Circles in the Sand (19 page)

“You want to be  real cowboy, like me,  don’t you?”

“Yah…me  real cowboy like Bassl.”

“It won’t be too long. You’re pretty big now. How old are you?”

Herman dropped his pistol. He screwed his face up. He looked at his fingers and counted with them. He held both hands up to Basil. “Herman so many…”

“You don’t have enough fingers, boy. You must be twelve or thirteen.”

Herman thought about it awhile longer. “Yah…Herman thirteen.”

“When I was thirteen I was a cowboy already. You can be too…I teach you to be cowboy… just like a real cowboy taught me…to be a cowboy…when I was thirteen.”

“Bassl make Herman cowboy?”

“Sure. Come over here for a minute. I want to see if you strong enough to be cowboy.” Basil felt of his arm muscles. “Good. Good. Let’s see if your legs strong enough to be cowboy.” Basil manipulated Herman’s legs, brushing against the boy’s crotch.
Believe he’s old enough.
“Yeah, you’re got the muscles to be a cowboy.” In releasing  the boys legs, Basil drew his hand upward across Herman’s groin.

Herman was so happy he twitched. “When Herman be cowboy?”

“Not so fast. There’s some secrets only cowboys know. Do you know what a secret is?”

Herman looked puzzled.

“A secret is something you never tell anyone…only another cowboy…When I teach you cowboy secrets… you tell anyone?”

Herman struggled with the concept.

“If I tell Herman a cowboy secret…will Herman tell Grandma?”

“Gumma not cowboy.”

“So…no tell cowboy secrets…to Grandma…right?”

“Herman no tell Gumma.”

“Herman tell secrets to Daddy?”

“Tell secrets to Daddy…Daddy cowboy.”

“No. Daddy no cowboy. Daddy rancher now. Daddy boss now. No more cowboy. Daddy no sleep in bunkhouse…like cowboy Basil. Daddy big man…not cowboy anymore…Herman tell daddy cowboy secrets?”

“Dada no cowboy…no tell Dada cowboy secrets…”

“Good. Then I’ll tell you cowboy secrets that no one else knows.”

“Tell me cowboy secrets.”

“Not right now. When it’s dark. When Granma sleeps in her chair. You come to bunk house. You gonna be cowboy, maybe you can sleep in bunkhouse soon.”

When Herman slipped into the bunkhouse, Tree was asleep. He poked at the cowboy with a stubby finger until Basil woke up. “Herman sleep in bunkhouse…be real cowboy.”

“What? Oh yeah. Come on then. Slide in here with me.”

Three days of hot, dry, dusty weather seemed to enervate every one in West Layover. Relations between people changed little. While at Gilman’s, an air of malaise hindered any change in the status quo. To give the troops more time between digging bouts, Clint assigned Priebe to Patton’s crew. On daily inspection trips to view progress at the RADAR tower, Clint, Lance and Tony Elsas also took a turn at digging.

Now with his own phone, Clint called Lieutenant Pearsall to brief him on latest events. “Digging, even with post-hollers is killing the troops. Know where or how we can get an auger to dig those holes? We’re going to wear out not only men, but the equipment we’re using.”

“I can believe it’s tough, and I’ll look into it. Might be you can buy or rent one… from a farmer’s store around there. By the way, Lieutenant Byers has been assigned to the detachment by VOCO, Vocal Orders of Commanding Officer, with no specific duty. He’s lucky. Probably keeps him from a court-martial. I hear Air Div (Commander) about bursts a blood vessel when damage to a B-36 is mentioned.”

“Okay, well if he’s happy driving that tractor, that’s fine with me. He assures me that an auger can be driven off the tractor. I assume his pay records will be transferred to the detachment. That ought to brighten his day. He didn’t get any cash when the rest of us did. The only communication equipment we have now is a telephone, and one air/ground  radio. When the RADAR tower is finished we’re going to start on the observation towers for target two. We need walkie-talkies…or something to connect tower observers with Q-1 here, where I’ll have the air-to-ground set.”

“Neva hoppen, G.I. Korea has first priority. We can’t get any. We’re working on field phones connected by wire. Seems the best we can do.”

“Oh, so that’s why all the rolls of wire came in on that C-74. I got wire, but no phones. You guys heard any congressional flack about this site.”

“No. Why? Should I?”

“This rancher, Fritz Deutsche gives us some trouble every time he can. I know he’s threatened to have Congressman Hichaire try to stop it.”

“I kind of doubt it. Thwarting a war time project has got to be very unpopular.”

