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- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Gesellschafts- und Liebesromane
- Serie: A Kendall O'Dell Mystery
- Sprache: Englisch
- Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2023
A whirlwind of hate and prejedice awaits spirited reporter Kendall O'Dell when she agrees to help her Hispanic co-worker search for missing relatives who vanished after they crossed the border into Arizona. The only witness is a terrified 5 year old boy who claims to have seen frightening creatures and unexplained lights in the sky. The horrifying conclusion is sure to give you chills! This 3rd adventure in the Kendall O'Dell mystery series is based on actual events. Keep the lights on!
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Seitenzahl: 611
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1
A scant fifteen minutes had elapsed since my vacation had officially started and my purse was ringing already. I stifled a sigh of irritation and dug the phone out, glancing at the number on the display screen. “Too late!” I muttered, dropping it onto the passenger seat. “I’m not answering.” I cranked up the volume on the radio, tightened my grip on the steering wheel and headed across the desert towards the imposing monolith of Castle Rock. The ragged peaks, now glowing a peachy-coral in the late afternoon sunlight, cut a serrated pattern across a sky of clear sapphire blue.
Considering I’d had no more than a handful of days off since I’d taken the job at the Castle Valley Sun seven months ago, I was psyched, I was jazzed, and I was in no mood to tackle even one more problem, no matter how small. For two whole wonderful weeks there would be no copy to write, no deadlines and no employee issues. Whatever it was would just have to wait until Tugg could handle it on Monday.
The phone chirped a few more times and then quit. Good. My dad always said to be careful what you wish for and he was dead-on right, as usual. Along with the newly acquired notebook computer, the handy little cell phone had been on my ‘must have’ list for months and, in theory, was supposed to make my life easier. It had in many ways, but it was also a royal pain in the butt. Being accessible ‘twenty-four seven’ wasn’t exactly what I’d had in mind.
I hummed along with the upbeat melody, swung onto Lost Canyon Road and headed home, my mind busy with the details of my upcoming trip to California with Tally. A chill of delight shot down my spine at the thought of just the two of us spending some much-needed R & R in a new setting away from the pressures of work. He’d promised that we’d take time out from the horse show to spend at least one day at the beach. I could hardly wait to bask in the cool sea breeze. I’d survived my first sizzling summer and so far, was less than impressed with what was loosely described as autumn in Arizona. Back home in Pennsylvania, there would be a frosty nip in the air and the forested hills would be a breathtaking tapestry of crimson and gold. But as I drove through the cactus and rock-strewn desert, there was nothing to hint that it was the second week of October, except it was a little less hot.
At that moment the jaunty voice of the radio announcer cut into my thoughts with the optimistic declaration that a weather change was definitely on the way—for sure, this time, he insisted. Right. Predictions of rain by effusive TV meteorologists had been bandied about for weeks, but I hadn’t seen anything even remotely resembling a cloud since the last summer storm had swept through town six weeks ago dumping an inch of rain in less than an hour.
The phone jingled again. Damn! I should have powered it off. The office number showed on the screen again. I debated a few seconds, then pushed the button and said in a mechanical monotone, “You have reached the cell number for Kendall O’Dell. She is currently in holiday mode and cannot comprehend anything you may say in reference to work. Please refer all problems to Morton Tuggs. Thank you.”
There was an extended silence and then I heard Ginger mutter, “Well, I’ll be a dimpled duck’s butt. Now I’ve heard everything.”
I couldn’t help bursting into laughter.
“Sugar, is that you?”
“Yeah, it’s me. But whatever it is, I don’t want to hear it.”
“Well, good gravy, girl, don’t get yourself all in a snit,” she said, giggling. “I just called to remind you to bring that big ol’ ice bucket and pretty red-flowered tablecloth to the party tonight.”
“I won’t forget. You still need me there before six?”
“I’ve got a million and two things left to do, so I could use a little extra help getting things ready and…could you hang on a second while I grab the other line?”
She clicked off and I smiled to myself. Ginger could always find an excuse to throw a party. Get a new car? She’d have a party. Relatives visiting from out of state? Why not celebrate? This evening’s shindig was the official welcome for our new reporter, Walter Zipp, who’d thankfully come aboard less than three weeks ago after a fruitless four-month search. His reasons for moving to Castle Valley were rather vague, something about caring for his wife’s elderly aunt. In light of his impressive credentials, it was surprising when he didn’t blink at the sizeable salary cut. But, considering the circumstances, I sure wasn’t about to argue with him.
“Okee dokee,” she sighed, coming back on the line again. “Could you do me one more favor and pick up a couple of bags of ice?”
“I thought that was Lupe’s responsibility.”
“I don’t even know if she’s coming for sure,” Ginger grumbled. “And here I was really counting on her homemade enchiladas for the main dish.”
“What’s the problem? Is she sick?”
“She says no, but something’s bothering her. She’s been real quiet and keeping to herself. But, most important, she ain’t been laughing at my jokes the past couple of days.”
I smiled to myself. “This does sound serious.”
Completely missing my quip, she continued, “I know it. Her eyes were all puffy and red when she came in this morning and when I asked her about it, she clammed up tighter than a Mason jar lid. Right after you left, some woman called asking for her and two seconds later, she skedaddled out of here, looking real worried and mumbling something about maybe not being able to make it tonight.”
That had to be bugging Ginger big time. She made it her mission in life to keep close tabs on everyone’s business. Secrets drove her to distraction. But, her news was unsettling. Lupe Alvarez was one of our most dependable employees, and one of only two people capable of handling both classified and display advertising. She was always on time for work, eager for overtime hours and, since I’d been at the Sun, had never once left early. On weekends, she maintained housekeeping and babysitting jobs as well. Oh boy. The last thing I needed was a personnel crisis just before leaving town.
“I’ll give her a call when I get to the house,” I said, watching a roadrunner skim across the road in front of me and disappear into a cluster of creosote bushes. “Maybe I can find out what’s wrong.”
“Thanks, sugar. See you in a few.”
Within ten minutes, I was standing barefoot on the cool terra cotta tile in my living room checking for phone messages. My parents had called and Tally was going to be late getting to the party because of some problem at the ranch. The rest were hang-ups.
