The Black Train

Jiff felt better into the second beer.

“Wouldn’t mind going a round with that one,” Buster said, gesturing the screen.

Savannah Sammy was basting some ribs.

“He’s older than he looks, probably had a facelift,” Jiff speculated. “And his teeth are white as wall paint. Probably got hisself one’a them fancy California bleach jobs. Don’t like all that fake stuff…unless the money’s right.”

Both men laughed.

Jiff looked down at the fifty he’d put on the bar. Something seemed to be under it.

Oh, them check things, he remembered. He’d pulled them out of his pocket along with the fifty.

“What’s that?” Buster inquired.

Jiff showed him one. “Old paychecks from the original Gast Railroad.”

“From the Civil War?”

Jiff nodded.

“Yeah, damn, look at this.” Buster examined one. “This one’s from 1862.”

“I found ’em in Mr. Collier’s room.”

“Why would they be there?”

“He probably found ’em in an old bookcase or desk. These things are all over my ma’s inn.” He took the check back and looked at it, bored.

But the beer was going down but good. Jiff had a feeling he’d be hanging around for a while.

He was about to put the old checks back in his pocket when he happened to notice that one of them, though signed at the bottom, hadn’t been dated or filled out at all. III

When Collier walked into Cusher’s at just before noon, there was only one seat available at the bar. Employees whisked back and forth as the lunch rush commenced.

Dominique came over, still looking a bit abraded from last night.

“Not even noon yet and the bar’s totally full,” Collier commented.

She leaned over the bar on her elbows. “I know. It’s never this full so early.”

“Well, I told you so.”

“Told me what?”

Collier cocked a brow. “Braless Dominique equals full bar.”

“Get out of here.” She lowered her voice. “Did you get my underwear?”

Collier calculated the question. If I’m going to get involved with a girl who’s celibate then I at least deserve a perk or two. “Damn, sorry,” he lied. “I forgot.” He discreetly eyed the shadows of her nipples beneath the blouse. “My fault. Look, I’ll buy you some new underwear.”

“Thanks.” She frowned and suddenly seemed perturbed. “Do you want a beer?”

“No. From now on I’ll be adopting your deal. One beer a day.”

“Oh, so I guess you’ll be having it in L.A.?”

The comment, and her tone, befuddled him. “What?”

She sighed. “Look, Justin, I’m really lousy with good-byes…”

“I’m…not following you.”

“Earlier you told me you had to go back to the inn to get your luggage.” She pointed to the front window. “And right now I can see that funny green car of yours parked right there, with your suitcase in the backseat. That means you’re leaving.”

“Well…” Collier began.

“I didn’t know you were leaving this soon—I thought you were staying at least a few more days. But—damn it—it’s my own fault.”

“Your fault?”

“I always knew you’d be going back to L.A., so I had no business letting myself get attached to you. It was stupid. You just walked in here to say good-bye. I understand that. But I hate good-byes, so let’s just leave it at that, and you be on your way. Good-bye.”

Collier grabbed her hand. “I’m in love with you.”

“Justin, don’t say stuff like that—Great. You’re in love with me. And now you’re going back to L.A. and I’ll never see you again.”

“I—”

She tried to pull away. “Just go, all right? Just—”

“Would you let me talk, damn it!” he yelled.

Everyone at the bar turned their heads. The St. Pauli barmaid and the other waitresses stopped in their tracks.

Collier talked lower. “I’m not going back to L.A.”

“What?”

“I’m staying here.”

“For a few more days, you mean.”

“No, no. Permanently. I quit the show—”

Dominique blanched. “You did what?”

“I turned down my contract renewal yesterday. I’m tired of being on TV. I’m fried. I’m sick of rush hour, I’m sick of shooting schedules, and I’m sick of California. My lawyer’s going to send me the divorce papers. I’m going to give half of everything to my asshole wife and be done with it.” He squeezed her hand. “I want to stay here, in Gast.”

She was staring at him.

“I want to stay here and have a relationship with you,” he said.

Now the employees were listening attentively.

“Justin, I don’t know…You know what I’m like, you know—”

“I don’t care about all that. I can live with it. What’s the big deal? We’ll give it a shot. I’ll get an apartment in the area—or, hell, I’ll move in with you. If you get sick of me, just tell me. I’ll boogie. If it doesn’t work out, we split. We’ll just be friends. Nothing ventured, nothing gained, you know?” He gave her the eye. “So what do you say? Sound good to you?”

Dominique leaned all the way across the bar and kissed him. It was a serious, tongue-tussling kiss, and it went on long enough that he could hear some employees giggling and someone at the bar remark, “Get a room.” In the most absurd fantasy, Collier imagined himself making love to her…

But that’s never going to happen, he reminded himself when he looked down her top again and saw the cross floating between her breasts. Unless…

“And, who knows?” he said. “Maybe it will work out.”

“Yeah,” she gushed back. Perhaps it was a joke and perhaps it wasn’t, when she added, “Maybe it will work out and someday we’ll get married.”

Collier got dizzy when she kissed him again.

Yeah, maybe someday, he thought. Or maybe REAL SOON…

EPILOGUE

“If you don’t get’cher lazy, do-nothin’ butt out’a bed right this minute, I’m gonna kick you out’a this house!” The ragged yell pierced Jiff’s ears.

Sunlight dumped onto Jiff’s face when the curtains were yanked open.