Dorothy Garlock (6 page)

“Ruby Mae had eyes for Jack. Roy liked you more. Thank goodness he got over it. He's over in St. Joe now. He met a nice
quiet
girl, and before long I'll be an uncle.”

“Give him my congratulations when you see him, which I hope will be soon.”

Thad's laugh rang out. “Don't get your hopes up, honey. I'm staying here.”

“Only until Joe gets here, then you're
out! ”

Without waiting for him to retort, Jill left the kitchen and went back into the lobby, where she stopped to speak to Mr. Evans.

“Have you had to turn many away tonight? ”

“Only one so far. He was with the sheriff and I took him to be a lawman. I sent him down to Mrs. Jenson's rooming house.”

“I wonder what he's doing in town.”

“They come through here every once in a while on their way to Tulsa.”

“How is Mrs. Evans? ”

“Fine. She wanted to come sit with me awhile, but I don't like for her to go back alone late at night.”

“There's a small couch in a room upstairs. I'll ask Aunt Justine if we can bring it down. We can move the counter out a little to make room for it and put it behind a folding screen. You and Mrs. Evans could take turns taking a little nap during the late hours. That is, if she wants to stay with you.”

“She'll want to, miss. She ain't fond of spendin 'the nights alone. I thought maybe you'd not need me now that the young man is here.”

“We need you, Mr. Evans. Thad won't be here long. You know how these fly-by-night roughnecks are: Here today and gone tomorrow.”

“He seems like a nice fellow; said he's from your hometown.”

Several responses came to Jill's mind, but she said, “I think I'll sit on the porch for a while.”

On her way to the door, she stopped to speak to one of their weekly roomers, who sat in the lobby reading a newspaper.

“How are things at the barbershop, Mr. Boise? ”

“Fair to middlin', miss. New crews comin 'in means more hair to cut. Mr. Langley is right pleased.”

“I met him tonight at the meeting.”

“He said he was goin'.”

“I'll let you get back to your paper.”

Jill stepped out onto the porch. The bench on one side of the door was occupied by a man and his wife, who were on their way to visit relatives in Bartlesville. After exchanging a few pleasantries with the couple, Jill went to the bench on the other end of the porch.

She enjoyed being here in Rainwater and liked the responsibility her aunt had given her. It troubled her that Aunt Justine had taken some of her authority away when she rented the room to Thad and hired him to help her. She didn't want his help. She could see the writing on the wall. Before long,
she
would be helping
him.

Thad had charmed her aunt.

Now that she thought about it, Thad had always been a charmer when it suited his purpose to be so. Jill giggled as she remembered his telling Birdie Stuart, a city woman whom none of them had liked, how the floor at a country barn dance was made slick by using fresh cow manure. Thad and Joe hadn't wanted Birdie to go to the dance, and Thad convinced her that it was the custom to dance barefoot in the fresh manure in a brand-new barn and that, if she went, that was what she would be expected to do.

The story had been the talk of the neighborhood for the rest of the summer. Thad had been only eighteen at the time. Now, seven years later, he could probably charm the bark off a tree if he set his mind to it.

What also lay heavy on Jill's heart was that she owed that boy of eighteen a debt of gratitude that she could never repay.

A young couple came out of the hotel and stood on the porch. The man put his arm around the woman with him and pulled her tightly to his side. She laughed up at him and he dropped a kiss on her forehead; then, arm in arm, they crossed the street to Martha's Restaurant. Jill wondered if they were on their honeymoon.

Once in a while a truck went by with several men in the back. They yelled good-naturedly to their friends on the walkway, who yelled back. She heard someone call out something about “wildcat, ”but she couldn't make out the words.

The screen door opened and Thad came out onto the porch. He stood for a moment in the path of light from the lobby. He was no longer the boy she had known back in Fertile. His legs were long, his shoulders broad, his hips slim. He was a man a woman could weave a romantic fantasy about… that is, if she hadn't known him all her life. Jill wondered why some woman hadn't caught him and put a ring on his finger.

