Circles in the Sand (23 page)

“Why thank you Mr. Altman. I’m proud of the way she is growing up.”

“I’m sure that’s due to your good influence on her, Mrs. Gilman.”

“Oh well. She’s got a lot of sense on her own,” Doris lied. “I’ve got to run along and see to lunch at the restaurant. If you’re not eating at Preacher Lamont’s, we always have room for one more. Desert’s on me.”

Doris waved at the brothers and headed home. There she found Lorena bouncing around. “Oh, I can’t wait to tell Sergeant Greybull that his competition is in town. Maybe that’ll speed him up.”

“Listen, Missy, you don’t have to speed him up, he’s fast enough already.”

“Ohhh. I never noticed.” Happy faced, she gazed at her mother. “Maybe I’m missing out on something, huh?”

“Don’t be such a smarty. I don’t think you miss anything. Anything at all.”

“Oh pooh. You just don’t want to talk to me about him.”

Harlan Altman had heard about Dorris and an Air Force sergeant. That’s why he was back in West Layover so soon. After lunch at his brother’s he said, “Do you think this Sergeant and Dorris are in any way serious?”

“I don’t know anything about them, Harlan. I’ve never met him. Neither he nor any of his men come to services.”

“That’s one of the reasons I called you,” Lamont’s wife Agatha broke in. “I don’t like that situation. For all practical purposes they’re living together…in her hotel.”

“Now, now, Agatha,” her husband said. “Mrs. Gillman is a respectable widow, and runs a respectable business. I understand all the Air Force men live there. You shouldn’t imply anything immoral is going on without any proof.”

“Humnf. Well I hear they went to Glasgow last Saturday night, and didn’t come in until late. No telling what they were doing up there.”

“Oh come on, Agatha, you’re jumping to unfair conclusions. Everyone is entitled to the benefit of the doubt, and we know Dorris Gilman so well. You should be careful what you say.”

“Well, him not ever coming to church is a bad sign. What if he’s a Catholic, or a Mormon, or one of those Holy Rollers?”

“Agatha, you’re speculating again. Please just quit it.”

“I don’t want to quit it. Aren’t you afraid your brother could get mixed up with an unmoral women. One who has been sleeping around with soldiers?”

“Agatha! I insist you stop this nonsense right now! Harlan’s a big boy.  He can look out for himself…without your interference.”

Agatha “humnfed” again, and sat there looking miffed.

Harlan said, “I appreciate your concern, Agatha, but I do make my own judgments, my own choices. I’m not going to do anything rash. I need to talk to Dorris herself.”

Entering Gilman’s through the restaurant door, Harlan saw Lorena before anyone else. “Hello again, Miss Gilman, how is your day going?”

“Oh boring a usual, Mr. Altman. Nothing to do, nowhere to go.”

“Sure, but Sunday is a day of rest. Why not take advantage of it.”

“Hard to rest when you’ve got to work.”

Looking around the empty restaurant, Harlan had to smile. “Not too hard right now. I guess you’ll get busy before dinner. Is your charming mother around?”

I’d like to tell you she’s out somewhere with Clint, but I won’t
.  “She’s in back somewhere, I’ll tell her you’re here.”

Her mother was in their parlor reading her bible. “Mr. Altman is here to see you. I guess he’d be happy to know you were so religious.”

“You ought to read the good book more yourself, Missy.”

“How come you haven’t dragged Clint off to church yet? He doesn’t have a bible in his room. What if he’s not a Christian?”

Dorris turned a puzzled look on her daughter. “You’re throwing too much at me all at once. Please just give me a break from your match making.”

“Okay. Just thought I’d ask.”

“Well don’t. Please ask Mr. Altman to come in here.”

After many general pleasantries, Harlan said, “I’ve been hoping to spend some time with you Dorris. How about I treat you to supper tonight? Give you a break from this restaurant.”

“Oh, how nice. What do you have in mind, Mr. Altman?”

“Please call me Harlan. Can I call you Dorris?”

“Oh, certainly…Harlan.”

“Too far to go to Williston and back. I thought maybe we could drive up to Glasgow. There must be a good restaurant or two up there.”

“That sounds nice. That would be a change.” She looked at Lorena hovering near the door to the restaurant. “If I can get some kitchen help, Lorena can look after this place until we get back…if it’s not too late.”

“Yes, I suppose with all the live-in customers you’ve got now, the restaurant can be pretty busy at times.”

