5 sd 1351 the winter soldier

8/13/2019 5 SD 1351 the Winter Soldier

1/132

--5 SD 1351 The Winter Soldier (03-2001)

Synopsis

Most everyone in Jacobsville, Teas, steered clear o! tacit"rn #y $ar%s& 'oever,

sirited *isa Monroe asn+t eactly "a%in in her boots, and electri!ied the !or.idableloner ith her seetly tantali/in %isses& Their !iery assion escalated hen the inter

soldier ret"rned to the line o! d"ty-and clai.ed the lovely *isa as his bride, to shield her

!ro. a revene-see%in deserado& #learly, #y as hettin .ihty ossessive o! thisenchantin o.an ho needed the tye o! sa!e"ardin only he co"ld rovide& "t ho

o"ld rotect the be"ilin bride !ro. hi.&&&

or J& elson

One4t as Monday, the orst day in the orld to try to et a rescrition !illed& ehind the

co"nter, the oor harassed .ale dr"ist as tryin to !ield the telehone calls, !ill

rescritions, anser "estions !ro. atrons and deleate d"ties to to assistants& 4t as

alays li%e this a!ter the ee%end, #y $ar%s tho"ht ith resination& obody anted tobother the doctor on his days o!!, so they all aited "ntil Monday to resent their vario"s

co.laints& 'ence the r"sh on the Jacobsville $har.acy& Michael, the har.acist on


2/132

d"ty, as s.ilin leasantly desite the cr"sh o! c"sto.ers, acc"sto.ed to the Monday

.adness&

That ro" "ttin o!! a visit to the doctor "ntil Monday incl"ded hi.sel!, #y ."sed&

'is ar. as throbbin !ro. an enco"nter ith one o! his anry Santa ertr"dis b"lls late

on riday a!ternoon& 4t as his le!t ar., too, the one that had been b"rned in the ho"se!ire bac% in Wyo.in& The anry ri needed ten stitches, and Dr& 6#oer6 #ol-train had

been irritated that #y hadn+t one to the e.erency roo. instead o! lettin it ait to

days and ris%in anrene& The sarcas. 7"st ashed riht o!!8 #oltrain co"ld have savedhis breath& 9ver the years, there had been so .any o"nds that #y hardly !elt ain

any.ore& With his shirt o!!, those o"nds had been aarent to #oltrain, ho ondered

alo"d here so .any b"llet o"nds ca.e !ro.& #y had si.ly loo%ed at hi., ith those

dee reen eyes that co"ld be as cold as :rctic air& #oltrain had iven "&

Stitches in lace, #oltrain had scribbled a rescrition !or a stron antibiotic and a

ain%iller and sent hi. on his ay& #y had iven the rescrition to the cler% ten .in"tes

ao& 'e lanced aro"nd hi. at the rescrition co"nter and tho"ht he robably sho"ldhave ac%ed l"nch and bro"ht it ith hi.&

'e shi!ted !ro. one booted !oot to the other ith noticeable i.atience, his littery

reen eyes seein the c"sto.ers nearest the co"nter& They settled on a serene blond-

haired o.an st"dyin hi. ith evident a."se.ent& 'e %ne her& Most eole inJacobsville, Teas, did& She as *isa Taylor Monroe& 'er h"sband, Walt Monroe, an

"ndercover narcotics o!!icer ith a !ederal aency, had recently been %illed& 'e+d

borroed on his ins"rance olicy, so there had been 7"st eno"h .oney to b"ry hi.& :t

least *isa had her s.all ranch, a leacy !ro. her late !ather&

#y+s %een eyes st"died her oenly& She as seet, b"t she+d never in any bea"ty

contests& 'er dar% blond hair as alays in a b"n and she never "t on .a%e"& Sheore lasses over her bron eyes, lastic !ra.ed ones, and her "s"al arb as 7eans and

a T-shirt hen she as or%in aro"nd the ranch her !ather had le!t her& Walt Monroe

had loved the ranch, and d"rin his in!re"ent visits ho.e, he+d set o"t i.rovin it& 'isa.bitions had all b"t ban%r"ted it, so that *isa as le!t a!ter his death ith a s.all

savins acco"nt that robably o"ldn+t even ay the interest on the loans Walt had

obtained&

#y %ne so.ethin abo"t *isa Monroe beca"se she as his closest neihbor, alon ith

*"%e #rai, a rancher ho as recently .arried to a "blic de!ender na.ed elinda

Jess"& Mrs& Monroe there li%ed #harolais, he recalled& 'e asn+t any too !ond o! !oreincattle, havin a "rebred herd o! Santa ertr"dis cattle, breedin b"lls !ro. hich .ade

hi. a ro!itable livin& :l.ost as rosero"s as his !or.er sideline, he ."sed& : ood

cha.ion b"ll co"ld "ll "ard o! a .illion dollars on the .ar%et&

*isa had no s"ch livestoc%& 'er #harolais cattle ere steers, bee! stoc%& She sold o!! her

steer cro every !all, b"t it o"ldn+t do her ."ch ood no& She as too deely in debt&

*i%e .ost other eole, he !elt sorry !or her& 4t as co..on ossi that she as


3/132

renant, beca"se in a s.all ton li%e Jacobsville, everybody %ne everythin& She

didn+t loo% renant, b"t he+d overheard so.eone say that they co"ld tell in days no,

rather than the ee%s s"ch tests had once re"ired& She ."st be 7"st barely renant, he."sed, beca"se those tiht 7eans o"tlined a !lat sto.ach and a !i"re that .ost o.en

o"ld covet&

"t her sit"ation as recario"s& $renant, idoed and deely in debt, she as li%ely

to !ind hersel! ho.eless be!ore ."ch loner, hen the ban% as !orced to !oreclose on

the roerty& Da.ned sha.e, he tho"ht, hen it had s"ch otential !or develo.ent

She as cl"tchin a boed heatin ad to her chest, aitin her t"rn in line at the

second cash reister at the har.acy co"nter&

When *isa as !inally at the head o! the line, she "t don her heatin ad on the

co"nter and oened her "rse&

6:nother one, *isa6 the yo"n !e.ale cler% as%ed her ith an odd s.ile&

She ave the other o.an an irritated lance as she d" in her "rse !or her chec%boo%&6Don+t yo" start, onnie,6 she ."ttered&

6'o can 4 hel it6 the cler% ch"c%led& 6That+s the third one this .onth& 4n !act, that+sthe last one e have in stoc%&6

64 %no that& ;o"+d better order so.e .ore&6

6;o" really need to do so.ethin abo"t that do,6 onnie s"ested !ir.ly&

6'ear, hear


4/132

tho"hts& 6;o" sho"ldn+t need a do ith hi. there& #an+t he rotect yo"6

6'e only co.es on the ee%ends,6 *isa relied&

onnie !roned& 6*"%e #rai sent hi. o"t there, didn+t he "t he said the .an as

s"osed to send every niht in the b"n%ho"se


5/132

6:nd that yo"+re the last erson ho sho"ld be loo%ed "on as a al%in benevolence

society&6

6'ear, hear


6/132


7/132

ro"nded little chin and a retty .o"th& 'er ears ere tiny& 'e ondered hat that .ass

o! dar% old hair loo%ed li%e at niht hen she too% the hairins o"t, and his on

c"riosity .ade hi. anry& With co.ressed lis, he !astened the seat belt and .ovedaay to b"c%le his on in lace&

*isa as relieved hen he leaned bac%& 'e .ade her nervo"s hen he as that close&9dd, that reaction, she tho"ht, hen she+d been .arried !or to .onths& She sho"ld be

"sed to .en& 9! co"rse, her late h"sband hadn+t been that interested in her body& 'e didn+t

see. to en7oy sleein ith her, and he as alays in s"ch a r"sh that she really didn+t!eel any o! the thins o.en ere s"osed to !eel& She recalled that he+d .arried her on

the rebo"nd !ro. the o.an he really anted, and the only thin abo"t *isa that really

aealed to hi. had been her !ather+s ranch& 'e+d had reat ideas abo"t startin an

e.ire, b"t it as only a ie drea.& : dead drea., no& She stared o"t at the s.allton as they drove thro"h it on the ay o"t to their resective ranches&

6Do yo" have anyone .anain the ranch !or yo"6 he as%ed hen they ere on the

lonely hihay headin o"t o! ton&

6#an+t a!!ord anyone,6 she said ist!"lly& 6Walt had bi lans !or the lace, b"t thereas never eno"h .oney to !"l!ill the.& 'e borroed on his salary and his li!e ins"rance

olicy to b"y the steers, b"t he didn+t loo% !ar eno"h ahead to see the dro"ht co.in& 4

"ess he didn+t reali/e that b"yin inter !eed !or those steers o"ld "t "s in the hole&6She shoo% her head& 64 did so ant his lans to or% o"t,6 she said ist!"lly& 64! they had,

he as oin to ive " "ndercover or% and co.e ho.e to be a rancher&6 'er eyes ere

sad& 6'e as only thirty years old&6

6Man"el *oe/ is a vindictive dr" lord,6 he ."r."red& 6'e doesn+t sto at his victi.s,

either& 'e li%es to taret hole !a.ilies& Well, ecet !or s.all children& 4! he has a

virt"e, that+s the only one&6 'e lanced at her& 6:ll the .ore reason !or yo" to be loo%eda!ter at niht& The do is a ood idea& >ven a "y ill bar% hen so.eone co.es " to

the door&6

6'o do yo" %no abo"t *oe/6 she as%ed&

'e la"hed& 4t as the coldest so"nd *isa had ever heard& 6'o do 4 %no 'e had his

th"s set !ire to .y ho"se in Wyo.in& My i!e and .y !ive-year-old son died beca"seo! hi.&6 'is eyes stared straiht ahead& 6:nd i! it+s the last thin 4 ever do, 4+ll see hi.

ay !or it&6

64 had&&&no idea,6 she !altered& She inced at the loo% on his !ace& 64+. very sorry, Mr&

$ar%s& 4 %ne abo"t the !ire, b"t&&&6 She averted her eyes to the dar% landscae o"tside&

6They told .e that Walt only said to ords be!ore he died& 'e said, +et *oe/&+ Theyill, yo" %no,6 she added harshly& 6They+ll et hi., no .atter hat it ta%es&6

'e lanced at her and s.iled in site o! hi.sel!& 6;o"+re not "ite the retirin .iss that

yo" see. to be, are yo", Mrs& Monroe6


8/132

64+. renant,6 she told hi. !latly& 64t .a%es .e ill-te.ered&6

'e sloed to .a%e a t"rn& 6Did yo" ant a child so soon a!ter yo"r .arriae6 he

as%ed, %noin as everyone locally did that she+d only .arried to .onths ao&

64 love children,6 she said, s.ilin sel!-conscio"sly& @4 "ess it+s not the +in+ thin riht

no, b"t 4+ve never had drea.s o! cororate leadershi& 4 li%e the ace o! li!e here in

Jacobsville& >verybody %nos everybody& There+s recio"s little cri.e "s"ally& 4 cantrace .y !a.ily bac% three enerations here& My arents and .y randarents are b"ried

in the ton ce.etery& 4 loved bein a ho"sei!e, ta%in care o! Walt and coo%in and all

the do.estic thins o.en aren+t s"osed to en7oy any.ore&6 She lanced at hi. ith a

ic%ed little s.ile& 64 as even a virin hen 4 .arried& When 4 rebel, 4 o the holeay


9/132

to the hihest bidder,6 he added bitterly&

6"t ith rinciles, riht6 she ersisted& 64 .ean, yo" didn+t hire o"t to *oe/ andhel hi. r"n dr"s&6

6#ertainly not


10/132

trained, so seciali/ed, that they+re the sco"re o! terrorists the orld over& They o

everyhere, covertly, to resc"e hostaes and ather intellience abo"t terrorist ro"s&6

She sihed and closed her eyes, oblivio"s to the eression o! the .an atchin her& @4Bdbe scared to death to do anythin li%e that, b"t 4 ad.ire eole ho can& 4t+s a ay o!

testin yo"rsel!, isn+t it, so that yo" %no ho yo" react "nder the .ost deadly ress"re&

Most o! "s never !ace hysical violence& Those .en have&6 'er eyes oened& 6Men li%eyo"&6

'e !elt his chee%s o hot& She as intri"in& 'e bean to "nderstand hy Walt had.arried her& 6'o old are yo"6 he as%ed bl"ntly&

69ld eno"h to et renant,6 she told hi. ertly& 6:nd that+s all yo"+re ettin o"t o!

