“I’ll drink to that.” Enos resumed guzzling. He was a lot more subdued than he used to be and was still conspicuous by his absence at their daily target shoots.
Soon the rabbit was roasted. Charley tore off a leg and ate ravenously. He glanced at Melissa every now and then, admiring the dainty way she held a piece of meat and how she took tiny bites instead of wolfing the food like he did. She was as delicate as fine china and twice as pretty.
Tony didn’t have much of an appetite. He nibbled at a piece, then rose and walked off into the darkness.
Excusing himself, Charley followed. In his estimation it was high time he got to the bottom of whatever was bothering his friend.
There was no moon. Charley barely made Tony out, standing in the middle of some mesquite, his hands shoved in his pockets. “Are you as tired of rabbit as I am?” he joked.
“I want to be alone.”
“Nothin’ doin’. You’ve been keepin’ to yourself ever since we left Denver, and I’d like to know why. Is it something I’ve done? Is it Melissa?”
“It is both,” Tony said.
The blunt answer threw Charley off his mental stride. He groped for the right thing to say. “I’m sorry if I’ve upset you. You’re about the best friend I’ve ever had, and I’d rather eat dirt than have you down at the shanks on my account.”
“It is not you. It is your love for the girl.”
Now Charley was doubly confused and more than a little put out. “I never said I was in love with her.”
“Oh, please. Anyone with eyes can see the longing in yours when you look at her. Like Enos with Clarabelle, you have been struck by the thunderbolt.” Tony paused. “I should know. I have been struck too.”
“You’ve got a gal stashed away somewhere?” Charley grinned and clapped him on the back. “Why didn’t you say so?”
Tony sighed. “Why talk about that which can never be mine? Her name is Maria, and she lives in Naples. We have been in love since we were twelve.” Tony brightened and took his hands from his pockets. “Oh, if only you could meet her, mio amico! Her beauty is like a rose you are afraid to touch for fear you will crush it. When she moves, her body flows like water. Her hair always has the scent of strawberries, and her skin is as creamy as milk.”
Charley had never heard Tony talk like this. “Sounds to me like that thunderbolt seared you clear down to your toes. If you feel that way, why didn’t you bring her to America with you?”
Tony’s joyful mood disappeared. “Because the Camorra would kill her as well as me, and that I could not bear.”
“The Camorra? That outfit in Italy you told us about?” Charley was slow, but eventually he caught on. “You’re the one who tried to quit them! And you had to leave Italy or they would have killed you!”
“Si. I never lived in New York, I never stabbed anyone there. I am sorry I lied. I thought it best to keep my past secret.” Tony placed a hand on Charley’s shoulder. “Can you forgive me?”
“There’s nothin’ to forgive.”
“My madre and padre are in Naples. My padre wants nothing to do with me because I disgraced our family. It would make him greatly happy if I were to put a pistola to my head and pull the trigger.”
“But you did right quittin’ a bunch of killers.”
“Mio padre would not agree. He has belonged to the Camorra all his life. As did his father and his father before him. I broke the chain and brought down everlasting shame on the Fabrizios.”
Charley couldn’t understand a father turning against his own son. “How did Maria feel?”
“It was for her I did it. She wanted no part of the Camorra way of life, no part of the violence. So we went to my father. I thought he would sympathize. I thought he would help us. Instead, he informed the Camorra, and men were sent to murder me. Had it not been for my mother, who warned me and slipped me enough money for passage to America, I would not be here right now.”
“Why didn’t Maria come with you?”
“My mother did not have enough for the both of us. I promised to send for Maria as soon as I can. It has been over a year and I have yet to raise the money.” Tony sighed. “Now you know the real reason I joined this insane hunt of yours. It is not for money for San Francisco. It is for money to bring the woman who has claimed my heart to me.”
Charley wasn’t angry that Tony had lied to him. He couldn’t begin to imagine the torment his friend must be suffering.
“Whenever I see you with Melissa, it reminds me of the happiness I shared with Maria and how much I want to hold her in my arms again. The sadness is almost more than I can bear. That is why I have been so quiet.” Tony paused. “You should tell her, you know.”
“Tell who what?”
“Melissa. How much you care for her. You do neither of you any favors by keeping it inside. Women like to hear those things, Charley. They need to be sure of your devotion. Then they will freely and gladly give theirs.”
Charley would have explained it wasn’t that simple, but a slender figure came walking toward them.
“Here you two are. I was getting worried.” Melissa smiled. “What’s the big attraction out here?”
“Men talk,” Tony said and smiled at Charley. “I was just leaving. My appetite has returned. I better grab some rabbit before Howard eats it all.”
Suddenly Charley was alone with the woman he adored. She was so close, their shoulders touched. His body prickled as with a heat rash, and his mouth went dry. “Nice night,” he said.
“Did you ever see so many stars?” Melissa was gazing upward, her throat pale and smooth in the starlight. “There’s something about the air out here. You can see a lot more than back East.”
“I always liked lookin’ at the night sky when I was little,” Charley confided. “I’d try to find the constellations.” He pointed. “There’s the Big Dipper.” His finger moved. “And that one there is the Little Dipper.”
“We should try and count them all sometime,” Melissa said. “I bet there are thousands.”
A lump formed in Charley’s throat when her hand found his and gently squeezed. He repaid the courtesy, his mind racing like a thoroughbred. She had never done that before; what did it mean? Was she expecting him to kiss her? Or would she slap his face and stomp off in a huff? Better to play it safe, he decided, and replied, “It would take an entire night. I don’t count fast.”
“You’re too hard on yourself, Charley. You have more worthy qualities than you think.”
The compliment made his ears burn. “If I do, they’re pretty well hidden.” Charley grinned, trying to be poised and calm, but his insides were swirling like butter in a butter churn. “A man has to know his limits.”
“But not carp on them. And it’s a man’s strengths that count most.” Melissa turned and looked at him as she had never looked at him before.
Charley sensed an important moment had arrived. He yearned to kiss her, but he was afraid to. Yet he was also positive that if he stood there like a tree stump, it would upset her. So he compromised. He tried flattery. And since he wasn’t all that good with words, he borrowed some. “Have I ever told you your beauty is like a rose?”
Melissa gave a tiny gasp. “No, you haven’t. I would remember a thing like that.” She leaned closer. “You really think so?”
Charley nodded. Emboldened, he went on. “When you move, your body is all pretty and sparkly like water in a mountain stream.”