Dancing with the Devil

Chapter Twenty-Eight

"What kind of questions?" Ance asked with narrowed eyes. 

"Questions about love and a future, Ance," Audrey snapped. "Questions that I'm sure would have sent you running if you hadn't run already."

Something flashed in Ance's eyes and Audrey was fairly certain that it was uncertainty and maybe a bit of hurt before he squared his shoulders, took a long draw off his cigar. "Well come on then ladies. It's time to go."

***

"Well, well! Aren't you a pretty sight. I was wondering what Ance was doing traveling with a couple of tagalongs since he ain't known to be real sociable, but the sight of you tells me all I need to know." 

Audrey managed a weak smile as the one-eyed man grinned a toothless grin that accentuated the dirt crusted wrinkles on his face. She cast a sideways glance toward Ance and heard him grumble. 

"Alright, old man, give the woman some breathing room," he muttered, shoving Old Man Thompson back several feet. 

Audrey breathed out a sigh. Clearly this man was odd just as Ance had warned and he knew nothing about personal space--either that, or he simply did not care one bit about such pleasantries. 

"Are you jealous, Ance? Afraid the woman might meet a real man and tell you goodbye?" Old Man Thompson asked as he waggled his bushy brows. 

Audrey simply stood there with no idea what to say. She had never met a man more outrageous and yet she couldn't quite decide if it was offence that she felt toward his outlandishness or amusement. 

"Don't test my patience," Ance warned. 

"You never had much patience to start with," Old Man Thompson replied, cradling his long rifle in his arms. "And it seems love has made you testy." Old Man Thompson's lips twitched just before he broke down into a fit of laughter. 

Before Audrey or Ance could say a word, Penelope shook her head. "They don't love each other," she stated. And then she frowned. "It's comp..complit..complicated." 

Audrey couldn't help but notice the sadness that replaced the craziness in Old Man Thompson's eyes as he looked down at Penelope. 

"You told her we don't love each other?" Ance growled into Audrey's ear while their companions were distracted. 

"What was I supposed to say?" Audrey hissed back. 

Instead of responding, Ance stepped forward. "Alright, let's get these women settled in so I can be off. I got things to take care of." 

"By things he means people," Old Man Thompson grinned, tearing his eyes off of Penelope. "Now let's show you around my lavish estate. There's the cabin, it's only got one bed in the loft but I'm sure you ladies won't mind sharing with an old man." Audrey glanced toward the primitive and dilapidated cabin that appeared barely big enough for one person and couldn't understand where the man had come up with the word lavish.... And she was certain that she shivered outwardly at the thought of sharing a bed with him. 

"They get the bed and you can have the porch," Ance warned. 

Old Man Thompson shook his head. "You done asked me to give up my solitude! Now you want me to give up my bed too?"

Ance nodded. "I think you're being compensated enough to live without your bed for a while." 

Audrey saw Old Man Thompson's eyes glimmer and she wondered just what compensation Ance was talking about. Was the man paying for their safety and keep while he went out chasing Barnaby? Ance grumbled and waved his hand. "Well let's get them settled in. I got places to go, you old fool."