Page 115 of My UnTrue Love
Billshouldhave a True Love. He was a deeply romantic man. It would make him happy to feel a fated bond. If he had that kind of assurance, he’d surely open up his emotions without hesitation.
True Love didn’t matter so much to Clem. She liked making her own choices. Although, when My-True-Love-For-To-See had placed in the horse race, the day before, she’d experienced a pang in her chest. Clemdidsee the appeal of Bill belonging to her through celestial decree. It seemed… right.
And a True Love bond would make her feel even more justified, for all but shoving the poor guy into her bed. A muse had to do whatever it took to chase down her cowboy, of course, so she didn’t regret her tactics. She just felt a little guilty about enticing him so hard. He’d mostly married her to help his career, but she’d said “I do” because she was insanely in love with him.
If coyotes could feel True Love, Bill would obviously feel it for Clem.
That aspect of the situation didn’t worry her, at all. They were destined for each other, True Loves or not. No other girl could love him half as much as her. If the missing True Love bond bothered Bill or kept him from confidently sharing his emotions, maybe she could fix it. She was Bill’s manager. It was her job to solve problems.
Two minutes later, her dumplings forgotten, Clementine was scrolling through her tablet. When she searched “coyotes” and “True Love,” the algorithm led her straight to “Crossroads Coyote.” It was an old song. No one knew who wrote it exactly, because it seemed like it had always existed as a part of the musical landscape. It had never been Clem’s favorite. The tune was repetitive and some of the verses had too many syllables.
The story itself was what bugged her the most, though. In the song, a coyote wanted musical fame, while his wife wanted a life at home. He asked a three-headed crossroads woman to break the True Love bond, so he could be free. The crossroads woman agreed… but there was a trick. She unbound them as mates by killing the man’s wife and cursing all the coyotes thereafter to never find their True Loves.
Clem thought it was sad that the poor wife died, just to teach her idiot husband a lesson. And why shouldallthe coyotes suffer, for one man’s lousy deal-making skills? Really, there were far better country-western standards to appreciate, so she’d never paid much attention toCrossroads Coyote.
…Until now. Now, it seemedrightto examine the song closer. Whywerecoyotes cursed to have no True Loves?
To Clem’s way of thinking, songs were a way to pass on history. Maybe there was some thread of truth to the legend. Her eyes scanned the tablet, reading the lyrics closer than she ever had before.
“When cy’otes sing, our lesson imparts,
But our curse won’t bid adieu,
‘Til a partner gives one her whole heart,
And loves that cowboy so true.”
“All doors that keep the cowboy safe,
Must fall before his bride.
He must need that darling waif,
And choose no more to hide.”
Clem squinted at that gibberish. Honestly,Crossroads Coyotewas justnotthe best song. Why people considered it a classic was a complete mystery. How could coyotes reclaim their lost True Loves, if the crossroad’s woman wasn’t more specific about how to uncurse them?
An imperious knock sounded on the door, interrupting her research. “Clementine?” Johnny called. “Open up!”
Clementine groaned and looked up towards the ceiling, seriously considering just staying quiet.
“I know you’re in there.” Johnny pounded on the door some more. “And I know Bill’s gone off someplace. The naga downstairs said so.”
Woody was an idiot. They really needed to have a tenant’s meeting about his subpar performance as building manager. He never did repairs right, was exceptionally creepy, and she’d caught him taping an eviction notice to Luke’s door, even after she’d told him the poor kid was hiding someplace in emotional turmoil. Woody didn’t care, at all!
Unfortunately, Clem and Bill couldn’t afford to move. They were stuck at the Westward Arms, Woody or no Woody. They’d just have to offer Luke her old room, when he turned up. Bill wouldn’t mind him moving in, once she explained it all. They couldn’t let a little boy go homeless.
“You might as well answer.” Johnny shouted righteously. “I’m not going away!”
He wasn’t going away.
She reluctantly put down the tablet and got to her feet.
“Hello?” More loud pounding. “Hello? Come on, Clem! We need to have this out, right now!”
“Havewhatout?” She headed for the door, throwing it open. “Johnny, we don’t have anything to talk about…”
“You got married!” He accused, cutting her off. “How could you do that to me?”
