Page 48 of Prime Time

There was no barricade, only the same guard who had been at the gate the day she arrived. Hundreds of sprays of flowers were wilting in the summer sun. She drove the small car up to the guardhouse and lowered the window.

“Hello,” she said.

“Hidy,” the man said. His eyes were red-rimmed and Andy’s heart twisted with compassion.

“I’m Mrs. Malone. I was with—”

“Yes, ma’am. I know who you are.”

“I was wondering if I might go in for a few minutes.”

He took off his hat and scratched his head. “I don’t know. Mr. Ratliff said no one was to go in.”

“Would you call the house for me? Tell him it’s very important that I see him just for a moment.”

“I guess I could do that.”

He ambled back into the guardhouse, and Andy could see him dialing and then speaking into the telephone.

When he came back out, he was already reaching for the lever that opened the electric gate. “I didn’t talk to Mr. Ratliff, but Gracie said it was all right for you to come in.”

“Thank you very much.” She put the car in gear and drove in. The house and outbuildings were deserted. No ranch hands were evident, as they usually were, going about their chores. Even the cattle grazing on the slopes of the hills seemed abnormally still.

Before she could ring the bell on the front door, it was flung open and Gracie hurled herself at Andy. “God bless you for coming when you did, Andy. I don’t know what I would have done with him. He’s in his office, and I think he’s drinking. He held up so well. Then as soon as everyone left, he went sort of crazy, like. He won’t eat and practically threw a tray at me when I took it in to him. If he wasn’t so big, I’d whip him good for acting so hateful. You’ll go in and talk to him, won’t you?”

Andy looked with trepidation at the door to the room she knew was Lyon’s office. “I don’t think I’d improve his disposition, Gracie. I’m the last person he’d want to see.”

“I have my own opinion on that. I think your leaving is the reason he’s carrying on so.”

Andy turned to her in shock. “He just lost his father.”

“And he’s been expecting to any day for a year. He feels bad about it, no doubt, but it ain’t natural for a man to carry on so. He’s sick at heart, and it ain’t all because of the general’s death.” Her bottom lip quivered, and Andy reached out to embrace her.

“I’m sorry, Gracie. I know how you loved him.”

“I did. And I’ll miss him. But I’m glad he’s not feeling bad anymore. Now please go in and see to Lyon. He’s the one I’m truly grieving for.”

Andy lay her purse and the forgotten release form on the hall table. “You say he’s drinking and won’t eat?”

“Hasn’t had a bite since … I can’t even remember when.”

“Well, first things first. Bring me the tray you fixed him.”

Within minutes Gracie was back with a tray laden with cold fried chicken, potato salad, a gelatin salad, and slices of buttered bread. Andy took it from her and carried it to the door. “Open it, please.” Gracie did as she was asked and stepped back hurriedly, as if she expected to be fired upon from within.

Andy stepped into the darkened room, and Gracie softly shut the door behind her. The drapes on the wide windows had been drawn to prevent any sunlight from seeping in. The leather furniture, the heavy oak desk, and the overflowing bookcases contributed to the oppressive atmosphere in the room. That and the reek of whiskey coming from the opened bottle on the desk where Lyon’s disheveled head lay on his bent arm.

She walked farther into the room, making no effort to muffle her footsteps. When she stepped off the area rug and her heels tapped on the tile, he stirred, then raised his head.

She saw the roar forming on his lips. She also saw it die before it was uttered. Astonishment killed it. He stared at her blankly for a moment, then his bleary eyes focused and he snarled, “What are you doing here?”

Her first impulse was to drop the tray and rush to him, offering her loving condolences. But she knew he would resent that kind of sentimentality and rebuke her for it. She’d have to be tough and meet him head on. “I would think that was obvious. I’m bringing you something to eat.”

“I don’t want anything. And I especially don’t want you, so leave. Now.”

“You may have terrorized your housekeeper, but you can’t frighten me. I don’t scare easy. So why don’t you act like a civilized adult and eat this food. Gracie is sick from worrying about you. Personally I don’t care if you hole up in here and drink yourself into oblivion, but she does. And I do care for her. Where do you want it?” Without waiting for an answer, she clunked the tray down on the desk in front of him.

“I didn’t see you with the rest of the bloodsuckers this morning. Oversleep?”

---