by Lass Small
Tom said, “That’s why I want...somebody who’s special.”
His daddy replied with a nod, “We’re all that-away. I was lucky.”
Mrs. Keeper leaned over and kissed her son’s forehead. “Sleep well.”
John rose and hugged his son. “This was a good visit. We’ll go to the first game and watch who’s best.”
Tom sighed. “Yeah...it’ll be the Cubs, just wait.”
His daddy lifted a stopping hand and turned his head a little as he said very seriously, “We’ll wait and see.”
Mina shook her head once and sighed.
Tom laughed.
They were still talking as they exited the room. It was late. They whispered. The parents went on off down the hall John put an arm around his wife and she leaned her head on the front of his shoulder. They were talking and their laughs were silenced enough.
Tom stood and watched them. They didn’t even turn at their door and wave. They’d forgotten him. He smiled, so amused. It would be like that for him at that age. His wife would be that way.
He went along to Ellen’s door and stood with his hands in his pockets as he tried to look through the solid door and see her in bed and asleep. No, she was awake and pacing, she was so hungry for his body. Yeah. Sure.
What man on any ranch needed additional exercises?
He went upstairs, stripped and put on running clothes and shoes. Those clothes gave him room and he wasn’t conscious of their being on him. And the shoes were high and supported his ankles on that uneven ground.
He wore a billed cap and he wore gloves. Nobody knew what he’d run into at night when he ran. Dogs especially. He’d take a couple with him. He’d have trouble convincing his favorite to hussle around and get out of the house.
Well, how long had it been since Tom went out jogging at night? He picked up a flashlight. Might as well see where he was going.
Coyotes.
Yeah.
He took a pistol and settled the gun belt on his hips. It was only then he thought he might rattle the watch. He stripped, put on swimming trunks and went out to the pool.
Not too many TEXANS thought it was rash to swim at that time of the year. The weather was okay. He dived in. The dogs came along and got on the chairs to watch. They thought he was crazy and needed their attention and protection.
Flashlights came along. The night crew flashed them on Tom and asked, “What the hell are you doing?”
Tom reached the end of the pool and lifted the goggles from his face. He said, “How come you guys aren’t swimming?”
One of the crew said, “Oh, hell, it’s Tom. He’s gone nuts.”
Tom protested, “I hardly ever get the time to swim! I work my tail off.”
The two crewmen said nothing more because Tom had started to swim again and couldn’t hear them anyway. They shook their heads and went on off. One said to the other, “Thank God Fibee married me. I don’t have to swim at night anymore.”
“You did that, too?”
The one sighed. “The things a man has to do because of women is mind-boggling. Mostly running—not away from most of them, but just to be able to sleep! I remember—” And they walked on off around a corner.
Everybody soon knew that Tom was interested in one of the guests. A woman. They watched him slyly and smiled. They also tried to help him. They’d seat the two side by side at the table. They’d get him to help her with something. She was surprised when he was there with a car when she was committed by Lu who had enlisted her in giving Angela a fifteen-minute breather twice a day.
Those first days were difficult for Ellen. It wasn’t the kids, but her stamina. She survived. It had been Lu who took Ellen in a car for that break. But it was soon Tom. It was Tom most of the time, but he was not always available. His ranch responsibilities intruded. Lu Parsons was so amused by him.
Oddly enough, it took Ellen quite a while before she actually understood that Tom wasn’t a lolling, indifferent heir who had no commitments. The next time the bull got trapped in the wash, Tom took Ellen and Angela’s kids to at least see what was happening.
Tom loved it that he was escorting Ellen. He took her elbow. But he also lifted the kids and watched out for them. That morning, with Ellen and Tom in control of the kids, Angela had almost an hour of peace.
Ellen told a blank-faced Tom, “You were so kind to let the kids watch the bull being saved.”
She thought that?
When they brought the kids back, they found Angela asleep. She blinked and pulled herself out of bed. Ellen looked at her with compassion as she said, “Go back to sleep. I’ll be here until lunch.”
However, Lu told Tom, “Ellen’s had enough. Take her back to the Keeper house. I’ll handle this.”
While Ellen’s exhaustion was obvious, she did protest that she needed to help. However, Tom agreed with Lu and said, “Not this time.”
He drove Ellen back to the Keepers’ house. He took her inside. It was lunchtime. The gong had rung. The two split and hurried to wash their hands and tidy themselves a bit. Then they went to the dining room.
They were almost a tad late, but Mrs. Keeper had delayed lunch until they arrived That woman knew everything. She was truly a hostess.
For that day, Mrs. Keeper had concealed the side dining room’s guest whom she was instructing. It was more important to observe Ellen with her son Tom. It was very obvious that Tom was zonked. What about Ellen?
Mrs. Keeper watched the young woman when she could. Ellen seemed easy enough. She was tired. She listened to Tom and she smiled. She didn’t laugh out loud. But she did listen.
Four
It wasn’t but a day or so later that the doorbell rang, and it was an uninvolved Ellen who went to see who was there. Again it was the cat. How had the cat learned to ring the doorbell? Was it the cat? Or was it some hilarious person who found that amusing?
