Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] (24 page)

“I'm working out at the garage while Andy Connors is in the hospital.”

“I've heard about you. How is Andy?”

“Doing all right. His eight-year-old daughter walked away from home this morning. I'm sure that she left on her own. I tracked her into the woods and then found where she came out and walked down the highway. I've looked all over town.”

“We'll keep an eye out. She may have gone to a friend or a relative.”

“Mornin'.” Wayne came into the office. He spoke to the sheriff and scowled at Yates.

“Mornin' to you, too, Deputy,” Yates said, in a deliberate attempt to emphasize the man's rudeness.

“What's he doin' here?” Wayne asked.

The sheriff frowned. “Andy Connors's little girl ran off.”

“Yeah? What's it to him? He ain't her daddy.”

“Wayne, what the hell's wrong with you?”

“Nothin's wrong with me.”

“Sorry to bother you, Sheriff, with such a minor thing as a child missing.” Yates screwed his hat down on his head. He stepped out of the office and headed for the door.

“Yates,” the sheriff called. “If you don't find her by night, come back in and we'll organize a search.”

“That's mighty decent of you, Sheriff.”

“It's the law. I'm short-handed—”

Yates whirled around and faced him. “I'm warning you, Sheriff. If I find out your fat-assed deputy and that crazy, Bible-thumpin' Virgil Dawson had anything to do with luring Ruth Ann away or keeping her from coming home, I'll have the FBI swarming over this town like a cloud of locusts. Kidnapping is a federal crime, in case you didn't know it.”

“Kidnapping? I thought you said she walked away from home this morning.”

“She did … as far as I know now. Good day, Sheriff. I'll organize my own searching party.”

The sheriff watched the tall man go through the courthouse door, then turned back to his office.

“What's between you and that man, Wayne?”

“Nothin that ain't lawful.”

“Well, hell. What did you do that was lawful to get him riled?”

“Virgil Dawson wanted to see his sister and his dead sister's children. This felIow 'bout ruined him. Threw him and Abe Patton off the place.”

“Did Virgil sign a complaint?”

“No.”

“Then that's the end of it. Don't be messing in a family argument or with that fellow unless you're sure he's broke the law.”

“He's either a fed or a bootlegger. I've not decided which.”

“What gave you that idea?”

“Does he look or act like a bum off the road who'd take a job in Andy's garage?”

“He doesn't look like a bum, that's sure.”

“He says he's Andy's cousin, but I don't believe it. You know as well as I do that Andy couldn't afford to pay him wages. Betcha he's gettin' his pay outta Leona's pants. Virgil says she's got a twitchy twat.”

“I don't like that kind of talk, Wayne.” The sheriff looked up as the doctor came into the office. “Mornin', Doc.”

“Mornin', Rex. We've got a diphtheria epidemic on our hands. I just came from Virgil Dawson's. One of his kids is down with it. I've quarantined the house. I let Virgil out, but if he goes back in, he stays.”

“What can I do, Doc?”

“I need to get these cultures to the city.” The doctor placed a package on the desk.

“Bus comes through here in about an hour. I'll phone and have a deputy meet the bus.”

“Another thing, Sheriff. The sick child has marks all across his little back from a vicious beating with a strop. I'm reporting this to you now, and I'm also going to report it to Mabel Bassett, a woman in Oklahoma City who is heading a drive to make cruelty to a woman or a child a felony.”

Sheriff McChesney looked blank for a minute, then said, “Do what you have to do, Doctor.”

“That bird better watch himself,” Wayne muttered as soon as the doctor left. “He ain't got no business stickin his nose in when a man takes a rod to his kid.”

“He has plenty of business sticking his nose in when a man lays it on a little boy, like he was a mule. I'd like to nail that brainless fool's hide to a barndoor myself.” Sheriff McChesney angrily slammed out of the office.

The deputy watched him leave and fervently wished for a cigarette, but didn't dare light one for fear one of the church members would come by. If one of them caught him smoking, it'd be all over the church by noon that he'd backslid.

Yates drove back down the highway, hoping against hope that Ruth Ann would be at the garage when he reached it. He knew that she was not when he saw Leona standing beside the gas pump. She was at the car before he could get out.

“You didn't find her. Where did you look?”

