“I was in Tulsa. The sky was dark with dust. Everyone who was outside wore a handkerchief over their mouth and nose.”
“Did you love Bobby?” Trudy asked bluntly, and turned her large brown eyes toward her friend.
“No. But I was fond of him at … first. I felt sorry for him. He told me how awful it was growing up with a father who hated him. He told me stories about how cruelly he was treated when he was young. He was whipped every day until he got old enough to defend himself. He wanted so desperately to leave Cross Roads and get away from his father. I was tired of living in the same town with a mother who embarrassed me. Instead of staying and facing our problems, we ran.”
“When did you stop … being fond of him?”
“When I caught him in lie after lie. When he didn’t want to do anything but play cards and gamble at the pool halls while I worked nine hours a day six days a week, when he stole the money I was saving for the rent.”
“Ah … Mary Lee …”
“But I don’t regret a minute of it. I got the baby out of it. It’s my baby. Bobby wouldn’t have wanted it if he had lived. It would have taken my attention away from him.”
“Will you tell the baby about its father?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to decide that when the time comes.”
Eli came back and sat down on the steps beside Trudy and dug a paper out of his pocket and gave it to Mary Lee.
“Mr. Santez sent you a receipt and said you didn’t have to be in a hurry to pay him back.” Eli spoke to Trudy. “Are the sheets dry, short stuff?”
“You think you’re so smart because you’re taller than me. Didn’t you ever hear that good things come in small packages?”
“Seems like I heard that somers, but I thought it was just hot air.”
“You’re nothin’ but a brat.” Trudy yanked the old straw hat off his head and slammed it down on hers.
“Gimme my hat!”
“Just hold your horses. Here comes someone.”
They both watched the motorcycle with a sidecar attached come up the drive from the highway. The rider let the machine slowly roll to within a short distance of the porch, then cut off the engine. He sat for a moment fiddling with the controls, then swung his leg over and stood.
“Howdy.”
“Howdy,” Eli said.
“This the Cross Roads Motor Court?”
“It’s what the sign says.”
“Thank Jesus, Joseph and Mary. My rear is numb from sittin’ on that seat.”
The man pulled his goggles up over the top of his helmet, unbuckled the strap and yanked it off. The three on the porch gaped at him. His hair resembled a haystack. He was so homely, he was almost pitiful — pug nose, wide mouth and practically no chin. Dirt and whiskers covered his face. He stepped around the machine on short, bowed legs. His pant legs were tucked into scrubby cowboy boots.
“Deke Bales.” He said his name as if he expected them to know who he was.
“Yeah.” Eli stood. “You’re Jake’s friend. He said you’d be comin’.”
“Got here a day or two sooner than I expected. Traveled some at night when it was cooler.”
“Eli Stacy.” Eli held out his hand. “This little squirt here is Trudy Bender and on the porch, Mrs. Clawson.”
Deke shook Eli’s hand, then offered his hand to Trudy. “Howdy, little squirt.”
Trudy, for once, was speechless. She sat with her mouth clamped tightly shut while Deke stepped to the porch to greet Mary Lee. When Mary Lee looked into his large, friendly brown eyes with long, thick lashes, the rest of his face faded into the background.
“Jake said in his letter that a young lady ran the court. Guess you’re it, huh?”
“I guess so. Welcome, Mr. Bales.”
“Call me Deke, darlin’.”
He was like a friendly puppy. She liked him immediately. Mary Lee couldn’t help thinking that Deke was the opposite of Jake in size and personality. Jake was big, rugged and quiet. She suspected that this little man never met a stranger. She remembered Jake saying they had met while working on a ranch in Oklahoma and that Deke was a first-class mechanic.
“Jake went out to a ranch to work with some horses,” Eli explained. “He’ll be back by suppertime. Would you like a drink of water, Mr. Bales?”
“Deke, son. Just plain, old, mud-ugly Deke.”
“You can say that again,” Trudy murmured.
“Did you say somethin’, darlin’? Ya got to speak up. I been on that dang-blasted machine three days, and it’ll be a while before my ears stop ringin’.”
