“You’ll love it, Frank.
We’ll get a place up in the mountains, where it’s cool, and then, after I get my act ready, we can go all over the world with it.
Go as we please, do as we please, and have plenty of money to spend.
Have you got a little bit of gypsy in you?”
“Gypsy?
I had rings in my ears when I was born.”
I didn’t sleep so good that night.
When it was beginning to get light, I opened my eyes, wide awake.
It came to me, then, that Nicaragua wouldn’t be quite far enough.
Chapter 14
When she got off the train she had on a black dress, that made her look tall, and a black hat, and black shoes and stockings, and didn’t act like herself while the guy was loading the trunk in the car. We started out, and neither one of us had much to say for a few miles.
“Why didn’t you let me know she died?”
“I didn’t want to bother you with it.
Anyhow, I had a lot to do.”
“I feel plenty bad now, Cora.”
“Why?”
“I took a trip while you were away.
I went up to Frisco.”
“Why do you feel bad about that?”
“I don’t know.
You back there in Iowa, your mother dying and all, and me up in Frisco having a good time.”
“I don’t know why you should feel bad.
I’m glad you went.
If I’d have thought about it, I’d have told you to before I left.”
“We lost some business.
I closed down.”
“It’s all right.
We’ll get it back.”
“I felt kind of restless, after you left.”
“Well my goodness, I don’t mind.”
“I guess you had a bad time of it, hey?”
“It wasn’t very pleasant.
But anyhow, it’s over.”
“I’ll shoot a drink in you when we get home.
I got some nice stuff out there I brought back to you.”
“I don’t want any.”
“It’ll pick you up.”
“I’m not drinking any more.”
“No?”
“I’ll tell you about it.
It’s a long story.”
“You sound like plenty happened out there.”
“No, nothing happened.
Only the funeral.
But I’ve got a lot to tell you.
I think we’re going to have a better time of it from now on.”
“Well for God’s sake.
What is it?”
“Not now.
Did you see your family?”