“Don’t worry. I won’t say anything we’ll regret. And if I do, he can fire us.”
Gladdie went to Archie’s room and rapped on his door.
“Come on in.” Archie stopped combing his hair when he saw Gladdie. “Oh, it’s you.” He motioned to the corner of the bed. “Siddown.”
“I’ll stand, thanks.”
“Suit yourself. So did you have a nice break with your girl?”
Gladdie was in no mood for chitchat. “I have somethin’ I need to tell you. I feel like you took advantage of Drusie real good, and I don’t think much of that.”
“Excuse me?”
“You know what I mean. She thought she was signed up for a year at the most. Never two years. That’s forever.”
“Not in show business. Why, that’s just a start. I got plans for Drusie and Clara. Big plans. And you’ll want to be there for the ride. You’ll thank me later, Mr. Harmonica Player.”
“I will, will I? Why, I have a mind to leave with Drusie tonight.”
“Good luck with that. You’re not their manager. Take it up with their pa if you don’t like it. The deal is signed, sealed, and delivered. I have a carbon copy of the contract I can get out of my suitcase and show you right now if you don’t believe me.”
“Oh, I believe you. But I didn’t sign anything. I’m doin’ you a favor.”
“You are—an expensive favor. But you’re free to go. I can make do without you if I have to. But not Drusie. Or Clara. They’re contracted to me, and they stay. Besides, the longer they stay on the road, the more famous they get. It’s for their own good to stay.”
“You mean for your own good.”
Without warning, Elmer and Buford shadowed the door.
“What’s the matter, boss?” Elmer asked. “We can hear you fightin’ two doors down.”
“This fight is almost done,” Gladdie told them. “I have half a mind to tell you to keep your money, Archie.”
He noticed Drusie and Clara loitered behind the men. Good. They could see he was serious. Gladdie reached into his pocket to search for the two dollars he liked to carry with him for emergencies. The rest of his money was back in his room. The amount seemed a small sacrifice to make a dramatic impact.
“Here you are. Drusie and I don’t need you or your money!” He threw the dollars at his cousin. To his surprise, something clinked on the floor.
Archie gasped. He rushed to retrieve the shiny object. “Buford’s money clip! And look—a twenty-dollar bill. What are you doing with this?” He glared at Gladdie.
Gladdie tensed. “I have no idea how that got there!”
Drusie spoke up. “You can believe him, Archie. I know Gladdie, and he’s as honest as the day is long.”
Gladdie threw her a quick smile.
“Must be a short day, then,” Archie scoffed.
“How could you doubt Gladdie?” Drusie asked. “He’s your cousin.”
“He is, but I haven’t seen much of him in years. Times are tough, and people change.”
“Not Gladdie.”
One of the roadies interrupted. “Of course you’re going to take up for your boyfriend, Drusie. But we can’t afford to have our things turning up missing.” He looked at Archie. “What say we throw him out, Mr. Gordon?”
“It’s Buford’s money clip. Maybe we should see what he has to say about it,” Drusie suggested.
“I’m running the show here. What I say goes,” Archie responded. Then he nodded, but the motion was slow and bespoke sadness. “I never thought I’d see the day when I couldn’t trust my own cousin. After all I’ve done for you, too.”
“Wait!” Drusie protested.
Archie shook his head, glaring at Gladdie. “I’ve waited long enough to find out who the thief is around here. I would have given my eyeteeth for it not to be you.”
“But this doesn’t explain the items that were missing before Gladdie got here,” Drusie pointed out. “Archie, I think you’re too eager to solve this whodunit and too mad at Gladdie to see straight.”
“Oh, I see straight, all right.”
“If you were, you’d see that somebody’s planted false evidence on me,” Gladdie protested.
Archie chuckled. “You’ve been watching too many motion pictures.”
“Maybe so, but I tell you, I ain’t the one who took your stuff.”
Archie eyed his cousin. “Are you planning on hiding behind your girlfriend’s skirt and letting her make excuses for you?”
