“He sent you to threaten me?”
“He sent me to—”
“He sent you to threaten me, Billy Rivera, so now you will go back to him and you will tell him that I will not be threatened,” she spat. “I will not be threatened by him or anybody. Willard Lane is dead to me, do you hear? Dead.”
“I’d be willing to marry you and—”
“Billy!”
“I would, Miss Evelyn, you’re mighty scary but I love—”
“Get out, Billy!” she shouted. “Get out and never come back. Not you, nor Willard, just get out!”
He turned around, mumbling something, stumbling over the words. “But Evelyn—”
“I said get out!”
Billy scrambled, running toward the window, the one it looked like he came in from. He stumbled over a table, over a chair, noise and chaos following him as he practically fell out of the window. She heard him land with an “oof.”
She wanted to laugh, but she had to stop herself. It didn’t seem like a laughing matter. Even though Billy was just a pawn in Willard’s game, who knew what Willard was going to do next? He said something stupid and crazy.
How much more crazy and stupid could Willard get? she thought.
Chapter 11
Lonnie walked out of the mayor’s house, more than a little confused at Evelyn leaving so quickly. He hadn’t wanted to stay for too much longer after that, wondering if it had been something he’d said, something he’d done that had made her leave. The last thing he wanted to do was offend or upset her.
Did I? he asked himself. I don’t think I did.
“Thank you so much for this evening,” Lonnie said as he took his hat and jacket from the coat stand. They had all followed him to the door, the mayor’s wife’s face a picture of concern.
“Is everything alright dear?” she said. “We haven’t said anything to offend you, have we?”
Lonnie chuckled to himself. “Heavens, no,” he said. “I… I have just been a little distracted, that’s all.” He felt suddenly sheepish. After Evelyn had left, he was fairly sure he wasn’t good company. He’d tried to stay happy and smiley with them, but he was preoccupied. She’d really managed to get in his head. And in such a short space of time too.
“It’s just work getting on your mind, eh Lon?” the mayor said. “That’s what makes him a good ranger,” he barrelled on, not giving Lonnie a chance to respond, “what makes him such a fine addition to the town.”
“I hope I’ve not offended you by wanting to leave so early,” Lonnie said.
“Not at all,” the mayor’s wife said. “Make sure to stay safe getting home. And remember you can stop by any time, any time you want!”
“Thank you, thank you very much,” he said.
He left the mayor’s house and walked a little way down the street, slowing as he reached Evelyn’s house. He was sure he could hear raised voices, the sound of things being thrown or hitting the floor. He picked up speed, stopping suddenly, when he saw somebody falling out of the living room window.
Without a second thought, Lonnie gave chase. If this man had done anything to hurt Evelyn, he would have his head, that much he knew.
“Hey!” Lonnie barked after him, his voice like thunder ripping through the night. The man turned his head to see Lonnie barrelling toward him and picked up speed himself. He could barely make out the man’s features at the distance, he saw light hair, but that was it. No sooner had Lonnie managed to chase him around the corner, had he jumped on horseback and galloped off into the night.
Lonnie cursed himself. He didn’t even get enough of a look at his face to see who it was. What if it had been Willard? Was Evelyn okay?
He walked to the front door and knocked on it hard.
No one came at first. He could hear shuffling about inside, the sound of Evelyn clearing up whatever had happened in the living room, most likely.
He knocked again, harder, louder, continuously until the door flew open.
“What is it?” Evelyn barked, her face angry. She righted herself when she realized it was him. “What are you doing here?”
“I came to see if you were alright,” he breathed. He checked her over quickly, wanting to see if that man had done anything, if he’d hurt her.
“It’s late.”
“That’s not what I asked,” he said. “Are you alright?”
Evelyn cocked her head at him. “What do you want, Lonnie?”
“I want to check that you’re fine,” he said slowly.
“Do I look fine?”
“Evelyn—”
“Because I am,” she said. “It’s late, please leave so I can go to bed.”
“I saw someone.”
Evelyn shrugged. “It’s a busy town, there are lots of people around.”
“Evelyn, I saw someone coming out of your window, it looked like a thief or–”
“It was no one.”
“Evelyn, has something happened?” he asked. He could hear the concern in his voice. He was worried about her, worried she might be hurt or that she might be putting on a brave face for him. She didn’t need to do that. “Do you need me to stay and keep guard?”
“No,” she said. “You’re being overprotective.”
“Am I?”
“Yes, Lonnie,” she groaned. “I’ve already dealt with the problem. I’ll be fine.”
“I can stay,” he said. “I don’t mind.”
“Well, I do,” she said. “I’m alright. Don’t worry.”
