Chapter 15
Fifteen
Bex
While Booker and I make our way over to the inn, Garrett privately converses with Maureen.
Her amiable facial expression drops, becoming serious and somewhat gloomy, as if the news of my mistake has cast a shadow over her mood.
She looks to the entrance of town, out to the horizon where the sun disappears below the earth.
Garrett leaves her to her thoughts and helps Murphy walk the horses towing the stagecoach to the barn.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been reprimanded like a child, and as Maureen walks our way, I feel it coming.
What Maureen doesn’t know is that, mistake or not, I won’t be berated for something she could’ve prevented by telling us exactly what we were dealing with when we first arrived.
It would’ve been helpful to know about the aberrants and the related rules of conduct, considering that she had multiple occasions to share this information, specifically at supper on the first night, during the tour that took place yesterday morning, and also before I left to go visit a werewolf out in Graveyard Territory.
There’s no way she’s getting up in my face and blaming me for this.
“Well, you sure have put us in a bad situation.” She crosses her arms and shakes her head at me.
“Yeah, well, maybe if I had known beforehand werewolves existed and there are laws that need to be followed, we wouldn’t be in this situation.
” I mirror her stance and cross my arms over my chest, shooting her a pointed glare.
I don’t miss the look of surprise in her eyes, as if no one has ever challenged her authority.
Dropping her arms and moving past me, she says to Booker, “I imagine Cletus will be here soon.” She looks over her shoulder at the setting sun.
He nods, rubbing his forehead under the brim of his sunrider hat. “I imagine he will, especially knowing there’s a new dustslinger in town.”
She exhales a heavy sigh and rubs under her nose. “Dammit, Book. If he finds Hun—”
“He won’t,” Booker cuts her off. “That’s why I’m here.”
Maureen nods. Then, as she walks by to head inside the inn, she cups his shoulder and says, “I appreciate that, more than you’ll ever know. Now, come on, Ruby’s got some of your favorite stew for dinner.”
“Yes, ma’am. Right behind you.” He gives me a wink before rushing off to get some supper.
I’m going to have to make it clear to Maureen that if I stay, no more secrets.
Not just in teaching me the formalities of the land, but whatever secrets people have here—they all need to be laid out on the table.
If I’m to be their protector, then I need to know everything about this place and its residents.
My stomach grumbles, and I follow the others into the inn, hoping Nina’s inside helping Ruby. Though I’m disappointed that she didn’t come out to welcome me back.
Inside, I hurry upstairs to our room only to find it’s empty. Huh, where is she? Before heading downstairs, I quickly change out of my filthy dress and into a clean one. I’d love to fill the copper tub with hot water and soak for a bit, but finding my sister and eating some supper come first.
As I descend the stairs into the main parlor, Garrett and Murphy are there. While Murphy locks the front doors, Garrett walks over and meets me at the stairs. “It’s nothing to worry about, really. Maureen will handle Cletus.”
“You shot and killed one of them,” I remind him.
“And that wouldn’t have happened if you’d listened to me.”
“Will they attack?”
Garrett shrugs one shoulder. “Let’s hope Cletus is more interested in meeting the new dustslinger, because around here blood shed means blood is owed.”
I already hate this Cletus fellow.
“I’ll do better,” I say. “I’ll learn the laws and do better next time.”
“Next time?” he asks, repeating my words. “Does that mean you’ve decided to stay?”
I want to tell him yes, but something in my gut says I need more time to think on the matter. “Let’s focus on getting through tonight. Then maybe we can talk about permanent situations.”
“Listen,” he says, shuffling closer to the stair wall and resting his sunrider hat on top of the piano. “Whatever happens tonight, stay close to me. I know you’ve got your dustslinger powers, but until you can anticipate the threat before you, your powers aren’t going to help you.”
I recall how that massive wereman pinned me to the ground last night.
“All right.” Though, Cletus, this alpha werewolf, is coming here to meet the new dustslinger, which is me.
That means I’m going to be involved one way or another.
And hiding behind Garrett isn’t a good look for the new dustslinger.
But I don’t argue with Garrett. I just nod and let him think he’s in control.
Honestly, I don’t know who has the upper hand in the upcoming squabble. Cletus or us. Maureen sure is frightened about Cletus being here and finding something she doesn’t want him to find. And Booker knows what is. Dammit. This town has too many secrets.
Garrett scrubs one hand through his wavy brown hair. “Cletus may be an outlaw, but he’s always played by the werewolf rules. Plus,” he says, with an optimistic tone, “we’ve got Booker here to testify about what actually happened last night. Who knows what story those mangy mutts told Cletus.”
“Was Persephone that strong of a force to keep them from attacking Gravers Junction?”
“She was. And not just in our little town. She rode out and checked on the ones who chose to live outside of Gravers Junction.”
“Why would they choose to live out there? With all the dangers and risks? I mean, I get why Booker can do it—he’s a werewolf and can take care of himself.
But why wouldn’t people want to live here?