“Yeah, that reminds me, crew of that C-74 make any complaints about action here?”

“No. That something I should know about?”

“Not from me. If the pilot had nothing to carp about, everyone’s happy.”

At supper, Dorris and Clint spoke to each other, however their relationship simulated a business atmosphere. When he saw Dorris leave the restaurant, he waited five minutes and then sauntered back to the hotel. Just as he hoped, Dorris sat at the desk.

He pulled a chair up near her and sat down. She didn’t say anything, just looked expectantly at him. “Golly, Dorris, we’ve hardly had time to speak the last few days. Watching you, I thought you seemed remote. Is it something I’ve done? Are you mad at me?”

“No, you haven’t done anything,
(maybe that is the problem,
)
and I’ve have no reason to be mad at you.”

“I’m glad of that. And I think Lorena is coming around to being friends again.”

“Good. She really thinks a lot of you.”

“I think a lot of her…” He shut down the vision of Lorena in bra and panties. “And I think an awful lot of her mother.”

Dorris smiled for the first time. She reached out and lightly put her hand on Clint’s forearm. “I like you too, Clint.”

He felt jubilant. “In that case, we need to get together again.”

“Yes, I’m for that. What did you have in mind?”

“Lets go for a ride. On the map I see there’s a  scenic drive along the Missouri.”

“Okay, Clint, sounds good to me. I won’t even have to dress up, will I?”

“Gosh no. You look good to me. You would in anything.”

“Flattery yet. If I don’t watch you, you’ll turn my poor innocent head.”

Nevertheless, she took time to put on more make-up and change into slacks. Lorena watched her. “Are you going to tell me where you’re going?”

“For a ride. You’re always pushing me to get together with Clint. What do you think the two of us will be doing alone in a pick-up cab?”

Lorena bounced up happy. “Yes…just don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” she sang.

“Never fear, smart Alice. I’ll do anything I want.”

At first in the truck, they talked little; only mundane things. Having turned east and after passing through Nashua, Clint said, “Scenery is not important tonight.”

Sitting close to him. “Oh? Why not?’

“Who really cares about vistas…when a man is out with a good looking girl?”

“Oh my, now that you’ve got me all alone…without my daughter to protect me,  perhaps I should ask what your true intentions are.”

“If I told you that, you’d slap my face.”

“Would I? I didn’t slap your face last Saturday night.” She slid farther away from him to study his face. “When you had a pretty good chance of…(
fucking me…
she blushed on that word in her thoughts)…acting on your intentions.”

Clint’s face burned. He didn’t know what to say. Watching him, Dorris saw his face flame. When he didn’t answer right away, she thought:
have I been too bold? No, before we can go much further, I need to know. Why didn’t he have me when he could?

Clint took his eyes off the road to look into her eyes. “Dorris, I like you so very much, the other night was the first time in my life with a woman, that I was more concerned how our sex would affect her afterward, instead of me…just getting another piece of ass…a notch on my belt.”

Dorris felt stunned and at a loss for words.
He couldn’t have given me a better answer! I’m still sorry he didn’t fuck me then. I was so ready for it. Should be other times ahead.
  Dorris felt light headed. “Gosh, maybe I ought to inspect the number of notches on your belt.”

“That was just kidding. I hope I’d never do anything that juvenile.”

After he parked the truck at Gilman’s out of sight of the restaurant windows, Clint reached around and pulled Dorris to him. They mutually enjoyed a bout of heavy necking…until Clint cupped her breast. “Oh no,” she said. “Not tonight. They know we’re out here.” She slipped from under his embrace and jumped out of the truck.

Saturday morning, after the RADAR tower crew was on its way to the job site, only Clint, Lance and Tony Elsas remained at Q-1. A pick up truck pulled up near the entrance and two men got out, Fritz Deutsche and the driver, Basil Tree. Resembling an angry rhino, Fritz tromped into the hut.

Looking up at them, Lance was unimpressed. “Must be our lucky day, an early morning visit by the sunshine boys.”

Basil Tree snarled, “You wise mouth cocksucker, one of these days…” Fritz’s arm restrained him from stepping in front of him.

“Back off, Basil. I’ll handle this.” He braked at the desk where Clint remained sitting. Breathing hard, he flung some legal looking papers on the desk. “Read those, Sergeant. You’re in real trouble now. This’ll put an end to your job.”

