Chapter 15

 

Buck went downstairs next morning still thinking about his dip in the lake and wondering how far Nation was prepared to go to wrestle the island from him. With the incident still fresh in his mind he called to report it to Sheriff Wright. The Sheriff's cool attitude left him with a splitting headache. He found Pearl slicing tomatoes at the kitchen sink, looking vivid in a yellow dress printed with red and green flowers that reminded him of a gaudy hot air balloon.

You okay, Mr. Buck? You look like a tired toad in a tubful of alligators,” she said, interrupting his thoughts. “You're worried about losing the island, aren't you?”

What worries me most is you and Raymond losing your house and the marina.”

Things will work out,” Pearl said. She sounded unconvinced. “Maybe what we all need is something to take our minds off the foreclosure. Raymond barbecues the best ribs in three counties. A barbecue might just fit the bill.”

Pearl's plan to cheer everyone up with a barbecue seemed perfect to him. “Great idea” he said. “We could use a little levity around here and I can repay Lila's hospitality.”

Then I'll send Wiley to town to pick up the ribs and fixins',” Pearl said, grabbing pencil and paper to make a party list.

Buck started to abandon her to her task but had a second thought. “We probably need a case or two of beer and a few bottles of wine.”

Glancing up from her list, she pointed to a door in back of the kitchen. “You been in the cellar lately?”

He opened the door and fumbled for the light switch just inside the dark stairwell. At the bottom of the limestone stairs, he found another switch that flooded the basement with fluorescent lighting. The room was at least twenty degrees cooler than the kitchen. Bottles of wine of every vintage and variety lined the walls. Grabbing two bottles, he hurried upstairs.

Why is the basement so cold?” he asked, handing Pearl the bottles.

Miss Emma was worried her wine might spoil, even though Raymond assured her the basement stays the same temperature year round.”

It's freezing down there.”

Pearl's angry frown told him he'd somehow struck a nerve. She started for the kitchen door and he followed her outside to an industrial-sized breaker box.

This thing hasn't worked right since the electrician put it in. Guess we need to get him back out here and fix it.” She slammed the metal door in disgust. “I'll call Wiley with my list and send him to town right now.”

I'll go with him,” he said, taking the list.

Fine, Mr. Buck. I'll tell him you're on the way.”

He found Wiley loading the Coke machine with fresh pop. Wiley grinned, tossing him a cold can.

How you feeling?”

Dazed and confused,” Buck said. About why Deacon John and Humpback tried to kill me last night.”

Kill you? You sure about that?”

Wiley's question caught Buck by surprise. “You saw their M-16s. Besides, I heard them talking.”

Maybe they were spotlighting turtles or something. How did they even know you were out there?”

Hogg Nation must have told them. He was at Lila's party and they work for him.”

So what?”

So Hogg Nation is determined to get this island, anyway he can.”

Hogg Nation doesn't need to kill you to get the island,” Wiley said.

Buck started to reply but checked himself. He had no reason to doubt Wiley's intentions. The young man’s placating words and presence on the lake the previous night made him do just that. Still, it didn't make sense and he decided to change the subject before blurting something out he’d regret later.

Did Pearl call you about the barbecue?”

Sure did,” Wiley said. “I got a boat waiting. You ready to go?”

Right behind you,” Buck said.

It was another hot day and Wiley wiped sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand as he led the way to the boat. Thunder clouds were moving south, too fast to drop their load, though elevating the humidity well above the comfort level. A lone egret raised a squawking protest to the heat, taking to the air in a clumsy maneuver of gangly legs and flapping wings.

When they reached the boat, Wiley said, “You just like my company or do you have other business in Deception?”

I only have a few days left before the bank forecloses on the island. I’m going to nose around the courthouse and see if I can dig up a copy of your parent's deed in the records. I also want to stop by and see Lila.”

Sure, but let me do the driving,” Wiley said, grinning.

Buck was more than happy to let Wiley guide them across the lake to Deception. Noon sunshine had begun evaporating puddles of water remaining from last night's rain. When they reached Deception, they found the humidity hadn't slowed the hordes of tourists jamming the sidewalks. Sara had apparently forgotten about their discussion concerning Hogg Nation. Now her smile was as warm as the first time they'd met. At least until she spotted Wiley.

Well, well, well,” she said. “Two handsome men to make my day a little brighter.”

You're the one doing the lighting,” Wiley said.

Sara latched on to his hand and he didn't seem to mind. “You're one big man. Bet you have trouble finding gloves and shoes that fit.”

I manage,” Wiley said. “Where you from, girl? I know I would have seen you before now if you were from around here.”

Maybe you just didn't notice.”

Oh, I would have noticed.”

Wiley and Sara continued holding hands, their banter racy enough to make Buck blush. It had no such effect on the two of them and left Buck with trouble deciding which of them was the boldest. It seemed like a dead heat.

Is Lila around?” He finally asked, interrupting their conversation.

In back,” Sara said, never breaking eye contact with Wiley.