“No, I’m not hidin’ anywhere. But I can see I’m no longer welcome here and everybody’s wantin’ to concoct any story they can to get rid of me. I know you don’t believe I’m a thief.”
“Now see here—” Archie protested.
“See here, nothin’. I’m leavin’, that’s what I’m doin’. I cain’t stay where I’m not trusted.”
“I don’t blame you, Gladdie, but you gotta stay. You just gotta. All this will get cleared up. You’ll see,” Drusie objected.
Archie crossed his arms and surveyed his cousin. “You can walk to the bus station from here and catch a ride home.”
Drusie tried to stop him. “But, Gladdie—”
“He’s made up his mind, and if he doesn’t want to be part of our show, so be it,” Archie said. “I got enough problems without all this bickering. We’ve got a show to put on.” He nodded to the band members. “Load on up. We’ve got no time to lose.”
Gladdie tried to keep his face from displaying his distress. He had expected his own cousin to defend him and to respond to his threats by insisting that he stay. But clearly, Archie was too carried away by his emotions to see logic. The urge to argue struck him, but with Archie in such a foul mood, he knew there was no use. Even worse, he was parting from Drusie under a cloud.
Lord, part of this mess is my own fault. I shouldn’t have been so stubborn and prideful. Now I’m about to lose everything I ever cared about. Please show me what to do.
“What’s the holdup?” Archie interrupted Gladdie’s thoughts. “You said you don’t want to be part of our show, and the perfect excuse to get out fell right at your feet. So what’s your complaint? Now scram.”
Gladdie gave no answer except to go to his room and pack. Archie was hardly the voice of God, but for the time being, he offered the only direction he could hear.
Twelve
Onstage during the matinee show, Drusie heard applause but didn’t absorb her success. She noticed Clara basking in the spotlight as usual. Obviously, she had put the day’s drama out of her mind. Drusie envied the way Clara flitted about from hour to hour, not worrying about anything.
“And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?”
The Lord’s advice from the book of Luke popped unbidden into her head. Perhaps instead of envying her sister, she should follow her example of not worrying.
Still, Gladdie had gone against her advice and had ended up yelling at his cousin and saying regretful things. She had a feeling if the men hadn’t been so fired up, Gladdie never would have tossed money at him and Archie never would have accused him of thievery and thrown him out on his ear. But the clock couldn’t be turned back. Gladdie had been thrown out on his ear, and she had no idea where he was. She prayed he was safe. Or maybe he had talked Archie out of forcing him to leave. What if he was still safe back at the motel or, even better, watching her perform from a place where she couldn’t spy him? If he was, she could make up with him. But what if he wasn’t? She did know one thing—the music didn’t have nearly as much texture without Gladdie’s harmonica. Archie had talked a big game about being able to find another harmonica player with a snap of his fingers, but no such talent had materialized.
None of this would have happened if she had just stayed home. Drusie wished she could go back to the way things were, when all she had to think about, other than helping her mother put up vegetables and clean the house, was when she could be doing the same tasks as Mrs. Gladdie Gordon.
She watc
hed Clara sing a solo of “See That My Grave Is Kept Green,” a song she could perform well and which was always met with great applause. Clara would do just fine without her. At least she had prospered from their new situation. And from the looks of things, she had even found the love of her life in Archie.
Lord, I don’t mean to be selfish, but did I have to lose everything so Clara could have everything? Help me to understand, and show me Thy will.
Clara’s number ended, and they launched into “No Telephone in Heaven” before moving on to “Sunshine in the Mountain.”
Drusie laughed and joked with her sister in a rehearsed act, performed so many times that she knew it better than her own name. For that she was grateful. Such familiarity gave her a sense of comfort, and the sounds of laughter and applause helped ease her mind, at least for a while.
As soon as they strummed the last note of their closing song, “Let the Church Roll On,” Drusie took her bow and headed offstage. Archie caught her and made her linger to meet a few fans and sign autographs. Her favorite fans were the children. Little girls looked up at her as though she were a fairy-tale princess. If only that were true. She wondered if Cinderella ever got angry with Prince Charming.
