Julie R. Neidlinger: Lone Prairie Blog

Blogathon 2006: Chapter 4.

written by Julie R. Neidlinger 2 comments link this post

Lily appeared out of nowhere, tight up against the counter where Dove stood, about to think aloud on how long he'd be staying.

"Keep on moving. There's nothing for you here in this town," she said. Lowering her voice, she motioned gently towards the table with the two men, who had stopped talking by this time. "I stay because I got nothin' else."

"That so."

The barkeep moved away, putting distance between himself and any direction the conversation might go.

"My mother didn't have the heart for this place and proved it by up and dying. My father had all the heart in the world until someone shoved a knife through it."

"What kind of knife?" Dove asked.

Lily looked at him angrily. "What does that have to do with anything?"

"What'd the law do about it?"

Lily snorted. "Sheriff Bowdrie doesn't do much about much. Bowdrie's law is all about keepin' the peace for himself and not worryin' about anyone else."

Dove motioned the barkeep for another drink. "Don't you worry about me, Lily. I'm just passin' through."

Lily quickly got back to work, trying to shrug off the suggestion she had been worried. "That's good to hear, stranger, because this is the town for passin' through. Only the strong shall live, and we're all filled up on weak here in Crossfire Trail."

With a toss of her hair, Lily walked away and left Dove thinking about the pain in his own heart.

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Labels: blogathon