Jack and Vance goe into Shelby to sample the night life, and end up not speaking to each other after Jack leaves Vance in a local bar so he can spend some time with Anne.

Homeward Bound Chapter 5 Continued

It's a little after nine when we reach the edge of town, a perfect summer evening with a light breeze, and lingering rays of sun set. "Why don't we stop for a quick coffee before we hit the fair," I tell Vance as he steers up Main Street.

The second I open the restaurant door, I spot Anne behind the counter, and my heart skips a beat. She flashes a smile, and ducks behind the kitchen door to straighten her hair. Vance and I take stools at the counter. "I look a mess in this uniform, don't I?" she asks as she comes up to greet us.

"You look great," I say eyeing up the curves of the white chiffon.

"Sharp as a tack," Vance says nodding his head in agreement.

"Coffee," Anne asks her face blushing.

"Yes, ma’am, we'd like a couple java 's here," Vance answers.

"So, how's it going," I ask as Anne pours.

"Oh, it's not bad.… We were really busy from five 'til just a little while ago. But, the girl I work with is so nice. I don't think I could have made it through the rush without her help. My poor feet are killing me, though," she tells me as our eyes catch and hold for a second.

Anne leaves to wait on a husband and wife who came in behind us and took a booth. I check out three young cowboys who are killing time at the other end of the counter.

"Well, there ain't no broadies in here, that's for sure," Vance observes as we finish our refills. I tell Anne I'll be back around quarter of, and wonder what she'll think when she sees the silver dollar tip.

"Christ, man, there's many a buck I dropped trying to win a five dollar Teddy Bear,” Vance tells me as we stroll a straw and dirt mixed path between rows of concession stands.

"Yea, we've never been to a fair
together, huh? I use to go with Ollie on the Boardwalk in Atlantic City. It was those dime-pitching things that use to get me. ‘Ole Dollar Go Fast,’ Ollie use to call me."

"Yea. I guess you have to go through that shit to learn it," Vance says as he nods at a high school boy pitching baseballs and a crowd starting to gather.

I nod in response eyeing a beautiful young girl who watches her hero with sparkling eyes. "Yea, remember how Michner describes how when he worked at Willow Grove, he learned how to count the change from a five or ten in front of the window, and slide a buck to the side as he passed it through the cage. A guy did that to me at the Trenton Fair. I told him I was on to the trick, and we laughed about it.…"

"Huh, what?" Vance replies his eyes feasting on the girl's tight fitting white summer blouse, and tanned arms.

We make our third round of the fair grounds taking in the excitment and action without spending a dime. "I don't know, man. I guess girls ain't allowed out after dark unless they're escorted by some big ass cowboy."

"Either that or pure ugly. What say we make one more round, and then head for a beer?"

"Sounds good."

At the parking lot, cars and pick-ups are still pouring in. "This is what these cats look forward to all year round?" Vance asks.

"Yea, maybe we should'a paid the two bucks for the rodeo. That's probably where the action is."

"You know, Daley, I have a feeling that once we start working for Doc, we'll have plenty of time for rodeos. Cal's already talking about letting us ride. I'll bet if we stick around, ole Ward could teach us a thing or two.…"

"Yea, I'm surprised Cal's not riding."

"He got to be to bed too early for that kind'a shit. Besides, even if he was, they wouldn't tell us. You know they don't want any of the hands out after dark. They want to own you day and night when you're working for wages.…"

The saloon is crowded with ranchers and hands in for a Friday night on the town, but there is not a single girl in sight as we take our seats at the far end of the twenty-stool bar. I eye up the twenty or so tables in the place and see pairs of couples at most. A lone bartender is keeping busy at the front end of the bar.

"You don't have to worry about getting hustled for a drink here, do you?" Vance asks as he stands up and waves to attract the guy's attention. In a back room, a couple poker games are in progress.

Son of a bitch, I tell myself remembering how I had been a steady winner at the Tuesday night game in Polly's kitchen, how the guys at the airport use to call me Maverick. Natchez to New Orleans... Living off Jacks and Queens.… runs through my head.

"You'd better get your fucking eyes off that game, Daley. You know we got to be tight with the bread," Vance tells me.

"I don't know, man. With a little string of luck.…” I answer as I pick up my beer and steal a look at the clock.

