Read Dimwater's Demons for Free Online Page B

should that question cross your mind?” he asked.
    “My mother passed away last night,” Eleanor said, choking back the tears and doing her best to hold her head high.
    Mr. Gib sighed and shook his head. “I heard she was sick,” he said. “I’m sorry to hear she’s gone.” He turned around and put a hand on his head while he sighed again, this time it went out through his teeth and made a slight, sad whistle. “Eleanor, I’ll tell you what, I can give her a proper burial. I won’t charge for the coffin, deary, okay?”
    Eleanor shook her head. “I don’t want her in a pauper’s grave,” Eleanor said. “She deserves better than that.”
    Mr. Gib nodded. “Most people do, your mother especially.”
    “How much for a proper grave and a proper burial?” Eleanor pressed.
    Mr. Gib pursed his lips and scratched his chin. “How much do you have?” he asked after a moment.
    Eleanor held up the six silver coins and the ivory comb. “This is all I have.”
    Mr. Gib shook his head. “No, no, that comb is for you. Your mother was firm on that.”
    Eleanor scrunched up her face. “What do you know about it?”
    Mr. Gib pointed down the road. “Mr. Tavers, the merchant who deals with fine jewelry, tried to buy it a year or two ago. I know, because I was there when he made the offer. That was back when your mother worked in the inn serving coffee and such to travelers. Well, your mother told him in no uncertain terms that it belonged to you and was going to be the one thing she would leave to you no matter what.”
    Eleanor looked down to the comb, confused why it should matter so much to her mother.
    Mr. Gib put on a friendly smile and knelt in front of her. He gently took the comb and then slipped it into her pants pocket. “You don’t show this to anybody, you understand? This is yours, from your mother.”
    “She told me to give it to Horace Bagman last night,” Eleanor said without thinking.
    Mr. Gib’s left brow shot up and he cocked his head to the side. “Well then, I suppose you should do as your mother told you, but don’t flash it around, not in this town, you hear? You keep it safe and hidden in your pocket. You give it to Horace then, but no one else.”
    Eleanor nodded.
    “Also,” he continued, “I only need three silver coins to take care of your mother.”
    Eleanor’s eyes went up to the two display coffins outside the house. The sign on the simple pine coffin said five silver. Even at fourteen, she knew the man was cutting her a deal he couldn’t afford. She held her hand out, with all six coins.
    “I want her buried right,” Eleanor said.
    Mr. Gib plucked three coins out of her small hand and smiled. “For your mother, I’ll get it done right for three silver. Now you get on over to Horace’s house. I bet your mother had something special planned for you.”
    Eleanor nodded her thanks and watched the man move back to the coffins. His wife came out from the house just then and talked to him. Eleanor watched as they talked for a minute and then Mrs. Gib put her hand over her mouth and closed her eyes, dropping her head and shaking it slightly as Mr. Gib pulled her into an embrace.
    Seeing the grief in another person was too much for her. She turned and made her way down the cobblestone street, headed for Horace Bagman’s house.
    She turned twice to the left, and once to the right. When she came to the corner of Mercer and Beauregard streets, Eleanor turned to face a tall, skinny building made of brown brick. She went to the door and pushed it inward. A small brass bell jangled above her, bouncing on a type of spring and swinging back and forth. The room was well appointed, a fine woven tapestry hanging on each of the two side walls, both depicting large dragons entangled in battle. Upon the floor was a blue and silver rug with a floral pattern woven into it. Alongside the rug were two long cases of glass that displayed fine pieces of jewelry.
    The whole scene made her quite anxious.