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

spilled out into the night. She slipped her feet into her shoes, put on one of her daddy’s old shirts,
hurried
to the door and out onto the porch. The music was so loud, she was sure it could be heard a block away.
    A light was on in cabin number one, Frank’s cabin. The windows, as well as the door, were open. The radio blared. As she stepped off the porch, lights came on in the other cabins. Anger propelled Mary Lee to the door. Frank lounged on the end of the bed with a bottle of booze in his hand. Her mother, fully clothed, lay on the bed beside him.
    “Turn that radio down!” Mary Lee had to shout in order to be heard.
    Frank looked at her, grinned and raised his bottle. His lips moved; she couldn’t hear, but she was sure he said, “Make me.”
    “I said, turn it down. You’re disturbing folks who want to sleep.”
    Dolly sat up on the edge of the bed. Ignoring Mary Lee, Frank playfully pushed her. She fell back giggling. He moved over on top of her, rubbing himself crudely against her.
    Mary Lee’s face reddened. “Mama, come home.”
    She was sure that her mother was falling-down drunk, and it made her sick to her soul to see her on the bed with trash like Frank Pierce.
    “Get the hell away from here!” Frank shouted.
    “Not until you turn down that radio.” Mary Lee stepped up onto the doorsill.
    Frank sprang off the bed, slammed a hand against her chest and pushed her back. She stumbled but regained her balance.
    “This is my place. I never invited ya in.”
    “Don’t touch her!” Eli’s young voice was heard over the music. He was beside Mary Lee, holding up a big stick, ready to defend her.
    “Watch yoreself, kid, or ya’ll get yore ass kicked.” Frank stepped back and slammed the door.
    Mary Lee backed away. “I don’t know what to do, Eli. The renters will leave and demand their money back.”
    “I’ll get Jake. He told me to . . .”
    Eli took off on the run even as she was saying, “No! Don’t.”
    A man came out of number two to see what was going on, and another came from number three.
    “Turn that radio off or I’ll call the sheriff,” Mary Lee called, even though she knew Frank couldn’t hear her.
    The man from the next cabin came over. He was an older person with a head of gray hair and a lined face.
    “Call the law, ma’am. We can’t sleep with that racket goin’ on.”
    “I’m awful sorry . . .”
    At that moment Mary Lee vowed that she would take the money she had been saving for the baby and have the phone reconnected.
    “Eli said Frank pushed you.” Mary Lee turned to see Jake Ramero. He wore only his pants and boots. He was a welcome sight.
    “He was on his way here,” Eli explained.
    Jake put his hand on her shoulder. “Are you all right?” “He didn’t hurt me. I’m afraid my renters will leave. I’ll have to give them their money back.” Unconsciously, Mary Lee began to wring her hands.
    Jake stepped up to the cabin and tried the door. It was locked.
    “He isn’t going to be reasonable. Do I have your permission to break in?”
    “I don’t want a fight . . .”
    “It’s either that or you lose your renters, and believe me, news travels down the highway.”
    “Break in. And if he gives you an excuse, knock his teeth out!”
    Jake grinned. “Thought you didn’t want a fight.”
    “It won’t be much of a fight. He’s too drunk.”
    Jake took a step back, raised his booted foot and smashed it against the door. It flew open. He stepped inside, grabbed Frank by the shirtfront and slammed him up against the wall.
    “That was for pushing the lady. If you ever put your hands on her again you’ll find your pecker in your ear and your balls hanging on a clothesline.” Jake hauled him to the door and shoved him so hard he went sprawling facedown in the yard. “That was for causing the racket and waking up all these folks.”
    With a mere glance at the giggling woman on the bed, Jake yanked the cord connecting the radio from the electric line.