Whirlwind Love: Libby's Journey (7 page)

Joe mistook her movement as a need to visit the ladies room and politely stood. When Libby didn’t slide out, Joe excused himself and walked awkwardly toward the restroom. She slid to the edge of the booth and pulled twenty dollars from her pocket, dropping it beside her plate.

As Joe returned to the booth, Libby stood in the doorway and said, “I had no idea it was so late, I really need to be hittin’ the road.”

Joe looked shocked, “Why the rush? Isn’t it kinda late to be driving? I thought you were gonna show me my pictures.”

She made her way out the door. “I promised a friend I’d have morning coffee with her in Las Cruces. I don’t want her to worry.”

Joe pulled cash from his pocket and dropped it on the table, seeing Libby’s money, he gave her a hard look. By this time, the door was closing behind her. With four long, strides, he was catching the door before it closed.

He followed her in silence until they were near the door of the RV. “Hey! What about my pictures? Do you really have to leave in such a hurry?”

She smiled; her reserve could easily fail her looking into such a handsome face.
Something about his voice
...she thought.
Most women wouldn’t stand a chance.
She unlocked the RV door, leaned inside to a small shelf just inside the door and pulled out a business card. She took a deep breath, looked squarely at him and smiled. “Thanks for a very entertaining evening. Why don’t you just get hold of me, somehow, email, phone, whatever works. Just let me know where to send your pictures, and I’ll be happy to share them.” When he didn’t accept the card, she slipped it into his shirt pocket.

He looked surprised. “Something I said? Hey, don’t let Chuck get to you…I know he can be an ass.”

“Nothing like that,” she replied. “We’re just...different. No doubt you know how to show a girl a great time; but I’ve got someplace to be, and maybe it’s just best if I go on my way.”

“Best?” he mocked, stepping close.

She knew he was well-aware of his charms. She imagined he’d won his way countless times. “Joe, don’t make me do this.” She stepped sideways for the RV steps, but miscalculated and caught her ankle, knocking herself off her balance.

His ready arm grabbed her. As she over-corrected, she fell against his chest. His free hand reached for her face and turned it toward his. Before she could react, he kissed her...hard. Libby caught her breath as she tasted the memory of his whiskey: the emotion of the moment sent her scrambling. She pushed against him and fell back onto the RV step.

“Look,” she said angrily as she jumped to her feet, “You’re…I’m just not…I’m not one of your groupies! You can’t just
do
that--when you
feel
like it—
not
with me!” She grew angrier, both at herself and at him. The taste of his whiskey seemed to fuel her fire.

“You’re allowed to have fun, though, right?” his narrowed eyes twinkled in mockery.

“Fun? Ha! This…this’ll end badly…how could it not? And who’s to say I call this fun? For your information, I don’t get involved with random men…especially those who’re just passing through.”

“I’ve known cactus that wasn’t as thorny as you. Sounds like you could use a long night with a good man to get the prickly outta you,” Joe smirked. “And besides, who’s
just
passing through
?”

“Look, I’m not a ‘one-night stand’ kinda woman—especially with reckless men who have different women in every town—and I know you’ve got a LOT of towns on your agenda. I bet you can’t even remember the name of last night’s bed warmer, can you? You probably kicked her out so you could get your rest…who needs complications in the light of day.

“Hey, I saw how you talked with that person on the phone in the parking lot...all the
cursing
...the
anger
! Was that your last night’s conquest? How do I know that wouldn’t be
me
tomorrow? There’s a reason they call it cursing, you know? I mean,
who
do you respect?
Anybody
? Maybe you just fake it ‘til the mornin’ light! I’m just
not
that kinda girl, Mr. King!” Her voice grew louder with each question.

“If somebody tells you they love...uh,
like
you, it’s like an open door. Telling people to ‘f’-off and go to hell...those words are like bricks. They’re meant for pain. You toss ‘em at people to make a wall. You...you can’t go around speaking to people that way!”

Clearly shocked by her barrage of outbursts, Joe stepped back. Confusion, shock, then anger quickly flashed across his face. He opened his mouth to speak, but her words cut him off.