I looked up Lupe’s home number and dialed. Busy signal. Good grief. She must be among the handful of people left on earth without call waiting. I shed my clothes all the way into the bedroom and stuffed them into the hamper. I couldn’t put it off any longer. The mountain of laundry had to be done before I could even begin packing the suitcases that stood beside my bed. A quick shower refreshed me and after I’d zipped myself into a sleeveless cotton jumpsuit, I lugged the hamper to the kitchen, started a load of wash and then set out the ice bucket and tablecloth before trying Lupe’s number again. This time it rang.
“Hola?”
“Lupe, this is Kendall. Ginger told me you left work early. Is everything okay?”
A long hesitation. “I…I had to take care of some…personal business.”
“So, you’re not sick?”
“No.”
“Good.” Did I detect a hint of wariness in her voice? “Ginger says you may not be coming to the party tonight?”
There was another drawn out silence. “Oh…well, no, I mean, I suppose I can come for a little while.”
“That’s great. So, you’re still bringing enchiladas and picking up ice?”
“Yes.”
“You’re sure everything is okay? Is there anything you want to talk about?”
“No! I mean…it is nothing important. See you there.” Click.
My reporter’s antenna vibrated as I cradled the phone. Hmmm. Normally, she was outgoing and talkative. Today, however, not only did her voice sound lackluster, I detected an undertone of distress. Disturbing. And then I stopped myself, remembering the promise I’d made myself earlier to put all concerns of the job and my co-workers on the back burner for the next two weeks. Maybe it would be better to find out what was bugging her before I left town though, so my mind would be at ease.
By the time I arrived at Ginger’s faded pink adobe house an hour later, Walter Zipp’s dented green Bronco was already parked next to our co-worker Jim’s sassy little Toyota truck. I smiled to myself. They’d been assigned to bring the ingredients to make margaritas and I had a feeling they’d gotten the party off to an early start. Walter would be enjoying a bachelor’s night out, having explained earlier that his wife would be unable to join him since she opted to stay with her ailing aunt.
A foot-stomping country tune was wafting out the screen door as I paused to pet Ginger’s fluffy gray and white cat. “Hey there, Churchill,” I murmured, when he threw himself down and rolled over to invite me to scratch his tummy. “I’ve been thinking a lot about adopting one of you furry felines. Maybe when I get back from the coast, huh?”
“How about you take him with you right after the party?”
I looked up to see Ginger’s younger brother, Brian, standing at the door with a devilish grin plastered on his face. I took the bait. “Really? You think Ginger would be okay with that?”
“No, but it would sure be fine with me…” Several sharp barks interrupted his sentence as his grandmother, Nona, rolled up beside him in her wheelchair. Her little brown dog, standing stiff-legged on her lap, glared daggers at the cat. “…and I’m positive Suzie would be more than happy to see him gone too,” Brian concluded, shouting over the shrill yipping. Churchill rose, leveled a look of disdain at the watery-eyed pooch, and with a regal air, sashayed away, tail aloft. I smiled. The cat had attitude.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Kinsey O’Dale.” The old woman’s eyes sparkled with mischief as Brian swung the screen door open for me. True to the many years she’d spent as a Broadway actress, and well known for her outlandish theatrics, she was predictably overdressed for the occasion in a red sequined dress and matching hat adorned with two enormous white ostrich feathers.
Grinning, I leaned down and planted a kiss on her brightly rouged cheek. “Hi, Nona, great to see you too.” Hard of hearing, she’d called me ‘candle’ the first time we’d met and since then, seemed to delight in finding some new way to mispronounce my name. The little game amused both of us.
“Sis is out on the patio having a major coronary,” Brian said, pointing towards the kitchen. “Jim and that new guy are no help at all. They’ve been chugging margaritas for the last half hour.”
I gave him a wry smile. “Hey, that’s okay. It’s taken us forever to get somebody to sign on at the paper, so we sure don’t want to scare him off. Let ‘em have a good time, I’ll help out.”
He wheeled Nona away from the door and back in front of the TV as I entered Ginger’s cluttered kitchen. I shook my head in amazement at the tower of unwashed dishes in the sink. Plastic grocery bags were scattered everywhere and a jumble of paper plates, cups, napkins, pop and liquor bottles covered every available square inch of counter space. Ginger was way ahead of me in the worst housekeeper category. At least I washed the dishes every couple of days.
“Oh, there you are,” she said, rushing through the patio door, looking totally frazzled. “I guess I’m running a tad behind.”
“You should have orange traffic cones posted at the doorway to warn people. It looks downright dangerous in here,” I said with a laugh, pushing aside tortilla chip bags to set the ice bucket down. “Here’s the tablecloth. I’ll wash these dishes and then you can tell me what else needs to be done.”
“Bless your little heart,” she crooned, pushing a damp strand of strawberry blonde hair away from her freckled face. ‘I don’t know what I’m gonna to do about getting some more food. How fast could you whip up a passel of enchiladas?”
I made a face at her. “Right. Betty Crocker, I’m not. Just chill, okay? I called Lupe. She says she’ll be here.”
Ginger clasped her hands and rolled her eyes heavenward. “Thank you dear Lord.”
It took every second of the next hour, but between Ginger, myself and Brian we managed to get the chairs and buffet table set up outside, light the candles, and start a cheery fire in the clay chimenea before we attacked the mess in the kitchen. Jim and Walter lounged outside the open door in lawn chairs cracking jokes and supervising our activities. They were well into the second pitcher of margaritas as twilight set in and the rest of the newspaper staff and their families began to arrive.
“Bet you can hardly wait to get away on your trip with Tally,” Ginger said, edging me a coy smile as we spooned salsa and guacamole into hand-painted bowls. “You gonna wear that sexy new bathing suit you bought in Phoenix last week?”
I winked. “That was my plan.”
“Ah, romance,” she sighed, delicately fanning her face. “I’m tickled pink to know you two ain’t scrappin’ no more about you doing that Morgan’s Folly story.”
I shot her a meaningful look. “He hasn’t mentioned it this week…so far anyway.”
Ginger tossed the empty salsa bottle in the trash. “Well, sugar, you can’t blame him for being a mite peeved. You should’ve told him what happened right away.”
A mite peeved was putting it mildly. “I know, I know. I’ve done my utmost to make it up to him these past couple of months and I think things are finally getting back to normal. We both need a break from the office routine and…other things. I think this is just what the doctor ordered.”
“Where is our handsome cowboy, anyway?” Ginger asked, scooping up the bowls.
“He said he’d be late. Some kind of trouble at the ranch.”
