“I’m sorry that we got off on the wrong foot. It was probably my fault. I didn’t mean to offend. If I can make it up to you somehow, I will.”
She stopped halfway down the path. This close, she could see the bare skin behind the roadrunner’s eye. It was shockingly blue at the top, shading to a deep carmine near the back of its head. The claws on its feet were wickedly curved.
The bird turned one more time, tilting its beak to look at her.
It spread its wings.
Selena swallowed, thinking,If it jumps for me, protect my face, try to get away, maybe Copper can pull it off me before it gets my eyes ...
The roadrunner dipped its head to her, crest flattening, like a courtier bowing, then leapt down from the wall and was gone into the desert.
Selena’s breath went out as if she’d been struck. Her legs felt suddenly weak.
Copper, released from Father Aguirre’s custody, came up and shoved her skull under Selena’s hand.
“Was that it?” she asked. “Did it work?”
“Who knows?” asked Father Aguirre. “But it was a good sign, I think.”
“Jeez, you apologized enough,” said Grandma Billy. “Don’t know what more Snake-Eater wants.”
Selena thought about explaining that apologies were the best tool she’d ever found for making something beover. If apologizing meant that fetches in the window were a thing thathadhappened and not one that wasstillhappening, she would cheerfully apologize for everything up to and including being born.
She had a feeling that Grandma wouldn’t feel the same way. Grandma had made a different sort of peace with the universe.
But she was still a good friend to have. “Will you sleep here tonight?” she asked. “I mean, you can have the bed, I just ... in case there’s something ...”
“Sure,” said Grandma. “Planned to. We’ll drink mojitos and play cards.”
Father Aguirre smiled. “If you need anything, yell,” he said. “And Selena—the house seems quite happy to have you in it.”
Selena blinked.
He waved, patted Copper, and went off down the road back to town.
Grandma Billy went back to her house to get blankets and another pillow. She checked three times to make sure Selena was okay being alone for a few hours.
“It’s fine,” said Selena.Is it? It must be, or Grandma wouldn’t let me stay alone.“It’s broad daylight.”
“Broad daylight’s when the desert gets you,” said Grandma. “But I won’t be a minute.” She paused. “Honestly, might be that I’m more trouble than I’m worth with your ... um ... friend. He and I were never close.”
“I’d still rather you came back,” said Selena. “But I think I’ll be okay.”
Grandma went off in a flurry of skirts and bangles.
After she was gone, Selena made a cup of tea and stood at the back door and looked at the spot where the roadrunner had been.
There was no sign of where the dead fetches had fallen. She’d expected rags or something left on the porch, but nothing. Either Grandma had cleaned them up or there had been nothing left or ... well, something might have taken them away.
The roadrunner had seemed to accept her apology ...And that I am even thinking this is completely mad. Walter would shout and stomp around the house, or accuse people of drugging him or ... something.
Walter would probably think I was in a cult.
She considered this dispassionately yet again. Grandma Billy and Father Aguirre, ringleaders of a strange little desert faith in the middle of Quartz Creek. Possible? It wasn’t like her judgment of character could be relied upon. It was possible that they were both diabolical masterminds. It was possible that this was all drugs and special effects and ... something. Hypnosis, maybe.
But she still found herself thinking that Grandma Billy would be the worst cult leader imaginable.
And Copper likes them both. So there’s that.
