“So where’re you from?” the man asked, suddenly looking like he was ready for conversation. “I know you ain’t from around these parts.”
Ryder didn’t return the smile. He would answer the questions but the man’s cool reception had been a real turn-off. “I’m from Des Moines,” he said, and left it at that.
“Ah ha. An Iowa man.” The storeowner nodded. “And what are you doing in this part of Texas? It ain’t like this is Dallas or Houston.”
“I’m on my way to a town called Marfa. I heard about it at my last stop in Fort Stockton, that there’s this phenomenon that takes place at night. The Marfa lights in the sky. Nobody can explain it.” He shrugged. “I always was a sucker for a good mystery so I’m on my way to this Marfa place. Is it anywhere near here?”
The man chuckled. “You’re standing in the middle of it, young fella.” He stuck his hand out. “The name’s Simeon. Simeon Harris. Ask me anything you want to know about Marfa. Been living here all my life.”
Ryder took his hand but as he did he was frowning. “This is Marfa? This deserted one-storey sha…establishment?” He’d been about to say shack but he stopped himself just in time.
“Yup,” the man said, beaming, but then his grin turned sheepish. “To tell the truth, this ain’t quite the middle. It’s just the outskirts but it’s one of the first establishments in this here town. Was built long before the town grew so big. Almost two thousand of us now, you know.”
Ryder looked back at him, confused. “So where are the rest of you? Outside of your…establishment…all I’m seeing is wide open plains and tumbleweed.”
He grinned. “Oh, they're still a ways in. The newer part of the city’s where they all hang out but me, I like it right where I am. I pick up the strays before they run out of gas.” And although he didn’t say it, the way he was looking at Ryder told him he’d just been put in the stray category. “That’s how I make my dough.”
“So how do I get to Marfa?” Ryder asked. “The city part, I mean.”
“Well, you just head-”
“It’s okay, old Sim. I’ll direct him.” They both turned as the helper stepped into the already tight space. “I’ll make sure ye get there all right.”
“Well, okay,” Ryder said then he turned back to Simeon and gave him a nod. “Thank you.”
“And thank you,” Simeon said. “Come back any time.”
Ryder was surprised when, as they stepped out of the tiny convenience store, the helpful one stepped closer and gave him a not-too-gentle pat on the shoulder. “There’s something about you,” he said. “I don’t know what it is but old Simeon likes you. I can see that much.” Then, his hand still on Ryder’s shoulder, he turned him to face west. “Now you see that post way over there? You take the road and go past it and you’re going to take a road branching off to the right. It will take you a little ways down but never you mind that. Just keep going until you run into the sign that says Marfa.”
“So I’ll see a sign?”
“You’ll see a sign. Can’t miss it,” he assured Ryder. “And like I said, if you don’t see nobody for a while don’t be alarmed. It’s still a little ways off.”
“Okay. I appreciate you telling me that.” Ryder dug into his pocket and pulled out some bills. “Thanks a lot for your help.”
The man’s smile widened. “No problem,” he said with a nod. “No problem at all.”
Even when Ryder jumped into the Dodge Ram and drove off the man still stood there, staring after the truck and grinning.
As he watched the man through the rearview mirror Ryder shook his head. “Weird,” he said under his breath. They were both weird, the grumpy old man and the overly friendly one. From two opposite poles, they were. He could only wonder if the other residents of Marfa would be just as unusual.
Ryder had been driving for the better part of half an hour when he began to wonder if he’d taken a wrong turn. Texas was known for its wide-open spaces but he’d expected to be in Marfa long before this. He’d followed his guide’s instructions to the letter but there was still no sign welcoming him to Marfa. Where the heck was the place?
So the man had said it was some way away – aways off as he’d put it – and not to panic if he didn’t see the place right away, but instead of getting wider the road was narrowing and on top of that it was getting bumpier by the mile. There was no way there could be a city at the end of this road.
Not knowing if it made sense to turn back at that point, he drove on. He’d been at it for another ten minutes when the bumpy asphalted surface got even worse. Now it was nothing but a dirt road. What the heck?
Ryder slammed on the brakes. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” He let out his breath in a hiss. Had he taken a wrong turn? Or had he been taken for a ride?
And then he saw it. Off in the distance, the golden rays of the setting sun to the back of it, was a building visible only because it was all of two stories high. At least that was what it looked like from this distance. For the second time that day Ryder had to breathe a sigh of relief. Not a moment too soon. He’d been just about ready to turn around and head back the way he’d come. Now, finally, he’d found Marfa. There wasn’t much to it, just one building that he could see so far, but he would take it. He was too exhausted to feel anything but glad to see this sign of life in the middle of the Texas desert plains.
He pressed on the gas and shot up the dirt road toward the safe haven. There was still no sign saying ‘Welcome to Marfa’ but he didn’t care as long as there was food and a warm bed up ahead.
It was when he got closer that he saw how sparse the place really was. Outside of the building he’d spotted he was now seeing another six or seven but they were all tiny and all looking in dire need of repairs. Was this the Marfa he’d been hearing about? He’d been expecting some improvement on the gas station he’d left behind but this place actually looked worse. He hadn’t thought that could be possible.
As he approached the main building he slowed down and when he pulled up close by he read the words painted on the front. Beaumont’s. That was all it said and even as he got out of the truck he had no idea what kind of place it was.