VoyForums
[ Show ]
Support VoyForums
[ Shrink ]
VoyForums Announcement: Programming and providing support for this service has been a labor of love since 1997. We are one of the few services online who values our users' privacy, and have never sold your information. We have even fought hard to defend your privacy in legal cases; however, we've done it with almost no financial support -- paying out of pocket to continue providing the service. Due to the issues imposed on us by advertisers, we also stopped hosting most ads on the forums many years ago. We hope you appreciate our efforts.

Show your support by donating any amount. (Note: We are still technically a for-profit company, so your contribution is not tax-deductible.) PayPal Acct: Feedback:

Donate to VoyForums (PayPal):

[ Login ] [ Contact Forum Admin ] [ Main index ] [ Post a new message ] [ Search | Check update time | Archives: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 ]

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Date Posted: 21:54:55 05/25/03 Sun
Author: Sue
Subject: Re: Studs Texas - Book 2- Sunday at dawn
In reply to: dqfan 's message, "Studs Texas - Book 2, New Thread, Same Saturday..." on 11:34:19 01/17/03 Fri

The streets of Studs lay sleepily before them. Night surrounded them, but the first light of dawn
hinted on the horizon as they made a right turn onto the town’s main drag. The two companions
drove on in silence side by side. Each weary from the long night they had spent together.

Stopping for a traffic light, Josh turned exhausted eyes toward Lena. The older woman sat lost
in thought staring out the passenger’s side window. “Penny for your thoughts.” He uttered
breaking into the silence surrounding them.

“What?” Lena answered distractedly turning her head quickly toward his, her eyes catching a
brief glimpse of his fair good looks. She was startled for a moment before reaching a hand up to
rub her tired eyes. It had to be lack of sleep her mind reasoned, that and the stress of the night
for she had never noticed a resemblance before. Rubbing her eyes once again, she looked back
at the man beside her.

“I’m sorry.” Josh answered. “I didn’t mean to startle you. You just seemed to be so deep in
thought.”

“That’s alright.” Lena began hesitantly. “You caught my mind wandering.”

“They’ll be okay.” Josh continued. “Teddy and Randy.”

“I surely hope so.” Lena returned. “It’s just so strange Josh how in a few short moments a
person’s life can be turned upside down . . . Teddy and the heart attack . . . Randy, the accident
and now the baby . . . Nicky too! I just pray to God that they’ll all be alright.”

Lena’s words played on Josh’s mind, and he didn’t give her an answer back for a few moments.
‘Yes . . . only a few short moments . . . such a precious amount of time for a life to change . . .’
He finally spoke up applying his foot to the gas pedal as he did, noticing the light before them
had turned green and wondering slightly if it had been that way for some time now. “Yes, we
should keep them all in our prayers.”

Lena returned his words with a weak smile as her eyes drifted back to gaze out her side
window. The next minutes followed in silence until finally she spoke up again. “Would you
mind pullin’ over, Josh?”

“Huh?”

“Pullin over, hun?”

“But we’ve just a few short blocks to go . . . ” He began.

“Yes, I know sweety.” Lena smiled at Josh’s confusion before finishing. “I just need to get out
and walk. It’ll help me clear my head.”

“Are you sure, Miss Lena?”

“Not to worry darlin’, I’ll be alright.”

Josh pulled over to the side and stopped the car before offering. “Would you like some
company? I don’t mind walking with you.”

Lena smiled her appreciation, while reaching out a hand to cup Josh’ cheek. “You’re a dear boy,
darlin’, but no. I’ll be okay. I just need to be alone for a while.”

Josh couldn’t hide his further confusion. Of all the people he’d met since coming to Studs a few
months back, Miss Lena was one of the few people he’d say never lacked the company of
others. It was strange to think of her wanting to be alone.

As if reading his thoughts, Lena answered. “Don’t fret, honey. I’ll be just fine. Now you get
yourself home. You look like death warmed over.” Her hand caressed his cheek before moving
up to brush away the sweep of hair that had fallen over the bandage upon his forehead being
careful not to cause him further discomfort. “Thank you for everythin’ tonight, Josh. I don’t
think I’d have been able to handle it without you bein’ there by my side.” Quickly she leaned
over to place a light kiss upon his cheek and just as swiftly she was out the door and on the
pavement beside them. Through this blur of action, Josh was sure he witnessed the mist of tears
glistening in her big blue eyes.

“Night, Miss Lena.” He called out.

“Good night,” she called back. “But perhaps good morning would be more appropriate.” With
that, she turned and walked away.

Josh watched as Lena moved further down the sidewalk leading into town. He waited until her
figure became smaller and smaller in the distance until at last she turned the corner and was out
of sight. He then put his car back in drive and proceeded to make a U-turn before head ing back
to the ranch.

“ You got a fast car
I want a ticket to anywhere
Maybe we make a deal
Maybe together we can get somewhere

Any place is better
Starting from zero got nothing to lose
Maybe we’ll make something
But me myself I got nothing to prove

You got a fast car
And I got a plan to get us out of here
I been working at the convenience store
Managed to save just a little bit of money
We won’t have to drive to far
Just cross the border and into the city
You and I can both get jobs
And finally see what it means to be living . . .

