Chapter 3 #2
“It just sort of happened." I explain, albeit just as confused. “I feel like a vagabond these days. I’m living part-time here, part-time at Shelly's, and part-time at home. I think it’s starting to drive me nuts. It’s confusing as shit. I picked a fine time to get myself a girlfriend, didn’t I.
" I say that as more of a comment then as a question.
“Well, I can’t judge you on that front, considering that when I first met your brother, I was living in my car." She says with a good-natured chuckle.
“Funny thing is, when I’m here at the ranch, I feel at home. That’s why I came back here tonight."
“This is your home for as long as you want it. In fact, you don’t even have to stay in here if you don’t want to.
We have plenty of room in the ranch house.
Billy’s even been talking about building quarters for all the ranch hands.
He says he should’ve done that a long time ago.
But with the resort house being built, and fixing up the ranch house, there hasn’t been any time for that. "
“I’d love to help build it."
“I’m sure he would love that too. This is your home for as long as you want. You’re more than just a ranch hands to us, and I think you know it."
"I appreciate that." I pinch my lips into a smile.
"I should go and let you get some rest. It's been a long day."
"Yeah, it has. But thanks for stopping by."
She pinches her lips into a smile as she walks towards the door. After she closes it, I fall asleep immediately, which is yet another indicator that I'm in my rightful place. When I'm at home or at Shelly's sleep doesn't come so easily.
When I wake up, there’s no text message, no voicemail, nothing from Shelly.
It makes me nervous. It’s still too early to call, so I make up my mind to try her later, if she doesn’t call me first. The sun hasn’t even risen yet, but there’s plenty of work to do at the ranch, so I get started.
I find Billy inside the barn, organizing some things, so I lend a hand to him.
“Do you need anything in town?" I ask him.
This is a regular thing for us, me or him running errands, depending on our needs. He gives me a short list of things needed at the hardware store. “I think Jade and Crystal have breakfast ready. Nothing is open for another hour or so, anyway.” We head inside the house and eat.
“Piper says that you’re fixing to build a house for the help?" I ask Billy once the girls leave the room.
“The same architect that designed the ranch house is looking for more work, and I figure it’s high time we had one.
Piper has been on me for a while now, and I’ve got some room for spending, since I was able to save so much on the resort house build.
Plus, bookings are starting to fill up. It looks like this place is going to turn over some decent revenue in the first year.
Having hands on site at all times will do us some good.
We’re going to need to hire a lot of help to keep this place running in tiptop shape. "
“I’d love to help you, Billy."
“You sure that ain’t going to interrupt with your studies?"
“Not at all. I chose the program that way. You might think that this is odd, but I chose an architectural program. Now, don’t go telling the boys about that, or the ladies for that matter. But I figure that I know enough about building now, and I always wanted to learn how to design buildings."
He frowns, pulling his Stetson up off his head, and combing his fingers through his hair. “You should be proud, Levi. That’s a hell of a thing to get into. You wouldn’t believe what I’m paying this architect for drawings. If I had known that you were doing that, I might’ve held off.”
“I appreciate that, but I've still got a long way to go. Although it’s an accelerated program, I’ve only got one year behind my belt."
“If there’s anything I can do to help, you name it. Hell, I’ve got enough land up here, I could build some cottages as well. Maybe by then, you’ll be ready to help me with that."
“Sounds good to me." I take my dishes to the sink. “I’ll head on into town now if it’s all the same to you.”
“Take your time. And take the truck, too.”
The hardware store is the first thing that opens in town, luckily.
After I toss the things into Billy‘s truck, I take a walk down the street, to Buddy's antique store. As I guessed, it’s not open yet, but I see a figure moving around in the photography studio next to it. As if my eyes are deceiving me, I see her there. The mystery blonde girl. The sign says that the store is still closed, and I can see that the latch is set to lock. She’s moving large framed photographs from where they lay on the floor, to empty hooks on the wall.
It’s been years since I’ve been inside that store, which was once the other half of the antique shop.
Buddy rented it out from what I recall about ten years ago, when he realized that he could make more profit by renting the space out instead of filling it with antiques for sale.
Admittedly, it’s mostly the more elite townspeople and people from out of town that patronize that portion of the store.
Therefore, a photography studio, with what looks like price tags no less than five hundred dollars to start, was a good call.
Like a stalker, I stand there, watching her through the window, oblivious to passersby, the very few that there are here at this earlier hour.
What keeps me there, I have no idea. I have no business standing here, gawking at her.
But it’s like my feet are cemented to the asphalt sidewalk.
The woman, thankfully, is also oblivious to me.
Seemingly in her own little world, in her own little space, she dusts glass frames, and I watch her set a photograph onto a piece of matting, before setting it into what looks like a custom frame.
“You looking for something?” A familiar voice blurts, startling the shit out of me.
I smile, holding out my hand to shake his. “How’s it going, Buddy. I figured I’d take you up on your offer and come see the place, seeing as I was in town anyway."
