Dorothy Garlock - [Dolan Brothers] Read Online Free Page B

flushed with embarrassment. A muscle jumped in his clenched jaw. He looked even younger without his hat. Hair as black as midnight sprang back from his forehead and hung almost to the collar of his shirt.
    “Claude’s quite a joker,” Johnny murmured.
    “Does he always wear a bow tie when he cooks?”
    “Always. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him without it.”
    Claude brought a bowl of thick, fragrant chili and placed it in front of Johnny.
    “Sure you don’t want one, miss?”
    “It smells good, but I’ll wait for my hamburger and pie.”
    Claude dashed back to the grill, flipped over meat patties with a long-handled spatula, while placing open buns on the grill with the other hand. No wasted motion there. He kept his eye on the door and greeted each customer who came in by name.
    “Hi ya, Allen. You’re late tonight. How ya doin’, Herb? Take a seat. Be with ya in two shakes. You want anythin’ else, Jake?” Claude rolled a nickel down the counter. “Put this in the jukebox, Allen. Play ‘Frankie and Johnny’ for my friend Johnny who has brought me a new customer to brighten up the place. Once she’s eaten a Claude hamburger, she’ll be back.”
    “He’d make a good politician,” Kathleen murmured.
    “That’s what I’ve been tellin’ him,” Johnny grinned at her. “He takes a backseat to no one once his mouth gets goin’. He’s got his fingers in most every pie in town.” Johnny said the last loud enough for Claude to hear as he put the hamburgers on the counter in front of them.
    “Here ya are, miss.” Claude winked at her again. “Don’t pay no mind to what this long drink of water tells you. He only comes to town when he gets tired a talkin’ to hisself.”
    “I knew I shouldn’t have brought her here. After hearing you spout off she’ll probably head right back to Kansas.”
    “Not on your life.” Kathleen chewed and swallowed her first bite of her hamburger. “I’ll hang around just for this.”
    “Smart lady you got here, buster—”
    “Hey, Claude. Stop flirting with the pretty redhead and get me some catsup.”
    “Hold your horses, Jake. I’m making sure she knows that this kid ain’t the only single man ’round these parts.”
    By the time Kathleen finished her meal, Johnny was done with his. When she reached into her purse to pay, he put his hand on her arm to stop her. Not wanting to embarrass him, she waited until they were back out on the walk in front of the diner before she spoke.
    “I never intended for you to pay for my supper. Please—” She opened her purse.
    “No,” he said, his tone so firm that it stopped her protest.
    “Well . . . thank you.”
    “My truck is across the street from your car. I’ll lead you to Mrs. Ramsey’s. It’s only a few blocks.”
    “Thank goodness for that. I’m about out of gas. I got so excited coming into town that I forgot to stop and get some.”
    They walked down the darkened street to her car without speaking; then she followed a truck as dilapidated as the car the hijackers had used to block the road. The bed of the truck, without sides, held a piece of machinery lashed down with ropes. A block off Main Street, they left the paving and drove onto a hard-packed road of red clay. Kathleen followed Johnny’s lead and dodged the potholes. He stopped in front of a one-story bungalow with a porch that stretched across the front. A dim light glowed from a lightbulb between the two front doors. Johnny came to her car as she was getting out.
    “Do you want to meet Mrs. Ramsey before we unload the car?”
    “Are you thinking that I may not want to stay here after I meet her?”
    “It isn’t a fancy place.”
    “I’m not used to a fancy place. I’m used to a clean place, but I need to know—about Mrs. Ramsey.”
    “She’s decent, if that’s what you mean. Adelaide Vernon wouldn’t have recommended her if she wasn’t. She’s a good hardworking lady who hasn’t had an easy time of it.”
    Kathleen was