The first flames of an upturned smile began to burn at the kindling of Ava’s story. His imagination filling in all the inadvertent blanks between what has transposed, bringing humor to what he assumed was going to be a truculent morning. Sight of a belligerent Ava rollin’ and rockin’ in the back seat of a towncar handcuffed was all he needed for the pearls of titanium to start showing. A little slice of teeth pulled crooked as he kept downward, an futile attempt at hiding his relish at her misfortune. It was pretty funny after all; in a gallows humors sort of manner. ” He sure does have a way of doing that though effective, lacks the softer contingence of most normal folk.”Placement of coffee mugs at the homestead table was enough indication of hospitality for Boyd to abandon his wall post. Regret of abrupt movements not quite as substantial as when he had first awoken, the shuffle jousting the all-too-small skull to something more akin to a dull thud rather than a air horn. Taking the backing of a chair in hand, the tailored groove dowel sitting nicely within the alignment of his fingers it was pulled along the grid of tile. Slow decent accented with the pop of oxygenated tissue and shifting bone had Boyd finally reach the folk pattered cushioning, tied delicately to each supporting peg in ribbon.
“Thank you—I’ll just take it as is if you don’t mind.” Reaching out to loop a crooked finger through the porcelain grip a partnering hand reached out to embrace the walls of the cup. Leather therein of accursed palm softening at the radiant heat, easing tension at the indulgence. It was then when Boyd finally saw the mangled cluster of mud treated scrapes and cuts. A shearing of superficial skin due to unsteady body making clumsy intercourse with a gravel pit just outside. The back of hand a smearing of red on grey, swiped up in bristle collections overturning the canvas to associate with cuff. Discolor the delicate blue thread by painting a expressionist portrait of macabre animal matter and clay.
Churning over Ava’s inquiry while rotating the cup in place the position of his hand migrated, from wall to lip to mouth where it smothered. “To be perfectly honest with you Ava, the state I was in last night, I wasn’t entirely sure where I was goin’. It was reflexive, muscle memory, like when you close your eyes and you just take that gall at your back and you end up where you will…cause ultimately come down to it, movin’ from the destination point was all that mattered.” Dragging back the coffee so that it was the commissioned as the first line of defense against retaliation, he held it close as an object to fixate on.
“I made some bad decisions lately Ava, oversaw a congregation not really my own…believed in a crusade of proportions worthy of the most pious of erected pulpits. Took for granted a gift, saw fit to share it in the most manipulative of ways. -Mistakes that are ulceratin’ mighty fierce at my core, drillin’ through and bringin’ everything decent down with it.” Sipping at the flat membrane of the cup, the saline flush of the coffee’s essence became a stable clearing. Filter out the haze that collected in the receptacles of his mind by drawing deep and savoring the bitterness. Body desperate to collect any available hydration a groan of satisfaction had lids become heavy while shoulders dipped in rest.
“…Maybe last night all I was lookin’ for was the last particle of decency in an indecent world.”
Glossa’s tip traced lower pout, his smirk sent glistening pale blues into revolution. “Ain’t funny, Boyd,” softened, flippant voice corrected and a clearing of the woman’s throat followed. Svelte digits tucked damp honey strands behind her ear. It was an amusing array to dream up, she knew that, but with the outlaw taking enjoyment in hearing her small misfortune, she couldn’t hold off the pale pink shade cascading over high cheekbones. Sharing that particular tale with Boyd wasn’t meant for his entertainment, but to make a point. Gravitating teal agateware to rounded lips, she steered focus to mind potential scolding within primary sips.
“He’s just lucky he caught me sideways,” she uttered presumptuously, scantily audible scoff tracking. Ava wasn’t sure what she’d ever seen in Raylan Givens. He may have been tall, dark, handsome and a respectable man of the law, but ultimately, he lacked in compassion and understanding. He was a man filled with hate and anger for all the wrong reasons. She was drawn more to the figment of the safety and security he could possibly provide her than anything else. Chronological point in which the Marshal cantered gallantly back into her life undoubtedly explicated her infatuation.
Lakes shadowed forests, descending upon callously abused dactyls with keen perusal. Mental note recorded, the retrieval of peroxide and cotton swabs were now penciled into daily agenda. “You’re welcome.” Lips curved as she reclaimed leaning post, maintaining comfortable space between herself and him. “For a minute there I was beginnin’ to think those words weren’t in that fancy vocabulary o’yours,” roguish taunt fell from lips and coy smile widened in flash of pearly whites. She would take it where she could for the time being. Unfortunately, quasi heartfelt moment shared slunk back hastily into darker, pertinent matters at hand and she perceived attention wholly undivided. His answer would be crucial to outcome.
Drinking in each carefully chosen word, head inclined. Wasn’t until the room went quiet she’d said her piece, “Heard ‘bout that.” Often mistook for a delicate creature of naivety, Ava was not blind to the dangerous beast he kept expertly caged within. Gossip mongering townsfolk couldn’t help flapping their gums and rumored wrongdoings the Crowder family partook in invariably found their ways to receptive ears. Lifting brim of tumbler to her lips, minute splashes of murky saccharinity roused dulled senses. Weight shifted and long lower limb crossed over gliding joint cushioning vertical leather toe box. “Far’s I’m aware, you’ve been makin’ bad decisions since I known you, Boyd.” Words were harsh and blunt, but who was he trying to kid?
Tiers smartened to resolve. Despite the art of his confession, she was not prepared to grant him the reconciliation sought for his sins. “There are plenty of other decent people in Harlan county,” setting mug aside attention reverted to her guest, “I hope you’ll excuse me if I find that a little hard to believe.” Right eye winced; a reflection of cynicism. Praising the southern belle was good and well under normal circumstances, but it was difficult to trust hospitable nature was solely deciding factor in desperado’s chosen destination. “So, what’re your plans, Boyd?” Visage swayed, sideswiping feathered strands of palomino forelock aside. “Just gonna.. keep on comin’ back here every time you find yourself in trouble?” Glided brows arched. “Cause you know I won’t be havin’ none of that.”
Glissading white and gold cigarette box into her possession, pad of thumb flicked lid open and sapphires fell to inventory. She had two cigarettes left, which meant a trip into town was imminent at some point. Nestling smoke between lips, arms folded over chest and elongated sigh escaped her lips. Tense with anxiety, Ava didn’t want to relive Bowman all over again. Well as she knew Boyd, she didn’t know him on a personal profoundness, which left her internally expostulating moral sense. She could feel twitching heartstrings manifested by melancholy realization. Poor decisions lead him down path of trial and tribulations, but the verity was, by the end of the road, there was nothing to show for his efforts.
These were hard times for the people of Harlan, and desperate times beaconed desperate measures. She agnized creating something out of nothing was far from easy, didn’t take a genius to figure that one out Traces of virulence in phonation passed washed away with mollifying principles. “You really ain’t got nowhere else to go, huh?” Voice cooed to him in console. Head tilted and deep oceans relented, reuniting with his as warm glance lingered to accompany comfortable silence imbuing kitchen for as long as she’d allow.
“Hand me my lighter?”
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