“Come on in. I’ve got the best dang vintage coffee maker in here. I’ll make you a cup you’ll never forget." Buddy offers.
“Fancy that." I chuckle. “But I ain’t buying it, of course."
“Of course you’re not buying it, Levi. But you can tell all those rich resort folk over there how fantastic the brew is, and send them all over this way.” He winks, unlocking the door. “Word-of-mouth advertising is highly underrated, my friend.”
I walk inside the store, and I’m immediately met with a smell similar to inside a library. I love that smell, if I’m being honest. “My meemaw used to love antiques. Her whole house was loaded with them."
He lifts a brow. “You do realize that they probably weren’t antiques back then, right?"
I smile sheepishly. “I suppose you’ve got me there.
" An old metal school desk with a wooden top sits over in the corner. I go take a seat on it, remembering what it felt like to sit in one of those back in the day. “That one’s not for sale just yet, I’m afraid.
That’s why there’s no price tag on that one. "
“How come?"
“I’m having my guy tighten up the bolts some, give it a fresh coat of paint, freshen up the varnish.
Nobody wants to buy antiques in their original state, unless they are completely flawless, which is next to impossible, of course.
But since we cater to the people with fatter pocket books, it’s best to invest a little bit in each piece first before selling it.
I’ll get twice the money for it that way. ”
"That's a smart way to go, if I don't say so myself."
He's got an old coffee carafe behind the counter, and one on the counter, with a price tag that I can't see from here. I watch him line the cup with a filter and fill it with coffee from a glass decanter. "Word is that you're in school?"
I smile. "Yeah, that's right. I'm taking architecture out in Dallas."
"That's a fine thing to do, Levi. Your daddy know?"
"No, sir. I wouldn't dare tell him."
"I suppose word's going to get around to him, anyway."
"A lot of good it'll do him to know. He can climb up on his soap box all he wants, but I'm not the one in jail."
"Good point, son. You ought to tell him that, too."
I look over to the door, half hoping that the blonde girl will come around. I don't want to ask anything about her, for fear of sounding like I've got some crush on her.
"Word is you've also got yourself a girl?
That you're living with her?" He raises a hand as the coffee drips into the glass pot underneath.
"Now, I know that it ain't any of my business, but I just want to set the record straight if it ain't true, see.
Lots of people coming through here like to visit me and word spreads easily down this way. "
"It's true. Well, half of it is. I'm not actually living with her. My name's not on the mailbox or anything. I'm just staying with her when it's fit for me. My home is my home and Billy's ranch. That's where I stayed last night if y'all want the truth."
"If you want my advice, Levi, don't get yourself mixed up with a woman while you're in school, see. Keep your focus, son. There's plenty of time for that after you're done your schooling. I know it's probably too late for that, but I just thought that I'd give you my two cents on the subject."
"I appreciate that, Buddy. But I can tell you that it isn't serious. Not even a little bit."
"Good." He brings me over a mug of coffee. "Now, taste this. Y'all won't get anything better anywhere else. Except maybe at those fancy, ten dollar a cup places, of course."
I taste the coffee. Sure, it's good. "I'm not much of a coffee connoisseur, Buddy, but it's real good. I'll spread the word."
"It's not the coffee, it's the coffee maker, see. You tell them that's the story."
"I'll do that." I take another sip, and it makes me a little brave. "How's it going with the photo shop next door?"
"Oh, shoot, my manners. Y'all want me to go introduce you to Lennie? You've got to see some of her work."
So, her name's Lennie, is it?
"Sorry, Lenora. Her full name is Lenora Whyte.
She's a photographer and she'll knock your socks off.
She's an artist, too. Does them oil paintings and has a world class eye for photography.
Man, I didn't see that coming. Imagine a girl with that much talent right here in town. " He shakes his head for emphasis.
"I, um, I think I might have already met her."
He lifts a brow. "How's that?"
"It was the strangest thing. Well, I guess at the time it was strange, but now it all makes sense.
" I pause and take another sip of coffee, watching him encourage me to drink with his eyes.
"I saw her with a camera on Billy's property last night.
Called her and called her to try and tell her that she was trespassing on private property.
But she ignored me. Until I got right close enough to her and then she bolted.
Ran like the goddamn wind, like I was going to attack her or something. "
He sets his coffee down on the counter. "I'll have to go and have a word with Billy about that then.
Lennie, see, she's a bit of a wanderer. That's how come she's got such an eye for things.
Y'all should go take a look at some of the pictures she's taken, and not even from all over the world or nothing, either.
Just simple places that she gets in certain lights and angles, and makes everything look goddamn beautiful. "
"I can understand that. And I'm sure that Billy wouldn't have a problem with that. I didn't even tell him that I saw her, so you can save yourself a trip, Buddy."
"I appreciate that."
"But that still doesn't explain why she ignored me and then ran."
He licks his lips and sniffs. "That there is somewhat complicated. And I'm surprised that word hasn't gotten around to you on that score yet."
"What's that?"
He clears his throat nervously. "Well, see, Lennie can't hear anything, Levi. She's deaf."