She hoped that he wouldn't notice her and would walk down the street and blend in with the rest of the men loitering in front of the stores. She wasn't that lucky. He came to where she sat, slouched down on the bench, leaned back against the wall and stretched his long legs out in front of him, crossing them at the ankles. Folding his laced fingers over his midsection, he looked off toward the main part of town as if he didn't know that she was there.

Minutes passed without his speaking or acknowledging her presence. Jill became annoyed. If not for the fact that she would need to step over his legs, she'd go back into the hotel; but, on second thought, she'd be damned if she'd let him run her off
her
porch.

The silence between them deepened. As far as she knew, he hadn't even looked at her. With considerable effort, she managed to keep her mouth shut and stay quiet; she waited for him to speak. Finally, when he did, it was as if they had been holding a lengthy conversation.

“It isn't as rowdy as some of the places I've been.”

“What isn't? ”Jill's question was a reflex she regretted.

“The town. What did you think I meant? ”

“How was I to know what you meant? But I imagine that if there was a place where lowlife gathered, you'd find it.”

“That must go for Joe, too. We've been together since we came out here.”

“Joe's got more sense than to hobnob with rowdies and troublemakers.”

“And I haven't. I get the point.”

“I never said that.”

“You don't know anything about me. Stop jumping to conclusions.” His tone reflected his irritation.

“What other conclusion can I jump to? You don't appear to have much to show for the past few years.”

“Want to see my muscles? ”He was back in the teasing mode.

Jill didn't retort; she had just caught sight of a tall man in a light-colored Stetson coming up the walk. Hunter Westfall turned in and mounted the steps to the hotel porch. He opened the door to go into the lobby, then saw Jill at the end of the porch. She stood up as he closed the door and came toward her.

“Miss Jones? ”

“Hello, Mr. Westfall.” Thad refused to draw in his legs. Wanting to kick him, she stepped over them.

“I stopped by to make sure that you'd returned safely to the hotel and to apologize for the behavior of my men.”

“It wasn't your fault. I was in the wrong place at the wrong time. I wasn't afraid, only angry.”

“You'll not be bothered again. At least not by the men who work for me.”

“That's mighty good of you.” Thad's hand came down on Jill's shoulder in a proprietary manner. She felt his chest against her back. “We appreciate you looking after our little Jilly Justine.” Thad extended his hand. “Thad Taylor, ”he said, as Jill's elbow jabbed his midsection.

“Hunter Westfall.” Hunter took Thad's hand while looking at Jill's unsmiling face. “Are you related to Miss Jones, Mr. Taylor? ”

“Almost. I've known her since she was in diapers. Close to her as a brother. Huh, Jill? ”

Jill ignored him. “The men had had a little too much to drink and didn't mean any harm, Mr. Westfall. I hope you weren't too harsh with them.”

“If they didn't mean any harm, honey, why did you poke one of them in the nose? ”Thad tightened his hand on her shoulder.

“Would you walk around the block with me, Miss Jones? I have a few things to discuss with you about the oiling of the streets.”

“I'd love to, Mr. Westfall. Excuse us, Thad.” Jill took the arm Hunter offered. “Oh, Thad, check the plumbing in the water closet on the second floor. It's been known to clog when the hotel is full.”

“Sure thing, honey. Don't worry about it. I've already put rolls of that soft paper you have in the storage room in both the toilets. The woman in 206 asked for a chamber pot. Shall I take up a granite or a china or tell her to go down the hall? ”

“I'll let you decide.”

With her face flaming and her throat so clogged with anger that she couldn't speak, Jill let Hunter lead her down the steps and onto the walk. They turned away from the busy part of town and walked past the bank, the doctor's office and the small building that housed the telephone company.

Hunter held her hand in the crook of his arm pressed close to his side and matched his stride to hers.

“I've been wanting to meet you ever since you came to town. Tonight was the first excuse I've had. I was there at the station the day you got off the train.”

“It was a long ride and I had to change buses twice to get to Kansas City so I could take the train.”

“You don't go out much.”

“I've been busy with Aunt Justine and learning about the hotel.”

“It's a big job for a small girl.”

“I can do it.”

“This is a tough town. I've told the sheriff to keep an eye on the hotel.”

