Redhead Meets Redneck: First Date (7 page)

“Yeah, me too. But we need to get her some boots, jeans, and a flannel shirt.”

“
In that case, you’ve come to the right place. Step over here and we’ll get you fixed right up.”

Sam smiled, and Laura noticed a wide space between Sam’s two front teeth, and a bulge in his right cheek. He leaned over, took aim at a brass pot on the floor, and a stream of dark liquid squirted from the gap between his teeth and landed dead center in the pot. Laura watched Sam
step around the counter and head towards a rack of fishing rods. William motioned with his hand for Laura to follow Sam, and then he followed her. Sam went past the fishing rods, tackle boxes, and lures. They zigged and zagged through the car batteries, motor oil, and car jacks. Then they turned a corner at the hunting rifles, and walked into a small, cozy corner filled with clothes. On the right was a wall filled with shelves of neatly arranged boots of all styles and colors. Directly in front of her were racks of shirts, and to the left were tables neatly piled high with jeans.  The fresh smell of cotton clothes and leather shoes reminded her of shopping trips to Nordstrom.

“This is nice
.” Laura looked at William and smiled.

“I think you
’ll enjoy your shopping experience,” William said.

“Let’s start with the boots. What kind did you have in mind?” Sam said.

“Laura is very style
conscious, as you can see,” William said. “So I think a pointed toe would be appropriate, if it’s okay with you, Laura.”

“
I have never bought cowboy boots before. Why don’t you take the lead on this?”

“Here is our selection of
women’s boots with pointed toes,” Sam said. “Why don’t you take a few minutes look at the different styles? I have to make a phone call, and when I come back I’ll go in the back and pull the style you like in the size you want.”

Sam hurried off as if on a mission. Laura wondered what was so pr
essing that Sam had to leave his only customers to make a phone call. But at least she wouldn’t feel pressured to make a decision quickly. Maybe she should try to relax and enjoy buying her
first
pair of cowboy boots.

“Laura, look at this f
ancy pair of frog-skin boots.”

“Frog skin? Did you say frog skin? That doesn’t sound very appealing. First, I don’t like frogs, and second I don’t like the idea of someone making clothing out of a harmless little creature like a frog.”

“Okay, I understand. How about these old west style?”

“Too plain.”

“Maybe these vintage style boots?”

“Boring.”

“How about these with the white leather inlay.”

“Too gaudy.”

“Here are some inlaid with pink leather.”

“Way too gaudy.”

Laura was getting frustrated. Why did William always reach for the ugliest boot on the rack? She looked left and right, up and down. At the far end of the shelves a pair of boots caught her eye. She walked past William and stood in front of a pair of brown boots with black inlays on the upper portion, and a tasteful engraving on the toe.

“William
—” Laura had a thoughtful sound to her voice. “Would I wear my jeans on the inside or the outside?”

“Aha, now you’re thinking like a cowgirl. You can wear the jeans on the outside if you want to be a bit conservative, or if you want
to spice things up, you can tuck the jeans inside.”

Laura picked up one the boots and ran her fingers over the leather, feeling the engraving on the toe.

“These boots are heavy.”

“Yes, it takes a little bit to get used to them, but after a while you will miss that when you put on street shoes or sneakers.”

Laura held the boot close to her face and inhaled. “The smell is wonderful.”

“Leather and saddle soap
. It’s easy to get hooked on it.”

Sam came back from his telephone call. “That’s a mighty stylish pair of boots you
’re looking at. Would you like me to pull a pair in your size?”

Laura nodded and sat on a stool while Sam measured her foot. Then he went in the back and came out a minute later with a box and opened it. Laura wondered how she put on the boots. “Do I use a shoe horn?”

Sam and William both looked at each other as they choked back a chuckle.

“The shoe horn is built in, put your fi
ngers through these leather loops on the sides and pull,” Sam said.

Laura did as told, but her foot only went in halfway. She looked up at William with desperation.

“Give it a good yank,” William said.

Laura tugged with
all her might and her foot popped into the bottom of the boot. Then she put the other boot on. She wondered,
what will it be like when I stand up?
She looked at William with fear in her eyes.

“If you can handle those stiletto stilts, you can handle these,” William reassured her.

Laura slowly put her weight on the boots, and then eased to a standing position. Starting with little steps she walked a few paces and paused. “They are definitely different.” Taking a bit longer strides, she walked to a mirror to see how she looked.

“Billy Bob, we could stop right now. Those boots and sho
rt dress really do her justice,” Sam said.

“I
agree, but we need some clothes she can relax in.”

“Right, so she needs some jeans and a flannel shirt. Laura, wha
t do you think, do you like the boots?”

“Actually, I love the look. And
you’re right, they really do spice up my dress and sweater.”

“
Great, lets look at some jeans,” Sam said.

Laura slowly walked to the tables filled with jeans, and was surprised to find many of the brands that she liked. She found the size and type she liked quickly.

“Do you have a dressing room?”

“Behind the mirror,” Sam said.

Laura changed and came out with a smile on her face, the jeans were snug, and tucked into the boots.

“Fantastic,” Sam said.

Laura was feeling an adrenalin rush coming on. She wondered if this was really happening: she was getting excited about buying a cowgirl outfit.

“Let’s find you a flannel shirt.”

