Ruby Barlow needed a new start in life after the accident that took her lover's life. After looking around for jobs that required her to move out of Amarillo, and discovering that she didnt have the money to make a full move, she decided to find a travelling job until she could save up the money to go somewhere, anywhere, so she didnt have to look out her window and see the place her Fiance' had been shot. She spent weeks searching for work, interviewing for several different positions. One in particular caught her eye, or, her heart really. A fire seemed to burn in her when she read of the supply runner opening. Shed be working long hours, driving a truck through the beating sun, delivering food and other supplies to a juvenile delinquent work camp. The hours were long and the pay was worse than some other offers she had received, but something in her gut told her that this was the job to accept.
She accepted the job, partly hoping that the long drives each week might be enough to put some distance between her and Amarillo. She didnt expect much more than that, though she welcomed the nine long hours, every Saturday morning, and again later in the evening, once everything was unloaded. The only thing she regretted about taking this job was all the time she would have to think, all the time she would have now to mourn Nora, and what that wonderful amazing woman had been to her. Her heart ached every time she remembered the truck, the driver losing control, Nora's cry of alarm, screaming for her just as she was thrown into the air. Ruby had been unable to do anything, from her third story balcony, anything but watch helplessly and scream her lover's name.
She was having one of her bad days as she set out that hot July morning at three thirty,, ninety five degrees even at this awful hour.. She climbed into the cab of the truck, switching on the radio, losing herself in the country music, trying to block out the memories.. She passed a Mcdonalds, and briefly considered stopping to grab an ice water, but she was already behind schedule. Shed stop further down the line. It turned out, however, that there was nothing further down the line. She finished off the bottle she had with her, her mouth drier than it had ever been before. Her head started pounding, likely in combination with the windows having to be down, since no one had told her the damn air conditioner was out. She was nauseous, feeling like she was going to throw up, struggling to drive the last half mile into camp.
By four thirty, she was pulling in to Camp Green Lake, her pounding head causing her to stumble slightly, very obviously dehydrated and was mentally kicking herself, wishing shed stopped when she had a chance instead of waiting for a damn convienence store.. There hadnt been a single damn store or drive thru since that Mcdonalds, and she was feeling the effects of her stupidity. Even so, she climbed out of the truck, walking slowly into the air conditioned office, taking the offered bottle of coke with a shaking hand, drinking it down in two gulps, accepting the second and downing it just as swiftly, and the third a bit slower, much to the amusement of the man in the bolo tie.
"Thankyou." She looked at him, wondering why her head was suddenly pounding even harder, thinking weakly that caffeine may not have been the wisest decision as dehydrated as she was.
"Long drive. Course, waters your best bet, but we dont got mucha that out here." His voice was course and rough, and he was looking at her sideways like he was expecting something. Oh. Yes. The order form.
"Your order is here. Fifty pounds of dehydrated beans, one hundred fifty pounds of hot dogs… one hundred fifty pounds of bologne, one hundred fifty pounds of american cheese slices. One hundred gallons of milk, one hundred boxes of grahmn crackers..four crates of soap. Five boxes of towels.." She continued to read off the list, the room seeming to spin around her. She needed water. Needed to sit down. Needed….Oh God...no…
She pitched forward, her head smacking down on the desk as she fell into unconsciousness.
"Hey! Lou! Get on in here! This your damn job. I dont deal with no swooning women."
Ruby's eyes opened to a soft voice, a warm hand rubbing her cheek, and a cool water bottle being pressed to her lips. She tried to focus, moving to sit up, groaning as she was pushed back down.
"Hey." Her eyes focused on calm brown ones, traveling down to the polished purple nails that gently pressed her back down onto the floral couch. "Stay lyin down now. Ya gotta get another liter or so of water in ya before I let you move."
"W..Wha...What happened?" Ruby's voice sounded weird, even to her own ears, far away and hollow.
"Ya passed out in the office, Marion was a damned idiot and gave you three bottles of coke. Anyone knows ya aint supposed to drink that stuff when youre as dehydrated as you are. No. Dont move. . He called me, and I helped you here. Fainted again soon as you got in the damn doorway." Ruby was surprised at the concern in the woman's voice. "Temps down, which is a good thing. What's your name anyway?"
"R..Ruby. Ruby Barlow." She thought she saw a flicker of something in the woman's eyes. "Whats yours?"