“All over town. I talked to a few people including the sheriff. He said if she wasn't back by this afternoon, he'd organize a search.”

“This afternoon?” Tears that she couldn't hold back flooded her eyes. “She could be a long way by then.”

“I know. We won't wait. Give me directions to the Fleming Ranch. I'll get Deke. He knows the country far better than I do.”

“I'll go. And I'll ask Mr. Fleming to help. Ruth Ann and his daughter, Marie, are friends.”

“Would Ruth Ann have gone out there?”

“It's about seven miles, but…she might have gone to ask Mr. Fleming to take her to the city to see Andy. She took her good dress and a pair of white stockings. She wore the dress she wore yesterday.”

“Did something happen to upset her …more than usual?”

“She didn't like Margie being here. She didn't want her to sleep in her mother's bed, so I slept there and Margie in my bed. Ruth Ann was rude to poor Margie. I had to scold her. She remembers her mother and how it used to be, and she doesn't want any other woman in the house besides me.”

“That would make it hard if Andy ever remarried.”

“He wouldn't do it if it would make the girls unhappy.”

“That's hardly fair to Andy.”

“I know, but his children come first. They are all he has left of Irene. I'll take his car and go see if Ruth Ann went to the Flemings'.” When Leona turned away, Yates's hand came down lightly on her shoulder.

“I know how worried you are. I'm worried, too, but we must hold onto the belief that she's all right.”

Leona allowed him to pull her to him. She wrapped her arms around his waist and leaned her forehead against his shoulder.

“I'm so glad you're here.” Yates barely heard the whispered confession.

“So am I, sweetheart. So am I.” He bent his head and pressed his lips to her temple. Yates was aware of the blast from a horn as a car passed on the highway. The driver had seen them standing beside the gas pump with their arms around each other.

“I'm afraid. What if we have to tell Andy we've lost her? It'll kill him.”

“It won't come to that. We'll find her.” He held her away from him so that he could look into her face. It was streaked with tears. He wanted to kiss them away but knew that this wasn't the time or the place. “Take JoBeth with you. I'll lock up the garage and the gas pump and tell Margie to stay in the house and watch in case someone picks Ruth Ann up and brings her back. Bring Andy's car around and let me check it for gas before I lock up the pump.”

“What are you going to do?”

“I have a few things in mind. I'll meet you back here at noon.”

“Do you think Virgil—?”

“No, honey. I don't think so, but I'm going to make sure.”

“Maybe I should do that?”

“No. Let me.”

Her hands grasped his arms just above his elbows, and she looked searchingly into the face tilted down toward hers.

“You're like a rock. I don't know what I'd do if you weren't here.” The last words were uttered like a cry of pain. She broke loose from him and ran toward the house.

Chapter 20

Y
ATES FOLLOWED LEONA IN ANDY'S CAR
until she turned off the highway on the hard-packed dirt road that led to the Fleming Ranch. No other woman had ever stayed in his thoughts the way Leona Dawson stuck there. It seemed to him that he was constantly trying to analyze his feelings for her or hers for him

One thing he knew without a doubt—he had never felt as possessive about anything as he did about her. He was worried and anxious about Ruth Ann being gone, but he hurt deep in his heart because Leona hurt. He had this terrible desire to shield her, take care of her. He liked to look at her, too, watch her move, hear her laugh. At times he couldn't keep his eyes off her.

Now what the hell did it mean? It means, you fool, that you want to take her to bed.

He hungered for a woman the same as any other man. If she allowed him to make love to her, would that be the end of his interest in her? Would he be able to leave without a backward glance when Andy returned? He didn't think so. He was afraid that he was already in too deeply for that.

On reaching town, Yates's first stop was at the post office. The man behind the counter wore a visor cap and was sorting mail.

“Howdy. Any mail for H. L. Yates?”

“Yup. How's Andy doing?”

“Pretty good.”

“Another letter from San Angelo. Got relatives there?”

“I've got relatives scattered all over Texas.” Yates put the letter in his pocket. “I'm looking for Virgil Dawson. Can you tell me where he lives?”

“Sure. Go to the end of the next street”—he raised a pointed finger—“turn right. It's the last house. Sits out there by itself. Years ago it was in the country, but the town is growing out to it. There'll be a red sign on it. The doctor put a quarantine on the house this morning. Virgil's kid got the diphtheria.”

