Escape from Five Shadows (1956) Read Online Free
Author: Elmore Leonard
looking at him even if it was only to glance at corralled horses. The few times he had been here before, Karla noticed this his obviously self-conscious actions, his almost complete lack of anything to say and in a way she felt sorry for him. He was out of place at the convict camp, especially as government superintendent, and Karla was sure he realized it more than anyone else.
Just passing by, Mr. Falvey?
He nodded, and hesitated before saying, I helped myself to a drink. I'll put the money on the bar when I go back in. I heard you out here and
That's all right, Karla said easily. You could pay the next time for that matter.
I didn't see your father inside.
He had to go to Fuegos. She said then, Your friend Renda was here to pick up supplies. I suppose you passed him coming in.
No, I didn't.
They only left about an hour ago.
I took the horse trail, Falvey said. Then asked, Are you alone?
She nodded, seeing his gaze move to the corral again.
I thought I saw someone out there, Falvey said, just as I came out of the house.
Karla looked out from the shade. I don't know who it would be.
No, it was probably the way the horses were standing. Falvey was silent for a moment. You're here all alone?
I'm used to it, Karla said. Pa has to go to Fuegos every once in a while, to the telegraph office.
Oh Falvey nodded. What about your mother'ais she
Dead? Karla smiled at his uneasiness. No, she's in Willcox with my two sisters.
I didn't know you had sisters.
Younger ones. They're still in school and my mother stays with them for the term. They'll be back soon for the summer.
Falvey seemed more relaxed. It must be hard not seeing them most of the year.
It is, but my mother says we all have to be educated. She was born in Sonora'aYou see, her mother was Mexican, but her pa was an American, a mining man, and she didn't go to school at all. That's why we have to, even if it means being away.
She must be a fine woman.
Karla grinned. I like her.
Listen, Falvey said eagerly. Why don't you come inside while I have a drink?
I don't serve the bar, Mr. Falvey.
I didn't mean that. Just'aso we can talk.
There's a stage due just before eleven and the change team's not nearly ready.
It'd only be ten minutes. Falvey smiled. He was trying to make the proposal sound offhand.
I'm sorry, Karla said. There's just not time.
Oh, come on. He was still smiling as he reached out to take her hand, but she stepped away from him. For a moment he stood awkwardly, his arm still extended, then moved toward her again.
Karla backed away. Maybe you've already had too much to drink.
Falvey stopped. Karla'aI swear, I only want someone to talk to.
And I told you I didn't have time.
Karla He hesitated, but stepped toward her again as he said more calmly, Didn't you ever want to relax and talk to someone? Just talk about anything, as long as it wasn't important. Even the weather. I mean talk without raising your voice, without arguing, without knowing someone's going to snap at the next thing you say. He paused. That's all I want to do, just talk.
Don't you talk to your wife? Karla asked hesitantly.
Have you ever?
Talked to her? A few times. But I don't know your wife very well.
You're fortunate, Falvey said.
Karla stared at him. I think you'd better go.
Karla, you don't understand.
Mr. Falvey, I'm not going to stand here and discuss your wife with you.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did. I started wrong.
Why don't you go in and serve yourself? Karla said. I'll come in when I can.
Falvey nodded. All right. He asked then, hesitantly, We can be friends, can't we?
The girl smiled uneasily. I don't have any enemies, Mr. Falvey.
Damn it, just say yes or no!
Karla's eyes showed irritation, and suddenly, anger. You don't force friendship! It either happens or it doesn't happen!
I'm sorry
I'm not even sure, Karla said, I know what you're looking for.
I'm looking for someone who acts like a human being! Is that too much to ask
Just passing by, Mr. Falvey?
He nodded, and hesitated before saying, I helped myself to a drink. I'll put the money on the bar when I go back in. I heard you out here and
That's all right, Karla said easily. You could pay the next time for that matter.
I didn't see your father inside.
He had to go to Fuegos. She said then, Your friend Renda was here to pick up supplies. I suppose you passed him coming in.
No, I didn't.
They only left about an hour ago.
I took the horse trail, Falvey said. Then asked, Are you alone?
She nodded, seeing his gaze move to the corral again.
I thought I saw someone out there, Falvey said, just as I came out of the house.
Karla looked out from the shade. I don't know who it would be.
No, it was probably the way the horses were standing. Falvey was silent for a moment. You're here all alone?
I'm used to it, Karla said. Pa has to go to Fuegos every once in a while, to the telegraph office.
Oh Falvey nodded. What about your mother'ais she
Dead? Karla smiled at his uneasiness. No, she's in Willcox with my two sisters.
I didn't know you had sisters.
Younger ones. They're still in school and my mother stays with them for the term. They'll be back soon for the summer.
Falvey seemed more relaxed. It must be hard not seeing them most of the year.
It is, but my mother says we all have to be educated. She was born in Sonora'aYou see, her mother was Mexican, but her pa was an American, a mining man, and she didn't go to school at all. That's why we have to, even if it means being away.
She must be a fine woman.
Karla grinned. I like her.
Listen, Falvey said eagerly. Why don't you come inside while I have a drink?
I don't serve the bar, Mr. Falvey.
I didn't mean that. Just'aso we can talk.
There's a stage due just before eleven and the change team's not nearly ready.
It'd only be ten minutes. Falvey smiled. He was trying to make the proposal sound offhand.
I'm sorry, Karla said. There's just not time.
Oh, come on. He was still smiling as he reached out to take her hand, but she stepped away from him. For a moment he stood awkwardly, his arm still extended, then moved toward her again.
Karla backed away. Maybe you've already had too much to drink.
Falvey stopped. Karla'aI swear, I only want someone to talk to.
And I told you I didn't have time.
Karla He hesitated, but stepped toward her again as he said more calmly, Didn't you ever want to relax and talk to someone? Just talk about anything, as long as it wasn't important. Even the weather. I mean talk without raising your voice, without arguing, without knowing someone's going to snap at the next thing you say. He paused. That's all I want to do, just talk.
Don't you talk to your wife? Karla asked hesitantly.
Have you ever?
Talked to her? A few times. But I don't know your wife very well.
You're fortunate, Falvey said.
Karla stared at him. I think you'd better go.
Karla, you don't understand.
Mr. Falvey, I'm not going to stand here and discuss your wife with you.
I'm sorry, I shouldn't have said what I did. I started wrong.
Why don't you go in and serve yourself? Karla said. I'll come in when I can.
Falvey nodded. All right. He asked then, hesitantly, We can be friends, can't we?
The girl smiled uneasily. I don't have any enemies, Mr. Falvey.
Damn it, just say yes or no!
Karla's eyes showed irritation, and suddenly, anger. You don't force friendship! It either happens or it doesn't happen!
I'm sorry
I'm not even sure, Karla said, I know what you're looking for.
I'm looking for someone who acts like a human being! Is that too much to ask
Readers choose
Bonnie Lamer
Joanne Horniman
Shyla Colt
Kristine Mason
Nalini Singh
Malcolm Gladwell
Tom Lichtenberg, Benhamish Allen
Kele Moon