Grady kept an eye on the two men seated at the counter. They weren't local boys, which was reason enough to watch them. They told Ruth they were on the way to North Carolina from Birmingham. A quick look at their dirty, ten-year-old pickup told him they'd be broken down before they got out of Alabama. He didn't much care as long as they were far from Whistle Stop.
The louder of the two men had been pestering Ruth while he ate; calling her "darlin'" and asking her to run away with him. Ruth ignored the man. She cleared away the plates from a departed customer and picked up a rag to wipe the counter. Grady knew that Ruth preferred to handle situations herself, so he refrained from interfering. Instead, he silently hoped the man gave him a reason to throw both of them out. All he needed was a touch, an inappropriate phrase, or for Ruth to signal for him. He'd gladly put the sleazy men back into their truck and send them on their way.
"Come with us. You're too good for this dump." The loud one still had food in his mouth while he spoke, his lips making a nerve-grating smacking sound.
"I own this dump." Ruth dryly answered.
"The entire town?" The man dropped his fork in mock disbelief. His friend snickered.
Ruth rolled her eyes and shook her head, "I like it here."
The man slurped his iced tea, "You'll like other places."
"I want to stay here."
The man reached out to touch Ruth's hand. She took a step backward, out of reach. Grady frowned in disappointment. That could have been his chance to throw these jerks out.
"I'm not leaving. I have a family." Ruth tried to sound firm, but her voice wobbled with discomfort. Grady put his fork down. Ruth's independence be damned, these men had to go.
"I don't see a ring." The man countered. Grady took a sip of water and turned in his seat to stand up.
"You know, it's the darnedest thing," Idgie interrupted as she entered from the kitchen and stopped next to Ruth, "It fell off when she was making a pie. Opal over at the beauty shop ate it. She'll do anyone's hair for free if they can find the lump by touching her belly." Idgie grinned, patted Ruth's arm, and walked away.
Ruth smiled at Idgie's back and resumed wiping the counter. The man made a few more comments about wasting her life in a dead-end town but she shrugged and wiped her way to the far edge, away from him. Grady picked his fork back up.
The screen door flung open and a boy ran into the dining area, his feet pounding on the wooden floorboards. His hand clutched a baseball bat as though he left the game in a hurry. The shirt sleeve on his other arm was folded just below the elbow and pinned onto itself, revealing the missing limb.
"Buddy, what has gotten into you?" Ruth asked, partially curious, partially admonishing him for his entrance.
"All the boys are going to help unload the train. Can I go? We get a dime each for helping."
"Well, I don't know," Ruth spoke slowly, "It's going to be heavy work."
"Oh, let him go." Idgie set a case of soda bottles on the counter. "It's about time he earned his own money instead of freeloading off of us." She winked at the boy.
"He could get hurt." Ruth fiercely whispered. Silently, Grady agreed. The incoming train would be loaded with building supplies for church remodel. He doubted there was anything Buddy would be able to carry with only one functioning arm.
Idgie turned to face Ruth, "He needs to try."
Ruth studied Idgie's face and sighed. "Alright, you can go. But be careful."
Buddy yelled a thank you over his shoulder as he rushed out the door, his feet once again thundering across the floor.
"What if he can't do it?" Ruth quietly asked Idgie.
"What if he can?"
Ruth smiled. Idgie bumped her hip against Ruth's, "I would help but I don't want to embarrass the men." Idgie smirked and sidestepped away from Ruth's attempted arm swat. She picked up the case of soda and moved to the cooler.
Ruth ducked her head and smiled in the way Grady only ever saw her do around Idgie. The traveling men stood, their stools scraping the floor, and dropped some money on the counter. Grady noticed that both men had hard looks on their faces, as if something had angered them. He smiled to himself. They shouldn't be angry, they should feel foolish to think a quality woman like Ruth would ever give them the time of day. It's only because of her polite nature that she had entertained them for as long as she had. Without a word they stomped out the door, letting it bang closed behind them.
After the men left Grady brushed the pie crumbs from his shirt and stood. He paid Ruth for the pie and promised to keep an eye on Buddy, then exited the cafe. Wilbur Weems was waiting on the porch for him.