” The answer scares me, and I don’t know why.
Maybe because there’s something here Maureen or Garrett hasn’t told us about that people don’t want to be a part of.
Like a cult of some kind. I stare into Garrett’s kind eyes, and my gut tells me it’s nothing like that.
He’s definitely keeping secrets, but I can’t see him willingly wanting to hurt anyone.
Maureen—eh, the jury is still out on that lady.
I lean forward over the railing and glance at the back hallway. This puts me mere inches from his face. He smells of fresh hay. Facing forward, our eyes lock and I put some distance between us. “Sorry, I was just seeing if supper’s ready.”
“You don’t have any reason to apologize.
” There’s a slight tick in his jaw, and I can’t tell why he’s so tense.
I’m about to step down the rest of the stairs when he grabs my hand.
“You don’t have to choose this life, Bex.
You can return to your farm—to a safe life where you can go outside at night and not worry about monsters or if you’ll survive another day. ”
Not pulling away from his hand, I step off the last tread and come around to him. “Why do any of you stay?”
He sucks in a deep breath through his teeth. “It’s complicated.”
“You don’t trust me?”
“I don’t know you,” he quickly clarifies.
I smile at him. “I think you know me more than most. You saw me with no clothes on—twice.”
This makes him laugh. “That Spirit of the Land did a number on you. You’re like a whole new woman!”
“You have no idea,” I tease. The last time I flirted with a man was with Levi, and oddly I don’t feel any guilt or shame about wanting more of it from Garrett. “But I still want an answer. Why do you stay in Gravers Junction?”
His laughter fades, but his smile lingers. “My family is tied to this town. This will always be my life, whether I want it or not.”
More secrets. And I know there’s no point in asking his meaning. I’m a stranger to these people. I may possess the dustslinger powers, but he’s made it clear that isn’t enough to earn their trust. “Did Cletus know about Booker and Persephone?”
“Yeah. I think everyone in Graveyard Territory knew about those two. It was also widely known that going after Booker to get to Persephone was off the table. No one wanted the wrath of the dustslinger at their front door,” Garrett admits with a sigh.
“Cletus will sympathize with Booker regarding his loss. It’s why Book never took a pack.
Choosing a commitment or a pack that’s not with other werewolves is treason in their world. ”
“Treason?” I reiterate. “What was his punishment for loving Persephone? Besides not being allowed to have a pack.”
“Death.”
My insides go rigid. I glance toward the back hall, where I know Booker sits with Maureen, eating stew. Curiosity nips at my tongue, and I can’t hold back. “Why didn’t they kill him?”
“Because Cletus and Booker are family. Their fathers were brothers.”
We walk toward the back hallway as he continues.
“Booker’s what you’d call a drifter. Those who are banished by force or leave of their own accord.
Booker chose the latter. He fell in love, and”—Garrett pauses and stares into my eyes—“their love was that deep, unconditional kind where nothing else but the other person matters. They both sacrificed a lot to be with one another. Supposedly, Cletus and Booker were close in their youth, and Cletus knows what it’s like to be forced to choose between the pack and love—because a long time ago when he had to face the same crossroads as Booker did, Cletus chose the pack. ”
I have so many questions. About pack laws, about Cletus and his love—where is she now? And about Booker’s life as a drifter. Was it worth it? What happens now that Persephone’s gone? Can he return to the pack?
“You’re a curious one, aren’t you?” Garrett asks. “I can tell you’re trying to understand all of this. Take my word, you’re going to need more than one night to absorb the inner workings of Graveyard Territory.” He pauses and then adds, “If you decide to stay.”
I stop walking and say, “So, what you’re telling me is that I’ll need to extend our visit a bit longer if I want to make an informed decision about picking up my life and moving here permanently.”
He stops too and slowly turns to me. “Yeah. That’s what I’m saying.”
We stand there, waiting for the other one to speak. It’s as if we’re both trying to figure out what the other one is trying to really say without having to say any words.
Murphy interrupts the silence by poking his head out of the back hallway. “Hey, you two coming to eat? I imagine we don’t have much time before the show starts.”
When I move to follow Murphy, Garrett grabs my arm, gently drawing me back to him.
“Bex, you should know this isn’t the kind of place to find love.
So, if you stay, you need to be prepared to give that up.
Booker gave up his family to have love. And look where that got him.
He’s alone now. And I highly doubt his family will welcome him back.
I can’t reckon I’d ever choose love, not when there’s so much to lose in these parts. ”
His words sting. Maureen warned Nina and me about his position on love and how he’s sworn it off. And here he is, telling me to my face, confirming what she said was true.
“That’s your opinion,” I say, trying not to stutter. “Sometimes a person can’t help what they feel when it comes to matters of the heart. And denying those feelings only makes you want a person even more.”
“Is that right?”
“I guess we’ll find out, won’t we,” I say with a playful tone. “Now, I’m hungry. Let’s go get some of Ruby’s stew.”