.e&6

'is reen eyes narroed& She as very yo"n, there as no do"bt abo"t that& 'e didn+t

li%e the idea o! her bein in daner& 'e didn+t li%e the idea o! the .an *"%e #rai had

sent over to loo% o"t !or her, either& 'e as oin to see abo"t that&

6'o old are yo", i! e+re ettin ersonal6 she as%ed&

69lder than yo" are,6 he ret"rned .oc%inly&

She ri.aced& 6Well, yo"+ve ot scars and lines in yo"r !ace, and a little ray at yo"r

te.les, b"t 4 do"bt yo"+re over thirty-!ive&6

'is eyebros arched al.ost to his hairline&

64+d li%e yo" to be .y baby+s od!ather hen he+s born,6 she contin"ed bl"ntly& 64 thin%

Walt o"ld have li%ed that, too& 'e so%e very hihly o! yo", altho"h he didn+t say."ch abo"t yo"r bac%ro"nd& 4 as c"rio"s abo"t that& o 4 "nderstand hy he as so

secretive&6

64+ve never been a od!ather,6 he said c"rtly&

6That+s o%ay& 4+ve never been a .other&6 She !roned& 6#o.e to thin% o! it, the baby

hasn+t been a baby be!ore, either&6 She loo%ed don at her !lat belly and s.iled tenderly,tracin it& 6We can all start even&6

6Did yo" love yo"r h"sband6

She loo%ed " at hi.& 6Did yo" love yo"r i!e6 she co"ntered instantly&

'e didn+t li%e loo%in at her belly, re.e.berin& 'e started don the road aain, at a

reater seed& 6She said she loved .e, hen e .arried,6 he said evasively&

$oor o.an, *isa tho"ht& :nd oor little boy, to die so yo"n, and in s"ch a horrible


11/132

ay& She ondered i! the tacit"rn Mr& $ar%s had niht.ares, and "essed that he did& 'is

oor ar. as roo! that he+d tried to save his !a.ily& 4t ."st be terrible, to o on livin,

to be the only s"rvivor o! s"ch a traedy&

They "lled " in !ront o! her dilaidated ranch ho"se& The stes ere !li.sy and one o!

the boards as rotten& The ho"se needed aintin& The screens on the indos ere torn,and the one on the screen door as hal! torn aay& 4n the corral, he co"ld hear a horse

hinny& 'e hoed her !ences ere in better shae than the ho"se&

'e heled her don o"t o! the tr"c% and set her ently on her !eet& She as rail-thin&

6:re yo" eatin roerly6 he as%ed abr"tly as he st"died her in the !aint liht !ro. the

orch, scolin&

64 said yo" co"ld be the baby+s od!ather, not .ine,6 she ointed o"t ith an i.ish

s.ile& 6Than% yo" very ."ch !or the ride& o o ho.e, Mr& $ar%s&6

6Don+t 4 et to see this !a.o"s "y6

She ri.aced as she al%ed inerly " the stes, ast the rotten one, and "t her %ey in

the loc%& 6'e stays on the screen orch o"t bac%, and even ith aers don, 4 eect

he+s .ade a !riht!"l .ess&&& That+s odd,6 she said hen the door s"n oen itho"t the%ey bein t"rned in the loc%& 64+. s"re 4 loc%ed this door be!ore 4&&& Where are yo"

oin6

6Stay riht there,6 he said shortly& 'e oened the tr"c%, too% o"t the &C5 a"to.atic healays carried and coc%ed it on his ay bac% onto the orch&

'er !ace ent ale& ?eadin abo"t co..andos as very di!!erent !ro. the real thinhen she sa the cold .etal o! the istol in his hands and reali/ed that he as robably

"ite ro!icient in its "se& The tho"ht chilled her& *i%e the siht o! the "n&

'e "t her ently to one side& 64+. not oin to shoot anybody "nless 4 et shot at,6 he

said reass"rinly& 6Stay there&6

'e le!t her on the orch and ent care!"lly, "ietly, thro"h the ho"se ith the istolraised at his ear, one !iner on the trier and his other hand, in site o! its in7"ry,

s"ortin the b"tt e!!iciently& 'e set the ho"se, roo. by roo., closet by closet, "ntil

he ot to the bedroo. and heard a so"nd inside& 4t as only a so"nd, a !aint hiser&There as a hint o! liht co.in !ro. "nder the door, hich as 7"st slihtly a7ar&

'e %ic%ed the door oen, the istol leveled the second he had a clear vie o! the bed&

The .an+s !ace as a st"dy in shoc% hen he sa the eression on #y $ar%s+s dar%

!ace and the litter in his eyes& ill Mason, *"%e #rai+s ersthile coboy-on-loan, as

lyin on the bed in his shorts ith a beer bottle in one hand& When #y b"rst in the door,


12/132

he sat " star%ly, his bloodshot eyes blin%in as he sayed& 'e as 7"st dr"n% eno"h not

to reali/e ho ."ch tro"ble he as in&

6;o"+re not Mrs& Monroe,6 he draled lo"dly&

6:nd yo"+re not Mr& Monroe& 4! yo" ant to see dayliht aain, et the hell o"t o! thatbed and "t yo"r clothes on


13/132

64 didn+t %no yo",6 she ointed o"t& 6:nd *"%e .eant it as a %ind est"re&6

6*"%e o"ld eat hi. ith barbec"e sa"ce i! he %ne hat he as doin over here


14/132

'e aited "ntil she ot inside and loc%ed the door be!ore he cli.bed into his tr"c%& 'e

ondered hy she+d said Walt+s bed and not their bed& The "estion diverted hi. as he

drove the intoicated b"t "iet coboy over to *"%e #rai+s ho"se and shoed hi. to*"%e& The blond rancher c"rsed ro"ndly, havin closed the door so that his ne i!e,

elinda, o"ldn+t overhear&

64+. very dr"n%,6 the coboy said ith a losided rin, sayin on the orch&

6'e as stried to his shorts, aitin !or *isa in her bed,6 #y said, and he didn+t rin&64 don+t ant this .an sent over there aain&6

6'e on+t be& ood od, he+s hidden it ell, hasn+t he6

64+. very dr"n%,6 the coboy reeated, and the rin idened&

6Sh"t ",6 #y told hi.& 'e t"rned bac% to *"%e& 64+. sendin one o! .y on .en over

to slee in the b"n%ho"se& #an yo" handle hi.6

64+. veerrryy dr"n%,6 the coboy inter7ected&

6Sh"t "


15/132

6ood niht


16/132

6ood .an, 'arley,6 #y said as he looed the roe aro"nd the cal! s !eet& 64! e can+t

et hi. o"t o"rselves, e can "se the ench on .y tr"c%& ?eady $"llc"se .e6 'arley as%ed&

64t as .y co,6 *isa ointed o"t& 64 tho"ht 4 co"ld do it by .ysel!&6

6$renant, and yo" thin% yo"+re Sa.son,6 he said ith bitin sarcas.&

She "t her hands on her his and lared " at hi.& @o aay


17/132

in& 6:re all yo"r .en li%e that6

'e !olloed her into the %itchen& 6'e+s not a!raid o! .e,6 he said irritably& 6'e thin%s4+. itiable& 4n !act, he has del"sions that he+s soldier o! !ort"ne .aterial since he sent

to ee%s havin intense co.bat trainin ith a ee%end .er% trainin school,6 he

added ith "re sarcas.& 6'ave yo" ot a hand toel6

She "lled one !ro. a draer hile he lathered his ar.s, incin a little as the ater

and soa st"n the stitches&

6;o" don+t ant to et that in!ected,6 she said, st"dyin the o"nd as she stood beside

hi. ith the toel&

6Than%s !or the !irst-aid ti,6 he said ith !ailin atience& 6That+s hy 4 as%ed !or

antibacterial soa


18/132

64 thin% 4 sensed that&6 She sihed& 6Want so.e co!!ee 4 have to drin% deca!, b"t 4

co"ld .a%e so.e&6

64 hate deca!, b"t 4+ll drin% it&6

She s.iled& She ot " and !illed the ot and the !ilter and started the co!!ee.a%er hile

she ot don hite ."s& She lanced at hi. ith "rsed lis& 6lac%,6 she "essed&

'e ave her an annoyed loo%& 6Don+t et conceited beca"se yo" %no ho 4 ta%e .y

co!!ee&6

64 on+t&6

She o"red the co!!ee into the c"s and sat bac% don, atchin as he c"ed his le!t

hand aro"nd it& 6Does it still h"rt6 she as%ed, re!errin to the b"rns on his hand&

6ot as ."ch as it "sed to,6 he said !latly&

6;o" don+t have anyone to tal% to, either, do yo"6

'e shoo% his head& 64+. not ."ch !or bars, and the only !riend 4 have is >b& o thathe+s .arried, e don+t send a lot o! ti.e toether&6

64t+s orse hen yo" hold thins inside,6 she ."r."red absently, starin into her

co!!ee& @>verybody thin%s 4 had a !airy-tale .arriae ith a sey .an ho loved danerand co"ld have had any o.an he anted&6 She s.iled ryly& 6:t !irst 4 tho"ht so, too&

'e see.ed li%e a drea. co.e tr"e& oy, did .y ill"sions leave s%id .ar%s ta%in o!!


19/132

6Didn+t yo" do anythin scandalo"s6

6ot .e,6 she oed bac%& 64+. the so"l o! roriety& My dad "sed to say that 4 as thes"!!erin conscience o! the orld&6 'er eyes dar%ened& 6'e died o! a stro%e hile he as

"sin the tiller o"t in the arden& When he didn+t co.e in !or l"nch, 4 %ne so.ethin

as ron& 4 ent o"t to !ind hi.&6 She .oved her co!!ee c" on the table& 6'e assittin aainst a tree ith his ther.os 7" o! co!!ee still in his hands, his eyes ide-oen,

stone dead&6 She shivered& 6Mo. had died hen 4 as in sith rade, o! cancer& Dad

loved her so ."ch& 'e loved .e, too&6 She li!ted her sad eyes& 64 s"ose 4+d rather havehad hi. !or a short ti.e than not to have had hi. at all& Walter !elt sorry !or .e and

as%ed .e to .arry hi., beca"se 4 as so alone& 'e+d 7"st lost the o.an he loved and 4

thin% he anted to .arry .e 7"st to site her& The ranch as a bon"s& 4 as really

in!at"ated ith hi. at !irst, and he li%ed .e and loved this ranch& 4 !i"red e had asood a chance o! .a%in a .arriae or% as eole ho ere assionately in love&6 She

sihed aain& 64sn+t hindsiht onder!"l6

'e leaned bac% in his chair and loo%ed at her !or a lon ti.e& 6;o"+re a tonic,6 he saidabr"tly& 6;o"+re astrinent and so.eti.es yo" stin, b"t 4 li%e bein aro"nd yo"&6

6Than%s& 4 thin%,6 she added&

69h, it+s a co.li.ent,6 he ."r."red& 64 o"ldn+t o!!er yo" anythin ecet the tr"th&6