“I don’t see the sheriff with you, Fritz, so I reckon this is not an arrest warrant.” Taking his time, Clint  picked the papers up and began reading them. “Shit, Fritz, this is just a letter from your lawyer, threatening to sue me…for reckless endangerment of your cattle.” He felt like smirking. “You’re kidding me.”

Now standing beside Fritz, Basil’s face flamed, “Say, smart mouth, watch your tongue. When Mr. Deutsch is kidding, he’ll be laughing.”

With hardly a glance at Basil, Clint snorted. He picked up the second set of papers. Standing now, Lance and Tony Elsas kept an eye on the two ranchers and casually moved to either side of Clint’s desk.

“You’ve kept your lawyer busy, Fritz. I hope he’s charged you a lot. Oh, oh. He’s going to file a request for an injunction, with the Valley County Superior Court against, not only me personally, but against the United States Air Force.” An amazed look on his face, Clint looked up at Fritz. “I can’t believe this.”

Fritz shifted from foot to foot, anxious to move. “Yeah, well you better, and that means you’ve got to stop this construction
right now!
”

“I’m no lawyer, but I don’t read that in here. Your shyster must really be pulling your leg.” Clint couldn’t keep from grinning. “These documents only mention what he’d like to do, not what he can, or what he has done.”

“Oh yeah? You’re up against a legal wall now, Greybull. If this ain’t enough to stop you…I’ll be back with the sheriff…to enforce these actions!”

“Well, I’d like to see the judge’s face when you tell him you’re going to stop the Air Force.” Clint picked up the first letter and tore it in two. “That’s what your letter is worth.” He picked up the second document.

Fritz’s red face was about to explode. “You God damned sonovabitch! Don’t you be tearing up my documents!” Clint tore the injunction request in two, (
fuck him,)
  handed it back to Fritz.              

“AH-R-R-R R-UH!’’ Roaring through his ragged breath, Fritz grabbed Clint’s wrist and pulled him over the desk. He swung with his left fist. But he was off-balance, and with little power, the blow just glanced Clint’s head. Clint twisted out of Fritz’s grasp. He sat back down and didn’t retaliate, just stared at Fritz.
The poor bastard is crazy.
Lance and Tony stiffened, ready. Basil Tree bobbed around not knowing what to do.

Fritz stood back…both fists cocked… body shaking…face purple, twisted.  He couldn’t speak…only sputter. Drool leaked from his mouth.

Tense as coiled springs, the airmen watched Fritz.

“He may be having a heart attack,” Tony Elsas murmured.

Lance whispered. “I think he’s having fits…wonder if he’s got rabies.”

Basil Tree put his hand on Fritz’s shoulder. “Boss! Boss! You okay?”

Fritz wheeled, pushed Basil out of the way…stormed back to his truck. Basil followed and got in the passenger side. The truck skidded, rocked, and tore off down the road to town.

Lance said, “Wonder if Radecker will get him for speeding?”

At lunch time, the RADAR crew wasn’t back yet. Clint said to Tony Elsas, “Hold the fort down here. I’m taking my truck to Glasgow looking for an auger. Lance wants to ride along to look for a used car. If the troops are all bent out of shape, because I’m not here to dole out their rubbers, you can do that. They are hidden in Q-2 on the shelf behind the radio, along with a list of who paid what, and how many they get.”

“No problem Chief. I’ll act as head rubber dispenser.”

In Glasgow, Clint had no problem finding Milk River Farm Implements. Inside, a dusty-looking salesman said, “We only have one auger in the store. C’mon, I’ll show you.” In a shed at the back of the store, he pointed out a rusty looking corkscrew. “Think that’ll do.”

“We don’t know augers from angels.” Clint handed the man a slip of paper. “Our tractor driver says these are the specs for what we need.”

“Well, you are in luck. This one will certainly do.”

Clint grimaced. “Maybe so, but it’s rusty and decrepit looking. Is it used? Does it have to be sharpened?”

“Well, yeah, it is used. If you want a new one we have to order it from Chicago.”

“And that would take how long?”

“Oh, four to six weeks.”

“This one’ll have to do. Can we rent it or do we have to buy it.”

“For sale only, and the first time you use it, most of that rust will come off.”

“How much?”

“Welll. Being used, I can let you have it for a hundred bucks.”

“You got to be kidding. A hundred for that piece of junk? Probably didn’t cost that new.”

“What it cost new isn’t too important to someone who wants it now. Is it?”

“Hey, this is for the war effort. Building a training facility for our bombers.”

“You’re in the service, aren’t you. From your hair cuts, I thought so.”