“Not problems with his Ma again?”
I grimaced. “No, thank goodness, it’s not Ruth this time. I don’t know. It has something to do with a couple of his ranch hands. What about Doug?” I inquired, referring to her current companion. “Why isn’t he here?”
“He’s bartending at a private party over at the tennis ranch.”
“Too bad, we could have used an extra hand,” I remarked, tossing empty tortilla chip bags into the trash.
She rolled her eyes. “Tell me about it.”
We set the last of the munchies on the table, greeted all the guests and then helped ourselves to margaritas before collapsing into the lawn chairs. Brian had made up a WELCOME, WALTER sign on his computer and it flapped in the balmy breeze as a dazzling array of stars sparkled overhead. Everyone had told me the Hunter’s moonrise this time of year would be spectacular and they weren’t kidding. Little by little the horizon began to glow like a second sunrise, snuffing out the stars, and suddenly there it was, climbing majestically above the crest of Castle Rock like a giant cantaloupe-colored disk. The effect was spellbinding and murmurs of awe rose from the small gathering. I knew it was just an optical illusion but the sheer enormity of it seemed unreal, dwarfing the peaks below.
More people streamed through the door, filling the small back yard. “Ready for the hot-seat again?” I remarked to Morton Tuggs as he and his wife, Mary, settled into lawn chairs next to me. “You sure you’re going to be up to it?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m feeling fit as a fiddle,” he said, patting his paunch. He really did seem vastly improved since his ulcer surgery. “Anyway, it’s going to be a whole lot easier with Walter here taking up the slack while you and Tally are gone.”
“I’ll second that.” I raised my glass. “Attention, everybody! My esteemed co-editor and I would like to propose a toast to officially welcome our new man on the street, Mr. Walter Zipp.”
There was applause and a rousing chorus of agreement from the staff while another round of margaritas was poured. Brian re-filled my glass and Ginger leaned in to whisper, “You sure Lupe’s coming? It’s a quarter past seven.” Her worried gaze roamed over the crowd gathering around the buffet table, picking at the chips and dip. We had a cauldron of refried beans simmering inside, but that hardly constituted dinner.
“We’ll just ply them with more appetizers till she gets here,” I assured her, trying to quell my escalating uncertainty. It was long past the time she should have arrived.
To keep everyone’s mind off the fact that the main course had not yet materialized, I suggested we all share the funniest or most bizarre story we’d ever covered. Tugg entertained us with several gems from his early days as a cub reporter and Jim had us all in stitches as he repeated his golden toilets along the freeway story. I, of course, shared my last two big assignments and then we urged Walter to tell us all a little about himself and his last job in Sierra Vista. He hoisted his bulky frame from the chair and gave us a lopsided grin. “I’m happy as a pig in shit to be here,” he slurred, running a hand through his short-cropped brown hair, “cuz there’s big trouble brewing down south.”
Oh. Good opening. The mothers of some of the younger kids exchanged startled glances, so I quickly interjected, “Well, we’re all equally happy to have you here but trouble sounds like a good story opportunity to me.’
“Not if you live and work there now, it isn’t. I’ll tell you what,” he said, hitching up his pants with one hand. “The ranchers and just plain everyday God-loving Americans living near those border towns have about had it with those damned illegals. They’re pouring across like cockroaches and are just about as easy to catch. And, I’ll tell you what, if you add the growing number of White separatist groups springing up to that equation…well, you mark my words, people, there’s going to be bloodshed before this is all over. I’m glad to be out of it. Real glad.”
Bleary-eyed, Jim piped up. “Hey, man, there’s nothing funny or weird about that story.”
Walter edged him a look of mild annoyance. “Oh, yeah? Well, try this on for size. The last piece I was working on before I left, and this is just one among several other strange stories, concerned a particular jumper they caught in Morita.”
“What’s Morita?” Ginger asked, casting a pensive eye at her watch.
“A ghost town about half a mile or so from the Mexican border. Not much left but the mine and a half a dozen buildings. Anyhow, the caretaker cornered this wetback hiding in a shack and turned him over to the Border Patrol.”
“Why does a ghost town need a caretaker?” I asked.
“Cause it’s on private property and there was an accident there last year, but that’s another story,” he said with an impatient swipe of his hand. “So anyway, this Mexican claimed….”
“Hate to tell you, Walter,” Jim cut in, “but this still ain’t funny and it sure ain’t weird.” He turned to all of us and said, “Let me tell you guys the one about the lady who kept a cow in her bedroom.”
Walter put up a hand. “Keep your pants on, Jimbo. I intend to win this contest under the most bizarre heading if you’ll just let me finish.”
Jim continued to look skeptical while everyone else leaned forward a few inches.
“The guy claimed—and I don’t know what the hell he’d been drinking or smoking before they nabbed him, but get this, he said he’d been hunkered down in some bushes the night before and witnessed a whole van load of people getting waylaid by aliens.”
Jim’s face twisted in disbelief. “What the hell does that mean? He is an alien.”
“No, dummy. He didn’t mean illegal aliens. He was talking about space aliens. Little green men from Mars.”
The amazed silence that followed his remark seemed to emphasize the strangled gasp. We all turned around in time to see the glass casserole dish fall from Lupe’s hands and shatter on the concrete patio. Her dark eyes glassy with horror, she muffled a cry with her hand and fled.
Seconds later, Tally appeared in the doorway and, like the rest of us, stared in shocked dismay at the remains of our enchilada dinner. He looked up and shrugged. “Was it something I said?”
2
I hadn’t realized just how hungry I was until dinner evaporated before my eyes. My stomach rumbling in protest, I pulled my eyes away from the tomato and cheese covered lumps to meet Tally’s quizzical stare. “No,” I said quietly, “we can thank Walter here for frightening Lupe with his UFO story.”
“Shame on you, Walter!” Ginger wailed, jumping to her feet. “You’ve gone and ruined supper for everyone. Now what am I gonna do?”
He drew back, looking defensive. “Well, gee whiz. How could I know that was gonna scare her? Geez, I’m glad I didn’t mention anything about the other weird part of the story concerning the cattle…”
Nona’s terrified scream aborted his words and everyone froze. “Stop her!” she shrieked, pointing to Suzie, who was eagerly wolfing down large bites of enchilada casserole. “She might swallow a piece of glass!”