She had just been walking, paying no attention to where her feet led her until finally she stopped
and looked up. The boarding house loomed before her. Reaching her hand to her chest, she
tried to still the breaths her exertion had caused, but they remained unsteady and not from her
exercise. Looking up into the parlor window she noticed there was already activity within the
boarding house’s walls. Perhaps Sunny was getting breakfast ready, or one of the tenants was
beginning their day with the Sunday paper? She didn’t know, nor did she care. Why had her
steps led her here? This was not on the way to either her apartment or the Prickly Pear. What
was it that caused her to pass this way? Thoughts of Martha filled her mind as did thoughts of
Randy and the baby she now carried. Tears glistened in her eyes once more. Is that what had
spurred her to come this way? She had stayed away too long even after Martha’s death. It had
been too painful. It was much easier just to pretend.

You see my old man’s got a problem
He live with the bottle that’s the way it is
He says his body’s too old for working
I say his body’s too young to look like his
My mama went off and left him
She wanted more from life than he could give
I said somebody’s got to take care of him
So I quit school and that’s what I did

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so we can fly away
We gotta make a decision
We leave tonight or live and die this way

I remember we were driving in your car
The speed so fast I felt like I was drunk
City lights lay out before us
And your arms felt nice wrapped ‘round my shoulder
And I had a feeling that I belonged
And I had a feeling I could be someone, be someone, be someone


The gravel crunched below the tires of Josh’s car as he made his way up the long drive that led
to the ranch house. Had it only been a few hours before that he had left in such anger? It had
seethed within to the point that he might have thrown a punch at Sam for what he had implied.
Pulling the car to a stop, he sadly acknowledged that he could stay here no longer not with things
the way they were between his uncle and himself. He had known such joy last night. Such joy
and such despair. What was it that Lena had said only short minutes before? How in just a few
minutes one’s life could be turned upside down. Yes, his life had been rudely awakened to that
fact many years ago and now once again last night. He owed it to Hope to tell her the truth. He
should have before he let things get as they were. He had been weak to allow things to continue
as they had, but he couldn’t find the regret he should have felt within his soul for being
unfaithful in letting her know the truth. Perhaps he was yet to feel that emotion? Pushing the
door beside him open, he exited the car and headed toward the house. A sound to his right,
however, caught his attention. He turned to find Sam exiting from the barn a few yards away.
Exhaustion lined the older man’s face as well as something else, remorse, as he made his way
toward his nephew.

You got a fast car
And we go cruising to entertain ourselves
You still ain’t got a job
And I work in a market as a checkout girl
I know things will get better
You’ll find work and I’ll get promoted
We’ll move out of the shelter
Buy a big house and live in the suburbs

You got a fast car
And I got a job that pays our bills
You stay out drinking late at the bar
See more of your friends than you do of your kids
I’d always hoped for better
Thoughts maybe together you and me would find it
I got no plans I ain’t going nowhere
So take your fast car and keep on driving

Hope pushed open the swinging door leading into the Prickly Pear’s kitchen as Justin followed
closely beside her. Duncan was behind the counter slicing peppers for this morning’s omelets.
Hank worked nearby doing similar preparation. She had called Duncan late last night to let him
know about the accident and Miss Lena’s plans. She told him that she’d show up early this
morning to open for him.

Setting the boxes of danish that she picked up at the bakery on her way in this morning upon the
metal counter, she turned to reach for a knife to cut open the top string. Doing that, she reached
inside and grabbed one for Justin, who had settled upon a stool beside Hank to watch the tall
man work. As she handed the danish to her son, she asked her two companions. “Can I get you
one?” Duncan just shook his head no, and as she turned to Hank for his reply she heard the
tinkling of the entrance door’s chimes. Glancing up at the wall clock she noted it was barely a
few minutes past six. “Who in heaven’s name . . . ” She began as she reached toward the clean
stack of aprons upon the shelf beside her, tying one hastily around her waist before heading
toward the swinging doors once again. “I haven’t even begun the coffee yet . . . ” She muttered
as she pushed her way through them and walked up toward the front of the restaurant, while
making a few last adjustments. Finally she turned a quick eye to the patron filling the doorway.
The bright light of dawn that filtered through the glass momentarily blinded her until her eyes
adjusted to it. She was just about to utter, “What can I do for you?” when the words died in
her throat.

The tall, blonde man before her was at an advantage as he stared back before making his
response. “It’s been a while, Hope . . . ”

You got a fast car
But is it fast enough so you can fly away
You gotta make a decision
You leave tonight or live and die this way*

* You Got A Fast Car-by Tracey Chapman


Author’s note: Okay. I’m sure this latest was a little confusing. Some of what took place in it,
I’ve hinted to before in past segments, but it’s been a while, so I can understand if it doesn’t all
make sense. Some of it will be explained later. I wasn’t planning on writing Studs for a while,
but I was thinking of this the past few days along with the song and when I heard it again
tonight on the way home from a family gathering, I thought what the heck, I’ll write it.

[ Next Thread | Previous Thread | Next Message | Previous Message ]

Replies:

Post a message:
This forum requires an account to post.
[ Create Account ]
[ Login ]
[ Contact Forum Admin ]

Forum timezone: GMT-8
VF Version: 3.00b, ConfDB:
Before posting please read our privacy policy.
VoyForums(tm) is a Free Service from Voyager Info-Systems.
Copyright © 1998-2019 Voyager Info-Systems. All Rights Reserved.