asteroid beneath the bold title Mark Somerfield’s Celestial Cowboys . “Life would be a whole lot easier if I was studying this.”
“Well,” Jack laughed, “I’m pleased to meet the infamous Shane Colbert at long last.”
Shane knew exactly what he was insinuating; almost everyone in the village, if not the whole county, knew who he was. Most of them had their own opinions about what happened that night. Jane and the other boys’ parents wouldn’t rest until the boys were found, or some evidence came to light that Shane was somehow responsible.
He was the lucky one who survived. His bruises and broken bones had healed until all he had left was the persistent bloody ringing in his head and the guilt of not knowing what happened. He wondered what he would do if he found out he was responsible, and whether or not he would be able to live with the fact he was to blame for the loss of four lives.
“Don’t believe anything you’ve been told unless it’s good.”
Jack pitied him, “I’ve never been one for rumours and gossip anyway.”
Shane exchanged a look with his mother, and Father shifted uncomfortably and began rummaging in draw with his back to them, so it was left to Catherine to break the silence.
“That whole subject is kind of a no go area at the moment, and what choice do we have other than to believe my little brother?”
Jack smiled respectfully and avoided the question.
Father came across the kitchen holding a carving knife and sharpener which not only cut through the uneasy atmosphere but was also pretty good at carving the roast chicken that was placed on the table.
*
She had been in her third year at college when Jack ruined everything.
Shane heard her crying great heavy sobs and tried to sneak by her bedroom, hoping he wouldn’t have to deal with some over-emotional situation, related to her time of the month or something. For a moment, he wondered if Jack had dumped her.
He was half way down the stairs when he heard the door open behind him. He pulled a face and looked back.
“Hey,” she said in a small voice. She looked terrible and her skin was red and blotchy. “Can we talk?”
“I guess.”
She hugged him for the first time he could remember. Then she led him into her room and they sat on the bed. He clapped his hands together; the noise was unnaturally loud.
Once she started talking she didn’t stop. She said she’d spent all her money on pregnancy tests.
“What?” he said horrified.
But they were all positive.
He couldn’t believe she was pregnant.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure!” she howled.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she broke down beside him. He handed her the toilet roll that was on the bed side table.
“Maybe you should tell Mum and Dad.”
*
Later that day, Shane was roped in as Catherine’s support. She grasped his hand in a vice-like grip so there was no escape. Even though he never said anything, he was furious; it should’ve been Jack here in his place. He should’ve faced the music like a man.
As soon as their parents found out, the date was booked for the wedding. Catherine didn’t get a choice and was probably too scared to argue. Neither set of future grandparents wanted to have a bastard grandchild. What would the neighbours say?
Shane watched, powerless, as the girl he wanted to be like had everything taken away from her. Even though it was insane, sometimes he blamed himself for making her tell their parents.
As soon as she took a break from college to have her twin daughters, his father and Jack went to work on persuading her to do the right thing by becoming a stereotypical housewife.
First, her head of red hair was bleached out.
Then, since Catherine couldn’t possibly work, money was tight. This gave the grandmothers the perfect excuse to help out, so they offered to buy clothes for the young mother. The floral dresses they returned from Colchester with were far from
“Well,” Jack laughed, “I’m pleased to meet the infamous Shane Colbert at long last.”
Shane knew exactly what he was insinuating; almost everyone in the village, if not the whole county, knew who he was. Most of them had their own opinions about what happened that night. Jane and the other boys’ parents wouldn’t rest until the boys were found, or some evidence came to light that Shane was somehow responsible.
He was the lucky one who survived. His bruises and broken bones had healed until all he had left was the persistent bloody ringing in his head and the guilt of not knowing what happened. He wondered what he would do if he found out he was responsible, and whether or not he would be able to live with the fact he was to blame for the loss of four lives.
“Don’t believe anything you’ve been told unless it’s good.”
Jack pitied him, “I’ve never been one for rumours and gossip anyway.”
Shane exchanged a look with his mother, and Father shifted uncomfortably and began rummaging in draw with his back to them, so it was left to Catherine to break the silence.
“That whole subject is kind of a no go area at the moment, and what choice do we have other than to believe my little brother?”
Jack smiled respectfully and avoided the question.
Father came across the kitchen holding a carving knife and sharpener which not only cut through the uneasy atmosphere but was also pretty good at carving the roast chicken that was placed on the table.
*
She had been in her third year at college when Jack ruined everything.
Shane heard her crying great heavy sobs and tried to sneak by her bedroom, hoping he wouldn’t have to deal with some over-emotional situation, related to her time of the month or something. For a moment, he wondered if Jack had dumped her.
He was half way down the stairs when he heard the door open behind him. He pulled a face and looked back.
“Hey,” she said in a small voice. She looked terrible and her skin was red and blotchy. “Can we talk?”
“I guess.”
She hugged him for the first time he could remember. Then she led him into her room and they sat on the bed. He clapped his hands together; the noise was unnaturally loud.
Once she started talking she didn’t stop. She said she’d spent all her money on pregnancy tests.
“What?” he said horrified.
But they were all positive.
He couldn’t believe she was pregnant.
“Are you sure?”
“Of course I’m sure!” she howled.
“What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know,” she broke down beside him. He handed her the toilet roll that was on the bed side table.
“Maybe you should tell Mum and Dad.”
*
Later that day, Shane was roped in as Catherine’s support. She grasped his hand in a vice-like grip so there was no escape. Even though he never said anything, he was furious; it should’ve been Jack here in his place. He should’ve faced the music like a man.
As soon as their parents found out, the date was booked for the wedding. Catherine didn’t get a choice and was probably too scared to argue. Neither set of future grandparents wanted to have a bastard grandchild. What would the neighbours say?
Shane watched, powerless, as the girl he wanted to be like had everything taken away from her. Even though it was insane, sometimes he blamed himself for making her tell their parents.
As soon as she took a break from college to have her twin daughters, his father and Jack went to work on persuading her to do the right thing by becoming a stereotypical housewife.
First, her head of red hair was bleached out.
Then, since Catherine couldn’t possibly work, money was tight. This gave the grandmothers the perfect excuse to help out, so they offered to buy clothes for the young mother. The floral dresses they returned from Colchester with were far from
Similar Books
The Billionaire's Virgin Secretary #1: Secrets
J. S. Starr
Towering
Alex Flinn
Marked for Murder
Brett Halliday
A Darker Music
Maris Morton
Love Therapy (Stanton Falls #2)
Kaci Hart
Caged in Darkness
J. D. Stroube
The Keepers
Ted Sanders
Ed McBain
Learning to Kill: Stories