“Suzie, come!” Brian shouted, making a grab for her. The dog artfully sidestepped him, snatched another mouthful and then executed a forward roll through the sauce. Brian lunged for her again, but slipped in the gooey mess and would have fallen if Tally hadn’t grabbed the back of his shirt. When Churchill suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, Suzie took off after him, barking madly. Suddenly, everything looked like a scene from an old Marx Brothers comedy. Some of the kids, shrieking with laughter, joined in the chase while the adults cursed and tried to hang onto their drinks and food as chairs flew in all directions. I tried, but couldn’t suppress a shout of laughter as the dog wove in and out among the startled guests, anointing everyone she touched with enchilada sauce.
Above the mayhem, I heard the sound of a car engine starting and glanced over the fence in time to see headlights flash on. The laughter died in my throat. Oh man. It must be Lupe. She was going to get away before I discovered why Walter’s seemingly innocuous remark had caused such a violent reaction. I sprinted for the side gate and ran out to the dimly-lit street, yelling, “Lupe, wait a minute!”
In response to my shouts, she turned her head in my direction for a second, then shoved the car into gear and floored it. Disappointment mingled with anger as I watched her taillights vanish around the corner. Why had she run away from me? I made one of my instant decisions and swiveled around only to collide with someone in the shadows. My heart contracted and I let out a squeak of fright as arms closed around me. “Whoa!” came Tally’s soothing voice, “what’s with all the drama tonight?”
When I recovered my breath, I said, “Jesus, Tally, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“To get my car keys and go after Lupe.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I stared up at his finely-chiseled features outlined in the moonlight. “Ginger’s party is in complete shambles and you’re not the least bit curious to find out what caused it?”
He shrugged. “Well, I gather something Walter said spooked her, but is it really necessary for you to go chasing after her right this minute?”
“She lives ten minutes away. I can be back in a flash.” I started to draw away, but his hands tightened on my shoulders.
“Kendall, for the life of me, I don’t know if I’ll ever understand why you feel the need to dash off half-cocked at the slightest provocation. You might want to think about working on your overly-impulsive behavior.”
I smiled sweetly. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
His weary sigh spoke volumes. “Okay, then, how do you think Ginger’s going to feel about you skating out in the middle of her party?”
“She’ll be pissed.”
“Then why do it?
“But, what about Lupe?”
“What about her?”
I swallowed my agitation and pulled away from his grasp. “All right, I won’t go right now. But, you saw her. She was in a total panic. Something set her off and I’d wager it’s more than just a story about UFOs.”
He folded his arms and regarded me with skepticism. “I don’t suppose you’d buy into the notion that the dish just slipped out of her hands and she left out of plain old embarrassment?”
He had a point, but it was more of an adrenaline boost to believe otherwise. “I suppose it’s possible, but Ginger said she’s been acting kind of weird all week, and today she got a phone call that sent her tearing out of the office right after I left. I really had to lean on her to come here tonight. Nope. Something’s definitely wrong.”
He looked away from me and for a few seconds there were no sounds except for the echoes of conversation from Ginger’s back yard and an owl hooting from a nearby saguaro. I could tell by his rigid posture that something else was on his mind. Unlike me, he was very capable of keeping his emotions in check and his mouth shut.
I tilted my head to one side. “What’s wrong at the ranch?”
He didn’t answer.
“Come on, Tally, I can tell something’s bothering you.”
He lifted his hat and raked his fingers through his thick hair. “Damned INS is on my back again. They’re claiming some of my hands are undocumented, but as far as I could tell they checked out okay. I got a Notice of Intent this afternoon that I’m going to have to deal with.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve got 72 hours to show evidence that they’re here legally.”
“I see. Are you sure that’s all?”
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Um…you are coming to California with me next week, aren’t you?”
“Of course I’m going with you, silly. I’ve been looking forward to this trip for weeks. Don’t worry, I’ll be ready to leave Tuesday at the crack of dawn just like we planned.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What does uh-huh mean?”
He blew out a protracted sigh. “I know you well enough to recognize all the signs.”
I bristled. “What signs?”
“It’s been about two months since your last adrenaline fix.”
I laughed. “Oh, come on. Who’s being dramatic now?”
“I mean it, Kendall. You’re like a bloodhound and it’s going to bug you to no end if you don’t find out what’s going on with Lupe. Am I right?”
I linked my elbow through his and pulled him towards the house. “Well, Mr. Know-it-all, I’m afraid you’re wrong this time. Nothing is going to stop me from going with you and that’s a promise.”
He edged a dubious look at me. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
There was no mistaking his solemn tone. He was right, of course. I was burning with curiosity about her strange behavior, and if he hadn’t intervened, I would already be at her place. But I certainly had no intention of altering my vacation plans. And anyway, we weren’t leaving for three whole days. That should be plenty of time to ferret out the answer.
We’d just set foot on Ginger’s front porch when the screen door flew open to reveal our pressman, Harry, and his family tromping out one by one followed by Al Robertson and his wife.
“Hey! Where’s everybody going?” I asked, stepping aside to allow Harry’s three small children to scoot past. “The party’s not over already, is it?”
“It is for us,” Harry replied gruffly. “The kids are starving and if we hurry we can make it to Angelina’s before they close. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t feel like lapping my dinner up off the patio.”
“Oh, dear,” I said under my breath. Ginger must be having a major cow. How could I have even entertained the thought of chasing down Lupe? What kind of a friend was I anyway?
I left Tally standing there talking to Al and headed for the back yard, dodging the tide of people streaming towards the front door. On my way through the kitchen, I spotted the two bags of ice Lupe had brought, melting in the sink. I stuffed them into Ginger’s freezer and went outside once again. Brian stood among the jumble of overturned chairs grasping the wayward Suzie against his sauce-streaked shirt while Ginger knelt on the patio sopping up the mess with a wad of paper towels. “Well, I beg your pardon,” she griped to Walter, who was still seated in his chair, looking befuddled, “if you hadn’t scared the bejesus out of her we’d all be eatin’ supper right now instead of wearing it.”
He exchanged a look of pure frustration with Jim and then turned to face her. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry as hell. What do you want me to do about it?”
As more and more people jostled past me, grumbling their goodnights, my heart went out to my generous, fun-loving friend. Without thinking, I blurted out, “I have an idea. Why don’t we all go over to Angelina’s for Mexican food and…and…well, dinner’s on me!”
