New Birds

Chancy's Place Part 34

Chancy swept a small hill of clothing aside so Tilly could take a seat on the smaller of the two sofas. He then lit a few lamps and set them about wherever he found space. The steel walls of the trailer reflected these spots of soft yellow, spilling a little on to the corduroy covered sofas. The material worn so thin in places the grey cotton batten showed through.

"I have more stew if you're so inclined," Chancy said.

She glanced over at the glow of the hot pot, and shook her head. Louis went straight over to help himself to a bowl.

Tilly removed her poncho and then her holster, looking about for a place to sit them. Chancy had every surface piled high. There were four small tables that divided the front of the trailer from the back, but there wasn't a single speck of visible space on any of them.

In behind the tables sat two army style cots, with criss-cross metal legs and sagging canvas surfaces.

"Lady Anne might like a little stew," Tilly said, setting the gun and its holster at her feet.

"Not so sure I want to give her any," Chancy said. "I've started this pot quite a while back and I'm willing to say a lot of its content is still stork. I know she don't care being that she's marabou, but it don't sit right with me. I have mealworm though." He went over to a large green Rubbermaid container, removed a pile of wire and two snap traps from the top, before opening it to scoop up a handful of the golden-brown larvae. As he carried it out the door to give to the bird, Tilly heard him say to Cameron, "Come in and get some stew. At least come sit with us. Allison's gone. Nothing left to do for her. Fine to grieve but we don't need you shutting down. You said you came back here to right this pickle. So, right it. If you really think that's possible."

"I'm not shutting down. I'm thinking," Cameron said.

Chancy paused before reentering and said over his shoulder, "Fair enough. But why don't you think out loud inside. We can add to it that way. I know I got a few things needing saying. The boy will let us know if anyone is heading up here."

Cameron followed him in, carrying an empty white bucket. He turned it over and sat on its bottom. "You're not worried one of Brice's men might spot him?" he asked, shifting his gun holster a little before resting his elbows on his knees.

"Nah, he's like a goddamn ghost when he wants to be," Chancy sat down next to Tilly, finally picking up his bowl, which he had placed on the sofa's arm when they had first showed up at his door. Tilly's stomach turned a little from the stew's swirling mud brown consistency, but she had to admit it didn't smell half bad.

"And if the town don't mention this place, they are not apt to find it. I trust that they won't. Hopefully, after a night sleep, you might all rethink this fool's errand of yours." Chancy slurped back a spoonful of stew. A little of it landed on his chin, which he wiped away with the back of his hand. He was playing at calm. Chancy always did. But Tilly was sure the situation had him worried . Somewhere under all that gruff.

Cameron directed his next question to Tilly. "What are the odds that Brice heads up to the protection of the ark for the night once Bon and Wells are discovered?"

She shrugged. "Low. I got the impression he didn't want to stay any longer than necessary up there. Just enough to run us off and settle something with Jason. I think his silver tongue is best served at the camp. More time to sway and warp the narrative for his captive audience."

Tilly ran her hand up and down her opposite arm. "Unless, he found Samantha. She'd be his last reason for remaining around here, I believe. Especially if the town has already signed on. He'll just have Jason put things back in order. Make things look all legit."