Free Hyllis Family Story 1: Telekinetic by Laurence E Dahners

narrowed her eyes at Denny, “Does Joe love you enough to hold off for a while, or is he going to be a problem?”
    With dismay, Tarc realized Denny was actually trembling a little. She said, “I think he’ll be okay, as long as it’s not too long.”
    Looking at his mother Tarc saw that she was angry, though trying to hide it. She said, “If he gives you trouble about it, let me know.”
     
    Denny left. Tarc took orders from a new table full of people and Daussie started bringing in water for the barrel in the kitchen. Tarc went back out to tell the table of new people that they were out of roast pork and the men by the door stopped him again. “Hey boy, when are you going to send that cute little tart back out here?” He lifted an eyebrow, “Or doesn’t this place want its money?”
    With relief Tarc saw a couple of deputies coming in the door. “She’s busy with some other stuff,” he said a little louder than normal. “ I can take your money.”
    The man gave an ugly laugh and said, “If you want that money, you’ll go do her chores long enough for her to come out and talk to us for a few minutes. She’s the only one we’re gonna pay.”
    The presence of the deputies gave Tarc a good deal of confidence. He spoke even a little louder to say, “You ordered food. I brought it to you and you ate it. You need to pay for it!”
    The man stood and stepped closer to Tarc. Close enough that Tarc had to take a step back to feel comfortable. This guy wasn’t nearly as big as the man had been the week before, but he still looked down on Tarc. “ You gonna make me?”
    Suddenly frightened, Tarc stepped back a little more, his eyes darting to the side where the deputies were staring at the little confrontation. They weren’t stepping up to put the man in his place like Tarc had expected. “Um, no sir. I’m just expecting… you to do the right thing like any citizen.”
    The man laughed again, “ In case you hadn’t noticed, I ain’t a citizen of this here shithole town.”
    Now , to Tarc’s relief, the deputies stepped closer. Hand on his sword, one of them said, “You may not be a citizen, but you need to act like one when you’re within our walls.”
    Tarc wanted to grin with relief, but kept a serious look on his face while lifting his hand, palm up, as if expecting payment. Muscles bunched in the man’s jaw as he glanced over at the deputies’ brassards. For a moment the man did nothing and Tarc wondered whether he would try to stiff them despite the presence of the lawmen. After a long pause, the man reached into a pocket and pulled out a handful of coppers. He stirred through them and picked out enough in numbers to pay for the meal. However, he appeared to have selected coppers that were likely underweight. He dropped them into Tarc’s palm.
    Normally Tarc would have suggested they move to the bar to weigh the coppers when they looked small, but the two deputies, believing the issue settled, had turned away. Tarc glanced up into the man’s eyes and saw anger, but also a small gleam of triumph there. He swallowed, but said nothing. The man leaned close to Tarc’s ear and whispered in an ugly tone, “Be glad you got that , you little pissant.”
    For a moment the wheels of Tarc’s mind spun as he tried to find something brilliant to say. Finally, he turned without saying anything and went to the bar. When Daum came over, Tarc handed him the coppers and said he thought they’d been shorted.
    Daum glowered at the two men who were already leaving. He said, “We’ll let it go this time. But next time you ’ll be sure you get our money before they eat anything, right?”
    Fee ling deflated, Tarc said self-consciously, “Yes Dad, sorry.”
     
    With the men gone, Daussie again went back to serving and clearing in the big room. Tarc started restocking the kitchen and the big fireplace with wood. As things slowed further he and Daussie helped Eva prepare the kitchen for the next day and made a