Ginger sat back on her heels and stared at me, her eyes shiny with tears. “I can’t let you do that, sugar.”
I waved away her protest. “Of course you can.”
“Nope,” Walter exclaimed, rising from his chair. “Ginger’s right, Kendall. This fiasco was my fault. I’m buying dinner for everyone.”
Jim hiccupped loudly. “Walter, my man, you are one cool dude.”
Ginger pushed to her feet with a grunt and threw the soggy towels into a trash bag. “Well, gee, that’s real nice of you.”
Walter nodded. “It’s settled then.”
Jim staggered when he rose from the chair and Walter grabbed his arm. “Steady there, Jimbo, I’ll do the driving.”
I was really curious to hear the second part of Walter’s story that had been aborted by Suzie’s shenanigans, but now didn’t seem the time. Later, definitely later.
The news of the free dinner spread like wildfire and within minutes, cars roared out of the driveway and a curtain of dust hung in the air as the caravan disappeared down the dirt road towards the south end of town. It suddenly occurred to me that Angelina’s was only a mile or so from Lupe’s house and a plan began to percolate in my mind. I pulled Ginger aside, whispering, “I need you to do me a favor.”
She listened intently as I explained my strategy. “So, if all of you ride with him, then we’ll have to take separate cars. I’ll scoot over there, check things out and then join you at the restaurant.”
Her honey-colored eyes sparkled with mirth. “Ain’t you the sneaky one?”
“I prefer to think of it as surreptitious.”
“Tally ain’t dumb.”
“Look, you told me yourself that your car keeps dying. Just explain to him that it would be better for everyone to ride with him. He can put Nona’s wheelchair in the back of the pickup.”
“Bet you a dollar to a donut, he ain’t gonna buy it.”
“Tally’s too much of a gentleman to refuse, trust me.”
She shook her head in disapproval. “You’re bad. Can’t this wait ‘til tomorrow?”
I set my jaw. “Ginger, I don’t know if this will even develop into a story, but I haven’t taken an interesting assignment for over two months! I mean, Tally’s really happy with things just sailing along at an even keel, but I need…I need, I don’t know…something. Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I want to follow up on this. Please.”
An unreadable light glowing in her eyes, she stared at me long and hard before heaving a conciliatory sigh. “Give me a minute to clue in Brian and Nona.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a quick hug, but she looked unusually agitated as we parted. I busied myself at the kitchen sink and within minutes I heard her corner Tally in the living room. I glanced up at his reflection in the window as she explained her transportation dilemma and noticed his expression of polite interest turn decidedly dubious. Doubt assailed me. Was this thing with Lupe a big enough deal to risk antagonizing him? I was the first to admit that Tally was the best thing that ever happened to me, even though Ginger described our relationship as fire and ice. His steady, easy-going disposition had a definite grounding effect on my volatile one. So, why was I doing this? Was it my way of rebelling against his overprotective behavior, or was I shying away from his recent overture that we take our relationship to a new level of commitment? Even though he hadn’t voiced it aloud, I knew his vision for our future together didn’t include my career. Was I ready to settle into ranch life?
“Not yet,” I muttered to myself when I heard Tally graciously agree to drive Ginger’s family to Angelina’s. My heart fluttered when I heard the click of his boots on the tile floor behind me and I could barely make eye contact when I looked around.
“Guess you heard I’ll be chauffeuring Ginger’s family with me.” It was a statement, not a question.
“Yeah, yeah. That’s really nice of you. I’ll…be along just as soon as I finish up here,” I said, plunging my hands into the soapy water. The glint of speculation in his dark eyes made me cringe inside, but he didn’t say another word, just turned and walked out.
I closed my eyes and sighed. He had to know and I felt like a naughty schoolgirl caught smoking in the bathroom. The instant his truck left, I was out the door and in my car heading towards the Hispanic community located south of the railroad tracks. I kicked around the idea of phoning Lupe but dismissed it. The element of surprise might yield better results. As I entered the narrow labyrinth of streets crowded with bars, rundown shacks and boarded up buildings, bright moonbeams filtering through the tall tamarisk trees illuminated the occasional shadowy figure ambling by. My shoulders tensed. On second thought, this might not be the safest place in town for a single Anglo woman. Oh well.
I’d been to Lupe’s place only once before, but that had been during the day. Now all of the ramshackle trailer parks looked alike and I couldn’t remember the name of hers. Rats! Without the benefit of streetlights, I had to rely solely on the full moon as I drove along the unpaved roads looking for something familiar. I was close to kicking myself in defeat when I spotted the water tower. Of course! It stood near the entrance to her park. I turned into the entrance marked Shady Grove, cruising slowly, until I saw her car adjacent to the dimpled silver Airstream trailer at the end of the second row.
I parked a few spaces away and got out. The warm night air was filled with the sounds of music, kids crying and dogs barking. A dim light glowed in one tightly curtained window when I rapped on the metal door. I thought I heard movement inside, but then nothing. I knocked again and called softly, “Lupe? It’s Kendall. I want to talk to you.”
The light went out and I sighed with annoyance. What kind of a game was she playing? “Come on, Lupe, open the door. I know you’re in there.”
Silence prevailed for another few seconds and then the door edged open a crack. I could barely make out her face in the light from nearby trailers. “I can’t talk to you.” Her words sounded muffled, like she’d been crying.
“Why not?”
“I just…can’t.”
“Is this about Walter’s silly story?”
Silence.
“Okay then, if this has something to do with your job…”
“I…I might not be coming back to work. I have to go away for awhile.”
My stomach dropped to my shoes. “Oh no. Please don’t tell me that. You know Al’s scheduled to be gone for a wedding three days next week. I can’t leave Tugg with no one to handle advertising.”
She choked, “I’m sorry.”
I stood there watching my vacation vaporize before my eyes along with my promise to Tally. But the tragic pitch of Lupe’s voice superceded both problems.
“Look, whatever it is, maybe I can help...”
“No one can help me.”
“Why not?”
“Because…I’ve done something very, very bad.”
“Let me in, Lupe. Right now.”
She hesitated at my tone of authority, then the lamp flashed on and without further protest she turned away, leaving the door open. I stepped inside and shut it behind me.
