He turned back to the sink and began to wash his hands, and I realized that he needed to do so after getting himself stowed away and before returning to the kitchen. For that matter, I needed to wash mine. He was quiet for a moment, lost in thought, then he spoke.
"Did you see the signs, where you came into town?"
"Uh, no, I wasn't paying too much attention. Plus, it was still very dark out."
"Well, there are signs where you come in on the highway, both sides of town, about our rodeo queen and her wins, her trophys - turn around and look as you drive out. That's our Tiffy. She's kind of a local celebrity here. Everybody feels like she belongs to all of us, and she's such a sweet lady that she gives that back to the town."
He paused. "I threw a little money her way a few years back, and she set up a riding camp for the kids, she teaches them how to ride, and how to care for horses. The parents love her, and the kids just adore her. She's their hero. The one year she didn't win the trophy, the girl that won had trained with Tiff and was riding a horse they raised and trained together. I think she got an even bigger kick out of that than winning herself."
"Yeah, I saw the way she greeted everyone, and talked with them. She seemed to be very well-liked. That Toby guy gave her a little grief, but other that that..."
He barked a laugh. "Toby! Yeah, Toby's a little bit of a devil, but he's really very protective of Tiff. Now."
"What does that mean?"
"Well, Toby was Ian's best friend, they've been that way since they were kids, and I know he's given Tiff a lot of shit over the years, but once he was convinced of what Ian had been doing to her - and that wasn't easy - he fucking went crazy!"
"He was pissed at her?"
"No Adam, at Ian! He got a couple of buddies and they went hunting for him, but he had hightailed it out by then and apparently was smart enough to just keep on going. Otherwise I think he'd be buried out in the desert somewhere."
Pops moved away from the sink to dry his hands, and I stepped up to wash mine. "That wouldn't have been all bad, in my opinion. Too bad they didn't catch him."
"Yeah. Well, Ian can never set foot here again. But anyway, now Toby feels like I do. We fucked up bad, we didn't see the signs, and we let Tiffy down. We love that girl Adam, and we owe her. We look out for her."
There was something in his voice, and without thinking I asked what had been on my mind. "Pops, are you and Tiffany lovers?"
His dark face completely expressionless, we locked eyes. Neither of us blinked.
His voice was flat, dangerous. "Is that any of your business Adam? Would you think less of her if we were?"
I shrugged. "What, because you're black? No, it's not any of my business, and no, Pops, I wouldn't. It's just the way you talk about her, and her about you, I thought there was some kind of serious bond there. Forget I asked."
He considered that, then chuckled. "No, it's OK. I guess I'm a little over-protective sometimes. I suppose you could call us lovers, I do love her, but not like that. She just gets so lonely sometimes, or so down." He paused, and I hoped he'd go on. He did.
"Sometimes she just needs somebody, she needs to be held, and she'll just show up at my house, late at night. I'll just lay there awake all night sometimes, holding her, and she sleeps." He smiled. "She says that's the best she ever sleeps anymore."
"Other times she needs more, she needs to feel like a woman, and yes, we make love." He paused, waiting to see what I'd say. What could I possibly say?
"She's lucky to have such a good friend Pops."
"Huh, well, you know what's funny? I think I'm the one that's lucky!" He paused. "I fuck some of the ladies around here, as you saw, and I make love to several different women in this town, in various circumstances, some married, some single, but Tiffy is the only one that really makes love to me. You know what I mean? "
"Yeah Pops, I think I do. Why don't you marry her?"
He snorted. "Nah, it's not like that! I'm not really a one-woman man, never will be, and right now she's not a one-man woman. We love each other, but not as husband and wife. She needs some young guy that can keep up with her, that can ride, and wrestle steers and all that shit." He laughed. "She offered to take me riding once, to teach me to ride, until I reminded her that this fat nigger on a horse would be cruelty to animals!"
I laughed at his description. "Well, maybe you could take turns - you know, the horse could carry you for awhile, then you could carry him, that might work."
He laughed and slapped me on the back again, rattling my teeth. "You're OK Adam! Tiff usually has a pretty good sense when it comes to people, I guess her experience has taught her that at least. Now c'mon, let's get the hell out of the damn john, I need to get back to work."