"You know you can never win when you got to. That's one of the first rules of poker. But, I'll tell ya, once we get on with the doc. that might not be a bad idea. We might very well make some good money playing with these country boys.…"

"Well, I wouldn't mind at all spending a little time in Shelby. I mean, this is some pretty nice country. I wouldn't mind at all seeing some of it. Anne and I could get married, rent a house, maybe get a couple horses.…"

"Yea, you cock sucker, and I guess I could come over for Sunday dinner.… Though, I'll tell you, I think working for the doc. is gonna involve a little traveling. After all, he's getting up in years. When he needs to do some investing out of state, who does he send?"

"Right, and you know, in a year or two we'll have our own money to invest. That might be the time to hit South America.…"

"You ain't wrong, man. I mean, I can see how we could tie in some cattle investments in Montana with some cattle buying down in Argentina.… You know, now that Castro's won the revolution in Cuba, he might not mind some American beef even if we have to smuggle it in.…"

Around ten thirty, I decide to head on down to Anne's work. "Listen, you rotten bastard. I know you want to spend some time with her. But, don't leave me in this fucking place all night. You know we got to be up at the crack'a dawn.…"

"Yea, I won't be more'n a half hour," I say as I finish off the third beer that I'd been nursing.

There are less than a dozen patrons in the restaurant when I walk in. Anne is at the far end of the counter talking to some guy in a light sport's jacket. I hear him say something about her Scottish accent. They both laugh. I take a seat a few stools away. Anne spots me and hurries over. "I'll just be a few minutes. I only have one table left," she tells me nodding to a booth across the floor.

"Let me pour you a cup. We don't get very many big tippers like you," she laughs.

"How's it going?"

"Not bad. It stayed pretty busy up 'til the last half hour. Where's Vance?"

"Oh, he picked up this farmer's daughter.… No, he's gonna have another beer while I run you home."

"Mr. Gordon said I can take off soon as I finish my last customers. His son offered to take me home, but I told him my fiancι was coming.…"

When we park in front of Brig’s tree covered lawn, I slide from under the steering wheel, turn to face Anne, and entwine my fingers around her neck. "You miss me?" I ask.

"'Bout that much," she answers holding two fingers about an inch apart in front of my eyes.

"Me too," I answer and return her smile. We draw in closer and search out each other's mouths. The soft moisture of her lips sets my blood pounding. Her fingers caress my neck and slide down my back with electric charge. Time and space disappear into one long kiss. We wiggle and squirm in the tight confines of the front seat as the windshield begins to fog.

"Oh, honey, we'd better not.… Not right in front of their house,” Anne says as she pushes me back and goes to her purse for her cigarettes.

We light up and enjoy the sparkle of each other's eyes. "We could ride out to the edge of town."

"It's awfully late. Besides, they might have heard us pull up," Anne tells me as she buttons her uniform.

"So, how was your first day?" I ask.

"Not bad.… Did you see the guy I was talking to when you came in?"

"Yea, that the owner's son?"

"No, he works for the border patrol. He was in earlier for dinner. Asked to see my alien card. I told him, away you go.… Figured who was he? He took out his wallet and showed me his badge. Said he wouldn't check my card now, but he could if he wanted to. I guess the guard at Sunburst told him about us.…"

"So what if he works for the border patrol He can't ask to see your card, can he?"

"I think that was just a line. He seemed really nice when he came in later. It just makes me think, though, everyone in town must know our business. You should have seen the stares I got walking to work."

"Ahhh, that's just because you're nice to look at.… How is it living with the Brigg’s?"

"Oh, it's just great. They're such nice people. I have to tell you, though; they have a daughter, Julie. It's such a shame. She was in a terrible car wreck. About six years ago. She had just turned eighteen. Coming home from a party. Her spinal cord was broken. She's completely paralyzed from the waist down. It's such a shame. Mrs. Briggs showed me a picture of her from before the accident. She was beautiful. Now, God forgive me, she's horrible to look at.… She's such a sweet thing, though, and she seems to enjoy our talking together.…"

"That's too bad. Nothing they can do for her, huh?”

"No, she's had several operations.… Nothing has helped. And, the boy who was driving got away without a scratch.… You'll have to meet her. I told her all about us. She's very shy now. Her mother said she use to have so many friends, but she doesn't want to see them. It's such a shame.… But, I shouldn't be worrying you. How are you guys doing out at the ranch? Are you catching on all right?"

"Are you kidding? We got it down pat. Matter a fact, I was gonna ask you. How'd you like staying in Shelby for awhile?"

"Here in Shelby? Oh, I'd love it, Hon."