But Lonnie did worry. If it was a random stranger who had broken into Evelyn’s house, it obviously wasn’t all that secure, though if he was running off into the night, he couldn’t deny that she knew how to take care of herself. But if it was something to do with Willard, she could be in real danger and not even realize it.
“I’m staying,” he said. “I need to keep guard here. I won’t sleep if I go home.”
“Lonnie, you’re being ridiculous!”
“I’m doing what needs to be done to keep you safe,” he said. He turned and walked over to the swing, sitting on it and looking out into the night.
“Lonnie, you need to go home, you’ll be no use to anyone if you’re exhausted,” she said. “I’ll be alright.”
“I’m staying here,” he said. “You’re not safe, so I’m staying.”
She shrugged. “Fine. But I’m not asking you to.”
“I know,” he said. “Because you wouldn’t.”
She locked eyes with him at the door. She looked as if she were about to say something, but Lonnie couldn’t say what. She shut the door and headed back inside.
Lonnie knew that she wouldn’t ask, even if she did desire his help, it was just the way she was. She longed to be independent, longed to not rely on anyone else for anything, least of all a man. But he knew it was the right thing to do.
Whoever that man had been, he could see that it had spooked her. So no matter what she said, Lonnie knew that she was wrong. She needed someone. And it just so happened to be him.
The door had barely been closed for a few moments, before it reopened. Lonnie turned sharply, “Look, if you’re coming out here to argue with me again, I’m not–”
“I’m not here to argue,” Evelyn said softly. He noticed now that she was carrying two steaming cups, carefully walking toward him. She set them down on the ground, one near him and one at the opposite end of the bench. She closed the front door and took a seat next to him.
“Thank you,” Lonnie said.
“Well,” she grumbled. “If you’re going to insist on staying out here all night like some kind of hero, you’re going to need coffee. This will fix you right up. Just you watch.”
Lonnie took a sip and coughed. “Jeez.”
“Told ya.”
He wasn’t sure he’d sleep for a week after a cup of coffee that strong. Still, it was sweet of her to make sure he was okay too, and to bring him coffee. She wasn’t so tough. He almost wondered if she was getting a little bit sweet
on him.
“You really don’t—”
“The chivalry act is getting old,” Evelyn snapped. “Nobody is that nice, you can’t be that nice.”
“Why can’t I?”
“Because there has to be something wrong with you,” Evelyn said. “You can’t just be this kind boy who sees nothing but good in the world, wandering around all happy-go-lucky. I don’t believe it.”
“Well, maybe try and believe in it a little bit, Evelyn, I am sitting right here after all,” he said, taking another sip of coffee. He coughed again, wheezing a little.
“Lightweight,” she said, nudging him with her elbow.
He took a deep breath and looked over at her. She quickly switched her gaze so she was looking at the horizon.
“Do you think there has to be something wrong with me because I’m not like Willard?” he asked tentatively.
“Lon—”
“I’m not trying to start a fight here, Evelyn, I promise.”
“Then don’t talk about him,” she said sharply. “I already told you I have nothing to do with that man and you bringing him up…” She trailed off and took a breath. “You bringing him up makes me burn inside.”
“Okay,” he said. “I won’t bring him up then.”
Evelyn looked over at him and Lonnie looked back. She didn’t avert her gaze this time, instead letting their eyes lock. “What on God’s earth made you so nice?” she asked.
“You really want to know?”
“Yeah.”
“You won’t poke fun?”
“I can’t promise that,” she said with a smirk.
Lonnie shrugged. “I think it was my mom,” he said. “She was always telling me that it’s good to be nice. Ain’t no point going ‘round with a sour face and a darkness hanging over you. If you can be the sunshine that clears someone else’s raincloud, then you’re doing good in the world.”
Evelyn smiled at him. It warmed him to see her smiling, to see her calm and not looking like she was about to rip his head off for something.
“That isn’t so bad,” she said. “I thought you were going to say something corny.”
Lonnie shrugged. “It’s pretty corny.”
Evelyn shrugged back. “It might be corny, but it’s true. It’s real.” She tucked her legs up beneath her, cradling her coffee closer to her to keep warm. “Tell me more about your mom.”
Lonnie turned his gaze away from her and started talking about his mother. He didn’t really talk about his life all that often. It wasn’t that he didn’t want to, it’s just that people in town didn’t really ask. It was never about Lonnie; it was about them getting closer to Lonnie or asking him a question. It was nice to just talk for a little while.
He lost track of what story he was telling, whether he’d already told her part of it, and when he turned back around to look at her, he saw that she had fallen asleep.
