{ w h o } Carter & Danny narrative, open to any for reactions { w h a t } Danny reaches the limits of his patience { w h e n } Sunday evening { w h e r e } midway { r a t i n g } PG
Moving the carnival from one town to the next took a lot of work, most of it of the unskilled, underpaid, backbreaking variety. After eight years, Danny could almost do his part to set up booths and tents and rides in his sleep. And right now, that was a blessing. Danny turned his mind off, set his emotions aside, making himself into an automaton of muscle and sinew. He threw himself into the labor, the mindless, comfortable rhythm of hard work.
Too bad the distraction could only last so long. Eventually everything was set up, ready for a new week, leaving Danny with a turmoil of hurt and fury that had only gotten worse since Madison had revealed Carter's betrayal. They had had rules. Rules Carter himself had come up with, safeguards put in place to prevent suspicion. The business with Madison was so much worse than a few awkward questions. Carter had broken the rules, in the worst possible way and with the worst person ever. How had this happened? Like most questions, it was one only Carter could answer. Danny had been avoiding his brother, but now he set out to confront him.
Carter had been busy with his own duties, making sure the midway was arranged to his satisfaction, giving the best locations to his favorites and making sure anyone who had gotten on his bad side recently found their booth assigned an undesirable spot. You didn't annoy the 'stake boss' if you wanted to turn a profit on the midway.
He could tell something was very wrong with Danny as soon as he came into sight. It was rare to see the big fellow angry, but anger was plain in the set of his shoulders, the tension of his body. Carter felt a sharp pang of conscience. He knew exactly what was bothering his brother. Maybe he should have mentioned it. Given Danny some warning before he spoke to-- Madeline? Madison? Whatever her name was. But Carter had hoped the girl would let bygones be bygones. It was just a little kiss, after all! And they hadn't been the only ones behaving rashly that night. There'd been something in the air, some spell cast over the fairgrounds. Or so he'd been telling himself to justify what had happened.
Carter gave a little huff of exasperation as Danny stomped toward him. You'd have thought the little prude would have had the good sense to be embarrassed by the whole incident. You'd have thought she'd have kept her big mouth shut!
"Danny," he began softly, walking out to meet his brother, going for the scant privacy afforded by moving a few feet away from any onlookers. "Danny, calm down. I can explain." Carter kept his voice pitched low, confiding. Cajoling.
"It wasn't my fault. She came on to me--"
Danny didn't even break stride. He cocked his fist and swung, hitting Carter in the jaw with an audible crack. It was a knockout blow. Carter fell, sprawled on his back in the dust. Danny kept on walking and didn't look back.