There was an explosion. Perhaps death came like that, a rending and tearing from this physical world. She would have imagined death would be quieter. Then she blacked out.
THE nvIP ACr ]AtqnqED the engine block back, but not far enough to crush Gabe’s legs. The seat belt held, but his arms felt as if he’d been operatinga jackhammer. Through a fog of steam coming from his ruptured radiator , the doors to Rowdy Ranch looked like bomb damage he d seen in the Middle East. But there was an opening big enough to fit through. And although it didn’t make sense, he could hear music.
He fumbled for the door latch, which seemed to be missing. Finally he put his shoulder to the door and shoved until it gave. When he leaped out, Jasper was standing there like a stone monument to perpehxal amazement, his mouth open, his eyes wide.
“We’re in; Gabe said, and headed for the opening.
Jagged pieces of wood ripped at his clothes and scratched his skin as he shoved his body through the opening, but he didn’t feel any pain. Once inside, he had to take a moment to adjust his eyes to the weird purple light. Then he saw her, lying across the edge of the dance floor. He felt dizzy.
“There he goes!” Jasper shouted, and sprinted after , a figure in black heading toward the back door.
Gabe barely paid them any attention. He walked unsteadily toward the crumpled woman and dropped to one knee beside her. “Dallas?” He forced himself to put his hand to the side of her neck. When her pulse beat softly against his fingers, he wept and gathered her into his arms.
Slowly she roused as his hot tears fell on her face. “Gabe?”
He couldn’t speak. With trembling hands he smoothed her hair back from her face.
“Did you get him?” she whispered.
“I don’t know.”
She frowned. “Where is he?” Her voice was raspy and bruises were appearing on her throat. He must have tried to choke her.
“I don’t know.”
“You have to get him.” ,
“Or all this is for nothing.” She grabbed his shirt in surprisingly strong fingers. “Gabel”
She was right. Slowly he lowered her to the floor again and stood. Over by the exit door he could hear the fight. He started in that direction, to help Jasper.
Except Parnell must have wriggled free of Jasper, because a figure dressed in black was suddenly coming at Gabe, obviously headed for the opening in the oak doors. But he couldn’t get there without passing by Dallas. And Gabe could never let him get near Dallas again. An un human cry rose to his lips as he launched himself at Parnell.
The man would be easy to kill, he thought as his knuckles connected with Parnell’s gut and the air whooshed out of him. Pamell went down and Gabe dragged him back up, planning to finish the job. It would be easy to do.
“Gabe, no!”
Her voice reached him from a great distance. Hadn’t she just told him to get Pamell? Hadn’t she given him permission to wipe him from the face of the earth? With the next blow, Pamell’s jaw gave way with a satisfying crunch and he went down like a rag doll.
“Gabe, don’t become an animal! Please God, don’t become like him.”
She was crying now. He paused to listen, confused.
Jasper came up and gazed down at Pamell. “I’d kill him. don’t give another jury a chance to let him off ” , he said in a perfectly even tone of voice. “Self-defense. I’m your witness.”
Gabe turned back toward Dallas, and the red haze of his blood lust drifted slowly away. With uncompromising clarity he took in the look of horror on her face, a look that told him all he needed to know. She d seen
, ‘
the savage in him, seen it reflected in one of his closest friends. Then he glanced at Jasper. “Better call the police ; he said.
“Think about your sister, man; jasper pleaded. “You know the deal. The guy’s got money. He’ll appeal for years. He’ll get paroled. He 11 probably study law in prison, if he even goes there, and find a way to sue for mistreatment : ‘
Gabe sighed. “Call the police, Jasper. And the paramedics , while you’re at it: ,
“So, DALLAs, what’s your current thinking about Gabe?” Amber asked. “Do you miss him?”
Mounted on Sugar, Dallas rode ahead of Amber and Spice through a quiet canyon in the Tucson Mountains It was the first week in April, a month after the rughtmarish incident at Rowdy Ranch, and March rains had scattered purple lupine and gold daisies over the desert floor.
“I thought we’d agreed not to bring up the subject of Gabe; Dallas said.
“You agreed. I didn’t.”
Dallas sighed. “Gabe is a leaving kind of man, Dallas said. “End of discussion.”
“I don’t believe that. Something more is going on.”
“I’ll tell you what’s going on.” Dallas guided Sugar around an outcropping of granite. “I ceased to be interesting once he caught the bad guy. Now he’s off in Bolivia, getting his kicks chasing another criminal. I was important for the run of the show. Now the show’s over. “
“I don’t believe that.” Amber shifted in her saddle and Spice blew air through his nostrils. “And neither does your horse.”
“Then why didn’t Gabe say anything before he left? Why didn’t he tell me to wait for him, and all that garbage men always say, even if they don’t mean it? He didn’t even have the decency to pretend he was coming back!” Sugar’s ears flicked nervously at Dallas’s angry tone. “Sorry, girl.” Dallas patted the silky neck, although her touch was awkward. She’d be glad when the cast could come off her wrist in a couple of weeks.
“Well, Fred’s been talking to Jasper and Diego, and they all think-“
Dallas groaned. “Look, I like Fred. You know I do. I’m happy you two are going out. But no way could someone like Fred understand Gabe Escalante.”
“Okay, have it your way. Gabe’s a creep who used you for his own ends, and there’s no reason you two should see each other again. Even if Gabe is due back in town today, and even if Fred did offer to invite him to Rowdy Ranch, you wouldn’t want to see him, so I’ll tell Fred to forget it .”
Dallas felt as if someone had just punched her in the stomach. “Fred.. Fred was going to invite him to Rowdy Ranch tonight?”
“Yeah, but I can see it’s no use. Both Jasper and Diego thought he d go, too. They have some theory that Gabe think5 you don’t want him around because he’s such a violent guy.”
Dallas pulled Sugar to a halt and turned in her saddle’ What did you say?”
Amber smiled. “Finally I have your attention. Let’s get down and set a spell, as they say.”
Dallas’s legs were shaky as she dismounted. Leading Sugar, she headed for a smooth, sunny rock that would seat two. She was careful not to step on any wildflowers as she walked to the rock and sat, holding Sugar’s reins loosely in one hand.
“Ah, nothing like something to warm your buns ” , Amber said, levering herself down beside her. Both horses began munching sprigs of tender young foxtail grass.
The relaxing warmth of the April day did nothing to calm Dallass turbulent stomach. “Okay, Amber. What’s been going on?”
“Well, Fred and I naturally talk about you. you’ve been so depressed and everything.”
“I have not!”
“See? you’re so depressed you don’t even know you’re acting depressed.”
“That’s bull .”
“Think what you think. Your friends are worried about you. Dave Fogarty considered taking up a collection among the shop owners to send you on a cruise or something: ‘