t have problems with her ticket or with getting on the bus, but it was with tears flowing down her face.

  You came into my life in a whirlwind, and now you’re leaving the same way. I’ll miss you, Aunt Luna.

  When she got back to the B&B, the driveway and parking space out to the back were filled with cars. She’d forgotten and left the front door unlocked, so there were dozens of people in the shop, some already lined up to check out.

  “Crap!” she muttered as she rushed inside. She’d wanted some time to repair her makeup and to get control of herself. “I’m so sorry,” she said as she hurried to the counter. “I had to take my aunt to the bus station. I hope y’all are finding things all right.”

  “Honey, this is a small town,” one lady said. “We understand these things, and besides, Miz Molly often lets us just browse and ring the bell when we were ready to check out.”

  By the middle of the afternoon the cash register was full, the shop was finally empty, and Rose finally had time to sit down and eat a slice of cold pizza. At five o’clock, she flipped the sign from OPEN to CLOSED and went into Aunt Luna’s bedroom. She fell back on the bed, inhaling the vanilla scent of her aunt’s perfume, which was still on the pillow. In only a few more hours, Luna would be home in Sweet Water.

  She sat up enough to get her phone out of her back pocket and called her mother.

  “Hello, darlin’. Are you on your way to Kentucky?”

  “Not right now, Mama. Aunt Luna left this morning and I wanted to hear your voice because I’m all alone in this big empty place,” Rose said.

  “Shut it down and come home,” Echo said.

  “Can’t. I have guests coming for a night, and I’m keeping the shop open,” she said. “But I am getting homesick to see you.”

  “And your father?”

  “Maybe a little bit,” Rose admitted. “How is Daddy?”

  “Strong as a horse and running the commune like always,” Echo answered. “I have to go now. Be safe. Love you.”

  “You too and love you right back.” Rose ended the call.

  She stared at the ceiling for several minutes and wished they could have talked longer. If her father ever found the cell phone, there would be a war in the commune, so she understood why her mother had to go so quickly. Rose had decided long ago that she would never defer to a man like all the wives in the commune did.

  Only one time had her father, Paul, let her mother have her way about something, and then he was hypocritical about it. When Echo wanted to let Rose have a year or two in public school, Paul had agreed. Rose knew the real reason he agreed was because of the argument she’d overheard the day before they’d all three left Kentucky. Her father and his uncle, the overseer, had had a big argument, and it had ended with the older man kicking her father out of the group. Two years later, the people that Paul stayed in touch with asked him to come back and be their leader when his uncle had passed away.

  Rose sat up and then slung her legs off the side of the bed. “I’m still not going to live my life walking two steps behind a man.”

  She went back to the shop, got the pizza box, and carried it to the kitchen. She pulled the tab on a can of Bud Light and took a long swallow. Hud liked Coors. Was that a sign that they were incompatible? That they shouldn’t be making out on the front porch like loved-starved teenagers? Was the universe trying to tell her that they were too different? His background was far different from hers, but hers was a helluva lot more colorful. That thought brought on a visual of Aunt Luna that first day that she’d showed up in Bowie. Putting her family and his together at a wedding would be like mixing cow patties and caviar.

  As if on cue, her phone rang, and the name that popped up was Hudson Baker.

  “Hello,” she said. “How’d your day go?”

  “Busy, but then we’re a helper short, so we’ve been pulling some long hours. I thought I might have to come into town for a part to fix the tractor or some barbed wire, but I didn’t have to. I was a little disappointed because I was hoping to see you while I was there,” he said. “How’d your day go?”

  “Crazy is the only word I can think of.” She told him about the whole morning and then all the customers.

  “Has Luna called? Is she there yet?” Hud asked.

  “She won’t get there until nine and then she’ll have to go to the trailer park. I have no idea how far away from town that is,” Rose said. “I just felt so sorry for her. Lord, they’ve been together for more than sixty years.”

  “Do you want me to come to town and be there with you when she calls?” Hud asked.

  “I’m a big girl,” Rose said. “You sound exhausted, and we both know if you come here, it’ll turn into another make-out session.”

  “That might revive me,” he chuckled, “but you’re right.”

  “I’m used to being mentally weary, but I think going through this day with Aunt Luna has drained me emotionally.”

  “No doubt about that,” Hud said. “But I sure do like that old gal. She’s so full of spit and vinegar that she lights up the whole universe. I kinda feel sorry for Wilbur when she sees him the next time.”

  “What if, hypothetically speaking of course, you were to have to introduce your family to her?” Rose asked.

  “Tag and Emily are part of my family, and they thought she was a hoot. My grandmother and mother would adore her spunk,” Hud answered. “Why are you asking me that, anyway?”

  “My first thought when I saw her sitting on her suitcase was that she was a bag lady looking for a handout. I just wondered what kind of reaction your family might have to her,” she said.

  “Well, Emily wants her to come to Sunday dinner. I was supposed to ask y’all tonight. That was to
be my reason for calling.”

  “Hud, you don’t need a reason to call me, or even to stop by. The door is always open to you,” she said.

  “Well, thank you, darlin’,” he drawled. “And my door is always open to you too.”

  As usual, when he used that endearment, she got a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach. “The landline is ringing. Got to go. Talk to you later.” She ended the call and ran across the floor to get the phone hanging on the kitchen wall.

  “Hello,” she said.

  “Will you accept collect charges from Luna Wilson in Sweet Water, Alabama,” a lady asked.

  “Of course,” Rose said.

  “Go ahead,” the woman said.

  That’s when Luna began to screech. “He’s off on a honeymoon with that woman.”

  “Settle down, Aunt Luna,” Rose said. “You’re going to have a heart attack or a stroke.”

  “Not until Madam and I have a talk with him.” Luna’s voice had dropped to a whisper.

  “Leave it alone,” Rose said. “That’ll do no good and will just create a dust storm. Pack up what you want out of the trailer and come back here. He’s not worth spending the rest of your life in prison.”

  “You’re right, but I got to be mad at someone,” Luna said. “This is costing Molly a lot of money so I’m going to hang up.”

  “Have you got a pencil or something to write with?” Rose asked. “I need to give you my cell phone number. And I need your address. I’m going to send you a prepaid cell phone, and I want you to call me on it. I’ll have it sent overnight so you’ll have it tomorrow.”

  “Farm Road Two Thousand, Box two hundred,” Luna said.

  Rose rattled off her cell number as she wrote the address on a paper napkin. “When it arrives you call me and we’ll visit.”

  “Maybe the smoke from Madam’s barrel will be cooled down by then.” Luna hung up the phone.