Romance in a Ghost Town

by Robert P McAuley

  “Sure will,” came the answer as the owner made up the bill.

  Soon Bob was back at the Clayton Hotel and after a cool shower and shave, he had a steak dinner with all the trimmings before stepping into the bar. He found that this was what he missed the most living in his new town: dressing up. In the mirror on the wall of the corridor he saw a slim man whose complexion was being transformed from pale to red and he knew that it would soon change to become a dark tan. The New Yorker enjoyed the feel of his well-cut tan slacks and white; open neck silk shirt as well as his relaxing moccasins. He took a seat in the same section that he had the last time he was here and this time the bartender came over smiling.

  “Good evening, Mister McKillop. Johnny Walker Black?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  He treated himself to two drinks before turning in. He grinned as he looked at his watch and thought, Nine fifteen! Wow, I’m staying up late tonight. Rattlesnake Haven has turned me into an ‘early to bed, early to rise’ kind of guy. As Bob changed, he had the TV on and heard a familiar voice. On the screen was Tom Madren, smiling and fooling around with the young lady who was the host of the news hour. Is he favoring his right hand? Bob thought as he watched the man point to the map of the area. “Ah-ha!” Bob said picking up the TV remote, “Smiley face Tom! Meet the power of the remote!” and changed the channel to another news show.

  8

  The Visit

  He woke slowly the next morning trying to remember how the night went. He sat up and smiled wide at the realization that he slept straight through and never had ‘the dream’. “I really got to call mom as soon as I can.” He picked up his watch and saw that it was six-thirty. “It’s still too early to call her in Florida. Got to wait until later.”

  He was in the lobby reading Anne’s column when she walked in. He stood as he gazed at her. Gone was the business suit as it was replaced by tan, form-fitting cowhide pants and jacket over a lightweight, pink shirt. She wore western style boots and a tan, well-worn western style hat with a small white feather in the band and her usually pulled back hair was now resting on her shoulders. She walked right over to him and they shook hands. Bob was happy that even in her boots he was ever so much taller than her.

  “Hi,” she said, “Sleep well?”

  “Actually,” he responded, “I did. I don’t know why but I sleep better here than I ever have back in New York.”

  “Hey,” she said with a grin, “maybe we can wrap a slogan around that: ‘Come to Bransville; the sleep capital of the west’.”

  Grinning, he tilted his head towards the dining room and allowed her to lead the way.

  The waiter took their orders and left two cups of coffee. “So,” Bob said stirring his drink, “Tell me all about the ChemCo plans on building a dump.”

  “Ah-ha!” she said as she fixed the napkin on her lap, “trying to get on my good side by having me talk about those money hungry people.”

  “Will it work?”

  “What? The dump?”

  “No, will it get me on your good side by talking about that?”

  She laughed. “If I thought you were really interested, it would work.”

  “Well, I am. I mean the environment is just as important to me as well as to the people who were born and raised here. I mean, I know that there are many who say, ‘not in my backyard,’ but really, as you stated in your column, ‘why must it be built so close to the school where the little ones are active for three quarters of the day?”

  She had a tight smile and her eyes became narrowed as she said, “My Lord! I do believe that you really are interested in what I have to say.”

  Bob sat back and the furrow of his brow showed that he didn’t understand why she said that and he asked, “What do you mean, ‘you do believe that I’m interested in what you have to say’? Of course I do. Why would I lie about it?”

  She quickly reached across the table and grabbed his hand as she explained, “Oh, please forgive me. I didn’t mean to doubt you, it’s just that-that, well, to be honest with you, I’m so used to hearing one thing and finding out another thing, that at times my head spins trying to figure out who’s lying to me and who’s not.”

  “Hey,” he said squeezing her hand gently, “I understand. Where I come from it’s sort of ‘watch your back’ at all times. I thought it was different out here. Guess I’m wrong. But I’m not here long enough to make waves.” He looked up and grinned as he remembered the other night and added, “I mean, at least until the other night.”

