As he walked to the booth in the back he looked around to see if there was any familiar faces in the room. He saw only a mother and child sitting at a table near the window, and a young couple, he thought he remembered seeing at Jrs graduation. This late in the morning most of the customers had already come and gone. He slid into the booth where the lady had nodded he sit. Waiting. Not sure what to say, so he said nothing.
The woman that had identified herself as Annie, took the paper clip off of the group of papers she was holding and lay them out on the table. The waitress came to the table, Asked Ennis what he would be having. He said just the coffee for now. Ms Proulx telling him to go ahead and order some breakfast telling him they had already ordered. He felt odd, never having had a woman buy him food before. She nodded her head towards him, saying "go on, you have to eat." "Alright he said I'll just have the special." Waitress said " coffee or something cold." " Just the coffee thanks," he replied.
" Now what we were thinking," she started, was to just go up there and check out the place,pointing to the area on the hand drawn map she had brought. Stay overnight on Friday night, and come on down by Saturday afternoon. Not planning on staying too long. I am sure you know the best places to stay over, thats what we were told anyhow."
"Yes maam," he told her I spect I know those mountains about as well as anybody. I have stayed all over them, campin and hunting too. Even spent one summer up there herdin sheep." Rememberin his summer with Jack, workin for Aguirre was a hard thing to think on. On a empty stomach. He continued "yes maam I guess I know em purty good."
The waitress came and brought his cup of coffee refilling theirs, and even that made him think of Jack . Seems everthin made him think of Jack some days.. Specially after the dreams at night that seemed so real.
He shakes his mind back to the present, and listens to the women discussing the area exactly they wish to explore. He finishes his meal and sits, and waits for them to do the same. They obviously have more to say, so he moves slightly restlessly in the seat. The worn green plastic that covers them making you sweat in the summer heat that isn't cooled enough by the ancient machine, that is doing its best to keep up.
The waitress returns and refills the cups again. Picks up the empty plate and asks him if she "can get him anything more?" He shakes his head and say no thanks maam that was real good." She smiles as she leaves, and he sees she is now walking a bit more animatedly as she leaves.
They finally make the arrangements to meet at Ennis's trailer on Friday morning at 6:30 and they can follow him in the car. He will be pulling a trailer, two horses in the back of his truck, and one in the trailer. " They can put all the tent and camping supplies in there too." " Room in the overhead for that." He replies. "Alright then see you 6:30 sharp Mr DelMar" she says. "Ennis maam, just call me Ennis." He motions goodbye and makes to leave, saying "very nice to meet you ladies." "Glad to have the exta work. I can sure use it. Things been real slow around here lately."