Look over my shoulder. Or you could look at me.
She moved backward and he followed her. She backed again and he stayed with her, moving slowly. Can you hear the beat? she said.
No ma’am. I can’t think about that and not step on you at the same time.
Listen to the music. Just try it. She began to count softly, looking at his face as she did, and he looked back at her, watching her lips. His face was concentrated, almost as if in pain, and he was holding himself back from her, so as not to press too close. They moved slowly around the floor among the other dancers, Rose still counting. They made a complete circuit. Then the song ended.
All right, thank you, Raymond said. Now I guess we better sit down.
Why? You’re doing fine. Didn’t you enjoy it?
I don’t know if you’d say enjoy exactly.
She smiled. You’re a nice man, she said.
I don’t know about that, either, he said.
The band began to play again. Oh, she said. A waltz. Now this is in three-four time.
The hell it is.
She laughed. Yes, it is.
I wasn’t even getting used to that other kind yet. I don’t know a thing about waltzes. Maybe I better take my seat.
No you don’t. You just have to count it out. Like before. I’ll teach you if you let me.
I suppose I can’t do no worse than I already done.
Put your arm around me again, please.
Like before?
Yes. Exactly like before.
He encircled her waist with his arm and she began to count it out for him. They moved slowly, one step, two steps, sliding around the floor, part of the crowd. Rose kept them moving.
LATER THEY WERE SITTING IN THE BOOTH AGAIN WITH Maggie Jones and Guthrie and they had each taken a second drink and were talking, and then a tall heavy man in a string tie and a brown western suit came up and asked Rose if she would care to dance. Raymond looked at her. All right, she said. He stood up and she slid out of the booth and the man led her onto the floor. Raymond watched them. The man knew how to dance, and was light on his feet despite his weight, and he twirled her around and they disappeared among the crowd of dancers.
I guess I’ll go on home now, Raymond said.
Why ever would you do that? Maggie said.
Because I know how this comes out.
No, you don’t. She’s only dancing with him. She’ll be back.
I don’t know that.
He turned toward the floor again as Rose and the man came swinging past.
Just wait, Maggie said. You’ll see.
Then the music ended and the man brought Rose back to the booth and thanked her. Raymond stood as she slid past him onto the seat and then sat back down beside her. There were little drops of sweat at her temples and her hair was damp at the edges of her face, her cheeks bright red. Would you get me another drink, please? she said.
I believe I can do that, Raymond said. He caught the eye of the barmaid and ordered them each another drink and they all began talking where they’d left off. After a while the big man in the string tie came back again to ask if Rose cared to dance, but she said she would sit this one out, that she was happy where she was.
Then Maggie and Guthrie went over to the bar to see some people they knew. Raymond waited until he saw they were talking with the other people, then turned back to Rose. Can I ask you something?
If you want to, Rose said.
I don’t even know how to ask it.
What do you want to know?
Well. I just want you to tell me right now if I got any chance of seeing you again. If you got somebody else hiding in the bushes I wish you’d tell me, so I don’t make a fool of myself.
She smiled. Hiding in the bushes? What bushes?
Any bushes.
There’s nobody hiding in the bushes.
There ain’t.
No. So does that mean you might call me?
Yes ma’am. That’s pretty much what it does mean.
When?
How about some night this coming week? Maybe you’d let me take you out for supper.
I’d look forward to it.
Would you?
Yes, I would.
Then I guess I’ll call you.
Then I guess I’ll be waiting.