Page 5 of My UnTrue Love
For now, Johnny knew he had to be the bigger man. Susannah Alabama and Bowleg Bob had to see that things were under control and that he was in charge. Too often, they looked to Clementine for guidance, when it was clearlyhisjob. This reshuffling would help clarify that for everyone.
“Best of luck, Bill.” He said loudly, hoping to prod the man’s exit along. He offered an approximation of a professional smile. “We’ve both said some things that I’m sure we regret, but there’s no hard feelings. I know you feel the same.”
Bill ignored that and strolled out the door.
Clementine frowned after him.
Johnny had had enough. He’d been super-understanding, but Rosalee would be there soon and they needed to get to work. The workalwayscame first.
“You’ll be okay with all this, Clem, once you get a chance to really think about it. You know how much I admire your ear for tunes. And we can still do stuff together. Just not this, anymore.”
She studied him for a minute. Opened her mouth. Closed it. Then, she shook her head. Without saying another word, she went after Bill, grabbing her coat on the way out.
She was upset now, but she’d get over it. Time would smooth over any hurt feelings and things would be back to normal soon. Johnny was the center of Clementine’s world. The girl practically worshipped him! Nothing would ever change that.
Johnny turned back to the rest of the band. “Well, that was easy enough.” He clapped his hands together. “Let’s make some music!”
Chapter Two
This coyote had a sweetheart,
A girl both light and fay,
She thought that they would never part,
But he would never stay.
Lyrics from the folk song “Crossroads Coyote”
Pecos Bill was waiting for Clementine when she stalked outside. The desert was always cool after the sun went down and it seemed even more frigid than usual. She stood in the chilly air for a long moment, trying to calm herself. It didn’t work. Tears were threatening to fall.
Her damp gaze went over to Bill.
He was leaning against the porch post, a cold cigarette in his mouth. He’d quit smoking about a week after they met, but he occasionally sought the feel of an unlit one between his lips. He raised both eyebrows at her, taking in her miserable face.
It was easy for Clem to hear the words he didn’t say, so she understood his silent question. She blew out a sigh and rubbed at her eyes. “I’m fine.”
Bill shifted, because he didn’t believe that. He wanted to comfort her. She read his expression and small movements like a book. It had always been that way between them. From the minute they met, she’d felt connected to Bill.
“I’mfine.” Clementine repeated, waving him back. She didn’t want to embarrass him by weeping all over his chest.
Although, it was a tempting idea. He had a wonderful chest. Bill wasn’t overly tall or broad. He was justright. Looking at him always made her feel simultaneously very safe and very… stimulated.
“I just wasn’t expecting that to happen, in there.” She swallowed and angrily shrugged on her jacket. “I can’t believe Johnny just fired me!”
“Can’t you?” The words were sardonic.
“No. I trusted Johnny.” She wrapped her multicolored scarf around her neck, wishing she felt warmer. The freeze seemed to come from inside of her heart. “I thought it would always be Johnny and Clementine.”
“You were his.” Bill watched her without blinking. “He was never yours. You finally see that?”
Clementine closed her eyes and nodded, because she did see it. After her parents died, she’d needed Johnny. She’d loved her foster family, especially her new big brothers, but it had still been a hard time for her. Adjusting to a different school, away from the mining camp, had been especially difficult. She and Johnny had shared the unpopular kids’ lunch table, all through high school. They’d clung to each other.
As the years went on, he wanted to forget that old, awkward Johnny and that was the Johnny that Clem cared about most. She’d been sensing their growing distance for a long while.
“Can you leave him behind?” Bill asked bluntly.
Clementine inhaled a deep breath.