  She laughed and had to cover her mouth as she said, “He has a hard time pointing up at New York because it’s his right hand and he told people that he hurt it while helping an old lady get something from a shelf in a shopping mall.” She sat back as she shook her head and added, “He has never been in a shopping mall in his life!”

  Bob joined her in laughing and had to force himself to stop saying, “Well, anyway I hope it gets better. But to answer the first question: Yes, I am interested in what you have to say. After all, I’m new here and you know more about what’s going on than me and seeing that our waiter is heading this way with our breakfast, I propose that we finish this during our trip to Rattlesnake Haven.”

  She agreed and they had breakfast.

  Anne’s car was parked at the corner and Bob pulled his SUV behind it and they transferred her backpack, sleeping bag and another overnight bag into his before they pulled away. As usual he topped his tank off and stopped at Pearls. Anne went in with him and they both loaded up on what they wanted for the trip and were on their way by nine forty-five.

  It was eleven fifteen when her cell phone rang and Bob saw her look at the number ID and let it go to message as she said to Bob, “You did say that there was no cell phone coverage out there, right?”

  “Well, yes,” he answered, “but we still have coverage here.”

  She grinned and said, “Not all cell phones are created equal, Mister McKillop.”

  They both laughed. They had a spirited talk about politics and religion before deciding not to talk about politics or religion. They swapped stories about their childhood and she was very interested in ‘Johnny On The Pony’ and Stick Ball and she couldn’t believe it when he told her about misreading the hoof prints in the sand thinking they were bear tracks.

  “Have you ever been on a horse?” she asked.

  “Once when I was a kid and I got off real fast when it tried to bite me.”

  “Silly!” she said punctuating it with a light tap on his shoulder, “He was just trying to see what was on his back. That’s all.”

  “Yeah, well, in the movies the horses look smallish but this one was huge and the hair was like a brush, not soft like they look.”

  “That’s because their coat is protection against the elements and foraging in bushes and thickets.”

  “Well,” said Bob shrugging his shoulders, “it scared the heck out of me.” He glanced at her and asked, “Have you ever been on a horse?”

  She lowered her dark glasses and looked at him over the top of them, “Of course I have. I mean we are in cowboy and cowgirl country after all.” She grinned and said, “When I was a little girl my father gave me riding lessons. He owned a few horses and it was what we kids did before driving a car.” She looked at him with excitement on her face and said as she put her glasses back on, “Hey! I’ve got an idea: why not let me give you riding lessons?”

  “No way,” answered a smiling Bob. “I was on that horse years ago and don’t intend to try it again.”

  “Afraid?” asked Anne with a challenging grin.

  “Yeah!” he answered as he nodded vigorously, “I’m afraid that he’ll bite me this time to make up for his friend missing me the last time.”

  He got another tap on the shoulder for that answer and this time he grabbed his shoulder and said, “Owwww! I have to remind myself to write the first Rattlesnake Haven’s town ordinance.”

  “Oh? And what would that be?”

 
“No hitting the mayor.”

  “The mayor?” she said with a laugh. “Who voted you mayor?”

  “Well,” he said looking over his sunglasses at her, “I’m the owner, so I figure I’m also the mayor.”

  She shook her head. “No good, my friend! In every western movie I’ve ever seen, the whole town has to vote, not just one guy.”

  “But, I was the only guy there!”

  “So says you, mister, ‘he-who-would-be-mayor’. There were no witnesses to attest to that fact as ever happening. No, I’m sorry but there needs to be a recount as at this moment the claim of the owner to be mayor is nothing more than hearsay and this discussion is closed until a majority can be persuaded to make it be so.”

  He rolled his eyes and quipped, “Boy, are you ever the reporter.”

  She giggled and stretched into the back to reach the cooler, “Want a cold drink?”

  “Sure.”

  “What’s your choice?”

  “Whatever you grab is fine with me.”

