Romance in a Ghost Town

by Robert P McAuley

  “Let’s give it a shot, Tim.” Cal smiled and slapped Bob on his back. “Maybe we can get ya on one of them beauties tomorrow?”

  Bob shook his head and said with a grin, “Good luck on both counts: catching them and getting me on one.”

  The men walked off laughing. Bob stood back leaning on one of the horse hitching rails as Samson sat at his feet.

  “Will ya ride?”

  He turned to see Jean as she stepped out into the light of the fire pit. “Ya can’t live out here an’ be afraid ta ride a horse, ya know.”

  “Aw, Jean,” he said, “I’m still a city boy and happy to have Samson as my biggest pet. Besides, I think that if they’re born free, why try to change them?”

  “Some horses want ta be tamed. They like oats an’ hay rather than wild flowers an’ tumbleweed. At least, after they get a taste of the good stuff. Good food and a place ta sleep is a powerful incentive to hang around us two legged creatures.” She nodded and went on, “Let Cal be your guide, my friend, he won’t let ya get hurt. He thinks mighty highly of ya. I can tell.”

  Bob grinned and looking down at the napping beagle, said, “Think I’ll turn in. I’ll leave the door unlocked and you know where the Coleman is. Okay?”

  “Sure, Bob. Good night, son an’ see ya in the morn.”

  He picked up the sleeping pup and walked back to his house, tired but extremely happy.

  Samson stirred sometime after midnight and hearing the lock of the front door being thrown, Bob knew his guests were home. He scratched the pup’s ears as they both went back to sleep.

  12

  The Town Never Really Died; It Was Just Sleeping

  He was waked up with a tap on his door as Jean added, “G’mornin’ in there. Breakfast is ready.”

  He stretched and saw that the sun was just breaking the horizon. “Boy,” he said to Samson, “these guys rise early.” Samson went to the door and waited impatiently as Bob got dressed. “Be ready in a minute,” he said to the pup.

  They went downstairs and Bob walked to the outhouse as Samson trotted around the low growing bushes.

  Breakfast was pancakes and honey syrup along with the usual cup of outstanding coffee.

  “Wow, Jean,” said Bob as he patted his stomach, “your breakfast is a big reason to get up early.”

  “Glad ya enjoyed it. Its kinda nice ta make breakfast for someone beside me and Cal.”

  “Best cook around,” added Cal as he mimicked Bob by patting his ample stomach. “What sort o’ plans do you have for today, Jean?”

  “Not sure. Some o’ the gals want to walk the town and see it real close up.” She smiled and took a sip of her coffee before turning to Bob and continued her conversation, “So, Bob McKillop, who’s Anne?”

  Bob almost dropped his coffee mug as he tried to answer, “Ah, Anne? Well, she-she, well, how do you know about her? Did I say something?”

  Jean shook her head and said as she patted his hand, “No way did I mean ta upset you, son. These walls are just too thin to keep secrets in a family. Just sounds ta me as though you are stuck on this gal, that’s all.”

  Bob nodded and surprised himself as he confessed as much to them as to himself, “I am. I really am stuck on her.”

  “So, where is she, then?”

  “In New York…with her boyfriend.”

  Jean simply put her cup down and said as though she knew for certain, “Well, my gut feeling says that you’re gonna marry this Anne.”

  Bob went slack-jawed for a moment before saying, “But…”

  “No buts,” said Cal as he grabbed his hat and stood, “When Jean says it’s gonna be, it’s gonna be. Always been that way with her, so ya better start counting on it happenin.”

  Bob quickly changed the subject, “So, did you guys catch any horses last night?”

  Cal grinned and said, “”Tim don’t take ‘no’ from a horse. He saw and he conquered.”

  Bob stood and picked up his empty plate as Jean said sternly, “You two just go on out an’ start your day. That truck’s gonna be here before ya know it. I’ll do the cleaning.”

  The two men and Samson left and went into town and, once at Main Street, Cal turned and pointed to the barn as he said, “Let’s go an’ see Tim. He stays in the barn.”

  “Somehow I can’t see him staying in any other place,” said Bob with a wink.

  They entered the barn and Bob was stopped in his tracks as Tim slowly walked a tan and white horse around in circles by a rope attached to a bridle in its mouth.

