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Jake cocked his head back toward the house. "That was a doctors place. " He shrugged. "I saw the sign and, well, I just wondered . . . you know, if you were all right. "
"Doc Shermans a friend of mine. "
It wasnt an answer at all, but Jake seemed not to notice.
"Oh. "
"But lets not tell Mariah I saw him, okay?"
"Okay. "
Rass stared at the boy, studying him in the weak, eerie light of the moon. Jake sat as tall and straight as a nail, his elbows resting lightly on his knees, his fists hung over the rim of the buggy on the reins. His hair was a smooth, precisely cut red-gold fringe that hung out from beneath his hat.
Surprisingly, Rass found himself remembering someone else with the promise of red-gold hair.
He ran a shaking hand through his white hair. Thomas would be sixteen about now, just Jakes age. Pain rippled through Rass at the thought, escaped his chapped lips as a quiet whimper. Even now, all these years later, he couldnt think about the baby without aching for the loss of his tiny life.
"Rass . . . " Jakes quiet, tentative voice cut through Rasss old mans memories.
He swallowed, tried to find the courage to speak. "Yes?"
"I need your help with something. "
The simple question was a gift. With it, Rass was able to push aside the painful thoughts and focus instead on something real, on something that mattered. The bitter memories fell into the background of his mind. "Sure, Jake. If I can. "
Jake stared hard at Cleos butt and swallowed. "I . . . havent gotten to spend much time with Mad Dog. "
"Uh-huh. "
"And I, well, I came here to get to know him. . . . "
Rass straightened. Now that was an unexpected bit of information. What was Mad Dog to Jake? "You did?"
Jake winced. "Didnt I tell you that?"
Rass chewed his lower lip, studying him intently. The boy was sitting even straighter than before, but his hands were shaking on the reins, his mouth was trembling. "No,"
he said slowly, "you didnt tell me that. "
"I . . . uh, musta forgot. " He tried to laugh. It was a strained, hollow sound that didnt fool Rass for a second.
"Uh-huh. "
Jake licked his lips nervously. "Anyhow, I came here to meet Mad Dog. " He turned to Rass. "Hes a famous fighter, you know. "
Rass nodded slowly, but again, he wasnt fooled. Jake didnt want to meet Mad Dog because of his fame.
"Uh-huh. So whats the problem? Hes on the farm, youre on the farm. Get to know the man. "
Jakes gaze skidded away. A redness that looked like embarrassment—or shame—crept up his cheeks. "He doesnt seem to want to get to know me. "
"I see. So, you want to know how to get close to a man who doesnt seem too inclined to get to know you. "
Jake let out his breath in a relieved sigh. "Yeah. "
"Thats not too hard. If the mountain wont come to Mohammed, then Mohammed best head for the mountain. "
"What does that mean?"