Trudy jumped to her feet and shoved Eli’s hat into his hands. “I’ll see if the sheets are dry.” She hurried around the house.
“Sure is pretty here in New Mexico. We’ve ’bout forgot what green is, back in Oklahoma.” Deke stretched and ran short stubby fingers through his damp hair.
“What part of Oklahoma are you from?” Eli asked.
“Around Sayre and Elk City. The dust was bad there, but not as bad as in the panhandle.”
“Come on ’round to the pump, wash off and get a drink of the best water ’round here.”
“Believe I will. I’ve got an acre of dust in my throat.”
Mary Lee heard Eli proudly explaining to the little man who followed him around the house that he worked here. She was pleased at the way Eli had met Jake’s friend, although she was afraid that the boy had hurt Trudy by calling her a little squirt. She got out of the chair, eased down the three steps of the porch and went around to where Trudy was taking the wash off the line.
“It doesn’t take long for them to dry on a day like this.” She reached for the clothespins. “Here, let me take them down and you hold the basket.”
“I’m tall enough to reach the line, Mary Lee.” There was a bite in Trudy’s tone of voice.
“Uh-oh. Eli hurt your feelings, didn’t he? I’m sorry, Trudy. Don’t forget that he’s only thirteen. He was trying to be funny and impress Jake’s friend.”
“He was funny, all right.” She poked the sheets down into the bushel basket. “The towels will be dry by the time I get the beds made.”
Mary Lee protested. “Eli and I can make the beds.”
“Me and the little squirt will make the beds.” Eli and Deke came up behind them. Eli bent and picked up the basket.
Trudy turned on the boy. “If you call me that again, Eli Stacy, I’ll … I’ll knock your block off!”
“Whoa! Why’re ya mad? I … was just teasin’.”
“I am sick and tired of that kind of … teasing! I’m short. I know that I’m short, and there’s nothing I can do about it except hit you in the mouth if you mention it again!”
“Yeah, why’re ya mad at the boy, darlin’?” Deke said. “I’m short, case ya haven’t noticed. Five foot two. All my life folks have called me ‘little shrimp,’ ‘half-pint,’ ‘little weasel’ ’n’ other things. ‘Squirt’ sounds pretty good next to ‘little horse apple’ or ‘little sh —’ ah … ‘hockey.’ ” He glanced quickly at Mary Lee, but her anxious eyes were on the girl.
“You … stay out of this, Mr. Whatever-your-name-is. And I’m not your darlin’.”
“Name’s Deke, sugarfoot.”
“Yeah, I know, just plain, old, mud-ugly Deke. Come on, junior,” Trudy said to Eli. “Let’s make the beds. I’ve got to be gettin’ home.”
Mary Lee was dumbfounded. She’d never seen her friend so angry, so sarcastic. Eli looked stricken.
“Let me give ya a hand,” Deke said. “I need to work the kinks outta my back. How many beds ya gotta make, darlin’?”
“Four!” Trudy shouted. “And I don’t need help from a motorcycle cowboy!”
“Ya think I don’t know how to make a bed? Darlin’, my mama was a spit-and-polish housekeeper. You could eat off the floor at our house if the table was full. I started makin’ my bed the day I crawled out of the cradle.”
“When was that? The day you turned thirty?”
“I’m not thirty quite yet, darlin’. I lack a year or two. Bet yo’re not much more’n sixteen.”
“And you’re full of bullshi —”
“Ach, ach, ach,” he chided. “Yore mouth’s too pretty to be spittin’ out nasty words.”
Trudy grabbed two sheets out of the basket and took off toward number five as fast as her legs would carry her.
“Wait up, sugar, and I’ll help ya.” Deke looked at Mary Lee and winked. “I don’t think she likes me, but I’ll change her mind.” He hurried to catch up with Trudy and followed her into the cabin.
“Gee, I’m sorry I made her mad at me.” Eli looked as if he had lost his last friend in the world. Mary Lee put her arm around him.
“She’ll get over it.”
“I’ve called her that lots of times ’n’ she didn’t get mad.”
“I think it was because you said it in front of Jake’s friend.”