“And how can you drink like you do...don’t you know you’ll ruin that beautiful voice God gave you? Don’t you have any appreciation for your talent? And what if you
wrecked
, Joe? Don’t you even
care
that you could take out total strangers? Ruin
innocent
lives? Those shootouts are just fuel for a fire that you don’t stick around to put out, now do you?
You’re
not responsible for the wake, are you?”

Libby’s tirade surprised her as much as it did him, and she suddenly felt embarrassed. A tear rolled down her cheek, and she quickly brushed it away as she turned to the RV door.

Joe stared at her in disbelief. He seemed at a loss for words, her words seemed to cut him deeply.

Seconds later, her voice softened slightly, “And besides, I’m not somebody’s one-night-stand. I got involved with a guy…once. Caught him kissing another girl…can’t seem to find any need to…
whatever
.” Tears filled her eyes as the overwhelming emotions gripped her heart. Her nerves felt completely jangled—the memory of her body next to his, his strong arms around her, his lips on hers. Libby’s eyes lingered on the curve of his lip. She forced herself onto the step, stumbling.

“Wait a minute...wait,” Joe stepped forward.

A car barreled into the parking lot, throwing headlights across Joe’s eyes. A cloud of dust swelled, rocks flew in all directions, and the tension that had erupted just moments prior seemed to break. Libby took the opportunity to step quickly inside the door. She turned briefly, looking down, “Goodnight, Joe, take care of yourself,” she quickly called down to him. He took a step forward as she closed the door.

“Hey, c’mon,
Lily
. Wait...”

* * *

Libby’s mind spiraled as tears filled her eyes. She couldn’t start the RV fast enough. She refused to look out the window as she left the parking lot. She drove a mile down the highway and pulled off at a dark gas station. As she put the RV in park, the anguish surged within her soul, and the grief Libby held inside for so many years exploded into tears she could no longer deny. There was no longer a reason to be brave. Libby witnessed first-hand a scenario that didn’t go wrong, but had so much potential to—suddenly her worst nightmare had a face. Maybe it wasn’t the face that created her torture nine years earlier, but it could be a nightmare for someone...someday.

* * *

Joe watched the RV leave the parking lot, his face glowing red as his temper flared, but still he had a small hope she might turn around. Something about her left him yearning. When she didn’t come back, he turned toward the diner, confusion etched on his face. Forcing his hands into his pockets, Joe stopped after a few steps. There wasn’t any point to go back to the diner. He noticed Chuck working two girls and shook his head. Joe’s shoulders dropped as he turned toward the motel and began walking.

Running the conversation through his mind, he was trying to figure out what went wrong. On the highway, a vehicle approached the diner from the direction she just left. Joe looked back again, wondering if maybe she’d turned back.

In the darkness a car door slammed. A shadow of a man appeared in front of Joe, heading straight toward him. “You!” The drunk from the altercation outside the bar earlier suddenly charged Joe. More inebriated than before, the drunk’s hand recoiled aiming at Joe’s face. Before Joe knew it, the hard fist landed against his right jaw.

Joe stumbled backward and shook his head, his senses were two cars back. “Now, wait a minute!” Before he finished his thought, the drunk again threw his body forward. Joe leapt aside, and the drunk hit a car, then the ground.

“Just give it up, man!” Joe stood over the man, rubbing his pained jaw.

The drunk threw dirt at Joe’s face as he struggled to stand. His hand still on the ground, the drunk’s attempt to lunge at Joe was more of a stumble. He caught Joe off-guard and grabbed his shirt. With no sense of balance, he fell on Joe, knocking him to the ground. They scrambled as the drunk tried to throw punches in any direction. Joe blocked most before they landed and threw in a couple of his own as he tried to get on his feet and away.

From the diner, Chuck glanced out the window to see the brawl and flew out the door. The few diners and crew followed. Chuck grabbed the man’s arm and shoved him backward, putting himself between Joe and the man hell-bent on fighting. George shoved the drunk back to the ground as he struggled to stand.

Sue called out, “You stupid old drunk, what are you doing here? I told you to stay away!”

“I just had to come see ya, Susie-baby, I missed ya
so
bad!” the drunk’s determination melted into a whine as he was confronted by the waitress.

“First of all,
separation
means I don’t have to put up with your crap anymore, Buck! Second, you’re too drunk to be driving! Somebody call the cops.” Sue turned back toward the diner, “This dumbass needs to be locked up!” Sue called out over her shoulder.

