Danny Ray (Ray Trilogy) (4 page)

“He’s as happy as a Bantum rooster standing by his hen’s nest.”
Danny laughed, knowing that the little Bantum rooster always thought he was just as tough as the larger breeds of chickens and tried to out crow them all. “That’s pretty cocky!”

“Yep,” Aaron grinned.

That evening after Danny had taken Aaron home, he went out to the hay barn to check on the calves. He put oats and hay out when they had arrived and now most of them were resting. They had a strenuous day being hauled around in the unfamiliar truck all day. He checked on their water to make sure they had plenty in the watering trough that he had placed in the barn. They would be fine until morning, but he hated to leave them yet. He inhaled the familiar smell of cows that he remembered from his childhood. It felt comforting.

He sat down on a log outside of the barn gate. He wasn’t ready to be a
lone. Ever since Aaron brought up Lisa today and he hadn’t been able to get away from the pain deep in his chest. He closed his eyes. He could still smell her long, flowing, ebony hair that hung to her waist. Her emerald green eyes looked longing at him. He could feel the touch of her soft porcelain skin so smooth and pure. She was so tiny and delicate. His stomach knotted up. He still wanted to touch her soft cheek and kiss her tender pink lips.

The first time he saw her walking from the library at college, he thought he was seeing a vision. She was so beautiful. She wore a white blouse and white slacks
with black boots. Her black hair contrasted so lovely swinging across her back as she walked. He stopped with his mouth open.

She glanced back his way and smiled at his reaction, but continued to walk. Her arms were full of books. She must be on the way to her next class Danny surmised.

Will Appleby, Danny’s buddy, who walked beside him, slapped him on the back, “I see you just got smitten.”

Danny shut his mouth and looked
inquisitively toward Will.

“She is easily the most beautiful girl on campus and her father is probably also the richest.” Will informed him. “From what I hear through the grapevine, she came to this campus instead of Yale where her father wanted her to go because she wanted to experience a different culture.”

“Interesting,” Danny commented. He still wanted to get acquainted with her. Maybe he would.

Will and Danny were both at Oklahoma University to play football
but Danny studied agriculture because he eventually wanted to get back to his farm. Will studied agriculture as an elective toward a veterinary degree which he planned to get serious about as soon as he could get loose of the football contract. Consequently, often they took the same classes together.

They were getting close to their senior year and the Professional scouts occasionally showed up at their games. Danny kept his fingers crossed hoping one of them would take an interest in him. If he could go professional, he knew he would soon be able to
earn enough money to buy back his farm. It felt like a gnawing in his stomach every time he thought about it.

Danny started spending a lot of time at the library. His grades improved even though he didn’t see the lovely Lisa for another week and a half. His heart skipped a beat when he walked to his regular table and there she sat with her
books and papers spread out before her. He licked his lips to put moisture back on them and asked, “Do you mind if I sit here and study, too?”

She smiled and said
in a self-effacing way, “Go ahead. I only need half of the table.” She reached out her hand, “By the way, my name is Lisa Marvel.”

“Thank you,” he said smiling.
He shook her hand and said, “It’s good to meet you Lisa Marvel. My name is Danny Ray. This is my favorite table for some reason.”

“I understand that.” Lisa said, “A person uses the same location a lot and gets comfortable there. Sort of like home, don’t you think?”

“Sure,” Danny agreed. “Home is always good.” He said hoping it didn’t sound too dumb to her.

“So, where is home?” she asked.

“I live in a little town called Pryor, Oklahoma up in the corner of the state not far from Tulsa. It’s about two and a half hours away from here.”

“You are a football player aren’t you? I think I remember seeing your picture along with the other players. You are a running back from what I remember. I’ve watched you play
every game so far this year but never had the chance to meet you before,” she commented.

“I don’t get around much outside of school. I
work a little on the side at the YMCA to have a little extra spending money. I keep busy.”

Danny tried to focus on his school work but with Lisa sitting at the same table, none of the words made sense. Sometimes he couldn’t even see the words and the page looked white. He
ducked his head as he glanced her way again. She was looking at him. “You said your name was Marvel. That’s an interesting name. Where does your family live?” he asked.

“New York,” she said
affirmatively pushing her lips together in a smile. “That’s where I come from, the big apple.” She continued, “The next question, why would I come to Oklahoma? I thought I would get a culture shock,” she said answering her own question.

“And did you?”

“Not as much as I expected, the Indians here are not that different than the rest of us,” she shrugged.

“Maybe a little poorer,” Danny said thoughtfully. “Not all, it’s their choice what they want to do. And what about your name, Marvel
?”

“My father is
Bradford Marvel. You may have heard of Marvel Enterprises.”

Danny shook his head.

“Father is the executive president of Marvel Enterprises, a well-known advertising agency. Maybe it is not as recognized in Oklahoma as it is in New York. Our motto is Marvelous Advertising,” She stopped and smiled waiting for his response.

Danny didn’t disappoint her, “Marvelous Advertising! I like that.”

He looked down at his school work again. When he furtively peeked back at her again she sat staring straight ahead. Well, he thought, she’s not studying, and I can’t study. With his mind made up to take the plunge, he said, “I can be off work on Saturday night, would you like dinner?”

She hesitated for a moment, and then answered, “Yes, I would like that.”

Danny let out his breath and smiled unable to believe his good fortune. “Does eight sound good to you?”

“Perfect.” She gave him instructions where she lived.

Danny’s time was up so he got up to leave and so did she. They walked out of the library companionably and bid each other goodbye at the sidewalk. She went one way and he went the opposite.

