Page 8 of Return to Telegraph Creek

I swallowed.“You’re gonna have to speak a bit plainer to me if you want an answer.I need to know what exactly you’re askin’?”

He cleared his throat and grabbed his hat off the bar, putting it in front of our faces to hide us from anyone that wanted to look.

“You don’t have to tell me if my supposition is correct, but please don’t be mad that I’m asking.I don’t care a whit, and I know it ain’t my business, except I want you to know it don’t matter to me.And I don’t reckon it would matter to Tim, either, except I haven’t said anything to him, because I wasn’t sure.”

I kept my breathing steady, even though my heart was going a mile a minute.“Said anything about what?”

He held my gaze with an intensity that rattled me.

I stared at him for a long time, until Oscar and Tim came back, and I turned to greet them.But I hadn’t denied it, and I figured Carson knew the truth.He’d sussed it out.And what that meant for me and Oscar, I didn’t yet understand.

I shook Tim’s hand and hoped my arm was steady.

“Thank you kindly for your help with the house and everything, and for welcoming us to Port Essington.We truly are grateful.”

Tim bobbed his chin and smiled, as he gave it a hearty shake.“You’re very welcome, Jimmy Downing.I hope you’re not gone for long.”

“I hope so, too.”

“Goodbye, Jimmy,” Carson said, smiling at me with an earnestness I couldn’t hide from.It seemed he didn’t care what our relationship was, and he had to know why we hadn’t been up front about it.“Oscar.I’ll miss you both.”

“Bye, Carson.Thanks for everythin’,” Oscar said, grinning and tipping his hat.

We rode out and along the street.Clouds were coming in, but I hoped we wouldn’t get rain on our first day of travel.When we were well out of town, I pulled Dixie up to wait for Oscar and Onyx to come up beside us.

“What is it?”

I tilted my head back toward the town.

“He knows.”

Oscar stared at me, eyebrows knitting in confusion.Then his expression changed to one of comprehension and unease.

“Who?Carson?”

“Yeah.”

“Fuck,” Oscar said, glancing behind us.“What did he say?”

I shrugged.“Somethin’ ’bout how close we seemed…”

“Goddamn it.”

“But he said he didn’t care, and he figured Tim wouldn’t either, though he hadn’t told him of his suspicions—which I’m glad of.I hope he doesn’t.”

Oscar nodded, chewing on his lip.“Did you say anything?”

“I didn’t—but I didn’t deny what he was suggesting, either.”

“So maybe it’s good we’re leaving,” Oscar said.

“Maybe.Except, we’re gonna come back.And I don’t know what we’re gonna come back to, if Carson tells anyone else what we are to each other.”

Oscar frowned.Then he said, “Hmph.”

“That all you got to say?”

“No, Jimmy, that ain’t all I got to say.I’m glad Carson figured it out, and I’m glad he knows.I believe him when he says it don’t matter to him, ’cause why should it?Who the hell cares but us?”