Read Online Song of the Road by Dorothy Garlock - Free Book Online

been humiliating to that girl to have the county bury her husband.”
    Ruby’s mouth continued to run while Jake was eating. He didn’t mind. Between her and Paco at the Red Pepper Corral he got more news than if he read the newspaper. It was as he was getting ready to leave that Ruby warned him about Lon Delano.
    “Jake, keep an eye out for Lon Delano and his bunch. They were in here the other day talking about how they’d like to grease those girders you climb on out at the bridge and watch you take a nosedive into the canyon.”
    “Not a one of them has the guts to climb the girder to grease it. Thanks for the warning, Ruby. I’ll be here in the morning. Pack me a lunch.”
    “Night, Jake.”
    When Jake neared the motor court, he noticed a light in each of the four available cabins. Mary Lee had a full house tonight. There was also a light in the one where Frank was staying.
    Eli was still sitting on the doorstep of the washhouse.
    “Made up your mind yet?” Jake asked, and walked on by.
    “Yeah.” The boy got up and hurried to catch up with him.
    “After
Amos ’n Andy,
the
Texaco Fire Chief
is on.”
    “Never heard of that one.”
    “It’s pretty funny.” They reached the cabin. Jake unlocked the door. “Come on in and close the door. It’s a little cool at night.”
    Eli stood hesitantly in the doorway until Jake turned on the light. The room was tidy; the bed was made, and clothes hung on a rod stretched across a corner. A square box radio sat on a table, and an attached wire ran out the window. Jake switched the set on. Eli eased down on his heels beside the door.
    “Now, ain’t dat a shame. Amos, yo got no sense a-tall.”
    The program had already started. Next they heard Andy’s most recognized line:
“Buzz me, Miss Blue.”
    “Yo don’ need no buzz from Miss Blue, Andy. The Kingfish is here.”
    “How do, Kingfish? Yo wantin’ to ride the Fresh Air Taxi down to the lodge hall?”
    Jake lit a cigarette and lounged on the bed. They listened to the remainder of the program without much to say to each other. When it was over, Eli got up to leave.
    “Thanks.” He opened the door.
    “Stay for Ed Wynn’s show if you like.”
    “Naw. Better get back. Miss Mary Lee might need me.”
    “Come again.”
    The boy left, and Jake kind of wished he’d stayed awhile. He liked the kid. He had pride and a dignity that you didn’t see in some grown men nowadays. It had to be tough being on your own at that age, eating in soup kitchens and looking for a dry hole to sleep in. Jake wondered why the kid didn’t try to hitch a ride to California. It seemed that everybody and his dog was going there. Folks traveled the highway every day, their cars and trucks loaded with furniture and kids, all seeking a better life.
    Jake reached over and put out his cigarette. Whatever had possessed him to take the bridge job when every minute he spent on those girders was pure agony? He knew even as he asked himself the question. He was doing it for money, and when the job was over, he would be just that much closer to the day when he would have his own little spread.
    He looked forward to the time when he could sit on the porch of his own house and watch his horses and cows eat the grass in his own meadows. He wanted a soft, sweet woman to be waiting for him after a hard day’s work. He wanted one who would be glad to see him, listen as he told about the happenings of the day and cuddle with him in a warm bed at night. He wanted a little curly-haired girl to run to meet him, and a stout boy to teach about horses and cows — legitimate children who never doubted who they were and who knew that their parents wanted them.
    The
Texaco Fire Chief
came on and off the radio without Jake’s hearing it.
    “What in the world —”
    Mary Lee woke out of a sound sleep and sat up in bed. Her heart pounded. She swung her legs over the side and turned on the light. It was one o’clock in the morning. The loud music from a radio