"Louise Annabell Walker. I'm the warden here. Come on now, drink a bit more of this." Louise absentmindedly pressed the bottle to Ruby's lips. "Never had a lady driver before. This is a first. Aint saying anything against it now, just sayin its a first. Good first too. Been a while since I've had female company. All these men can make a woman go crazy. Too much Testosterone around the damn place."
Ruby laughed, thankful when Louise actually allowed her to sit up soft hands practically pulling her to a sitting position, surprised when she placed a pillow behind her back. "Im alright now, I think."
"Yeah, I know you do. But I wanna be sure before I let you get on your way. Youre staying till morning. We already called the company."
"No. You cant have. I'll lose this job. I.. I cant stay in Amarillo. I've got to ...I've got…" She felt the room spin again.
"Hey...shhhh easy. You aint losin your job. Told em youre helping me out with something here. Everythings alright." Louise spoke softly, reaching out and taking Ruby's hand. "Just relax. I aint letting you drive nowhere unless I'm sure you aint gonna pass out at the wheel. Just rest. I aint going nowhere."
"Louise...I..I um..I really can't.." Ruby looked at her in bewilderment. She had no idea why this woman was being so hospitable to her. It reminded her of the way Nora had been, kind and sweet. It broke her heart.
"Hey." The arms that wrapped around her were strong, and secure, and she didn't realize she was crying. "Shh. Whats wrong? Somethin hurt? Somethin I said? Ruby?" Louise looked at her, eyes filled with concern. "Talk to me."
"It's nothing. Just...memories." Ruby whispered, turning and burying her face in Louise's long red hair. "Just...a life I once had. Is all."
"If you ever need to talk, Im here." Her voice was crooning, soft as she wrapped her shawl around them both. Ruby couldnt remember a time when she trusted someone so quickly, couldnt remember a day when she felt this safe with anyone other than Nora. "Let me get you something to eat. You lay down. Dont want you getting up."
They spent the evening, ,sitting on the sofa, watching Golden Girls. Louise made dinner, hand breaded chicken fingers and french fries, with ice cream for dessert. She still didnt let Ruby move too much though, barely letting her even walk to the bathroom on her own. Towards evenings end, she grew tired, sinking lower and lower into the couch until she was resting her head in the other woman's lap, eyes closing as she felt a warm blanket wrapped around her shoulders, gentle fingers stroking her hair as she lulled into a dreamless sleep for the first time in months.
"Hey...Rubes...Ruby...Wake up ...C'mon. It's nearly noon." Her eyes fluttered open as she felt Louise shaking her shoulder. "Come on now. I've got you. Come on get up. You gotta get on the road."
"L..Lou…" She didnt want to move. Didnt want to get up and drive for that long, didnt want to stand up at all. Just wanted to lay here, with her cold nose pressed against Louise's collarbone,the sheer warmth and scent of cheap cologne lulling her into comfort and calm she thought shed never feel again.
"Come on sweetheart. I made coffee. And three jugs of ice water for your trip. Pendanskey fixed the air on your cab so you ought to be alright. Just...please be careful." Ruby moved to get up, rising too fast and losing her balance, falling into Louise's arms.
"Careful. Easy there." The soft voice sent shivers up her spine,and she stayed where she was for a moment before she stood up.
"Im fine." Ruby whispered, taking the offered cup of coffee and bagel, smiling at her new friend."Thankyou. For everything. I'll come see you again next week?" She asked hopefully as she finished her coffee and wrapped the bagel for the road.
"Id be sad if you didnt. Heres my number, text me a couple times on the road, and when you get home so I know youre safe. I'll worry." Louise pressed a piece of paper into her hands.
"I promise. I'll let you know Im safe." Ruby smiled, wincing as she moved to lift the heacy water jugs, surprised when Louise grabbed two of them. "Ive got it."
"No. Let me. I'll carry 'em. Least I can do. Besides, Id like to see you off." Louise smiled at Ruby, and Ruby blushed at the look in her eyes.
"I'll be fine." She opened the door of the cab, climbing inside, sighing as she situated the water jugs, and the lunch bag that Louise slipped into her lap. "Any special requests when I come back next time?" She asked softly, wanting to bring her friend something.
"Ice cream. Not that it would last out here. Good God, certain times of the month, a gal needs her rocky road." Louise laughed.
"You got it. Ice cream. Rocky road. And I'll bring a surprise. How's that sound?" Ruby smiled, laughing as she put the truck in drive. "See you next Saturday."
"See ya then. DONT FORGET TO TEXT!" Ruby laughed to herself as she pulled out onto the highway for the long drive back to Amarillo.