“She’ll never like me again!”
“Of course she will. She was flustered. It was a shock to her to meet a grown man just inches taller than she is, one who didn’t look at her like she was … different.”
“I thought he was funny-lookin’ at first. But after talkin’ to him, I forgot about it, like I don’t think of Trudy as being short anymore.”
With Eli carrying the heavy basket, they went into one of the cabins. Mary Lee spread the sheet on the bed and tucked it in on one side. She and Eli worked together until the bed was made and the clean slips on the pillows. As they were finishing, Trudy came in and took more sheets from the basket. She looked at Mary Lee’s worried face, winked, and dashed out the door.
Mary Lee’s shoulders slumped in relief.
By the time the cabins were ready for occupancy, Trudy was in a better frame of mind. She put her arms around Eli and whispered in his ear.
“Why is she huggin’ that kid for?” Deke complained. “I was the one who helped her make the beds.”
“She’s got a soft heart. I knew that she wouldn’t stay mad for long.” Mary Lee’s ears, attuned to the rattle of Jake’s truck, heard it turn into the lane. “Here’s Jake. He’ll be surprised to see you.”
Jake drove past the motorcycle and stopped. The smile on his face was beautiful to see as he rounded the truck to meet his friend.
“You got here early. I wasn’t expecting you for a couple of days.”
“Howdy, big man.” Deke sprang forward to shake Jake’s hand, then took off his hat and slammed it into his arm. The two men clasped hands and shoved each other affectionately in their enjoyment.
Mary Lee was happy for Jake. Deke seemed to be genuinely fond of him. Eli and Trudy stood watching, both with grins on their faces.
Jake clamped a hand down on Deke’s shoulder and grinned at Mary Lee.
“Has he been givin’ you any trouble?”
“Not a bit.”
“Yes, he has,” Trudy said staunchly.
“What’s he done? I’ll clean his clock.”
“He’s mouthy.”
“I should have warned you about that.”
“Now that you’re here, Jake, I’ll go on home.”
“Wait until I unload the truck and I’ll give you a ride.”
“You don’t need to do that. I’ll walk.”
“How about me givin’ ya a ride, sugarfoot? I’ll throw this junk out of the sidecar.” He tossed a couple of bundles in Jake’s truck.
“All right, bigmouth. I’ve always wanted to ride in one of those thingamajigs.” Trudy climbed into the sidecar and perched on a roll of blankets. “Fire this thing up, short stuff, and let’s get goin’.”
Deke threw his hat on the porch and, with a wide, pleased grin on his face, climbed on the cycle and stomped on the starter. The machine roared to life.
“Bye, Mary Lee. See you in the morning,” Trudy yelled. She waved, then grabbed the sides of the car as the cycle sped down the lane and onto the highway.
“Well, now, don’t that beat all?” Eli took off his hat and scratched his head. “Little bit ago she was about to bite his head off.”
“There’s no understanding women, Eli.” Jake spoke to the boy, but his eyes were on Mary Lee’s smiling face. “Are you feelin’ all right?”
“Oh, yes.”
“Not sore?”
“A little. I can’t believe that Trudy would go off with him on that thing.”
“Don’t worry. Deke is one of the most honorable men I’ve ever known. He’ll see that she gets home or die trying. I’d stake my life on it.”
“I like him, Jake. I really do. He sure livens up the place.”
Chapter 16
JAKE NOTED HOW SLOWLY SHE MOVED as she bent to pick up her sewing basket from the floor of the porch. She lifted her eyelids, and the sadness in her eyes pulled him. He looked away from her and silently swore to make the man who tried to throw her down the steps sorry he even thought about laying a hand on her. Sooner or later, he would find out who the rat was.
“Is Deke going to stay?” Mary Lee asked, settling into the chair and pulling her skirt down over her skinned legs.
“For a while. We’ll set up his cot in my room, if it’s all right with you.”
“Why wouldn’t it be? You paid for your room.”
“Trudy didn’t like him at first.” Eli grinned. “Deke’s got a way with him. He sweet-talked her, and before I knew it, he was helpin’ her make beds. They were laughin’ and talkin’ and havin’ a high old time.”
