Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] (37 page)

He envied him, wanted what he had and felt shame because of it.

Barker Fleming turned down the invitation to stay for supper and, after sincere thanks from Andy and Leona, was soon on his way back to the ranch. Andy went up the path to the house with his family. Yates stayed behind to give them some private time.

“Are you coming?” Leona called.

“As soon as I close the garage.”

“Well, hurry it up. I'm putting supper on the table.”

The girls were too excited to eat and Leona was almost too nervous, but Yates and Andy ate heartily. Ruth Ann and JoBeth vied for their father's attention, and Andy listened to what each one of them had to say. They told about Margie being here and about the man who stole her money and about Deke fighting him. JoBeth showed her father her new red-and-black shoes, and Ruth Ann told about her watercolors and how she'd learned to cut out a string of paper dolls. Strangely enough, both stayed away from the story about Ruth Ann running away.

Leona gave them free rein, until JoBeth started to tell about meeting Virgil in town.

“He was goin' to talk to me, and Mr. Yates said, get the—” Leona's hand went over the child's mouth. She shook her head for her to say no more. JoBeth ignored the warning and as soon as Leona removed her hand, continued: “stick a telephone pole—”

“JoBeth!” Leona's hand shot out to cover her mouth again. Yates looked up from his plate trying hard not to laugh. Andy's questioning eyes went from one to the other. “It's your fault,” Leona mouthed to Yates over the child's head.

“She wants to say the dirty word Mr. Yates said,” Ruth Ann announced in her superior tone. “She blabs everything she hears, 'specially nasty words.”

It wasn't until Andy and Yates moved to the porch and Leona was cleaning up after the meal that Yates had the chance to tell Andy about Virgil's visits and the scare Ruth Ann had given them.

“She'll not come right out and say she was at Virgil's, but we're sure that's where she was. I think he picked her up, or someone picked her up and took her to him. She's afraid for the boy who brought her home. He walked her home through the woods. It's got to be two or three miles. They got here around midnight.”

“Was she hurt…did he—?” Andy asked quietly, leaving the question hanging.

“I'm sure nothing like that occurred, or she would have told Leona. She was worn out and hungry. I'd like to kill the bastard, but our hands are tied if Ruth Ann refuses to accuse him. He's crazy!”

“Mr. Fleming didn't mention that he'd helped search for her. Guess he knew I'd find out as soon as we got here and didn't want me to worry.”

Yates told about Virgil trying to take the girls. “I almost twisted his nuts off the first time. I thought that would be enough, but he came back and Deke went after him.”

“Good Lord. I've always thought that he was crazy as a bed bug. He's given up on Leona, and now he's after the girls.”

“Maybe he thinks he'd not be able to handle Leona.”

“I'm going to have to leave here, Yates. I'll be afraid to send the girls to school. I don't know how I'll make a living for them, but they can't live like this.”

“Sheriff McChesney is a good man. He'll do what he can.”

“Virgil is in tight with the deputy. There are a lot of good people in Sayre but a lot of fanatics like Virgil. I'm sure as hell glad you were here. I'll not be able to thank you enough for taking care of my family.”

“You gave me my life, Andy. I'll never forget it. But don't sell Leona short. She was ready to jump right in the middle of Virgil. She's got quite a mouth on her when she's riled.”

Andy noticed the pride in Yates's voice. It gave him food for thought. He put it aside for now and said, “Deke would tackle a wild elephant if it was threatening Leona. He's been in love with her since they were little kids.”

“Yeah. I discovered that right away. It's a sad kind of love he has for her. He knows that she'll never be his. Leona is protective of his feelings. She cares deeply for him as she cares for Ruth Ann and JoBeth.”

“I suppose you know what folks in town think about Leona.” Andy smoked his pipe and rocked the swing gently.

“I know, and it makes me madder than a pissed-on polecat.”

“I should have insisted that she marry me. Although it would have been like marrying my sister.”

“She told me.”

The girls came out and kissed Andy goodnight. Yates stood and stretched.

“Now that you're here, I think I'll go into town for a while.”

“Go ahead. I'm going to sit for a bit. Don't feel obligated to stay on if you want to hit the road, Yates. With Leona's help, I'll be able to manage most things. Deke will come in on weekends.”

