Hyllis Family Story 1: Telekinetic

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Authors: Laurence E Dahners
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Mom, if we feed three deputies for free, it’ll cost us more than if we just didn’t charge those two men.”
    Eva shrugged, “That’s true. But we don’t want word to get out that if you act like a jerk you can eat for free.”
    Tarc backed through the door and headed out into the big room with the Garcias’ food. As he passed Denny Smith he quietly said, “My mom should be able to come out and talk to you in a few more minutes.”
    Tarc passed fairly close to the table with the two strangers as he went to deliver the Garcias’ food. The man who’d spoken to him before said, “Hey, boy. Is that sweet little blonde back yet?”
    Tarc just shook his head, not trusting himself to speak. His throat was tight. He wasn’t sure whether it was rage or fear that had tightened it, but he knew his voice wouldn’t sound normal.
    As he dropped off the Garcias’ plates, Sergeant Garcia spoke to him quietly. “Those two assholes by the door giving you trouble Tarc?”
    Tarc saw the sergeant’s narrowed eyes had focused on the two men. Having the sergeant there made him feel better. “Yeah, they refused to pay unless Daussie takes their money.” He mumbled, “They seem to have some kind of a thing for her.”
    Garcia had been reaching in his pocket for his own payment, but his eyes widened and he looked up at Tarc. “Daussie! She’s just a kid! I know she’s pretty, but…”
    Tarc blinked, it seemed like everyone but Tarc thought Daussie’s looks were something special. For a moment he tried to picture her face. He’d just seen it after all. He realized that all he could bring to mind was some weird amalgamation of images of her face from the past. And that picture was overlain with an older brother’s irritation, disregard and distaste.  He thought to himself that he needed to actually look at her the next time he saw her. To Garcia he said, “Yeah, well we’ve invited some of the deputies down for a free dinner,” he said quietly. We’ll ask those guys for payment again when the deputies are here, but we appreciate your support as well.” Briefly Tarc considered telling the Garcias their meal was on the house as well, but decided he should check with one of his parents first.
    Tarc turned and went to the end of the bar waiting for his father to notice him. Daum was serving beer to three strangers. Tarc thought that it seemed like a lot more strangers were stopping at the tavern than there had been in the past. That was good because it meant more business, but it didn’t seem like the strangers had been taking rooms very often recently. They hadn’t stabled their horses either, just stopped in to drink and eat then moved on. Tarc knew his dad would shrug and say, “Business is business.” However, sometimes Tarc wondered whether all business really was the same.
    Some of these strangers are … Tarc didn’t really know how to put it, not really the kind of people we want in our town, are they?
    Tarc watched Daum take the men’s money. Daum put the money in the cash drawer against the wall. Tarc saw him flip the lever that dumped some of the money out of the drawer and down a pipe into their strongbox in the cellar. The family tried not to keep too much money in the drawer in case of a robbery. It reminded Tarc to take the money out of his pocket that he’d collected from the Garcias. No need for him to be carrying a lot of money around with him either.
    Daum came down to his end of the bar and Tarc gave him the money. He quietly told Daum about the two men refusing to pay and Eva sending Daussie to offer free meals to the deputies again. Daum eyed the two men unhappily; then glanced back at the three men he’d just served beer to. Tarc wondered if Daum thought that the five of them were associated somehow. Tarc studied the three beer drinkers; thinking to himself that they had the same hard look as the two men eating by the door. In fact, they seem to be dressed somewhat similarly as well.
    Tarc

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