No problem. She climbed out and caught up with him. I wish half the new cars on our lot drove as smooth as this old Mustang.
Yeah. The sheriff sold it to me a few years ago when he bought his wife a new car. The engine was fine. All I had to do was work on the body.
She took his arm to steady her steps as they rounded the back porch of Rosa Lees old house. Piles of tumble-weeds, broken branches and trash mounded at the corner of the porch. The blackness was almost complete at the side of the house except for faraway flashes of lightning above them.
Lora wasnt afraid, but tightened her grip, fearing she might trip over something in the dark.
Dont worry, Billy whispered. Theres not that much to fall over back here except your panty hose.
She laughed and relaxed a little. I was just holding on to you in case youre afraid of the ghost that hangs around this place.
Ive never been afraid of ghosts. Never seen one wield a belt, or crash a car, or slug anyone. If you ask me its the living who walk this earth we need to worry about, not the dead.
Youre probably right.
When they passed the side of the house where vines draped most of the windows, he slowed. Did you see that?
What?
I thought I saw a light flicker inside the house.
Youd better not be trying to frighten me. She glanced over his shoulder at the window. A light blinked only a fraction of a second and was gone.
He stopped. His arm locked her hand against him, tugging her closer. You see that?
Yes. She reached in her purse for her cell. Im calling the sheriff.
He pushed her into the vines as they watched the pinpoint of light moving slowly across the room.
It blinked again near the front door. Lora couldnt breathe. The good news was that whoever haunted the house seemed to be leaving. The bad news was it was coming outside with them. Visions flashed in her imagination of a battle in blackness against a monster they couldnt see. She would swing wildly, fighting for her life. So would Billy. In the morning, the sheriff would find them both dead. By accident, theyd murdered one another. Theyd probably have to wait until a crime-scene photographer came in from Wichita Falls. By then, everyone in town would see her bloody body lying in the mud with vines twisted in her hair and her skirt up. Her mother would be horrified.
Lets follow them. Billy pulled her forward.
Lora wanted to scream, Are you kidding? But yelling would only attract the trespassers. All she managed was a quick nod. She had no wish to trail anyone, but he wasnt leaving her here alone in the vines with creatures already nibbling at her bare ankles.
Billys undamaged hand slid down to hers as they moved around the corner of the house.
She heard footsteps hurrying across the boards of the front porch. Then a squeal and laughter.
A car drove down Main toward them. Headlights swung across the yard as it swerved to a stop facing the house.
Footsteps scrambled off the far side of the porch and vanished into the night.
A car door opened, then slammed. Whos out there? a man yelled. This is Deputy Adams. Youd better step into the light right now.
Billy tugged her hand backward, but she stood her ground. Shed never been afraid of the deputy. Its me! she yelled. Lora Whitman.
The shadow continued forward, shining a light in Loras face. What are you doing out here?
Billy reluctantly moved into the light.
The deputys stance widened. Who are you?
Hatcher, he said.
Lora didnt miss the lack of respect in Billys voice.
What the hell are you doing here, Hatcher? Doesnt your probation officer give you a curfew?
Billy didnt answer.
Hes with me, Deputy, Lora jumped in. Weve been over to Wichita Falls visiting Professor Dickerson, who was hurt this morning. I rode with him, and he brought me back here. My mother took my car home after she dropped me off at the meeting this morning. Lora knew she was rambling, but she didnt like being questioned. After all, they werent doing anything wrong, she was the one who called him in the first place. They had more of a right to be here than anyone. They were on the committee.
Well, I guess its all right. The deputy lowered the flashlight beam. Theres a storm coming in, though. Radio says there might be hail. You both should be getting home.
He turned the light on Billys face. You got anything to say?
Billy didnt move, but she could feel his body stiffen, his grip painful over her fingers.
One of these days we need to have a talk about your attitude, boy. Adams took one step closer, blinding them with his light. The sheriff wont always be around, Hatcher. I can smell trouble every time I get within ten feet of you.
