Chapter Ten
Scary things come out on All Hallows’ Eve.
Pulling up to the fire hall on the outskirts of town, I spied the Learys right off.
They were hard to miss. Big bunch of morons lingering outside, drinking beers, shouting who knew what at the people bringing their kids inside.
If Ollie were here, he would probably run them in for public drunkenness, but he’d been called out to investigate a burglary at a chainsaw shop on Biggerstaff Road.
He probably had his deputy with him, so until he rolled back into Bastian Grange, these assholes would continue to be assholes.
We arrived in two vehicles: Granny and Bella and me in the farm truck and the rest in Hanley’s Jeep.
Dodge lived in town now, so he would join us as soon as the candy in his handout dish was gone.
Dahn was out with his friends trick-or-treating until eight, then they’d arrive here before heading to Phil’s house for a sleepover/pizza/slasher movie night.
Better them than me. I hated scary movies, now more than ever.
Sitting in the truck, parked facing the front doors, I glanced at Bella.
“We can go in the side door,” Granny offered, blowing the tip of the purple feather out of her face. Her fascinator wasn’t fastened too well. “Avoid those knuckle-draggers.”
“No, I am walking through the front doors just like everyone else,” Bella stated, her chin rising as it did when her mind was set.
I nodded and eased out of the truck. Funky music thumped inside the hall, “Monster Mash,” I think it was.
After jogging around the front bumper, I opened the passenger door to help Granny out then Bella.
Both got their wraps settled as a cold wind howled through the naked trees that lined the ball field to the left of the fire station.
Adults and kids were everywhere, most dressed up, some not.
Shouts and laughter floated by on the autumn wind as I waited for the others.
They arrived a moment later. Baker, Hanley, and Lincoln pulled up beside us and exited.
“Looks like they got a gang of baboons collecting tickets at the door,” Baker, kitted out as Chef Carmen Berzatto from The Bear, said.
He looked nothing like Jeremy Allen White, obviously, but he hadn’t planned out a costume, so he had to settle on a white tee and one of Granny’s blue bib aprons.
This is what happens when you don’t research.
“I got a ticket for them if they say one fucking word about Bella,” Lincoln growled as he held up a fist the size of an Easter ham. For a man who spent hours meditating, doing yoga and tai chi, and reading Eastern Zen books, he sure was fast to flash a fist.
“This is a party, not a bar brawl,” Bella reminded him as she slipped her tiny hand into his arm. “Let’s go inside.”
So we marched to the front doors. Rip wasn’t with his brothers yet, so I would have to hold off clocking him. Someday I’d find him. Just like I had Tommy Ianello. Mom always said patience was a virtue.
“Nope, sorry, we’re not allowing his kind of freak inside with all the kids,” Leary One spat out as he glared down at Bella. “Pedo-files itching to sneak into the women’s room to spy and fondle little girls. Not on our watch!”
“No one said you were on any kind of watch, Gary, so step aside and let Miss Bella in,” a booming voice from behind us said just as Baker opened his mouth to speak.
Manfred Owens strolled up, tipping his cowboy hat—guess he was a cattleman tonight, which was pretty poor costume picking—at Granny and Bella before pushing in close to Leary One, aka Gary Leary.
“We got the right of the good Lord on our side to deny entry to—”
Manfred, a large man with all kinds of clout in Bastian Grange, took a step closer to Gary, a skinny drunk in filthy overalls.
“I don’t think you speak for the Lord nor for the board of the Bastian Grange VFD, of which I am a founding member. If Miss Bella has her ticket, then she is allowed to enter the party. Now, I suggest you move your crusty backside out of the way before I forget we have two ladies here.”
“That one ain’t no—” Leary One slurred.
“Finish that. Go ahead. I wish you would,” Lincoln snarled, his eyes glued to the men barring the door. We all gathered closer around Bella.
“Freaks. The whole lot of you. Never took you for a queer lover, Manfred!” Gary snapped as he spun on his heel and bounced off the fender of a red Subaru.
“I’ve come to know Miss Bella better these past months during her visits to chat and read with Mama.
She and my mother are dear friends. They even read the Bible together, so I reckon if you’re insulting Miss Bella, you’re insulting my mama and me.