  “Shhhh,” whispered Cal as they stood still. “Let’s wait till Tim talks first. He got real good horse sense.”

  They watched for ten minutes before Tim slowly walked the horse into a stall, patted its head and closed the gate before coming to them. “’Mornin’ gents. Have breakfast yet?”

  Cal nodded, “Yep. But I never turn down a cup of coffee.”

  “Then let’s head on over to Kay’s. She makes the best this side o’ the Mississippi.”

  Bob’s eyebrows arched in question as he asked, “Kay’s? You mean Kay’s diner?”

  “Yep! That’s where Kay Parker and her husband and two boys been sleeping and she started to offer coffee and stuff for people who ran out. And her place sorta became the place ta stop in and catch up on the latest gossip.”

  They left the barn and Samson soon attracted a small group of kids all pleading to play with the pup. “Fine,” said Bob, “But, stay out in front of Kay’s Diner with him, okay?” They agreed and Samson soon joined in their games, which seemed to be running and screaming.

  A few minutes later the three men entered and Bob happily saw that there were a dozen others there, sipping coffee and munching on buttered toast as they chatted away. Cal waved to the group and headed towards an empty table by the window. They sat and a short dark haired smiling woman came over and, as she wiped off the already clean table, said, “Mornin’ gents! Not too much food left but I can butter ya up some toast an get ya some coffee?”

  “Just coffee for us two,” Cal said pointing at Bob as he went on, “but see ta Tim here. I suspect he been up all night.”

  Tim nodded and said, “Mornin’, Miss Kay. Toast an’ coffee is fine fer me.”

  “Hope ya like it black, Tim, as the only milk left is fer the young ones.”

  “Then black it is. Long as it’s hot an’ strong.”

  She walked away and Bob commented, “Her name is Kay, too?”

  “Yep! Guess she liked the coincidence and settled in,” Tim said as he stretched his long legs beneath the table. “Guess ya want ta hear how it went last night?” At Bob’s nod he continued. “Not much different than lots o’ other horse ropings, Bob. Me and five of the men went deep into the darkness and Cal here did a slow walk so as not ta spook the horses too much an’ they decided ta leave an’ go back into the desert. We got five of them and when the others saw that their leader was walking back with us, they followed.” He tilted his head back towards the barn and went on. They’re being quiet as they seem ta enjoy being outta the sun and able ta rest a bit.”

  “You got them all?”

  “Fifteen in all. Most probably more will come around tonight, an’ the barn can hold another twenty or so, so we’ll just do the same thing again tonight.”

  The door opened and a slim dark haired man in his thirties entered and came over to the table. “Mornin’ gents.”

  “Mornin’ Jed,” said both Cal and Tim. Cal tilted his head at Bob and introduced them, “Jed, this here is Bob McKillop.”

  The two men shook hands. “Good morning, Bob. Love your town. It-it’s for real, if you know what I mean.”

  Bob nodded his appreciation as Jed turned to Cal and asked, “Cal. Are you sure they’ll be food today? Our little one wants ice cream and as we didn’t order any but Haddie Trumen did, my Bonnie will bake her an apple pie from the apples we ordered in a swap of sorts.”

  “Gonna barter, huh?” asked Cal adding, “Yep! I got the word right from
the horses’ mouth,” he alluded to Bob as he went on, “an he says delivery time is around noon.” He winked as he said, “He also needs some young backs ta help unload it before the sun melts the ice cream.”

  “Well, partner,” said Jed putting his hat back on, “you can count on me.” He left the store to join his wife and little girl on the sidewalk and they strolled away with his little girl jumping for joy at the good news.

  “Bartering?” quipped Bob. “Guess it worked back then so why not now right here in Rattlesnake Haven?”

  “It was how the early settlers often got by,” explained Cal as he sipped his coffee.

  Bob was happily surprised at the way people came in, sat and had their coffee as many dropped off their extra coffee so Kay could have a supply going until the town was resupplied. One man started to leave the diner and almost tripped over a loose board. He stomped the board down, left and soon returned with a hammer and a handful of nails, kneeled down and pulled out the offending nail and then replaced it with a few new ones. After being satisfied that it held, he stood up and as he left, Kay called out, “Thanks Fred. Come back later an’ have a cup on the house.”

