EXCOLO

I’m turning away to go look for some coffee, even if I have to pay for it, when a solid form bumps into me. I register long blond hair, but it’s a man’s voice and a man’s hand on my arm. Not too many people in town that could be. “Good morning, doc,” I say as he apologizes for bumping into me.

We didn’t meet under very good circumstances before, and he heard me say some things I wish he hadn’t, but I’m actually glad to see him. Not sure what’s the point of putting out your hand to shake with someone already grabbing your arm, but it seems the polite thing to do. “Meant to ask if you’d gone by the abbey to see Tarquin, and if he’s doing all right.” Asking about Tarquin might not be the smartest thing to do, but I am honestly worried about the kid. Worst he can do is tell me it’s none of my business.

Really hope he doesn’t, though. Rather not start this morning off like that. And the more I look at him, the more I really want him to like me. It registered that he was a fine-looking man before, that morning in the jail, but now I’m starting to think with that hair and those blue eyes and the way he’s built, that I haven’t really seen a better looking man in town. And he looks like someone who takes charge of things and fixes them, which I happen to feel is a very attractive quality. Makes me want to just hand myself over to him and see what he wants to do.

I’m standing there thinking all this stuff, and I realize I’m staring. Kind of shake my head to clear it and offer him a smile.