He just offered to walk me home. Lora didnt understand Billy. He made no attempt to be friendly or even civil. No wonder Adams treated him like a criminal. If hed tell Adams what they were doing, the deputy would surely back down. We must be going, Deputy Adams, but you should know that we did see someone inside the Altman house.
Adams turned the light to Billy. You want to come down to the office and make a report?
Billy didnt answer.
No, she said for both of them. It was too dark to see anything. Now if youll excuse us, I must be getting home. She should have listened to Billy and never called the deputy.
I can give you a ride, Miss Whitman, the deputy said formally, as if he just remembered who Loras father was.
Thanks. Lora smiled. But since Mr. Hatcher and I are on the same committee, weve got a few things to discuss. The walk will do us good.
The deputy looked as if he might argue. Adams always thought he knew the right thing to do and didnt mind sharing his knowledge.
Good night, Officer. Lora pulled Billy along. Thank you for your concern.
They were half a block away before Billy spoke. Ive never seen old Adams back down like that.
He didnt have a choice, she answered. Im an adult. I can walk down a public street with whomever I want. I cant believe he talked to us like we were kids playing on private property.
Billy laughed. Hes probably having your commitment papers drawn up right now.
Why?
Because youre crazy enough to want to walk down the street with me.
Lora pictured her mother signing the documents. She wished she could be there when someone told Isadore that Lora had left town with a criminal. Her mother would probably shoot the messenger. She looked at Billy and answered honestly. But were friends.
Damn straight, he said. Friends.
Nine
Reverend Micah Parker circled Randis bar parking lot twice, unsure what to do. It was almost midnight and this was no place he thought hed ever be.
He couldnt miss the Rogers sisters van parked sideways in three parking slots. He had no doubt the call from Randi Howard had been real. The woman whod phoned him must not have been aware of his occupation, since shed called him mister and not reverend. Would she have asked him to come after the sisters if shed known?
He thought of what Reverend Milburn would say if his assistant minister was spotted in the towns wildest bar.
He thought of what Reverend Milburn would say if his assistant minister was spotted in the towns wildest bar.
Micah smiled, realizing he didnt much care. If the Rogers sisters needed help, hed promised to be there. End of story. He parked next to a huge Dodge pickup covered in mud and got out, pulling his suit coat off. It wouldnt do to go into a country bar looking like a salesman or, he laughed, like a preacher.
When Micah walked inside, familiar sounds and smells greeted him. Smoke, whiskey, sawdust. The whine of two-stepping music that had been born in this environment and the clink of glasses. Raw laughter crackled within conversations carried at full volume.
Memories flooded his mind. His third year of college Amy had miscarried and couldnt work for six weeks. Hed taken on another part-time job so he could stay in school. Sweeping up at a bar had been the only thing that fit into his time schedule. When theyd got back on their feet financially, hed quit. Micah had been surprised how much he missed the people hed met and watched every night for months. Hed learned that bar lights reveal layers of truth, like a CAT scan. Weaknesses, dreams and heart-aches show up clearly in tobacco-tinted illumination.
His eyes adjusted to the mixture of smoky shadows and twinkling lights along a ceiling covered in beer posters. The place seemed bigger than it appeared to be from the outside. A long mahogany bar ran the length of the far wall. Tables circled round a dance floor on one end, pool tables on the other. Most of the chairs near the dance floor were empty. A group of men played pool. Half of the stools were occupied at the bar.
Most of the men wore Western clothes. A few others looked like oil-field workers whod put in a full day before stopping by. Muddy boots, Western or Red Wing, were the style. Women mingled among the men. A few looked like theyd lived on murky air way too long, for their faces were pale beneath layers of makeup.
Micah remembered it was Monday night. If this place was like the one hed worked at, the folks in at this time of night were drinkers, not partiers or fighters. Hed guess they were folks with nowhere else to be and no one waiting for them. Theyd finish the night alone with only a six-pack for company.
He noticed a tall woman behind the bar watching him. She had shoulder-length red hair pulled up on one side and an honest face. You Micah Parker? She spoke in the same whiskey-smooth voice hed heard on the phone.
He shook rain from his hair. I am. Are you Randi with an i? He felt like a paperback detective.
