Silverbow (4 page)

The most horrible sound to ever escape me deafened Greyden as he tried to hold me back. I watched my father jerk back and the Browning slowly fall from his hands as he sunk to his knees. Mr. Yates was on him quickly and the motorcycles and truck drove on as the firing ceased. People were screaming and running around. When I finally stopped screaming I ran into the yard of the Chapel and pulled my father to my lap. A fist sized hole had been blown into his chest and he was bleeding all over his white shirt and the tie he had had me tie for him that morning. I cried, knowing there was nothing I could do. His eyes were already lifeless.

Mr. Yates and three other men loaded my father and I into a white Yukon and drove us to the fence line of the Nellis Air Force Base where they took us to the 99
th
Medical Group to try and care for my father. He was already gone and I sat in a bleach white lobby crying because I knew it. Someone carried me home. I couldn’t even recall who it was. I walked up my driveway with swollen eyes and mascara stained cheeks. Greyden sat on the porch waiting for me. Rushing to help me inside, he carried me up to my bathroom and helped me clean up.

I stood shaking in front of the mirror as I looked at the blood that coated my hands. The sticky blood seemed to glitter in the old fluorescent light of the bathroom. Greyden ran a hot bath for me and helped me out of my black dress. The dress was thick with blood that could not be seen on the black fabric but it caked my skin beneath it. I’d never wear a dress again. Greyden turned me away from the mirror and I buried my face in his chest while he removed my bra. It didn’t faze either of us that he had never seen me naked before. He helped me into the water and washed my hair for me. It was the first time in my life that I felt utterly helpless.

I sat up in my bed trembling. My sudden stir woke Greyden and he placed a hand on my back. He didn’t have to ask what was wrong. He knew all about the bad dreams. Sadly they weren’t just dreams but the recollection of my reality. I pulled my knees to my chest and rested my head on them. Exhaling I closed my eyes and tightened my jaw. They never caught the murderers in the blue truck however Mr. Yates and his men were able to track down the four bikers. Even after beating them beyond recognition they were unable to get a word out of them about the guys in the truck. They vanished after that and had yet to be heard from or seen since.

My father’s ashes were stored away in the shop office. I knew he was happiest in the shop. I often found myself complaining to him about things around the shop that I needed to fix or replace. We had a small family plot about an acre back from the house. A small white fence squared off the small plot and a few stones lay engraved and cold in the ground. I didn’t visit. It wasn’t my thing.

Lifting my head I looked out the window. The moon lit the night sky and a stiff breeze rattled a loose pane. I’d get around to fixing it one day but it was honestly comforting. It had been loose since I could remember. This had been my grandma’s room and then my father’s. After his death, I took up the master bedroom and packed all his things away. They were collecting dust in the attic with boxes of other family keepsakes now. I stretched back out and sunk back into the sheets. Friday was over the horizon and the shop would be closed. I had a few errands to run but I planned on sleeping in. I listened to the rattling pane until I drifted off again.

CHAPTER 3

I rolled my eyes through barely open lids and pulled the blue sheet over my head. The sun poured through the big window in the room and violated my slumber. I peeked at the black alarm clock. Big red numbers told me it was almost eleven. I had managed to sleep in, good for me. Greyden had already gotten up and headed into the desert to work the fence line. I whipped the sheet off of me and sat on the edge of the bed. I enjoyed the cool hardwood floor on my bare feet. Slippers were overrated. I pulled myself from the bed and headed towards the bathroom. After brushing my teeth and all else that goes with waking up first thing in the morning, I headed back to my room to make the bed and get dressed.

I slipped into a newer pair of Levi’s and a white long sleeved shirt with three buttons at the neck. I left them unbuttoned and grabbed my necklace off my dresser top. I reached behind my neck and blindly clasped the thin silver chain without a problem. A tiny silver rose hung daintily from it. Pops had given it to me when I turned twenty three. It was the last birthday present I ever received from him.

I brushed my hair and pulled it back under a red and white bandana. I wanted to take Pops’ bike out today and that would require a helmet. There wasn’t a helmet law in this town, hell there were hardly any laws, but I wasn’t stupid. I grabbed a pair of socks and headed down the narrow staircase. The house was quiet and the sun lit up every room. I sat at the kitchen table and put on my socks and a pair of black boots. After lacing up, I headed for the back door in the laundry room and snatched a black leather jacket off a hook on the wall. I slipped out the door, slid into the jacket and removed the keys from its pocket

My boots were heavy as I crossed the yard towards the garage. I may not park my truck in there but I did keep Dad’s motorcycle locked up in it. I shoved one of the garage doors up and rolled out the black 2000 Harley Davidson Road King Classic. After locking up the shop, I tugged on my black half shell helmet and fired her up. I headed into the main part of town and enjoyed the long straight roads. There never seemed to be more than two cars at a time on any stretch of the road in this area. I have no idea how the people in big cities deal with traffic.

Five miles later I arrived at what most called “the strip”. A small grocery store, a diner called “Shady’s”, leather shop, tobacco shop and a small drug store with a little bit of everything strung out down one side of the street. On the other side there were a few odds and ends shops and a large building that actually housed what little schooling there was in town. The kids had to go somewhere. I spent every single year of school in that building. I was so happy when my senior year rolled around and I knew I would never have to walk back into that brick bore as a student again.