He smiled, chuckling to himself. He could have chosen to be offended.
What? My story isn’t interesting enough to keep you up for the whole night? he thought to himself, laughing in his own head.
But he didn’t. Instead, he just watched her for a second. He watched the steady rise and fall of her chest and the fluttering of her eyelashes as she no doubt dreamed of something. She looked so beautiful, so peaceful. He knew that he shouldn’t be watching her, it was probably something she would bite his head off for if she found out, but it was the most vulnerable he had ever seen her. It was the most honest thing they’d really shared.
No use keeping her out here all night, he thought, putting his now empty coffee cup on the ground and carefully standing up so as not to wake her. He steadily picked her up and carried her inside to her bedroom. He laid her down and covered her in a sheet, silently bidding her a good night before he returned outside.
He took his seat once more on the front porch, watching the night pass him by, unable to get the image of Evelyn sleeping out of his head. He didn’t think he would be able to forget that for quite some time.
Chapter 12
Evelyn woke the next morning with the sun bleeding through the curtains. There was a moment, however brief, where she couldn’t quite figure out where she was. One minute she was outside, listening to the soft lilt of Lonnie’s voice, and the next she was waking up in her own bedroom. She sat bolt upright, fully aware that something wasn’t right.
Her next thoughts went to him. She just wanted to know if he was still out there, if he really had stayed all night like he said he would.
How on earth did I get in here? she thought. He couldn’t have…
The horrible thought dawned on her.
Did he carry me in here? she thought. She could feel her face going red and hot. How embarrassing! I fell asleep! He was telling me stories about his mom and I fell asleep, so he carried me to bed.
She shuffled through the house, the air thick with morning haze, the sounds of birds cheeping awake outside, the coolness of the night still hanging in the air.
She looked out of the window at the front of the house to see Lonnie sitting there, staring out into the distance. She could see him blinking, see that he was still awake.
He stayed awake all night just to make sure I was safe, she thought. That’s some ranger.
She walked over to the stove and put on some coffee. If Lonnie was going to make it through the day, he was going to need as much of that as he could get, the stronger the better. Lucky for him, she and her father liked it as strong as it would come. It was more like tar than coffee.
She poured him a cup and one for herself, taking it out onto the porch. When she opened the door, he turned around sharply, like he was ready to pounce on an intruder. She could see the exhaustion hanging beneath his eyes, heavy bags of purple dragging his face down, and that was all because of her. Though she’d told him to go, so it was as much his fault as it was hers.
“Good morning,” he croaked. “How did you sleep?”
“A darn sight better than you,” she replied, handing him the coffee. Their fingers touched as she gave him the cup, and she couldn’t help but feel the tiniest thrill at the contact. “You really didn’t have to—”
“Yes, I did,” he said. “Like I told you, I wouldn’t have slept if I’d gone home. I needed to know you were safe.”
She felt a little sorry for him. He was completely exhausted, and it was all her fault. If she hadn’t been so insistent on Billy getting out of the house, maybe he wouldn’t have caused a scene, maybe all of this could have been avoided.
“Do you know who it was?” Lonnie asked, taking a sip of the coffee. “Gosh, this is good coffee,” he added.
“Thanks,” she replied. She didn’t know what to say. She didn’t know if she wanted to mention Billy. If she even talked about him it might have him thinking that she was conspiring with Willard and that was the last thing she wanted. “No.”
“Was it to do with Willard?”
She nodded.
He shook his head and sighed.
“What?” she asked.
“I just don’t understand how you can be so calm about something like that,” he said, clearly getting agitated. “That man is a monster, a criminal and you’re just so…” he trailed off.
“So what?”
“It’s like you don’t care, like you’re not bothered if you get hurt or anything, and I am bothered which either makes me a fool or…” he trailed off. Evelyn couldn’t tell if he didn’t know how to finish the sentence or if he was about to say something he shouldn’t. “What if Willard is coming back to hurt you?” he asked.
“Willard would never hurt me.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because,” she said. “Willard loves me. He’s messed up in so many ways, I know that, and I don’t love him anymore, I want to make that crystal clear. But he loves me in his own way and that means he won’t hurt me, no matter what happens. I think it means he would hurt other people. Which is the thing that makes me worry.” She si
ghed and looked down at her cup of coffee. “I don’t want him hurting anybody on my account.”
Lonnie drained his cup clean and looked over at her. Evelyn was sure he was trying to see if she was lying. She wasn’t. She hoped he could see that. She really did.
“You got any more of this?” he asked. “I get the feeling I’m going to need it today.”
“Sure,” she said. “You want to come inside?”
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