Chapter 16, Part One

No Honor; Chapter 16 Part 1: Empathy

So here's how it works. One person should be watchin' Rex and The Mexicans at all times. They serve meals before openin', after closin', and one time durin' the day when the doors is locked, and a "Be right back" sign is posted. If they gotta go, a large pot in their room is what they do it in, then that gets dumped in the nearby outhouse pit.

Whenever they eat, or are released to relieve 'emselves, two people must be present at all times; one undoes the ropes, and the other one trains the gun. They eat, and do their business one at a time. Their exercise is jumpin' jacks, that's all, and they're gagged whenever the shop's open, or when they get lippy... The Mexicans are pretty much gagged, right after they eat.

That's about it... After I got up and bathed in the hotel's ration, I happily hopped on over to the grocery, since they serve way better than Henrietta's. Buttery grits, an' eggs an' sausage, an' biscuits... Norm's a hell of a cook.

While he an' Mitch prepared the grocery for openin', I had the pleasure o' sittin wit' Dancer, on duty. The Mexicans across from us looked every which way, except in our direction. Jonas, with a belly fulla breakfast, was fast asleep. After five minutes or so, I decided ta break silence.

"Soooo.... Dancer?"

"Yes."

"Skin Dancer?"

"Yes."

"Soooo... why-?"

"I've stitched the best coats, and the worst wounds."

That was all he said.

It seemed like an eternity passed, in silence, but really it was only fifteen minutes or so, before I tried again.

"That story... What Carter said Roy had done... Is that true?"

He looked at me. There was a pain in his face that was... It came over me as sure as he must have felt it. He opened his mouth, and nothing came out. Then he paused, before turnin' away.

"Yes", he said.

I said, "I would've burned this place to the ground... for hidin' that man. Why aren't your people here? Why Carter?"

He said, "We are Tonkawa. War with the Comanche has weakened us... To come to this place, we pass through bad lands, and many enemies."

I nodded.

I wanted to apologize to him... I didn't have nothin' ta do with it, but I felt responsible somehow, like Roy was kin o' mine. I hoped he knew I wasn't like that and I hoped he knew how I felt about it.

In the end we just sat there in silence.

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