Put another coin in the jukebox…

An excerpt from Johnny Fallon by Dan Price

A work in progress…

The Tavern on the Hill was full to capacity. A typical Saturday night. Ranchers, drugstore cowboys and real cowboys. It was standing room only at the bar. At the very far end of the bar sat Bobby Joe Gorman. He entered the tavern forty minutes ago and had already downed three shots of whiskey. At least he had slowed down on the hard stuff as the band finished their second set. “Pamela, I think I’ll switch to a Miller draft.”

“Coming right up,” said Pamela, now a good three hours into her shift.

Gorman felt a female hand, her fingers sliding down his back. “Bobby Joe, I see you have your favorite stool back tonight.”

“Got lucky, I guess. It gives me a chance to catch the last inning of the Dodgers’ spring-training game out in LA,” he said, pointing to the television set, which was locked into place, just below the ceiling and just above the mirror — the huge eight-foot long mirror which covered the length of the front room bar.

“How many shots of whiskey have you had tonight?”

“Who’s counting?”

“No one, but you might want to order another,” Mary Beth said. “Guess who was in the bar earlier tonight?”

“Who?”

“Johnny Fallon.”

“Johnny Fallon, are you sure?”

“Yes, as sure as I’m standing here. His hair is a bit long, but he’s as good-looking as ever. I even danced with him.”

“You danced with him. Well, where is he?”

“He’s gone, Bobby Joe. I think I scared him off.”

Before Mary Beth could explain any further, a tall, lanky cowboy asked her to dance as the familiar sound of Willie Nelson and the favorite tune of most of the patrons at the Tavern — My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys bellowed out through the jukebox speakers.

“Oh, boy! Somebody hit F4 again…Bobby Joe are you gonna be all right?”

“I’ll be fine,” Bobby Joe said, as he ordered another shot of whiskey and pointed to Mary Beth’s table. “Pamela, give them a round on me.” He watched Mary Beth, hand in hand with the cowboy, as they headed for the dance floor. Willie’s hit song was already at the mid way point.