Hate to think you boys would badmouth the local tax collector.
Imagine what might happen if you all didn’t get extensions on them back taxes you all owe due to a misunderstanding of such dire consequences.
” The four of them slunk off around the side of the station house, leaving us to gape at Bella, who was smiling sweetly up at Manfred.
“Guess that cleared the rabble. Miss Bella, Mama says hello and is looking forward to your regular Monday morning visit. Shall we go inside and see if Clara Rupert has brought some of her pumpkin tarts?”
“Thank you, Manfred. I would love a tart.” Bella gave us a wink over her lean shoulder as Manfred escorted her inside.
“Goes to show what a little kindness mixed with a dollop of acceptance can bring about,” Granny said and latched onto my arm. “Now let’s get inside and get a good seat so I can see the line dances.”
This night was already full of surprises, and I’d not gone through the haunted house yet. Not that I planned to unless I was dragged through.
***
I had been dragged.
It hadn’t been fun at all, but my brothers enjoyed seeing me twitch at every spooky face or shout of BOO!
The fire hall was all kinds of tricked out for the big night. Tables with baked goods, arts and crafts, and a warm cider cart.
The volunteer firemen had set up a little haunted house inside the bays where the red engines usually sat.
We all went through for five bucks a head, jumping and hooting when people popped up from behind a haybale.
I hated that the most. I’d never been happier to get through a maze.
Gulping down some punch afterward to cool my throat, I watched Bella and Linc line dancing with about twenty other adults.
They were both laughing madly as they did their best to learn the steps.
Granny was clapping along to the country song, but I could see she was growing weary.
It had been a long, busy day for a lady her age.
“You think you’re ready to blow this place?” Baker asked as he sat down beside me at Granny’s front row table.
“Yeah, I guess. Are you sure you should be in a bar?” I asked, gathering my jacket from the back of my seat.
“I’m good. You worry about your addiction,” he said, rising before I could ask what he meant.
My phone buzzed. I leaped on it, happy to see Aiden was finally texting.
He’d had an emergency call about a recumbent horse.
That always made horse people anxious, I’d learned.
It was a critical call that could have ended very badly.
Thankfully, he had treated the horse’s colic, and it didn’t need to be transported to his clinic.
Heading home to shower. Meet you at Jumping Pony. ~ A
Taking Granny home then headed there. See you soon. ~ F
A rush of something incredibly energizing ran through me.
Pausing, phone in hand, I looked around me at the kids in their costumes, most cranked up to ultra-energy mode on sugar.
Sugar was an addiction to some, as was coffee or nicotine.
Illegal drugs and alcohol were also habit-forming, as were some prescription drugs.
I took none of those. What did Baker mean by that comment?
The rush of talking to Aiden gave me a natural surge of pure happiness mixed with anticipation.
I’d be seeing him again soon. Maybe we’d hook up.
Desire ran through my veins thinking of lying under or atop him, watching him come apart.
My mouth went dry, my pulse ramped up. And then it hit me like a horse kick to the balls.
Baker meant Aiden was my addiction. But no.
No, he wasn’t at all. I just liked him. I found him attractive and funny and smart and kind to animals.
His smile made me lightheaded, his touch made me woozy, and his mouth made me—
“Hey, Dreamy Dan. You ready to take me home? I’d like to be in my jammies before that new Matlock show starts. I just love that Kathy Bates.” Granny stared up at me, her feather now decidedly limp.
“Yes, sure. Sorry. Let me find Bella, and we’ll get you home.
” She gave me a soft pat on the cheek and headed off to say goodbye to the other town matriarchs seated at a table beside a pin-the-tail-on-the-ghost game in the corner.
Bella was easy to spot. Her creepy outfit made her stand out as did her light laughter as she helped serve punch.
How anyone could dislike her, I would never understand.
She was so sweet. She deserved far more than life had given her so far.
Her smile for me was wide when I approached the table she was working at.
“Granny is ready to roll. Do you want me to swing back to get you, or do you want to come with us now?”
She handed a little goblin girl some punch before ladling me a cup. “I’m ready. We still doing that spooky karaoke thing?”
“Seems so.” Baker, Linc, and Hanley were talking with some other ranchers by the doors. “I’ll go check.”