“Gods, Pa, why do we got to hole up here?” Levi says as he passes Alex a steaming cup of somethin. “It’s a right shithole! My roof almost went and caved right in on me last night.”
Alex shifts in his seat, tipping his Stenson forward as he watches steam curl into the air from his cup. “Because I ain’t wantin’ us to freeze to death out in the bluffs.”
“But the water-” Levi tries.
“Is only gunna be good for swimmin’ if you want an ice bath.” Alex cuts over him, taking a sip of his drink. “An’ we can have hot cocoa here.”
Levi scowls. “We had hot cocoa back home. ‘fore you killed someone and became a gunslingin’ outlaw.”
Humming, Alex leans back, hands still circling his cup. “I suppose, but…” he grimaces. “Your father…”
“He weren't so bad.” Levi sips his drink, leaving hot cocoa on his upper lip. “At least-”
“I sent you away for a reason, son.” Alex growls. “You got out to that nice boardin’ school, one which were too expensive, considerin’ how much you seemed to learn.”
“I missed the winter festivals out here, the hot cocoa, the family holidays, all the way on the other side of the damned world!” Levi sneers, and Alex drops his cup on the log between them in response, splashing cocoa out the side.
“Anythin’ I did, I did for your safety!” Alex snaps, as Levi scowls, leaning back on his seat. “Look, son, you were barely 12, you ain’t seen everything your father went and did. I didn’t wanna end up out here any more than the rest of us.”
Levi leans forward, leaning his chin in his hands. They’re silent for a moment.
“Don’t see why you and him ended the way ya did. Maybe he weren’t the nice man I remember. But… I ain’t sure he deserved what he got.” Levi says.
Alex scowls. “I wanted you back. I tried to get you back, but your grandpa never told me where you were at. I didn’t know shit until Graham picked you up.”
“Graham-” Levi starts, nails digging into his arms.
“Don’t you go sayin’ nothin’ bad about him.” Alex says, waving a hand in his face. “I brought you up to respect the dead.”
Levi throws his hands up. “He hit me off the head and tied me to his horse! I’ve been mighty respectful, considerin’!”
Alex leans forward to meet him. “Look, it's the winter. We’re drinkin’ cocoa. We shouldn’t be shouting about those long-dead. I’ll take you on out to the festival tomorrow. Just like we used to.”
Scratching the back of his neck, Levi leans back again. “Yeah. yeah, that would be nice. Like when I was a kid.”
Alex nods too, picking his cup back up. The drink’s gone long cold, but he takes a sip of it anyway, relishing the rich chocolate.
“Just like when you were a kid, yeah.”
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