“Now, baby! Don’t be that way! I
love
you!” he exclaimed, as he scrambled to his feet and stumbled after her.

“Get out now, Buck, or I’ll call the cops myself,” George warned, sticking with the drunk as they made their way toward the diner.

The group dispersed. The two girls got into their truck and peeled out of the parking lot, dust and rocks punctuating their departure.

Chuck and Joe walked toward their motel room, and Chuck opened the door. “What was that all about?” Chuck asked.

“What’s it matter?” Joe replied with a sigh.

Chuck filled a towel with ice and handed it to Joe. “What happened to your girl?”

“Gone,” Joe replied in a flat tone. He reached for the card in his pocket only to find his pocket missing. “Damn!” Joe replied. He headed out the door before Chuck could ask. A short time later, Joe came back in the room and slammed the door, forgetting the hour and the sleeping guests.

“What?” Chuck looked irritated.

“He lost her damn card!”

“Well, she was too...wholesome...if you ask me. Not exactly a party-and-pass girl. More like what you’d take home to meet Mama. Good riddance, I say. Wait ‘til tomorrow, you’ll be glad she didn’t hang around.”

Joe was too busy abusing his overnight bag to hear Chuck. His thoughts were on the tongue lashing he’d just gotten. That, and the pain in his jaw. “Who the hell is she to presume to know me?” Joe said, slamming his bag onto the floor.

* * *

Libby sat for a while at the gas station, even though it was obviously closed. She had fought the tears as long as she could and completely broke down once the RV was safely off the highway.

As the tears subsided some time later, Libby’s thoughts drifted back in time. As she composed herself, she again turned on the camera.

“Muggs...you can’t possibly know how much I wish you were here.”

Libby wiped tears from her cheeks.

“I just met this guy...there’s something about him, Megan...I can’t put my finger on it. I’ve never felt like that before. He really got to me...and I can’t figure out why!

“I know it’s been a long time...I haven’t even thought about getting involved with a guy since…high school. Not like this is the kinda guy any girl
should
get involved with. I wonder if he even knows how to be involved…for more than a night, anyway. Besides, he drinks too much.”

Libby laughed the tears away, then shook her head and sat back as memories flooded her mind. After a few moments, and a deep sigh, she continued.

“Scott and I were
the
couple in high school. Girls I didn’t even know used to tell me they wished for such a romance. Even though, looking back now, it wasn’t much of a romance. We were young…girls just don’t know what to expect when they’re young. I guess that’s when I decided boys were just too icky to mess with…ha!”

Libby laughed, wiping her cheek, “Maybe I’ll tell ya’ ‘bout it sometimes.”

“Don’t ever let a man take advantage of you, Muggs. Guys will say anything to get what they want. You make sure you know your mind. There’s nothing wrong with walking away if you’re not sure of a guy’s intention. Above all, show them they should respect you. Stick to your guns, my sweet girl! And if they don’t behave…tell them they’ll be dealing with my guns. The ones with the lead bullets,” Libby laughed as she blew into her index finger and “holstered” her hand.

* * *

Joe spent much of the night wrestling with the words she left him. In the beginning, he was angry. The more he thought about it, though, he considered her perspective. Hours passed before Joe found sleep.

Joe and Chuck slept ‘til mid-morning. Over a late breakfast at the diner, Joe broke the silence, “So maybe I
have
lost respect for people. Ya know, I was thinking last night...how much I hate having conversations anymore. I have to put on a face to be gracious. But, that’s not me...when did I become such an ass? There was a time when I loved to interact with fans. Those people helped me become who I am today! But, I guess that’s not saying much. All this hassle with management, damn-it Chuck, I just…it’s not good for me anymore. I don’t know, man, maybe it’s just time for a break.”

Chuck looked confused, then worried. He was used to seeing Joe angry, but this man wasn’t Joe. “Damn, Joe; she really got to you, didn’t she? What the hell did she say?”

Joe didn’t acknowledge Chuck’s concern or comment. Instead, he continued his thought, “Look at it this way...A.HOLE management is as good as done. I have to go do this movie in South Dakota, and that’s just a vacation for me. Maybe you should think about…I don’t know, doing something different. Maybe you need to explore some new avenues for yourself. Grow, experience something that doesn’t have anything to do with me.”