“I'm not ready to leave yet, if you don't mind me being here. I told Doc Langley I'd stay for a while to do the hard work. He'll have my scalp if you have a setback.”

“By the way, what was JoBeth trying to say about Virgil when Leona hushed her up?”

Yates told about meeting Virgil in town. “I forgot myself in front of JoBeth for a minute or two. When she repeated it to Leona, I thought Leona would throw me out of the house.”

Andy laughed. “Kids at that age soak up everything they hear. She's a pistol.”

“I've never been around kids before. Kind of makes me want to have some of my own.”

Leona came out onto the porch as Yates was driving away. Her heart plummeted. “He's leaving?”

“Going to town for a while. He'll stay on a bit longer. He told me about Virgil coming out here and about Ruth Ann running off. Lord, but I'm glad he came along when he did.”

“He was a big help,” she said quietly and sat down in the swing beside Andy.

“I'm thinking of leaving here, Leona. What do you think? As long as you and the girls are here, Virgil is going to cause trouble.”

“Where would you go?”

“Wherever
we
go, I would hope that you'd go with us.”

“You and the girls are all the family I have, Andy. Without you, I would be alone.” Much to her shame, she suddenly burst into tears.

“Ah, honey. What's the matter?” Andy put his arm around her.

“I'm sorry. I guess it's just the strain of having you gone and having him here. Ruth Ann running away and … all.”

Andy was quiet for a long while, then said, “You've fallen in love with Yates, haven't you?”

“Oh, Lord. How did you know?”

“I guessed at supper when you didn't look at him or speak to him unless it was necessary. Does he feel the same about you?”

“Heavens no! He's eager to move on. He'll never settle down. To him, I'm just a country bumpkin he ran across out here on the highway.”

“Are you sure?”

“Absolutely sure. You'll not tell him. Please don't tell him.”

“Of course, I won't tell him. But Lee, he's a good man. After seeing all the men who have come through here, I know a good one when I see one. Has he led you to believe that he's interested in you?”

“No. It's nothing like that. He's been really good to us …after I got used to him. But he's not for me,” she said and wiped away the tears with the heels of her hands.

“Did he …ah …get fresh with you?”

Leona couldn't help but laugh a little. “No. He's done nothing to offend me. I was amusement for him.” She patted Andy's hand. “Don't worry. I'll get over it. After he's gone, I'll realize how foolish I was to think a few kisses would mean something to him.”

Chapter 30

Y
ATES DROVE DOWN THE HIGHWAY TOWARD TOWN.
It wasn t like him to feel lonely, but that was exactly how he felt. In a week he would no longer have a reason to stay on at the garage, and the thought of leaving did not give him a happy feeling.

The past few weeks had been a revelation to him. He'd had time to stop and think of what was missing in his life. It had been eleven years since he'd had a home or even been in one for more than a few days at a time.

He had discovered that he liked sitting at the dinner table with a family sharing the happenings of the day. He liked being the one they depended on for protection. He liked having a little child sit on his lap and kiss his cheek. It was better than winning the pot in a high stakes poker game to hear JoBeth laugh with utter joy as she did when he bought the shoes. He liked sitting in the porch swing in the evening with his arm around a soft, sweet woman, listening to the night sounds and sharing his thoughts with her.

He wanted to belong to someone, to be important to someone.

The big house on the ranch had been his home for the first seventeen years of his life. He'd left it soon after his mother died. He would be going back there soon. The attorney who had been looking after his interest told him that Arnold Taylor was expected to die at any time and, according to his mother's will, the ranch would be his. He tried to visualize the changes after eleven years. The lawyer said that financially the ranch was in fairly good shape, and that some of the same people who had worked for his mother were still there.

Yates had thought that he would be elated when the day came that he could head back to the Yates ranch. He had been to San Angelo several times during the past few years, but had refused to go to the ranch as long as Arnold Taylor and his wife were there.

On the edge of town his eyes caught the colored lightbulbs around the eaves of the PowWow, a night stop that had a small dance floor and sold Oklahoma beer that was only three-point-two percent alcohol. He pulled in beside a motorcycle. It looked like Deke's but could belong to the shithead who stole Margie's money. If it was, he was in the mood for a good knock-down, drag-out, ass-kicking brawl.