She nodded. From the way youre dressed, youre not working the oil field or any ranch around, but town folks are welcome here, as well.
Correct. He thought of introducing himself by occupation, but for a moment, he just wanted to be Micah Parker, period. Im the designated driver for the Rogers sisters, at your service.
Randi probably learned a long time ago not to ask too many questions. She pointed toward a beer and raised one eyebrow.
He shook his head. Howd the sisters end up being your problem tonight?
They came in about an hour ago. Appears they had quite a scare today and decided some wine would help them sleep. According to Ada May, they went through every bottle in the house and were still frightened, so they drove over here.
They come here often?
She nodded toward a hairy man serving drinks at the other end of the bar. Frankie said hes sold them holiday wine a few times, but they havent been in since I bought the place last year. Randi grinned. One of the guys over near the pool table commented that they shouldnt be in a place like this, being retired teachers and all. Beth Ann hit him with her bag. Before I could get around the counter, theyd landed at least a half-dozen blows on other men standing within range.
Micah fought down a laugh. I hope no one was hurt.
No one that would admit it except Shorty Brown. He claimed a crochet needle poked out of her bag and hit him in the eye. She leaned a little closer. If hed wanted to press charges Id have had to call the sheriff instead of you.
I guess Id better have a talk with the ladies. Micah tried not to smile. Where you got them locked up?
She lifted the walk-through and motioned him behind the bar. As he passed, he realized she stood even with him. It wasnt often he saw a woman his height. In the crowded space, she couldnt step more than a few inches away. He brushed against her as he passed.
Micah kept his gaze steady on her eyes. For a second, their bodies pressed against one another. From the smell of her hair to the softness of her breasts against his arm, he became very aware of her as a woman.
He thought of the bar lights and hoped she couldnt see too deeply into his thoughts.
I put them in my office with a bottle of their favorite apricot wine, Randi said, as though she didnt notice anything unusual about standing so close to a man shed just met.
Micah followed her into a small room behind the bar. It had a one-way mirror, so anyone inside could see what was going on at the bar. Papers and notes covered a desk and the safe in one corner sat open. The sisters watched the mirror as if it were a TV. Two empty glasses sat between them.
Evening, ladies. Randi greeted them with a smile. I called your friend. Hell see you home.
Ada May giggled. Evening, Micah. So glad you could join us. Would you like a glass of wine? She lifted the bottle and refilled her glass to the rim.
Yes, do have a drink if youre allowed, Beth Ann added. Youve already seen us home once today. Theres really no need to worry about us. Im still sober enough to drive.
Ada May downed her glass and tried to disguise a burp by coughing. She smiled up at Micah with half-closed eyes and said, I do love apricots. Suddenly her head hit the desk with a thud. She was out cold.
Beth Ann shook her finger at her sleeping sister. Shes such an embarrassment. Cant hold her liquor any better than our father could.
Micah knelt in front of Beth Ann. Would you like me to help you get her home? I wont mind. Im already here.
Youre a fine man. Beth Ann nodded, almost falling out of her chair. I may need some assistance. Ada May is no light load when shes out.
A few minutes later, Micah pulled his car around to the back door. Randi guided Beth Ann. As the younger of the two old maids slid into the back seat, she noticed her clothes had gotten rained on and proceeded to take them off. Micah helped the hairy bartender named Frankie half carry, half drag Ada May to the car. Beth Ann had been accurate. Ada May was no light load when she was out cold.
Micah put her into the front seat and turned to Randi, who stood across the car from him. Im not driving home alone with one sister out cold and the other stripping in the back seat. Youve got to take pity on me.
He must have looked helpless, because Randi shoved wet hair from her face and gave in. All right, coward. She glanced at the man standing in the doorway. Frankie, close up for me, would you?
The man nodded and disappeared.
When she looked back at Micah, she laughed. Ill go along with you, but I got to tell you, Mr. Parker, you disappoint me. I would have thought you man enough to handle two women at the same time.
He didnt acknowledge her humor as he held the door open. You ride in the back with the stripper.