6That really is a co.li.ent&6

6lad yo" noticed&6

6What haened to the dr"n% coboy6 she as%ed&

6*"%e+s i!e is ettin hi. into a hal!ay ho"se,6 he ."sed& 6: real cr"sader, that lady&

She is a bleedin heart&6

6She li%es lost ca"ses,6 she co"ntered& 64+ve heard a lot abo"t her, and 4 li%e hat 4+ve

heard& 4! 4 can et this ranch bac% on its !eet, 4+d li%e to hel her&6

6:nother latent cr"sader,6 he teased&

6: lot o! eole need savin, and there aren+t a lot o! re!or.ers aro"nd,6 she ointed

o"t&

6Tr"e eno"h&6

6Than%s !or sendin that other .an over to %ee a loo%o"t& 'e+s very nice& Did yo"

%no that he li%es to do needleoint6 she as%ed .atter-o!-!actly&

'e nodded& 6els does so.e ehibition-"ality handor%& obody teases hi. abo"t it,


20/132

either& :t least, not since he %noc%ed Sid T"ren into the ater tro"h&6

She ch"c%led& 6'e loo%ed li%e that sort o! .an& 4 %nit,6 she said& 6ot very ell, b"t itives .e so.ethin to do hen 4+. by .ysel!&6

6;o"+re alays by yo"rsel!,6 he said "ietly& 6Why don+t yo" co.e ho.e ith .e oneor to evenins a ee% and e can atch television a!ter 4+ve !inished ith the boo%s& 4

co"ld co.e and !etch yo"&6

'er heart 7".ed& She didn+t need tellin that he+d never .ade that invitation to anyone

else& 'e as li%e a o"nded ol! in his lair .ost o! the ti.e& 6Wo"ldn+t 4 be in the ay6

she as%ed&

'e shoo% his head& 64+. alone, too& ;o" and the baby o"ld be ood co.any8 be!ore

and a!ter he+s born& ;o" don+t have a h"sband any.ore& 4 don+t have a !a.ily,6 he said

bl"ntly& 64+d li%e to hel yo" thro"h the net !e .onths& o strins,6 he added !ir.ly&

6:nd absol"tely no "lterior .otives& J"st !riendshi&6

She as to"ched& 'e .ade her !eel elco.e, ar. and sa!e& She %ne that a lot o!eole ere inti.idated by hi., and that he as very stando!!ish& 4t as a h"e

co.li.ent he as ayin her& 6Than%s,6 she said en"inely& 64+ll ta%e yo" " on that&6

'e sied his co!!ee and "t the c" don& 64t .iht be ood !or both o! "s to send

less ti.e alone ith the ast&6

64s that hat yo" do, too, thin%in abo"t ho it .iht have been, i!&&&6 She let the ordtrail aay&

64!,6 he areed, noddin& 64! 4+d s.elled the s.o%e sooner, i! 4+d one to bed earlier, i!4+d reali/ed that *oe/ .iht send so.eone a!ter .e even !ro. rison&&&and so !orth&6

64 %et thin%in, hat i! 4 hadn+t ot renant so soon a!ter 4 .arried,6 she con!essed&6"t 4+. not sorry 4 did, really,6 she added ith a tiny s.ile& 64 li%e it&6

'e searched her dar% eyes !or loner than he anted to and draed his attention aay&

:ll at once, he lanced at his atch and ri.aced& 6ood *ord, 4 al.ost !orot< 4+ve ot a.eetin at the ban% this .ornin that 4 can+t .iss= re!inancin a loan so that 4 can

relace .y co.bine&6 'e ot to his !eet& 6o other roble.s ecet !or dr"n% coboys

in yo"r bed6 he as%ed hi.sically&

She lared at hi.& 6Don+t loo% at .e, 4 didn+t "t hi. there


21/132

6?eally6 he as%ed ith raised eyebros and a tin%le in his reen eyes& 6Shall e test

that theory6 'e too% a ste in her direction&

She !l"shed and bac%ed " a ste& 6;o" sto that,6 she ."ttered&

'e ch"c%led as he reached !or his hat& 6Don+t retreat& 4+ll %ee to .y side o! the line in

the sand& Fee that door loc%ed,6 he added then, and not ith a s.ile& 64+. havin yo"

atched, 7"st in case *oe/ does try so.ethin& "t i! yo" need .e, 4+ll be as close as thetelehone&6

64 %no that& Than% yo"&6

6;o"r car has a b"sted ater ".,6 he added, s"rrisin her that he re.e.bered& 64+ll

have one o! .y .en co.e et it and overha"l it !or yo"&6

She as all b"t asin& 6"t, yo" don+t have to&&&


22/132

She s.iled, reass"red&

'e t"rned and ent o"t the door, seechless !or the !irst ti.e in recent .e.ory& 'eco"ldn+t have .anaed a sinle ord to save his li!e&

*isa ent onto the orch and atched hi. drive aay ith con!"sed e.otions& Shesho"ldn+t let thins intensi!y& She as a recent ido and he hadn+t been idoed all

that lon ao& $eole o"ld ossi, i! !or no other reason than that #y $ar%s as the

ton+s her.it& 9n the other hand, she as lonely and a little a!raid& She re.e.beredhat Walt had told her abo"t Man"el *oe/ and the .en ho or%ed !or hi. in the

narcotics "nderorld& She %ne hat they did to eole ho sold the. o"t& : shiver ran

don her sine& They+d %illed Walt and they .iht not sto "ntil they ied o"t his

hole !a.ily=that as the re"tation that *oe/ had& She asn+t oin to "t her babyat ris%, reardless o! hat eole tho"ht& She to"ched her !lat belly rotectively&

She s.iled& 64+. oin to ta%e s"ch onder!"l care o! yo"&6

The s.ile re.ained hen she tho"ht ho #y o"ld care abo"t the baby, too& 'e

asn+t at all the sort o! .an he see.ed on !irst ac"aintance& "t, then, ho as Sheent bac% inside to or% in the %itchen, care!"l to .a%e s"re the doors ere loc%ed&

#y "sed his cell hone to have a local rec%er service ta%e *isa+s s.all car over to hisranch, here he had one o! his to .echanics aitin to !i it& 'arley as ood ith

.achinery, b"t he had the .echanic do the or% instead& or reasons he didn+t

"nderstand, he didn+t li%e havin his ood-loo%in !ore.an 'arley aro"nd *isa&

'e ent to the .eetin ith his ban%er and then on to >bene/er Scott+s lace, care!"l to

hone ahead& There ere .en on the ate ho didn+t li%e "neected co.any and .iht

react instinctively&

>b .et hi. at the !ront door, .ore relaed than #y had seen hi. in years&

6'o+s it oin6 he as%ed the nely .arried .an&

>b rinned& 6"nny ho nice a ball and chain can !eel,6 as all he said, b"t his eyes

ere tin%lin ith deliht& 6'o+s it oin on yo"r end6

6*et+s o inside,6 #y said& 64+ve !o"nd o"t a !e thins&6

>b too% hi. into the %itchen and o"red co!!ee into ."s& 6Sally+s teachin& 4 don+t

"s"ally do .ore than rab a sandich !or l"nch&&&6

#y held " a hand& 64 haven+t ot ti.e, than%s& *isten, they+ve ot the beehives on site

aro"nd that ne areho"se on the land ad7oinin .ine& There+s a lot .ore activity there,

anel tr"c%s co.in and oin and deliveries a!ter dar%& 4+ve sotted a n".ber o!

"n!a.iliar !aces& They don+t loo% li%e bee%eeers to .e& esides,6 he added c"rtly, 64 sa


23/132

a co"le o! A/is&6

6:"to.atic eaons at a honey lant,6 >b ."r."red tho"ht!"lly& 6They ."st havear.ed, .ilitant bees&6 'e rinned at his on hi.sy& 64+d hoed that *oe/ .iht

hesitate a!ter his !ailed atte.t on Sally+s !a.ily&6 Sally, alon ith her a"nt Jessica and

Jessica+s yo"n son, Stevie, ere tareted !or veneance by the dr" lord& *"c%ily *oe/hadn+t s"cceeded in his .ission&

6We %ne that *oe/ had .entioned to one o! his sli.y !olloers that he needed a nedistrib"tion center& What better lace than a little Teas ton not !ar !ro. the "l! o!

Meico, ith no !ederal o!!icers aro"nd6

6'e %nos e+re aro"nd,6 #y ointed o"t&

6'e only %nos abo"t .e,6 ca.e the rely& 6obody locally %nos abo"t yo"& :nd he

thin%s 4 on+t do anythin beca"se he+s bac%ed aay !ro. har.in Sally+s !a.ily& 'e

!i"res the to "ys ho are ta%in the !all !or hi. ill %ee the olves !ro. his door&6

64 don+t li%e it&6

6either do 4, b"t "nless e can rove he+s channelin dr"s instead o! honey thro"h

here, e can+t do anythin& ot anythin leal,6 he added sloly&

64+. not oin " aainst Ancle Sa.,6 #y said !ir.ly& 6This isn+t the old days& 4 don+t

!ancy bein an eatriated :.erican&6

>b sihed& 6We+re older&6

69lder and less rec%less& *et Micah Steele o a!ter hi.& 'e lives in assa" and hasconnections everyhere& 'e o"ldn+t be a!raid o! ettin %ic%ed o"t o! the States& 'e

doesn+t send ."ch ti.e here anyay&6

6'is stesister and his !ather live here,6 >b ointed o"t& 6'e isn+t oin to ant to "t

the. in har.+s ay&6

6ro. hat 4 hear, his !ather hates hi. and his stesister o"ld al% bloc%s o"t o! heray to avoid even assin hi. on the street,6 #y said c"rtly& 6Do yo" thin% he still cares

abo"t the.6

6;es, 4 do& 'e ca.e bac% ith the eress "rose o! seein his !ather and .endin

!ences, b"t the old .an re!"sed to see hi.& 4t h"rts hi. that his !ather on+t even sea% to

hi.& :nd 4+ve seen the ay he loo%s at #allie, even i! yo" haven+t&6

6Then hy does he live in assa"6

>b lanced aro"nd arily& 6'e+s over here doin a 7ob !or .e, so atch hat yo" say,6


24/132

he ca"tioned& 64 don+t ant hi. on the ron side o! .e&6

#y leaned bac% in his chair and sied co!!ee& 64 s"ose e all have o"r crosses tobear&6 'e narroed one eye at his oldest !riend& @Do yo" thin% *oe/ ill .a%e a try !or

*isa6

64t+s ossible,6 he said !latly& 6Don in Meico, a +."le+ crossed hi.& 'e %illed the

.an+s hole !a.ily ecet !or one s.all child&6

6That+s hat 4 tho"ht& 4 sent els #ole.an over to her ranch to stay nihts in the

b"n%ho"se& 'e "sed to or% !or the Treas"ry Deart.ent bac% in the late seventies&6

64 %no hi.& 'e+s a ood .an&6

6;es, b"t not in *oe/+s class& ;o"r "ys are&6

>bene/er nodded& 64 have to have ood eole& The overn.ent and 4 are .ore thannoddin ac"aintances, and 4 r"n a hih-tech oeration here& 4 can+t a!!ord to let .y "ard

don, esecially no that 4+ve ot Sally to thin% o!&6

64t+s been a lon ti.e since 4+ve had to consider a o.an,6 #y relied, his reen eyes

"iet and tho"ht!"l&

6*isa Monroe is seet,6 >bene/er said& 6She+ll love that child to death&6

6She+s li%e that,6 #y areed, s.ilin& 64 ish she asn+t so b"llheaded& 4 ent by to seeher this .ornin and !o"nd her o"t in the barn, tryin to "ll a cal! all by hersel! ith her

bare hands&6

>bene/er ch"c%led& 64 on+t t"rn yo"r hair hite by .entionin so.e o! her other

eloits, be!ore she ot renant&6

6This isn+t the !irst ti.e she+s done so.ethin o"tlandish6

6*et+s see&6 >bene/er "rsed his lis, recallin ossi& 6There as the ti.e she stood in

the ath o! a b"lldo/er that as abo"t to ta%e don the h"e live oa% in the s"are that aeace treaty ith the #o.anche as sined "nder&

