The Last Harvest(33)
The only one who hasn’t changed is Noodle. And with any luck, she’ll never have to. People are fawning all over Jess, telling her how pretty she looks. A boy asks her to dance—Ben Gillman’s little brother. He’s a good kid, decent QB at Midland Middle. Maybe this is just what Jess needs, a reminder of how things used to be, how they should be.
And just like that I find myself getting caught up in it all. It’d be so easy to slip back into this life, into ignorance, like cattle being led to slaughter. I guess that’s the Devil’s plan—it may look like a Wyeth painting, but it’s really the gateway to hell.
I take a deep breath, trying to get control of my nerves. Just stick to the game plan, Clay. Get the video and get the hell out of here.
I lock eyes with Tyler, who’s hanging around the patio with Tammy, Ben, and Jimmy. He doesn’t look surprised to see me. Mr. Neely obviously told them I’d be coming tonight.
As much as I want to just walk up to them, get this over with, I know I have to let them come to me. I circle around the party, acting as normal as possible. All anyone wants to talk to me about is football, and for the first time, I’m grateful for it. I head toward the buffet tables lining the center of the lawn, chock-full of casseroles. Mr. Miller has his smoker all set up. The whole place smells amazing, like hickory and spices, butter and caramel. There are metal troughs full of giant blocks of ice with all kinds of pop, kegs of beer. Kids are hiding out under the red-and-white-checked tablecloths, trying to sneak some, just like me and Dale used to do. Don’t have to sneak it anymore. If you play ball, you can get away with murder in this town. I fill up a cup with beer and slip it under the table to them.
“Thanks, Fifty-four. You’re the best!”
“No way. Clay Tate’s here?” A kid with freckles for miles peeks his head out. “Will you throw the ball to us, a real spinner, see if we can catch it?”
“Sorry boys, not tonight,” I say as I scan the crowd, looking for Ali.
I spot her with her parents. Our eyes meet and she quickly looks away. If I didn’t know any better, I’d swear I saw her blush. She looks good. Painted-on Levi’s with a lacy tank top and a plaid shirt on top. Cowboy boots. A turquoise buckle. Her hair’s loose and shiny, grazing the middle of her back. Tyler sees me watching her and practically races across the lawn to put his arm around her shoulder, but she shrugs away from him. I’m glad for it. I don’t want him touching her. Especially after what happened at the game last night. I still can’t believe he hit her, even if it was an accident. Tyler was always a loose cannon. He’s one of those guys that gets so jacked up before a game he has to throw up. I want to kill him, but I can’t draw attention to myself. I have to gain their trust and work my way into the inner circle.
I notice Miss Granger enter the party through the side gate. The Preservation Society kids are watching her as she makes her way to the patio. I wonder if they suspect something about her, if they can sense her connection to God or something creepy like that.
If what Miss Granger is saying is true, the chosen one could be any one of them. As soon as the Devil chooses, takes root, the others will fall. At least that’s what happened back in Mexico. I need to protect Ali until the exorcism. As soon as that happens, she’ll be cleansed of all this. Miss Granger says it will be like it never happened—just a bad dream.
Miss Granger’s wearing a fitted navy blue dress. It matches my tie. Mr. Neely, Deputy Tilford, and Dr. Perry are all over her like a tick on a coon dog. My first instinct is to go over there and give her an out, but I have a feeling Miss Granger can handle herself. And I can’t let on that she’s behind this in any way. Maybe she’s doing this as a distraction, so I can make my move.
I start fiddling with the gold cross pin on my tie, making sure it’s in place, when Dale sneaks up on me. I flinch.
“Jesus, Tate. You gotta relax.” I can see he’s already plenty relaxed. “Want some?” He opens his coat and I see the silver flash of his dad’s flask.
“I’m all good.”
“I’m just on a break. Hell House duty. Hey, did you see Mrs. Neely?” he says, as he gives the air in front of him a good humping.
“Dude, that’s Tyler’s mom.”
“And?” He laughs.
I shake my head. “And that’s just wrong.”
“That’s so right it hurts,” he says as he takes another sip. “Speaking of fine-looking ladies … someone can’t take their eyes off you.”
I follow his gaze to see Ali, standing alone now, on the edge of the dance area.
Dale pushes me toward her. “Go, you dumbass.”
I take a deep breath and start the long walk across the lawn. People are slapping me on the back, shaking my hand, calling me out by my number. I just smile and nod. I don’t hear a word they’re saying. I don’t even care. The only thing I care about is getting to Ali. Feels like I’ve been waiting for this moment my whole life.
20
“HI, CLAY.” Ali’s voice is so soft it takes me aback. Is this really happening? Is she seriously talking to me?
“Hi.” I hold back a grin as I put my hands in my pockets and rock back on my heels.
She pulls her hair over her shoulder. “I know you don’t like to dance.”