Metallic Heart

by Liahona West

  “Where’s the horse?” Eloise asked.

  Abe inclined his head. “Outside. Where’s yours?”

  “Gone,” Eloise said. “Chased off by the pride of lions. You didn’t happen to see her when you came looking for us, did you?”

  “No. Mason’s gonna be pissed.” Nails inspected his fingers.

  Eloise groaned and leaned forward, her hands covering her face. She lost the horse. “What are we going to do? The Compound can’t afford to lose any of their animals.”

  Abe patted her once on the back and smiled. “We’ll manage. Trading season is in a couple months and we can gather enough resources to trade for another horse.”

  “Well,” Finch stood, “I will be long gone when that conversation happens.”

  “Ha! No, you won’t,” Eloise said and leaned toward her. “If one of us has to go down, we all are.”

  Finch raised her eyebrow and sighed. “Well, we gotta get out of here so Mason can yell at us.”

  Eloise laughed and put her forehead on Finch’s shoulder.

  ***

  Their return trip from hunting proved to be more productive than the first. A herd of deer outside the city limits grazed in the tall grass and after Bannack killed one, Eloise and Finch lashed it to the horse’s back. They later collected some quail and rabbits a few hours from the Compound.

  Mason waited for them at the stables. “Where’s Ruby?”

  “We…” Eloise rubbed her fingertips together and stood aside so Abe could lead the other horse into her stall, “lost her. I’m sorry, Mason.”

  She had expected frustration. Not concern. “Tell me what happened.”

  Eloise relayed the news but kept her and Bannack’s conversation secret. Mason listened while Abe and Mal attended the horse and Finch and Bannack cleaned and shined the tack and unloaded the hunting cargo.

  “I wish we hadn’t lost her. She was our best horse.”

  “I know,” Eloise said and hung her head.

  Mason put his hand on her shoulder and when Eloise looked up, he smiled and said, “But I’m so glad everyone came back in one piece. Get some rest.” A smile brightened his face. “Tomorrow’s your day off.”

  Relief ran through her, and she sighed. She turned to the crew. “I’ll water and feed the horses.”

  “Hey, guys!” Sibyl walked down the concrete incline with her usual bouncing gait. Abe, Mal, Bannack, and Finch all waved at her as they walked home. She watched each of them pass, her eyes flicking to Bannack’s bandages underneath his shirt collar, and raised her eyebrow at Eloise. “Something happened. Didn’t it?”

  “Lions attacked us. We lost Ruby. No! Wait. Don’t cry, please. I hate it when you do that.”

  Sibyl was always happy, so when she wasn’t, it made Eloise nervous.

  “I’ll be okay.” Sibyl wiped at her eyes, sniffed, then put her arms out. “I just need a hug.”

  Eloise chuckled and wrapped her arms around Sibyl. When they broke apart, Sibyl smiled mischievously.

  “Come on.” Sibyl pulled Eloise toward the horse stable.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We need to share our boy woes with Beau. He’s an excellent listener.”

  “He makes me nervous.”

  “Hush up. He’s the perfect person to share things with.”

  “He’s not a person!”

  Sibyl had leeched herself onto Eloise years ago. No matter how hard she tried, Sibyl refused to go away. Ignoring her made things worse. Trying to scare her off by being rude didn’t work either.

  Eloise adored her.

  She liked Sibyl’s company. She was loud and obnoxious but had a kind heart, was incredibly loyal, and thought about others more often than Eloise did. Sibyl also had an uncanny ability to pop in when Eloise needed her most.

  She allowed Sibyl to pull her along. They passed through the open gate of the chain-link fence that led to the football field. Grass grew in place of the Astroturf, ripped up long ago, and now the area grew food for the five horses—now four—housed in the building underneath the home team bleachers.

  It was the perfect place. The five classrooms were large enough to keep a horse. The upstairs rooms could hold any tack and supplies they needed.

  Beau was Sibyl’s favorite, most likely because he was sweet on her. The other three horses were black, chestnut and grullo, but Beau was a beautiful buckskin tobiano Gypsy Cob. His mane covered his eyes and flowed with every shake of his thick neck.

