The next afternoon, Daniel and I went to a movie in Modesto. He let me choose which one I wanted to see. We ended up seeing 'Big' with Tom Hanks.
We both had popcorn during the movie, and when we came out of the crowded theatre, Daniel dropped the nearly empty popcorn
buckets into the trash.
"What now?" he asked me. "Want to get somethin' to eat?"
I wasn't all that hungry after all that popcorn that I'd eaten, but I figured he might be, so I shrugged and said, "Yeah. Sure."
After some debate, we ended up going to a nicer restaurant, the sort with cloth napkins. Daniel said he didn't feel like
eating at a fast food place. He wanted a steak, or something like that.
After the waitress had taken our orders, and then brought a big bowl of salad to the table, along with our drinks, I took the
tongs, filling my own small bowl.
As I handed the tongs off to Daniel across the table, I let me gaze drift around the restaurant, as I swirled French dressing
over my salad.
I saw a couple come into the restaurant, pausing as they waited to be seated.
For a long moment I just sat there, my fork paused in mid-air. I couldn't believe it. I mean, what were the odds?
It was Eddie, with a girl that I'd never seen before. This particular girl had dark, straight hair, and wore really tight slacks,
with a sweater that I knew was cashmere.
Daniel, noticing my sudden silence, and halting of eating, said, "What's wrong?"
I forced myself to look away. "Nothing."
Even I looked back down at my salad, I could tell, out of the corner of my eye, that Daniel was looking around, behind
him, to see what I'd been eying.
"That's Eddie, isn't it?" he asked me, turning back to face me.
"Yeah."
The waitress brought our orders at that time, placing plates in front of both of us.
"You alright?" Daniel asked me, quietly, as he began to cut up his steak.
"Uh huh." I picked up my knife and began to do the same.
Even though I tried not to appear to be staring, I could see Eddie and the girl being seated, just to the right of my line of vision. The girl
sat down first, and then Eddie. He sort of had his back half-turned to us.
I could feel Daniel's eyes on me, and I looked up. I could read the sympathy in his expression. I sort of wished that he wouldn't look
quite so sympathetic.
"It's fine," I said.
"We can leave if you want to," Daniel said.
I gave him my full attention. I felt a tightening near my heart. Only Daniel. He was the only one that I knew of, well, except for
Ford, maybe, that would offer to leave a just-arrived steak, simply because I might be uncomfortable.
"No. It's okay. Really," I assured him.
Daniel nodded, and after that I felt a little better. Daniel had taken his time, and money, to do something that he thought
I'd enjoy. He deserved my appreciation, not me being a sad sack, and ruining his meal. So we talked. Mostly about what
all he was going to be doing, once he'd returned to Nashville. In a way, his talking like that made me feel a little weepy, but
I tried not to show it, because his happiness and enthusiasm was shining thru. He was so animated while discussing
the band, and what numbers they might do, when they opened the show for Eddie Rabbitt.
I was telling him which one of the mentioned songs I liked the best, when I saw, from the corner of my eye, the
girl walking towards the hallway that led to the restrooms.
Eddie, looking around a bit, settled his gaze near us, and then I could tell when he spotted us. His face sort of lit up
and he raised a hand to me in greeting.
I waved back, trying to appear casual. And then, before I could warn Daniel, Eddie was standing up, and coming
towards our table, his steps purposeful.
I felt the butterflies in my stomach, just like I always do when I first see Eddie. And then, suddenly, he was there,
beside our table.
"Hi, Harlie," he said, giving me that perfect smile of his.
"Hi," I said.
"Hey, Daniel," Eddie said then.
"Hey, Eddie," Daniel returned, and the two of them shook hands.
He and Daniel exchanged conversation for a couple of minutes, about what the other had been up to, and all of that.
Every couple moments, Eddie's look returned to me, though, and he would smile again. I felt my face turn warm, though I wasn't
sure just why. I mean, I'd danced at the Fourth of July celebration with Eddie just weeks before, and I hadn't felt so
embarrassed or shy. Maybe it was the intensity of his gaze, or something.
After that, Eddie asked me how I was, and if I'd been keeping busy.
I answered, conscious of Daniel's observing gaze across the table.
As the girl reappeared at their table, and then started our direction, to join Eddie, he was saying something about
the heat. An ornery impulse came over me, and I said, just as the girl was walking up, "Yeah. It's really hot. Especially
if you're wearing a sweater. Or something."
Eddie got my full meaning of my sweater comment, as his date came to stand at his side, resplendent in her
cashmere sweater.
He gave me another smile, and said, "I'd say you have a point there, Harlie."
I felt my face turn all warm again, and then Eddie introduced the girl to Daniel and I. Sadie. That was her name.
Daniel said hello, and I managed to say 'hi'.
After that, Daniel and Eddie talked a little more, about some of the jobs that Eddie had been working on, out
of the area, and about Daniel's return to Nashville.
I studied the girl, trying not to be caught at it. I'm not very good at telling people's ages, but she looked as
though she was a couple years older than me. She was attractive, though not in the classic sense of being beautiful.
