MONDAY OCTOBER 29, 2007
SCOTT CARRIED LEE ANN’S OVERNIGHT bag and the black suitcase inside.
“I don’t think I can sleep,” she said. “Let’s put some coffee on.”
She sat at the kitchen table in her coat, the weight of it bending her spine.
“Has Eugene been back, has he called?”
“No.”
The machine gurgled and sputtered and coffee dripped into the pot. She shook her head at his offer to make toast and eggs.
“Your uncle is a criminal,” she said. “There’s a name for someone like him—a sociopath. He’ll never be any different and it’s up to us to distance ourselves. I’m dividing the ranch. He’ll get the northern half. You and Dee are to have nothing more to do with him.”
“After two days of obeying boundaries, he’ll do whatever he wants.”
“I’ll shoot him if he sets foot on this half again. He knows I mean it. A surveyor will determine an accurate division of the property. Owen maybe, who will likely take great satisfaction in knowing the acreage is equal, but that Walker’s half is useless.”
“If you strand him on land where he can’t earn a living, he’ll get into more trouble.”
“I don’t care. He can go to…” If heaven didn’t exist, hell didn’t either. “…jail.”
Scott filled two mugs, set them down and took a seat. He seemed twice his age.
“I heard at the store that Dad’s taken a job at the Diamond T Dude Ranch, down south. The previous manager quit after an argument with one of the guests.”
She held her forehead. A separation. Possibly, a divorce.
“Edgar’s almost useless,” Scott said. “Dee’s stuck with the whole load. I mean, he can manage things, but it’s hard without Dad and only one good arm. You know, he considers me hopeless when it comes to ranch work. I’m doing the best I can.”
She said, “Please drive down there and talk to him.”
He reached across the table.
“Give him some time, Mom.”
She took his hand.
“I can’t.”
“Dee will have more influence. I’ll ask him to go.”
The courthouse hadn’t collapsed without her. She stepped into stale air smelling faintly of ranchers’ sweat, first time late in twenty years.
Lyle looked up from behind his desk.
“I’ve brought him back,” she said.
He leaned back in his wooden chair.
“Doin’ my job,” he said. “Better’n I could myself.”
“I have more reason,” she said.
“Walker’s agreed to give Owen the money.” She set the suitcase on his desk. “Most of it’s there.”
Lyle got up slowly and walked her to the door.
“Owen would’ve sold the place in the end,” he said. “You could say Walker did him a favor.”
At the Brand New Motel, Danielle was updating reservations through Thanksgiving weekend on the computer.
“Walker’s back,” Lee Ann said.
“Whoop-dee-doo.”
“I hear Eugene is working at the Diamond T.”
“I have no idea.”
The clock chimed ten. Danielle ran her tongue over her teeth.
“Look,” she said. “There isn’t, and never has been anything between Eugene and me. I flirt with anyone under sixty whose name isn’t Walker. There’s a big distance and a huge difference between flirting and fucking, pardon my English.”
Lee Ann stepped back.
“I talk to men about some dumb thing like the weather while my eyes say, ‘I want to sleep with you.’ That leaves it up to the guy to make the move. Eugene gave me nothing more than a helping hand.”
“The livestock auction in Belen…”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You met him there. Suzette said you’d called in sick.”
“The only day I missed work was when Loretta and I drove to Albuquerque to catch the John Anderson concert at Sandia Casino. Loretta called in sick, too,” she said. “If you’re assuming I’ve been seeing Keith, you have good reason. Eugene? No.”
The nasal twang and seductive pitch in Walker’s voice had the women in the office tittering.
“I’ll tell you the truth, ladies. I sold Ross’s property so Owen wouldn’t have to. Handled the details myself to save Owen a trip and Ross a lot of hassle. I had business up north, a little venture I couldn’t postpone. Needed a few grand and figured I deserved a small commission for all I’d done. Owen will get his money this afternoon. Look at you beautiful things! Midwestern gals got nothin’ on you.” He swung his hands out and around his hips. “Broad asses and complexions white as Eugene’s diesel, personalities bland as the diet they eat. Corn and more corn, ham and more ham. I stopped for breakfast in Colby, Kansas. The special was four eggs, four pieces of bacon or sausage, potatoes, biscuits and gravy. The men were so big their butts took up two chairs. I swear. Bigger than Harley’s. Oops. That might be him now.”
Lee Ann entered as he ducked under a desk. The girls covered their mouths.
Caroline said, “Good morning, Lee Ann.”
“Get out from under there,” Lee Ann said.
She jerked her head toward the door and left the room. Walker’s boot heels clipped down the stairs after her. When he ran ahead to open the door, she scowled and disregarded his questions about where they were going.
At Heaven on Earth Realty, Sue Reedy happened to be in.
“The Walkers!” she said, extending her hand. “Have a seat.”
“Good morning, Sue,” Lee Ann said, shaking hands. “We’re here to divide the family ranch. I need to have Owen do the survey and split the north and south acreage equally. Walker will get the northern portion and I will keep the southern half. I want you to make certain all the documentation is correct and legal. Ted Bowles is handling Mother’s will and can provide additional legal information if needed. The assessor’s office has the correct property description and records.”
“I take it this is okay with you, Walker.”
“It is,” Lee Ann said.