Sintown Chronicles II: Through Bedroom Windows (39 page)

He reached for her hand. “I wish you could, June.” He dropped the pencil, leaned back in the chair and placed his hands behind his head. “I must get that loan. That's all there is to it."

“There's no other way?"

He shook his head. “Even a decent tractor and attachments will cost twenty thousand or more."

“How about a used tractor?"

He leaned forward and looked at her. “That's a possibility,” he said. “I haven't thought about it. Used tractors are hard to find, though."

“Most of the people in Dot used to be tobacco farmers, but many have given it up. An ad in the
Dot Courier
might turn something up."

“It's worth a try, Lovely Lady. I'm a decent mechanic and I have a full set of tools on my truck. I might be able to turn a piece of junk into something usable."

June brightened. “Frank, you could find plenty of business from the people living at the golf course, just keeping their lawns and gardens during the year. You don't need Tim Dollar's business. All you need is a good riding mower and a handful of tools."

He shook his head. “I wish that were true, June. Sure, I could possibly make enough money to exist, but I want more than that for both of us."

She sighed and reached for his hand. “Take your figures to Mr. Anthony tomorrow. You'll get your loan."

“I wish I had your confidence, June.” He stood up and walked to the sink with his back to her. “I may have a problem you don't know about."

He turned and faced her. “I'm not going to start our relationship with secrets, June. This has been on my mind since we left the Dollars’ place. I want to tell you about it, but you must promise to keep it confidential."

She nodded. Her heart was pounding. Did he see me doing those horrible things? she wondered.

“Sandy Dollar is not the nice, respectable lady she pretends to be."

“What do you mean, Frank?"

“She came on to me while we were at the spring. She wants me to be her secret lover. She swore I would not get any Dollar business or the loan if I don't do what she wants."

June rushed to his arms and pressed her cheek to his chest. “Frank, honey, I understand. Sometimes circumstances force us to do things we don't want to do. It's okay. I love you."

“June, I'm not going to give in to that woman. Thirty days ago, it would have been a different story but now that you are in my life, I've changed. I'll clean septic tanks before I bow at her feet."

“You didn't..."

“No. I told her to go to hell.” He caressed her hair and felt her trembling beneath his touch.

Oh, God. What have I done? she thought. Her lips trembled as she said, “Go to the bank tomorrow, Frank. You'll get the loan and the Dollars’ business too."

June showered when she arrived home from the Dollars’ place. She bathed again after Frank left. She started Monday morning scrubbing her body furiously but she still felt dirty. A single sound kept popping into her brain—"click."

She could not look Maggie in the eye when she arrived at the diner.

“Boy, are your eyes bloodshot this morning,” Maggie laughed as she slid a tray of biscuits into the oven. “Frank told me that the two of you had quite a day yesterday."

June nodded as she loaded plates and silverware on the gray cart.

Maggie began cutting her rolled dough for another tray of biscuits. “I talked with Kim on the phone last night. She's feeling better and said she would be in this morning. I know you'll be glad to have some help out front. Luis called too. He said his money ran out before his vacation time did."

Maggie paused for the expected laugh from June, but it did not come.

“Anyway, when he got back to town last night, he heard about Dottie's accident and volunteered to come back to work early. I jumped on it. Spending all day alone in this kitchen is hard work."

June rolled the cart to the large refrigerator and began filling it with small pitchers of syrup and honey.

“Are you okay, June?"

“Didn't sleep much last night.”

“The big news is that Dottie and George Bennett have decided to merge their businesses. Mr. Bennett called last night too. He said Dottie is still pretty sore, but is feeling much better. Get this, June. They've decided to merge their businesses and I'm to manage them both!"

June kept her back turned to Maggie and said nothing.

“Anyway, he said Dottie will come back to work tomorrow. Today they're going to get the legal paperwork done."

June closed the refrigerator door and pushed the gray cart towards the dining area. Maggie touched her arm as she passed.

“June, you look terrible."

The dam burst and tears rolled down June's cheeks. Maggie was uncomfortable embracing another woman, but she did it instinctively.

