“I’m sure. But I don’t see it as a huge problem between you two. I mean, you’re grown-ups. You’ll talk it out.” Ryan checked his phone. “I gotta get going. Have a date tonight.”
“Oh, yeah? Anyone I know?”
To Cliff’s shock, Ryan’s cheeks turned red. “Yeah. Shelby.”
Cliff’s mouth fell open. “You’re kidding me.”
Apparently unable to meet Cliff’s eyes, Ryan shrugged. “Nah. We sorta hooked up a few months ago, and…I dunno…it’ s been cool getting to know him and what?” He rounded on Cliff, who couldn’t stop the huge smile on his face.
“Nothing. I think it’s great. I’m glad you’ve met someone.”
“I haven’t met someone. It’s no big deal. We’re just enjoying each other and hanging out. That’s all.”
“Uh-huh.”
Ryan glared at him, but Cliff schooled his face to remain neutral even though inside he was fist-pumping for his best friend. Cliff liked Shelby a lot. His quiet nature hid a wickedly funny sense of humor, and Cliff’s wish was now for the two men to settle into a serious relationship. Despite Ryan saying he didn’t want one, sometimes he could protest too much.
“Where are you going?”
“Dinner, then dancing at the Wild Orchid.”
“Sounds like fun.”
“It will be. Now I gotta go.”
They gave each other a big hug, and Cliff walked Ryan to his car. “Maybe this weekend the four of us can get together?”
Ryan sighed. “Cliffie. I know what you’re trying to do, but don’t get it in your head this is anything other than Shelby and me hooking up and letting off some steam.”
“Okay, okay. I’m not pushing.” He put his hands up. “But you have to eat, right? So why not the four of us?”
Ryan’s lips twitched but before he could answer, Cliff heard the squeal of tires as a truck came racing down the street, the blaring music breaking the silence of the quiet afternoon. Instinctively Cliff froze, preparing himself for what, he couldn’t be sure.
“You cheating on your man, there, Baxter?” The grinning, unshaven face of Travis Falk appeared in the window. “Jesus, you got a parade of queers coming in and out of your place, don’tcha?” He leered, and both fear and disgust cramped Cliff’s stomach. “But that’s what you like. In and out. Maybe I should come over and give it a try.”
Fury sent Cliff storming over to the truck. “Shut the fuck up, Travis. You come anywhere near me, and I’ll have your ass in jail so fast, you won’t know what hit you.” An idea sprang to mind. “You have anything to do with shooting out my window this morning? Better confess now before Paul finds out.”
Travis snorted and belched, then took a swig from the paper bag he held between his knees. Cliff would lay bets that it was beer. “I ain’t gonna waste no good bullets.” His beady eyes narrowed to slits. “If I wanna git you, I’ll come do it myself. Personally.” He bared his yellow teeth in a grin.
“That better not be a threat.” Nausea bubbled in Cliff’s stomach, and he wondered if he was reading too much innuendo into Travis’s words. “Stay away from us.”
Without waiting for a response, he strode back to Ryan, who’d come to meet him halfway. Travis laughed and gunned the truck, taking off for his house. He pulled into the driveway and hopped out. He and his father had the same protruding beer bellies, but where Wilbur had run to fat, Travis was big and brawny, and his stained T-shirt stretched across a barrel chest and thickly muscled shoulders.
“You’re white as a ghost. What did that asshole say to you?” Ryan searched his face.
“Nothing. Just stupid talk. He’s an idiot. I don’t pay much attention to him.” Cliff gave Ryan a push. “Now get out of here and make yourself pretty for your date.”
But Ryan didn’t join his smile. “I don’t like the look of him. He’s mean and ignorant, which can sometimes be a deadly combination. You need to watch your back with him.”
“You too?” Cliff snapped. “You’re doing exactly what Paul does. Shunting me aside to be the protector. I said it’s no big deal, and it isn’t.”
“There’s a difference between being overprotective and simple caring. Paul and I both love you, and that guy is a brute.”
Exhaling, Cliff gave him a wan smile. “I’m overreacting, huh?”
“A little. Now I really gotta go. Talk to you tomorrow.”
Cliff watched Ryan drive away, but despite his cautionary words, he couldn’t help glancing across the street at the Falks’ house, where Travis sat on the porch, a beer in his hand. Was that a smirk Cliff saw? Unwilling to poke the bear, he decided to forgo working outside in the garden.
Before he set foot on the steps to the front porch, Judy bustled over with a covered dish in her hands. “Here you are, dearie. I didn’t think you would want to cook tonight, so I made you and Paul a ham casserole.”
He mustered a smile. “Thanks, Judy.” The last time she’d brought them over dinner, it was because Paul had mentioned to her in passing that he’d been sick with the flu. It had been an inedible hunk of overcooked meat, and they’d ended up ordering in.
“It’s Father’s favorite, so I hope you love it.” Her gaze darted from his for a second, then returned, and he was a little startled by the shrewdness he saw there. “I saw you talking to that Travis. He’s a bad one, I hope you know.”
Figuring he might be able to help Paul, Cliff decided to ask her some questions. “What do you mean?”
“Well…” She moved closer, ready to settle in for a bit of gossip Cliff was more than willing to receive. “I’ve heard he’s with a bad crowd, and they’ve been saying some strange things. Maybe I should’ve said something to Paul, now that I think of it.”
Prickles of awareness rose on his skin. “What did you hear? Who told you?”
She cocked her head. “It was Dorothy from Moonshine Liquors.” Her eyes twinkled. “I stop by there once a week to pick up a little something for Father.”
Father was smarter than any of them, Cliff mused. “What did she say?” He tried not to sound impatient.
“Well, let me think…” She scrunched her nose. “Just that some guys were making noise, and the one they called Trav—I assumed this was Travis Falk—was bragging about coming into money soon. And that if things went according to plan, everything would turn out the way they wanted.”
“What the heck does that mean?” Cliff muttered, forcing himself not to look over at the Falks’ house again.
“I don’t know, dear, but I guess if you told Paul, he would know what to do?” Her bright eyes searched his.
“I will. Thank you, Judy. For the food and the information.”
“You’re welcome.”
He watched her quick steps back to the side entrance of her house before mounting the stairs to his own and going inside. The casserole went in the fridge, and then he picked up his phone and texted Paul.
Spoke to Judy Swanson. Said Dorothy at Moonshine Liquors overheard Travis saying he’d be coming into money soon if things went according to plan. Thought you’d want to know. Plus she brought us a casserole for dinner.