know. I was pretty shook-up. Bet you were too.”
Jeremy nodded.
“So I told her I’d go hunting trolls with her from now till doomsday, if that’s what she wanted. When I said that, she took holda my hand and got me into the shower stall with her. I figured ol’ Sneaky Pete was about to have the time of his life, but what she does is take the butcher knife to my hand.” Raising his right hand, he pointed out a small pale scar on his palm.
Jeremy raised his own hand so Cowboy could see the tiny mark left by the razor blade.
“Not much of a cut,” Cowboy remarked. “Can’t hardly see it.”
“Sure bled, though.”
“Mine too. So then she cut herself.”
“Down there?”
“Fuckin’-A right, down there.”
“And made you hold it.”
“You betcha. Held my hand right against her twat and she says, ‘Your blood’s in me, my blood’s in you. We’re blood lovers.’ Not blood brothers, like that Injun thing you hear about, but blood lovers.”
“Said the same thing to me. Pretty much. So then what? Did you make it with her?”
Cowboy’s eyes widened. “Did you?”
“No.”
He looked relieved. “Me either. But she kinda hinted it might go that way if I stuck with her and kept on going after trolls. Don’t know if she really meant it. Hasn’t happened yet.”
“You don’t think it was just a lie, do you?”
“Who knows? I keep waiting. Maybe I just haven’t proved myself enough.”
“Has she done it with any of the other guys?”
“Nate. But I guess they were doing it before, so it didn’t have nothing to do with the pact. If she’s put out for any of the other guys, I haven’t heard about it. But I know she did the ‘blood-lover’ thing with ’em.”
“Maybe she wouldn’t do it because of Nate.”
Cowboy grinned. “Now, that’s a dandy thought. Hope you’re right. Maybe our turn’s coming up.”
“Now that Nate’s out of the way.”
“Guy must have rocks in his head, dumping her like that. We’re all itching to put it to her, and he’s got it made, and he throws it all away. Just ’cause he’s got his shorts in a knot over killing a damn troll.”
“Yeah,” Jeremy said.
He thought: That’s not why at all. But hell if I’m going to spill it.
The truth was his secret, his edge, and his alone.
Nobody gets to tell Tanya about the banjo girl but me.
“Are we meeting tonight?” he asked.
“Yup. Sure as shootin’, Duke. Same time, same place.”
That’s too long to wait, he thought. Much too long. I have to tell her now.
Thirty-three
“Look who we’ve got here,” Joan said. She didn’t sound very happy to see the boys.
Dave stayed at her side as they crossed the boardwalk toward the pair. Both kids had corn dogs and were munching and talking while they strolled along. Joan stepped in front of them. They looked startled at first, then came up with nervous smiles.
“How are you fellows doing?” she asked.
“Reckon I’m all in one piece,” said the kid in the cowboy hat. The side of his head was bandaged. He wore a skimpy swimsuit and no shirt, as if he were showing off the wounds on his torso. The cuts looked a little raw, and a lot like the one Dave had seen that morning in the mirror. “I sure want to thank you,” the kid told Joan. He glanced at Dave. “You too. I was about two steps short of the ol’ stewpot.”
“Glad we could help,” Joan said.
“How’s the ear?” Dave asked, trying to remember the guy’s name.
“Well, he’s stitched on good and tight.”
“You really took care of that guy,” the other kid said. Wayne. Something Wayne. He looked in pretty good shape except for the faint shadow of a bruise on his forehead. “No kidding. The way you got him in the chin, looked like you were going for a field goal.”
Joan’s face went red. Dave knew it wasn’t a glow of embarrassed pride. “I’m just glad things worked out,” she said.
“So, what’s the story on Chingachgook and his pal?” asked the one whose ear had been taken off. “They cooling their heels in the hoosegow?”
“They’re both in custody.” Dave said. “One’s still in the hospital.”
“Hope it’s the one tried to gobble my ear.”
“It is,” Dave said.
“Man, I just bet,” Wayne said, looking at Joan with awe in his eyes. “I thought he was a goner, the way you nailed him. That was really cool.”
“There was nothing cool about it.” She turned to the other kid and glared at him. “I’m glad