Runabout (2 page)

}Odie hesitated only a moment. "Of course," he said. "I was just speaking as a friend. I do hope that you still think of me as your friend, Tulsa May."

}Luther's jaw dropped open in disbelief. "Why in heaven would she think that!"

}The doctor looked evenly at Luther. "Why, I suppose because this is a small town and she and I will have to continue to see each other for years to come. Besides," he said with a grim smile, "I know Tulsa May to be of a forgiving nature. And the reverend and I have already worked out our differences."

}The brothers' expressions showed that they were not so generous.

}"The reverend's heart was obviously not engaged," Luther said snidely.

}Doc Odie gave the younger man a sharp look. "Marriage is a serious step, not one taken lightly. The reverend understands that."

}Luther's blood was boiling. It was on the tip of his tongue to reply that a public jilting was also not to be taken lightly. But a hasty glance at Tulsa May's pale face stilled his tongue.

}Doc Odie smiled tightly and gave a proprietary glance to Tulsa May as his gloved hand patted the buggy seat beside him. "Since that disreputable automobile is obviously not working again, won't-you allow me to drive you to your destination, dear? It will show the whole town that we've let bygones be bygones."

}Luther had no idea what Tulsa May's answer might have been. Quickly he answered for her, his tone sharp enough to cut nails. "The Runabout works fine," he said. "And Tulsy's at her destination. She came to see her best friends, Arthel and me."

}Foote raised an eyebrow in question, but his expression softened. "Boys," he said more quietly, with patronizing intent. "I know you've been like brothers to Tulsa May. But the lady really has no need for such protection. It's well-known that she speaks for herself." He turned to Tulsa May. "Come riding with me, my dear."

}She raised her chin with such determination that the brim of her hat knocked against her back, and she gave a huff of disdain. Unfortunately the huff whistled through the gap in her front teeth, making her sound more startled than self-righteous. "No, thank you, Dr. Foote. I've come visiting Luther and Arthel."

}The doctor gave her a long look before doffing his hat in a polite nod and snapping the reins against the broad back of his bay mare.

}As the black buggy drove out of sight, Arthel sighed heavily. "Just one little bone, Luther. Just let me break one little bone in that gnat's-arse's face."

}"Arthel, your language." But Luther chuckled as he protectively wrapped his arm across Tulsa May's shoulders. "Are you all right?"

}She nodded. "Thank you." She sighed heavily. "I know he's probably right, but I just can't bear to talk to him. Not yet."

}"I don't blame you one bit," Arthel insisted.

}"I don't care if you never give Moldy Odie the time of day," Luther agreed.

}Tulsa May smiled bravely as she gave each "brother" a grateful hug. "It's not really him, anyway," she said firmly. "If he changed his mind, then he changed his mind. I just wish he'd decided before the concert."

}The "concert," otherwise known as the engagement party, held three weeks previously, had been the biggest social event Prattville, Oklahoma, had ever seen. Constance Bruder had wanted the announcement of her daughter's engagement to be remembered forever. A hired band from Guthrie had arrived that afternoon. Briggs's Park was decorated with dozens of pink Japanese lanterns and Mrs. Bruder had purchased one thousand pink hothouse roses to adorn the town green's gazebo.

}Tulsa May had been nervous and slightly ill at ease as she stood amid the preparations dressed in a vivid pink gown that matched the roses, but clashed drastically with her hair.

}The whole town had turned out for the announcement even though every soul in the community had already heard the news: Tulsa May was to marry the doctor. Unfortunately, just after sunset—and before the announcement— the doctor developed an acute case of cold feet. He had fled.

}There had been shocked whispers of disbelief, some titters of laughter among the less empathetic, and a good deal of unapologetic anger. Tulsa May, though not the prettiest girl in town, was a favorite. Everyone agreed she did not deserve such shabby treatment...

}"It's really not him," she insisted now to Arthel and Luther. "I wouldn't want to be married to a man who didn't want to marry me. But..." Tulsa May's cheeks were flushed with embarrassment as she swallowed bravely and spoke the unvarnished truth. "I just hate having the whole town feeling sorry for me."

}"Sorry for you?"

}She shrugged and nodded. "I guess I should be used to it by now. Half the people in Prattville have been shaking their heads and feeling sorry for me for years. I just never let it bother me before."

}She stared out at the horizon. "I guess I've never let
myself
feel sorry for me before."

}Arthel started to protest. Luther, his expression stormy, stepped away from Tulsa May and turned his attention back to the Runabout's dust-filled engine. His face was expressionless as he opened the breather over the carburetor. It was simpler to think about mechanics; the workings of internal combustion engines was something that he understood, something that he could control. The actions of most people had no rhyme or reason as far as he could see.

}As he tightened the cylinder housing, he attempted to block out the anger and sorrow swelling in his heart. He hated injustice. He hated the careless pain one human could inflict upon another based on circumstances of birth, the color of skin, or physical appearance. He knew knives didn't have to be drawn or shots fired to hurt. He had wounds of his own.

}"Mama says I should just pretend that it never happened," Tulsa May said.

}"That is the stupidest thing Miz Constance has ever said," Arthel said hotly. "And I can personally vouch that she has said a lot of very stupid things."

}"But you have to admit there is truth to it," Tulsa May answered evenly.

}"That's 'cause this town is full of men with oatmeal where their brains ought to be!" Arthel's voice was filled with youthful rage. "We should have taken that scoundrel out to the woods for some old-fashioned tar and feathers."

