River's End

Chapter 3-2

Chance crossed the trailer and shoved a heap of clothes off the couch. He sat, sprawled with his legs open and arms folded as he glared at her.

“Mom really dead?”

“Yes. She died a few weeks ago.”

He didn’t express any trace of sorrow. Or ask how she died. He didn’t care. He never did. About her. Or their shared mother.

“Why did you come here?”

Erin glanced down and tapped her toe. “Brian was eager for me to join him in ways I would never. When I refused you can imagine his reaction. I didn’t dare risk trying to get inside the apartment. I left half my stuff and took off.”

“Apple didn’t fall far, did it?”

“Like you didn’t either?”

He smiled and goose bumps broke out over her arms. She hated him. So much so, it suffocated her to think of them being anything alike. They were not. They could never be alike. But she needed his help; and therefore, had to rein in her disdain of him and keep it in check. She vowed if she ever got over this, she would never subject herself to the mercy of her brother again. Someday, she would not have to rely on the kindness of others ever again.

Chance looked her over. “Real fuckable girl now, aren’t you?”

She looked away as the chills spread over her. Who said things like that to his own sister? He laughed.

“Guys forget they have brains around a girl like you, huh? Joey looked like you could ask for the keys to his truck and he’d happily hand them over. Must come in handy.”

“Not like you’d think.”

“Except Jack. No. Old man Rydell could see right through you, couldn’t he? Don’t sweat it, he don’t like me none either. Hate the tight-laced prick, but he ain’t dumb.”

“How is it you work here then?”

Chance smiled and scratched his crotch. Erin looked away. She opened the mini-blind behind her. Sunlight reflected the particles of dust floating in the air.

“Joey hired me. He owes me.”

“What could Joey possibly owe you for?”

“I saved his dumb a*s life.”

Hearing that Chance had done anything decent in his life actually surprised Erin. “How?”

“Awhile back, he rolled his truck off one of the roads. I got him out.”

Chance had not only done something decent, but courageous too? “That’s amazing. You just happened along on him?”

“Nah, we’d been out drinking.”

“So you knew Joey before that?”

He smiled. “Drifting around gets tiresome. Finding places to stay, new people to work over, always having to look ahead. Well, I heard in town that the Rydells were the people to know around here. They’re like f*****g royalty to the assholes here. They been here for a hundred years or more. Own more land than most cities. So I figured I’d get on here. Only Jack refused me. So I made it my business to know Joey. We hung out some. Lucky break he drove off the cliff. Kid thanked me with the job. Free rent. Free use of their truck. Only gotta buy my food and entertainment. Not so bad a setup.”

“And that’s why Jack lets you stay?”

“Yup,” Chance said, lowering his feet to the ground before he stood up and gave her a long body scan. It grossed her out to see how he looked at her. Chance was her damn brother. “I wasn’t too happy to hear you’d shown up here. Jack looked pissed about it. But you know what? Maybe I like it. Piss j******f some. Yeah, maybe I’ll find a use for you yet.”

She shivered. She would never do whatever sick thing Chance had in mind for her. Still, she had to stay there. “So I can stay?”

“Guess. I don’t have no fancy sheets or nothing. Just my couch.”

She nodded and gulped. The couch was too piled high and covered from disuse for her brother to have any clue what it was like. “I have a sleeping bag. Can I clean up in here?”

He glanced around as if shocked by her request. “Just don’t start nagging me about anything. And try to stay out of my way.”

She almost promised him she would never willingly be near him.