Page 28 of Suncatcher

Driz shrugged. “Whatever there is. If I have to hunt, I avoid mammals. I like insects and reptiles. Snakes, and fish.”

“How does Molly’s pie compare?”

“I like pie. Very much.”

That was obvious, as only a few bites remained. Driz offered it to Pearl again, but she refused this time. She wasn’t keen on beetles herself.

“What do you normally eat?” Driz asked back.

“My mother and me are both rubbish cooks. So we usually eat at Spencer’s Saloon, or I’ll eat with Molly.”

Driz grew quiet, staring down at the now-empty dish. “Do you have a mate? A partner? Is this Molly someone like that to you?”

They were going there, apparently. Why would Driz assume Pearl liked women? Was she that obvious?

“I’m not married or seeing anyone. Molly’s a…friend. What about you? Have you got a mate or partner?”

Driz shook her head. “No. Goyles mate, but do not have mates or partners. Or friends.”

“Sounds lonely.”

Driz nodded. Behind the fierce features of her face, Pearl thought she saw sadness.

Pearl recalled what Driz had asked for when they first met: time. “So you don’t have anyone you’re close with?”

Driz shook her head. “We are solitary.”

And Driz was lonely. Pearl could see that. Was that why she’d been helping Pearl? She truly just wanted company?

Pearl bypassed the glass and took a swig of bourbon from the bottle. Then she stood. It would be too easy to stay sitting here, but she couldn’t. She shouldn’t. “I need to head home.”

The sadness around Driz deepened and she stood too, pressing the pie pan to her body, as if it would give her comfort.

Pearl held out a hand. “I need to return the dish to Molly.”

Driz clutched it tighter and her wings twitched. “Will you come back if I give it to you?”

Pearl couldn’t tell if that was a question or a demand for a promise. “I’m busy. The sheriff wants the town painted.”

“And after the town is painted?”

Pearl sighed. “I dunno. I’ll probably be busy then too.”

“I can wait.”

“Don’t.” The word came out sharply. She couldn’t have Driz sitting here each night waiting for her. And she wouldn’t promise Driz anything.

Driz’s wings flared, and Pearl stepped back, her hand going to her revolver. Driz retreated too, face cast down, her wings settling and curling.

After a tense moment, she held out the dish.

Heart hammering, Pearl snatched it and the basket from the ground, shoving them along with the bottle into the sack, uncaring if they broke. She just needed to get away.

Without a backward glance, she hurried into the night.

11

Oak’s Story