âDarcy Lewis.â The hunter answered, catching this Arthurâs hand for a firm but comfortable shake. Polite and sturdy were Darcyâs first impressions, and she gave an answering smile of her own as they exchanged pleasantries. âLikewise. I assume youâre who I have to thank for keeping this one out of trouble?â Her tone was light, but the gratitude was genuine as her green eyes shifted back to her brother, who indeed appeared to be unharmed, almost miraculously so given what theyâd faced in the streets.
âArthurâs rescue was very timely.â Benji added helpfully with a smile, before turning his curious gaze to the two individuals his sister had cowed into sitting on the bench. A quick glance at their eyes told him they were both Revenants. That was interesting. Benji hadnât had many dealings with others like himself, and now there were suddenly two sitting right there, injured and properly corralled by his sister. The sight was almost comical.
The arrival of the next man however was less so, despite his attempt at humor. Benji had tensed at first, unsure of this strangerâs intent, but his shoulder relaxed at Arthurâs apparent familiarity with the older hunter. The gentle touches and assessing eyes were easy to overlook, but Benji had been on the receiving end from Darcy enough times to recognize a gruff intimacy shared between family. They werenât being threatened.
âDid I tell you to move?â Darcy snapped, as both the geniuses on her bench decided clamoring to their feet while bleeding out from nasty wendigo wounds was just a swell idea. Tough as nails or not, they weren't going anywhere until they'd gotten at least some basic care. She already had a clean rag dampened with the strongest proof liquor Dale could find behind Addieâs counter. Red seemed to think Davidâs wound would heal up fine on itâs own, which was true enough, Darcy was familiar with Revenents, and knew how fast they healed comparatively. A glance at the wound with his shirt off made Darcy think it wasnât deep enough to require stitches, which was a good sign, but thereâs was no reason to take needless risks by not a least cleaning and wrapping it up.
âThis is gonna sting.â Darcy warned, bringing the dry side of the cloth down to wipe away the blood first, then the damp side to cleanse it as best she could. It already looked a little better than it had a bit ago, though she doubted David was going to feel good anytime soon. Once that was done, Darcy turned to Benji, pointing at the linens. âThink you can wrap his wound up while I take a look at Red?â Benji nodded solemnly, picking up the clean bandages and moving over to David.
âLet me know if itâs too tight.â Benji said kindly as he began wrapping bandages carefully around the wounded manâs torso. âIâm Benji by the way. Good to meet you.â
Darcy hadnât made it much past wincing while Red undid her bandages before the man whoâd bustled in a moment ago addressed her with a careful warning. She recognized him as the sniper on the roof from earlier who'd helped her kill the first wendigo in the street, and she stood by her original assessment that he was clearly an experienced hunter, if lacking in a general sense of tact based on his entrance. This close up, a quick glance told her he was a bit older, but also framed with obvious muscle, observant dark eyes, and a pair of smugly quirked cupid bow lips full enough to --Nope, full stop. That line of thinking was definitely not helpful, and Darcy blamed the dayâs insane influx of adrenaline for indulging it as far as she had.
âRight...gratitude has never been a Blackwater specialty.â Darcy agreed dryly with the sound advice, tearing her eyes away to scan the growing crowd. The sooner they could move inside the better, but there was no way she and Benji were going to be able to leave town until at earliest tomorrow. Given the pensive faces glancing back their way from the crowd, Darcy found that reality regrettable, but one familiar face helped ease her rising tension. As Gus steered the wagon up the street their way, Darcy rummaged out a few coins and turned to Simon.
âHey kiddo, Iâve got a job for you. Think youâre up for it?â Darcy asked carefully. When Simon nodded, with serious brown eyes older than a kid his age should have, she placed the coins in his hand and jerked a thumb back toward Addieâs saloon. âI need you to head inside and find Miss Addie. You give her those, and tell her Darcy needs a room. Once thatâs done I need you to scout it out and make sure everythingâs in good shape okay. Can you help me out with that?â He nodded again, and task given, Simon took the coins before bounding inside the saloon to do as he was asked.
Gus parked the wagon with its grizzly cargo just a little ways off, before climbing down with his surgery bag and moving toward them. âOh good ya are alive. Nice ta know the Lewis clan is too stubborn to die as usual, no matter how half cocked the lot of ya like runninâ into danger the first chance ya get!â Gus wasted no time laying in as he glanced at Redâs shoulder and started digging through his bag. âFlying in with no backup, no cover, against two fuckinâ wendigos...I outta tear ya a new one.â Gus groused in a way only a curmudgeonly grandfather can really pull off. âAnd I would, but ya got trouble heading yer way. Nash was lookinâ for ya, which means Reyens is. I shook âim for a head start, but he ainât too far behind.â He said looking sour.