“He’s got a soft spot for the ladies. I saw him tie into a man twice his size for being disrespectful to one. Don’t let his size fool you. He’s a tough little son of a gun. When he gets riled, he’ll tackle anything.”
“I hope Trudy isn’t smitten with him.” Mary Lee was terribly aware that Jake was so close that she could almost count his long, thick eyelashes.
“Why?” He stood leaning toward her, one foot on the porch, his forearm on his thigh. His narrowed eyes were locked with hers.
“Not many men … have paid attention to her. She might fall for him and be heartbroken when he leaves.”
“Maybe he’ll fall for her.”
“He won’t settle here. He’d take her away.”
Jake chuckled and said softly, “Little worryin’ mother.” “Why do you say that?”
“ ’Cause it’s what you are.” He quirked a dark brow, smiled, and dragged his eyes away from her. “Come give me a hand, Eli.”
He took a ten-pound pail of lard from the back of the truck and handed it to the boy, then shoved a paper sack into his arms. He hoisted a fifty-pound sack of flour to his shoulder and headed for the porch.
“You’d better come in and tell us where to put this.”
“What in the world?” Mary Lee stood. “Where did all this come from?”
Jake grinned at her. “You won’t believe this … but I found this alongside the road when I left Quitman’s to come to town.”
“You’re right. I don’t believe it.”
“Open the door.”
“Jake?”
Jake followed Eli into the kitchen. “Where do you want this?”
“I don’t have the money to pay for that, and I don’t have a tin big enough to put it in.”
“There’s a big tin with a good tight lid out in the wash-house.” Eli set the bucket and the sack on the table. “I’ll get it.”
Mary Lee waited until the boy went out the door before she spoke.
“Didn’t you hear me, Jake? I don’t have money to pay for this. I was going to buy just a small amount at a time.”
Jake eased the sack off his shoulder and onto the floor.
“I heard you, Mary Lee. I want to eat breakfast here and I want to pay more for my room. You’ve got this thing about paying me back for being around should you come up against something you can’t handle. You won’t take my money. I’ve got pride too. Don’t be giving me any trouble over this.” His hands gripped her shoulders and moved her back into a chair. “Sit down and stop worryi
ng. You look worn out.”
“All of this”— she waved her hand —“is too much.”
“It’s just flour, lard, baking powder and … a few things. I tried to remember what my mother used to make biscuits. She didn’t make them often. She usually made tortillas.”
“Why are you doin’ this, Jake? You don’t owe me anything.” Mary Lee’s eyes were swimming in tears.
Jake squatted down beside her. He took the red bandanna she had given him for his birthday from around his neck and gently wiped her tears.
“Ah … querida! Don’t cry.”
“I’ve never cried much … until lately, that is. It just makes me so … mad to blubber like a baby when something upsets me.”
“It could be Gaston’s fault,” he said seriously with a teasing glint in his eyes.
“Poor little Gaston gets blamed for everything.”
“Yeah, he’s a little rascal, all right.”
She smiled, and the tension in his face was replaced by an engaging grin. They gazed at each other, unmindful of where they were. His hand sought hers, and without a trace of reluctance she grasped it and laced her fingers with his.
“I don’t want you to be upset about this.”
“I don’t understand why you’re … why you did it.” “Don’t try to understand, madrecita. You’ve had some pretty hard knocks lately.” He gently wiped the tears from her cheeks.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“You’re very welcome. Better now?”
“I think so.”
Dolly’s sarcastic voice coming from the doorway shattered the moment.
“Now, ain’t this sweet? Ya proposin’ to her, jailbird?”
Jake stood. “No, ma’am.”
“Shit fire! I thought maybe ya’d marry her and get her outta here.”
Mary Lee got shakily to her feet. “Feeling better, Mama?” “ ‘Feelin’ better, Mama?’ ” Dolly mimicked. “What the hell do you care? And what’s a jailbird doin’ in my house?”
Mary Lee straightened her shoulders, but before she could answer, Eli came in carrying the large tin.
Song of the Road Page 17
