Page 33 of Resilience on Canvas

Forcing a small smile, he said, “Don’t worry, Hen.

We’ll think of somethin’. I can sell my car, maybe.

And the tractor. Combined with the winnings from this, that will be enough for the train tickets.

Maybe even enough for us to rent some kind of place, too.

I’ve never rented a little home in one of them shared buildings myself, but between the two of us, I suspect we could make enough money for that. ”

“Would you really sell the tractor?” Henry said, his eyes wide and hopeful.

Robert’s small, fake smile turned genuine.

“Of course I would. What the hell would I take it to California for? How would I even bring it with us? Ain’t no way we’re travelin’ by tractor to the coast,” Robert said with a smirk. In a playful tone, he tacked on, “Geez, Hen, think before you speak.”

Cheeks reddening, Henry let out a soft chuckle. “Sorry.”

Son of a bitch, Robert wanted nothing more than to kiss the hell out of him right then and there. He curled his hands into fists and waited for the urge to pass.

Once it had, Robert leaned and whispered, “We shouldn’t be frettin’ so much. Because you and me, we’re leavin’ this here hellhole together. I swear it.”

“Goodness, I hope so,” Henry said, his voice still tinged with a mixture of nervousness and uncertainty.

All the encouragement Robert had provided so far wasn’t enough. He needed to try something else. Something bigger. Something bolder.

After checking to make sure no one else was watching—swiveling his head from left to right to search the church lawn and the sidewalk—Robert snatched Henry’s hand.

“Little wolf, I know you can win,” he said in a hushed tone as he squeezed Henry’s fingers .

Henry squeezed back, and the corners of his mouth curled into a small smile. “I will.”

Finally, there was a little bit of confidence in Henry’s voice. It wasn’t much. But it was there. Robert would have to pray that it was enough.

After one more rough squeeze, Robert let go of Henry’s hand. And with it, he let go of the last of his insecurities too. What mattered most was him and Henry making it to California.

“Come on,” he said, nodding toward the church. “I bet yer friends are waitin’ for us.”

Shoulder to shoulder, Robert and Henry went inside.

First, they traversed a long hallway lined with a series of doors.

Then, they followed the handwritten paper signs on the walls telling them where to find Alva’s First Dance Marathon.

When they reached the end of the hallway, Robert ignored the sign instructing them to turn right and turned left instead.

Never having been in such a large church before, Robert was curious to see its layout, regardless of where they were supposed to go.

Henry followed close behind, wringing his hands while they explored.

At the end of the short hallway, there was a velvet curtain, and behind that, they found the nave, with rows and rows of pews and a cross near the pulpit.

Only one window, too. One that was large and colorful and made of beautiful stained glass.

“Interesting buildin’,” Robert said.

Henry huffed a soft laugh.

Looking back over his shoulder, Robert crooked an eyebrow. “What?”

“Just... that word, you know? Interesting. It, uhm, it has a new meaning to me now,” Henry said, his cheeks turning pink.

Robert’s face broke into a smile, and blood rushed to his own cheeks too .

“Yeah, I suppose it means somethin’ kind of sinful to me now too,” Robert said.

He bit his bottom lip in a way that he knew was mighty suggestive. Henry’s eyes bulged.

“Robert, we’re in a church!” he whisper-yelled.

Laughing, Robert threw Henry a wink.

“Good God,” Henry said, fanning himself as he turned on his heel.

Robert continued to laugh as he followed Henry back to where they were supposed to go.

Soon enough, Robert and Henry reached a large open space.

It was probably the room that the church typically used for wedding receptions and such but was now being used for the contest. They both stopped in the threshold to take everything in.

Chairs had been put out in rows that took up three whole walls of space, and in front of the farthest wall, there were a bunch of cots laid out with pillows on top.

In the nearest corner to their right, there was a table.

On it were pitchers of water and a couple of copper chafing dishes.

From the smell—buttery and sweet with hints of cinnamon—Robert suspected the organizers were keeping some porridge or oatmeal warm for the contestants.

Henry and Robert were still gawking when Rose ran up to them.

“Isn’t this exciting ?” she said, clasping her hands in front of her chest. “I’ve never seen something like this before.

Back when I lived in New York, I went to some events in the playhouses and theaters, but they weren’t ever as large as this.

Goodness, we’ll remember this for the rest of our lives.

Did you see the cots? I can barely believe we’ll be sleeping on those!

Only for a couple of minutes here and there, but still, it seems so fantastical to me. ”

Henry said, “Well, I can’t imagine I’ll sleep much. I mean, not with everyone watchin’. ”

“Hen, you might find that yer too tired to resist,” Robert said with a smirk. “If what I read in them newspapers was right, that is.”

Henry’s face fell, and Robert’s stomach sank with regret over what was supposed to have been a lighthearted tease. While Robert was racking his brain to try to come up with something to say to fix it, Rose began to rub Henry’s back.

“I know I’m supposed to be rooting for myself, but I’ve watched you unload those shipments for the store sometimes, and I know you have the energy to outlast most of these people.” She shimmied her shoulders and said, “Well, except for me and Joe. Trust me, the two of us, we have plenty of energy.”

Robert nearly choked on his own spittle. Holy hell, he hadn’t never met a woman who made such filthy comments! Of course, he hadn’t never had a real friendship with a woman, either. Not other than Clara. And Clara was nothing if not modest.

While Robert was mentally reeling from Rose’s bedroom commentary, Henry only chuckled, shaking head in a way that suggested this wasn’t new to him.

He said, “Uhm, well, I think them cots are only for sleepin’ , so...”

Rose threw her head back and let out a full-bodied laugh, one that was so Goddamn cheerful and free, it made Robert smile too.

“Come on, we need to put in our names,” Rose said, taking Henry’s hand. She began pulling him toward a tiny table on the far side of the room. “It costs two bucks to enter.”

Robert frowned. Damn. Henry better win. Between the bit of money Henry had given Joe for fuel and this entry fee, that was likely the last of Henry’s savings.

Robert moved to follow but stopped himself.

Henry was laughing easily now, much of the worry having vanished from his face, and even though Robert wanted to stay with his man to help keep up his confidence and make him happy, it seemed that he wasn’t needed right now.

Dammit. It was hard not to be needed. But not being needed was what was needed from him right now. So, Robert forced himself to head for the spectator chairs and sit with the fact that his future was in Henry’s hands.