  She popped two Cokes and they sipped as he drove along and both jumped as the SUV dipped suddenly into a crevice. It wasn’t just the dip but the loud sound of thunder that came from above them as the vehicle climbed up out of the crevice.

  “What the heck was that?” she asked as she grabbed the leather handgrip over her door and held tight.

  “Just the tin water holding tank tied to the roof rack. Guess when it’s bent and straightened out again it sounds like thunder.”

  “So, is there water out there?”

  “Yep! A well anyway. And I bought a solar pump to bring it up out of the well and hopefully have drinking water.”

  “Solar power? Wow! Maybe there’s a story here after all. I can see the headlines now: New York City guy brings water back to the desert using solar power.”

  “That’s a big maybe!” he said with a grin.

  “And,” she added crossing her arms in mock anger, “we never once spoke about the dump they want to put in town. Did you really read the whole article?”

  Almost childlike, he crossed his heart with his index finger. “Yes, and I do believe you when you say that Jim Bensen knew nothing about their plans to put a dump there when he sold them the property. I believe that Jim has only the best intentions for Bransville.”

  “I think,” she said with a nod, “that at the time ChemCo didn’t even have plans to build a dump when they purchased the property. I think it was proposed to them by someone else…someone that stands to make out on the deal.”

  “Any idea who?”

  “A few, but I’m not ready to say it yet.” She turned and patted his arm, “But I really am impressed that a new guy in town would take an interest and read my article.”

  “Well, it was well written.”

  She smiled as she realized that she had just blushed and was happy that he was watching the road when she did.

  “I have an idea that may help,” said Bob in a business sounding voice.

  “What’s that?”

  “Does Bransville have another piece of property about the same size of the proposed dump that is away from the school that they might offer as a swap to ChemCo? This way they can reap the benefits of not only having the dump but having it where they would approve.”

  She thought for a moment and said, “Stop the car.”

  Bob obeyed and stopped the car. He looked at her and asked, “What’s wrong? Do you want to go back?”

  “No,” she said shaking her head as she dialed on her cell phone, “I want to make a call and needed to make sure that we’re not out of cell phone range yet.” She looked off into the distance as she said into the phone, “Ken? Hi, it’s me, Anne. Do me a favor and check all of the town’s properties that are just sitting around doing nothing and are about the same size as the proposed dump that ChemCom wants to build. Get their locations and have it ready for me to review in a day or two. Thanks tons, Ken and please keep this between us. I’ll brief you on my return. Bye, and thanks again, I owe you one.”

  She turned to Bob and said, “If this works, Mister Mayor, I’ll buy you a case of Johnny Walker Black Label.”

  He eased the SUV back into gear and thirty-five minutes later slowed down even more as they climbed the slight rise that had become the stopping place.

  “Anything wrong?” she asked looking around.

  “Nope! Look straight ahead,” he said passing her the binoculars.

  Anne looked through the lenses and a smile crossed her face. “Is that a signpost?”

  “Yep! And from what I understand this is the reason the town has never been seen over the years: it was built in a valley and if you’re not looking for her, you’ll go right past unless you stumble on her.”

  She put the binoculars on the center console, grabbed the overhead leather strap and said, “Let’s go!”

  He followed his path from the past few visits and soon they entered Rattlesnake Haven. Anne was all eyes as she first looked out her window and then his. “This is fantastic, Bob. Boy, after all of these years, to find a town in such great condition is nothing but a miracle.”

  Once again he pulled in between the two buildings and killed the ignition. Anne looked at him and at his nod she opened the door and hopped out. She immediately grabbed her hat and put it on as the bright sunlight beat down on her.

  Bob exited the SUV and watched as she scanned the streets of his town.

  As he put his hat on he proudly asked, “What do you think of her?”

  She was turning in a fast circle as she tried to take it all in at once, “It’s-it’s breathtaking! I simply love it!”

