"Tom Reamy - Waiting For Billy Star" - читать интересную книгу автора (Reamy Tom)

wind.

The cafe was empty except for me and Susanne and the cook back in the kitchen. I'd let Maurine off early because
hardly anyone had been in since the sandstorm got going good. I was tallying the receipts and Susanne was stacking cof
cups. The door opened and he came in rubbing his hands together. The cook stuck his head out of the kitchen to see wh
was and I could tell by his frown he'd already cleaned up.

The man grinned. "Am I too late to get something to eat?" he asked. The cook's frown deepened.

Susanne turned to look. The man's face lit with pleasure when he saw her, then it sorta crumpled.

"Susanne," he stammered. "What тАж what are you doing here?"

"Hello, Cliff," she said softly.

"Where have you been? Billy тАж Billy wouldn't tell us."

I should've figured he was a rodeo cowboy by the look of him, but I couldn't figure what he was doing around here
that time of year. He and Susanne just stood there looking at each other while the cook glowered at me.

"The kitchen's closed," I said. "All we can manage is a hamburger."

"Oh," he said turning to me, rubbing his hands on his thighs. "That's fine. Give me a couple тАж and coffee."

Susanne drew the coffee. He took the cup and went to a back booth. She finished straightening up, glancing back at
occasionally. He didn't look up; just sat hunkered over the table.

When Susanne took the hamburgers to the booth she sat down opposite him and they talked quietly while he ate. H
finished but still they talked. The cook looked out at me questioningly and I nodded for him to go on home.

Finally the man got up but Susanne kept sitting there staring at nothing, no expression on her face. He came to the re
and paid, then looked back at her.

"I'm sorry," he said.

"What did you tell her?" I asked, hating him for upsetting our tranquil routine.

He looked at his hands, then back at me. He sighed. "Billy Star," he said. "He's dead."

"What happened? The rodeo?"

"No," he said, and shrugged. "He was drunk. Ran his car into a tree. Yesterday, near Lubbock. His folks live in
Lubbock. The funeral's tomorrow. That's where I'm going."

"Is Susanne going?"

"No. I told her I'd take her and bring her back, but she doesn't want to go." He frowned. "She said she'd wait for hi
here." He sighed again. "I wish there was something I could do."

"I'll take care of her," I said.