Page 27 of Suncatcher

She carved out a heaping spoonful and shoved it into her mouth. It tasted as good as it smelled, and she hummed in pleasure. Soft peaches and subtle spices burst on her tongue.

Driz’s gaze fixed on Pearl’s mouth.

“Go on. Try it,” Pearl prompted.

Driz scooped up a spoonful and ate it. And Pearl was now the one drawn to Driz’s mouth as she chewed. She didn’t look so frightening as her eyes went wide in surprise and she brought the pan closer to her mouth to shovel a quarter of the pie into it at once.

“Good?” Pearl asked, her lips twitching and a satisfied warmth joining the bourbon in her gullet.

Driz nodded around her huge mouthful.

It was an odd thing for Pearl to be so pleased by. But here she was.

Driz followed Pearl’s gaze when it dropped to the scarf tied around Driz’s neck. She quickly set down her pie. “I can give it back. I have this as well.” She reached into the pocket of her trousers and pulled out Pearl’s handkerchief. “I hope it is not ruined. I tried to wash it.” Red dirt stained the thin fabric, turning the blue to a muddy purple.

“Keep them. I’ve got others.”

Driz clutched the handkerchief, bringing it close to her body.

“You’re all healed then?” Pearl asked, though she knew she was. When Driz had stripped off her old shirt, Pearl had seen for herself that Driz’s shoulder was perfectly fine. All of her was fine. Pearl mentally shook herself.

“Yes.”

Pearl poured another glass of bourbon and again wondered what she was doing. She had reasoned with herself that she owed Driz the pie. And the shirt. The suspenders were just practical. But now that she was here, Pearl found she wasn’t overly eager to leave.

“How are your friends?” Driz asked.

Pearl glanced at her warily. One of those friends had shot Driz, but Pearl didn’t think it was a snide question. She wasn’t sure Driz could be snide. Pearl refilled her glass, sending the brown bourbon swirling. “The three alive that night still are. And we found the bulk of our supply stashed in that valley.”

The past days had been busy. Most of the original caravan party stumbled into town the day Pearl returned with the wagons. They had managed to escape the bandits, but it took them several days to make it back with no supplies or horses.

Pearl couldn’t avoid talk of the goyle. Steve told of a monster who tried to kill Pearl and toy with the rest of them. Rave told of a creature who had come to help. One thing everyone agreed on was that it was strange, and highly dangerous.

Sheriff Oak had cornered Pearl to ask her about it.

“I’m fine. It don’t matter anymore,” Pearl had deflected. But she knew the sheriff wasn’t satisfied with that answer.

“You were attacked by a goyle. It does matter.” Sheriff Oak seemed almost shaken by the news. More so than by everything else that week.

“She didn’t attack me. She just picked me up and put me down somewhere else.”

“Why?” Sheriff Oak demanded. “It’s not in their nature to help or have anything to do with us.”

Pearl had just shrugged. Unfortunately for the sheriff, she’d raised a daughter as stubborn as she was, and Pearl simply hadn’t said anything else.

Pearl could have told her more. But she wasn’t certain what to say. Or if Sheriff Oak would believe her. And a small, nonsensical part of Pearl wanted to keep Driz to herself.

Pearl didn’t have many secrets. Her mother and the town always knew everything about her. Being here with Driz was oddly compelling. Illicit. Pearl liked it. It was dangerous, and also…exciting.

Pearl downed her bourbon.

Driz watched her, staring unabashedly, as if Pearl was the most fascinating thing in the world. Warning bells rang in Pearl’s head, right alongside a thrill that shivered through her whole body.

“Your pie’s getting cold,” Pearl whispered.

Driz blinked and picked up the dish again. A beetle crawled over the crust. She snagged it and popped it in her mouth with a crunch before grabbing the spoon.

“What d’you normally eat?”