Trouble at the Red Pueblo

by Liz Adair

  “Do you think we should?” Karam’s voice sounded anxious.

  Spider opened his eyes. “Should what?”

  “Hurry down, so we can go help them.”

  Spider dropped his arms. “Help them? Why?”

  “I just told you. Something is wrong. Jack is in trouble.”

  Spider turned back around and searched the area below. Maybe it was he, Spider, who was in trouble.

  Jack was now on his horse, and Laurie stood on the ground beside him. Spider didn’t take his eyes off her, even when his companion spoke again.

  “Do we need to go help them?” Karam asked again.

  Spider held up his hand. “Wait a minute.”

  Laurie finally walked to the buckskin. She mounted, and she and Jack started back down the canyon at a lope.

  “He looks all right to me,” Spider said, “but we’d probably better head back to the house.” He began retracing the route they had taken across the mesa, striding through the scrubby trees. He heard a muffled exclamation from Karam and looked back to see that a branch he had pushed aside had swung back and hit him in the face. “Gotta look sharp,” he said.

  They made it down the hill in a fraction of the time it took to climb it. Spider led all the way, jaw clenched, struggling to keep his mind an empty blackboard and doggedly erasing the recurring picture of Laurie and Jack together.

  At the bottom of the hill, Spider paused to take a drink.

  “I need to get a hat like yours,” Karam said wiping his brow. “The sun is really brutal.”

  “Doesn’t it get this hot in Dubai?”

  “Yes. Even hotter, but I work in an air conditioned building.”

  “Huh.” Spider held his water bottle up to check the water level. “This might help,” he said and poured the rest of the contents over the head and shoulders of his companion.

  “Hey!” Karam sputtered.

  “As the water evaporates, it will cool you down.”

  “You show your concern in interesting ways.” Karam wiped his eyes. “Actually, I knew that. A reminder would have sufficed.”

  “Sorry. You ready to move on?”

  Karam dried his hands on his pants. “Yes. Go on.”

  As they crossed the expanse of sagebrush to the edge of the ravine where the Yugo was parked, Karam called, “Thank you. I’m feeling cooler.”

  They climbed down the sandy bank into the creek bed, and Spider was pleased to note that the car was sitting in the shade. It was still like an oven when they got in, but he drove at a good clip down the gravel waterway to move air through before he rolled up the windows and tuned on the air conditioning.

  “What made you think Jack was in trouble?” he asked.

  “He was leaning on Laurie. You didn’t see it?”

  “No,” Spider said, looking sidewise at Karam. He wondered about the cultural customs in his world, this young man who was to marry his cousin to make sure she had a good husband. He wondered how they felt about men and women displaying affection in public. Was Karam too naive to realize what had been going on down there? Or maybe he had it right. Maybe Spider had read too much into what he saw. “Huh,” he grunted, pressing a little harder on the accelerator, anxious to get back to Jack’s.

  They drove the rest of the way in silence and pulled into the circular drive. Spider got out of the car, stretched and walked with Karam to the door.

  Karam paused. “Do we knock or just walk in?”

  “Knock.”

  When no one answered, Spider gestured for Karam to open the door. From the entryway they could see Laurie on the patio, so they walked through the living room to the sliding door. Laurie smiled the minute Spider opened it.

  “Hello,” she said, leaning forward and stretching out a hand.

  Spider walked over and brushed her fingers. “Hi. Did you have a nice ride?”

  “It was wonderful. I had forgotten what a sweet horse Taffy is.”

  Spider accepted a cool drink from Laurie and watched the way her eyes rested on her cousin.

  “We saw you from up on top of the mesa,” he said.

  Laurie blinked, looking from Spider to Karam. “Really? How did you get up there?”

  Karam answered. “We hiked. It was a hard climb, but the view was wonderful.”

  “Yeah,” Spider took a sip of his limeade. “Sometimes you see things you never would have expected.”

  “I’m glad you had a good time,” she said, her eyes flicking again to Jack.

  Her cousin rose. “I’ve got to get back to the office, but you can stay as long as you like.”

  “We’ve got things we need to do, too.” Spider held out his hand. “Thanks for lunch.”

  “Don’t mention it.” Jack shook Spider’s hand and then clapped Karam on the shoulder. “Come any time.”

  “Thank you.” Karam hesitated a moment and, as Spider opened the sliding door for their host, blurted out, “You are well?”