  “See ya, Kay,” he said as he tipped the brim of his hat and left.

  Bob smiled and thought, Rattlesnake Haven has come back to life. He suddenly remembered something and sighed.

  Cal, catching the sigh, asked, “Hey, partner. What’s up?”

  Bob shrugged and said, “I guess I was so caught up in the town being so vibrant that I forgot that you guys will be leaving soon.” He looked at Cal and went on, “So, how often will you be coming back this way?”

  Cal shifted in his chair and answered, “Don’t really know, partner. Most times we hop around from town to town. This is one of the longest times we stayed in a long time.”

  “When is it that you guys are going to leave?” Bob asked reluctantly as she swished the remaining coffee in his mug.

  Cal shrugged as he answered looking first at Tim then back at Bob. “Not sure again, partner. The, ah, bus, well like I said, the axel is bent and, well, they’re made in Canada and most probably will have to be brought in from there.”

  Bob’s eyes went narrow as he asked, “Where is it that you broke down? Far from town?”

  “Oh yeah,” answered Cal as he looked at Tim for support, “I’d have ta say maybe about two, three miles out.”

  “Should we drive out there in my SUV and take a look?”

  The big cowboy was fast to say, “Naw! I mean, no reason ta do that, partner. They know where it is. Besides there ain’t nothin’ we can do there but get hot and maybe break down in your SUV as well.” He shook his head, “No, best we wait till they roll into town an’ pick us up.”

  “Your call, Cal,” Bob said as Kay returned with a plate of four slices of buttered toast and placed them in front of Tim before running to another table.

  Cal swished the coffee around in his cup and said, “Say, when Tim’s done with his breakfast, why don’t we take a walk through your town?” There are a few things I’d like ta see, partner.”

  “Sounds good to me.”

  “Tim?” asked Cal as the cowboy finished his toast two at a time and drank down his coffee.

  The slim cowboy shook his head, put his tall hat on and said, “Best I’d be lookin’ after them horses. Got ta keep them from becomin’ restless.” He grinned and with a wink said, “Stop by later an’ we’ll saddle one up for ya’all.” They the diner and he walked the opposite way of Bob, Cal and Samson who followed his master.

  The store next to Kay’s was Aaron’s Wallpaper and Cal looked in and said with a smile, “Good morning, Aaron,” and he tipped his hat to a tall willowy woman and said, “Edna. How are you two doin’?”

  “Just fine, sheriff,” answered the woman before putting her hand to her mouth and adding, “…I mean, Cal.”

  They continued their stroll and Cal said, “Aaron and Edna Shimmers. They used ta run a home decorating business in Tennessee before retiring. Nice people.”

  Bob grinned, “Right, sheriff.”

  Cal reddened as he pulled on his mustache, “Aw, shucks, they’re just funnin’ me, that’s all.”

  Seeing that the next store, the Pik Axe Supply store was closed, Cal looked in and tried the door. It was unlocked and he opened it and said, “Hello! Anyone here?” Getting no answer he closed the door and said, “Guess they’re out an’ about.” They continued their walk and once again the door was open to Jane’s Seeds and when Cal called out, “Hey, Jane. It’s me, Cal. How’s it goin’?”

  “Hi Cal, Mister McKillop. What are you two up to?” answered a smiling, short heavy-set woman who came from the rear of the store.

  Both men tipped their hats and Cal answered for them, “Nothin’ just walkin’ around an’ getting’ some exercise, Jane. How are ya doin’?”

  “Just fine, gents, just fine.”

  With a nod Cal left as he said over his shoulder, “See ya later, Jane.”

  A banging was heard from the open double doors of the next business: Wagon Wheels. Cal stepped in and Bob followed to hear the banging get louder as they went into the rear of the shop. Bill Hampton, a big man with a red handlebar mustache was beating a piece of steel on an anvil with a huge hammer as a young boy heated up another steel strip in a fire. He saw them first and shouted, “Mister Hampton! It’s Mister McKillop and Sheriff Sullivan.”

