The Maine Events, Rodney Riesel [best books to read in your 20s TXT] 📗

turned out good.” Allen showed them the photo.

“Well, the sunrise looks nice anyway,” Mildred groused. Whycan't you just smile, ya old fart, instead of puttin' on that constipatedface?”

“Least I don't grin like a jackass eatin' cactus.”

Allen quickly interjected. “Do I detect a slight accent?”

“Oklahoma,” said Mildred. “Had a cattle ranch there forthirty-five years.”

“Sold the place a few years back for a pretty penny and hitthe road,” Cam added. “Gettin' a little sick of the Lincoln though. Beenthinkin' about buyin' one of those Winny-Baygos. That way we wouldn't have tostop every twenty miles so Mildred can stretch her legs.”

“Huh!” Mildred sniffed. “So's he can take a pee, is morelike it. Old fool's got an enlarged prostate the size of Texas.”

“Hush, Mother.”

“Well, ya do.”

“Come to find out,” Cam went on, “the nomadic life suits us.It's a big, beautiful country, and we aim to see all of it. Hell, Mildred hadnever been outside Cimarron County in her life before we became king and queenof the road.”

“Now I've been to twenty-nine states and Canada,” saidMildred proudly.

“Never been west of Texas,” said Cam. “That's where we'reheaded after this—Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California. Might even take aride up to Washington if we're that way come summer. Mildred and I don't likethe cold.”

“Then I want to head down to Key West,” said Mildred.“Always been a dream of mine to visit the Hemingway Home.”

“We'll get there, Mother,” Cam assured her.

“Met a lot of nice people along the way,” said Mildred.

“This your first time in Maine?” Allen asked.

“Nope,” said Cam. “We was through here a few years back.Stayed at a bed and breakfast up in Dunquin Cove. Nice lady and her little boyran it.”

Cam and Mildred exchanged a secretive glance.

“It was a beautiful little town,” said Mildred. “We stillsend Claire and Mica postcards from the road.”

“We'll probably drive up there next week and say hey.”

“What made you not stay at the bed and breakfast this timethrough?” Allen asked.

“A little too much excitement in that town sometimes,” saidCam.

“What kind of excitement?”

“Oh, ya know …”

Allen didn't know, but it was obvious Cam didn't want totalk about it.

“Speaking of excitement,” said Cam. “Did you dispose of theitems?”

Allen looked at Mildred. “I, uh …”

“It's okay,” Cam assured him. “You can talk in front ofMildred. I tell her everything.”

“I called the police and had them come pick up the weapons.”

“What did you tell them?”

“I didn't mention your name. I told Sergeant Rose I wasalone. I didn't know if you were licensed to carry that revolver here, so Ithought it better not to give him your name.”

“Thanks, and I ain't licensed to carry a weapon anywhere.Neither is Mildred, but we're both usually packin'.”

“Ya gotta be these days,” said Mildred, shaking her headknowingly.

“I gotta say, Cam, that was real impressive the way youtripped up that guy and jumped on top of him like that,” said Allen.

“What!” Mildred shouted. “Who jumped on who?”

Cam shook his head. “When I said I tell her everything, boy,I didn't mean everything.”

“Sorry, Cam.”

“What exactly happened?” Mildred demanded.

“We'll talk about it later, Mildred.”

One of the construction workers pulled up in his truck andgot out. “Morning, folks,” he said, and began unwrapping the yellow plastictape from the sawhorses and cones.

“There sayin' it's gonna be a beautiful day,” said Cam.

“That's what they're saying,” the worker replied.

“Well, Mildred, I need some breakfast.” Cam rubbed hisnonexistent belly. “I'm starving.”

“He's playin' my tune,” said Mildred.

“I'll bring them books over later, Allen.”

“Any time,” Allen responded. “Come on, Frankie. I'm prettyhungry myself.”

Halfway across the parking lot the door to room number fouropened, and out stepped Jacob's dad. His hard hat was under his arm and hisorange vest was hanging over his shoulder. His wife stepped through the doorafter him; she was dressed in red and green flannel pajamas. He turned to kisshis wife goodbye. He continued to his pickup, a Nissan Frontier that had seenbetter days.

“Morning,” said Jacob's dad. “You must be Allen.”

“I gotta be. No one else wants to,” Allen replied.

Frankie ran to Jacob's door.

The two men shook hands.

“Jay Palmer.”

“Allen Crane.”

“Jacob tells me you're a famous writer.”

“Slightly famous. Working on the seawall today?”

“Not today. They've got me up in Ogunquit today pouring afooter. Probably won't be back at this site till Friday.”

“I bet it's nice having your family up here with you.”

“Yeah, those first couple of months were pretty boring.”

“I bet.”

“Well, I better be heading out. We'll have to have a beerone of these nights.”

“Sounds good, Jay. You have a good day.”

“I'll try.”

Jay walked to his truck and climbed in, and Allen continuedtoward the stairs. He looked over at Jacob's mom. She was squatting down, pettingFrankie.

“Come on, Frankie!” Allen called out, slapping his thigh.

Frankie ran toward him. Jacob's mom gave a little wave, andAllen waved back.

“Beautiful sunrise this morning,” she said.

“It sure was,” Allen responded. He pulled open the door to thestairway, and Frankie ran up the stairs.

Allen unlocked the door, and they went inside. Frankiejumped up on the bed and made himself comfortable.

“I'm gonna take a quick shower, Frankie. Whaddaya say wewalk up to Stones Throw and see if they're serving breakfast?” Allen walkedinto the bathroom and shut the door behind him. “Ya think Mya works breakfast,or just lunches?” he called out to the dog.

Frankie looked at the bathroom door for a second, and thenreturned his attention to the picture window.

“What does it matter, right?”

Frankie ignored him this time.

“Are you even listening to me? Can't open doors, can't makea drink, can't hold a conversation.”

Chapter Eight

It wasn't until after Allen and Frankie made the twenty-fiveminute hike to Stones Throw that they discovered it didn't open until eleven.

“Shall we walk back to the Oceanside Store and havebreakfast there again?” Allen asked his dog. He didn't wait for an answer.“Come on.”

Allen ordered the same thing for breakfast that he'd orderedthe day before, complete with a side of sausage for Frankie. He went inside toorder this time. He got himself a cup of coffee and took it outside. He sat atthe picnic table facing the water and waited for his number to be called.

There was