She was observing me, as well. I could tell that she was, though I didn't really understand why.
When she and Eddie got around, to prepare to leave, he shook Daniel's hand again, and then reached out
to touch my hand, the one that I wore the bear ring on. The ring he'd gotten from the gum machine at the pizza place.
"Still have it, huh?" he asked me then, and smiled.
"I still have it," I answered, and he nodded, and then, said goodbye, and they left.
Daniel had finished off his entire steak, and he nodded towards my plate.
"Are you finished?" he asked me.
I said that I was, and he went to pay the check. As we were walking out of the restaurant, the sun was
setting, and there was a bit of a breeze.
"Ready to head home?" Daniel asked.
I knew he planned to leave really early the next morning, and I didn't want him going without sleep to begin that
long drive to Nashville.
"Yeah," I told him, and, once we were in the cab of his truck, and starting for home, we were both
quiet for a bit.
Finally, I broke the silence.
"Thanks for the movie. And supper."
"You're welcome." He looked over at me. "Did it bother you? Seein' Eddie tonight?"
He didn't add the words, 'with another girl', but I knew what he meant.
I considered for a moment, and then said, honestly, "No. I mean, it didn't ruin the night, or anything."
"That's good."
"Maybe I shouldn't have said what I did, do you think? About her sweater?" I asked him.
"I don't think it upset Eddie too much," Daniel said, and I thought he sounded amused.
"I don't see how her pants could get any tighter," I added, and Daniel chuckled.
"What?" I asked, turning to him.
"They were pretty tight alright," he said, in answer.
"She was pretty, though," I conceded.
"Yeah. She was."
I twisted to face him in the truck cab, as he drove. "Do you think I could be more like that?"
"Why would you wanna be?" Daniel countered.
"Well, that seems to be Eddie's type. Sort of-" I hesitated, trying to think of the correct word. "Well, sexy. Slinky."
"You're not exactly the 'slinky' type, squirt," Daniel said.
I sighed, and leaned back against the truck seat. "I know. Darn it."
Daniel let out a laugh, and I said, a bit indignantly, "What's so funny?"
"You are. You really don't have any idea at all, do ya?"
"Any idea about what?" I demanded, sitting up straight again. "You mean about-sex? I know all about sex, Daniel."
Daniel stopped laughing, and gave me a mock-stern look. "I wasn't talking about sex, exactly. But-" he pointed at me. "We'll
come back to just how much you know about that, in a bit."
"Well, what were you talking about?" I asked, curiously.
"I'm talking about Eddie, and his 'type' of girl. He's a young guy. He's out meeting different girls. It doesn't mean he's serious
about any of them."
This was the great secret, the one that Daniel thought I had no idea about? Just as I opened my mouth to tell him so, he went on,
and effectively, by what he said next, stunned me.
"He likes you, squirt. That's what I'm sayin'. You have no idea just how much that he likes you."
Stunned into silence for a few moments, and then I said, "I know he likes me, a little. He's always nice to me, and he
did want to go out with me last fall-"
"He likes you more than just a little," Daniel said, and rolled his window down the rest of the way, to usher a flying
bug out.
Daniel sounded so certain. "How do you know that?" I asked him.
"Because I'm a guy. And, I know how guys act, when they like a girl. It's the way Eddie looks when he's watchin' you."
I felt a surge of hope, and excitement. "You really think so, Daniel?"
"I know so."
"Wow," I said, and sort of sat back against the seat again.
"Give up the idea of tryin' to be 'slinky' and all of that," Daniel went on. "Be who you are. That's what caught his eye to
begin with."
I undid my seat belt, and scooted over to the middle of the truck seat, hooking my arm thru his.
"Thanks, Daniel," I said, in gratefulness.
"It's okay. My advice is free," he said.
7
Daniel left the next morning. Early. Before the sun was even up. I'd known that he would do it that way. Leave before the
house had risen. Leave without pomp and circumstance. I came down the stairs, hearing voices from the kitchen.
Adam, though, he was on the front porch. I went to the screen door and paused, watching him.
He had a cup of coffee in one hand, and was leaning against a porch pillar, looking out across the pastures. I watched, but
didn't see him take even one sip. He just held the cup in his hand, and I knew he was thinking of Daniel.
I pushed the screen open, glad when it didn't squeak. He heard me, though, because he turned his gaze to the left, to me.
"Morning, sugar," he said.
"Good morning."
I stood beside him, and after a few minutes of silence, I said, "Your coffee's going to be cold."
"Hmm?" he asked, looking to me again.
"You haven't taken even one sip of it," I said.
"Oh," he said, and took a drink. He grimaced, and tossed the coffee over the porch railing. "You're right. It's cold."
"I can get you some more, that's hot," I offered.
"No, that's alright. I'll go inside in a couple of minutes, and get some," he said, and smiled at me.
"Okay."
He reached out and ran a hand over the center of my back.
"Are you worried about Daniel?" I asked him, quietly. "He'll stop driving, if he gets too tired."
