The Pagan Stone

He yanked out his banda

Bill lowered to the steps, wiped at the sweat that pearled on his forehead. “I wake up, covered in sweat, and I can smell the whiskey she held out to me. Not Cathy, not anymore, just the whiskey. Last night, when I woke up from it, I went on out in the kitchen to get something cold ’cause my throat was so dry. There was a bottle on the counter. It was right there. I swear to Christ, it was there. I didn’t buy a bottle.” His hands shook now, and fresh sweat popped out above his top lip. “I started to pick it up, to pour it down the sink. I pray to God I was going to pour it down the sink, but there was nothing there. I think I’m going crazy. I know I’ll go crazy if I pick up a bottle again and do anything but pour it down the sink.”

“You’re not going crazy.” Another kind of torture, Gage thought. The bastard didn’t miss a trick. “Have you ever had dreams like this before?”

“Maybe, a few times over the years. It’s hard to say because I wasn’t picking up bottles to pour them down the sink back then.” Bill sighed now. “But maybe a few times, around this time of year. Around the time Jim says you boys call the Seven.”

“It fucks with us. It’s fucking with you. Go on out to the farm, give them a hand out there.”

“I can do that.” Bill pushed back to his feet. “Whatever it is, it’s got no right using your ma that way.”

“No, it doesn’t.”

When Bill started to walk away, Gage cursed under his breath. “Wait. I can’t forget, and I don’t know if I can ever forgive. But I know you loved her. I know that’s the truth, so I’m sorry you lost her.”

Something came into Bill’s eyes, something Gage reluctantly recognized as gratitude.

“You lost her, too. I never let myself think that, not all those years. You lost her, too, and me with her. I’ll carry that the rest of my life. But I won’t drink today.”

Gage went straight to the rental house. He walked in, and right up the stairs. As he reached the top, Qui

“Oh. Well. Hi, Gage.”

“Where’s Cybil?”

Qui

He studied her face. Her cheeks seemed a little flushed, her eyes a little overbright. “Something wrong?”

“Wrong? No. Everything’s good. Great. Thumbs-up. I, ah, better get dressed.”

“Pack, too.”

“What?”

“Pack up what you need,” he told her as she stood frowning and dripping. “Seeing as you’re three women, it’s going to take more than one trip. Cal and Fox can come by at some point and haul more. There’s no point in the three of you staying here-and by the way, do any of you ever think about locking the door? It’s getting dangerous in town. Everyone can bunk at Cal ’s until this is over.”

“You’re making that decision for everyone involved?” Cybil asked from behind him.

He turned. She was dressed and leaning against the jamb. “Yeah.”

“That’s fairly presumptuous, to put it mildly. But I happen to agree with you.” She looked over at Qui

“Who’s arguing?” Qui

Cybil continued to look at Qui

He knew when he was getting the brush-off. Cybil wanted him gone, for now. “Get it together then. And once we’re at Cal ’s, you and I have to try the link-up again.”

“Yes, we do.”

“I’ll be back in twenty, so get a move on.”

Cybil ignored him. She stood in her doorway and Qui

“What’s up, Q?”

“I’m pregnant. Holy shit, Cyb, I’m pregnant.” Tears flooded her eyes even as she moved her feet and hips into what could only be interpreted as a happy dance. “I’m knocked up, I’m on the nest, I am with child and have a bun in the oven. Holy shit.”

Cybil crossed the hallway, held out her arms. They stood holding each other. “I didn’t expect to be expecting. I mean, we weren’t trying for it. All this going on, and pla

“How far along?”

“That’s just it.” Drawing back, Qui

“Yes, I know.”

“I only took three-came down from crazy to obsessed. I just took them. Three of them. Pink, plus sign, and the no-frills pregnant all came up. I’m probably only a couple of weeks in, if that, but…” She looked down at her belly. “Wow, somebody’s in there.”

“You haven’t told Cal.”

“I didn’t want to say before I knew. He’ll be happy, but he’ll be worried, too.” She pulled on capris. “Worried because of what’s coming, what we have to do, and I’m, well, in the family way.”

“How do you feel, about that part of it?”

“Scared, protective. And I know nothing will ever be right for us, any of us, or for this baby if we don’t end it. If we don’t follow through, and I’m part of that follow-through. I guess I have to believe that this-” Qui

“I love you, Q.”

“Oh God, Cyb.” Once more, Qui

“He’ll understand. He has brothers.” Gently, Cybil smoothed Qui

“We are. Both counts.” Qui

Cybil laughed. “It just might.”

WHEN GAGE RETURNED, THEY LOADED CAL’S truck. “I’m going to need my car,” Qui

“Take your time. We’ll unpack this load, get things organized. Well… See you later.” Qui

Gage got in the truck, started the engine. Then sat, drumming his fingers on the wheel while it ran. “What’s up with Qui

“Qui

“She seems a little nervy.”

“We’re all a little nervy, which is why I agree with you about all of us staying at the same place now.”

“Not that kind of nervy.” He turned in his seat, met her eyes. “Is she pregnant?”

“Well, aren’t you the insightful one? Yes, she is, and I’m only confirming that because she’s going to tell Cal right now.”

He sat, rubbed his hands over his face. “Christ.”

“You can look at it as the glass is half empty, as you obviously are. Or that it’s half full. Personally, I see the glass as overflowing. This is good, strong, positive news, Gage.”