I wonder what he’s heard about my live-in customers. Probably Agatha keeps everyone informed.
“More so during the week. The Air Force men don’t seem to eat much on Sunday…except at supper.”

“Can Lorena handle it by herself tonight?”

“Oh yes, she’s very competent.”

“She’s a very pretty girl.  If you’re not here, will those young men give her any trouble?”

“Oh no. They talk to her a lot, joke about. But nothing fresh. I wouldn’t put up with it, and neither would Sergeant Greybull.”

“He keeps a heavy hand on his men?”

“Not so you’d notice. Only puts up with their clowning so long. They know better than to touch Lorena.”

“When you  have to be away, that a must be a relief to you.”
I’d like to ask her about this Sergeant Greybull, but how can I do it without seeming nosy?

On the way to Glasgow, Harlan said, “I’m curious what all these Air Force men are doing here. It’s not like there’s a base here any longer.”

Dorris explained the mission as she knew it.

“And there’s no officer in charge? An NCO has all that responsibility.”

“Seems so. Oddly, there is a Second Lieutenant here, but he’s not in charge.”

“Certainly sounds like a strange situation. I take it this Sergeant is pretty capable?”

“Would seem so. He appears to be a pretty hard worker himself, and looks after the guys he calls his troops, even though they’re in the Air Force.”

“He must be a remarkable man.”

Dorris wanted to get off the subject of Clint. No point mentioning his wound to Harlan. “Probably…How are things in Williston?” Soon she was sorry she asked.

Harlan told her how it was such a blessed thing to help people in their time of need. It turned out to be a well paid trade, but he needed more help. Not everyone wanted to be a funeral director. What he needed most was a charming lady to act as a hostess. “I’ve been thinking how much someone, as likeable as you, could fit right in. Do you think you could consider changing your occupation?”

Dorris easily fended off that suggestion. “Well, that’s certainly nothing I ever thought of before. But now that you bring it up. I’m afraid that being around dead bodies would  be very depressing to me. I can understand it takes a special person to be an undertaker, and I admire you for it, Harlan, but honestly, that’s not for me.”

Harlan said, “Keep an open mind about it. I’d love to have you come to Williston, and see what it’s all about. We’ve got a very nice place. You might change your mind.”

“Who knows? Maybe, but certainly not in the near future.”

“Dorris, I’ve known you for a long time. Could I ask you a personal question?”

“Depends, Harlan. You can ask, but I might not want to answer it. A woman’s prerogative, you know.”

“I’ll come right out and ask then. Do you have a relationship with some other man that would cut me out of the picture?”

“Yes and no. I’ve come to admire Sergeant Greybull, and I’m sure, according to Lorena, that he thinks I’m attractive. But, regardless of him. It’s only fair to tell you, I don’t think I’m likely to ever want to join you in a funeral home. I’m sorry.”

After Harlan returned Dorris to the restaurant, he didn’t dawdle, but returned to Williston right away.

To Clint’s relief, the Doctor checked on him early Monday and released him. As soon as Elsas could pick him up at Ft. Peck,  he left even before eating.

Seeing him come in, Lorena practically danced up to him. “I’ve been telling you Clint, and you wouldn’t listen to me. Since you were so slow, yesterday Mom’s went off to Glasgow with Harlan Altman, the Preacher’s brother. You may be out of the picture.”

Clint staggered and clutched at his chest. “Oh no, no! Don’t tell me I’m too late again. Oh no, I can’t stand it. I’ll just be forced to marry one of my girls in Grand Eclipse…the one who is having my baby.” He fell onto a chair, buried his face in his arms and wailed. “Oh the injustice of it. Shot down by a Preacher’s brother. Oh, I’ll never live it down. I hope my shame doesn’t carry over to my unborn son. Oh how can I go on living?”

Lorena stood aghast with her hands to her face. Kline and Jewel about fell out of their chairs laughing. Lorena turned toward them. “How can you guys laugh about anything so serious?”

That started them off again. She finally got the picture when she turned back to see Clint grinning at her from under his sling and arm. “Oh you guys! You’re just hateful!” When Clint sat up grinning wider, she rushed over and  slapped his face. He was so helpless he didn’t try to stop her.

Still chuckling, Clint said, “I deserved that slap, Lorena. It’s not fair of me to put you on like that…but, sometimes, maybe you ask for it.”

She humphed and strode back into the kitchen.

Patton brought Clint up to date on Hooper.