“Isn't he supposed to keep an eye on all the businesses in town? ”

“Of course, but you didn't have anyone but Mr. Evans in case of trouble.”

“Thad will be here until my brother comes.”

“Is Taylor looking for work? I could use a driller or a welder.”

“I don't know what he does.” Not wanting to talk about Thad, Jill asked, “When will the street be oiled? ”

“In a couple of weeks. If we wait until it's hot, the oil will soak into the ground faster.”

“I think it's hot now.”

“Not like it will be later on. It's usually hotter than a pistol here the latter part of June.”

They walked in silence for a while, then Hunter said, “I tried to buy the hotel from your aunt.”

“She told me.”

“Knowing that she was ill, I thought to take it off her hands.”

“The hotel is her home. She wants to stay there until the … end.”

“I can understand that. Will you stay on…afterwards? ”

“I've not decided. I may go back home and teach, or I may go to a teachers college so that I can teach the higher grades.”

“How about getting married? That's the goal of most young ladies.”

“Have you ever been married, Mr. Westfall? ”

“Call me Hunter. No, I've never taken the plunge. Why do you ask? ”

“Curious. Some people marry and divorce nowadays at the drop of a hat.”

“You must be talking about movie stars. Most of the people I know take marriage seriously.”

“You hear about the movie stars. I don't know many people who are divorced.”

They turned a corner and ran out of sidewalk. Stepping down into the street, Hunter paused.

“It will be rough walking from here on. Let's cross the street and go back on the other side.”

A few minutes later, Jill asked, “Are you serious about building a dance hall and an amusement park? ”

“More than serious. I've plans under way.”

“It will be quite an addition to the town.”

“I got the idea from a fellow I met back East; the famous flagpole sitter Shipwreck Kelly.”

“That's a funny name, even for a flagpole sitter.”

“Kelly was a former boxer who fought under the name of Sailor Kelly. It was said that he was knocked out so many times that the crowd started yelling that Kelly was shipwrecked again. The name stuck like glue. He draws a crowd wherever he goes.”

“Will he come here? ”

“I don't know. I can't get the park up and running for several months and by then it will be winter. Shipwreck doesn't like to perform during cold, windy weather.” Hunter stopped on the corner across from the hotel. “Would you like to walk down to the ice-cream parlor for a dish of their very good chocolate ice cream? ”

“Thank you, but I should get back and see about Aunt Justine.”

“I understand. This was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Will you go to the movie house with me on Wednesday night? A Greta Garbo movie will be showing.”

“The Flesh and the Devil,
with John Gilbert. I saw the movie before I came out here. But thank you.”

Jill's eyes scanned the hotel porch for Thad as they approached it and she sighed with relief when he was not there. Hunter walked her up the steps to the door.

“Thank you for a very pleasant half hour.” Hunter took her hand and held it firmly.

“I enjoyed it, too. Good night.”

“Good night.” He gave her hand a quick squeeze, then waited until she was inside the hotel before he went back down the steps to the street.

Jill looked at the big clock that stood in the lobby and was surprised to see it was ten o'clock. Two men were playing checkers at the table in the corner. Another man was watching the game. Mr. Evans sat on the high stool behind the counter, watching her. Jill was relieved not to see Thad.

Her relief was short-lived. He came barreling through the door with a thundercloud look on his face, took her arm and propelled her down the hall toward the kitchen.

“Let go of my arm, you bully! What the heck is the matter with you? ”

He waited until the swinging door closed before he turned her around. His hands gripped her shoulders; his green eyes glared down at her.

“Why in hell did you go off in the dark with that slicked-up dude? Did you do it to spite me? If so, it's a dangerous game you're playing, little Miss Know-it-all.”

“What in the world are you talking about? Hunter is a well-respected member of this community, which is more than you are.”

“So it's
Hunter
now. It was
Mr. Westfall
before you went walking out with him. You don't know him! ”

“I know him as well as I know you. I've not seen you for years. You could be a completely different person from what you were back in Fertile.”

“If I was, would Joe have sent me up here to look after you? ”

“How do I know he sent you? I've not heard a word from him.”