“Yeah? Too bad.”

“Got six cases in the area. Doc might shut off church meetings and such. It's goin to put a damper on the Fourth of July celebration.”

“That's right. It's coming up in about a week.” Yates thought a minute, then asked, “Where's the doctor's office?”

“Upstairs over the bank.”

“Thanks.”

Yates sat in his car and quickly read the letter from his lawyer in San Angelo. He replayed in his mind the last part of it as he started the car and headed for the telephone office.
My advice to you is, come on down here to San Angelo and wait it out. It won't be long. When it happens, Mrs. Taylor will take everything that isn't nailed down.

It took almost ten minutes for the call to go through to San Angelo. Ten minutes later he went back to his car and drove to the red-brick bank on the corner. He nodded to the old fellows sitting on the bench in front of the bank, then took the iron steps two at a time up the side of the red-brick building. At the top he paused in front of the frosted glass door before opening it to read:
FOREST LANGLEY, M.D.

The office, cooled by a ceiling fan, was empty. He stood for a minute, then rapped on the desk. The door leading to another part of the office opened immediately.

“I'm sorry. I didn't hear you come in.” The nurse was a young woman with rosy cheeks and a plump figure. A starched cap with a black stripe was perched on her head.

“Is the doctor in?”

“He is, but he's getting ready to go out. Is there something I can do for you?”

“No, ma'am. I just had a quick question for the doctor.”

“He was checking his bag, he'll be out…oh, here he is—” She cut off her words when a man came from the back room. He wore wire-rimmed glasses, a white shirt and tie and carried a black bag. He was younger than Yates had expected.

“Doctor, I'll make it fast. I understand you have something near an epidemic on your hands.”

“Six cases in this small area
is
an epidemic.”

“Ruth Ann Connors is missing. She was troubled over something at home and left this morning. I understand that you put a quarantine sign on Virgil Dawson's house. Did you see the girl there?”

“There wasn't a girl there. I swabbed the throats of three boys. I believe Mrs. Dawson would have told me if there were any other children in the house.”

“Was Virgil Dawson quarantined?”

“No. He hadn't spent time with the sick boy and wasn't likely to carry the germ, so I let him go. What are you getting at, Mr.—?”

“Yates. I'm helping at the garage while Andy Connors is in the hospital getting hydrophobia shots. We stopped here the day he was bitten by a skunk. The nurse told us that you were far out in the country delivering a baby.”

“I couldn't have helped him if I'd been here. You did right to get him to the city.”

“Virgil Dawson has been out to the house twice since I've been there. He wants to take Andy's girls home and raise them because, according to his beliefs, they're not living in a decent home. I'm checking to see if he has anything to do with Ruth Ann being gone.”

The doctor snorted with disgust. “I know Andy Connors. He's a hell of a better father than Virgil Dawson. I'm on my way out there now. I'll look around, but I doubt she's there.”

“Thanks, Doctor.”

The men went down the steps together. The doctor went to his car, Yates to the grocery store.

“Mr. Yates.” The grocer came from behind the meat counter with a friendly greeting.

“Mornin, Mr. White,” Yates said politely.

“What can I do for you this fine summer morning? Rain cooled things off a bit. It's sure to help the grassland.”

“Ruth Ann Connors, Andy's girl, is missing. I'm offering a twenty-five-dollar reward to the one who brings her home safe and sound. I'm asking you to spread the word to anyone who comes to the store.”

“Twenty-five dollars? My, my, that'll get the attention of folks. What happened to the child? Did she run off? I've always feared that no good would come from those children—”

Yates's sharp words cracked like a whip and cut the grocer off in mid-sentence. “Don't say that Ruth Ann is not being raised in a decent home, Mr. White. I'm not in the mood to hear it.”

“I didn't mean—”

“I'm sure you did, but we'll let it go for now. Good day, White.”

Yates made the rounds of the stores ending at the barber shop. After hearing of Ruth Ann's being missing and the reward being offered for her return, a man getting a haircut spoke.

“First place I'd look would be along the river where the tramps camp out. If those lazy beggars get hold of a little girl, there ain't nothing too nasty for them to do to her.”