  He terrified Eloise. Beau was smaller than the other horses, standing a bit taller than pony height, but was higher strung and had a solid build. Since his arrival to the Compound as a colt, Eloise had seen Beau send several people to the medical ward before being gelded.

  One thing was for sure. No one could make Beau do anything he did not want to do, yet with Sibyl’s persistence, he had grown leaps and bounds. She could get him to do anything. He was like a puppy with her and she soaked it all in. If Beau was being an idiot, they called Sibyl to help.

  “So, Beau,” Sibyl crooned to him as she brushed his black and white mane. “I heard my friend spent a lot of quality time with an adorable man.”

  Eloise rolled her eyes. “Now you’re feeding him lies? He’s a horse!”

  Sibyl gasped, and Beau puffed in response, his mane shaking out. She covered his ears. “You take that back!” Sibyl rubbed his ears between her fingers. “I’m so sorry, Beau. She just doesn’t understand us. You and me. Forever.”

  “He is a freakin’ hor—never mind.” Eloise made a lazy throwing motion with her hand. She would much rather collect water for the horses instead of watching Sibyl gush over a smelly animal.

  She found the trough sitting in the shade of an awning against the tree line. Buckets hung on rusty nails hammered into the doorjamb. The glass from the top half of the door was missing, and the horses peaked out, eager for their turn with the water.

  Eloise spent several minutes carrying buckets to each horse. She enjoyed it; the not-getting-inside-with-them part.

  She gave a scratch to one horse on her forelock and poured the bucket of water for the mare.

  Finally, the last horse. He was getting up in years and had become quite grumpy. Impatient, he began banging his large black hoof against the wall.

  Bang, bang, bang.

  “Hold on! I’m coming!”

  Bang, bang, bang.

  “Will you just hold on a minute?” Eloise rushed back to the trough and plunged the bucket deep into the water.

  Bang, bang…bang…bang…

  The world around her blurred at the edges. Eloise shook her head. Her heart pounded against her chest.

  The bucket hit the ground, and water spilled onto the asphalt.

  Bang…bang…bang.

  “You stupid horse! Quit banging your leg on the wall!”

  Her sudden screaming brought Sibyl out of the stall. “Are you all right?”

  Eloise covered her ears, the bang, bang, bang rattling around in her head, tormenting her. The scent of blood filled her nose.

  The man cut Eloise.

  Ada’s body hit the floor.

  Every inhale and exhale sent an inferno throughout her body. Eloise’s feet tangled when she ran, and she tumbled to the ground, landing in the puddle made from the water bucket.

  “Eloise?”

  “Don’t touch me!”

  The minute her words came out, Eloise regretted them.

  Sibyl stepped back, her eyes full of concern.

  “I…the banging…I…”

  Eloise stood, unable to look at Sibyl, and stumbled away as quickly as she could.

  I have to get away. I have to get away!

  More banging.

  More blood. This time, hers.

  More gunshots.

  She collapsed against the wall inside the Compound. Her chest heaved so heavily, her ribs hurt.

  I have to get away! I need to move. Why won’t
my legs work?

  A sob rolled out of her throat as she pulled herself up on the wall.

  Bang, bang, BANG.

  The door.

  The darkness.

  Warm hands on her.

  A cloud.

  No. A bed.

  Why was there a bed?

  Where am I?

  ***

  The next day blurred, her day off plans ruined, but she didn’t care. Everything hurt.

  When Bannack came to visit, she was sitting up in bed stroking Bali. He knocked and entered. Day old stubble kissed the lines of his jaw and his warm masculine energy consumed the room, bringing with it the familiar scent of lavender with an added treat of earthen air. He’d been outside, proven by the dirty smudges on his shirt and ripped jeans. Her eyes shifted to his hands. Calloused from manual labor with wide knuckles and lines of subtle veins. They were strong, powerful, and made Eloise’s breath hitch.

  Ohmygod.

  His hands? Really, Eloise.

  He shouldn’t have looked so beautiful, but he did.