She collapsed in a heap on the frayed loveseat in the tiny living room and wept uncontrollably into a dishtowel. I sat down on an adjacent wicker chair and patted her shoulder, waiting for her to regain control, wondering what kind of trouble she was in. It struck me that I really knew almost nothing about her other than what was in her personnel file. She’d begun her career at the newspaper as a carrier, advanced to the pressroom and finally worked her way into classified ads where she’d been for the past two years. About her personal life though, I knew nothing.
“Would you like something to drink?” I asked when her sobs subsided and she raised her tear-stained face. She nodded wordlessly and I walked the three steps to a kitchen so small it looked like it belonged in a dollhouse. Pity for her meager living conditions blended with feelings of profound dread. What shocking information was she hiding? Did I really want to know? I opened several cupboard doors, snagged a glass and filled it from the tap. “Here.” I handed her the glass and sat down again. “I’m listening whenever you’re ready to talk.”
She took a few tentative sips, but seemed to be having trouble swallowing. Finally she quavered, “You’re my boss. I shouldn’t be telling you this.”
“I’m also your friend, okay? And I can’t help if you won’t tell me what’s wrong.”
She shook her head. “You won’t believe me anyway.”
“Try me.” My tone conveyed more bravado than I felt.
She stared straight ahead, hollow-eyed, before returning her gaze to me. “You can’t tell a soul. Not even Tally.” She picked up a well-worn Bible from the side table and placed my hand on it. “Promise.”
“Lupe, I don’t know if…”
“Promise, or I won’t tell you one word.”
3
I hesitated several seconds, but it was long enough for two conflicting thoughts to flash through my mind. The adventurous side of me wanted desperately to know her secret, but at the same instant, the logical part of my brain screamed for me to hit the door running before I involved myself further. I contemplated the steadfast intensity of her gaze a split second longer before answering, to my own surprise, “All right. I promise.”
She sat unmoving and I could tell by her anguished expression that she was still waging an inner battle. Then suddenly, she blinked as if coming out of a trance. She set the Bible down and rose her to feet, pacing the small room several times before stopping to face me. “The story Walter told about the man at Morita...the one about the alien abductions…I think it has to be true.”
My mouth sagged open. “You’re kidding, right?”
“I know it sounds loco, but I’ve been down there the past two weekends searching for some clue…anything.” She drew in a shallow breath, whispering, “But there is not a single trace of them.”
An uneasy feeling nudged me. “Trace of who?”
A look of pure misery clouded her features. “My brother, Gilberto, and my Uncle Raymond both disappeared ten days ago.”
I gawked in disbelief. “Oh, come on, Lupe, get real. There’s no way…”
Angry tears jumped to her eyes. “See? I knew you wouldn’t believe me.” She marched to the door and yanked it open. “You can go now.” The rock-hard gleam in her steady gaze punctuated the finality of her words.
At that moment I really didn’t know what to think of her outburst but I put up an obliging hand. “Calm down. It’s just that…well, that’s a pretty amazing statement.” I patted the chair next to me. “Why don’t you sit down here and start at the beginning. I’m sure there’s a reasonable….”
“There is a witness.”
“To the…ah…abduction?” It was an effort to conceal my skepticism.
“Yes. He claims he is the only one who got away from…from the sky people.”
Her preposterous statement sent a shock wave through me. “Okay. I’m ready to hear more.”
She closed the door, returned to the sofa and sat with clenched fists to her lips for another long minute before saying in a barely audible voice, “I feel like I am dying inside. I honestly don’t know what to do or where to turn for help.”
I shifted uneasily. “So…I gather you haven’t reported this situation to the authorities—sheriff, Border Patrol, INS?”
“No.”
“Why not?”
Her quick glance reflected a mixture of exasperation and chagrin. “Don’t you understand? I can’t. If la migra, you know, the INS finds out what I’ve done…they’ll deport me.”
The thought that there was still time to cut and run did occur to me, but she looked so distraught, I was unable to move an inch. “Lupe, why don’t you start at the real beginning of the story?”
She hung her head, avoiding my eyes. “You have probably figured out that I’m not here legally. My green card is counterfeit and so is my driver’s license.”
My heart sank like a stone, but I maintained a stoic expression. “Go on.”
“I came across with my stepfather, but he…he got into some trouble….” Her voice trailed off.
“What kind of trouble?”
“Smuggling drugs. He shot a Border Patrol agent…and now he’s in prison.”
“Christ.” “I had everything planned so carefully,” she said, nervously kneading her hands. “I have worked like a slave to send money home all these years to help the rest of my family have a better life, but much of it went for my mother’s sickness.” Her thick dark hair fell across her face when she bowed her head again and fingered the silver crucifix at her neck. “It was never enough, Kendall. Never enough. No matter how much I sent. God finally took her last month.”
I put my hand over hers. “I’m so sorry.” Words seemed totally inadequate.
She swiped away fresh tears. “You know, it’s bad enough that I was not there with her when she died, but now I have to live with what I have done.” Renewed panic lit her eyes so I kept my voice low, soothing. “What exactly did you do, Lupe?” Her hangdog expression had me holding my breath.
“I paid a coyote to bring them across the border.”
I cocked my head. “Your brother and uncle?”
She nodded.
My insides went hollow. “How much?”
“Three thousand dollars.”
“Oh, man.” I’d read stories like this where the smugglers accepted the money and then abandoned the people in the desert. “Why would you even consider becoming involved in something like this? Why couldn’t your relatives wait and apply to enter the country legally?”
She flicked me a look of disbelief. “¡Dios Mio! That could take years! Do you know how hard it is to find any kind of decent paying work in my homeland or to put food on the table? Do you have any idea of what it’s like just to even survive there?” Her Hispanic accent grew more pronounced as her agitation increased.
I stared at her a few seconds before answering quietly, “I guess I don’t.”
In a halting voice she recounted an existence burdened with poverty, crime, illness and living conditions so wretched I could hardly believe she was talking about life in this century, let alone a country within a few hour’s drive of where we now sat.
When she finished, I glanced around again at her sparse living conditions and thought about all the overtime hours she worked, her weekend jobs, the crappy old car she drove, her meager wardrobe. Where was my brain? I should have guessed long ago. It struck me also that the newspaper could be in trouble by having an undocumented worker in our employ. It seemed no matter what direction we took someone was going to suffer. A rush of sympathy engulfed me when I thought of Tally’s dilemma with his ranch hands. What a strange coincidence that we should both experience the identical problem the same night. “Lupe, tell me more about this witness. Is he still around? Have you talked with him?”
