Читать книгу Mountain Madness - Jimmy Dale Taylor - Страница 11

2

Quail on the Fly

In Portland, Oregon, Terrie Trina Tidwell, pretty, eighteen, and naive, had endured a troubled summer. She had lived with her mother and then, following a disagreement that had severed ties at least temporarily, shared quarters with two girlfriends. Still, she was not content. And so she had phoned her father, a successful financial consultant, to see if she could come to Los Angeles to live with him and her stepmother.

She could. Not only that but Brian Tidwell sent his daughter sufficient money to buy an airplane ticket. That Terrie did not use the money for this purpose but for the girl stuff, would, in a very short time, come back to haunt her.

About the time that “Jay” was goggling at the sights in Golden Gate Park and “John” was anxious to head for Seattle, Terrie was waiting for Gregory Winslow to arrive and go off to meet some friends in Eugene.

She had first met Greg at a party around the first of August. He was some six feet tall with dark hair and bedroom eyes. He was also lots of fun and they liked being together. Since that time they’d been together, but this jaunt would be their last fun trip. When she reached Los Angeles, she would be required to play a different role.

Terrie rode in the blue jeep to Eugene, Oregon, and arrived at the apartment of Phil and Tracey, friends of Greg’s. Here they would spend the night. Maybe party a little. She would miss Greg.

Where is that fool? Jimmy wondered. Sitting on a tall stool at the short end of the L-shaped bar, he had not seen Jay for some ten or fifteen minutes. Jay had remained with Jimmy only long enough to drink part of a beer. Then he’d said he was going to the rest room. Now here it was 11:25 at night, the wall clock said, and Jimmy was beginning to wonder if he’d been left behind. Perhaps the Olds was long gone. The way things were going, they would be lucky to reach Seattle by Thanksgiving.

Suddenly Jimmy heard noises, curses, and shouting coming from around the far end of the bar. Even though the commotion was out of sight, Jimmy slapped a hand to the side of his head and cursed the wicked gods who had brought him and Jay together.

As the man came running over, advising him to get his friend out, Jimmy had a good idea of what was going on. Why oh why had he ever left San Francisco?

Jimmy hurried down to the other end of the bar to investigate.

Sure enough, Jay was standing near a booth and arguing with two men who were half his age. Seated beside one of them was a plain-looking girl with green eyes and long yellow hair who did not look old enough to visit taverns.

A young man with a red beard and even redder eyes said in a gruff voice, “Listen, you old son of a bitch, you don’t say things like that to my girl.”

Glenn advanced a step, causing each man to stand while the girl tried to hide, her big eyes opening even more as she wondered if these three men were actually going to do battle over her.

Jimmy doubted that anyone had ever fought for her, much less over her. But she had shapely legs and was breathing and so, to this weird guy he was driving to Seattle with, she was surely a work of pure beauty.

“All I said was she’s the prettiest little piece in here,” Glenn said. “Any asshole offended by those words ain’t got his head on straight. What say we let her decide? You want to leave with me, pretty little piece, or do you want to stay here with two assholes?”

The girl didn’t say a word. Her hands trembled and her lower lip quivered. Red Beard said, “You wanna keep your teeth in your head, you old fart, then get out. Now!”

Jimmy slid between them. He didn’t mind a fight but Jay was an idiot. “Hold it,” he said to the two men. “Come on, Jay. We’re getting out of here.”

“Oh hell, not you again. I suppose you’re going to tell me this one’s not a woman either, like you done that last time.”

“I’m just saying we’re leaving. You guys back off.”

“If he’s your friend, you’d better teach him manners or keep him out of here,” Red Beard said. “You don’t, we’ll kick his ass up between his shoulders.”

Though Jimmy was small, he was strong. He grabbed Jay by the arm, hoping the man wouldn’t resist. For some reason, maybe because he’d had too much to drink, Glenn surrendered. He winked at the girl and said, “You get tired of these guys, look me up. You sleep with a real man and you’ll spit on these assholes.”

Jimmy pushed him towards the door. “Come on, man, let’s get out of here.”

When they reached the car, Jimmy waited until Glenn climbed in before he went around to the passenger side and did the same.

“You’re gonna have to quit interfering with me,” Glenn said. “Next time I get my hands on a girl, I’m gonna screw her and you’re gonna have to stay out of my way. I like you, John, but people who cross me tend to get hurt. You’ve been warned. Don’t forget.”

“Yeah, okay. Let’s get on the road. I’d like to live long enough to see Seattle.”

“We’ll sleep here,” Glenn said. “I’m gonna pull the car over under the light and we’ll drink beer, piss, and sleep until we’re ready to move on.”

Sunlight poured through the side glass and burned Jimmy’s eyelids. Jay was folded into the front seat in some obscure way, not visible, but there was no doubt he was there. His snores vibrated throughout the car.

Seattle seemed light years away.

A few minutes later Jay’s snoring caught in his throat and rumbled to a stop. He thrashed around for a moment and then sat up. “Got a damned crick in my neck.”