We walked out and up the hall, me trailing him. As we passed the room where all the activity had taken place I noticed that the door was now closed tightly, but I could hear the voices of the couple within, talking softly to each other. Apparently they were still basking in the afterglow, or whatever. Pops turned and wiggled his eyebrows at me, and I had to laugh. He had a pretty sweet set-up here, and he obviously knew how to enjoy it and still not get shot by anyone's husband; he'd been here, and stayed alive, for many years.
I wondered how many times he got laid per week, and by how many different women. And/or their husbands. Hmmm. I thought maybe I'd watch for an XXXXL t-shirt that said 'Oversexed' on it to send to him.
I glanced at my watch as we walked out. Shit, it was almost eight o'clock and I was supposed to be meeting Ron and Kori at about nine, roughly an hour away. No problem, except I didn't really want to leave yet. I wanted to talk to Tiffany some more, and get to know her a little better. I don't really know why I felt that way, there was no future in it, but the last four hours had gone by far too quickly for me.
Tiffany was at the register, ringing out a slender young guy in a cowboy hat, and they were laughing and kidding with each other, obviously someone she knew pretty well. There was only one other occupied table, a booth near mine with a youngish-middle aged couple sitting across from each other. They smiled and exchanged a few pleasantries with Pops as he went by, more of his friends.
I couldn't help but wonder. The woman was fairly attractive, and I noticed her blue eyes following Pops as he walked away. She was a very pale-skinned redhead, which would make a lovely contrast.
I walked past Tiffany, at the register, holding my cell phone up over the guy's shoulder so she would know I was stepping out to make a call, and she nodded. It was getting warm outside already. Kori answered on the second ring.
"Hi K, it's me."
"Hi Adam, sorry I bothered you before. Are you at the marina?"
"You're never a bother K, and no, I'm not quite there. I'm about an hour north. Are you there?"
"Not quite, but we can see it. Probably about twenty or thirty minutes out still."
"Oh. Hey, listen would you and Ronnie mind too much if I was a little late?"
"Well, no I guess not. We can always drop anchor and go fuck for awhile or something. Car problems?"
"No. Actually, I met a woman, a really fascinating woman, and we're talking."
Kori laughed. "Trust you to find a woman in the middle of the desert Adam. Did you charm her pants off with your gruff and rugged exterior and little boy innocence?"
I laughed. "Yeah, something like that. So you don't mind?"
"No, take your time. Call me when you get close. You should have a signal near the marina, we do."
"Thanks K. Tell Ronnie thanks for me."
"I'll just give him a blowjob, he won't even think of you. See you in a little while Adam."
She hung up. Good friends. I walked back inside.
I saw the cowboy from the cafe climbing into his pick-up as I turned to walk back inside. Tiff was busy serving the other couple in the restaurant their meals, so when I discovered that my mug of coffee sitting on the table was cold I walked up and went behind the counter and grabbed the pot, dumping out my cup and the dregs of Tiffany's and refilling them with the steaming liquid. Turning to carry them back to the table, I heard Pops call out "My other waitress is a lot prettier!"
I turned and grinned at him. "You sure got that right - much cuter tush too!"
Tiffany rejoined me shortly after I returned to the table. "What took you so long? Your coffee got cold, as you've noticed."
"I ran into Pops, and we got to talking. You were right, he's a pretty interesting guy, maybe a little crazy. He sure cares about you."
"Yeah, he's the best. He mother-hens me a little bit, but he means well. I can probably use a little mother-henning sometimes."
"Yeah, we all probably could. Now where were we?"
She thought for a moment. "I think I was telling you about Pops and his legendary sexual status around town. I don't suppose there's any reason for me to tell you any more about that now, is there?"
"Probably not. A picture is worth a thousand words, or some other similar but appropriate cliche' should cover it."
"Well then, you've kind of heard my story, why don't you tell me yours?" She glanced at her watch. "Or do you have to leave to meet your friends?"
"No, that's who I was calling. I got a little reprieve. I had to tell them that I met this incredibly fascinating, beautiful woman and just couldn't tear myself away."
