Little Boy Lost by J. D. Trafford

Author:J. D. Trafford [Trafford, J. D.]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
ISBN: 9781503943940
Publisher: Thomas & Mercer
Published: 2017-07-31T19:00:00+00:00

“Get him out of here.” I pointed at Buster, who was standing on the far side of the parlor with Lincoln. “Can’t hardly look at him. Can’t believe you brought him here.”

Buster stood up a little taller. The wrestler’s hands had turned into fists. He was ready to fight, if necessary, but Lincoln patted him on the back and guided him toward the door.

Annie watched from a chair in the corner. I couldn’t figure why she’d conspire with two people who were ready and willing to destroy her career. I looked at her with disgust. “You invite him?”

“Of course not.” She looked at Lincoln and then back at me. “I’m here because your mother called me this morning. She was worried about you.” She looked over at Lincoln. “She was worried about what you were going to do to your brother.”

“My mom’s a smart lady.” I watched as Lincoln leaned out the doorway, whispered something to Buster, and shut the parlor door. To him, I said, “A phone call would have been nice.” I turned away, shaking my head. “When is an ambush ever a good idea?”

I stared at the large painting on the main wall of the downstairs parlor, a dramatic image of a farm on a hill by Saint Louis artist Joe Jones from 1936. It was as if the land were lifting the farmstead up to the gods as a sacrifice, just as a storm rolled in.

I lost myself in the painting, allowing myself to calm down.

Lincoln and Annie waited me out, until finally I said to Lincoln, “I guess I have to listen to you now.” I kept staring at the painting. “But I’m only doing it for Mom and Dad.”

“You gonna sit down with me or what?”

I took a breath and turned around.

Lincoln was now on the couch. Annie was still in her corner chair.

“Suppose I will.” I walked over and sat in the chair across from Lincoln, still cold to the situation. “You called the meeting.”

Lincoln looked at Annie and then back at me. “Brother, we gotta—”

I held up my hand. “You gonna brother me right out the gate? That’s your approach? Where have you been for the past month? Sending Buster out to follow me—probably him in the alley. Blackmailing Annie. How about you start with an apology?” I pointed at him. “Apologize.”

“Ain’t nobody send Buster out to follow you, OK?” Lincoln looked at Annie. “OK?” When neither of us said anything back, he sighed. “I apologize.” He waited a moment, checking on my response. “How’s that?” Lincoln waited another beat and then backtracked. “But I didn’t tell Buster to do anything.” I started to interrupt, but Lincoln talked over me. “That’s why I brought him. That’s why he was here, and you can call him later if you want. He’ll tell you.”

I dismissed it, even if it was true. I wasn’t going to let my brother go that easy. “He’ll say whatever you want him to say. You’re unbelievable.”

Lincoln rolled his eyes. “You want to talk or not?” He held out his hands in surrender.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.