“Balls. When it rains it pours. When it rains problems, that is. Okay, as soon as you eat, since you’re on top of Hooper missing, advise Sheriff Radecker. He’s been gone forty hours or more. I’d better notify Air Div.”

“Also, I never got to Glasgow, so Lance is still locked up. Ill give you the money if, after you see the sheriff, you’ll run up there and get him out. I can’t drive with only one arm.”

“You got that right, probably you ought to stay here and take it easy. I’ll take Priebe along to pick up your truck.”

“There’s too much going on for me to goof off right now.

“Okay, but you oughta let Mrs. McCune take a look at your arm again.”

At breakfast, Clint told the troops: “A lot has been going on the last two days. As soon as we get out to Q-1, I’ll brief you on all of it.”

Listening, Lorena said, “Does that mean you’re going to keep us civilians in the dark?”

“Golly, when  I consider what happened last time I spoke you, I don’t know if my face can take it.”

“Oh poo. You had a slap coming.”

“You’re right and I’m only kidding. Some of the things I need to talk about to the troops fall under the heading of classified. If you found out a secret, then I’d have to shoot you.”

“Darn you Sergeant Greybull. You’re putting me on again.”

“Okay, just don’ t tell your mother on me.”

“Ohhh, you can make me so mad. I don’t care if you are wounded, I am going to tell her…Tell her how nasty you can be!”

A coordinated groan arose from among the troops. Kline said, “Shame, shame on you, Chief. You
nasty
man! Oh, our fearless leader has gone down in flames again. Shot down as a potential stepfather.”

Clint said, “I don’t think you’ve got enough work to keep your simple mind occupied. If all of you have finished eating, let’s get on out to Q-1.”

“First of all. We seem to have a potentially deadly enemy in the rancher, Fritz Deutsh, and his henchman, Basil Tree. Any time they’re around, be on your guard. Don’t any of you leave this vicinity alone. Buddy up if you go anywhere except West Layover.

“Do any of you know anything about Hooper that would give us a clue on why he’s missing? Did he bitch about anything particular? Did he mention any problems bugging him? Anything wrong back home?”

The troops looked around at each other, some shrugged, some sighed. All shook their heads no. Kline said, “Ya know, he was pretty quiet. Didn’t say much. Didn’t kid around.” The others agreed.

When Sheriff Radecker showed up, they told him what they knew about Hooper.

The sheriff asked, “How about suicide? Did Hooper seem depressed? Did he ever mention ending it all?” He got negative responses from the troops again. “I’ve alerted the county sheriff’s department, and he’ll notify the towns around here to be on a lookout for him. But what I’m concerned about is possibly dragging the river. If nothing turns up on him pretty soon, I’m sure the county will organize a search party.” He left.

“About time someone showed up.” Lance said.

“What are you bitchin’ about? The judge let you off, didn’t he?”

“Yeah, but I was sure Clint woulda been back up here Saturday night.”

“He was on the way. A truck with no lights tried to knock him off the road at that big turn. Then someone shot him in the shoulder. A couple of strangers found him, and brought him back into town.

“Whaaat? Where is he now? Is he okay?”

“Back at work, but I wish he’d take it easy. He lost a lot of blood. Lucky the skunk was a rotten shot. Probably wanted to kill him.”

“Holy cow! Who did it?”

“Only a good guess, but if it was who we think, we’re wondering how they knew he’d be along there in the middle of the night.”

“Ohh, I’ll be damned. Fritz was here in the jail when I asked the deputy to call Clint to bail me out.”

“Sounds like that piece fits. Since you got your own car now, I’m heading right back. You better too. There’s a lot going on. Hooper has been missing since Saturday night.”

“Anybody know where he went to?”

“Not yet, Seems the last place he was seen  was the Boar Pen.”

“Hah. Maybe he dived into Marie-Elena…and hasn’t surfaced.”

“He should be so lucky.”

Clint said, “I’ve got to get on the horn to Air Div, Elsas. Until Roger gets back, you take the guys and gather up whatever more material is needed for the RADAR target. Even if the posts aren’t set yet, you’ll have things out there when we need them.”

At Air Div, Clint talked to LC Jenner “Yes Sir, we didn’t know Hooper was missing until late last night. As soon as I can, I want to talk to a whore named Jill…probably the last person who saw him over here. She’s part Indian and lives on the reservation on the other side of the Possum. If we can’t raise her on the phone, I want to drive over and see her in person.”