Glenn rubbed his stubble of beard. He liked to start his day with a razor. Slap on a little aftershave to please the girls. Oh well, they would have to stop for gas in Sacramento and he could always clean up in the rest room.

Jimmy stared at him, wondering what the older man was thinking. His lips fit together too tightly, and Jimmy thought he knew why. The man wore false teeth. He must have taken them out to sleep. Glenn ducked his head out of sight and soon reappeared with teeth intact.

“Somewhere in California,” Glenn said. “Ain’t important just exactly where we’re at. Don’t worry one little bit. We’re on our way to Seattle. Told you I’d take you and I will. Old Jay says he’ll do something, he’ll do it.”

Somewhere down the highway they stopped at a McDonald’s. Jimmy went inside and ate a hamburger and French fries while Glenn decided to stay in the car and drink. Soon after they hit the road again, the driver stopped and bought more beer.

After that they drove silently for a few hours. “We need gas,” Glenn announced, breaking the quiet. He left 1-5 at a Sacramento exit and drove until he found an Atlantic Richfield station. He might as well use the credit card until the balance got so high they cut him off. While the attendant filled the tank, Glenn checked the oil. Take care of your car was his motto. Treat it better than you would a woman. Cars are hard to come by. Women are plentiful. At least they used to be. They would be again, of this he was certain.

John had hurried to the rest room. After signing the credit card slip, Glenn pulled his shaving kit from the trunk and followed. Damn John and his Seattle. Glenn knew he would not, could not, wait that long to have a woman. Somewhere along the road he’d find one and have his way. If she didn’t like what he had in mind that was too damn bad. There were ways to handle them kind of women. He got back on the highway continuing the drive.

Hitchhikers of both sexes, many traveling alone, lined the road. Most were thumbing their way in the direction of San Francisco. A multitude of shapely young ladies were already being mentally raped by Glenn True Clark. He was sorely tempted to stop. But for one reason or another he passed them by.

Meanwhile, Greg had dropped Terrie Tidwell off on the highway. It was 3:00 P.M., the hottest time of the day. She put up her thumb in the customary manner. It wouldn’t take long to get a ride.

Watching Glenn, Jimmy decided that, when the early settlers moved across this country, they must have made better time than he was making with Jay. Them old covered wagons would have passed them by already, left them in the dust. The sun was standing at midafternoon and they had yet to reach Redding. The mountains were in sight but still far away. And now here was Jay taking another exit. What is it with this man? Jimmy wondered.

“Where we going this time?” Jimmy asked as the older man, paused at a stop sign, and then turned right.

“Keep cool, little buddy. I got a little chore to do. Have you back on the road in no time.”

After driving a couple of miles, Jay shot a left and turned down a side road. He soon stopped, pulled a pair of pliers and screwdriver out of the glove box, and got out. Jimmy followed.

Jay opened the trunk. Inside was a license tag with a name, letters and numbers that read California IVX-380. “Time for a little insurance,” he said. “We’re gonna make a change.”

“Why?”

“Because this is a hot car, that’s why.”

“I should have figured that,” Jimmy said, wondering what had ever possessed him to hook up with this damn nut. As soon as they got to Seattle he was going to make some excuse and cut out.

“Picked it up off a car lot in Salt Lake City. After they closed at night, that is. I like this little beauty. We keep swapping tags and we can drive her forever.”

“Where’d you get that tag?”

“Off a junk car a block or so from my brother’s house in Tracy. Nobody ever misses a tag off a junk car.”

Within five minutes the chore was done. Glenn tossed the old tag back into the trunk and the tools back inside the glove box. He said, “I gotta drain my radiator before we go on.” As he started to urinate, he grimaced. “Some bitch caused me to have a leaky dick,” he said. “I’m doctoring it though, so it’s just temporary.”

What else? Jimmy thought, but kept quiet.

When Jimmy didn’t respond, Glenn said, “Let’s pull up under a tree and take a nap. I don’t feel like I’ve slept in a week.”

Within five minutes, Terrie had her first ride of the afternoon. It was with a man. He was alone in a pickup truck. He looked innocent enough. She hoisted her suitcases into the back and climbed into the cab. They eyed one another briefly. He lit a cigarette, then offered her one. She declined in favor of one from her own pack. There was no air-conditioning, but at least she was off the hot highway.

“Going far?” he asked.

“To San Francisco,” she said.

“I’m only going twenty-five or thirty miles. You can ride that far and stop off at my place for a while if you care to.”

Was that a proposition? Terrie glanced at his left hand and saw that he was not wearing a wedding band. There was nothing conclusive about this. Lots of married men didn’t. Perhaps he had a wife and six kids and was just being friendly. Either way, she didn’t want to stop this early on her trip.

“No thanks,” she said. “I have a long ways to go.”

“That’s fine,” he said. “I just wanted you to know you were welcome.”

During their brief time together he fished for information as to who she was and why she was hitchhiking. She told him little. He spoke of being a rancher and a horse-shoer. A nice enough man, but she wasn’t going to his place and he wasn’t about to drive her to California. Within the hour she was standing alongside the highway again, suitcases at her side.

