The Devil's Beating His Wife by Siobhán Béabhar Read Free Book Online

distressed child.
    "Are you back?" Carver asked me.
    I shrugged with confusion. Where had I gone? Back to Belgium, it seemed.
    "That was just a truck backfiring," Baxter said, studying my face. "I didn't think it was that loud."
    I dropped my gaze to the vomit on the floor. Steadying myself, I began to bend down to clean up the mess, but Carver grabbed my arm.
    "I'll do it," he said, snatching a rag from near the sink. He sunk down to the floor and efficiently cleaned my mess. I stepped back, looking towards the hallway. I could hear whimpers. My feet led me towards the source.
    When I entered the room, she shrunk away as if I was there to harm the boy. I dropped my head, knowing how crazy I must have seemed.
    "That's a handsome boy," was all that I could manage.
    Her hand cradled the back of his head. She bounced him in her arms while his scared whimpers lessened into the occasional hiccup. I walked towards her and placed the back of my hand against the boy's cheek. His head snapped up and he stared at me with the infamous Bennett eyes.
    The creaking of wood alerted us to Carver's presence. Mary-Alice smiled in her husband's direction and walked to him, carrying their son. Carver never glanced at the boy; instead, his eyes were pinned on me. Concern was evident in his gaze. Alertness primed his body.
    I smiled weakly. "Your family's safe with me, Carver. You understand? I would never harm your boy or Mary-Alice." My eyes darted towards the cut along her hairline. I felt my skin tighten with shame and disgust.
    "I know you wouldn't hurt them." Carver shook his head. Sadness marked his features when he added, "Intentionally."
    There wasn't any need to put words to his fear. The knowledge clenched my heart. "You know? I think it's time I made my way into town. To stop by and say hello to everybody." As I stepped towards the doorway, Mary-Alice pivoted away and carried her son into the master bedroom, shutting the door behind her.
    Carver stepped aside and then placed his hand on my shoulder. "I'll give you a ride, Baxter."
    I wrapped my arm around my brother and embraced him. Ruffling his blond hair, I pushed him away. "I'll walk. The exercise is good for my leg."
    He glanced down at my leg and twitched his eyebrows.
    Shaking off his concern, I tapped my damaged thigh. "Helps the muscles get used to my weight, you know. I'll see you later, Carver."
    "Are you sure? It won't take nothin' but a few minutes. I'll grab my ke—"
    I cut him off and moved around him towards the front door. "Stay and be with your family. Your wife and child are upset."
    He glanced towards the bedroom and then shrugged his shoulders. "You're probably right, big brother. I never know what type of trouble my wife gets into when I ain't keeping my eyes on her." Those eyes narrowed on me.
    I found myself fumbling through a swift and ungraceful exit. I had to balance against the railing as I made my way down the porch steps. Carver stood at the doorway, so I tried to minimize my limp. I had already emasculated myself once today. I didn't need to do so a second time by falling down the steps.
    In the past, it would have only taken me a few minutes to walk from Carver's house to the main road. Now, it felt like a good quarter-hour. At this pace, it would probably take me an hour to make it into town.
    The paved road was smooth, cutting its way through old dense woods. Railroad tracks ran parallel to the road. Some of the houses were tucked back half a mile or more from the road. Most residents lived on the north side of town, in Wilkinson County.
    There were no cars on the road. It was too damned hot for unnecessary movement. Exercising was unnecessary movement. I was the only nut taking a long stroll on a country road. Shivers racked my spine as I grew closer to the road that led to Colsen's farm. I wondered what the old dump looked like now.
    I glanced down the dirt road that led to the farm. Weeds had overgrown the lane. It looked like no one had visited the