Blue Bonnet by Fay Risner

a hurry. Not that he
could tell Leta that. She'd think he was touched in the head for
buying a woman's bonnet if he told her the real reason he wanted
it.
    A few days later, Bat was on his
way by the seamstress millinery shop to the hotel for lunch. Leta
wouldn’t have the bonnet done so soon, but why not check on her
progress. Bat went inside and crossed the store with a slow gait to
where Leta sit in her corner sewing. He took his hat off. “Hello,
Ma’am.”
    Leta looked up from the dark green
dress sprawled across her lap. “Hello, yourself. Call me Leta,” she
said, grinning at him. “Ma'am makes me feel old, Mr. Kayhill.” She
stuck her needle in a dark green thread spool and rested her hands
over the spool in her lap as she looked at him.
    “Yes, Ma’am. I
mean Leta. I sure wouldn't want to make ya feel old. You're far
from that from what I can see. My name is Bat in case ya didn't
know. Ya can call me that instead of Mr. Kayhill so I don't feel
old, either,” He said with a twitchy grin, rocking from one boot to
the other.
    Small talk made him nervous,
especially in a woman's dress store. He’d like it better if he was
talking to the men over at the mercantile. He sure hoped he got out
of the store before any women customers came in. They would stare a
hole through him, trying to figure out what he was doing in the
store.
    “Yes, I know your name. Bat, what
can I do for you?” Leta asked.
    “Well .. well, I thought maybe I’d
check to see how you’re coming with the bonnet?”
    Leta looked distressed. “I must
have misunderstood. Did you need it this soon?”
    Bat put his hands up. “Oh no,
nothin’ like that. Just checkin’ as long as I was goin' by to see
if ya started the bonnet. That's all,” Bat said quickly. “I don't
need the bonnet in any kind of a hurry.”
    “Good.” Leta
relaxed back and took a deep breath. “I did start it. I just got
the material cut out. That’s all I can do to the bonnet until I get
this dress done.
    In fact, right now I’m ready to
stop working and go find me a bite to eat for dinner,” Leta said.
She arched her back and rubbed where she could reach.
    Bat twisted his hat in his hands.
“Why how about that! Puttin' the feedbag on is what I intend to do.
How about comin’ over to the hotel with me for the noon meal. On
me, of course,” Bat invited.
    He surprised himself that he had
the nerve to offer the invitation. He probably wouldn't have if
he'd taken the time to think about asking her. He hoped Leta didn’t
think he was being too forward. After all, they really didn't know
each other.
    “I’d love to get out of here for
awhile. I am going to take you up on that offer. I hear the hotel
has good food,” Leta said cheerfully. She yelled toward the back
room, “Etta, I’m leaving for lunch. You will need to watch out
front. If anyone asks for me, I'll be back in an hour.”
    The hotel dining room was usually
a busy place at noon. Bat considered himself lucky to find a table
for them. They were waiting for their beef and noodle meals to come
when Billie walked in. She did a double take and came across the
room to their table. “Hello, you two. My word, this place is jam
packed today, isn't it? I don't see a place to sit. Not with anyone
I know anyway that wouldn't think I was being forward if I just sat
down with them.”
    “Sure is crowded in here all
right,” Leta said. “Mr. Kayhill, get a chair if you can find one so
Billie can sit with us.”
    “Oh, I don't want to intrude on
your meal. I just came over to say hello,” Billie
protested.
    “No trouble at
all. Besides, ya better take Leta up on the invite since I'm
buying,” Bat joked.
    “In that case, Leta, I'd be glad
to join you for dinner,” Billie returned. “What's the special
today?”
    “Beef and noodles,” Leta told
her.
    “Sounds good,” Billie
said.
    “Be right back with a chair,” Bat
said. He headed across the room, walking fast toward an empty chair
he saw in the