Finally, Redding was behind them. At least the scenery was changing. And the air was cleaner. They were now driving in the mountains. Off to the right was a snow-covered peak.

Jimmy supposed it could have been worse. They did have another six-pack of beer. And Jay did seem ready to get down to business and head north for a while. Perhaps they would drive through the night. If offered, he would take his turn behind the wheel.

“That’s Mount Shasta with the snow on it,” Jay said.

Although Jimmy had never been this far north in California, he didn’t feel the need for a tour guide. He didn’t give a damn about the name of any mountain.

Jay popped the top on a beer can and looked over at his companion. “What I want to do is take a bank. You ever wanted to rob a bank?”

“Hell no!” Jimmy said. “I ain’t no criminal. I don’t want nothing to do with robbing no bank. The FBI gets after you then. You get caught, you’re sent up until you’re too old to think about chasing after women or anything else.”

“We won’t get caught. Long as you’re with me you don’t have to worry about that. Think it over, John. How many people are there these days who have the guts to rob a bank?”

Son of a bitch thinks he’s Jesse James, Jimmy thought. And damn! Jesse died young. From a bullet. A bullet to the back.

The highway was lined with youth thumbing their way to California.

Late model cars whizzed by. One with a cool air-conditioner would be nice. A woman in a blue Buick slowed, seemed to change her mind, and sped away.

An old green Ford slowed, sputtered and coughed. It came to a stop just beyond Terrie. There wasn’t a chance that it would have an air-conditioner. When you hitchhike, you can’t always be choosy.

She wrestled her bags into the back seat and climbed in beside the driver. He was an old man with stained teeth and bad odor whom she judged to be crowding seventy.

The Ford polluted the air with a cloud of black smoke as he tromped the accelerator and pulled back onto the highway. His cracked voice said, “Going my way?”

Terrie, hands clasped together on her lap, nodded.

They rode in silence for some five minutes. Then he said, “Cat got your tongue? People who ride together oughta talk together.”

Terrie stared out the window at the low mountains. “What do you want to talk about?”

“About you. You’re a right pretty woman. Anybody ever tell you that?”

“Once or twice.”

Another moment of silence and then he said, “Thing is, I believe that people oughta do for each other. I’m hauling you in the direction you want to go. That being so, you oughta do something for me.”

“Like what?”

“I think you already know what. My wife, she won’t do for me so you know what I need. I could drive us off on some side road or we could stop and get us a motel for an hour or two. Won’t cost you nothing either way. Side road or motel, you take your pick.”

“No!” Terrie cried out.

Her emphatic reply startled him. He jerked his head towards her. “You don’t have to treat me that way,” he said. “I know you people ain’t got no morals and that you crawl into bed with one another all the time. How come you’re so different when it comes to me?”

Terrie hadn’t meant to hurt his feelings but she was not going to bed with him. Some girls would probably put out for any ride they could catch but she would never go that far.

“It’s my time of the month,” she said.

He eyed her for a moment, trying to determine whether or not she was telling the truth. Well, at least it gave him an opportunity to save face. “All you had to do was say so,” he said. “I live at Myrtle Creek. You can ride that far if you want. I ain’t goin’ no farther.”

He didn’t go no farther. Not with Terrie, anyway.

She stood alongside 1-5 near Myrtle Creek. Would the next ride take her into San Francisco or at least as far as Sacramento? It was uncertain. The afternoon sun was well along on its journey when the black Mustang stopped. Two nice looking young guys were inside. Instead of nasty old men. Two of her peers were offering a helping hand.

“Thanks,” she said, as she joined her suitcases in the back seat. “How far you going?”

The driver turned and flashed a smile. He had dark curly hair and a kind face. “Eventually to Redding,” he said.

Terrie smiled. “Eventually?”

The young man in the passenger seat turned sideways and said, “We know some people in Medford. We’re gonna stop there and have a swim and then go on tomorrow. Why not join us?”

Terrie hesitated. “I need to go on,” she said.

“Where are we at?” Jimmy asked.

Jay had stopped at a filling station to check the oil and put in a can of STP. He climbed back inside the car where Jimmy was eating a Butterfinger candy bar he’d purchased from a vending machine. “Yreka,” Jay said. “We’ll wait a while to gas up. How we doing on beer?”

Jimmy wondered where in the hell Yreka was. “Four left,” he said.

“That’ll last a while. Let’s hit the road.”

The boys had been reluctant to leave her on the highway alone. They seemed to actually care about Terrie’s welfare. They’d had their stop planned at Medford, and she had insisted that she would be all right. And so they had taken her through the town, as far as the Talent Exchange, and wished her a safe journey.

It would soon be dark, not a good time for a woman to be stranded there. Whatever ride was next offered, Terrie Tidwell would have to take. Terrie’s head was turned toward the southbound traffic. She didn’t see the light-colored Oldsmobile heading north, nor did she realize that the driver had spotted her and was already dreaming of what she’d look like naked. Had she known what terror the night would hold she would have left her suitcases alongside the road and run for her life.