“Not directly.” She looked away from me again and my sense of unease heightened. Why the furtive behavior? “Is this the same guy Walter was talking about?”
“No. The information comes from a small boy.”
I was dumbfounded. “A boy? How old?”
“Four, maybe five.”
I sat back hard, staring at her. “Let me get this straight. You’re ready to quit your job, go traipsing around the desert hunting for who knows what, and risk getting yourself deported, all on the basis of some fairy tale told by a kid you haven’t even talked to?”
Her jaw tightened. “Sister Goldenrod thinks he’s telling the truth.”
“Sister Goldenrod? And who on earth is she?” I hadn’t realized my voice was rising until Lupe chided, “You don’t need to shout. I thought you were going listen to the whole story?”
I held out my hand in a placating gesture. “You’re right. I did promise.”
“She is the one who put me in touch with the coyote in the first place.”
“And?”
“She called this afternoon to tell me about this little boy.”
I couldn’t decide whether the story was getting better or worse as she relayed the tale of the Guiding Light Mission, which served as a sort of unofficial halfway house for illegal immigrants. The woman calling herself Sister Goldenrod was the minister at the small church located less than a mile from the border town of Sasabe.
“Sasabe? Is that southwest of Tucson?”
“Yes. Why?”
Hadn’t Tally mentioned helping out a rancher friend of his in that area several times in the past few months? I wished now I’d paid more attention to him. “Oh, nothing. Go on.”
According to Lupe, Sister Goldenrod administered shelter, food and comfort to the local homeless population and to the hardy souls who were lucky enough to make it across the miles of desolate landscape and evade the Border Patrol. She didn’t believe that she was doing anything wrong and stubbornly maintained that she was merely doing the Lord’s work.
A young family who had recently crossed over happened upon little Javier wandering in the desert. He was severely dehydrated and hallucinating about space aliens having supposedly waylaid the van where he and others had been hiding. Unwilling, or unable to take the boy with them, the couple had left him at the mission where he was now in the Sister’s care. The problem, Lupe explained, was that the child appeared so traumatized by the event he couldn’t remember many details. And even Sister Goldenrod, with her kind ministrations, had been unable to coax the boy out from under his bed because he maintained that the aliens might find him.
“I think hallucination is the operative word here,” I said, watching her crestfallen expression. “Look, obviously something happened, but it’s pretty farfetched to believe that we’re dealing with a UFO abduction.”
“Then where is my family?”
I shrugged. “I don’t know. But I’m afraid that without the assistance of the authorities in that area you don’t stand a chance in hell of ever finding them.”
She glared at me. “Are you saying I should forget about them?”
“Of course not. We just need to think of a way to approach this that won’t get you deported.” My gaze strayed to my watch and I flinched in surprise. Good heavens! Tally and the gang were expecting me at Angelina’s. How was I going to explain being over an hour late? At that second, my cell phone bleated a ‘low battery’ warning and handed me the excuse I needed to explain why I hadn’t called.
Lupe must have noticed my discomfort because she rose from her chair and said apologetically, “Thanks for listening. I know there’s nothing you can do, but just talking about it has helped.”
It may have helped Lupe, but I doubted I’d be sleeping tonight. “Look, I don’t want you running around down there asking questions and drawing attention to yourself. Maybe an immigration lawyer could tell us what your status is. Let me give it some thought,” I said, picking up my purse. “Maybe I could make a few calls….” Lupe’s sharp intake of breath arrested my words. "What?”
Realization gleamed in her smoky eyes. “You’re right,” she said softly. “I can’t ask the authorities for help…but you can.”
Speechless, I stared at her for a few seconds. “Me? How?”
“Don’t you see? You’re a reporter! No one is going to think it’s strange if you are asking the questions.”
She was absolutely right. No one would think it the least bit odd. But, as her proposal sunk in, equal parts of consternation and excitement churned inside me. My reporter’s intuition whispered, ‘Go for it! This might be a great story,’ while my rational side warned, ‘Reality check, what about you and Tally?’ I shook my head sadly. “Lupe, I can’t. As tempting as it sounds….”
“Please,” she choked, collapsing to her knees in front of me. “Come with me, even if it’s just for a few days. I don’t have anyone else to turn to.” She buried her head in her hands, sobbing hysterically. “Please help me find out what happened to them!”
Pity squeezed my heart. What should I do? How could I just ignore her anguished plea? I patted her shoulder while thinking that there must be a way to assist her without jeopardizing my trip with Tally. I did some quick calculations. We weren’t planning to leave until Tuesday anyway, so…what if I took the next few days to do a little detective work and got back in time to leave on schedule? What would be the harm in that? “When were you planning to leave?”
“Tomorrow morning.”
“Okay, how does this sound? I’ll go with you and see what I can find out, but only if you promise to do me a favor in return.”
Her bloodshot eyes mirrored uncertainty. “What?”
“We’ll take separate cars and you’ll come back to work on Monday morning, then Tugg won’t be left hanging. I’ll have three full days to snoop around and still get back in time to leave with Tally on Tuesday. That way, everybody should be happy. And if I don’t come up with anything substantial, I give you my word I’ll take the last few days of my vacation when I get back from California and we’ll make an additional trip. It’s that or nothing.”
The seconds ticked by as she considered my proposition and finally nodded her acquiescence. “Okay.”
I breathed a sigh of relief. Sort of. The plan sounded plausible, but getting it past Tally presented the next major obstacle, considering that my obvious subterfuge tonight put me at a distinct disadvantage when it came to presenting my side of the argument that was sure to arise. Lupe and I talked for several more minutes and then she accompanied me outside. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough,” she said with a tremulous smile. “I’m sorry to cause all this trouble.”
“No need to apologize.”
“I feel so bad about spoiling Ginger’s party.” She gestured towards her car. “The other pan of enchiladas is on the back seat. Do you want to take it back to her house?”
At the mention of food, sudden hunger gnawed at my belly. I’d probably missed a great dinner at Angelina’s. “I’m sure the party is over now. Don’t worry about it. Get packed and get some sleep. What time were you planning to leave?”
“Around seven. It’s close to a four hour drive.”
“I’ll be here.” I started towards my car, but stopped and turned when a thought struck me. “By the way, where will we be staying overnight? Should we reserve a motel room?”