The cat came into the house past Ellen. It had a high tail and casual walk as if he owned the place, and Ellen was a tolerant slave. However, Ellen didn’t notice the conduct of the cat because she was looking for whoever must have rung the doorbell.
Ellen even went out on the porch. But there was no one but a yard man who was some distance away and raking leaves. It had to have been the cat who rang the doorbell. How had it learned to do that?
She went back into the house. There the cat then meowed and indicated that it wouldn’t mind a taste of something if it wasn’t old but something new and fascinating.
So Ellen led the cat to the kitchen. The crew had just about finished cleaning up after breakfast. She asked, “Does this cat really ring the doorbell?”
The crew looked at the cat with some disgruntled tolerance. One man said, “I would guess about five times a day.”
One of the women said, “Yep. He thinks we don’t recognize him and he is here for his food...each time. If you will notice, he’s rather plump.”
Ellen inquired, “Then he is a he and the plumpness isn’t for a fertile female.”
“Correct.”
She leaned over the cat and said, “Go out to the far buildings and look for mice.”
The cat walked around her without touching her or rubbing against her. He knew a misfit right away. He went over to the crew and looked up pitifully. Instead of a rude meow, it said, “Mew.”
Ellen gasped, “How clever!”
One of the crew replied, “It gets worse.”
Another put in, “If it gets past time, the cat gets rude and says unspeakable things. You can tell by the manner of his yowls.”
Ellen laughed.
The cat turned his head and stunned her with one look.
Unfortunately, Ellen was not stunnable. She just laughed.
The cat made the mistake of switching his tail. He’d revealed he was irritated. Stupid.
One of the crew went to the cat, picked it up and pitched it out the back door.
That made the whole crew laugh. The cat landed gently on all fours. He switched his tai
l, then he started around to the front door again.
One of the crew told Ellen, “Look outside before you open the door. If it’s people out there, it’s generally okay. Otherwise, don’t open the door at all or the cat gets inside.”
With interest that was unusual recently, Ellen asked, “Is he a mouser?”
“We doubt it. He’s too lazy.”
“Give him a mouse. See what he does with it.”
The crew communicated looks with each other in delight.
As Ellen walked through the rooms, she ran into a group that was chatting together. One of the guests—there were always guests—asked Ellen, “Would you enjoy a ride? The horses are too lazy, and the Keepers beg us to ride them for the sake of the horses. It gives them an outing.”
“I would love it.” Then she asked cautiously, “How long would the ride be?”
The riders considered each other as they decided, “Lunch,” said one.
“About two?” questioned another.
“More like four.”
They smiled at Ellen. “How about three hours?”
She smiled back and said, “Not yet. I’ll ride later. Have a good time. Check with Mrs. Keeper to be sure you go in the right direction.”
One male who was considering Ellen with some vibrant interest said, “We’ve been told.”
So Ellen said, “Hope everything goes your way.”
That one man said, “I’ll be back.”
A couple of others mentioned that they also would be back. The women protested with hilarity. And in the milling and chatter, one told the most interested man something about Keeper.
That made the interested man look again at Ellen. Then he gave Ellen his best smile. He said, “Save me a dance.”
After the group had left, Ellen sought out and asked the senior Mrs. Keeper, “Are you giving a dance tonight?”
“Not that I know. Why?”
“One of the men told me to save him a dance tonight.”
“Oh,” said Mrs. Keeper. “I see,” she said. “Hmmmm.”
“What’s that mean?”
“I’ll discuss it with Tom.”
Curious, not understanding at all, Ellen asked, “What...will you discuss...with Tom?”
Mrs. Keeper looked at Ellen and raised her eyebrows. “The dance.”
Ellen said a nothing, “Oh.”
Ellen went to her room and stripped. She stood under the shower and relished the feel of the water on her body. She poured shampoo into her hand and lifted her hands to her hair. She washed it carefully for some time.
While she had always been neat and clean, only recently had she begun to realize she was alive. How strange to have been walking on this planet and suddenly to understand that she was actually there. She was one of the multitude who lived on this unusual, amazing ball, which was loose in that region of the universe.
How strange to understand that she was, indeed, there. So. What was she going to do about it? About being there, in this place for a limited time. What could she do to—help.
Into her mind came the time she gave to Angela. So brief, so helpful. Then she considered the Keepers. The family had lived here for generations. Their house was large. They took in people and cared about them.
They had done that same thing for her.
—and how many others?
A whole lot of the people who came there were friends enjoying a holiday, like those who’d gone riding just a while ago.
Once again, Ellen’s thoughts turned to her lost baby. She wondered what she could have done to save the baby. Had she been too emotional when Phillip Clark had left her? He hadn’t wanted the baby. Actually, he hadn’t wanted her.
That realization made Ellen thoughtful.
Did everyone who blundered believe that there had been a reason for it all? A lesson to be learned? How could such a terrible time be a—lesson, she wondered.
