The Darling Dahlias and the Texas Star

Usually, a hard rain settled Darling’s dust, washed and cooled the air, and brought relief from the summer heat. But this rain seemed to have been poured out of a teakettle that had been sitting on the back of the stove all day, keeping warm. The puddles steamed, the sun peered resentfully through a sweltering haze, and the air was so oppressively hot that Lizzy could scarcely get her breath. The flag on the courthouse pole across the street hung limply as a wet dishrag.

The diner was nearly empty when the three of them walked in. The Dr Pepper clock on the wall under the neon Coca-Cola sign announced that it was one fifteen. Earlynne Biddle’s boy Bennie was still clearing the tables, Myra May was straightening up after what looked to have been a very busy noon meal, and in the kitchen, Lizzy could hear the murmur of voices and the clatter of china plates being washed in the sink. There was a delectable smell of roasting meat in the air.

While Charlie and Miss Dare sat down at the table in front of the window, Lizzy went to the counter. “I hear that you and Violet have found a new cook already,” she said to Myra May. “What’s she serving today?”

Myra May wiped the sweat off her forehead with the back of her hand. She looked frazzled. “I don’t know what we’ve got left back there, Liz, but I’m sure we can come up with something. Seems like everybody in town turned out to give Raylene—that’s our new cook—a trial run. Every table was full and all the counter stools, too.” She grinned. “For a while there, it was almost more than we could handle. It was wonderful.”

“How’d your new cook do?” Lizzy asked, thinking of Donna Sue’s praise for the grits and sausage casserole she’d had for breakfast.

“She’s a big hit. I think we’re all going to love her.” Myra May leaned forward. In a low whisper, she said, “Who’s that sexy dish with Charlie Dickens?”

“Miss Lily Dare, the Texas Star,” Lizzy replied. “The fastest woman in the world.”

“Some broad,” Myra May said, straightening up. “That fast, huh?”

“You’d be amazed.” Lizzy grinned. “Bring a menu and come over to the table. Charlie will introduce her.”

“I’m afraid we’re all out of everything on the menu. How about grilled cheese sandwiches with fried green tomatoes?” At the disappointed look on Lizzy’s face, she grinned. “Just kidding. I think Raylene has already started supper. Let me check and see what she has on the stove.”

Lizzy went back to the table. A moment later, Myra May followed with three glasses of water on a tray. Charlie introduced her to Miss Dare. “Sorry we’re late,” he said. “I guess we missed out on the fried chicken, huh?”

Myra May nodded briskly. “As I was telling Liz, the noon crowd pretty much picked us clean. We’re out of fried chicken and the meat loaf is gone, too. All we have is what Raylene is working on for tonight’s supper.” She grinned hospitably. “Or grilled cheese sandwiches with fried green tomatoes. If you want, I can whip those up in a jiffy.”

Miss Dare shrugged one shoulder, looking displeased. “I don’t like fried green tomatoes. Or grilled cheese. I guess I’ll have whatever you’ve got for supper. I’m hungry.”

“I’ll have whatever Miss Dare is getting,” Charlie said.

“Me, too,” added Lizzy, who felt that she was hungry enough to eat almost anything, except grilled cheese.

“Thanks for understanding,” Myra May said apologetically. “I saved back some lemon meringue pie. You can have that, no charge.” She turned away from the table and raised her voice. “Violet, we’ll have three pulled pork on buns out here, quick as you can.”

“Pulled pork?” Charlie asked, both eyebrows going up. “You don’t mean—”

“Yeah,” Myra May said. “Seems to be a specialty of our new cook. She stirred up some of that good white barbeque sauce, too—lots of pepper. You folks want that, I reckon.”

Miss Dare let out her breath. Lizzy shook her head in disbelief.

“Well, I’ll be damned,” Charlie said.

The food was delicious, and they lingered over it. When they finally finished, Myra May brought the coffeepot and poured another cup of coffee for everyone. “I hope you enjoyed your food,” she said.

“It was wonderful,” Lizzy said with a heartfelt sigh.

“Just terrific,” Charlie said, leaning back in his chair with an expansive expression. “I predict that Euphoria will never be missed.”

Miss Dare smiled up at Myra May. “You have a treasure of a cook,” she said. “I hope you appreciate her.”

“You have no idea,” Myra May said fervently. “Would you like to meet her? She’s been so busy that she hasn’t had a chance to get out of the kitchen since she came in this morning. But I’m sure she’d like to hear what you think of her food.”

A moment later, the diner’s new cook was standing beside their table and Myra May was introducing her. Raylene Riggs—that was her name—wore a gray print cotton dress and a large white apron. Quite attractive without being pretty, she had a decided mouth, dark brows, and graying auburn hair, cut short. Her eyes were fixed, with some surprise, on Miss Dare.

“Lily! Lily Dare!” she exclaimed. “My goodness, this is a surprise!”