“I love him so much, Maggie."

“He's your first love, isn't he June?"

She nodded against Maggie's shoulder.

“Sometimes love hurts, Maggie. Did he ... did Frank rape you yesterday?"

June pushed away. “Oh, no, Maggie. Nothing like that. Frank wouldn't do that."

“Then what, June?"

“Something ... something happened at the Dollars’ place yesterday."

“Uh oh. Did Tim come on to you? That's it, isn't it?"

June nodded as she picked up a napkin from the cart and wiped her cheeks.

Maggie laughed. “Sweetie, you have grown into a fine looking woman. Tim fancies himself as something of a lady's man. He flirts with everybody. He's flirted with me many times. I just play along and forget it."

“It was more than flirting."

“He felt you up? That happens. You couldn't help it—just keep your distance in the future. Where was Frank while all this was going on?"

“Frank was off looking over a project Mrs. Dollar wants him to do. Mr. Dollar and I were alone on the fishing pier, but he didn't touch me."

“June, I don't understand. What did he do?"

“I can't talk about it,” June sobbed.

“I'm baaaaack,” a voice boomed from the dining area. Kim came through the door with a big smile on her face. “A little rest is all I needed. I feel fine as frog's hair this morning."

“That's great, Kim,” Maggie said, “and just in time. June's a bit under the weather today."

“You sure don't look good, honey,” Kim said as she looked at June.

“June, Luis will be here shortly to help in the kitchen. That will allow me to help Kim cover the front. I want you to go home and get some rest."

June shook her head. “I'll be okay."

“Not without some rest you won't. Go home and take a nap. If you feel better when you wake up, you can come back this afternoon."

“Go on, honey,” Kim urged as she moved to the back of the kitchen to put her purse in her locker.

“Thanks, Maggie,” June whispered. “Please don't say anything to Frank."

Frank stood at the front door and knocked. He checked his watch. It was seven minutes after eight. Maybe they're not up yet, he reasoned. He knocked again and paced the porch. “I'll just have to come back later,” he grumbled aloud. He headed for the steps when the door opened.

Sandra stood in the open doorway wearing a red robe and slippers. “My, aren't you out early this morning."

Frank nodded. “I couldn't sleep last night. I started clearing a path to your spring at daybreak. It shouldn't take but a couple more days."

“And what brings you to my door with sweat glistening on your magnificent body?"

“I need to see Tim if it's convenient. He wanted to go over my figures before I apply for a loan."

“Come in, Frank,” she said as she stepped aside. She pushed the door closed and smiled up at him, opened her robe and let it fall to the floor. She jumped at him, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his hips. She dug her teeth into his neck and sucked furiously.

He shrugged her off, knowing she had left a telltale mark that would be visible for days.

“Frank baby,” she said. “Junior will sleep at least another hour and Tim left a note saying he is having breakfast at the diner this morning. We have the house to ourselves."

“Damn it, Sandy. Put your robe back on. I told you this is not going to happen."

“The hell it isn't.” She moved towards him and he backed away.

“Put your hand on my crotch, if you like,” he said.

“Now that's more like it."

“You'll find I'm not aroused. I'm not interested in you, Mrs. Dollar."

She picked up her robe and put it on. “Go on to the bank, Frank Skinner. I've already talked with Tom Anthony. He won't give you the loan unless you get interested in me immediately."

Frank slammed the door behind him.

“I'm glad I caught you, Tim. Sandy told me you were having breakfast at the diner."

Tim nodded and motioned towards the empty side of the booth. “Just finishing my last cup of coffee."

Frank looked around the dining area as he slid into the seat. “I don't see June and who is that other waitress?"

“That's Kim. She's been out with the flu for several days. Maggie said that June was exhausted this morning and she sent her home for a nap."

Frank nodded. “We tried to do too much yesterday. I hope a nap is all she needs."

“You wanted to see me?"

“Yes, sir,” Frank said, pulling the notes from his hip pocket. “You said you wanted to look over my figures before I apply for a loan."

Tim quickly glanced over the notes. Frank didn't like the expression on Tim's face.