Then she chained hersel! to a cae in the h".ane society hen they ere oin to "tdon hal! a do/en dos itho"t licenses&6 'e lanced at #y& 6The Tre.ayne brothers

s"ddenly develoed do !ever and beteen the., they adoted all si& Then there as the

ti.e she ic%eted the ne chain resta"rant beca"se they re!"sed to hire i..irants&&&6

64 et the idea,6 #y ."r."red dryly&

6We ere all s"rrised hen she .arried Walt& 'e as a real .an+s .an, b"t his 7ob


25/132

as li%e a reliion to hi.& 'e didn+t ant anythin to tie hi. don so that he co"ldn+t

advance in the aency& 4! he+d lived, that baby o"ld have bro%en " the .arriae !or

s"re& Walt said o!ten eno"h that he asn+t s"re he ever anted children&6 'e shoo% hishead& 6'e asn+t ."ch o! a h"sband to her, at that& Most o! "s !elt that he .arried her on

the rebo"nd !ro. that .odel ho droed hi.& 'e !elt sorry !or *isa hen her dad died

and she as le!t all alone& >ven a!ter the eddin, he !lirted ith every retty o.an hesa& *isa ent all "iet and stoed stayin ho.e hen he as aro"nd& 'e asn+t

aro"nd ."ch o! that to .onths they ere toether, either& 'e vol"nteered !or the

"ndercover assin.ent the day they .arried& That shoc%ed all o! "s, esecially *isa, andhe ot %illed the sa.e day he as introd"ced to *oe/&6

6They %ne ho he as,6 #y "essed&

6>actly& :nd it as Walt+s !irst "ndercover assin.ent, to boot& The only reason

?odrio hasn+t been discovered in!iltratin *oe/+s distrib"tion netor% is that he+s still a

Meican national and he has at least one co"sin ho+s been ith *oe/ !or years& The

co"sin o"ld never sell hi. o"t&6

6*"c%y .an,6 #y re.ar%ed& 64 hoe e don+t et hi. %illed&6

6So do 4,6 >b said ith en"ine concern& 6?odrio+s been in the b"siness !or a lot o!

years and he+s the best "ndercover .an 4 %no& 4! anybody can hel "s "t *oe/ aay!or ood, it+s hi.& "t .eanhile, e have to %ee *isa sa!e&6

#y ent tho"ht!"l& 6She+s a %ind so"l&6

6Find and naive,6 >b relied& 6$eole ta%e advantae o! her& That baby ill ra her

riht aro"nd its !iner hen it+s born&6

64 love %ids,6 #y said& 64 .iss .ine&6

6*isa ill love hers,6 ca.e the "iet rely& 6She+ll need a !riend, and not only beca"se o!*oe/& She can+t r"n that ranch by hersel!& Walt as ood ith horses, and the .en

resected hi.& *isa can+t %ee .anain those to coboys ho or% art-ti.e !or her,

and she can+t et a !ore.an beca"se she hasn+t eno"h caital to ay the oin rate&

esides all that, she doesn+t %no beans abo"t b"yin and sellin cattle&6

6Didn+t her !ather teach her6

6ot hi.,6 >bene/er ch"c%led& 6'e didn+t thin% o.en ere s.art eno"h to handle

s"ch thins& 'e ran the ranch "ntil the day he died& She as %et riht o"t o! it "ntil then&

Walt roosed to her at her !ather+s !"neral and .arried her shortly a!ter&6

6She loved her !ather, 4 ather&6

69! co"rse she did, and he loved her& "t he as a nineteenth-cent"ry .an& 'e o"ld


26/132

have !it riht in a!ter the #ivil War&6 'e shoo% his head& 6That ranch isn+t solvent& *isa+s

oin to lose it event"ally& She needs to o ahead and "t it on the .ar%et and et the

best rice she can&6

64 .iht see i! she+ll sell to .e& 4 co"ld rent her the ho"se and have .y on .en or%

the ranch&6

>bene/er rinned& 6o, that+s constr"ctive thin%in&6 'e leaned !orard, e.tyin his

co!!ee c"& 6:s !or those so-called beehives, 4 thin% e+d better send so.ebody over tohave a "iet loo% a!ter dar% and see i! there are really any bees in the.&6

6ood idea& Then e can start .a%in lans i! it loo%s li%e *oe/ is sendin dr"s

thro"h here&6 #y ot to his !eet& 6Than%s !or the co!!ee&6

6:nyti.e& Watch yo"r bac%&6

#y s.iled& 64 alays do& See yo"&6

When #y ot ho.e, 'arley as o"t in the !ront yard havin an ani.ated conversationith a !oreiner in an eensive ic%" tr"c%& 'e t"rned as #y drove " in !ront o! the

ho"se& 'e c"t o!! the enine and eyed the neco.er+s vehicle ith %noin eyes& 'ere

as an oort"nity not only to .eet one o! *oe/+s eec"tives, b"t to thro the. o!! thetrac% abo"t hi. as ell&

6'ey, boss, this is ?ico Montoya,6 he said ith a rin& 6'e+s o"r ne neihbor ith the

honey eort b"siness& 'e 7"st droed by to say hello&6

S"re he did, #y tho"ht, b"t he didn+t rely& 'e ot o"t o! the "tility vehicle sloly and

deliberately !avored his le!t ar. as he .oved to the ic%" tr"c%&

6lad to .eet yo", Mr& Montoya,6 #y said ith a care!"lly ne"tral eression& 6My .en

noticed the areho"se oin "&6 'e tried to loo% orried& 64 don+t really li%e bees closeto .y "rebred Santa erts,6 he said itho"t rea.ble& 64 hoe yo"+re oin to .a%e

s"re there aren+t any roble.s&6

The .an+s eyebros rose, s"rrised at #y+s lac% o! antaonis.& S"rely the rancher %neho he as and hose orders he as !olloin& 9r did he 'is dar% eyes narroed

tho"ht!"lly& $ar%s as holdin his criled le!t ar. in his riht and he had the loo% o!

so.eone ho+d seen one traedy too .any& *oe/ had been orried abo"t inter!erence!ro. this rancher, b"t Montoya as certain there o"ldn+t be any& This asn+t an

adversary to orry abo"t& This as a de!eated .an, desite his ast& 'e relaed and

s.iled at #y& 6;o"+re very straiht!orard,6 he said ith only a trace o! an accent& 'eas earin a sil% s"it and his thic% hair as not only c"t, b"t styled& There as a sliht

b"le "nder his 7ac%et& 6;o" have nothin to !ear !ro. o"r enterrise,6 he ass"red #y&

6We ill be .etic"lo"s abo"t o"r oeration& ;o"r cattle ill be in no daner& 4 ive yo"

.y ord&6


27/132

#y stared "ietly at the other .an and nodded, as i! convinced& ear hi., 'arley as

ain at the lac% o! antaonis. that Mr& $ar%s shoed to .ost visitors& 4t asn+t li%ehi. to !avor that b"rned ar., either&

64 a. very leased to .a%e yo"r ac"aintance, Mr& $ar%s,6 Montoya said ith a rin& 64hoe that e ill be ood neihbors&6

6Than% yo" !or ta%in the ti.e to sto by and introd"ce yo"rsel!,6 #y said ith anoticeable lac% o! ani.ation& 'e ot a !ir.er ri on his in7"red ar.& 6We don+t et .any

visitors&6

64t as .y leas"re& ood day, Senor&6 Montoya s.iled aain, this ti.e ith !aintconte.t, and "lled his tr"c% o"t o! the driveay& #y atched hi. o, arro-straiht,

his .o"th .a%in a !ir. line in his lean, ta"t !ace&

6Mr& $ar%s, yo" are the oddest .an 4 %no,6 'arley said, sha%in his head& 6;o"eren+t yo"rsel! at all&6

#y t"rned to hi.& 6Who do yo" thin% that as6

6Why, o"r ne neihbor,6 'arley said carelessly& 6ice o! hi. to co.e over and sayhody,6 he added ith a scol& 6;o"r ar. botherin yo"6

6ot in the least,6 #y said, both hands on his lean his as he st"died the yo"ner .an&

@What did yo" notice abo"t o"r ne hardor%in neihbor++

The "estion s"rrised 'arley& 6Well, he as *atin& 'e had a bit o! an accent& :nd he

as real leasant&&&6

6'e as earin a sil% s"it and a ?ole atch,6 he said !latly& 6The tr"c% he as

drivin is net year+s .odel, c"sto.& 'e as earin boots that cost .ore than .y neyearlin b"ll& :nd yo" thin% he .a%es that %ind o! .oney sellin honey, do yo"6

'arley+s eyes idened& 9nce in a hile, his boss thre hi. a c"rve& This as a da.ned

bi c"rve& 'e !roned& 'o had #y noticed so ."ch abo"t a .an he only sa !or a.in"te or to hen 'arley, a trained co..ando he re.inded hi.sel!, hadn+t

6That as one o! *oe/+s eec"tives,6 #y told the yo"ner .an !latly, noddin at hiside-eyed reali/ation& 64 ant yo" to o or% cattle over near that areho"se and ta%e a

air o! binoc"lars ith yo",6 #y told his !ore.an& 6Don+t be obvio"s, b"t see ho co.es

and oes !or a !e days&6

6Sir6

6;o" told >b yo" anted to hel %ee an eye on *oe/+s oeration& 'ere+s yo"r


28/132

chance&6

69h, 4 see, Mr& Scott told yo" to send .e o"t there&6 'arley rinned !ro. ear to ear&6S"re& 4+ll be lad to do itb on+t li%eit i! he thin%s yo"+re ossiin&6

64 o"ldn+t ant hi. .ad at .e


29/132

64t hasn+t ever so"nded that ood be!ore


30/132

6Did yo" o over to the labor o!!ice and see ho as available6 he as%ed&

The s"estion hadn+t occ"rred to her& $robably she+d have !o"nd yo"n, able-bodied

hel there& She co"ld have %ic%ed hersel! !or bein so blind&

6o,6 she con!essed&

'e s.iled, and that asn+t a s"erior s.ile, either& 6;o" aren+t aressive eno"h&6

64 be yo"r ardon6

64! yo"+re oin to hire that tye o! .an, yo" have to have the hi hand& 4+ll teach yo"&6

64! that .eans 4+ll end " bein a local leend li%e yo", 4+. not s"re 4 ant to learn it,6

she relied ith a tin%le in her dar% eyes&

69ld lady Monroe,6 he recited, ch"c%lin, 6carries a shot"n and e.asc"lates .en in the

barn&6

She !l"shed& 6Sto that&6

64sn+t that a nicer i.ae than seet little *isa ho hasn+t ot the heart to !ire a .an 7"st

beca"se he lies in ait in her bed dead dr"n% and stin%in++

6#y


31/132

64+ll ive yo" the oin .ar%et rice& We+ll et to araisals and 4+ll .atch the hihest

one& ;o" can rent the ho"se !ro. .e and 4+ll .anae the cattle& :nd the coboys,6 he

added ryly&

64t+s not in very ood shae,6 she said honestly, and "shed her lasses bac% " onto her

nose&

64t ill be& 4! yo"+re illin, 4+ll have .y attorney dra " the aers to.orro&6

64+. very illin& 4+ll be hay to sin the.& What abo"t the araisals6

64+ll arrane !or those& othin !or yo" to orry abo"t no&6

64! only .y !ather hadn+t been s"ch a throbac%,6 she ."r."red, leadin the ay into

the ra.shac%le ho"se& @'e tho"ht a o.an+s lace as in the %itchen, eriod& 4+d ."ch

rather be or%in in the arden or doctorin cattle than coo%in st"!!&6

6#an yo" coo%6

6reads and .eats and veetables,6 she said& 6ot ith eni"s, b"t it+s .ostly edible&6

