Evaline bit back her tongue, deciding to let this one go and not say anything she may regret. They walked in relative silence for the rest of the morning hike, but it was calm and peaceful, especially as the views of the town became clearer and closer.
Eventually they both reach the town, and James started walking towards a back alleyway full of food stands. She did find herself having to catch up with him sometimes because she kept gazing around, wide-eyed and curious.
Growing up, Evaline loved reading fiction. Even though the library seemed old and outdated, she used to love sneaking in with her friend to take extra books home with them, one time even staying up late in the library until they fell asleep reading. Most of the books were written hundreds of years ago, but as long as she was still able to turn the pages, she still lived through the adventures—even if she had no concept of what it was like. One of the books she still remembered vividly was called Wild Wild West.
James did not tell her that this was a Western or cowboy town.
Some men who looked frail and a bit sickly passed by her, but she couldn't help but ogle a little because they were wearing cowboy hats. Skinny horses with old wooden carriers crossed by a few times, with men whipping them to go faster. A few women passed by, some looking stern with a metallic beltbuckle, and others wearing a tattered dress while keeping her head down. The ground was lightly paved, but sand was already eroding it away. It smelled of fish and dust.
Evaline felt like she had stepped into a page of the book, but she had to hold back all her thoughts and emotions as she didn't want to draw attention to James or herself. Instead, she loyally followed behind, glancing around her shoulders until they were out of view in the alley.
She tried not to stare at the shopkeepers too much, but it was a bit hard not to, especially since she hadn't been this close to other people in Nye before. Still, she looked away every time they started to notice, instead directing intense focus on the fruit James was picking out before staring back.
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