Not a Chance(22)

Duane glared hatefully at him. "I don't know. But I know I don't want anything from you."

Travis jumped to his feet. "Except to live in my house and eat my food, right?"

Dustin stood slowly, preparing to break up another fight.

"Right!" Duane was on his feet, too. The coffee table stood between him and Travis. "I figure you owe me that, you piece of shit, for abandoning me when I was a kid."

Travis shook his head and took a step forward. That coffee table had been their grandmother's and Travis would have just barreled right through it. He just didn't think beyond the moment, that was his trouble. Dustin put his hand on Travis's chest to keep him from going any further. A few moments passed while Travis fought against his own rage and Duane stood there with a hint of a smile, just daring Travis to lunge at him. And then Travis seemed to calm. Slowly he released his fists.

Finally he relaxed enough to step back. "I'm going out to the garage," he said. He turned and left.

When he was gone, Duane laughed. Dustin turned on him, grabbed him by the front of the shirt and slammed him against the wall. Duane was completely caught off guard.

"Listen to me, you little piece of shit," Dustin said. "This is your last chance, you hear me? I don't care what Travis says, this is my house too. And if you ever hit another woman again you're out of here." Dustin let go of Duane and stepped back. Duane never looked afraid of Dustin, but he looked afraid now.

"Take it easy, Dustin," Duane said, his voice quivering. "I thought you and me were getting along fine."

"Well you thought wrong," Dustin said, calmly this time. "Travis is your best friend in the world. If it weren't for him, you'd be out on your ass right now. And until you show some sign of getting your life on track, I'm going to do everything I can to talk him into turning you out. And God help you if you fuck up again. Travis will stand in front of you and defend you, but I swear to God I'll put him in the hospital if that's what I have to do to get you out of our lives. Last chance, Duane."

Then Dustin turned and went to the garage with Travis.





CHAPTER THIRTEEN



Life for Emma Harris was generally peachy keen. It was Friday morning and as per her usual schedule, she donned her Sunday skirt and blouse, arranged her hair in a loose knot at the nape of her neck, and shoved into her black wool coat and matching cloche with the little, crocheted flower on the side. She was the preacher's only child and all growing up, she and her mother used to have tea parties quite regularly. When she'd grown old enough to take on her own responsibilities with the church, she'd begun a regular, Friday tea social with her friend Shannon Murphy.

This was where she was headed now, strolling down the sidewalk along main street, occasionally slipping on a leftover patch of ice. Normally this walk would take her longer because there would be people to stop and visit with. But today was rather cold and mucky and most folks had stayed indoors. She expected a rather small turnout for tea. Which was fine. It would give her more time to socialize with her friends.

She arrived at the Sweet Nothings Café a half an hour early, draped her coat over the back of one of the chairs and the long table Shannon had set up for the event, and went into the kitchen. She paused only once to visit with an elderly couple from church who were having a late breakfast.

In the kitchen, Shannon looked up from her work, elbow deep in bread dough, and smiled. "I'm so glad it thawed out enough for brunch today," said the tall, redheaded beauty. Emma didn't often envy, but if she could have changed her appearance at all, she would model it after Shannon, who had all the elegance and presence of a Druidic queen.

"Me too," Emma said. She washed her hands in a nearby sink. Then she tied an apron around her waist. "Now. What can I do to help?"

"You can frost the cinnamon buns and prepare the tea pots." Shannon directed her to one of the long, butcher block work tables where a sheet cake pan full of freshly baked cinnamon buns was cooling. Emma leaned over, inhaled deeply and thought, who needs men?

She went straight to work icing them and then arranging them on one of Shannon's special platters that she reserved just for these events.

"Alice and Arden are coming by," Shannon said over her shoulder.

"Oh good," Emma said, only slightly half-heartedly. Arden was her best friend, but Alice tended to be...difficult.

"Don't worry," Shannon said, reading Emma's mind. "I'm spiking Alice's drink. She should be mildly pleasant." Shannon reached under the counter and pulled out a half-empty bottle of vodka.

"You've done this before, I see?" Emma asked.