"Took a while." Wilbur commented.
"Coupla guys were bothering Ruth."
Wilbur nodded in understanding and the two men started toward the rail yard. As they passed the dirt path between the post office and the beauty shop Grady noticed the two strangers talking to Buddy. Finding it strange that they would be speaking to an eight year old about anything, Grady began to walk toward them; Wilbur trailing behind him. Nearing them, Grady could hear the conversation.
"So one is your aunt?" The man that had been talking to Ruth asked. Buddy nodded and the man followed with, "But they're not sisters? And they live together?"
"Yes sir." Buddy quietly responded.
"They share a bed?"
"Stump!" Grady loudly called to interrupt, "Come here, son." Without hesitation, Buddy ran over to Grady. "Run along to the rail yard. And look, don't say nothin' to your mama or Aunt about those men. I'll handle it." Buddy nodded and ran off.
Grady took the few steps necessary to close the gap between himself and the men, "Seems to me you boys have worn out your welcome around here."
"Seems to me you all have some unnatural women around here." The loud man retorted. His friend nodded in agreement.
"Well," Grady slowly responded, "We sure have plenty of women, and a few that are a pain in the ass."
"My wife." Wilbur muttered.
"But none that are unnatural." Grady finished.
"Those women in the cafe."
"Ruth and Idgie?" Grady huffed, "Naw. Ruth is the most generous and kindest woman you'll ever meet. Idgie's a bit wild..."
"Yep." Wilbur commented.
"I'd say her ability to play poker may be unnatural. I'm not convinced she plays fair but I've never been able to catch her cheating. She's a good woman though."
"You agree with their lives?" The man harshly asked.
"Nothing to disagree with." Grady calmly responded. He hooked his thumbs through his belt loops and settled his weight on the back of his heels, displaying comfort in the face of the stranger's anger. "What would you say, Wilbur?"
"We're mighty fond of Ruth and Idgie." Wilbur affirmed.
"I think it's time you boys move on." Grady firmly spoke.
The men objected until Grady displayed his badge. "It wasn't a suggestion."
Grumbling and swearing the men trudged back to their truck, Grady and Wilbur only a few steps behind them. It wasn't until the truck was out of sight that Grady and Wilbur turned back toward the rail yard. Neither man spoke about the incident or the accusations against Ruth and Idgie. Wilbur commented on the rickety state of the truck, Grady agreed, and the conversation moved on to their usual topics: fishing and baseball.
It didn't take long to unload the train. The men were strong and quick and although the boys were smaller and slower, they were eager. Grady glanced at Buddy a few times but the boy was dragging ends of lumber with his hand and seemed to be doing fine. He didn't need to be watched. Less than two hours later the train was on its way, the boys had run back to their baseball field, and the men had scattered to their homes. Grady and Wilbur parted at Wilbur's road, Wilbur going home and Grady back to the cafe.
There weren't any patrons when Grady entered. Ruth emerged from the back and smiled in greeting. He ambled to the counter and propped his foot on the rung of the stool.
"Those boys won't bother you anymore." He told Ruth.
She nodded and quietly thanked him. The cafe door flew open and Idgie briskly walked in. She rounded the counter, stopped next to Ruth, and dropped something onto the wooden surface. It landed with a clink, wobbling a few times before lying flat. Grady could see that it was a plain silver ring.
"You should wear that," Idgie stated. "Keep those bastard men away."
Ruth picked it up and slid it on her finger like a marriage band, "What if they ask about my husband."
"Just say you're married to a bee charmer." Idgie smirked and walked toward the back, stopping to turn in the doorway and say, "and the best damn poker player in Whistle Stop."
Grady snorted in disagreement. Idgie ignored him and disappeared into the back of the cafe, her voice drifting as she began to speak to Sipsey.
Grady looked at Ruth. She was staring at the ring on her finger; her face displaying the largest smile he'd ever seen on her. Those men were not only out of line to call Ruth and Idgie unnatural; they were wrong. The love radiating from Ruth's face was the most natural thing in the world.
