He eyed the table critically as he chalked the end of his cue. He leaned over and then took aim.
"Number eleven in the corner pocket," he said with confidence just as his cue hit the ball and sent them moving.
"Damn, Jed," Greg sighed as the ball slipped easily into it's target. Jim chuckled and lined up another shot.
"Eight ball in the side…" It was a long shot but he had done it before. He suppressed a tiny grin. He could almost feel the anticipation of his audience. He took his time and lined it up, shot and stood up as the round black ball rolled into the side pocket. There were cheers and groans as he accepted the money that was handed to him. He took a long swig of the beer that Ronnie handed to him. Jim kissed the bills in his hand and tucked them into his pocket. Ron shook his head and led the way back to their table away from the billiards nook.
"Nice one, Jed," the older man at the table said as he slapped palms with Jim. "Where did a young kid like you learn to shoot billiards like that?" Jim shrugged as he twirled his beer bottle in his hands and glanced around the smoky room.
"Lots of foster homes with pool tables in the basement, I guess," he said. Brian ran his hands through his thick gray hair and surveyed the younger man carefully. He chuckled a little when he recalled their first meeting.
Brian was a driller and had been putting together a new team for their rig. Ron and Jim had both come in as roustabouts…roughnecks. Probably the lowest on the totem pole of responsibility. Hell, they were the lowest on the team. He had been instantly struck by Jim's tenacity and earnestness. And his quick wit. He'd even accepted his new nick name without complaint.
"James Edward Wyczenski", Brian had read from his application file. "Jed…."
"Jim, actually," he had corrected.
"Naw…." Brian had said. "Too many Jims and Eds in the field already. How would I know which one I was talking about?" Brian had eyed him over his glasses as Jim mulled it over and then nodded. Brian felt good about him then as a team member and even more so now. Jed had worked hard to learn the job, always showed up on time, never missed a crew meeting, took the overtime when he was needed without complaint….and wasn't one to show up on Monday morning very often with the red eyes and the flushed face of a weekend hangover. And he saved every cent that he could.
"Cal is moving back to Texas," Brian said over the din of the jukebox. Jim nodded.
"I know," he said as he watched the people on the dance floor. He chuckled as his eyes came to light on Ronnie and his newest conquest.
"I'm going to need a new motor hand," Brian said. "Don't really want to bring anyone new onto the team right now. Are you interested?"
"In what?" Jim asked without looking at him. Brian shook his head.
"In training to be my motorman," he said. "In becoming a permanent member of the team?" Jim stopped and then looked at his boss in surprise.
"More pay," Brian said as he tipped his head a little.
"But I'd have to stay…" Jim said. Brian nodded.
"And you have a girl back in Michigan," he said.
"Minnesota," Jim corrected him. He grinned. "Her name is Maggie." Brian nodded again.
"And she is freaking nuts…" Ron added as he sat in his chair at the table with a new girl in his lap.
"No, she's not," Jim chuckled. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Has she answered any of your calls yet? Your letters?" Jim shook his head with a slight frown.
"Nuts….." Ron sighed as he grinned and turned his attention to the girl sharing his chair. "Just ask Amy…."
"Shut up," Jim said quietly. Ron shook his head.
"I need someone right now," Brian said. "Someone willing to work alongside Cal next week to train for the job." Ron glanced from Jim to Brian and back again.
"And you have to think about this?" he said. "Maybe she's not the only one that's nuts."
"Would she move?" Brian asked. "Like maybe to a house down here?" Jim shrugged.
"She's in college," he said with a smidgen of pride. "She's an Art student." Brian sighed and stood up.
"Well, Oklahoma has colleges too," he said. "And I am going to need an answer by tomorrow." Jim nodded and watched him walk away. His heart was pumping madly in his chest. It was his chance. He could move up from roughneck to a motor hand and then derrick hand. Maybe someday he could even become a driller. And it would be something that he loved doing. Really loved. Standing on top of the rig on the monkey board was a powerful feeling. He needed to talk to Maggie. He needed to talk to her….now. Damn. He felt like what of the balls on the pool table. One nudge and he was in the side pocket. Not exactly where he had expected to be. Jim stood up suddenly.
"She is not going to come to the phone, man," Ron warned. "I am telling you right now that she is not going to talk to you." Jim pushed his chair in and strode out of the bar.
"She's nuts!" Ron called after him. He shook his head as he watched his friend leave. Then he smiled and laced his fingers through the girl's hand.
"Come on," he said. "Let's dance." She nodded and stood up, pulling him back onto the crowded dance floor.
Gina frowned and slipped the telephone back into it's cradle. She glared at Maggie, who sat across from her on the couch with a blanket wrapped around her.
"You have to talk to him some time," Gina said angrily. Maggie shook her head.
"He's got a chance to get a permanent job down there," Gina sighed. "He needs to talk to you." Maggie just looked at her. Gina stood up in frustration.
"Okay then," she said. "Answer the damn telephone yourself. I should have said that a long time ago." She stalked out of the living room toward her own bedroom. Maggie stared at the telephone and the slip of paper that Gina had used to write down Jim's number. She really hadn't needed to do that. Maggie knew the telephone number by heart. Yet she couldn't bring herself to use it. She couldn't call him. If she heard his voice she might not be able to keep her secret. She might have to tell him everything and she just couldn't do that. Not now. Not like this. If he didn't come back, well, that was okay too. She had something to hold on to. Something that would make everything all better after all. Something that would never leave her. Something that would always love her. No matter what.