  “Come on,” he said stepping away as he put on his gun belt and opened the tailgate. He took out his gun and loaded it before holstering it. “Let me give you the grand tour.”

  They went to the Town Hall first and while looking through the offices, Anne said as she looked at the calendar, “August 2, 1893. Mmmm, wonder why that date is circled?”

  “Yeah,” added Bob, there are other stores and houses that have the same date circled and I wondered why myself. I know that Jim Bensen said the town was purchased by his relative in 1893, so maybe August the second was the date?”

  “That could be. Boy I can’t believe how clean everything is. And,“ she said looking around, “I wonder why all of the furniture is here? I’ve never been to a ghost town that had any furniture at all in it. The residents always took them with them when they left.”

  Bob shrugged his shoulders and said, “Yeah, it’s really baffling. Maybe Jim knows.”

  She shook her head and said emphatically, “Bob, I don’t think Jim Bensen knows what any of this means.”

  “How so?”

  “A town like this with all of its furniture intact? Why, it’s a time capsule! I’ll bet you anything that a television network would love to do a story on this place.”

  “A network like yours?” Bob asked, “I mean, doesn’t the Bransville Speaker do online pieces?”

  She looked at him as though he had just hit on a great idea. “Yes…yes, an online network like mine. I bet it would be picked up by the big guys up in New York and all.”

  Bob grinned at seeing her so excited over his town. “Hey, if you really want to do a piece on Rattlesnake Haven, it’s fine with me.”

  She spun around and looked at him and said with a wide-eyed smile, “You mean it? I mean, if you really mean it, it would put the town on the map.”

  “You mean put the town back on the map.”

  Anne nodded vigorously.

  “Well first I need to fix some more of it up.”

  “Not too much, though,” she countered, “the idea would be to show the town as it has been for all of these years.”

  He smiled and said, “If you like the outside, let me show you my house.” He started walking towards the rear of Jax Hardware store and she followed.

  “What do you mean by, ‘your house’?”

  “I dunno. It’s just the first house tha
t I started to clean up and sort of think of it as my home. Silly, but wait until you see it.” At the front gate Bob said, “Let me go first. Some of the wood boards are weak and need fixing.” She followed him up on to the porch and as he opened the front door he did a slight bow and said, “Welcome to McKillop House, m’lady.”

  Smiling, Anne stepped into the living room and stood breathless as she looked around the cool, quaint room. “My Lord! This looks like a picture of an old time movie set. Everything that an antique dealer would give their right arm for is right here in this room.” She turned to Bob and went on, “Do you have any idea what you have here, Bob? It’s much more than a time capsule: it’s a town full of how our ancestors lived over one hundred years ago. It-It’s priceless.”

  “Guess I never thought of it like that. I just wanted to bring her back to life and, and, well, I’m not really sure what I intended to do besides open it up for tourists.”

  “Bring her back to life?” said Anne with raised eyebrows as she looked around, “Bob, she was never dead! Asleep maybe, but dead? No!”

  She took out her cell phone and asked, “Do you mind if I take a few photographs?”

  “No, feel free.” Bob watched as Anne took a series of pictures on her cell phone.

  She snapped it closed and shaking her head went on, “What a find! If you wish, I bet you can have the world come and visit your town, Bob.”

  Happily he said, “Want to see the rest?” He started up the stairs.

  She hesitated and said, “Yes, but right now I need a ladies room after that long ride and those Cokes.”

  “Well,” answered Bob as he turned and went to the front door that would allow him to take her to the outhouse at the rear of the house, “first of all there is no indoor plumbing and all of the houses use outside facilities called outhouses. The outdoor type, which is what we have, was kept in use by digging a new hole after so many uses and simply moving the outhouse over the new hole. The dirt from the new hole would be dumped into the full hole to cover it up. While the hotel, lounge and stores used an, ‘indoor outhouse’ so to speak; they had a different way of keeping it useful. After so many uses they would throw some lime and dirt in the hole.”