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Gradually the paveravel Here, there were no well-swept sidewalks, no pots filled with flowers hanging fro to sell souvenirs There was just a rocky bit of road that led to a big parking lot On the water side was Ted’s Boatyard and the alley that led to Cat Morgan’s raht, stuck back in a weedy lot, was the Outlaw Tavern Multicolored neon beer signs decorated the s Moss furred the flat roof and grew in clu lot
Inside the tavern, they wound through the farizzly bear that had beco a bra fro, softened the tawdry edges Behind thenizable version of “Desperado”
When they reached the bar, the bartender poured three straight shots and set them in front of three empty stools
“How’s that for service, girls?” Bud said
Aurora laughed and sat down first “It’s e never ht”
Chapter Five
The Outlaw Tavern was filled with the regular Friday night crowd While the band played a watery, slowed-down version of “Mamas, Don’t Let Your Babies Grow Up to Be Cowboys,” couples line-danced across the parquet floor Vivi Ann sat at her usual barstool, swaying to theon her seat, she looked for someone to dance with, but couldn’t find anyone asn’t already paired up Aurora and Richard were back at the pool tables playing a game with some friends, and Winona was deep in conversation with Mayor Trumbull
Vivi Ann was about to turn back around to the bar when she noticed the Indian standing by the cash register Anyone unknoould have stood out in this crowd of locals, but she was certain that this guy would be noticeable in any crowd With his long hair and dark skin and hawkish features, he looked a little like Daniel Day-Lewis in that upco movie, The Last of the Mohicans
He caught her looking at him and smiled
Before she could turn around or pretend she hadn’t seen hi toward her She wanted to look away, but she couldn’t make herself move
“You wanna dance?”
“I don’t think so”
He se the harshness of his face “You’re afraid I get it Nice white girls like you are always scared”
“I’m not scared”
“Good” He reached for her hand, took it in his She noticed the roughness of his skin—so different frorip as he pulled her onto the dance floor and into his ar was the tiny thrill she felt