She o"red blac% co!!ee into a ." and handed it to hi.& When she sat don across thetable !ro. hi., he noticed the dar%, dee circles "nder her eyes&

6;o" aren+t sleein ."ch, are yo"6 he as%ed&

She shr"ed& 64+. still hal!ay in shoc%, 4 "ess& Married and idoed and renant,

and all in less than to .onths& That o"ld be eno"h to "nsettle .ost o.en&6

64 i.aine so&6 'e sied his co!!ee& She .ade the deca! stron and it tasted retty

ood& 'e st"died her narroly& 6;o" haven+t had any .ore roble.s at niht, have yo"6

6one at all, than%s&6 She s.iled& 6:nd than% yo" !or havin .y car !ied& 4 "ess i!

eole are oin to on old cars, they need to be rich or %no a lot abo"t .echanics&6

6They do,6 he areed& 6"t 4+ll %ee yo"r little tin can on the road&6

64t+s not a tin can,6 she said& 64t+s a very nice little !orein car ith an=6 she searched !or

the riht ords 6=eccentric ersonality&6

6?"ns hen it !eels li%e it,6 he translated&

She lared at hi.& 6:t least 4 don+t have to have a ladder to et into it&6

'e s.iled& 6?e.ind .e to have a ste "t on 7"st !or yo"&6


32/132

She didn+t rely, b"t that state.ent .ade her !eel ar. and sa!e& od %ne hy& She

as certain he asn+t really oin to .odi!y his vehicle 7"st !or her& She+d only been in it

once&

6Do yo" li%e oera6 he as%ed o"t o! the bl"e&

She blin%ed& 6Well, yes&&&6

6T"randot6

64 li%e anythin $"ccini co.osed& Why6

64t+s layin in 'o"ston& 4 tho"ht e .iht o&6

She inched her 7ean-clad le "nder the table to see i! she as drea.in& 4t !elt li%e it,

b"t the ain as real& She s.iled st"idly& 64+d really li%e that&6 Then her !ace !ell&

She .oved restlessly and averted her eyes& 6etter not, 4 "ess&6

6;o" don+t have to ear an evenin on to the oera these days,6 he said, as i! he+d

act"ally read her .ind& 'e s.iled hen her eyes ca.e " abr"tly to .eet his& 64+ve seen

st"dents o in 7eans& 4 i.aine yo" have a S"nday dress so.ehere&6

64 do&6 She la"hed nervo"sly& 6'o did yo" %no 4 as orried abo"t clothes6

64 read .inds,6 he ."sed&

She sihed& 64n that case, 4+d love to o& Than% yo"&6

'e !inished his co!!ee& 6riday niht, then& 4+ll o ro"nd " 'arley and see hat he

%nos abo"t yo"r lace&6 'e ot ", hesitatin& 6*isten, there are so.e thins oin on

aro"nd here& 4 don+t ant to !rihten yo", b"t *oe/ has .en in and aro"nd ton& 4 antyo" to %ee yo"r doors loc%ed and be care!"l abo"t straners&6

64 alays a.,6 she ass"red hi.&

@Do yo" %ee a "n6

She rinned& 6o& 4 have $"y Do&6

6$"y Do ill et "nder a bed i! there+s tro"ble,6 he ass"red her !latly& 64+ve still ot

els stayin in the b"n%-ho"se at niht, and he+s ar.ed& :ll yo" have to do is yell& 'e+llhear yo"& 'e+s a very liht sleeer&6

6;o" can+t be s"re that Mr& *oe/ .eans .e har.&6


33/132

64+. not& "t 4+. a ca"tio"s .an&6

6:ll riht,6 she said& 64+ll %ee both eyes o"t !or tro"ble&6

64+ll ic% yo" " riday niht abo"t !ive& 9%ay6

She nodded& 64+ll be ready&6 She ent ith hi. to the !ront door and stood behind the

screened door to st"dy hi., !ronin& 6#y, is it too soon !or this6

6eca"se yo"+ve been a ido s"ch a short ti.e6 'e shoo% his head& 64 %no yo" .iss

Walt& 4+. not o!!erin anythin heavy, 7"st a tri to the oera& 4t+s very "nli%ely that e+ll

see anybody ho %nos "s in 'o"ston&6

64 "ess yo"+re riht&6 She !olded both ar.s aro"nd hersel!& 6The alls are beinnin to

close in on .e&6

64 don+t do"bt it& : niht at the oera isn+t eactly a ca"se !or ossi&6

69! co"rse not&6 She s.iled& 64+ll see yo" riday, then& :nd&&& than%s&6

64 et lonely, too,6 he said ith s"rrisin candor& 'e ave her one last rin and al%ed

o"t to !ind 'arley&

'is !ore.an as tiht-lied as he ca.e stridin o"t o! the barn& When 'arley !orot to

be irritatin, he as a coboy and a hal!& Most o! the .en al%ed ide o! hi. in a

te.er already& 6The hole da.ned lace is abo"t to !all to ieces,6 he said itho"trea.ble& 6The hay hasn+t been c"t, the corn hasn+t been "t in the silo, there are brea%s

in hal! the !ences, the calves don+t even have a brand&&&& What the hell %ind o! .en did

Mrs& Monroe hire6

6*a/y ones, aarently,6 #y said tihtly& 6ind the. and "t the. all on notice& *isa+s

sellin .e the lace& We+ll "t on !o"r ne .en to or% this ranch and share chores ith.y on&6

6That+s a ise decision on her art,6 'arley said& 6She doesn+t see. to %no ."ch abo"t

the b"siness end o! cattle ranchin&6

6'er !ather tho"ht o.en eren+t s.art eno"h to learn it,6 #y ."sed&

6What an idiot,6 'arley relied& 6My .other can brand cattle riht alon ith the

coboys, and she %ees the boo%s !or Dad&6

6: lot o! o.en are bi-ti.e ranchers, too,6 #y areed& 6"t *isa doesn+t really have

the %nac%, or the love, !or it& #attle ranchin is hard or% even i! yo" do&6

'arley nodded& 64+ll "t her art-ti.ers on notice and et the boys over here ith a


34/132

tractor and a co.bine to hay those !ields and harvest the corn&6

6When yo" et that orani/ed,6 #y said, 64 ant to %no hat yo" sa over at thehoney areho"se last niht&6

6ot ."ch,6 'arley had to ad.it& 6:nd 4 ot challened on yo"r land by a .an ith ari!le& ood thin there as a co don in the ast"re !or .e to sho hi.,6 he added

ith a rin& 64 told hi. e had a roble. ith locoeed and o!!ered to sho hi. here

it re& 'e ent bac% on his side o! the !ence and didn+t say another ord&6

6That as a stro%e o! l"c%,6 #y re.ar%ed& 6eca"se e don+t have any locoeed&6

6We do no,6 'arley ."r."red& 64 set o"t a co"le o! lants and netted the., 7"st incase 4 et challened aain& o that 4 have a leiti.ate reason to be o"t there, they

on+t ay ."ch attention to .e& :nd i! they o loo%in !or locoeed,6 he added ith a

.oc%in s.ile, 6hy, they+ll !ind it, on+t they6

#y s.iled at the yo"ner .an& 6;o"+re a treas"re, 'arley&6

6lad yo" noticed, boss, and ho abo"t that raise6

6Don+t "sh yo"r l"c%,6 ca.e the dry rely& 64+ll tal% to yo" later&6

6S"re thin&6

#y drove to the layer+s o!!ice the net .ornin to disc"ss the land b"y& la%e Fe.as tall, thirtyish, ith a ray strea% in his blac%, avy hair, and ale bl"e eyes& 'e as

the terror o! the Jacobsville co"rt circ"it, altho"h he loo%ed .ild-.annered and

intellient& Decetive, #y ."sed, st"dyin hi., beca"se Fe. had a bite li%e arattlesna%e in co"rt&

64+. oin to b"y the Monroe lace,6 #y said itho"t rea.ble& 6*isa can+t r"n it alone,and she hasn+t the caital to .a%e i.rove.ents or even necessary .aintenance&6

6ood decision on her art,6 la%e told hi.& 6:nd on yo"rs& 4t+s ood land, and it

ad7oins yo"r roerty&6 'e "rsed his chiseled lis& 64s that the only .erer yo"+reconte.latin++

#y+s eyes narroed& 6She+s only been idoed to ee%s,6 he ointed o"t&

la%e nodded& 64 %no that& "t she+s oin to have a hard ti.e ayin rent& She doesn+t

even have a 7ob any.ore&6

#y st"died hi. evenly&

6Well, 4 "ess 4 co"ld "se a recetionist,6 he said& 6#al-lie Firby is .y araleal, and


35/132

she can+t really handle the research and the hones at the sa.e ti.e& esides, *isa

or%ed !or a collea"e o! .ine last year& She %nos her ay aro"nd a la o!!ice&6

6What haened to the br"nette ho or%s ith #allie6 #y as%ed&

6retchen+s one o!! to Morocco ith a irl!riend !ro. 'o"ston,6 la%e said ith ach"c%le& 6She sent the ast !e years n"rsin her .other thro"h a !atal bo"t o! cancer,6

he added sole.nly& 6:nd then the !irst .an ho too% a shine to her ins"rance .oney

bro%e her yo"n heart& She needed a chane o! scene, and she said she doesn+t ant toor% in a la o!!ice hen she co.es bac%& So there+s a 7ob available, i! *isa ants it&6

@4Bll tell her& Than%s&6

'e shr"ed& 6We all li%e *isa& She+s had a ro"h deal, one ay or another&6

6She has indeed& o, abo"t those araisals&&&6

When #y ca.e to ic% *isa " !or their tri to the oera, he as earin a navy sorts

coat ith dar% slac%s and a hite shirt& 'is tie co.bined red and navy in a aisley rint&'e loo%ed dini!ied and very handso.e& *isa as lad he hadn+t orn a dinner 7ac%et,

beca"se she had nothin that dressy in her s.all ardrobe& The best she co"ld !ind as a

si.le ray 7ersey dress ith lon sleeves and a s%irt that !ell to her calves& She coveredit ith her one l""ry, a lihteiht blac% .icro!iber coat that as ar. aainst the

"nseasonably cool a"t".n inds& 'er hair as in a neat, co.licated braid and she ore

.ore .a%e" than "s"al to dis"ise her dar%-circled eyes& She slet badly or not at all

lately, and not co.letely beca"se she .issed Walt& She as havin so.e disco.!ortthat concerned her& She %ne that renancies co"ld !ail in the early ee%s, and it

bothered her& She really needed to tal% to her doctor hen she ent !or the net visit& 4t

.iht be nothin, b"t she didn+t ant to ta%e any chances ith her baby&

6ot bad at all,6 #y ."sed, atchin her "ll on the coat over her clinin dress& She

had a retty !i"re&

6Than% yo",6 she said, colorin a little& 6;o" loo% nice, too&6

64 tal%ed to .y attorney abo"t the roerty,6 he said a!ter he heled her into the "tilityvehicle and started the enine& 6'e+s contacted to araisal !ir.s& They+ll be o"t net

ee% to see the ranch and ive yo" an esti.ate&6

That orried her& She hated seein the !a.ily ranch o o"t o! the !a.ily, b"t hat

choice did she have She s.iled anly& 6Walt as lannin a dynasty,6 she recalled& 6'e

tal%ed abo"t all sorts o! i.rove.ents e co"ld .a%e, b"t hen 4 .entioned havin %idsto inherit it, he ent cold as ice&6

#y lanced at her& 6ot ."ch oint in or%in yo"rsel! to death 7"st to have the e.ire

o on the .ar%et the .in"te yo"+re in the ro"nd&6


36/132

6That+s hat 4 tho"ht&6 She t"rned her s.all "rse over in her la& 64t+s 7"st as ell that

yo"+ll have the ranch,6 she added& 6;o"+ll %no ho to .a%e it roser&6

6;o"+ll still be livin there,6 he ointed o"t& @4Bll be a da.ned ood landlord, too&6

69h, 4 %no that&6 She stretched& 64+ll still have to et a 7ob, tho"h& 4+ll ant to "t hat

4 et !or the ranch into a savins acco"nt, so the baby can o to collee&6

She s"rrised hi. constantly& 'e+d tho"ht she .iht ant to brihten " the ho"se,

even b"y hersel! a decent car& "t she as thin%in ahead, to the day hen her child

o"ld need to contin"e his ed"cation&

6othin !or yo"6 he as%ed&

64+ve ot everythin 4 really need,6 she said& 64 don+t have eensive tastes=even i!

