Deceptions (Cainsville 3)

The secluded location is an aspect of being a good neighbor, and not the only one they try to fulfill. If one of their neighbors is putting up a fence or hauling a tractor out of the mud, Don sends a few guys to help out. An elderly couple lives down the road, the old woman caring for her Alzheimer's-stricken husband. Don has someone check in with them twice a week to bring hot food and see if they need anything done around the house. That's not because he's a misunderstood nice guy--it's because he knows the wisdom of being a good neighbor.

At eight on a Tuesday evening, the place wasn't exactly hopping. Don, Wallace, and a few others were drinking beer, talking "shop"--for the auto shops they run, that is. Ricky joined in as I nursed my beer and listened.

As the clock closed in on nine, more guys began trickling in. Some girls, too. Well, women more than girls. The only one under thirty was Lily, whom I'd met the first time I was here.

The women, including Lily's mother, were hard, passed from guy to guy, desperate for attention or protection or something life hadn't otherwise given them. I wanted to take nineteen-year-old Lily aside and have a chat about life choices. But I've worked long enough in shelters to know that impulse was wasted on someone like her. At least it was if it came from someone like me.

The fact she had the hots for Ricky really didn't help. He knew it and had made it very, very clear that she didn't have a hope in hell of climbing on his bike. It was the same attitude he extended to all the women: respectful and polite but distant. Don was that way, too, and Wallace from the interactions I saw. It was a subtle hint for the women to take their hopes and dreams elsewhere, with the knowledge that "elsewhere" probably only meant a gang that wouldn't treat them as well, and in light of that, maybe it was best not to make them feel too unwelcome.

CJ showed up right before nine. When Ricky had said he'd be leaving me with CJ and Wallace, I'd thought he meant informally. But no, there was an actual handoff. He made it as casual as possible--"You guys keep Liv entertained while I'm gone?"--but it was a clear message for everyone to hear. Then Ricky took my beer can and murmured to CJ, "Get her something from the cabinet, and don't let her tell you she's fine with beer."

"What'll you have?" CJ asked when Ricky was gone.

"Tequila?"

"Got it. How about entertainment? You're not going to want to spend the next hour talking to two old coots, so pick your poison. Darts, poker, pool . . ."

"I'm okay at poker. Better at darts. I think I've played pool twice in my life, and both times I was drunk. It didn't help my aim. I would love to learn someday, but I won't make you give lessons."

"Happy to. Your choice, then." He motioned at the dartboard. "Play to your strengths. Or learn something new and risk making a fool of yourself."

"Well, if you put it that way . . ." I walked over and picked up a pool cue.

CJ grinned. Wallace only shook his head.

"You rack them up. I'll get the drinks." CJ glanced at me. "You know how to rack them up?"

"Nine balls and a convenient triangle to place them in."

"Good girl." He walked to the bar and held up two bottles for me to choose from. When I did, he said, "You like power over price tag, huh, Livy?"

"It's Liv," Wallace rumbled, his first words since Ricky had left.

I shrugged. "Liv, Livy, Olivia . . . whatever works."

"How about Eden?" said a voice from across the room.

We all turned. The guy who'd spoken sat at one of the tables, with Lily on his knee. He wasn't anyone I'd noticed before--maybe late twenties, making him one of the younger guys in the room. Dark-haired. Smirking.

"What'd you say?" CJ delivered my tequila shot and kept walking, advancing on the guy.

"I asked if she ever goes by Eden. Valid question."

Lily snickered. She stopped at dual looks--one from CJ and one from her mother--and she slid off the guy'

s lap.

"Yeah?" CJ said. "Here's a valid question. What the fuck is your name? 'Cause I don't think you've been here long enough for me to remember it. Which means you haven't been here long enough to open your mouth. Especially if you're going to ask stupid, invalid questions."

The guy lifted his hands. "Sorry. I was just teasing the girl."

"The girl?" CJ stopped behind the guy, who had the sense to rise and face him, his posture submissive--shoulders down, gaze lowered, a dumbass smile on his face. "Who is the girl? And be very, very careful how you answer that."

"She's, um, Ricky's old lady."

"And who is Ricky?"

The guy paused, and I sensed disrespect in that pause. After a moment he said, "He's the road captain, right?" A self-deprecating laugh. "Sorry, I guess I'm not ready for the membership exam, huh? I'm still getting used to the titles."