"I know he will." He rubbed my back. "I still worry, though," he admitted.
I nodded in understanding. "Me, too."
He pulled me over, and kissed the top of my head. "Let's get some breakfast, alright?"
"Okay," I said, and he pulled open the screen door, which squeaked this time.
7
Guthrie went to town with Crane later in the morning, and when they came back, they had Kristin with them.
I'd been hanging wet clothes onto the clothesline to dry in the sun, when they pulled in, and I left my chore to
run and greet her. We met in the yard, and hugged.
"I didn't know you were coming over," I told her, in excitement.
"I didn't know, either. I ran into Guthrie at the store, and they drove me back to drop off Mom's groceries, and then
Crane said I should just come on home with them!" Kristin said.
I gave Crane a grateful look, as he went past us, his arms full of grocery sacks.
Kristin went in the house to say hello to Hannah, and then came out to help me finish hanging the clothes in the basket.
She and Guthrie and I had a low conversation, and she brought us up to date on what was going on, with her, and
Frank, and the other news in town.
"Is it true?" I asked her. "About Frank?"
"Yeah, it's true," Kristin said. "Mom's a wreck about it."
"What was he doin'?" Guthrie asked.
"I guess they had him driving one of the trucks," Kristin said. "I mean, I'm not really sure, but that's what
he finally told Mom. They just came to the trailer day before yesterday, and knocked on the door, and arrested him."
I'd never seen anybody be arrested before, and I wondered if they'd read Frank his rights and handcuffed him and all
of that, like they do on television. I didn't ask though.
Eventually, Kristin answered all of that, anyway. Brian came to the door of the barn, and catching sight of the three of us
standing there, he hollered. First to Guthrie, to come and help him. Then, instead, he walked over to where we stood to greet
Kristin.
"Hey there," he said, giving her a smile.
"Hi, Brian," Kristin said, in answer, and seemed embarrassed. She sort of ducked her head, and didn't look him in the eye.
I wondered why. I mean, I knew that Crane had always been Kristin's favorite of all the older guys, but Brian had always
been nice to her.
"It's good to see ya," Brian went on.
"Thank you," Kristin said, still seeming stiff. "Crane said it was alright if I came over-"
"Sure, it's alright," Brian said. "It's great."
"Thanks," Kristin said, again, still looking at her shoes.
Brian flicked a glance at Guthrie, and at me, his forehead wrinkled a little. In puzzlement, I knew. But, he only
said, "Well, see you girls later. Can you help me out for a few minutes, Guth?"
"Yeah. Sure," Guthrie said, though he seemed reluctant to leave Kristin's side. He squeezed her hand, and then went off, following
after Brian.
We finished hanging the clothes then. I wondered why Kristin had acted that way with Brian. Before I could ask, she
told me herself.
"Maybe I shouldn't have come," she said, hanging a towel on the line.
"What?" I asked, stopping what I was doing. "What are you talking about? It's great. We can eat a bunch, and watch
a movie, or get Clare to French braid our hair-or maybe go for a swim."
Kristin stopped, as well, and lifted her shoulders in a shrug.
"We can do whatever you want-" I began.
"No. It's not that. I want to do all of that stuff. I'd rather be here than anywhere."
"So, what do you mean, then?"
"I just got to thinking-" she hesitated, "Maybe it will make everybody feel weird, with me being here, I mean."
"No, it won't," I denied. "Why would it?"
"Because. Because of Frank. I mean, he was one of the people that did the damage to the fences around here. Maybe
even your fences. And-"
"That's just dumb," I told her stoutly. "That has nothing to do with you!"
"I know that up here," Kristin said, tapping her forehead. "But, I still feel it. I can't help it."
"You're just talking crazy," I said. I wasn't sure what to say to convince her she was wrong.
We finished with the clothes, and went into the coolness of the house. We helped get lunch ready, and it was while
Kristin was setting the table, and talking to Hannah and Clare, that I heard the stomping of boots just outside.
I hustled quickly, going out and closing both the back screen door, and also the wooden one.
I was standing there, right in front of the doorway, and so they came to a stop. Brian and Adam, followed up by
Ford.
"You're in the way between me and food," Brian told me, jokingly.
"I want to tell you something first," I said, lowering my voice, even though I knew that Kristin wouldn't be able to hear.
"What?" Brian asked.
"Kristin thinks that you all might look at her differently. Feel different about her," I said.
"Why would she think that?" Adam asked.
"Because. Of Frank. You know."
"That's just nonsense," Adam said.
"I know. I tried to tell her that. But, I don't think she's really convinced."
"That why she wouldn't look me in the eye?" Brian asked me.
I nodded, and he said, "Well, I'll talk to her."
"Don't jump on her, Bri," I said.
"I won't. I'm not a complete buffoon, you know," he said, and gave my braid a tug.
"I know that. I just meant-well, you know," I said, my voice trailing off.
"We'll take care of it, sugar," Adam said, and edged me out of the way, so they could go inside.
7