Wisp of a Thing: A Novel of the Tufa (Tufa Novels) by Alex Bledsoe

Author:Alex Bledsoe [Bledsoe, Alex]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Tom Doherty Associates
Published: 2013-06-18T06:00:00+00:00

17

Vanover got to his feet, and although the music inside the barn didn’t stop, several big, grim-faced men emerged as if they’d somehow heard Rockhouse arrive. They lined up on either side of Vanover.

“Well, butter my ass and call me a biscuit,” Rockhouse said. His hair was disheveled, and spittle hung in his beard. If he was intimidated, it didn’t show. “Y’all got quite a shindig going here.”

“Just turn around and go back the way you came, Mr. Hicks,” Vanover said. “None of us want any trouble.”

“Hell, me neither, boys.” Rockhouse closed the station wagon’s door. A couple of the men jumped at the sound. Rob couldn’t figure out why this old man made these big, strong farmers so tense, but they all looked like they expected violence to erupt at any moment. “I’m just here to fetch my nephew home before he gets into any trouble. I told him not to come up here, but he’s got a new city girlfriend and wants to show her off.”

Without taking his eyes off Rockhouse, Vanover said, “Jim, go fetch Stoney Hicks. I saw him polecattin’ around inside earlier.” One of the big men nodded and went inside.

Bliss grabbed Rob’s arm and pulled him into the shadows near the edge of the forest. “I thought you said Rockhouse never came here,” he whispered.

“He never has before,” Bliss said, her voice tight. Of all the times to be saddled with a non-Tufa. “Something’s up. Just stay here and be quiet, okay? This doesn’t concern you.”

Bliss strode out of the darkness and stood in front of Vanover, facing Hicks. The beefy hill men looked visibly relieved when they saw her. Rockhouse belched a little, then squinted at her. “That you, Bliss?”

“You know it is, Rockhouse,” she said, folding her arms.

Her presence took away a bit of his bluster, and he stood quietly until the side door opened and Jim led two people out. One was the tall, handsome young man Rob had noticed earlier. He held the hand of the girl behind him, and when the light struck her face, Rob saw that it was indeed Stella Kizer.

Before he even consciously realized it, he stalked out of the shadows. “Hey!” he yelled. “Stella Kizer!”

She turned toward his voice. Her face looked pale and splotchy, as if she’d been crying. She seemed to recognize Rob, and opened her mouth to speak.

Before she could, Stoney said simply, “C’mon, Stel.” She lowered her eyes and turned away.

“Hey,” Rob said as he reached the group, “I’m a friend of the lady’s husband, and I’d like a word with her.”

Bliss grabbed him by the arm. “Stay out of this!” she hissed.

He twisted out of her grasp. “Her husband’s worried sick about her, and the cops are looking all over for her. I figure the least she could do is tell me what the hell she thinks she’s doing so I can pass it on to them.”

Stella looked stricken, torn between obeying her new paramour and talking to Rob. Stoney opened the back passenger door.

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