Sam led her to a rack of shirts and she began thumbing through her size. She’d never worn flannel before, so she couldn’t decide on the style. Her fingers stopped on a shirt that was red with white and black stripes. She looked at Sam and William; they both shook their heads. Her fingers continued walking through the shirts, and stopped on a red and gray twill shirt. She looked at Sam and William, and again they shook their heads. Her fingers walked again and stopped on a blue shirt with a black and green pattern. Sam and William both smiled and nodded. Pulling the shirt from the rack, she strutted to the changing room. A minute later she emerged with another smile. She sashayed between the two men as they looked her up and down.

“Laura, you are almost the prettiest cowgirl I
’ve ever seen,” William said.

“Almost?” Laura frowned.

“You need one more item, a cowgirl belt.” William walked over to a rack of belts and pulled one off that had a gaudy design engraved on the wide leather, and an even gaudier looking metal buckle that was way to big for her style.

“No! Absolutely not. D
on’t even think about trying to change my mind. I wouldn’t be caught dead with that ugly belt on me.”

“But it makes the outfit. You don’t like it because you
can’t wear it with the clothes you’re used to wearing. But this is different. The belt is perfect with the rest of your new outfit.”

“No, the answer is no.”

“Laura, if you don’t try it on, you’ll never know.”

Laura looked down at her new boots, jeans, and shirt. So far Sam and William had been right about everything. She
pouted in rebellion as she slowly reached out and took the belt from William.

“I’ll be
back,” Laura turned and headed for the dressing room.

“Hey, you don’t have to go to t
he changing room to put that on,” Sam said.

“I don’t want anyone to see me in this gaudy b
elt until I’ve seen it first!”

***

Sam and William looked at each other and shrugged. They walked to a window and looked across the road at the sun’s rays slicing through the trees as they swayed in the breeze. They stood side by side. For a few seconds neither spoke.

“She’s a looker,” Sam said.

“Yeah. And she’s smart.”

A minute went by. Then two, three, four.

“You think she’s okay?” Sam said.

“Mmm
. She’s getting used to the belt. It might take her a bit. She’ll have to look at it from different angles. Then she’ll have to stand close to the mirror, and then step back and get an overall idea of how it makes the rest of the outfit look. Then she’s going to second guess how her friends will respond if, and when, they ever see her in it. Lets give her some time.”

Several more minutes passed. Laura finally emerged with a broad smile on her face and the new belt in her jeans.

“How do
y’all
like my new outfit?”

William and Sam looked at each other and smiled.

***

After they paid for her
clothes, William said, “Are you hungry?”

“Famished.”

“Great, let’s hit Jo’s Diner and get lunch.”

Laura reached for William’s hand. So far, she was hav
ing a wonderful day in this little redneck town. She had almost forgotten about terrorists and cars being blown up.

They walked the short distance to the next log cabin and entered
the front door. A lady in her thirties, chewing gum, and wearing an apron with a conspicuously short waitress’ dress hopped off a barstool and grabbed two menus.

“Well if it ain’t Billy Bob and his new girlfriend.”

“Hi, Jo. This is Laura Richardson.”

“Well hello
, Laura.” Jo’s voice had a sing-song inflection.

“Nice to meet you
.”
What’s this ‘new girlfriend’ about
, Laura wondered.

“I heard you
found a looker, and she certainly is,” Jo said. “Nice outfit, Laura, love the boots.”

Laura’s pulse began to pound in her temples. Why d
id everyone know about her every place they went? Why did she have to be the center of today’s gossip? Why couldn’t she enjoy a day of shopping and having lunch like any normal person? She glared at William.

“So, how did you find out?” William said calmly.

“I got a call a little while ago from Sam. He said you were back in town with a new girlfriend.”

Laura put two and two together
. That was why Sam scurried off to make a telephone call.

“Anyway, I haven’t seen you for a long time. Not since you broke up with . . . what was her name?”

William glanced at Laura, then back at Jo.

“Oh, right. Sorry. Here are the
menus, and today’s special is chicken potpie. I’ll be back in a few to take your orders.”

Jo turned and strode toward the kitchen.

Laura was in her favorite position, arms crossed and lips pouting.

“That was a long time ago,” William said.

“How long ago?”

“More than a year.”

“Were you serious?”

William bega
n fiddling with his silverware.

“How long were you two together?”

“Almost two years.”

“Was she a ‘looker’?”

“Mmm.”

Laura leaned back in the booth and stared at William.

“Let me see if I’ve got this right. You were dumped by a looker, then jumped on the internet, and brought in the second string.”

“Laura, come on, it’s not like that at all. And just for the record, you are definitely not the second string.”

“Okay, give me your version of this local gossip story.”

“She and I grew up together. We were in the same grade. I went in the Navy for a few years and she got married. She had a couple of nice kids, then her husband got to drinking and started beating her.”

Jo walked to their booth with her notepad in hand. “Are you two lovebirds ready to order?”

Laura forced a thin smile. “I’ll have the chicken potpie and a bottle of water.”

“I’ll take a steak salad and coffee,” William said.

Jo wrote down the order and strode back to the kitchen.

“Beating her
. That’s sad. But what does that have to do with you and her?”

“
We’d been friends for a long time, and I was upset that she was treated that way. I confronted him one night—well, lets just say that I had to make a phone call afterwards”