Walt did& esides, 4+ve ot a little nest e le!t over !ro. so.e cattle Walt sold o!! be!orehe&&&be!ore he died&6

64 %no o! a 7ob, i! yo" ant it&6

'e distracted her, hich as hat she s"osed he+d intended& 6?eally6

6Fe. needs a recetionist,6 he said& 6retchen+s one o!! to Morocco and she isn+t

coinin bac% to or% !or hi.& So no #allie Firby+s " to her ears in or%& Fe. said

yo"+d be elco.e&6

6What a nice .an


37/132

claed at his .ind& 64 hated the hole orld&6

6Why did yo" .ove here6 she as%ed c"rio"sly&

'e asn+t s"rrised that she !elt co.!ortable as%in hi. "estions& 'e o"ldn+t have

tolerated it !ro. anyone else& "t *isa, already, as "nder his thic% s%in& 64 neededso.eone to tal% to, 4 "ess,6 he con!essed& 6>b lived here, and he and 4 o bac% a lon

ay& 'e+d never .arried, b"t he %ne hat it as to lose eole& 4 co"ld tal% to hi.&6

6;o" can tal% to .e, too,6 she ointed o"t& 64 never tell hat 4 %no&6

'e s.iled at her& 6Who o"ld yo" tell it to6 he draled& 6;o" don+t have close !riends,

do yo"6

She shr"ed& 6:ll .y !riends ot .arried riht o"t o! hih school& They+ve ot %ids o!

their on and, "ntil !airly recently, 4 didn+t even date ."ch& 4+ve been the odd one o"t

.ost o! .y li!e& 9ther irls anted to tal% abo"t boys, and 4 anted to tal% abo"t oranicardenin& 4 love roin thins&6

6We+ll have to lay o"t a bi arden sot !or yo" net srin& ;o" can ro all sorts o!

st"!!&6

6That o"ld be nice& 4+ve ot a co.ost ile,6 she added brihtly& 64t+s !"ll o! dis"stin

thins that ill rod"ce terri!ic to.atoes net s"..er&6

64 li%e cattle, b"t 4+. not ."ch o! a ardener&6

64t+s a lot o! or%, b"t yo" et lovely thins to eat, and they aren+t oisoned by

esticides, either&6 She lanced o"t at the lon, !lat dar% hori/on& 64 "ess yo" aren+t bion eole ho don+t li%e to "se che.icals&6

6'aven+t yo" heard6 he ch"c%led& 64 o to cattle.en+s association .eetins ith J& D&*anley and the Tre.ayne brothers&6

69h, .y,6 she said, beca"se she+d heard abo"t the "roar at so.e o! those atherins,

here the Tre.aynes had been in !ist!ihts over esticides and roth hor.ones& Theirosition aainst s"ch thins as leendary&

64 en7oy a ood !iht,6 he added& 64 "se b"s !or est control and oranic !ertili/er on.y hay and corn and soybean cros&6 'e lanced her ay& 6"ess here 4 et the

!ertili/er6

6?ecycled rass, h"h6 she as%ed, and aited !or hi. to et the oint&

'e thre bac% his head and roared& 6That+s one ay o! describin it&6


38/132

64 have so.e o! that, too, and 4 "se it in .y arden& 4 thin% it or%s even better than the

che.ical ones&6

The s"b7ect o! nat"ral ardenin and cattle raisin s"lied the. ith toics all the ay

to 'o"ston, and *isa thoro"hly en7oyed hersel!& 'ere as a .an ho tho"ht li%e she

did& Walt had considered her oranic aroach a%in to insanity&

The ar%in lot at the arts center as !"ll& #y .anaed to !ind one e.ty sace abo"t

hal! a city bloc% aay&

6o that+s a !"ll ho"se,6 he re.ar%ed as he heled her don !ro. the vehicle and

reositioned her coat aro"nd her sho"lders& 6This thin s"re is so!t& 4s it ool6 he as%ed,

s.oothin over it ith his !iners&

64t+s a .icro!iber,6 she told hi.& 64t+s very so!t and ar.& The nihts are retty chilly

lately, esecially !or so"th Teas&6

6The eather+s cra/y everyhere&6 'e n"ded a lon, loose c"rl !ro. her braided hair

behind her ear, .a%in her heart race ith the al.ost sens"al .ove.ent o! his lean!iners& 64 tho"ht yo" .iht ear yo"r hair loose&6

64t+s&&&di!!ic"lt to %ee in lace hen it+s indy,6 she said, so"ndin and !eelinbreathless&

'is !iners teased the c"rl and sloly droed to her so!t nec%, tracin i.ainary lines

don it to her throat& 'e co"ld !eel her "lse o ild "nder his to"ch, hear the so!t,bro%en hi o! her breath at his chin& 4t had been !ar too lon since he+d had anythin

ar. and !e.inine this close to hi.& ?estraints that had been %et in lace ith sheer

ill ere cr".blin 7"st at the roi.ity& 'e .oved a !"ll ste closer, so that her bodyas riht " aainst hi. in the oenin o! her coat& 'is hands ere both at the bac% o!

her nec% no, caressin the sil%y s%in belo her nae&

64 haven+t to"ched a o.an since .y i!e died,6 he said in a !aintly thic% tone, his

voice "n"s"ally dee in the silence& The distant so"nd o! cars and horns and assin

radios !aded into the bac%ro"nd&

She loo%ed ", straiht into his reen eyes in the lo !ro. a streetliht, and her heart

raced& That loo% on his !ace as "n!a.iliar to her, desite her brie! inti.acy ith her late

h"sband& She had a !eelin that #y %ne a lot .ore than her h"sband ever had abo"to.en&

#y+s th".bs eded aro"nd to tease " and don her lon, strained nec%& 'erv"lnerability .ade hi. !eel taller, .ore .asc"line than ever& 'e anted to rotect her,

care !or her, atch over her& These ere ne !eelins& e!ore, his relationshis to o.en

had been very hysical& *isa .ade hi. h"nry in a di!!erent ay&


39/132

She arted her lis to sea% and he "t a th".b ently over the.&

64t+s too soon,6 he said, anticiatin her rotest& 69! co"rse it is& "t 4+. starvin to death!or a o.an+s so!t .o"th "nder .y lis& eel&6 'e dre one o! her hands to his shirt

"nder the 7ac%et and ressed it hard aainst the th"ndero"s beat o! his heart&

She as .ore con!"sed than ever& This as totally "n!a.iliar territory& Walt had never

said anythin so blatantly v"lnerable to her, not even hen they ere .ost inti.ate&

'is !ree hand ent aro"nd her aist and dre her sloly closer, ressin her to hi. as

his body reacted oer!"lly to the to"ch o! her so!t ar.th& 'e li!ted an eyebro and

s.iled ic%edly at her !ro/en eression&

6Why, Mrs& Monroe, yo"+re bl"shin,6 he chided so!tly&

6;o" ic%ed .an&&&


40/132

With a ro"h c"rse he draed his head " and .oved aay !ro. her& She loo%ed at

hi. ith da/ed eyes in a !l"shed !ace, her .o"th sollen !ro. his %isses, her bodyshiverin ith ne %nolede&

'e dre hi.sel! " to his !"ll heiht& 'is eyes littered li%e reen dia.onds in a !aceli%e stone& 'e had to !iht to et a nor.al breath o! air into his l"ns&

She tried to sea%, b"t she co"ldn+t .anae even a hi.er& 'er body as still !lyin,soarin, tre.blin ith little shivers o! leas"re that .ade her %nees ea%&

'e reached o"t and ca"ht her s.all hand in one o! his bi ones, lin%in their !iners&

6We+d better o inside,6 he said "ietly&

6;es&6 She let hi. "ll her aay !ro. the tr"c% and lead her toard the arts center& She

as a.a/ed that she co"ld al% at all&

Four

T"randot as bea"ti!"l& *isa cried hen the tenor san 6ess"n Dor.a,6 one o! her

!avorite arias& The sets ere eleant, color!"l, the #hinese cost".es littery andrese.blin !antasy .ore than reality& The draon as a .asteriece o! so"nd and !"ry

and color& :ll in all, it as a .ani!icent rod"ction, and $"ccini+s lorio"s ."sic

bro"ht it alive& *isa had never seen an oera ecet on the "blic broadcastintelevision channel& She %ne that she+d never !oret this !or as lon as she lived, andevery ti.e she re.e.bered it, she+d re.e.ber #y sittin beside her in the dar%&

Meanhile, #y as c"rsin hi.sel! silently !or hat had haened in the ar%in lot& 4tas .onths too soon !or that& She as a renant, nely idoed o.an and he+d let

his e.otions et o"t o! control& 'is 7a ta"tened as he re.e.bered the sil%y !eel o! her

in his ar.s& 'e anted to ta%e care o! her, and it loo%ed as tho"h she as oin to needrotection a!ter all=!ro. hi.&

So.eho he as oin to have to et the. bac% on a si.le !riendly !ootin& 4t

o"ldn+t be easy& 'e had no idea ho she !elt abo"t hat had haened& She sat "ietlybeside hi., obvio"sly en7oyin the oera& She even s.iled at hi. !ro. ti.e to ti.e& "t

i! she as anry, it didn+t sho& 'e re.e.bered her so!t .oan, her clinin ar.s& o, he

tho"ht, she+d one in head!irst, too, 7"st as he had& "t he had rerets and he s"sectedthat she did as ell& 'e had to dra bac% be!ore he "t the delicate ne !eelin beteen

the. at ris%& *isa as o!! li.its in any hysical ay, and he as oin to have to

re.e.ber that&


41/132

*isa sa his scol and ondered i! he had rerets abo"t hat had haened& Men ot

lonely, she %ne, and he as a very .asc"line sort o! .an to ho. o.en ere no

.ystery& 'e as robably onderin ho to tell her that it asn+t abo"t her a !e

.in"tes ao, that any o.an o"ld have rod"ced that reaction in a h"nry .an&

She o"ld save hi. the tro"ble, she decided, the .in"te they started ho.e& 'e+d alreadydone so ."ch !or her& She co"ldn+t eect hi. to ta%e over here Walt had le!t o!!8 not

that Walt had ever really !elt assion !or her& Walt had en7oyed her, she s"osed, b"t

there hadn+t been any si//lin attraction beteen the.& 4t sha.ed her to ad.it that hatshe+d !elt in the ar%in lot ith #y had been in!initely .ore leas"rable than anythin

she+d ever done ith her late h"sband& She didn+t dare thin% abo"t ho it o"ld be i! they

ere tr"ly inti.ate&&&

'er hand 7er%ed in #y+s as the !inal c"rtain !ell and the ala"se roared& She claed

a"to.atically, b"t .ade s"re that both her hands ere tiht on her "rse hen they

started to leave&

64t+s a bea"ti!"l oera,6 she re.ar%ed as he escorted her to the eit&

6;es, it is,6 he areed leasantly& 64+ve seen it in a do/en di!!erent cities, b"t 4 still en7oy

it&6

64 "ess yo"+ve been to the Metroolitan 9era in e ;or% #ity6 she ."sed ist!"lly&

6Several ti.es,6 he areed&

She i.ained hi. there, ith so.e bea"ti!"l o.an in an eensive evenin on and

raed in !"rs& 4t asn+t !ar to i.aine the. oin into a dar% roo. toether, here the

coat and the evenin on ere discarded& She salloed hard and tried not to thin%abo"t that&

