Part 2

Luna the Tigress flew high in the sky and fought her enemies, riding her pocket Green Dragon. The Green Dragon did not have a name yet. The diner was empty, and she jumped up on a booth bench, up on the table, then down at the imaginary enemy. “Take that, you fools! Fire and brinestone,” she shouted as she waited for Granddad to finish his coffee.

“Brimstone,” Tom Stone corrected her.

A tall, slim man walked into the diner.

“Louis,” Tom nodded, and took off his Stetson.

“Tom.” Louis sat down. “We need to talk about your boy.”

“I understand.” He nodded, knowing what was coming.

“Your boy proposed some construction deal to our associates who didn’t know him. They began assessments and city approvals, but by the time the word about the deal reached us, their money was gone and your boy offered only some mad rambling as an explanation.”

“How much?” asked Tom without stirring.

“Now, we don’t mind looking the other way, but the cost is deep this time.”

“How much?”

“A million.”

Tom nodded and grunted.

“I know North has been Stone country for forty years. We respect that, but we can’t look away. That money is due. If we don’t see it soon, we will come for you.”

“I understand,” Tom grunted. “Now, some basic rules for you, city boys: first, do not threaten me in my own diner. I’ve built this town. It has my name carved in its walls, and it will stay here long after you lot are replaced by some Russians or Taiwanese. Don’t think I don’t hear things. So do not threaten me.”

“I apologize, Tom,” Louis acknowledged.

“Second, I will get you the money. Send me the numbers, and I’ll have it delivered within a week.”

Louis leaned back and stared at Tom. Then he nodded.

“A week. And as far as threats go, we know the size of your operation, Tom. It may be impressive up here, but it is no match for us. If you let it come to it, we’ll bury you. Even this sum – I do hope you are good for it.”

“Get out,” Tom grunted, and Louis walked out.

“Come here, kid,” said Tom Stone, and Luna dropped the Green Dragon and rushed toward Granddad without hesitation.

“Do you want a piece of apple pie?” Tom asked, and lifted her onto his knee.

“Yes, please,” she answered. Tom pointed to the counter, and Angie brought a slice of pie with two forks. They ate. Luna smacked her lips and Tom smelled her black hair.

“What does it mean to bury someone?” Luna asked. Tom shifted and stared intently at Luna.

“What?”

“The man – he said he would ‘bury’ you.” She ate the pie, swinging her legs, seemingly not paying attention to the answer.

“It means to bring someone a gift.”

***

With her head in Granddad’s lap, Luna slept in the great stone room hugging her toy dragon. Flames gently licked the logs in the open firepit. Tom quietly sipped whisky. He looked at the stone walls surrounding him and remembered placing each stone. He remembered securing the land lease with the Huron. Then he built the house with his own hands. He cut the stone from the hill it stood on, and hauled it to the top of the hill. He cut the well through the stone. He built a fortress of stone and timber on that wind-swept, rocky hill. His hands lived a lifetime covered in blood and blisters.

Now he stared into the darkness outside, remembering Duncan before the incident. A boy much like Luna, rowdy and impatient, always building wooden pea shooters, pistols, rifles, and ninja throwing stars.

It all changed that night. Duncan slept in the back seat. After hitting the beast in the road, Tom had to decide whether to put the animal out of its misery once and for all, or to save it. The chance presented itself, and Tom had to decide on the spot. The tire iron landed, and the animal screamed, and Duncan heard the screams. Had Tom not seized that opportunity, his and Duncan’s lives might have followed a different path.