Run, Rose, Run(18)

Perfumed and painted, with smoky eyes and candy-red lips and her spectacular hair coiffed in studiously messy curls, Ruthanna Ryder was so dazzling that AnnieLee gasped.

As Ruthanna extended a slender arm, gesturing for AnnieLee to sit, her beaded dress reflected the colored lights dripping down from the ceiling. “Damned if I don’t look like a disco ball in here,” she said, almost to herself. Then she looked up at AnnieLee. “Have a seat.”

Tongue-tied, AnnieLee did as she was told. Only then did she notice Ethan Blake sitting in the shadows to Ruthanna’s left. Wait, she thought, they know each other?

“Ruthanna,” Ethan said to the glittering queen beside him, “I’d like you to meet AnnieLee Keyes. AnnieLee, this is Ruthanna Ryder.”

At first AnnieLee could only nod, but a moment later, a torrent of words came rushing out of her mouth before she could stop them. “I pinched myself already, but I still think I might be dreaming. It is such an honor to meet you, Ms. Ryder. I’ve looked up to you since I was old enough to know anything.” She felt her cheeks growing hot, but she kept on going. “We had a poster of you in the kitchen, right next to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, and I thought you were one of the saints! I figured you had to be, to sing like that. I even prayed to you. I was about seven years old when my mom finally had to tell me that while your talents were divine, you weren’t actually holy.”

Ruthanna laughed. “I am far from holy, AnnieLee.” Her speaking voice was rich, and lower than AnnieLee had thought it would be.

“See?” Ethan said, nudging Ruthanna’s sparkling arm. “I’m not the only one who prays to you.”

“What’d you pray for back then, AnnieLee?” Ruthanna asked.

“To sing,” AnnieLee said without hesitation. There had been other prayers, too, more desperate ones, but she didn’t need to bring them up now.

Ruthanna folded her beautifully manicured hands on the table. Her expression was serious. “You’re a very talented girl,” she said. “I’ve been in this business for over forty years, and I’ve seen more singers than I’ve seen Sundays. But honestly, you stand out, AnnieLee Keyes. You’ve really got something special.”

AnnieLee’s heart swelled with relief and gratitude. “Thank you,” she whispered. “That means the world to me.”

“I don’t do this very often,” Ruthanna said, “but I’m going to help you out.”

By now AnnieLee was nearly trembling with anticipation. Forget joking about a fairy godmother: one of the greatest musicians in the whole world was going to take her under her wing! This was an honest-to-God miracle. AnnieLee almost laughed out loud to think how her childhood prayers had paid off, even though they’d been sent in the wrong direction.

She could already imagine the story she’d tell about this night. I was only in Nashville about two weeks before I met Ruthanna Ryder, and she’s the reason I’m playing here at the Ryman Auditorium today.

AnnieLee’s life had been so hard. Was it crazy to think that this one thing might be easy? She could feel the huge, wild smile spreading across her face.

But Ruthanna didn’t smile back. She pointed one perfect, blood-red nail at AnnieLee’s heart. “Here’s my advice for you, AnnieLee Keyes,” she said. “Get the hell out of Nashville while you still can.”

AnnieLee swallowed. “Pardon me?” she gasped.

“It’s a hard, rough business,” said Ruthanna. “A tiny thing like you? You’ll get chewed up and spit out like a hunk of gristle. Sure, you might taste success, but you’re more likely to end up broke and alone. Do something sensible with your life, AnnieLee. Get a job. Find a man and marry him.” She looked over at Ethan Blake. “Take this guy, for example. He’d make someone a real nice husband.”

Elation turned to dismay, just like that. AnnieLee had to remind herself to breathe. Next, though, she had to remind herself who she was.

Can I fix it?

No I cain’t

But I sure ain’t gonna take it lyin’ down



Steeling herself, she spoke slowly and calmly to her idol. “I admire you more than anyone else on this whole green earth,” AnnieLee said, “but with all due respect, Ms. Ryder, you can go screw yourself.”





Chapter

17



Too agitated to stand still but too infuriated to leave, AnnieLee was pacing back and forth in the alley behind the Cat’s Paw when the door swung open to reveal Ethan and Ruthanna, backlit by the bar’s colored lights.

AnnieLee pulled up short and put her hands on her hips. “Are you here to give me more advice I won’t take?”

Ruthanna threw her head back and laughed. “You were right about her, Blake—she’s a little firecracker!”

This made AnnieLee even madder. She hated being called small, no matter that it was accurate. “You ain’t so big yourself, you know,” she said. “I bet I could take you in a fight.”

Ruthanna, falling into paroxysms of laughter, held on to Ethan’s shoulder for balance, while he looked back and forth between the two of them as if he didn’t have the faintest idea what to do or say.

Pretty soon the confounded expression on his face made AnnieLee start laughing, too. How ridiculous was this? She’d thrown a hissy fit in an alleyway and then challenged a country music goddess to a street fight. What on earth was she thinking?