Chapter 10
The Silver Star
Willa left before daybreak, and then Cricket, not nearly as quiet as she had been.
They would both be back, as they didn’t say goodbye.
Safine was in no state to run the saloon today, thin-tempered and short after Willa left, and so Decker heaved the saloon door closed behind him, wincing at the twinge in his back. The salve worked, but more slowly than usual, as if his own body fought it overnight.
“Decker?”
Shit.
The preacher hovered at the edge of the veranda before tripping up it, the afternoon sun burnishing his curls and lighting his smile. “I wanted to—”
“I don’t have the time for your apology, Mr. Lane.” Decker was already heading down the boardwalk towards Ridgewater so the incense couldn’t wrap him in a smoky embrace and drag him back to the chapel.
“A-apology?” Following him, Laurie staggered through his words. “I suppose that is what I came to you for, I didn’t want you to get the wrongimpression—”
“Careful, Mr. Lane.” A puff of dust followed Decker as he suddenly stepped into the road.
“Pardon me?”
A rattlesnake coiled on the boardwalk in front of the preacher, taking in the last of the afternoon sun. Its segmented tail rasped and shuddered, warning him off as it coiled tighter and waited to strike. Snakes came out late and headed in early this time of year. Sluggish and snappish when surprised, it was best to always keep an eye out for rattlers on the boardwalk—a lesson his neighbor hadn’t quite learned. Add it to the list of things Laurie needed to understand about this town if he wanted to stay here.
“Goodness, my apologies—”
If the preacher spent half as much time being mindful as he did talking, he’d be able to see the things that were right in front of his worried face, instead of having to try his luck with his neighbors.
Laurie wouldn’t last here.
Not when the people of Ender’s Ridge were so used to taking care of their own, and Laurie—insistent, proudly stubborn, making-conversation-with-a-snake, Laurie—was the first and only of his unique kind.
Decker ignored the scuff of Laurie’s hurried footsteps behind him and cast a glance at the stockyards to the left. The cattle stood listlessly over fresh piles of hay. Four lay unmoving in the dust.
Safine’s cures could only go so far.
Decker turned on his heel when he reached the bridge. “Can I help you, Mr. Lane?”
He looked strangely affronted at his tone. “I only wanted to have a discussion.”
“I have a train tocatch.”
“To Silver Creek? What a coincidence, that’s where I happened to be headed when I saw you.” Beaming a smile that seemed irritatingly real, Laurie motioned for Decker to lead the way.
Laurie was like an itch he couldn’t quite reach, always present and disgustingly alluring.
Jamming money into the hands of the woman at the ticket booth and muttering a quiet thanks, Decker slipped into the faded green interior of the train car and sat at the back. Laurie sat opposite him, folding his coat over his knees.
Decker wasn’t sure if he was relieved that he was on the train this time, or if he’d rather be sprawled across the tracks again.
“You’re going to the newspaper about Ender’s Ridge? TheStar?”
“Going to stop the rumors. No one else will do it.”
“I suppose not.” Laurie’s hands twisted into his black coat, and Decker muffled a sigh as he waited for him to address what lingered between them. “I don’t—I don’t want you to think less of me.” There was a slight tremble to Laurie’s voice.
Decker wanted to find his openness nauseating.