The name Reynes made Darcy grimace. âThe hell does he want?â She bit out harsher than sheâd meant to, but sheâd been free of that man for years, and she sure as hell didnât want anything to do with him now.
âMy guess, itâs about the kid that brother of yours picked up. Boyâs mama was one of his girls.â Gus warned softly, pulling out a needle, thread, and some honest to god rubbing alcohol from his bag as he turned to address Redâs shoulder as best he could.
âFuckâŠâ Darcy swore under her breath, suddenly very glad sheâd sent Simon to relative safety inside the saloon. Gus didnât have to say the obvious, no one worked as a girl down at the Red Pony unless they owed Malachi Reynes more money than they knew how to pay back, and he wasnât the type to let debts die with the parent. She should know.
âWell, isnât this quite the intimate little gathering.â A voice called out of the crowd as a dark, impeccably dressed figure sauntered up their way. âI had hoped to discuss a matter of business with you Miss Lewis, but I fear the surprise may have been ruined somewhat.â He drawled, ringed fingers fiddling idly with the jeweled crow head of his cane.
âCondolences appear to be in order for the passing of Miss Tessa Grey, my deepest sympathies of course. There is however, the matter of her debt, which I fear still needs resolved.â Darcy strode out to meet him before he fully made it to the group, trying to create as much of a barrier between their injured party, and the predator in their midst, that she could.
âHer bodyâs not even cold yet, and youâre shaking her kid down for money?â Darcy spit back, unable to hide the disgust she felt from her eyes. Her look managed to be more diplomatic than Benjiâs though. No one could see the look in his silver eyes as he gazed at Reynes as anything less than loathing.
âIâm afraid the interest rate on her initial loan does not favor such niceties, as the total has already reached a not inconsequential Seventy Five dollars. Iâm sure the boy and I can come to an arrangement though on how to most...expediently pay off such a large sum.â Darcy swallowed bile at that thinly veiled suggestion, managing to keep her lip from curling in an outright snear.
âThatâs not gonna happen.â Darcy stated firmly, standing as a physical barrier between Reynes and the rest of the group as much as possible. She knew how he played this game, and leverage was always key. âI imagine reclaiming whatever you convinced that poor woman to buy from you in the first place-â
âA sewing machine.â Reynes supplied helpfully in a jovial tone that belied the fact this was just a game for him, an amusing opportunity to pass the time in the presence of those who could not afford to escape it. It made a temper flare in Darcy all over again, but she knew better than to fall into that trap.
âWill be the quickest way to do that. Take it, and anything else valuable in their house, and fuck off.â Darcy finished dryly. âOdds are, youâll come out on top with that, and if not, Iâll cover the difference.â
âThatâs an interesting...first offer.â Reynes grinned, trying to lean into her space. It was a common power play sheâd seen the man use a hundred times, but Darcy wasnât fifteen anymore, and knew better than to shrink away, even if his close proximity made her skin crawl.
âOnly offer.â Darcy growled back quietly. âTake the deal, and leave him the hell alone, or I swear, I will kick up such a holy goddamn fuss in town about what we both know goes on in that backroom, that even your buddy Jamison wonât shield you from the storm if you even look in Simonâs direction wrongâ Threats were a gambit, but Darcy was betting the potential trouble would outweigh any benefit for dragging this game out much longer.
âAnd you know what happens if you choose that route. Hardly a sunset ending my dear.â He replied softly, his dangerous tone. Malachi Reynes never yelled before he killed people.
âYouâre not getting him either way. Take it or leave it.â Darcy repeated firmly, trying to appear more confident in her bluff than she felt.
Silence hung heavily for a few moments, until: âWell then, it appears we have a solution. Thatâs what I always liked about you my dear, you always had a talent for figuring out how to pay off other peoplesâ debts.â Reynes replied with a cutting smile. âYou may find yourself in the coming days, in need of a powerful friend Miss Lewis, a...benefactor if you will. I look back on our past association quite fondly, and would not be adverse to renewing it once again. Same terms.â
âIâll pass, thanks.â Darcy offered a caustic grin of her own, before turning on her heel and back to Gus, refusing to look back to see if Reyes was still lingering about.
âThere, itâs handled. Howâs the shoulder?â Darcy shifted back to the more immediate problem at hand. It still looked painful and angry to Darcyâs eye, with no amount of stitching able to hide the chuck just missing, but she could see where Gus had cleaned and stitched what he could, as he began rewrapping Redâs shoulder.