"Well, Vance is sure that Doc is gonna ask us to work for him after the harvest. Maybe start us out buying junk cars and stuff.…"

"Oh, do you really think he might?"

"Well, it's not for sure, but it does
make sense. He and Vance have really hit it off. They work together down at the silos. Vance spends most of the day with him. He's pretty sure that Doc is looking for someone to do some footwork for him. Doc's got a lot of irons is the fire. Lots of money to invest.…"

"Oh, Hon. that would be great... I was telling Mrs. Briggs about our plans to get married up in Alaska. She said it would be nice if we could get married here in Shelby. There's a Catholic Church. Her and Mr. Briggs would come.…"

We dream about the possibilities of settling in Shelby, renting a house on the edge of town, maybe getting a couple horses, riding the foothills together, visiting Canada, the Rocky Mountains. Before we know it, we're back in each other’s arms, feeling the beat of our hearts, breathing in the same breath, drifting out side of time and space.…

All of a sudden, there is an exploding noise on the car roof. I shot bolt up right with pounding heart. What the fuck? I ask myself.

"Don't you think it's about time we started back?" Vance growls through my open window. "For Christ's sake, man, it's after one A.M."

I exhale a sigh of relief, and feel just a twinge of hurt at Vance's violent action. "Sorry, man, I jus' lost track of
time," I say as I straighten myself out.

Anne opens the door and gets out. "I'll jus' walk her to the door and be right back," I tell Vance as I slide out the passenger side.

"You'd better hurry. Vance looks awfully mad," Anne tells me as we pause at the front door.

"Ahhhh…. don't worry," I say and
pull her close for one more kiss.

The horn honks twice. The motor races. "He'll wake the Briggs," Anne tells me as she pulls away.

"The stupid ass," I say starting down the stairs.

"I love you," Anne whispers.

"I love you, too. I'll try to get in tomorrow night.…" I return and hurry down the stairs.

When I reach the curb, Vance races the engine and pulls away as I open the door. I have to jump in to avoid being hit. "You are about one inconsiderate cocksucker.…I waited in that fucking bar by myself for almost two hours, man. You know how fucking early we got to get up.…"

"Christ, man, I jus' lost track a' time. You know.…"

"Yea, well, I seen some inconsiderate people in my life, but you fucking take the cake, Daley. You don't give a fuck about anyone but yourself.…"

"Fuck you, man. You know you pulled the same kind'a shit when you were going with Kathy. How many times did you?…”

"You shut your fucking mouth, Daley or I'll fucking shut it for you."

Vance's words sting like a whip. I picture him and me getting out of the car and rolling around the ground like Birdie and me did that night outside the Triv. The dirty fucking, bastard. He doesn't think at all how Anne is alone by herself the whole time.… Get's up tight about a couple hours, and it wasn't that long either.… Shut my fucking mouth, I'll show the cocksucker. I'll never say another word to him the rest of my fucking life.

We ride in silence through the dark Montana night. A good fifteen minutes passes with just the sound of our tires kicking up stones, and my continued resolution never to speak to the cocksucker again. I'm just dozing off when all of sudden, Vance slams on the brakes and screams, "Holy Shit!" Smack in the middle of the road stands an enormous black bull. As Vance edges forward, shouting out the window and waving one arm, the animal moves over just enough to let us squeeze by. "Son of a bitch. I should'a hit the mother fucker and collected the
insurance.…"

Listen to him trying to make up. I'll fucking show him. I'll never talk to him again, I tell myself staring straight ahead.

"Shit, that's right.… Guy at the employment office told me. Open range out here. Fucking cows got the right 'a way. Hit the son of a bitch, and you gotta pay.… Lucky thing I saw him in time," Vance continues. I clench my teeth and follow the headlights.

It is near two A.M. when we enter our sleeping quarters. Ernie is sound asleep under a brown blanket. The naked light bulb gives off its dim glow as we undress in silence. Should I go out for a piss now, or wait 'til morning? I ask myself when Vance pulls the string and plunges the room into darkness.

Maybe I should say good night, I tell myself as I catch the glow from Vance's Camel, and remember my mother telling me that I should never go to sleep mad at someone.

Naw, he started it. Let him make the first move, another voice says as I roll over on my stomach. I wonder if Anne's is still awake as I catch a whiff of her perfume and a charge of energy runs clean through me. Better get some sleep. Tomorrow’s gonna be another long day, I tell myself, and picture Anne through the coffee shop window.