Rogue's Hollow by Jan Tilley Read Free Book Online Page B

sunlight, like a buried treasure that had just been uncovered.
    Travis stared at the wood with great admiration as he rubbed the oil into the nooks and crannies. 
    Malachi smiled as he gathered up his things. “Time to open up the store. You’re welcome to hang around if you’d like.”
    Travis shook his head. “I’d better head out. I need to go to the store and get some groceries. The fridge is pretty bare.”
    Nodding, Malachi gathered several more pieces of wood from the ground. He handed them to Travis, along with a carving knife and said, “Here, take these with you. Keep whittling, if you have some spare time. I’ll make a deal with you. I will give you three bucks for every amulet that you carve. Honestly, I can use all the help I can get.”
    Travis appeared happy with the offer and nodded. “You’ve got a deal.”
    As the young man walked off, Malachi didn’t really know if he’d ever see him again. Maybe he had just given away a perfectly good carving knife. But, he had a funny feeling that Travis would be back.
    Malachi opened the store and sat out front, continuing to work on his amulets. As wood shavings littered his old boots, he couldn’t get the kid out of his mind. Those big brown eyes seemed to hold a lifetime of experience and way too much pain.
    With a deep sigh, he paused for a moment and stared off into the forest that had become his solitude. His heart grew heavy as he wondered, what would Lukas have looked like at that age?

 
    Five
     
     
     
    L ate the following Friday afternoon, Malachi closed up shop and stepped outside to spend some time communing with Mother Nature. He gathered his toolbox, fired Rosie up and headed to the bridge to work on his cryptics. The air was becoming crisp and cool, and tourist visits were steadily increasing. He needed to be prepared for another big weekend.
    Enjoying the sunshine that streamed through the window, he rounded a bend in the curvy country road and patted the dashboard, telling Rosie how great she was running. She had always been one friend that he could always count on.
    As he turned a tight curve, he saw a scuffle up ahead, just beyond the bridge. One person was standing and two were down on the ground engaged in what appeared to be a fist fight. Malachi pulled Rosie up alongside them and parked. Looking over, he noticed the red-headed deviant that he’d seen before, the one who’d stolen from his store. As soon as he stepped out of his truck he was met with hostility by another boy. “Get outta here old man, if you know what’s good for you. Junior’s on a roll and he’s not afraid to take you down, too.”
    Malachi nodded. “I’m sure you’re right.” He reached into the glove box and pulled out a small hand gun. Walking around to the other side of the truck, he found Junior pounding a kid’s head into the pavement. Slowly, he stepped up behind him and cocked the gun, letting him know that he meant business.
    Junior’s hands flew into the air, as if he were surrendering.
    “Get your miserable hands off him, you worthless thief.”
    The kid slowly rose to his feet, leaving the victim writhing in pain on the ground.
    Malachi pressed the cold metal into the back of Junior’s head and growled, “If I ever catch you here again, I won’t hesitate for a minute to use this on you.” Then he raised his voice and startled the kid. “Do you understand me, punk?”
    Junior jumped and slowly nodded his head, terrified to move. He was tough with his mouth and fists, but he’d never encountered a pistol to his head before.
    Malachi pulled the gun away and kicked him in the butt. “Now get the hell outta my hollow before you really tick me off!”
    Junior and the other boy ran to their car and peeled out, without saying another word. Malachi knew that wasn’t the last he’d see of them. They’d be back with a vengeance. That’s how their kind was bred. This area was riddled with descendants of coal miners; these local kids came