As was expected of her, Drusie signed autographs until the crowd dissipated, but afterward she hurried to find Gladdie.
Outside the door, she almost bumped into Archie.
“Say, why are you making tracks?” he asked.
“I want to know where Gladdie is.”
“You know where he is. He left, remember?”
“I wish you hadn’t made him think he had to go.” Noticing the night chill, she wrapped her arms around herself. “Both of you got way madder than you should have. I think you were too hasty.”
“He’s the one who decided to leave. Truth be told, I’m sorta sorry, but that’s the way it goes.”
“Maybe he’s not too far from here. Maybe it ain’t too late to tell him you’ve changed your mind.”
“But I haven’t. I realize you don’t understand the ways of the world, as sheltered as you’ve been, but I can’t afford to have discord on the tour. I’m in no mood to fight with you, either. So if you’re smart, you’ll drop the subject or I’ll throw you off the tour, too. Clara can sing on her own.”
Drusie knew he spoke the truth, but she also knew that Archie had taken a shine to her sister. No wonder he could act so brave about throwing her out.
Archie wasn’t finished. “You may have saved some of your money, but it’ll run out. When you can’t find any food and you’re out on your own, far away from home not knowing anyone, see who’ll watch out for you then.”
“People will know me as a singer. I’ll find someone who can help me.”
He ogled her, though his expression was devoid of passion. “You’re a looker, but take away that sequined dress and you aren’t any more special than any other broad on the street.”
She wanted to tell Archie he couldn’t scare her, but the look in his eyes told her she’d better not be too bold lest he keep a watch on her and foil the plans she had made while she’d strummed onstage. “Maybe you’re right, Archie. What was I thinkin’?”
“You know I’m right.” His posture relaxed.
“I’m off to bed.”
“Don’t you want to take dinner with the rest of us?”
She wanted to beg off but knew if she did, Archie would catch on that all still wasn’t well. “Sure.”
Dinner dragged, but Drusie maintained a happy face. She kept hoping against hope that Gladdie would show up at dinner, but as dessert arrived, she could no longer kid herself. He had left.
It was only hours later, after Clara was asleep, that she sneaked out into the night, determined to find Gladdie. She didn’t pack much in her little bag, not even her sequined dresses. Where she was going, she wouldn’t be needing them. Besides, Clara would be sure nothing happened to them. She would keep them safe for Drusie until she returned to fulfill the rest of her contract. She resolved to be gone as short a time as possible. After all, she couldn’t go back on her father’s word. That wouldn’t be right.
The highway was lonely and dark, but she wasn’t about to give up. Putting her thumb in the air with the boldness of the most hardened hobo, she walked and tried to hitch a ride back to her beloved mountain home. Once she got there, she would find Gladdie. She would convince him to return to the tour. Surely Archie would forgive him once they reunited. Then she and Gladdie could set their minds to thinking of how to prove the identity of the person who was really responsible for all the trouble.
❧
Gladdie stopped for a cup of coffee at a roadside diner somewhere in rural Lincoln County. He was grateful to find a diner of any description, since he’d seen nowhere else to eat for miles. He’d missed the last bus out of town, and since the town in question was nothing more than a signpost, he decided to hitchhike and get as far as he could before moving on to any new ideas. Except he had no new ideas, so he kept walking down the lonely road.
Money had never been in great supply for him, but his needs were simple. He had managed to save most of the money Archie had paid him to help on the tour. His guess was that he wouldn’t see his last paycheck.
Upset that he would have to go home in defeat, without a job, and on the outs with a family member, Gladdie stared out the diner window. He thought about what a mess he’d made of his life, all because he thought Drusie could earn enough money to make his dream of owning a store come true. Then his dream went bust, and Drusie sang every night for strangers instead of living life at home with him, where she belonged.