He felt like skipping he was so energized. He put his books up and head
ed out to football practice.

On Saturday night, Danny put on his best suit. The only suit he had brought to school with him only due to his mother’s insistence. He could foresee no reason to need a suit at school.
Now he brushed it down hoping there was no lint on it he couldn’t see. The night before he had stayed up late after work and cleaned his car inside and out. It wasn’t a fancy car but it was all he had. It had to be good enough. He bought her a white wrist corsage because he had no idea what color she might wear. He didn’t even know whether he should buy a corsage or not but better be safe than sorry he thought.

He twisted the corsage around and around while he waited for her to answer the door bell. The wait was worthwhile. When she opened the door she smiled radiantly up at him like he was the most wonderful person in the world. Her lovely smile lit up the room. Her perfect teeth glowed white next to her ruby colored lips. Her porcelain skin
was touched with perfectly applied makeup and her emerald dress brought out the emerald in her eyes. She looked like a vision to Danny, a beautiful vision of perfection. How could he be so lucky to date her?

He awkwardly handed her the corsage and she placed it on her wrist. She thanked him profusely saying, “It is lovely, Danny.”

She prized his tall athletic stature as he stood looking admiringly down at her from eyes that seemed true blue with no flecks in them. His suit fit him well showing off his masculine physique and his brown dress shoes gleamed in the light from a fresh polish. His light brown hair waved slightly, her instincts were to run her hands through it to see it wave in the breeze. Another time she thought.

He held out his hand and she placed her small hand in his and he escorted her to his car. He had made reservations earlier in the day at a restaurant that Will recommended to him. Danny knew that he couldn’t afford this kind of a date often. His whole last week
’s paycheck was tied up in this one date. For once though, he wanted to impress her.

Danny had never been to a restaurant where they served wine. He felt like a real country bumpkin when he was asked to choose the wine. He looked so blank that she graciously made the order. He followed her lead all throughout the meal choosing the fork that she picked up. They both declined to order dessert but they slowly ate and drank a couple of extra cups of coffee at the end of the meal
neither one wanting to leave the ambiance of the restaurant. They talked about college, their families, the jobs they had worked, the cars they had owned, and anything else that popped into their minds. It felt like an idyllic time just sitting across the table from each other, and enjoying the privilege to look at each other uninhibited.

After they left the resta
urant they drove around until midnight before he took her home. After opening the door she turned and offered her face up for a kiss. He reverently kissed her tender lips. Then he pulled her into his arms and kissed her again. He went home with his heart singing.

As he sat on the log by the new calves he could still feel the throb of excitement that he felt that night. He got up and walked slowly back to his farm house. He looked up at the stars. They shone as brightly as they did that night after he took her home from their first date.

C
HAPTER FIVE

The next morning he felt sluggish and unfocused after thinking about Lisa last night. His legs felt heavy as he swung them off the bed
. He shook his head hoping to clear the cobwebs from his mind. He couldn’t live like this he decided. He poured himself a fresh cup of coffee that he set to brew in his new percolator the night before. He reached into the cabinet and pulled out a box of cereal. He turned on the radio because it was too quiet in the house.

After taking care of the calves and turning them out into the small fenced barnyard, he went into the house and put on his jogging shoes. It was time to return the call to his neighbor. Hopefully seeing Angela would pull him out of
his funky mood.

Just running made him feel better. The familiar thump, thump, thump of his feet hitting the gravel road brought back memories of earlier years when he kept in shape for football. His football career looked so promising then.

He rounded the bend of the road where the old Owen’s place was. He slowed down hoping to see Angela or her greenhouse she was building. Maybe she would be there.

Suddenly two German Shepherd dogs bounded around the side of the house barking their heads off. Danny froze
. He heard a man’s voice yell at the dogs to shut up. They stopped and wiggled their tails all the way up to their necks and grinned at him.

Danny let out his breath and relaxed. A man that appeared to be as tall as Danny walked around the house. Danny supposed the man must be Angela’s father.

“Howdy, there,” the man called. He had dark hair speckled with gray. His belly showed a middle aged paunch but he looked to be in good physical shape. He wore old faded jeans with a dark nondescript colored shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He had a kind face and waved as he walked toward the road.

Danny smiled and waved back still afraid to move because of the dogs.

“Those dogs won’t hurt you but they might scare you so that you might hurt yourself. How are doing today?”

“Hi, I’m the neigh
bor up the road. I’m Danny Ray. I bought the old home place back.”

“Sure, sure,” he tossed his head toward the house, “Angela told us about meeting you.” He held out
his hand to shake. “Gregory Dodd, Pleased to meet you.”

Danny relaxed and shook the man’s hand. “I’ve been planning on dropping by for a visit ever since Angela came by. I’ve been pretty busy repairing my fences. I bought twenty Hereford calves yesterday. You ought to come by and see them. It’s not much of a start on a herd but
at least I’m started.”

Gregory led Danny to the front door while the dogs sniffed his legs. One of the dogs stuck his nose in his hand so he gingerly rubbed him and patted his head before he stepped into the house. They did seem friendly but at this time he certainly wouldn’t push his luck with them.

“Have a seat. Angela’s here somewhere. Mom,” he called.

A gray haired woman about five foot six, Danny surmised, stepped into the living room from what Danny figured was the kitchen. Her short gray hair stood out like a halo around her head. She had on an old house dress that had seen too many washings and old worn out slippers on her feet. She had a dish towel in her hand, probably just finished washing breakfast dishes.