The Ruth Valley Missing by Amber West

if he
was just a friend.
    I headed down the stairs, tossing on
the coat I had hanging over the stairwell, and sliding a few rolls of film from
the old rummage sale camera into my pocket. “Sorry, I’m ready.”
    “I was beginning to think I was
going to have to come up after you.”
    He gave me that same boyish grin he
flashed the first day we met. I wondered if the chilly air as we walked out
would mask the blush color of my cheeks. Once we were both in the Jeep, he
turned towards me.
    “I almost forgot,” he said leaning
in close. I held my breath as he sat inches from me, his arm behind my seat. He
moved away, a padded envelope in his hand. “This came in the mail for you
yesterday.”
    “Oh.” I looked down and tore open
the envelope. “These are some of the photos I took around town. I told Emma I’d
bring some of the diner ones for her. There’s one of her I took that came out
so cute. Remind me when we’re shopping to see if I can find a frame. I want to
give it to her as a gift.”
    “Sure thing.” Jack glanced over as
he drove. “Hey, those are real nice.”
    “Thanks. They’re ok.”
    “No, James, I mean it. That one
there, with the truck? I have a spot in my living room where I’d hang that.”
    “Well, then, I’ll have to get you a
frame too.”
    “Sounds like a plan. I may have to
look through the rest of those and pick out a few more.”
    “Sure.” I smiled, feeling flattered
and awkward at the same time. Dylan never paid any attention to my photography.
He always said it lacked ‘a statement’.
    “Music?” Jack motioned towards the
radio dial and I nodded. The twang of bluegrass spilled from the speakers and I
leaned back, watching the forest and mountain scenery whizz by. Every once in a
while I’d catch Jack singing along and laugh when he’d pause knowing he was
caught, then continue on anyway.
    Before I knew it, we were slowing
down and entering town.  
    ~~~
    “Who knew shopping at Walmart was so
great?”
    I was tossing a rubber ball up and
down as we walked down an aisle looking for a special brand of tea for the
little old woman who ran the bakery.
    “Great? I don’t know if I would say
that.”
    “I found hot pink fuzzy socks for a
dollar ninety seven and, in the same trip, a ten pound bag of lemon cooler
cookies, cookies I didn’t even know still existed. How is that not great?”
    “Ahhh, sarcasm. I got it. City girl
poking fun at the humble small town folk.”
    For a brief second I was worried he
actually thought I was making fun, but when he broke into a smile that told me
he didn’t, I relaxed.
    “I’m only being a little sarcastic.
I really am excited about the fuzzy socks.”
    “I see. Well, I’m headed over to the
automotive section and some other boring stuff. Did you want to go look at
frames and whatever else and meet me at the Jeep in fifteen?”
    “Divide and conquer. Got it.”
    We headed in opposite directions, and
I quickly picked out a few suitable frames, then remembered the film in my
pocket. I headed to the front of the store, searching for their photo
department.
    Behind the counter sat a young guy,
lanky, with short hair, save a wispy rat tail traveling down his neck.
    “I was wondering if I could drop
these off to be developed.”
    “Just fill out that envelope and
drop it in there,” said the clerk, barely looking up from his phone. “They pick
up in the afternoon and it should be here in about four days.”
    “Oh. You don’t have one-hour
service?”
    The clerk smirked. “Nope. No one is
really in that much of a rush around here.”
    “Okay. I don’t really make it out
here often—”
    “If you put your address information
and check the ‘home delivery’ option, our photo service will mail them to you
directly. There is an extra charge for it, and it will be about a week, give or
take.”
    Taking digital photos for so long
made me impatient, but I didn’t have a whole lot of options, so I followed the
clerk’s