  “And you didn’t even wash up,” Eloise said, mirth heavy in her tone.

  Bannack smiled. If Eloise was standing, she would have fallen over. As he approached, he said, “And miss a chance to get you dirty?”

  Eloise stopped stroking Bali, stared at him, and pushed down a snigger. Her face heated, and she put her hand on her hip. “Well…I mean…getting dirty could mean so many things.”

  “Huh?” Bannack mumbled under his breath. “What did I say?” He looked at her then and cocked his head. “Why are you reddening?”

  “You just said—” Eloise lost her battle over keeping her composure and cackled. Bannack stood in the middle of the room, his arms hanging limp at his side, and blinked slowly as she laughed for a good while.

  When she stopped, she wiped her eyes so she could see him. “You have no idea how sexual that sounded just now. And your face…” she chuckled, “your face is so…so confused.”

  “Wha…?” More confusion. He looked at his feet, then back at her. “I meant to give you a hug. I don’t—”

  Realization spread across his face and he pulled his head into his shirt like a turtle. Muffled words flew from behind his hands. “Oh my God,” he said. Bannack peaked out from his shirt collar, only his eyes visible, and lowered his eyebrows. “No laughing. Why are you laughing again?”

  They were both smiling now, Eloise on the verge of sputtering. “You can…” she wheezed, then cleared her throat, “you can give me a hug. I don’t mind.”

  “Oh, good.” Bannack stood and walked over.

  A small spread of black peach fuzz covered his chin and when he leaned in close, his scent evolved into an entire lifeline, and she became intoxicated by the fragrance. It engulfed her in a gentle caress that should have been impossible for a man of his stature. This embrace was different than when they were riding Ruby. It was different than all the other times they were close. His one touch, a simple hug, spun her head. She lifted her arms around him. His skin flickered, and the muscles moved, strong and masculine. She knew he felt something because he inhaled through his nose. The sound was faint. She almost missed it. But it lit her stomach on fire.

  What…is happening?

  When he straightened, she scanned his face, looking for any sign of his realization. She knew it was there. His dark skin hid it well.

  Bannack scurried for the door.

  “Wait.”

  He paused, his back still turned.

  “You’re not going to sit down and talk?” Eloise asked.

  He turned around with twinkling eyes.

  God. He’s so beautiful.

  Bannack pulled up a chair. One corner of his mouth lifted higher than the other in a half smile, showing a small part of his teeth.

  “What is it?” she asked.

  “I am remembering the last time I saw you,” he said and leaned on his elbows, his hands hanging limp at the wrist.

  Intrigued, Eloise cocked her head. “I don’t remember.”

  “It was summer. About…six months Before. You stood on my back porch in the doorway teasing me for how I made my sandwich.” He smiled and glanced sideways at her, his blue eyes twinkling. “You were brutal.”

  “Was that the peanut butter and jelly sandwich?”

  Bannack nodded.

  “Yes! I remember now. You put butter on it.”

  “And you never let me live it down.”

  “No. Because it’s weird. Everyone knows you’re supposed to use the curved side of the butter knife. And who puts butter on their PB and J?”

  “I do, thank you very much, because who wants ripped bread?”

  “Your bread rips when you put peanut butter on it?”

  “Yours does not?”

  Eloise shook her head.

  “Huh. Maybe I was doing it wrong…”

  “Uh, yeah. That’s the whole point of our conversation. You make sandwiches weird.”

  Bannack tilted his head back and laughed. “Well, at least I do not dig worms out of the dirt, lick them off, and put them back in for more dirt.”

  “I was what? Five? It doesn’t count.”

  He tapped his chest with his finger. “If I get flack for my peanut butter and jelly sandwiches,” then he jabbed his finger at Eloise, “you get flack for your secret worm licking.”

  “You know what?” She paused, unable to think of anything to say.

  Bannack, his eyes narrowed and lips curled in a shy smile, flicked his nonexistent hair and leaned back against his chair. She scoffed then folded her arms, watching him smile. Her heart jumped.

  She looked at her chest.

