“Thanks. Because it’s important.”
“Is he your son?” Willa was now looking back at Daryl.
“What makes you say that?”
“You have the same eyes.”
Quarry stared up at Daryl. “Yeah, he’s my boy.”
“Did you two get in a fight? I heard stuff in the mine. And his face is all messed up. And your mouth too.”
Quarry touched his injured lip. “Sometimes people don’t see eye to eye’bout things. But I still love him. Just like I love Tippi.”
“You’re a very unusual kidnapper, Mr. Quarry,” she said bluntly.
“Just call me Mr. Sam, same as Gabriel does.”
“Will it be too much longer? All this?”
Quarry drew a deep breath and let the air rustle around inside his lungs before expelling it. “Not too much longer, no.”
“I think you’re sorry you had to do this.”
“In one way yes, in another way no. But this is the only way I had.”
“Do we have to go back in yet, Mr. Sam?”
“Not yet. Soon. But not yet.”
They sat on the ground and enjoyed the warmth of the sun.
When they went back inside later, Quarry let Diane and Willa spend some time together in Diane’s room.
“Why are you being nice to that guy?” Diane said as soon as Quarry had locked the door and walked off.
“There’s something strange about him.”
“Of course there is, he’s a psycho.”
“No, I don’t think he is. But as far as being nice to him, I’m trying to stay on Mr. Sam’s good side.”
“Assuming he has one. God, I could use a cigarette.”
“Cigarettes can kill you.”
“I’d rather die by my own hand.” She pointed at the door. “Instead of his,” she yelled.
“Now you’re scaring me.” Willa drew back a little.
Diane calmed and sat at the table. “I’m sorry, Willa. I’m sorry. We’re all under a lot of stress. You miss your family, I miss mine.”
“You told me before you didn’t have a family of your own. How come?”
Diane looked at her in a strange way. “I wanted to get married and have children, but it just didn’t work out.”
“You’re still young.”
“Thirty-two.”