How in the hell could she be falling so hard, so fast for Louise Annabell Walker? Ruby didnt have a damn clue, but she sure as hell knew it was happening. The woman's scent had intoxicated her, filling her senses and awakening emotions that she had long silenced. Her brown eyes had been so warm and her hands had been so soft, yet with a weathered strength that she found attractive. She hated this. She was falling, and falling hard.
"Lulu. Made it safe so far." She texted when she pulled off on the side of the highway to use the bathroom, in a bush since there were no rest stops. The phone dinged as soon as she got back in the truck.
"You shouldve drank at least half a container of water by now." Ruby smiled, laughing to herself as she read Louise's text, sighing as she eyed the half empty jug of water, waiting to text back until she made another pit stop.
"Drank a full. Good sandwiches by the way." Ruby hit send, climbing back into the cab, driving for another half hour before she heard the ding of her cellphone.
"Glad. Good. Pull off and rest if you get tired.. Lulu." Ruby smiled, seeing what she knew was supposed to be a smiley faced emoji, but was in fact simply two dots and a less than symbol. Well, she was being even cuter.
"Almost home." She texted back, waiting a bit to save phone battery. It had been several hours, and she was surprised how swiftly the drive had gone, even with just the few texts theyd sent one another.
"Call me when you get inside. Lulu." Ruby smiled, wincing as she parked the truck, trading it for her own car, collecting her paycheck from the slot by the door. She was exhausted, still intoxicated by the smell of Louise's jacket, which she discovered, she was still wearing. She blushed as she drove back to the apartment, her eyes widening as she saw the old dried blood on the brick where Nora had been thrown.
With shaking hands, Ruby climbed out of the car, rushing up the stairs and into her house,her phone falling onto the floor as she sank onto the couch and sobbed, for all she was worth.
The sound of the ringing phone brought her out of her pain for a moment. She answered it, her voice raspy and hoarse from crying.
"Rubes? Whats wrong ? You didnt mean to, but you called me. You were crying . You ok? Need me to drive out there? You aint hurt are ya?" The concern in her voice made Ruby cry harder, guilt adding itself to the mix of feelings she was trying to sort through.
"Im fine." She whimpered, a fresh bout of tears coming then, whimpering, lightheaded from crying.
"No, you aint fine. Not at all. Come on now Rubes. Talk to me. Out with it. Dont get it out itll eat you all up inside" Ruby gradually stopped crying, though she felt like grief was going to eat away at her still.
"My….fiance….Nora...she died….six months back….here. In the parking lot. Truck hit her….I saw the dried blood tonight." She wrapped the sweater tighter around her. "Lou...I cant stop crying. It hurts too much to stop crying. I ...I need her….Oh Lou….You barely know me. Why do you care so much? Why? Why do you care?" She was howling, sobbing so hard she felt her body betraying her, making her lightheaded again.
"Breathe Ruby, breathe. Now ...breathe with me, you hear? In...one two three four, Out one two three four. In, one two three four, Out one two three four. In..one...two three four, Out, one two three four. In, one , two three four. Out, one two, three four, very good. There you go, shhhh. Keep breathing like we just did, ok? Very good Rubes. Very good. Thats great. Shhhh…..dont you feel calmer now? Im so proud of you. Come on now, stand up, there we go, thats it."
Ruby did as she was told, moving slowly into the bedroom, changing into her night dress, keeping the sweater on. She didnt speak, just listened to Louise's voice, listened to the way it rose and fell with every word, hearing the soft exhaustion of sleep in it. She didnt want to be alone tonight. She wanted, hell, she needed to be back there, in the cabin, on the floral sofa, her head resting on Louise's lap, soft fingers in her hair. She was tired, exhausted even, but she doubted she could sleep.
" Lulu...can...I ask you something...kinda dumb?" Her voice was calmer, but still hoarse with tears. She smiled when she heard the soft laugh.
"Yes. Yes you can."
"Could you...maybe….can I stay over, again? When I come on Saturday?" She heard the sharp intake of breath, and her heart shattered.
"Of course you can! Id like that a lot. Lets just make a tradition of it. Bring something to wear, and we can watch Golden Girls again, or wheel of fortune, or something." Louise laughed. "Go to sleep, alright Rubes? I'll keep my phone on loud so you can reach me if you need anything."
"Good night Lulu" Ruby whispered softly, her eyes closing.
"Night." Louise answered back, as Ruby faded into the sweet escape of sleep.