Page 40 of Nomad

The woman made a point of looking surprised, like she hadn’t noticed Bud had been standing there the whole time. Bud offered her hand to Señora Gutierrez politely. The señora responded by pinching two of Bud’s fingers between two of her own for a pointedly brief two seconds. Bud was tempted to laugh at the bizarre behavior, but remained quiet and watchful.

The woman was talking to Cann, who said, “My companion is just learning Spanish. Perhaps we could speak English so that she will understand?”

The woman looked at Bud and did another scan from top to bottom and back again while making a point of conveying disdain. “Of course.” She then proceeded to speak to Bud with aggravating precision and slow pace. “Welcome to our home. Please come inside.”

Bud’s eyes flew to Cann as she asked the silent question,“Is she for real?”

Cann’s eyes were alight with amusement. He pressed his lips together and shook his head ever so slightly. As they climbed the steps, she turned and said, “That will be all, Gerson.”

Gerson’s eyes widened slightly like he couldn’t imagine that she had the nerve to dismiss him like a servant. He exchanged a brief look with Cann and turned to go.

Bud had never been in a restaurant or hotel with twenty-foot ceilings, much less a house. Looking through the windows, Bud could see that the house was built in a rectangle around a central courtyard that featured manicured gardens and a fountain.

The furnishings and appointments were lavish enough to be bordering on the obscene, everything in variations of white, cream, brown, and rust.

“This way,” Señora Gutierrez motioned to the grand staircase and began to ascend swaying her hips back and forth in an exaggerated way.

As they began to climb side by side, Bud touched Cann’s arm. When he looked over, she mocked Señora Gutierrez’s hip movement. Before he could stop himself Cann barked out a laugh.

The señora stopped and turned to look at them.

Cann said, “Sorry, Señora. Bud was just making fun of my boots.”

Satisfied that a joke was not being had at her expense, the lady of the house led them to the second floor. They turned right and walked until they reached the end of the hallway.

“I hope this is to your liking, Señor Johns,” she said.

“Call me Cann. This is wonderful. Thank you.”

She lowered her eyelashes in response then turned to Bud. “Your room is this way.” She gestured toward the other end of the hall.

“Hold on,” Cann said. “She stays with me.”

“Oh?” The señora looked surprised. “Forgive me. I was led to believe that she is a child.”

“Until the day after tomorrow,” he replied. “In any case, she’s under my protection. I’m her guardian and she’ll sleep where I can see her. Even if we have to sleep outside.”

There was no mistaking that he was serious.

Bud had remained still and quiet through the exchange. Though she didn’t show it outwardly, she was grateful that she wasn’t going to be separated from Cann.

“Of course that won’t be necessary,” Gutierrez said. “We have another room with two beds. Will that suit your needs?”

“Perfectly,” Cann said simply. “Thank you.”

Gutierrez pressed her lips together in the bitchiest smile Bud had ever seen. She couldn’t wait to get a look at the man who’d been taken in by the distraction of full red lips, flashing brown eyes, perfectly even tan skin, and hair so black it almost looked midnight blue.

Again they dutifully followed her around another wing of the house to the other side of the courtyard. She opened the door to a large room with a fireplace, high ceilings, cowhide rugs and plush leather furniture and what was, apparently, a fully stocked bar.

“Since I wasn’t expecting you to stay here, the room isn’t quite ready. I’ll have fresh fruit and flowers sent up in a few minutes. Dinner at eight. My husband will be joining us.”

Again, Cann answered on behalf of both of them. “Thank you.”

When the door closed, Bud, who was standing in the middle of the room said, “I can’t be expected to stay here.”

“Why not?” Cann’s forehead had formed that wrinkle that he got between his brows when he was concerned about something.

“Because the fresh fruit and flowers haven’t been delivered yet.”

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