Shallow Creek

“Yeah, some methed-out losers shot old Charlie Davies when he found the trailer they were cooking in.  We got one of them since he used a gun with his name engraved along the barrel.  Those guys ain’t usually bright.  He was a stubborn ass, though.  Didn’t give up anyone else, and I know for damn sure he wasn’t working alone.  Not an idiot like that.”

“Lot of drug problems around here now?” Brendan asked.

“Yeah, but mostly that’s the DEA’s problem.  We’re not supposed to intervene.”

Brendan suddenly increased the pace and Marcus kept up, so Brendan pushed harder again, testing his friend.  Marcus pulled ahead on the curve, so Brendan pumped his legs as hard as humanly possible, barely keeping up now.  They tore down the straight, blowing right past to the two women who’d stopped to stretch.  Brendan didn’t even have time for much more than a passing glance at their butts as they flew by.

The finish line loomed ahead, but Brendan couldn’t even bribe his legs to go any faster as his friend stayed a few steps ahead.  The line shot under his feet and the two men slowed to a casual jog.

“Uncle Sam’s Misguided Children just can’t keep up, huh?” Marcus joked, sweat pouring down his face.

“Yeah, yeah,” Brendan muttered, putting his hands on his knees.  “Guess I owe you a beer.”

“Sounds good, man.” Marcus peeked at his watch.  “Oh crap, I’m going to be late for my shift.”  He edged onto the grass and called back, “Call me about that drink, bro.  It’s good to have you back.”

Brendan nodded and waved his friend off.  He turned back to the track and found himself all alone.  He’d only taken a few strides before someone zipped up behind him.

“Mind if I join you?”

He couldn’t know if his expression betrayed the homicidal self-defense instincts battling for use, but the pretty lady’s smile didn’t falter, so he guessed not.  He recognized her as one of the pair that had shared the track with them before.

“Sure.  What happened to your friend?”

The lady used her head to motion back towards the parking lot.  “Sarah had to get going, but I felt like going for one more lap.”

“Cool.”

After a few more strides, she piped up again.  “I’m Casey, by the way.”

“Brendan.”

“Nice to meet you, Brendan.” She had a nice, genuine smile.  She’d pulled her strawberry blonde hair back in a tight ponytail, and it bobbed rhythmically with her steady gait.  Brendan gave her another quick once-over and guessed that this tall, athletic woman was not the reason for the pair’s slow pace earlier.

“You don’t sound like you’re from around here.”

“I’m not,” she said.  “Indianapolis.”

“Long way from home.”

“Yeah, and I’ve only been here a few weeks,” Casey said.  “I haven’t really met many people yet, so I figured I’d come say hello to you.”

“Don’t worry, it won’t take you long to meet every person in this town.”

She laughed a little, not even remotely out of breath from her run with her friend.  “It’s a really nice place,” she said, eying Brendan.  “I could get used to it here.”

He let that one slide and continued on as they rounded the corner nearest to the parking lot.  They slowed down together, but Brendan assumed Casey would’ve followed him for another lap or two if he’d wanted.  He would’ve been lying if he said he wasn’t at least tempted.  Her gym shorts didn’t leave much of her legs up to the imagination, and his certainly didn’t need much assistance.

They exchanged meaningless small talk on the way to her truck.  At least she had that part right.  No self-respecting resident of Shallow Creek drove anything other than a pickup truck.  Well, maybe some owned a Trans Am as a weekend car.  No one would judge that choice inappropriate.

“This is me,” Casey announced as she opened her door.  “It was nice meeting you.”

“You, too.”

Awkward smiles in an awkward silence lasted for a couple of seconds before Brendan broke it off.  “Have a good day.”

“You, too.” She climbed into her truck, allowing him one last glance before she shut the door.

Brendan gave a slight wave as she drove off.  As Casey disappeared down the street, he guessed it was about time he hit the road, too.  Then he remembered that he’d just been beaten in a race by a guy who got out of the Army five years ago.  With no more than a sigh, Brendan turned and jogged back onto the track.

Chapter 6

The creaking ceiling fan provided Brendan’s only company again that night.  Despite how gross he considered the idea of sleeping in his brother’s bed, he figured that all those dingy motel rooms he’d had to stay in over the years were probably way worse.  His mom had probably bleached the sheets a thousand times, so he had nothing to worry about.  Right?

He rolled over and stared at the wall.  Not surprisingly, the sheetrock had no words of wisdom to bestow.  Brendan took a few more deep breaths before giving up and dragging his pillow and sheets back down to the living room, where his couch awaited him as always.