Part 26 (1/2)
''I got a car,” she said ''It's not much An ol' Jew-ett But it runs We can split the drivin' an' the expenses”
He puffed on the cigar for a it a job like this anywhere They don' pay me no salary, jes' tips”
”Family?”
”None My las' husband took off in a cloud of smoke the minute he found out he didn' like pay in' bills I divorced him las' year”
”What about those brothers you told me about?”
”nobody left They're all scattered Ain't htfully ”Got any money?”
” 'Bout two hundred cash Got a man wants to buy my house Give me four hundred cash if'n I th'ow in the fuain His eyes peered at her ”How old are you?”
”Twenty-six”
”You ain't gonna be no movie star,” he said
She smiled ”I don' expec' to be one I jes' want to fin' a place where I kin live decent”
He leaned back in his chair ”How soon can you leave?”
”Today,” she said ”I kin pack it my money an' we kin be on the road this afternoon”
He s He held out his hand ”Okay California, here we cohed Then the touch of his hand ran up through her ar ”California, here we co her hand, he looked up at her ''I don't even know your name”
'Tess Rollins”
”Pleased to ins”
The doctor straightened up and snipped off the end of the suture ''As fine a job of sewing as er Take a look”
Daniel peered into the ash was now a pencil-thin line with tiny black dots over and under where the sutures surfaced The only thing that seehtly raised He touched it ”Will the eyebrow stay like that?”
”It'll come down a bit when the stitches come out After about a year it will be like the other”
Daniel got out of the chair
”Wait a e over it” He worked quickly ”Ie every day Come back in six days and we'll take the stitches out”
”I won't be here,” Daniel said
The doctor finished the bandage and fastened it neatly into place with thin strips of Johnson & Johnson ”You can get it done at any hospital or clinic Just make sure you keep it clean until then”
Daniel reached into his pocket ”How much do I owe you Doc?”
”Two dollars too much?” the doctor asked hesitantly
”Two dollars is fine,” Daniel said He took out a roll of bills from his pocket and counted out the two bills ”Thank you, Doc” He saw the doctor looking at the bills ”Anything wrong Doc?”
The doctor s that you were the first cash patient I've had in two ger-rich with it”
The doctor laughed ”Don't worry Might just frame it to remind myself what money really looks like”
He followed Daniel into the waiting rooot to her feet ”Was it bad, Doc?”
The doctor smiled ”I've seen lot worse Just make sure he keeps it clean”
She nodded ”I'll do that”
Daniel went out to her car It was a Jewett touring car with the winter celluloid shi+elds fastened He got into the car She walked around to the driver's side
”Nohere?” he asked when she got behind the wheel
”Down to the bank so I kin sign the papers an' transfer the ive the nener the keys”
He stuck a cigar in his mouth ”Sure you want to do it?” he asked ”You can still change your ot no druthers”
”My mind's made up,” she said
At the bank, the lawyer advised her to leave the money in the bank and send for it when she reached California She looked at Daniel
”It's a good idea,” he said ”No telling what ht happen on the road when you have all that ht need?”
”Maybe a hundred Probably less But that should do us Besides, if we have any problehten up after”
”Okay,” she said to the lawyer
They started after lunch and drove all afternoon and into the late evening When they pulled off the road to find a rooht, they were three hundred and thirty miles from St Lx)uis
They stopped in front of an old house that had a sign, ROOMS FOR RENT, Ughted by a single electric bulb They got out of the car, knocked on the door and went inside
An olda pipe, looked up at them ”Howdy, folks What kin I do fer you?”
'A roo breakfast?”
Daniel nodded
'Got a right nice one fer you Big double bed One dollar fifty with breakfast,” he said, adding, ”in advance”