Page 75 of River Wild

“River Wild?” Guy cranes his neck to look around me. “He’s here?”

“That’s what I said. And stop staring at him.” I move to block his vision.

“I just can’t believe he’s here. I’ve never seen him at any town function or … well, anything ever before. He’s not exactly known for being sociable.”

“Well, things change. Anyway, I just came to let you know where I was in case you wondered.”

“I’m glad he came.” Sadie smiles up at me.

I told her that I’d invited him. She seemed pleased about it at the time.

“You invited him?” Guy gives me an odd look.

“Yes,” I say slowly so as not to be misunderstood.

“I can’t believe you invited the town weirdo to the Christmas parade with us.”

Guy barks out a laugh, and I don’t like it.

He’s acting like an ass.

“I don’t see the big deal here. And River’s not a weirdo.” Grumpy, honest to a fault, a bit of a jerk, but not a weirdo.

“Well, he’s not exactly normal.”

“And what is normal?” I fire back at him.

“Not him; that’s for sure. I knew you two were neighbors, but I didn’t realize you were friends. Did you know this, Sadie?” He gives her an accusing look.

“I don’t see the issue here. So what if I’m friends with him?”

“Because he’s dangerous!” Guy exclaims.

“He is not dangerous.” Sadie laughs.

“You can laugh, but how do you know he isn’t? Crazy can be passed down genetically, you know.”

“Stop talking shit, Guy,” Sadie tells him.

“Can you please tell me what in the world you are going on about?” I ask them both.

Guy pins me with a knowing stare. “I’m talking about the fact that River’s mom murdered a policeman. Shot him dead.” He puts two fingers to his chest and mimics the firing of a gun with his thumb.

River’s mom killed a cop.

“Guy!” Sadie chastises. “You really need to stop gossiping about people.”

River’s mom murdered a cop.

“It’s not gossip when it’s factual news,” Guy says to Sadie. He looks back at me, a gleam in his eyes. “Everyone knows that River’s mom murdered her cop husband, River’s stepdad. Shot him dead in the kitchen, and River was there when it happened.”

River was there?

“How old was River when it happened?” I find my voice to ask.

Guy looks up in thought. “Like, eight or nine, I think.”

Jesus. He was just a kid.