“Hey, Yates.” Deke yelled at him from a stool at the bar, as soon as he ducked his head and came in the door.

There were no more than a dozen people in the place, some on stools, some at tables that surrounded the postage stamp dance floor. Behind the counter the barkeep was winding a Victrola. He selected a record from the stack on the back-bar. Two couples began to dance to “I'm Confessing That I Love You.”

“Howdy, Deke.” Yates straddled the stool beside the little man.

“What'll ya have?” The bartender swabbed the bar in front of him.

“Got any Mexican beer?”

“Nope.”

“O-ah-o-ah-swacka,”
Deke said, causing Yates to give him a quizzical look.

The bartender grinned at Deke and nodded. He went to the end of the bar and returned with a tall glass of foaming beer.

“Thanks.” Yates placed a silver dollar on the bar. “Give Deke one or two, or whatever that'll pay for.”

The barkeep slipped the money in his pocket and went to change the record.

“What was that gibberish all about?”

Deke grinned. “That means
dig out the good stuff; the man's a friend.”

“Thanks, friend.”

“Andy get home?”

“Got there about supper time.”

“Bet Leona and the girls were glad to see him.”

“Yeah. And he was glad to see them.”

“You leavin now?”

“Not right this minute. Are you trying to get rid of me?”

“Hell, I was going to ask ya to come out to the ranch for a few days. Mr. Fleming's got one of the finest in the country. Ya at least ought to see it.”

“How many acres?”

“I don't know. Must be six to ten thousand. He's got some mighty fine horses.”

Yates thought it over. His own ranch was probably twice as big. It covered two counties, but then it took a couple acres of grass to feed one steer in that part of the country.

Two men came to straddle the stools at the bar. The one who wore wide suspenders and a broad-brimmed hat spoke to Deke.

“How'er ya doin, Deke?”

“Pretty good, Cowboy. You?”

“Guess I'll live. Hey, Booger, give me a glass of that slop ya call beer.”

“Is Virgil's house still quarantined?” Yates asked.

“Was when I come by there tonight. Why? Are you goin' to pay 'em a visit?”

“Just wondering. I'll see you later, Deke.”

Yates left the bar and, deep in thought, drove down Sayre's main street, turned around and came back. He took a left at the courthouse square, drove several blocks to the church on the corner. They were having a service, the windows were open, the congregation was singing. Virgil Dawson's old truck with the buzz saw on the back was parked at the side.

Yates made a U-turn at the corner and headed out of town. He drove slowly along the rutted road, and when he reached the Dawson house, he turned in. His lights shone on the red warning sign beside the door. Lamplight came from a side window in the back of the house. As soon as he turned off his lights, the light in the window went out.

Yates got out of the car and walked up onto the porch. Before he could rap, a voice called out.

“What'a ya want? We got diphtheria here.”

“Yes, ma'am. I know that. I'm not afraid of the fever. I'd like to speak to Isaac.”

“Who'er you?”

“Name's Yates. I've been helping out at the garage while Andy is in the city getting the rabies shots.”

“What'a ya want with Isaac?”

“Andy Connors's little girl sent a message.”

“Spit it out.” The woman came to the screendoor.

“I'd like to see Isaac, ma'am. We know that Isaac brought Ruth Ann home. She told only me and her Aunt Leona. We are grateful to Isaac and don't want him to come to harm because of it.”

“She …promised—” Isaac crowded in front of his mother.

“She didn't tell until we told her that she would have to be vaccinated for diphtheria if she had been exposed.”

“She didn't come in the house.”

“She hasn't accused her uncle of keeping her here for fear that she'll get you in trouble, Isaac. When Ruth Ann was missing, I offered a twenty-five-dollar reward to the person who brought her home. The reward is yours.”

“You come to give me somethin?”

“Twenty-five dollars.”

Isaac pushed open the screendoor and came out onto the porch. “Will Pa know?”

“Not unless you tell him.”

“I took her home 'cause she was little and scared. Ma told me to.”

“It took courage to do that.” Yates reached into his shirt pocket and handed the boy the bills he'd put there earlier. “Thank you, Isaac.”