}"Oh, Arthel." Her voice held the warmth of a smile. "You are sounding like a chivalrous gentleman these days. You'd better watch out or you will ruin your reputation as a clodhopper."

}Arthel opened his mouth to protest, but Tulsa May gently squeezed his arm. "It really doesn't matter, you know. I'll get over this eventually. My heart's not really broken. I'm just disappointed. I wanted to be a wife. I thought I might be really good at it."

}"Of course you would be," Arthel insisted. "You're good at everything."

}Tulsa May laughed aloud at that. "I'm
fairly
good at most things; I excel at very few. I read Latin and Greek, but neither very well. I can sew a stitch, but rarely in a straight line, and I may know how to cook but I almost always manage to burn the beans while I'm imagining myself in deep discussions with Descartes or Darwin." Tulsa May sighed with resignation. "I've never been
really
good at anything."

}"That's not true! Why ... why . .." Arthel sputtered. "Why ... not everyone can write for a newspaper. You can sure do that."

}Tulsa May shook her head. "I'm not even very good at that. My disposition is too sunny."

}"Too sunny? What does that mean?"

}"Well, when any other reporter turns in a headline, it reads
HOUSE AND BUSINESS DESTROYED BY FIRE
. When I turn in the same story, it's titled
NONE INJURED IN OVERNIGHT BLAZE
."

}Luther slammed the Runabout's breather back down into place and turned to her. "There is nothing wrong with looking on the bright side of life, Tulsa May. Wanting to see the good in things."

}"You are absolutely right," she agreed. "I just wish I could see the good in having the whole town walking on eggshells around me and pitying me behind my back."

}Luther set the spark on the front panel and slipped the crank handle into the starter. After one turn the Runabout popped and sputtered momentarily, but as Luther adjusted the throttle, it began to purr with the precision of a Singer sewing machine. He covered the engine and set the red upholstered cushion back on the seat before turning back to Tulsa May.

}"My dear Miss Tulsy," he said with a very formal and proper bow. "Would you care to take a Sunday drive with me?"

}Tulsa May giggled and gave him a thorough once-over. "Wouldn't you like to go and put on a shirt?" she asked.

}Luther glanced momentarily up at his residence on the second floor.

}"I believe I'll just escort you as I am if you're not offended."

}Tulsa May took his warm tanned hand in her own and climbed into the Runabout. She scooted over to the left so that he could drive.

}"We'll be back in an hour or so," Luther told his brother as he released the brass brake lever.

}"If anyone comes looking for me," he said pointedly, "just say that I had to give the engine a test drive."

}His younger brother gave Luther a jaunty salute as Tulsa May handed Luther the extra pair of driving goggles and he adjusted them over his eyes. A cloud of dust was left in their wake as they headed south down the sandy pike known as Guthrie and River Road.

}As Arthel watched them drive away, one eyebrow was raised in speculation. Luther was up to something. Something important enough for him to leave a hot zam-betty warming his sheets.

}"Where is he off to?"

}Arthel looked up to see Emma Dix leaning over the second-floor porch. Her chemise and petticoat were partially covered with a bright red fringed shawl.

}"Luther's taking Tulsa May for a Sunday drive," he answered.

}"He told me he'd be back in twenty minutes." Emma's words were shrill.

}Arthel shrugged. "I guess he forgot you, Miss Dix."

}Emma's huff of indignation was aln ost comical, and Arthel pretended to rub his chin as he covered the grin ne couldn't quite suppress.

}"I'm not the mechanic my brother is," he said matter-of-factly. "But I'd be happy to check out your parts, ma'am."

}With a screech of rage, Emma Dix hurried back inside, slamming the door so hard the building's painted wooden sign swung creakily in the breeze.

}Chapter 2

}The Guthrie and River Road was rutted in all the places where it wasn't sandy, but since Tulsa May was not driving she ignored the rough road and gazed out over the awakening spring meadows of false boneset and prairie coneflower.

}"You deserved better than him, you know," Luther said simply, interrupting her thoughts.

}Tulsa May swallowed and lowered her eyes. "Maybe he had cause."

}"Cause!" Luther exclaimed with disbelief. "What possible cause could a man have for breaking off an engagement in the middle of the engagement party?"

}Her familiar penny-brown eyes glanced at him, seemingly darker with sorrow. "His cause was that he just doesn't love me."

}"Oh, for mercy's sake."

}Tulsa May smiled humorlessly. "I know that you men don't like to talk about love and romance. But you do know that it exists and you know when you don't feel it."

}"Tulsy, he asked you to marry him. He must have thought he loved you at the time."

}She shook her head. "He never claimed to love me. He thought it was time that he should marry and he thought that I would be a respectable and biddable wife."

}"Respectable and biddable?"

}Nodding, Tulsa May managed a wry grin. "I can't imagine where he got such an idea, but he had it."

}Luther looked at his friend affectionately. Tulsa May was a good and obedient daughter, for the most part. But she prized her independence.

}She looked down at her hands, unnecessarily adjusting the seams on her gloves. "Doc Odie thought he could marry without love. But when the time came, his heart wouldn't let him."

}Luther blew a furious huff through his teeth. "His heart wouldn't let him? I'd like to rip his heart out and feed it to him for breakfast!"

}Tulsa May reached over to pat the strong brown hand that tightly gripped the steering wheel. "My brave protector," she teased. "We are no longer playing children's games, Luther. You don't have to always take my side."

}He looked down at her again. Seeing the golden freckled face, the intelligent brown eyes, and the wide smiling mouth with its endearing gap-toothed grin, he smiled.