Days of Love and Blood

chance to make a big impact on a small society.”
    “ Hey, do you want something to drink?” He handed me a bottle of hard iced-tea. I wondered if it had spoiled but took a swill anyhow. The first sip was sweet and I thanked him. He picked up his chair and scooted over a few inches, closer to me. I looked up at him and then looked across the fire to where Cooper sat. His eyes were intensely focused on Ben but he caught my eyes when I faced him.
    “A re you cold? Do you want my jacket? The temperature just dropped twenty-five degrees or something.” He took off his light jacket and draped it over my shoulders.
    Ivy had gone silent and leaned back in her chair with a bemused look upon her face. Solomon and Brigham both studied Cooper who was now leaning forward with his elbows on his knees, twirling a knife around and around between his fingers. I couldn’t stop throwing quick peeks in Cooper’s direction. I didn’t want him to think that I was encouraging Ben’s attention and I didn’t know why I suddenly became so concerned about what he thought either. I wasn’t sure if the hatred in his eyes was for me or Ben.
    “Actually, I can’t stay,” I said loudly. “I don’t want to leave my son alone this late at night. I can’t hear him if he calls me. Thanks for this but I have to get back to my camper. G’night guys.” I handed Ben his jacket and the bottle. Cooper was already on his feet.
    “No problem. Hey - I’ll walk you back.” He stood up.
    “No thanks,” I almost shouted. “I’m fine. See you tomorrow, Ivy.”
    “It’s no problem. Let me walk you.”
    “She said no,” Cooper yelled. He was already in front of Ben, blocking his path. Cooper reached out and roughly pushed him with both hands. “What’s your problem, man?”
    “No - nothing,” Ben stuttered. “I just thought she shouldn’t be alone?”
    “If you haven’t noticed she can take care of herself. What the hell were you gonna do? Protect her with your almighty powers of cowerin’?” The circle had gone silent. Everyone took note of Cooper’s reaction, shifting awkwardly in their chairs. People pretended to look away except for Jayde who wore a menacing scowl aimed in my direction.
    “Cooper!” I whispered. Instead of tugging at his arm I lightly touched the inside of his hand with one finger and brought down my thumb on the other side. The gentle squeeze got him to step back from Ben. I turned around and began the walk back to my camper. Cooper’s footsteps were behind me. When we were far enough away I slowed down until he was by my side.
    “Can you talk to me? I have no idea what’s going on with you.”
    “That guy. He jus’ pisses me off. That’s all.”
    “I don’t want there to be animosity between us, Cooper. I really don’t. Before the other day, I really enjoyed your company.”
    “ Now you don’t?”
    “ I just want it to go back to the way it was. You were pissed at me for leaving the door open when I saw that horse. Understandably.”
    “That was different.”
    “And you’re mad again but I don’t know why.”
    “You don’t know why? You can’t figure that out, Carson?”
    “No. If you just tell me what the fuck I did…”
    “You didn’t do nothing. It’s not you, it’s - why the hell are ya so infuriatin’?” he screamed.
    “ Calm down,” I said as we reached the camper. “Just come inside - talk to me. Just talk - you don’t need to yell.” I took his hand but he pulled away from me. He kicked the tire of my camper and walked away.
    “I don’t wanna talk!” he screamed and disappeared into the darkness.
    “Cooper?” I yelled after him. There was no reply.

In The Way
    The email came to me from Molly Jesowitch, an acquaintance of mine from the office. She was the central voice of daily gossip and telling her anything was like broadcasting your secrets on national airwaves. She loved to be at the center of it all. I limited my discussions with her to the weather after confusing her with a decent person to confide in when we first met. That mistake only happened once. As much as I refrained from giving her any details about my personal life afterward, she continued to pester me.
    I reread the email five times, looking for something I missed. Each time I read it, that one line stood apart from the rest of the note. My eyes made it bold and underlined with exclamation points at the end although there were none. But I heard her voice attached to it, emphasizing that one