  Jack paused halfway through, his eyes moving from Karam to Spider. He smiled, assumed his poetry stance, and began reciting.

  Old age tracks my every move,

  Has been for quite a span.

  I’m slower, but I still do things

  I did as a younger man.

  Jack winked at Laurie and stepped through to the living room. He traced invisible lines on the wall with outstretched fingers as he crossed to the entryway and opened the front door. Pausing, he waved to his guests. Then he was gone.

  Spider turned to look at Laurie and found her still staring at the closed front door. “You ready to go?” he asked.

  She stood. “You go on out. I’ll put the lemonade in the fridge and stick these glasses in the dishwasher.”

  “We’ll help.” Spider handed the pitcher to Karam and picked up Jack’s empty tumbler. “Where’s Amy?”

  Laurie pushed through the kitchen door and spoke over her shoulder. “Someone came by to see her, and they went into town.” She smiled. “A fellow. I think he’s sweet on her.”

  Spider followed her in, blinking at the splendor of the kitchen which seemed to have acres of granite counters, stainless steel, and glossy wood. He opened the refrigerator door, so Karam could set the pitcher inside, and then he handed Laurie the two glasses he was carrying.

  She put them in the dishwasher. “I think she’s in love.”

  “Amy?”

  “Yes. She ran out the door when his car pulled up, so I didn’t get to meet him. But he was driving a real nice car.”

  “The true measure of a man,” Spider murmured.

  Laurie poked him with a mixing spoon. “Let Karam put his glass in, and then you two can go out to the car. I’ll wipe down the counter and be right there.”

  Karam dropped his tumbler in the rack and followed Spider outside. They got in the Yugo, and by the time Spider had started the engine and adjusted the air conditioning, Laurie was there.

  “What a wonderful afternoon,” she said as she closed the door.

  “Jack was very hospitable,” Karam said.

  “Yeah.” Spider’s voice was dry. “Warm and embracing fellow, that one.”

  Spider felt Laurie’s eyes on him, and though he kept his eyes on the road, he knew from her silence they were flinty.

  Karam stepped into the breach, leaning forward and clearing his throat. “I am not sure I understand about the light-colored horse.”

  “I used to own Taffy,” Laurie explained. “I raised her and trained her.”

  “And then we had to sell her.” Spider’s comment had an edge, and he hadn’t meant it that way.

  Laurie picked up the narrative. “A friend told Jack that we were selling our horse, and he bought her. That’s all.”

  Nobody spoke as they rattled along the gravel road.

  Laurie picked up the thread when they reached the highway, turning around to address Karam. “She has a deformed hoof.”

  “Excuse me?” Karam looked puzzled.

  “Taffy. My— Jack’s horse. The buckskin
. She has a deformed hoof. The fellow who bred her was going to put her down.

  “I do not understand. He was lifting the horse?”

  “‘Put her down’ means he was going to kill her,” Spider said over his shoulder.

  Karam’s mouth opened, and he turned dark eyes to Laurie. “He was going to kill your horse?”

  Laurie nodded. “She was the second foal with that deformity out of the mare. He was going to get rid of both the mare and the filly— the baby.”

  “But you saved them?”

  “We were too late to save the mother, but he gave Taffy to me. He made me promise I’d never breed her.”

  “It’s ridiculous,” Spider said. “Unless you know what you’re looking for, you’d never know there was a problem with that hoof.”

  “She throws out just a bit when she canters. Jack has a farrier—” Laurie paused to translate for Karam. “—a horse shoer— who really knows his stuff. He builds custom shoes for her, and I can see that it helps.”

  They were coming into town, and Spider slowed. “Where to, Karam?”

  “I have not been to the Little Hollywood place. Would you care to accompany me there?”

  Spider shook his head. “Thanks, but I need to try to connect with Linda Russell.”

  Laurie’s brows went up. “What about?”

  “I need to find out about a man by the name of Austin Lee.”

  Laurie looked like she had another question, but instead of asking it, she pointed out the window at a life-sized plastic horse. “There’s your Little Hollywood Museum, Karam. I hope you like cowboys.”

  “I do,” Karam said. “Would you say that Jack is a cowboy?”

  “Heck, Laurie’s a better cowboy than Jack.” Spider pulled into the museum driveway.

  “Really?”