'e co"ld !eel tension radiatin !ro. her& She as clinin so hard to that tiny "rse thatshe as leavin the indentations o! her nails in the so!t leather&

When they reached the >edition, he oened the door !or her, b"t held her bac% hen

she started to cli.b inside&

64+. sorry abo"t hat haened earlier,6 he said ently& 64+ve .ade yo" "nco.!ortable&6

'er ide eyes .et his& 64 tho"ht 4+d .ade yo" "nco.!ortable,6 she bl"rted o"t&

They stood 7"st loo%in at each other "ntil his lean !ace ent harder than ever ith thee!!ort not to ive in to the h"ner she %indled in hi.&

6;o" oor .an,6 she said h"s%ily, incin as she sa the ain in his eyes& 64 %no

yo"+re lonely, #y, that yo" 7"st needed so.eone to hold !or a !e .in"tes& 4t+s all riht& 4


42/132

didn+t read anythin into it&6

'is eyes closed on a ave o! ain that hit hi. li%e a bat& She reached " and "lled his!ace don to her lis& She %issed hi. tenderly, %issed his eyes, his nose, his chee%, his

chin, ith brie! "nde.andin little br"shes o! her .o"th that co.!orted in the .ost

e"isite ay&

'e too% a raed breath and his lean hands cat"red her sho"lders, tihtenin there

hen he li!ted his !ace aay !ro. her ar. .o"th& 6Don+t do that,6 he said tersely&

6Why not6 she as%ed&

64 don+t need co.!ortin


43/132

anythin abo"t .en6

64 as .arried !or to .onths,6 she ointed o"t&

6To a e"n"ch, aarently,6 he said bl"ntly as he cran%ed the vehicle and "lled o"t o! the

ar%in lot and into tra!!ic&

64 a. renant,6 she stated ha"htily&

'e sared her an a."sed lance& 6$renant and ractically "nto"ched,6 he relied&

She sihed, t"rnin her attention to the city lihts as he o"nd so"th thro"h 'o"ston to

the lon hihay that o"ld ta%e the. ho.e to Jacobsville& 64 "ess it shos, h"h6 sheas%ed&

'e didn+t say anythin !or hal! a bloc% or so& 6Did yo" ant hi.6

6:t !irst,6 she said& 'er eyes so"ht his& 6"t not li%e 4 anted yo" in the ar%in lot,6

she said honestly& 6ot ever li%e that&6

: !lash o! r"ddy color to"ched his chee%bones& 'e as shoc%ed at her honesty&

6Sorry, aain,6 she ."r."red, loo%in aay& 64 "ess 4 haven+t learned restraint, either,6

she added&

'e let o"t a lon breath& 6;o" ta%e so.e ettin "sed to,6 he re.ar%ed&

6Why6

'is eyes .et hers brie!ly be!ore they ent bac% to the hihay& ?ain as beinnin to

.ist the indshield& 'e t"rned on the iers& 64 don+t eect honesty !ro. a o.an,6 he

said c"rtly&

She !roned& 6"t s"rely yo"r i!e as honest&6

6Why do yo" thin% so6

64t+s obvio"s that yo" loved yo"r little boy,6 she bean&

'is la"h had the coldest rin to it that she+d ever heard& 6She anted an abortion& 4

threatened to ta%e aay her credit cards and she ave in and had hi.&6

6That ."st have been a di!!ic"lt ti.e !or yo",6 she said so!tly&

64t as&6 'is 7a clenched& 6She as s"rrised that 4 anted her baby&6


44/132

6'ers, and not yo"rs6 she vent"red&

6'ers by one o! her lovers,6 he said bitterly& 6She didn+t really %no hich one&6

There as an abr"t silence on the other side o! the tr"c%& 'e lanced at her !ro/en

!eat"res ith c"riosity& 6What sort o! .arriae do yo" thin% 4 had 4 as a .ercenary&The o.en yo" .eet in that ro!ession aren+t the sort ho sin in ch"rch choirs&6

6'o did yo" %no 4 san in the choir6 she as%ed, diverted&

'e la"hed, sha%in his head& 64 didn+t, b"t it !i"res& ;o"+re her eact oosite&6

She as still tryin to "nderstand hat he as sayin& 6;o" didn+t love her6

6o, 4 didn+t love her,6 he relied& 6We ere ood toether in bed and 4 as tired o!

livin alone& So, 4 .arried her& 4 never eected it to last, b"t 4 anted a child& od

%nos hy, 4 ass".ed it as .ine&6

6Why did she .arry yo" i! it asn+t6

6She li%ed havin ten credit cards and drivin a Ja"ar,6 he said&

That rod"ced another !ron&

64 as rich, *isa,6 he told her& 64 still a.&6

She "lled her coat tihter aro"nd her and stared o"t the indo, not sea%in& She as

shoc%ed and .ore "ncertain abo"t hi. than ever& 'e as s"ch a co.le erson, so

."lti!aceted that 7"st hen she tho"ht she as ettin to %no hi., he beca.e astraner all over aain&

6o hat is it6 he as%ed i.atiently&

64 hoe yo" don+t thin% 4 areed to co.e o"t ith yo"&&&that 4 as eaer to let yo" b"y

the ranch beca"se&&&6 She !l"shed and closed her .o"th& She as so e.barrassed that she

anted to o thro"h the !loor&

64! 4+. rich, it+s beca"se 4 %no "re old hen 4 see it,6 he said, castin her an a."sed

lance& 6Do yo" thin% 4+ll ass".e that yo"+re a old dier beca"se yo" ca.e o"t ith.e6

64 %issed yo" bac%, too,6 she said orriedly&

'e sihed ith "re leas"re and relaed into the seat, s.ilin to hi.sel!& 6;es, yo"

did&6


45/132

6"t it as an accident,6 she ersisted& 64 didn+t lan

it&&&6

6That .a%es to o! "s&6 'e "lled " at the last streetliht be!ore they le!t the city

behind and t"rned to her& 'is eyes ere narro and very intent& 6There are thins in .yast that are better le!t there& ;o"+d never bein to "nderstand the relationshi 4 had ith

.y i!e, beca"se yo" don+t thin% in ter.s o! .aterial ain& When 4 as yo"r ae, yo"

ere the sort o! o.an 4+d r"n !ro.&6

6?eally Why6 she as%ed&

'e coc%ed an eyebro and let his eyes r"n over her& 6eca"se yo" told .e once thatyo" hadn+t slet ith Walt be!ore yo" .arried hi., *isa,6 he draled&

She lared at hi.& 64 o"ld have i! 4+d anted to,6 she said ."tino"sly&

6"t yo" didn+t&6

She thre " her hands, al.ost .a%in a bas%etball o! her s.all "rse& She retrieved it

!ro. the dash and loed it bac% into her la&

6;o"+re the %ind o! o.an that .en .arry,6 he contin"ed, "nabashed& 6;o" li%e

children and s.all ani.als and it o"ld never occ"r to yo" to be cr"el to anyone& 4! yo"+d

otten involved ith .e hile 4 as still in .y !or.er line o! or%, yo" o"ldn+t have

lasted a day ith .e&6

64 don+t s"ose 4 o"ld have,6 she had to aree& She loo%ed thro"h the indshield,

onderin hy it h"rt so ."ch to have hi. tell her that& S"rely she hadn+t been thin%inin ter.s o! the !"t"re 7"st beca"se o! one assionate %iss 9! co"rse, her hole body

tensed re.e.berin the leas"re o! it, the ecitin thins he+d said&&&

6:nd yo" eren+t Walt+s "s"al date, either,6 he said s"rrisinly& 6'e li%ed eerience&6

She ri.aced& 64 !o"nd that o"t retty "ic%& 'e said 4 as the .ost borin o.an he+d

ever one to bed ith& >cet !or o"r eddin niht, and the niht be!ore he as %illed,he slet in a searate bedroo.&6

o onder she as the ay she as, he ."sed as the liht chaned and he sent the bivehicle seedin !orard& She robably !elt li%e a total !ail"re as a o.an& The child

."st have been so.e sort o! consolation, beca"se she certainly anted it&

@4Bll bet yo" hate ad.ittin that,6 he said&

6;es, 4 do& 4 !elt inade"ate, d"ll, borin,6 she ."ttered& 6'e li%ed blondes, b"t not .e&6


46/132

6'e li%ed that arcel service driver lenty,6 he recalled, his eyes narroin& 6;o" ere

itchin hay over the !ence to the cos and he as !lirtin ith her, riht "nder yo"r

nose& 4 never anted to hit a .an .ore&6

'er lis arted on a "ic% breath& 6;o" sa&&&that6

64 sa it,6 he said c"rtly& 6That+s hy 4 stoed by later and said so.ethin abo"t the

ay yo" ere itchin hay by yo"rsel!&6

She shi!ted in the seat& 6'e said they ere old !riends,6 she relied& 64 "ess he really

.eant they ere !or.er lovers& 'e never treated .e to that sort o! char. and !lirtin& 'e

really anted Dad+s ranch& 4t as a ity 4 ent ith the deal&6

64t as his loss that he too% yo" !or ranted,6 he corrected& 6;o"+re not inade"ate& ;o"

roved that earlier toniht, in the ar%in lot&6

She cleared her throat& 6:n incident best !orotten&6

6Why6

6Why6 She stared at hi.& 6Walt+s only been dead to ee%s, that+s hy


47/132

'e shoo% his head& 'e+d %non her s"ch a short ti.e, really, b"t she see.ed to hold his

attention even hen he asn+t ith her& >very !"t"re event he tho"ht o! these days, heconsidered her art in& 4t as dist"rbin to %no that he considered her art o! his li!e

already&

She !iddled ith the to b"tton on her coat& 'er eyes ere restless, .ovin !ro. the

dar% hori/on to the occasional lihted indo !lashin ast as the "tility vehicle ic%ed

" seed& What he+d said dist"rbed her, .ostly beca"se she %ne it as tr"e& She+d haveone anyhere ith hi., done anythin ith hi.& 4t .ade her "ilty beca"se she sho"ld

be .o"rnin Walt&

6Don+t brood,6 #y told her& 6;o"+re sa!e& o .ore torrid interl"des toniht, 4 ro.ise&6

She !o"ht a s.ile and lost& 6;o"+re a terrible .an&6

6;o" have no idea ho terrible&6 'e a"sed to loo% both ays be!ore he crossed alonely intersection& 6'arley+s !ired yo"r art-ti.e hired hands, by the ay&6

6'e+s hat6

6#al. don& They ere bein aid !or or% they didn+t do& That+s econo.icallydisastro"s&6

6"t ho+ll et in the hay and brand the calves&&&6 she orried&

6;o" didn+t hear the noise 'arley ot the tractors o"t in yo"r hay !ield early this

.ornin& The hayin+s done& The corn cro is net& 4+. hirin on !o"r ne .en& 'arley

ill s"ervise the., and yo"r lace ill live " to its ro.ise&6 'e lanced at her& 6;o"haven+t decided not to sell it have yo"6