Leaving them to their flirtatious exchange, he wandered down the narrow hallway to Lila's office. He found her studying an old doll with her hand lens.

Morning,” he said.

Why Mr. McDivit. How pleasant a surprise.”

I just dropped by to tell you how much I enjoyed your party last night, and to invite you to a barbecue on Fitzgerald Island Friday.”

Oh, how fun,” she said. “What time?”

Whenever you close the shop. Why don't you pack a bag and stay the weekend? There are more rooms in the lodge than I can count.” Lila hesitated, thinking about his offer. “Bring Sara along,” he added before she had a chance to answer. “We'll have a great time.”

Maybe we'll do just that,” she said. “I haven't had a day off in a year and there are other antique shops for the tourists.”

That's the spirit,” he said.

You didn't come all the way to Deception just to invite me to a barbecue, did you?”

I have a few other matters to attend to, but you topped my list.”

As Lila led him down the hallway to the shop, he wondered if something in east Texas water caused everyone to become outrageous flirts. If there was, he needed to find out. Someone could bottle it and make millions. To his surprise, Lila rushed to hug Wiley when she saw him. He lifted her off the ground, twirling her around twice before setting her down.

Wiley Johnson, where have you been?”

Working in Austin,” he said.

Don't you ever call your old friends when you're in for a visit?”

Lila's question seemed to embarrass him. “Haven't been back lately. When I do, it’s usually just long enough for a short stay.”

Are you here long enough for Buck's barbecue Friday?”

Wouldn't miss it,” he said.

Good, then we'll get a chance to visit.”

Miss Lila, you never told me about this fine hunk of mankind,” Sara said, chiming in.

He can tell you all about himself Friday. We're closing the shop early and going to Mr. McDivit's barbecue.”

Air brakes screeched outside the door and two dozen visitors began pouring out of a tourist bus, many of them directly into Lila's shop. Buck grabbed Wiley's elbow and pulled him to the door.

See you Friday.”

Call the lodge when you're ready to shut down,” Wiley said. “I'll pick you up and take you to the island.”

Wiley sported an ear-to-ear grin as they left Lila's shop. It didn't recede until he bumped into a fat man dressed in black socks, tennis shoes and Bermuda shorts.

Earth to Wiley,” Buck said, fanning his red-faced companion.

Wiley slowly dragged the back of his hand across his forehead. “Whewee,” he said. “How did I miss meeting that gal all these years?”

Guess it's your lucky day.”

You got that right, and it sounds like we got a date Friday night.”

Whoa, boy” Buck said.

Who you calling boy?” he said with a grin.

Buck didn't bother replying and Wiley followed him to the parking lot of the Pelican to find his truck.

Hey, wait a minute. Where you going?”

To check out the courthouse, then over to Ezra's to invite him to the barbecue.”

Ezra's black.”

So are you. So what?”

Nothing. I'm going to run over to the grocery store and pick up the things on Mama's list for the barbecue. Need anything?”

A spare $150,000, or so.”

Can't help you there. The store where I’m going specializes in chitlins and fatback.”

Just my luck,” Buck said. “Can you kill a few hours until I run my traps?”

You bet I can. Maybe Miss Sara can sneak off for a root beer. I'll do Mama's shopping in the meantime. Can you take me to Rambeau?”

What about that nice new supermarket on the edge of town? Don't they even let blacks shop with whites in Deception?”

They take anyone's money around here, no matter what color they are, but they don't have the gourmet ribs Daddy requires for his famous barbecue. Rambeau ain't much but it does have the best soul food grocery store in this part of the state.”

Jump in,” Buck said, unlocking the truck.

Even after days of disuse, the truck started on the first crank. Wiley stroked the leather bucket seat and prodded the padded dash.

Man, I've never seen a truck like this. You obviously don't poke livestock with it.”

It's a Cowboy Coupe, a special stretched-cab version of your standard Dodge truck.”

I'll say. There's enough room to sack out back there.”

Done it many times. I believe in comfortable stakeouts.”

I thought stakeout vehicles were discreet. Nobody's going to miss this candy-apple red beast.”

Wrong. Almost everyone in Oklahoma has a truck like this.”

And the streets are paved with gold.”

You have my Oklahoma guarantee on it,” Buck said.

They reached the outskirts of Rambeau before the two men stopped laughing. After a short drive, pine forests pulled away from Texas blacktop revealing a ramshackle village of slat houses with tin roofs that had never seen a coat of paint. Lazy dogs and naked black children occupied most of the front porches. There were no garages and most of the vehicles were up on blocks. Wiley pointed the way to the grocery store.

Want me to wait on you?” Buck asked.

I'll hitch a ride back to the dock when I finish. How long you gonna be?”

Say I meet you at the boat about four.”

You got it,” Wiley answered, piling out of the truck. “Watch you don't scratch the paint on this cowboy Cadillac.”

No way,” Buck said, waving and turning around in the road.

Gunning the engine, he hurried back to Deception, hoping to reach the courthouse before it closed for the day.