  Bill stopped, wiped the sweat from his brow and said, as he extended his hand to Bob who shook it, “Hi again, Bob. Sorry. I got carried away. Working and shaping iron has been a hobby of mine since I was a kid.”

  “Well,” answered Bob, “the place is just sitting here, so why not?”

  “Whatcha makin’ Bill?” asked Cal.

  “A privacy curtain-holder for the tub up next to the well. Some of the ladies asked if I could do something like that so they could bathe in private.”

  “Have fun,” said Bob as they left.

  Outside of the place, Bob said to Cal, “Hey, maybe I can turn this town into something like a ‘hands-on’ tour. Know what I mean? Not just visit, but playact too.”

  Cal grinned, “Sorta like what’s happenin’ right now, right, partner?”

  Bob smiled as he shook his head excitedly, “Yes! It’s great how the people all fit in so easily.”

  They stepped out and went next door to the butcher shop and again Cal stepped in and waved to a thin gray haired man cleaning a counter top. “Hey, Eddie Semkie, how are ya doin’?”

  “Just fine, Cal. Touchin’ up the place a bit. Our order of beef will be here soon and I expect to be doing some cuttin’ for some of the folks.”

  Bob nodded and they continued their walk. They arrived at the fish store next. Cal tried the door and it was open but once again nobody was there. “Must be takin’ a stroll,” he said as he pointed with his thumb over his shoulder as they walked on, “Harold and Mary Andersen got a fish store of their own and they just felt right at home stayin’ here.” He stopped and holding up his index finger corrected himself, “I mean they had a fish store. They’re retired now.”

  They stepped off again and he stopped in front of the Boot Repair Shop and sat on the bench outside as he inspected the bottom of his boot. “Wonder if Lou can fix this soul fast? I knew it was thin, but then I didn’t know that I’d be doin’ a whole lotta walking on this tour.” He stood and went on as he opened the door, “Let’s see if he’s around. Hey, Lou,” he called out from the doorway, “ya in?”

  “That you marshal? Be right there,” came a voice from behind the curtain that separated the store from the living quarters.

  Bob slapped Cal on the back good-naturedly and said, “Marshal…sheriff! Boy, Cal, you got all the good-guy nicknames tied up.”

  “Aw,” the big man said as he twisted his mustache, “like I said, they’re just funning with me.”

  Lou came from the store’s rear and the Mediterranean looking man was wearing a leather apron with pockets in the front, one o
f which held a long, thin hammer. “What’s up, gents?”

  “Just wondering if maybe I can sit a spell and let you tinker with the sole o’ my boot. It went an’ got wore clear through.”

  “Sure,” answered Lou as he pointed to the chair. “Sit, Cal, and pass me the boot.”

  “Is the material from the store still good after all these years?” asked a surprised Bob.

  “Some,” said Lou with a nod, “Most are dried out but the leather in the middle of the stacks are still soft enough to work.”

  Bob smiled as he crossed his arms and asked, “Let me take a guess: you used to own a shoe repair store?”

  “Sure did, Mister McKillop. Need any work done on your boots? Least I can do for letting me and my wife stay here.”

  Bob shook his head, no, as Cal passed him his boots.

  Twenty minutes later they continued their walk and Cal seemed to sigh with every step he took. He grinned as he pointed across the street. On the roof of the jail were two men with another on the sidewalk passing up roofing material. They both crossed Main Street and stood looking up as Cal said, “Looks like the boys want me ta have my own place.”

  “Boy, is there anything that this group isn’t capable of doing?” Bob said shaking his head.

  Cal answered, “Partner, most of the people that take the Ghost Town Tour are handy folks that live their hobby by going out on these tours. This town gives them a chance ta use the skills they love.”

  “And Rattlesnake Haven reaps the benefits,” quipped Bob.

  Cal opened the door to the jail and as they entered the man on the roof called down, “We’re gonna take a break, sheriff, so you two don’t have to keep worrying about us dropping a hammer on your heads.”

  Cal and Bob waved as they took off. Bob had cleaned the office, but some of the group had taken it another step and polished the desk and woodwork. A slight sheen of oil could be seen by the sunlight reflecting off the iron bars. Cal smiled as Bob said, pointing to the wooden chair behind the desk, “Why not sit, sheriff?”