Eventide - Kent Haruf [103]
I’m all right.
Where you going to?
I’m just out walking.
Well. Raymond sat looking at him. Why don’t you get in and let me drive you home. It’s late out here.
I’m not going home yet.
I see. Raymond studied him. Then why don’t you get in and we’ll just drive a little.
You probably need to be somewhere.
Son, there’s no place else for me to be right now. I’d be glad for the company. Why don’t you come get in.
The boy stood looking at him. He looked away up the street. He stood for some time looking up the street. Raymond waited. Then the boy came around in front of the pickup and got in on the passenger side.
You’re just out walking. Is that it? Taking the night air.
Yes sir.
Well, it’s a nice night for it.
Raymond started the pickup and drove out of the dark neighborhood onto Main Street and turned south among the high-school kids in their cars, past the closed stores and the movie house, which had already let out for the night. When they passed the tavern the boy stared at the front of the building, and then turned sideways to look out the back window. At the highway Raymond headed west and drove out past the Legion and Shattuck’s Café, where people were parked in cars at the drive-up under the long tin canopy roof, and then on out of town.
You want to just drive on a ways? Raymond said. Would that be all right with you?
Yes sir.
I wouldn’t mind it myself. Crank that window down if you want some air.
The boy rolled down his window and they went on. The yardlights of the farms were scattered out beyond the dark open fields and at every mile a graveled section road ran exactly north and south, and all along the new spring weeds were growing up at the roadside. A rabbit darted across the pavement in front of them, heading off into the weeds, its white scut flashing as it zigzagged away.
Raymond glanced at the boy. What you suppose spooked him out on the highway?
I wouldn’t know.
The boy was looking straight ahead.
Son, is there something bothering you? Raymond said. You seem a little upset to me.
Maybe.
You kind of seem like it. Is it something you’d care to talk about?
I don’t know.
Well, I can sure listen anyhow. If you want to try.
The boy turned to look out the side window, the headlights shining ahead on the dark road. Then all at once he began to talk. It came pouring out of him, about the fight at the tavern and about the man hurting the barmaid and his grandfather. And he was crying now. Raymond drove on and the boy kept crying and talking. After a while he stopped, he seemed to have spent himself. He wiped at his face.
Is that pretty much all of it? Raymond said. Was there anything else you wanted to tell?
No.
Did he hurt you?
He was hurting her. And Grandpa.
But they’re all right now. Is that what you think?
I guess so.
What about him? Did he get hurt?
He was bleeding.
From where you hit him with the bottle?
Yes sir.
How bad was it?
I don’t know. His face was pretty cut up.
Well. He’ll probably be all right. Don’t you think?
I don’t know if he will or not.
RAYMOND DROVE ON A WAYS FARTHER, THEN THEY CAME back into town. At Shattuck’s Café he pulled in under the canopy and without asking he ordered them each a hamburger and a black coffee and then turned to look at him.
Do you reckon he’d do anything else to you or your grandfather?
I don’t even know who he is.
What did he look like?
He was kind of tall. With dark hair.
That could be any number of people.
They called him Hoyt something.
Oh, Raymond said. Hoyt Raines then. I know who he is. Well, you stay clear of him.
I don’t want him to hurt that woman.
I doubt if he’d try again. Did they kick him out?
Yes.
Then he probably won’t be allowed to go back in there. But you let me know if he bothers you again. Will you promise me to do that?
Yes sir.
All right then.
They finished their hamburgers and coffee and the girl came and took away their tray.
You think you’re about ready to go home now?
Yes.
Raymond backed out onto the highway and drove up through town and stopped at the little house where he’d let