Worse than anything else was that he left on bad terms with Drusie and he had no idea whether they’d ever make up. She’d been determined to keep to Archie’s contract. Maybe she was right. And maybe she was right about wanting a more normal life than they could have on the road, with or without being married. Still, he couldn’t help but be angry at her. Once again, she had chosen Clara and her happiness—and her obligation to her pa—over him. Maybe he should just let her rot. With stage lights as hot as they were, she’d spoil pretty fast.
His hardhearted thoughts upset him to the point that he couldn’t eat his food, even though the grilled cheese sandwich—the cheapest entrée on the menu—tasted almost as good as his mother’s. He knew why he was so angry at Drusie. He loved her too much.
Still watching the world go by, he noticed that every few minutes an automobile or truck passed, but otherwise no discernable activity occurred near the eating establishment. Gladdie wondered how they stayed in business. Then again, the dinner rush had long since passed.
An automobile turned into the patch of dirt in front of the diner. Gladdie watched as a grizzled old man disembarked from the driver’s side. To his surprise, a young woman wearing a green wool coat emerged from the passenger side. The man’s daughter, maybe?
He looked again and did a double take. Drusie?
What was she doing with a strange man out in the middle of nowhere? Unable to stop himself in spite of his earlier unkind thoughts toward her, he rose from his seat and rushed to greet her. He met her just in front of the door. “Drusie!”
She looked stunned. “Gladdie! What are you doin’ here?”
The man who had brought Drusie intervened. “You know this here fella, young lady?”
“Yes, sir, I do.”
“And everything’s all right?” The man looked Gladdie up and down.
Drusie nodded. “I think so.”
“I’ll go on about my business, then, but I’ll be nearby if you need me.”
“Thank you, Mr. Davidson.”
Gladdie shut the door behind them, and they watched the older man take a seat at the counter. Gladdie spoke in a low volume. “You sure make friends fast.”
“Got to, when you’re on your own. So what are you doin’ here? I thought you was supposed to catch a bus.”
“Couldn’t. Missed it. What are you doin’ here? I thought you’d to
ld Archie you’d be singin’ for him for the next two years.”
“And I will. But first I had to be sure you were okay.” She slipped into the booth. “And I really do want you to come back to the tour. Archie does, too, but he’s too proud to admit it.”
“Aw, Drusie.”
“I know you was set up with that money clip. I think Elmer and that strange woman that hangs around with him have somethin’ to do with everything that’s missin’, and I think we need to figure out how to prove it.”
Gladdie grinned. “I’m glad you have faith in me.”
“Of course I do.”
He reached across the table and placed his hand on top of hers. “But how can I prove my innocence?”
“I don’t hardly know. Cain’t we put our heads together and think up a way? We’ve got some time if we ride back to where the tour is.” A question occurred to Drusie. “So how did you get here if you missed the bus?”
“I hitched a ride with a farmer who dropped me off about a mile from here. I was wonderin’ where I would stay the night, when I decided I’d just stay up and keep walkin’. Maybe someone else would be on the road, even if it’s already past ten.”
“Speaking of the time. . .” the only waitress, a plump redhead, interrupted. “Like I told your friend here, we’re just about to close. We’re open bright and early for breakfast tomorrow, though.”
“Aw, cain’t you spare her a little coffee? You got some left, don’tcha?” Gladdie asked. “I’ll give you an extra good tip.”
The waitress shrugged. “I reckon I can serve you, then. Only, you’ll have to ignore me mopping the floor.”
“I sure will.” Drusie nodded toward the counter. “What about Mr. Davidson?”
She regarded the older man as though he were hardly visible. “Oh, him. He’s like family. He’s here all the time.”
Gladdie fired off a question to Drusie. “So who is your friend?”
“Mr. Davidson? I’m mighty grateful to him for lettin’ me have a ride. He said he can drop me off at a motel tonight not far from here. We were just stoppin’ at this here diner for a pick-me-up. You know, maybe he’ll let you ride with us. I don’t see why not. There’s plenty of room.”
Music Of Home Page 11