Sent by his quick mother, Tom came into the small room. He moved slowly, watching her. “Are you all right?”
She almost smiled, she was so glad to see him. Her lips parted in delight and her eyes sparkled. She asked, “Why are you here?”
“Well, Mama said we’d be having a dance tonight, and I wanted to have all your dances. I just thought I ought to get to you as soon as possible before you signed up all the dances with everybody else.”
She watched him and her eyes got watery. She said, “No one has asked for a dance.”
“Then I get them all?”
She smiled at him. He was such a nice man. She said, “You and your daddy and Jerry who is on the crew?”
“Not Jerry. He’s a hundred years old and a tomcat and I’d have to dance along with you two in a threesome and it could be very awkward!”
She laughed so softly.
He was very earnest as he watched her. He licked his smile and protested, “If you laughed at even one of his jokes, that Jerry would be underfoot the whole, entire time. He talks fast and you can’t keep up, and he’s not a gentleman.”
“He isn’t? He’s always seemed like one.”
Tom shook his head as he explained, “Men get strange out on the tableland thisaway. You have to take care of yourself...but since you’re so frail, I’ll do that for you. I’m a Keeper, you know.”
Now that last bit could mean just about anything. Her eyes sparkled as she watched him, and she didn’t say one word.
Tom said, “I get all the dances with you except the two when I dance with Mama and you dance with Daddy. Okay?”
She nodded as she smiled at him.
“I’m glad I got that all straightened out. If anybody tries to get a dance, you just refer him to me. Understand?”
“Yes, sir.”
“I like that attitude.” Then he breathed rather rashly and he said, “I get a kiss.”
She patted her pockets and looked around, but he reached out and just lifted her up against him... and he kissed her.
It was sobering. It was fantastic. It was amazing. It was wonderful!
He shivered. His hands trembled. He breathed oddly.
She asked, “Are you all right?”
“Not yet.” Then he looked up at the ceiling as he breathed very carefully.
She looked at the ceiling and frowned. “Is the roof leaking?”
“Not yet.”
“Are we going to have a big storm?”
He replied soothingly, “I hope it’s all simple and easy, but one never knows.”
“Why are you here?”
“I wanted to be sure you know you belong to me.
She looked at Tom in some shock and said, “I don’t—”
“Tonight. You do. I’ll try to give you some room. Maybe tomorrow or next week sometime.”
None of that made any sense to Ellen. She frowned as she tried to understand.
He patted her head and said, “Watch out for boarders.”
She decided the Keepers were on a fence and desperate. Earnestly, she said, “I have about $20,000.00 I can get right away.”
He turned and looked at her very soberly. He asked, “For... what.”
She opened out her hands as she said, “To... help.”
He watched her. Then his smile began. He said, “Not this time.” And he left.
She watched after him. He was eliminating her as help. Twenty thousand was obviously a drop in the bucket. People were going to board with the Keepers. Had they gone belly-up financially? With all the people they took in, that wouldn’t be a surprise. What on earth!
When Mrs. Keeper appeared on the main floor and in a hurry, Ellen called, “Mrs. Keeper!”
She stopped and turned quickly, “Yes?”
“Tom said you’re taking in boarders? I can pay for—”
“He was speaking of ships, my dear, pay no attention.” That said, Mina Keeper turned away and started off with long steps.
But Ellen ran after her and said, “What’s ha—”
Mrs. Keeper said, “Lu is here to take you to Angela
for her breather.”
“Oh. Yes. Of course. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
Mina waved both hands by her shoulders as she went along off saying, “Don’t fret. Everything is under control.”
That sounded like the Gulf water was rising and was going to climb up and wash right over the whole, entire land!
As Lu drove her over to Angela’s, Ellen told Lu that the Keepers were sinking. “They must have lost money on the stock market?”
Lu replied kindly, “I would doubt that very seriously. It’s something else. What all’s happened?”
“They are giving a dance tonight and—”
Lu was shocked. “We’re not invited! I haven’t heard one word!”
“Well, apparently it’s spur-of-the-moment. Tom came in just a minute ago and told me I was to save all the dances for him.”
“What’s going on?”
Ellen put out her hands. “I don’t know. Something about sinking the ship. Are they financially on the rocks?”
“Good heavens, no.” Lu squinched her eyes. “It’s something else. You say Tom came and demanded all the dances with you?”
“Yes. How’d you know?”
Gently, Lu explained, “You just said it. That means Tom is worried some other man is after you.”
“Who?”
Lu shrugged. “I have no idea. Don’t you know?”
Ellen said, “I really haven’t been around men for some time.”
Lu mentioned, “You’ve been around Tom.”
“Well, yes, but he’s been a very courteous host. He’s very kind.”
Lu slowly slid her eyes over to Ellen in startled understanding. Ellen was a winkie-dink. Not bright. Well, not so with males. How hilarious.
When the time came, Ellen did dress. As usual, she put on her underwear inside out. She did it so that the seams would not be against her fragile skin. And it occurred to her that if Tom should ever strip off her clothing, he would be shocked that she wore her underwear seam side out.