I parked the bike outside of the grocery store and removed my helmet. I pulled off the jacket and shoved it into one of the big saddle bags. It was in the seventies already and I always enjoyed the crisp air. I hooked my keys to my belt loop and made sure my wallet was in the back pocket of my jeans. I leaned into the store door, opening it and waving to Mrs. Yates who sat behind the counter on a stool. She was a pretty woman; an adulteress whore, but a pretty woman. Her raven hair was always styled perfectly and big like the women in the raunchy magazines. Go figure.

Today she was wearing a tight black shirt and jeans that looked spray painted on. Sitting with her legs crossed, tits perked high and a magazine in her lap. She thumbed through the pages as she chewed on her lower wine stained lip and hardly loaned her hazel gaze to me as I entered. Mr. Yates was still a bottle abuser and I was pretty sure she had stopped fucking the preacher and was now seeing the math and science teacher from across the street, Mr. Hines.

Mr. Hines was in his early thirties and quite a looker. He was average height, lean and muscular with short stylish brown hair and baby blue eyes. He was the type of guy that your mom would try to set you up with because he was a nice boy. Then you’d get him home and he’d be a freak in the bedroom. I would know but that was before Greyden and I. Our fling only lasted for a couple of weeks. He was too book-smart and lacked in the common sense department. I guess I preferred street smart over a know-it-all.

I picked up a couple of items and kept my collection small so I could get it home on the bike. While I was in the back of the small store Mr. Hines sauntered through the doors and confirmed my suspicions. I smirked as I listened to their quiet sweet talk and he leaned against the counter and watched her Dolly Parton implants more than he did her eyes. Mrs. Yates seemed to forget that I was there when she picked up his hand and wrapped her mouth around his finger all the way down to the third knuckle and slowly pulled it free. I fought back the vomit and saved her from mopping.

Clearing my throat I approached them and their little over-the-counter affair halted. Mr. Hines stepped out of my way and to the side with a smile.

“Dakota, you look well,” he said and flashed his charming smile. He always greeted me like this because when I grew tired of him I told him I was sick until he got a clue and stopped calling.  I arched a brow at him and fished my wallet out while Mrs. Yates rang up my items and stared us both down.

“Never been better, Adam. Looks like you found a new playmate. Have you shown her your rocket science trick yet,” I asked and smirked at him. His smile faded and Mrs. Yates snatched the twenty dollar bill out of my hand that I had plucked from my leather wallet. I turned to look at her and gushed sarcastically, “He cums all over the place, it’s a grand ole time!” She dropped my change on the counter and gave me a look that could kill an army. I wasn’t scared of this bitch and she wouldn’t do shit or I would tell her husband what I knew. I collected my bag and sauntered out the door merrily.

After loading the saddle bags with my groceries I glanced back at the shop to see the “Be Back in Five” sign taped to the window and the door locked. Shaking my head, I crossed the street and entered a small clothing store. A good friend of mine and her family owned the shop and I came in frequently for cheap shirts I could ruin in the shop and new jeans when I needed them. I wasn’t the town’s fashonista. This town was lucky to see me in anything pink when I felt like dressing nice and I would still be wearing jeans and boots.

Ashley was in the back folding shirts and sticking price tags on them when the door chimed. She greeted me with wide brown eyes and a huge smile. Her chestnut angled bob swung at chin length as she rounded some shelves and hurried across the shop to hug me. I hadn’t come into the store to see her in over two weeks. I guess she missed me. I glanced down at her globe for a belly and smiled up at her.

“I’m ready to pop, I know,” she said and placed her hands on her pregnant stomach. She was married to Rich DeHaven whose family owned DeHaven Tobacco up the road. They were a good pair, I thought. She was the typical happy go lucky cheerleader type and he was a dumb but loving jock. He had played football for the Nevada Wolf Pack at the University of Nevada for four years and then blew his knee at his last game. He finished up his business degree on crutches and came home to marry his hometown sweetheart. Ashley worked at the shop half of the week and helped out with the little ones at the school the other half. She was going to be a great mom, I was sure of that.

“Whats on sale,” I smiled and glanced around her. She smiled, appreciating the lack of baby talk. I knew she had to be tired of it by now. Leading me back to the table she had been working at, she showed me the discounts and I collected a few shirts for Greyden and myself. We spent almost forty-five minutes sharing a little gossip and then I checked out. After hugging her neck again and making my way out to my bike, I was on the road.

Not wanting to go home just yet, I headed for the bar. In route, I passed the inn and thought of the stranger. There wasn’t a blue Chevelle in the parking lot at the inn…but there was one at the bar when I arrived.

CHAPTER 4

I leaned into the heavy door with my hip as I pulled my jacket off and made a point not to look for Murphy as I spilled into the nearly empty bar. There were a few lunchtime regulars at the bar and Laney was drying glasses. She offered a smile and then nodded her head in the direction of my table in the back. I already knew who would be sitting there waiting. I honestly found myself a little pissed off that he was making himself at home on my turf. One conversation and he was ready to be pals. I wrinkled my nose and hung my jacket on a rack by the front door. Turning, my boots led me to my table and Murphy sat smirking, waiting.