The main street of Brush Creek was deserted now and the snow was not so much falling as blowing straight down, with occasional shifts to a horizontal direction when a strong gust of wind came along. Alex and Rob located the Melody Inn behind the McDonalds and got the Blazer into the unplowed parking lot with some difficulty. It was one of those old-fashioned motels where you park outside your door, and although it was still afternoon it looked like most of the rooms were occupied. At one end of the building was a small office, and inside the office was a skinny, balding clerk sitting by a portable electric heater with a hand-rolled cigarette in his mouth.
"Well this is yer lucky day, fellers! I got one room left for ya!"
"We need two, actually," said Alex, gesturing at Rob.
The clerk spit a mote of tobacco on the floor and shook his head. "I just have the one," he said. "Rest are taken. It's a decent room, nice and cozy for a couple cowboys like you." He snickered as if he'd said something funny.
"Why don't you take it, Alex," said Rob. "You've played good Samaritan enough for one day. I'll find someplace else to stay."
"You're crazy. There isn't any place else to stay in this God-forsaken town." The assessment was confirmed by the clerk, who gave an expressionless shrug. "We can split the cost if it makes you feel better."
"Are you sure you don't mind sharing a room with me?" Rob asked hesitantly.
"I think it'll work out," said Alex.
Alex paid for one night with his credit card and retrieved his suitcase from the Blazer. When they entered their room, they discovered that the clerk had failed to mention one little detail, although under the circumstances it probably wouldn't have made any difference in their decision: the room had only one bed. And it was a standard size double bed, which would be cramped enough for a married couple let alone two men. Rob and Alex looked at the bed and laughed.
"What do we do now?" asked Alex.
"I guess I could sleep on the floor," said Rob reluctantly.
"Watch out for rattlesnakes," said Alex.
Rob looked up in alarm. "Are you serious? Are there snakes here?"
Alex punched Rob on the arm and laughed. "I've got some soap and mouthwash if you need it," he said, rummaging through his suitcase. "Toothpaste. Shampoo. Snake repellant."
"You must have been a boy scout," said Rob.
"Yeah. I've got an extra pair of underwear, too, if you need it. May be too big for you."
Rob laughed.
Once again Alex noticed that Rob was watching him as if he were waiting for something. It made Alex a little uncomfortable. "Listen, Rob, let me get something out of the way. I don't have any problem with your being gay or whatever.. . . in case you were wondering."
"I didn't think so," said Rob. "You seemed pretty cool about it."
"I know some guys would have a hard time handling it, but it doesn't bother me." As Alex said this he walked to the window and looked at the snow mounding up on the cars in the parking lot. "Actually, when I was younger I was a little curious about gay stuff," he added.
"What do you mean?" asked Rob.
Alex kept looking outside. "Jeez, it's kind of embarrassing," he said. "I don't know why I brought it up. I never told anybody this before. Anyway, I was just curious -- you know? When I was in high school I had a friend who was gay. We talked about it sometimes. I used to wonder what it would be like, to be like him." His voice trail off and he cleared his throat. "Listen, I'm just rambling. I didn't mean to start talking about that crap. Just forget I said anything about it."