An indulgent grin creased her lips as she slowly shook her head. “I can see you have never been to Sasabe. It is a very small place. Sister Goldenrod let me stay in one of the rooms she keeps ready for her um…unexpected guests, or maybe you would want to drive back and find a motel in Green Valley.”
“That bad, huh?”
“Not fancy at all,” she said with a little shrug.
“Well, I’ll bring my sleeping bag in case I have to rough it for a couple of nights.”
She thanked me again and I headed to the restaurant nursing my own pangs of guilt. Crap! Just as I feared. There were only a few cars remaining in the parking lot when I arrived and Tally’s truck was not among them. I groaned aloud and goosed the car down the road towards Ginger’s place, dread pooling inside me as I imagined the impending confrontation—one provoked by my own impulsive actions.
When I approached her driveway and saw Tally’s truck parked beneath the streetlight, my heart did a nervous little dance. He was leaning against the door twirling his hat in his hands. Not a good sign. Gravel crunched under the wheels as I braked, jumped from the car and started walking towards him. Might as well get it over with.
I was filled with regret. It should have been a night for romance. The soft breeze caressing my face carried the dusky-sweet scent of desert plants and felt surprisingly cool. Was this the weather change I’d been waiting for, the one that would herald an end to the sweltering summer heat?
Silvery moonlight, more brilliant than any I had seen before in my life, beamed down on me like a spotlight, exposing all my weaknesses. I flashed Tally a sheepish grin designed to diffuse the situation, but his response sent my spirits plummeting. The mosaic of light and shadow playing across his rugged features revealed the tight set of his jaw and the agitation smoldering in his hooded gaze. Why did he have to look so tall, so imposing and so damned sexy? Before I could utter one word in my defense, he said coolly, “It’s really comforting to realize that on your list of important things, I rank somewhere below Ginger’s dirty dishes and Lupe’s personal problems.”
“You know that’s not true.”
“Really? You could have fooled me.” He made an exaggerated point of staring at his watch then lifted his gaze to me. “All I know is that it’s past ten o’clock and I’ve spent exactly five minutes with you all evening.”
“I’m sorry. I had every intention of coming to Angelina’s after…”
Tersely, he interjected, “After cooking up your little scheme with Ginger. Shame on both of you. We waited at the restaurant until poor old Nona finally fell asleep in her chair.”
I sighed heavily, pressing one hand against my forehead. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what else to say. But, I was right. Lupe does have a serious problem and I, unfortunately, am going to have to deal with it.”
He seemed unimpressed by my explanation and his lips flattened into a hard line. “Sorry is not going to cut it. I know you’re accustomed to using deception to wheedle information from other people, but I don’t appreciate you using it on me and I sure as hell don’t like being put on the spot.”
Although I probably deserved his wrath, I stuck my chin out and shot back, “Before you get your shorts all in a knot, I did try to call you, but the battery on my cell phone died so...” I winced inwardly as the words left my mouth. Even I knew how lame it sounded and my face flamed with embarrassment.
He arched one dark brow. “I see. And apparently Lupe’s phone wires were also cut?”
I squirmed under his accusing glare for a moment before saying, “That’s a little bit overly-dramatic, don’t you think?”
“You’re the one who gets off on drama and duplicity.”
“That’s not fair. Besides, you forced me to do it that way.”
“I forced you?”
“Yes! You made it very clear you didn’t want me going over there tonight and I’m not accustomed to asking anyone’s permission to do my job. I didn’t want to have an argument with you in front of everyone, so…”
His gaze softened marginally. “What kind of trouble is she in?”
“Well…I can’t say.”
Grimacing, he squeezed his eyes shut. “Why does this sound familiar?”
I knew he was referring to my first assignment when I’d arrived in Arizona last spring. On Tugg’s request, I’d had to work undercover and been unable to tell him why. “This is nothing for you to have a freckled cow over. I agreed to go with Lupe down to the southern part of the state for just a couple of days to check some things out.”
He quit twirling his hat and jammed it on his head. “I see.”
“No, you don’t see. Lupe’s gotten herself involved in…well, something pretty awful and she begged me to help her. She also swore me to secrecy.”
“This is exactly why I didn’t want you to get yourself involved. Can’t this wait until after our trip?”
“I don’t think so.”
His sigh of exasperation filled the space between us. “I know you’re not that excited about the horse show….”
I cut in, “Don’t assume things. Lupe said that if she can’t resolve this problem, she’s not coming back to work.”
He cocked his head to one side. “At all?”
“At all. And since Tugg and I agreed that we wouldn’t leave each other in a bind, if Lupe takes off I won’t be able to go with you anyway because we’ll be short-staffed.” I explained the bargain I’d made with Lupe, concluding with, “You’re going to have to trust my judgement on this one.”
He shot me an incredulous look. “You mean like your last two assignments? In case you’ve forgotten, I had to save your beautiful butt the first time, and the second time I was the last one to know that you’d almost gotten yourself killed.”
“So that’s it. I thought we weren’t going to have this discussion again. Admit it, you’re not really upset about tonight. You’re still pissed at me over that Morgan’s Folly story. How many times do you want me to apologize? I was wrong. I should have told you sooner. This time I’m telling you right up front. Lupe’s in big trouble and I’m going to do my best to help her if I can.”
He shook his head slowly. “Do you have any idea how aggravating you can be?”
“Me?” I hoped my beguiling grin would thaw his anger. “I don’t mean to worry you but this is…this is what I do.”
His eyes were luminous with disappointment. “I guess I was hoping that things would settle down, and that maybe you’d develop a little appreciation for what I like to do, but I guess ranching doesn’t hit your hot button.”
“Tally, I love you, but please don’t try to corral me like one of your wild horses. I’m not ready to be put out to pasture just yet.” Oops! His face closed up and I regretted the words the moment they left my lips. Why, oh, why couldn’t I stop and think things out before saying them? I rushed to slide my arms around him. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that the way it sounded.” I laid my cheek against his neck. “You know you’re the most important thing in my life.” I cherished the feel of his strong arms around me and I thought again how we seemed a testimony to the opposites attract theory. The fact that he appeared to have a clear vision of who he was and where he intended to go in life had a steadying influence on me. And compared to my impetuous ways, his dependable disposition was like a buoy in the rough uncharted waters of our still evolving relationship.
He stiffened and held me away from him, his eyes searching mine. “Kendall, I know I can’t change you any more than you can change me, but I hope you’ll think this through before you go running off chasing UFOs or some nonsensical thing.”
