Snow Blind - Lori G. Armstrong [36]
On a whim I opened the door to my former bedroom. Frilly yellow curtains, a dressmaker’s dummy, two sewing machines sat side by side. No sign of my Winger, Poison, or Def Leppard posters. Nothing of me remained anywhere in the house; it was as if I’d never lived here.
Back in the kitchen, while making yet another plate of sandwiches, I discovered a bottle of brandy. I knocked back four shots and nearly wept with gratitude for the immediate dulling of my senses. It didn’t last near long enough.
121
After supper, out of the blue, Dad said, “Whatever happened to Ben’s kid?”
“Went back to Arizona. Abita got married and her husband adopted him.”
“Huh. Did all that happen before or after you shot Ben’s sister?”
What the hell? I knew he didn’t care about Jericho or that I’d killed Leticia. He just wanted to piss with me. I had a mind to let him to see where it’d go. “After.”
“You heard from her?”
“No.” I doubted I would.
“Then that injun gal was smarter than she looked. Smarter than you. Ain’t you afraid the Standing Elk family will be gunnin’ for you for revenge for killin’
their cash cow?”
“Why would you ask that?”
“No secret she was fundin’ their place. The rest of
’em make poor ranchers. Now that she’s dead, it’s goin’
up for auction next month.”
“I hadn’t heard.”
“Didn’t what you done to her go against what you was crusadin’ for? Justice?”
“Justice was served. I killed her in self-defense.”
“Maybe that injun family don’t think so. Maybe they think you got off because you’re white and no one cares about another dead injun. And you used to work for the sheriff. Maybe he was coverin’ for you and let you get away with murder.” He permitted a cruel twist of his mean lips. “See how this works?”
122
“How what works?”
“Breakin’ the law. You, killin’ like it ain’t no big deal. First that guy you dusted with your bow. Then her. Who’s next? Even if you get around the police, there ain’t no escapin’ the fact you’re breakin’ the Lord’s law by killin’ whenever the mood strikes you.”
That killing mood was striking me pretty hard right now. I couldn’t point out the kill shot with my bow wasn’t done by my hand. I’d have to live with that lie forever. “Have you ever killed anybody, Dad?”
“Like I’d tell you, Miss Pee Eye.”
“No seriously. Have you ever looked someone in the eye and watched the life bleed out of them?”
“If I said I had? What then? Would you mount an investigation?”
What the hell kind of paranoid answer was that?
“Why? You have something to hide?”
He scowled. “You’d like nuthin’ better than to see me in jail no matter what.”
“Shut up. Nothing changes with you. You get bored and pick fights. Do you do this with Trish, DJ, and Brittney? Or am I just the lucky one?”
No answer was my answer. I skirted his chair and entered the kitchen to knock back another jelly glass full of brandy.
But he wasn’t done goading me. “Not surprised you found the booze. Can’t live without your vices.”
“Nope.” Just for shits and giggles, I poured another shot. 123
“Brittney told me about the tattooed freak who’s at your place all the time. You embarrassed to introduce me to the spic who’s warmin’ your bed?”
“Yep. You’ve caused me enough embarrassment to last a lifetime.” I drained the brandy in one long, delicious swallow.
“That ain’t what I meant.”
“I know. But I’m long past needing Daddy’s approval for what or who I do.”
“You think your mama would be proud of that
smart mouth?”
I whirled around to face him. “Gee, this has been great. I’m guilted into coming here in the middle