Thirty Miles South Of Dry County Read Free Page A

thinking fine.”
    “Not a single one of us ever crossed the border of that town. We didn’t because we’re afraid of it. But here you go runnin’ off half-cocked and ready for war, forgettin’ all the stories, forgettin’ what that place is . How far do you think you’re goin’ to get? You think a head of steam is somehow goin’ to change the nature of Milestone ‘specially for you, and things will just…work out?”
    “Get your hand off me,” Sven said, and I knew by his tone he weren’t goin’ to ask a second time, so I did.
    “Your fight ain’t with me,” I reminded him. “Ain’t with Dick neither, though might be better for you if it was.”
    “I’m not like you or Dick. I’m not so old that I’ve lost my nerve or forgotten my pride.”
    That stung, but I guess he had a point. Sven were fresh from countin’ his losses. I seldom got free of my own. Couldn’t keep my own business back in NC from goin’ under, or my kids from turnin’ into foul-mouthed ingrates we never heard from less they needed money. Couldn’t keep my beloved wife from sufferin’ while the cancer took its time with her, and I couldn’t leave this godforsaken place because I were too old, too settled, and too afraid that if I drummed up the courage to try I’d find the road were gone because I’d waited too long.
    And as for Dick…well, he also had his failures and secrets, which was why none of us did anythin’ but joke when it came to his wife. In private, Sven and me had our own way of finishin’ the story of the day Dick’s wife had left him for another man, and what he’d done when he tracked them down. Without proof though, it were just another story, and it would only have an end for us when and if Dick chose to share it. So when I looked at him I saw Sven’s words had left their mark there too. His face were like a lake in the wake of a boat.
    Dust danced in swirls around our feet.
    “That’s fine,” I said. “You want to insult me, you go right ahead. Hell, throw a few punches if it’ll help keep you here, but if you get in that shitheap of yours, you’re a fool,” I cautioned. “Might as well get your affairs in order first.”
    “There’s nothing left to tend to,” he said. “Except this.”
    Sven spat and walked away, bound for his car, then stopped after two steps and turned back to face me. “It’s a town, Tan. Just a town. Streets and buildings. Run by a man. That’s all. The rest is superstition, and I’ve been just as dumb as you two old goats in believing it to be anything different.”
    “I still think—”
    “I don’t really give a shit what you think, Tan, and if you think I do you might as well get used to looking down the greasy barrel of me not giving a fuck. Did he come looking to buy up your place? Or yours, Dick? No. It isn’t your livelihood that just got flushed down the crapper, so kindly stay the hell out of it. But mark my words, if something isn’t done about that sonofabitch, he will come knocking on your door soon, and when he does, you can spew your self-righteous peacemaking wisdom in his face then and see how far it gets you.”
    “And what do you think is gonna happen, Sven? You think you’re just gonna march into that town and right up to Kirkland and give him a piece of your mind, that it?”
    “I don’t much care, but I’m going do something, that’s for sure.” Sven said. “This day and age, no one has a right to destroy someone else’s livelihood.”
    “No,” I told him. “But that don’t keep them from havin’ the luxury.”
    Sven waved a hand at me in disgust. “Just go back to your bench.”
    And there were little to say to that, so I just kept quiet and hoped that maybe reason would sink in the closer he got to Milestone’s border.
    “Hey, wait,” Dick said.
    Sven didn’t.
    To my surprise, Dick trotted after him, dust puffin’ up around his legs.
    “Where’re you goin’?” I asked him.
    “Makin’ sure this fool don’t get