64 can+t a!!ord to %ee it,6 she con!essed& 64+. lad yo" don+t lan to b"ild a s"bdivisionon it or so.ethin& 4t+s been in .y !a.ily !or a h"ndred years& Dad loved it ith all his

heart& 4 love it, too, b"t 4 have no idea ho to .a%e it ay& 4+d li%e to see it roser&6

64 thin% 4 can ro.ise yo" that it ill&6

She s.iled, content ith 7"st bein net to hi.& 'e t"rned on the radio and so!t co"ntry

."sic !illed the cab& :!ter a !e .in"tes, her eyes slid sh"t as all the sleeless nihtsca"ht " ith her&

She as va"ely aare o! bein ently sha%en& She didn+t ant to be dist"rbed& She asar. and co/y and hal!-aslee&

6o,6 she ."r."red drosily& 6o aay&6


48/132

64 have to,6 ca.e a dee, a."sed voice at her ear& 69r e+ll have a scandal e+ll never

live don& #o.e on, i.& edti.e&6

She !elt hersel! t"ed o"t o! the seat and into a air o! ar., hard ar.s& She as

!loatin, !loatin&&&

#y didn+t a%e her aain& 'e too% o!! her shoes, tossed the cover over her, "t her

lasses on the bedside table and le!t her on the bed in her nice dress and coat& 'e didn+t

dare start re.ovin thins, considerin his earlier assionate reaction to her& "t he stoodbeside the bed, 7"st atchin her, en7oyin the siht o! her yo"n !ace relaed in slee&

'e ondered ho old she as& She never had told hi.&

'e t"rned and ent bac% o"t into the hall, a"sin to chec% the loc% on the bac% door inthe %itchen be!ore he ent o"t the !ront one, loc%in it care!"lly behind hi.& 'e still

asn+t convinced that *oe/ o"ldn+t .a%e a beeline !or *isa i! he tho"ht his .en co"ld

et aay ith har.in her& #y as oin to .a%e s"re that he didn+t&

'e stoed by the b"n%ho"se to have a ord ith els be!ore he ent ho.e and

cli.bed into his on bed& 'e stared at hi.sel! in the bedroo. .irror, his eyes narroand cynical as he st"died his lean, scarred !ace and e"ally scarred body& 'e as only

thirty-!ive, as *isa had already "essed, b"t he loo%ed older& 'is eyes held the eression

o! a .an ho+d lived ith death and s"rvived it& 'e as o"nded inside and o"t by thelon, lonely, terrible years o! the ast& *isa soothed the art o! hi. that still ached, b"t

she aro"sed a hysical need that he+d al.ost !orotten he had& She as a secial o.an,

and she needed hi.& 4t as ne to be needed on a ersonal level& 'e tho"ht abo"t the

child she as carryin and ondered i! it o"ld be a boy or irl& She+d need so.eone tohel her raise it& 'e anted to do that& 'e had nobody, and neither did she& They co"ld

beco.e a !a.ily=!or the child+s sa%e&

'e t"rned o!! the lihts and ent to bed& "t his drea.s ere restless and hot, and hen

he o%e " the net .ornin, he !elt as i! he hadn+t slet at all&

'arley ot the calves branded and the corn in the silo in "ic% order&

6;o"+ve ot a %nac% !or insirin coboys to or%, 'arley,6 #y told hi. one a!ternoon

a !e days later&

64 et o"t there and or% ith the., and .a%e the. asha.ed o! bein la/y,6 'arley told

hi. ith a rin& 6Most o! the. can+t %ee " ith .e&6

64 noticed&6 #y leaned bac% aainst the corral !ence and stared at the yo"ner .an

evenly, itho"t blin%in& 6;o" ere o"t near the areho"se last niht& What did yo"see++ 4

6Three bi tr"c%s,6 'arley said sole.nly& 69ne had so.e odd st"!! on the bac%& *oo%ed

li%e oil dr".s lashed toether&6


49/132

That as dist"rbin& #y %ne that dr" dealers thre

ortable brides across rivers to let tr"c%s !"ll o! their rod"ct drive to the other side&

What 'arvey as describin

so"nded li%e a .a%eshi!t ontoon bride& #y and the .ercenaries he+d or%ed ith had

"sed the., too&

6Did yo" et a loo% at hat as in the tr"c%s6 he as%ed&

'arley shoo% his head& 6The doors ere closed and loc%ed& 4 as a!raid to ris% tryin to

ic% a loc%, ith all that hardare aro"nd& Those "ys had A/is&6

64 %no,6 #y said itho"t thin%in&

'arley+s eyebros ent ", and he rinned in a !airly condescendin ay& 6Do yo"no :re yo" "sin A/is to load cattle these days, boss6

#y reali/ed hat he+d said and ch"c%led& 64 asn+t listenin& Sorry&6

6o roble.& 4 noticed a co"le o! ne !aces over there,6 he added& 6To"h-loo%in.en, and they eren+t earin s"its&6

6et bac% o"t there toniht,6 #y told hi.& 6:nd be very care!"l, 'arley& 4+ve ot a bad

!eelin abo"t this hole thin&6 'e didn+t add that he as orried abo"t *isa& 'e sa herevery other day, and the aeror% had 7"st been co.leted and sined, ready !or the

trans!er o! .oney and deeds& 'e o"ldn+t be s"rrised to learn that *oe/ had an

in!or.ant in ton ho+d tell hi. that& 4t .iht ro.t the dr" lord to hasty action, i! hetho"ht *isa as sellin the ranch in order to .ove aay& 'e co"ldn+t %no that #y

lanned to rent her the ranch ho"se& 'e o"ldn+t li%e havin to search !or her&

Fnoin that bothered hi., and he .entioned it to *isa hen he stoed by to see her

the net day& 'arley had seen yet another "n!a.iliar !ace on the areho"se roerty, and

he+d also seen !lat a!ter !lat o! 7ars bein .oved inside the str"ct"re& The dr" dealers

ere ettin ready to bein oerations& Thins o"ld heat " very soon, or #y .issed his"ess& 'e didn+t ant *isa in the .iddle o! it&

6'ave yo" ot !a.ily yo" co"ld visit o"t o! state6 he as%ed itho"t rea.ble as he7oined her in the livin roo., here she had as los b"rnin in the !irelace&

She c"rled " on the so!a in her 7eans and %nit t"rtlenec% hite seater and stared athi. c"rio"sly& 64 don+t have !a.ily anyhere,6 she con!essed& 6Maybe a co"sin or to "

aro"nd ort Worth, b"t 4 o"ldn+t %no here to loo% !or the.&6

'e sihed heavily and leaned !orard in the chair ith his ar.s crossed over his %nees&


50/132

6:ll riht,6 he said, see.in to co.e to a decision& 64! yo" leave the ho"se !ro. no on,

4 ant to %no !irst& 4! yo" can+t et .e, yo" call >b Scott&6

6Why6

'e %ne she as oin to as% that& 'e didn+t have a very loical rely& 64 don+t %nohat *oe/ is " to,6 he said honestly& 6'e .ay have iven " on ideas o! taretin yo"&

9n the other hand, he .ay be l"llin "s into a !alse sense o! sec"rity& 4+d rather err on the

side o! ca"tion&6

6That s"its .e,6 she said areeably&

6Do yo" have a hone by yo"r bed6

6;es,6 she said& 64t .a%es .e !eel .ore sec"re&6

'e stood "& 6Don+t !oret to %ee yo"r doors loc%ed, even in the dayti.e, hen yo"+reho.e alone&6

64+. not, ."ch,6 she said itho"t thin%in& 6'arley co.es by every day to chec% on .e,

so.eti.es tice a day&6

'is eyes narroed& 'e didn+t li%e that, altho"h he said, 6ood !or 'arley&6

She ca"ht a n"ance o! so.ethin in his tone& 6Do yo" .ind6 she as%ed deliberately&

'e+d been re.ote and she+d hardly seen hi. since the niht o! the oera& She ondered i!he+d been avoidin her, and she concl"ded that he as& 'is .anner no as stando!!ish

and he see.ed in a h"rry to leave& She anted to %no i! he as the least bit "t o"t by

'arley+s attentiveness&

64t+s yo"r li!e,6 he said nonchalantly, tiltin his ide-bri..ed hat over one eye& 6'e+s a

steady yo"n .an ith a ood !"t"re&6

'e co"ldn+t be thin%in&&&or co"ld he She started to tell hi. that 'arley as !riendly,

and that she had no ro.antic interest in hi.& "t be!ore she co"ld, #y as already on his

ay o"t the door&

She ent a!ter hi., tryin not to be "ndini!ied and r"n& She didn+t catch " to hi. "ntil

he as oin don the stes&

6When do e close on the sale6 she as%ed, havin no other ec"se !or !olloin hi.&

'e t"rned at the door o! the "tility vehicle& 6The !irst o! net ee%, Fe. said& 4t ill

ta%e that lon to et the aeror% !iled&6

69%ay& ;o"+ll hone .e6


51/132

64 ill& 9r Fe. ill&6

That so"nded less than !riendly& She raed her ar.s aro"nd her chest and leaned

aainst one o! the osts that held " the lon orch& 6That+s !ine, then,6 she said ith

!orced cheer& 6Than%s&6

'e oened the door and hesitated& 6:re yo" in a r"sh to close6

She shr"ed& 6ot really& 4 7"st anted to %no hen 4+d need to start ayin rent& 4 as

oin to o see Mr& Fe. net ee% abo"t that 7ob&6

She tho"ht he didn+t ant her aro"nd, and that as so !ar !ro. the tr"th that it .iht asell have been in orbit& "t he didn+t ant to r"sh her, !rihten her& 'ell, he didn+t %no

hat he anted any.ore&

64+ll see yo" Monday,6 he said, and ot into the vehicle itho"t another ord& 'e didn+teven loo% bac% as he drove aay&

*isa stared a!ter hi. ith her heart aro"nd her an%les& So ."ch !or her theory that he

as attracted to her& She s"osed that he+d had second tho"hts& 4t .iht be 7"st as ell&

'e as .o"rnin his son, ho. he+d obvio"sly loved even i! it asn+t his on child, andshe as a recent ido eectin a child o! her on& She+d been sinnin daydrea.s and

it as ti.e to sto and !ace reality& #y asn+t her !"t"re even i! she+d hoed he as hers&

She t"rned and ent bac% into the lonely ho"se, a"sin to close and loc% the door

behind her&

The !irst ti.e she heard the noise at the indo, *isa tho"ht it as a s"irrel& The old

ho"se see.ed to attract the.& They o!ten sc"rried over the roo! and ca.e leain doninto the li.bs o! the bi ecan trees that s"rro"nded the orches& "t she "s"ally didn+t

hear the. in the ee ho"rs o! the .ornin, and so lo"d that they o%e her "& She tried

to o bac% to slee, b"t then the noise ca.e aain& This ti.e it didn+t so"nd li%e as"irrel& 4t so"nded .ore li%e a indo bein !orced oen&

*isa slied o"t o! bed in her seatants and hite cotton to, hesitatin at the door that

led into the hall& The noise had co.e !ro. the roo. net door, the one Walt hadocc"ied !or .ost o! their .arried li!e&

She heard a !aint r"bbin noise, li%e one a .an .iht .a%e cli.bin in a indo& 'erheart bean racin and she dashed don the hall in her bare !eet, don the ooden stes

and into the %itchen& 'er lasses ere still in the nihtstand draer by her bed, and she

co"ld barely .a%e o"t !a.iliar ob7ects in the di. liht& She as headed !or the bac% doorhen she as ca"ht and li!ted and a bi, entle hand as claed over her .o"th hile

she str"led iti!"lly in an e.brace o! steel&

64t+s all riht,6 #y $ar%s hisered at her ear& 64t+s all riht, e %no there+s so.eone

5 sd 1351 the winter soldier

Documents