“You have a huge chunk of change set aside for lime, fertilizer and seeds."

“Yes, sir. With all the farming that goes on around here I figured those items will be an important revenue source."

Tim nodded. “The problem is, it's a major source of revenue for my hardware store too. I'm not thrilled about helping a business go into competition with me."

“June told me you own the hardware store, but I didn't realize you stocked those items."

“You didn't do your homework very well, Frank,” Tim said as he pushed the notes across the table.

“What'll you have, sir?” Kim asked Frank.

“We were just leaving, darling,” Tim replied, pressing a twenty in her hand. “Keep the change, honey. It's good to have you back."

As the grinning waitress walked away Frank asked, “Can't we talk about this?"

“Not here—too many ears. Let's take a walk."

Frank followed Tim to the sidewalk and fell in step beside him.

“Sandy called me at the diner just before you arrived,” Tim said, looking straight ahead. “She said that when you came to the house this morning and found that I wasn't there that you ripped off her robe and tried to rape her."

Frank stopped dead in his tracks but Tim continued to walk. Frank recovered and hastened to catch up.

“That didn't happen, Mr. Dollar."

“I know."

“You know?"

“I'm not blind, Frank. You're a good-looking guy and it's obvious Sandy has her eye on you. She was in a foul mood all last night. I figure she took you to the spring, tried to seduce you and you refused her. I suppose she tried again this morning."

“Mr. Dollar, I'm sorry, but that's exactly the way it was."

“I don't know if you can understand this, Mr. Skinner, but Sandy and I have a good relationship. It's just that, well, sometimes she has a roaming eye. I love her and I need her. She's a full partner in Dollar Enterprises. She owns fifty percent and a good divorce lawyer could probably get most of the other fifty."

“But she's the one..."

Tim shook his head as they passed the hardware store. “I've had my moments too."

They walked in silence for a couple of minutes.

“I like you, Frank. I would like to help you, but Sandy wants to destroy you. It boils down to this. If you make her happy we'll insure your business success."

“You would allow..."

“It won't be the first time—or the last. She'll get tired of you in a year or less. Believe me, Frank, she's good in bed."

“I just can't believe that you..."

“Hold that thought, Frank,” Tim said as he stopped in front of the vacant warehouse. He removed a ring of keys from the belt clip, selected one and opened the door.

They walked the length of the warehouse in silence. Tim threw the handle on the fuse box and florescent lamps bathed the cavernous building with light. “I spent a small fortune renovating this place, Frank. It's one of the few investments I've made that didn't pay off.” His eyes flowed over the empty space. “It needs cleaning and you'll need some fixtures, but you won't have much to do in the way of remodeling unless you decide you want to add air-conditioning."

“You're confusing me, Mr. Dollar."

“I know,” Tim said as he opened the back door. “Here's my offer, Frank. I'll rent you this building and as much of the land in back as you like. I'll leave the figures up to you and Vic Kimel, but I'm thinking of something like a five-year lease with the first year free. I'll make you a direct loan up to two hundred thousand at a five percent interest rate, and I will contract with you for all the landscaping business at my housing projects for a period of five years."

“But I thought you said..."

“What I said, Frank, was that if you take care of Sandy's needs, I'll take care of yours.” Tim extended his hand. “Deal?"

Frank took one backward step.

“Sandy and I will both keep our mouths shut. I promise you that. June will never know."

“Tim I ... I'll have to think about it."

June staggered to the door, half-asleep. “What ... what do you want?"

“For starters I want to come in,” Tim laughed as he pushed her aside. He reached for the lapels of the fuzzy pink robe she wore and she slapped his hands away.

“Be nice to me, June. I'm a man of my word. I just made Frank a hell of an offer.” He pulled her to him and grasped her buttocks.

“No!” she shouted as she pushed away.

“No papers have been signed yet, June. I can still back out if you don't give me what I want. Open your robe for me sweetheart."

“I can't do this, Mr. Dollar,” she said as the tears puddled in her eyes.

“You love Frank, don't you?"