“Come here,” he said, pointing through the window and barely suppressing a laugh. “Look at Peterson.”
Sitting in a pew near the front, Peterson continuously and furiously scratched at his neck. His hair, too. He’d almost knocked off his hat. Everyone near him scooted as far from him as they could.
“Did you do that?” Richard demanded.
Daniel winked and jabbed Richard’s ribs with his elbow. “You’re welcome.”
“You are a devil.” He took one step away from his brother, paused. “You’re not coming inside?”
Daniel shrugged. “Me? Inside of a church? I don’t mind admitting I’m more than a little hesitant to enter one of those.”
“If anyone was going to be smote upon entering, it would be you.”
“You understand. I’m going to stay right here. Look through the window.” He clung to the wall, peeping through, his eyes riveted on the activity inside. “My progenies seem healthy. And happy.”
“No thanks to you,” Richard grumbled.
“Or all thanks to me if you look at it a certain way.”
“You mean blindfolded?”
“I could not have made them happy. But John does. You do. My leaving was for the best.”
“You’ve always been a genius at turning your vices into virtue.”
“I’m a multitalented man. Now, I’ll be leaving here soon, but I want you to promise me something.”
“Ha. I’m not promising you anything.”
“Promise me you’ll come to terms with what you are.” Daniel repositioned himself at his clear square, focus on the front of the church where John and Evie stood.
“I’ve no idea what you mean.”
“A good man. A worthy one. A fighting one, too. But you wouldn’t know it. You run around putting out fires even when it means you neglect your own desires. Don’t do that with Beatrice. Fight for her. For the both of you.”
“I’m not like you. I do not stomp about taking for mine whatever catches my eye. Women are not toys, Daniel. They have desires and ambitions and needs. Men should not collect them like books or boots.”
“Some men are collectors.” Daniel placed a palm on his chest. “You are not. Build your own family with the shrew and protect it. Don’t let the demands of Slopevale master your time and attention.”
He knew what Daniel meant. “I will not.”
“And tend to whatyouwant now and then. Yes?”
“Yes.” No harm in it. Much good.
“Now go inside and enjoy your woman. Your family.”
Daniel his family, too. In the end. “Where are you going?”
“Russia, I think? Or somewhere else. Anywhere else.”
“Will you return for my wedding?” Richard asked.
“Do you want me to?”
Richard snorted, not sure how to answer. “Wherever you go, don’t collect anymore brides.”
“I promise nothing.” Daniel winked again. “Now go. The family awaits.” His voice hollow, flat.Family.Said as if it weren’t also his own. Daniel was a full-blooded son of their father’s line, but he did not belong here, did not wish to be here with his family. Richard was more brother to John, more son of Slopevale than Daniel would ever want to be.
