Page 134 of My UnTrue Love
“No, I thought you only wanted her, because she was a muse. But now I see that you really love the girl. Likea lot.”
Bill stared at him.
“I’m an artist, too. I pick up on that kind of stuff.” Tony nodded wisely. “Love makes the heart happy.”
Johnny expected Bill to deny he even had a heart, like healwaysdid when someone brought it up.
Instead, Bill cleared his throat. “Yeah.” He agreed softly.
Johnny’s jaw dropped. What the fuck? Everybody knew coyotes were brutes. They had no deeper feelings.
“I… accept your apology, Tony.” Bill went on. “I didn’t appreciate your remarks at my wedding. I had planned to do some quiet and indirect things, because of them. But instead, I’ll let it go.” He seemed proud of his restraint.
Tony looked touched. “Cool! Thanks, bro. Hey, if you guys are holding a wedding reception, I can compose a drum solo for it. Consider it a gift.”
“Why, Hank’s throwing me a bachelor party.” Bill’s head canted to one side. “I’ll betcha he’dloveto hear a rousing drum solo played at that shindig. It’d be real memorable.”
Tony beamed, his buck teeth sticking out in self-importance.
The fire department arrived to put out the blaze. It was too late to save The Kitchen. However, they prevented the flames from spreading to any other structures in the Saloon District.
Bill paced around like he wanted to pursue his countless enemies, but he reluctantly let the police work. Hank’s men were moving through the maze of streets, searching one alley at a time. Johnny would have to leave soon. Hide someplace, before they found him. He couldn’t make himself go, though. Not yet.
News crews took pictures. Luke tucked a blanket around Clementine’s shoulders. Dinah was already planning her grand reopening. And Johnny was hearing his name less and less.
Instead, he started hearing Bill’s name more and more.
It began rolling like a wave over the scattered crowd. People on their phones, holding up the screens so other folks could see. Head’s swiveling Bill’s way. Surprised gasps and excited whispers.
Pecos Bill.
Ranger O’Rourke.
Tomorrow’s show.
It took a minute for the individual sounds to connect and for Johnny to understand their meaning. There had been a last-minute cancellation onHome on the Range. Mamie had appealed to her dad, citing Bill’s stellar guitar playing, selfless fight against sexism in the music industry, and something about horserace gambling. In support of his daughter (and the legions of music fans who were now rallying behind her cause) Ranger had offered the open slot on his program to Bill. No tryout necessary.
All the coyote had to do was walk on stage and play.
A roaring sound filled Johnny’s head. Rage and disbelief and the horrible sense that he’d lost.No.
“Bill!” Clem shrieked. Someone must have shown her Mamie’s post, because her face was alight with happiness. “You’re going to be on TV tomorrow!” She grabbed his arm, bouncing up and down.
“Tomorrow’s bad for me, darlin’.” Bill looked a little spooked, as people patted his back and offered congratulations. “I got a new job at Buffalo Roam. They’ll fire me, if I don’t show up.”
Clementine stopped bouncing. She gaped up at him like he was speaking in tongues. “Are you insane!? You’ve got a spot onHome on the Range. This is the opportunity of a lifetime.”
It wasJohnny’sopportunity of a lifetime. His happily ever after.
And Bill had stolen it.
“The ranch is a good-paying job.” The dream-robbing coyote didn’t seem to understand the magnitude of the gift he’d just swindled for himself. “Best one I’ve had in a while.”
“I don’t care.”
“It’s got horses.”
“I don’t care!”
