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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Drama / Human Interest
- Subject: Adventure
- Published: 09/24/2011
Lights Out at Shotgun Red's
Born 1978, F, from Madison, WI, United StatesRayneema could feel all their eyes on her. She had always had a talent for killing conversation just by walking into a room. She looked around the unfamiliar bar until she found the bartender. She kept her eyes straight ahead until she reached him. He had no expression when he spoke to her.
“What can I get for you?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Someone outside left their lights on and I just thought they should know. It’s a dark green truck with a license number TLJ-734.”
The bartender looked at her then yelled the information over the bar.
“You sure you don’t want anything?”
“I’m sure. Thank you.”
She felt the relief and tension take over the atmosphere as the other patrons realized she would not be staying. No matter that she was probably the only one who knew that was Dwight Yoakam by way of Queen crooning “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” coming from the speakers. This was just not her place.
She stopped when she finally stepped outside the door and took a deep breath. Rayneema tried not to let such times make her uncomfortable, especially when she had done nothing wrong. She thought about the many times she passed by Shotgun Red’s Place thinking about how she thought she left such establishments behind in the South.
Rayneema was drawn out of her head as a car door slammed. She looked around to see the green truck’s owner heading back into the bar. She adjusted her Soul Mosaic bag and headed back on her way.
“Excuse me.”
She turned to see him coming in her direction. When he reached her, she took a step back, startled that he stood more than a full head over her. He smiled benevolently under his cowboy hat before removing it chivalrously.
“I just wanted to say thanks for telling me about my lights. Not too many people would take the time to help out a stranger like that.”
“It’s all in the breeding I guess,” Rayneema said as she tried to return his smile. He kind of looked like Johnny Cash if he were being played by Joaquin Phoenix. He sounded like he came from the East Coast. Yet, here he was dressed as a cowboy in a country-themed bar. He definitely had that quality that Rayneema discovered a long time ago made a good old boy attractive.
“Yeah, must be. Can I buy you a drink or something – just to say thanks?”
Rayneema shifted as he replaced his hat and waited for an answer. As handsome as he was, there was no way she would go back into that bar.
“Thanks, but I don’t drink. Besides, Dwight Yoakam isn’t exactly on my playlist.”
“Then how did you know it was Dwight Yoakam?”
She paused then relented a genuine smile. “Touché. Still, this isn’t exactly my milieu.”
He grinned this time, a sly and charming grin Rayneema knew got him exactly what he wanted most of the time. “I may not come from the same place as you, but I was raised with manners. I don’t like to let an act of kindness go unrewarded. Besides, the wings in this place will clear up your sinuses.”
“I’m kind of used to the ‘Oowee, damn!’ variety myself.”
This got a laugh out of him. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll treat you to some wings and a Coke. After that, I can drive you home. You kept me from getting stranded here with no ride. The least I can do is get you to where you’re going.”
Rayneema looked at the door as if it led to the inside of a slaughterhouse rather than a small bar with a limited menu before turning back to his Cheshire cat grin. “I don’t even know your name.”
He removed his hat again and extended his hand. “Raymond.”
“Of course,” she said as she shook his hand. “Well, Raymond, I appreciate your offer, but…”
“But nothing,” Raymond said as he pulled her to the door. “This place has the best wings in town and you’re going to have some.”
He held the door opened for her with one hand as he pushed her inside with another. Rayneema felt the hush overtake the room again when she re-entered. Somehow she didn’t mind this time as Raymond led her to a table and held out a chair. She ignored the curious eyes around her as Raymond sat across from her.
He was right. They really were the best wings in town.
Lights Out at Shotgun Red's(Inda Lauryn)
Rayneema could feel all their eyes on her. She had always had a talent for killing conversation just by walking into a room. She looked around the unfamiliar bar until she found the bartender. She kept her eyes straight ahead until she reached him. He had no expression when he spoke to her.
“What can I get for you?”
“Nothing,” she said. “Someone outside left their lights on and I just thought they should know. It’s a dark green truck with a license number TLJ-734.”
The bartender looked at her then yelled the information over the bar.
“You sure you don’t want anything?”
“I’m sure. Thank you.”
She felt the relief and tension take over the atmosphere as the other patrons realized she would not be staying. No matter that she was probably the only one who knew that was Dwight Yoakam by way of Queen crooning “Crazy Little Thing Called Love” coming from the speakers. This was just not her place.
She stopped when she finally stepped outside the door and took a deep breath. Rayneema tried not to let such times make her uncomfortable, especially when she had done nothing wrong. She thought about the many times she passed by Shotgun Red’s Place thinking about how she thought she left such establishments behind in the South.
Rayneema was drawn out of her head as a car door slammed. She looked around to see the green truck’s owner heading back into the bar. She adjusted her Soul Mosaic bag and headed back on her way.
“Excuse me.”
She turned to see him coming in her direction. When he reached her, she took a step back, startled that he stood more than a full head over her. He smiled benevolently under his cowboy hat before removing it chivalrously.
“I just wanted to say thanks for telling me about my lights. Not too many people would take the time to help out a stranger like that.”
“It’s all in the breeding I guess,” Rayneema said as she tried to return his smile. He kind of looked like Johnny Cash if he were being played by Joaquin Phoenix. He sounded like he came from the East Coast. Yet, here he was dressed as a cowboy in a country-themed bar. He definitely had that quality that Rayneema discovered a long time ago made a good old boy attractive.
“Yeah, must be. Can I buy you a drink or something – just to say thanks?”
Rayneema shifted as he replaced his hat and waited for an answer. As handsome as he was, there was no way she would go back into that bar.
“Thanks, but I don’t drink. Besides, Dwight Yoakam isn’t exactly on my playlist.”
“Then how did you know it was Dwight Yoakam?”
She paused then relented a genuine smile. “Touché. Still, this isn’t exactly my milieu.”
He grinned this time, a sly and charming grin Rayneema knew got him exactly what he wanted most of the time. “I may not come from the same place as you, but I was raised with manners. I don’t like to let an act of kindness go unrewarded. Besides, the wings in this place will clear up your sinuses.”
“I’m kind of used to the ‘Oowee, damn!’ variety myself.”
This got a laugh out of him. “I’ll tell you what. I’ll treat you to some wings and a Coke. After that, I can drive you home. You kept me from getting stranded here with no ride. The least I can do is get you to where you’re going.”
Rayneema looked at the door as if it led to the inside of a slaughterhouse rather than a small bar with a limited menu before turning back to his Cheshire cat grin. “I don’t even know your name.”
He removed his hat again and extended his hand. “Raymond.”
“Of course,” she said as she shook his hand. “Well, Raymond, I appreciate your offer, but…”
“But nothing,” Raymond said as he pulled her to the door. “This place has the best wings in town and you’re going to have some.”
He held the door opened for her with one hand as he pushed her inside with another. Rayneema felt the hush overtake the room again when she re-entered. Somehow she didn’t mind this time as Raymond led her to a table and held out a chair. She ignored the curious eyes around her as Raymond sat across from her.
He was right. They really were the best wings in town.
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