  Listen you, if I have to get a beating from you every time he smiles, looks at me, or breathes, I might just have to tear you out and throw you away.

  ***

  Eloise laid in the grass, her eyes closed, listened to the birds and enjoyed the sunlight warming her face and body.

  Bannack was right. This is kinda nice.

  “Yo!”

  Eloise’s ears perked up to the sound of Sibyl’s call and turned.

  “You’re such a slacker,” Sibyl said as she got close. “It’s your turn to get the herbs and plants for Soora’s tinctures and you’re out here lying in the grass. Here’s the list.”

  “Nah,” Eloise said, pushed the list away, and grabbed the wicker basket from Sibyl. “I think I got it.”

  “Really? Come on,” Sibyl motioned with her fingers, “tell me what Soora needs.”

  She sighed. “Seaweed, broadleaf plantain, lichen, sphagnum moss, horsetail, cattail, and…” Eloise paused, and Sibyl raised her eyebrow. “Shut up! Okay. Yes. I need the list.”

  Sibyl laughed and pulled a piece of thick, handmade paper from her pocket.

  “I’ll be back.”

  Sibyl nodded. “See ya.”

  ***

  Cold water wrapped around Eloise’s bare legs and sent a shiver through her body. If she wasn’t careful, the water flowing down from the snow-capped mountain on the horizon would numb her bare feet—she had left her boots on the shore—faster than she could collect the cattails. Mud squelched between her toes. A family of ducks quacked in alarm, then fluttered their wings to escape Eloise’s presence as she waded through the grass and water.

  Children’s chatter danced through the air. Eloise, tying a piece of rope around the cattail stalks, grabbed her boots, tied them together, and hefted both shoes and bundle over her shoulder. She walked toward the noise, laughter occasionally rising up then fading behind the sound of running water and splashing.

  The bushes rustled gently as Eloise pushed them out of her way and she watched kids of varying ages, gathered along the riverbed, splashing in the water and digging in the sand. Their parents either sat on blankets, patches of smooth rock and grass, or played. A laugh caught Eloise’s attention. Her eyes flickered further up the riverbank. Kids surrounded Bannack.


  Eloise watched him. His smile. The way his shoulders moved as he walked. The slight swagger to his hips. Jeans rolled up to his knees. Tattoos along his arm. He held his hands out, cupped, for the kids to grab something from his palms.

  Tucking her body behind a mangled oak tree, Eloise watched as a flock of ducks gathered around Bannack and the kids, some flapping their wings as they waited for what the children and Bannack held in their hands.

  “One, two, three, throw!” Bannack whooped, tossing a handful of what appeared to be seeds onto the surface of the water.

  The kids squealed. Bannack laughed, an unrestrained and bright noise.

  Their eyes locked.

  She tried to hide, and for a moment she thought she had succeeded, but when she peered around the tree to look for Bannack, he was leaning against the tree trunk inches from her. Eloise squeaked, falling backward and panting as her heart pounded in her chest. He shoved his hands in the pockets of his rolled-up jeans, a sideways smirk pulling at the corner of his deep-set, crystalline eyes. Once she recovered, a subtle warmth tugged at her chest.

  “How long were you spying?” He asked.

  “Spying?” Eloise sputtered. “I’m offended.”

  His eyes glistened. “Uh-huh.”

  “You’re good with the kids.” Eloise inclined her head toward the crowd of children at the riverbank.

  Bannack followed her line of sight. “Ah…” He shrugged. “I enjoy the ducks as much as they do.”

  They watched each other. He stood with his shoulders square, proud, and with a slight lean to his body. He took a step, foot resting on the grassy embankment Eloise stood on. Her cheeks reddened and then her ears. Because why not? If her emotions continued to betray her, wearing a box over her head would be an appropriate solution.

  “Your lying is substandard,” Bannack whispered with a growl.

  Eloise’s body shuddered when Bannack’s fingers brushed her own, looking at her through an awning of black eyelashes. An invisible string pulled gently on her chest, coaxing her closer, touching his hand. She inhaled through her nose, acutely aware of his stare on her lips. She smiled. “You’re close.”