  Laurie shook her head. “Not better, but I can hold my own.”

  Karam opened the door. “Thank you so much for a very educational day. I am so glad to have met you.”

  “We’ll see each other again,” Spider assured him. “You’ll be around a while waiting for your car parts, won’t you?”

  “Yes.” Karam got out and spoke through the open door. “Tomorrow I am with Isaac.”

  “I’m going to St. George tomorrow, but we’ll catch up with you.” Spider patted his pocket. “Did I get your cell phone number?”

  “Yes, and I have yours. Thank you again.” Karam closed the door and waved as they pulled away.

  “He’s a nice fellow,” Laurie said. “Where did you meet him?”

  “At the hotel. His first car was a Yugo. It’s an instant bond.” During their ride back to the Best Western, Spider told her about Karam and how, as a student in England taking Middle Eastern History from a British professor, he decided he would study American History. “He’s a sponge,” Spider said. “I wish you could have seen him out there with Isaac. He just soaks it up.”

  “Speaking of the museum, you must have found out something else while I was staying with Martin and Neva. Who is this Austin Lee?”

  Spider pulled into a parking spot and turned off the ignition. “I don’t know for sure. He appeared about a month ago and started romancing Linda.”

  “Is that why the engagement is off?”

  “I don’t think so. I think they broke it off after Matt accused her of leaking word about the Lincoln letter.”

  Laurie ran her fingers through her hair, lifting it away from her neck. “So, that would be how word got to the Goodman family that the cache was valuable. Did Linda do that?”

  “I don’t know. I was hoping to talk to her, but she left before I got the chance.”

  Laurie reached over, turned on the ignition, and rolled down her window. “Let me ask you a question. How many people do you know named Austin?”

  Spider rolled his window down, too, and thought a moment. “I don’t think I know anyone named Austin. First real person I’ve heard with that name is the fellow that I want to talk to Linda about.”

  “So, is it too much of a coincidence that Amy’s boyfriend’s name is Austin?”

  Spider rubbed his jaw. “Maybe. Did she tell you a last name?”

  “No.”

  “But you said he had a nice car?”

  She nodded. “I don’t know what kind of car it was, but it was a burgundy color. Nice and shiny.”

  “SUV?”

  “Yeah.”

  Spider rubbed his jaw again, remembering the Range Rover coming down the wash while he and Karam were up on the mesa. “Huh.”

  “What are you thinking?”

  “Just coming up with more questions. No answers.” He drummed his fingers on the steering wheel. “Tell me about Amy.”

  “What do you want to know?”

  “What’s she to Jack? Why’s she living there with him?”

  “She’s a cousin. I haven’t worked out the connection yet, but she’s bipolar.”

  Spider’s brows shot up.

  “She’s on medication,” Laurie went on. “They haven’t found the optimum dosage yet, but I think, for the most part, she’s stable.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I don’t know for sure. Those are her words. She says she hopes the psychotic episodes are behind her.” Laurie grimaced. “The symphony thing is a symptom, though. In her mind she’s writing one, but she’s really not. She’s got notebooks full of strange marks, but it’s not music.”

  Spider chewed on that for a moment. When he didn’t speak, Laurie continued. “She was twenty-one when she was diagnosed— almost through with college. That was four years ago.” She shifted in her seat and put an elbow out the window. “Amy’s parents are dead. She was living with an aunt and uncle and they thought she was going through a wild phase. Then during Western Legends she put on a long wig and rode in the parade as Lady Godiva.”

  “Great suffering zot! How long was the wig?”

  Laurie chuckled. “Apparently not long enough. I shouldn’t laugh because it’s really sad. But what a picture!”

  “So, why is she at Jack’s?”

  “She’s not well enough to work at a regular job, or even to finish college. Jack has her work for him keeping house and cooking.”

  “Huh.”

  “It’s hard to think of her having to deal with that.” Laurie sighed. “Everyone says she was such a bright, sparkling child, such a smart, outgoing student. And then to have this come upon her. It’s a tragedy.”

  Spider turned on the ignition. “Watch your arm; I’m going to roll up the windows. Shall we go in?”

  Laurie got out; he joined her on the sidewalk, and they walked to their room without speaking. Once inside, she took her guitar out of the case. Sitting on the edge of the extra bed by her saddle, she began to tune.

  Spider put his hat and keys on the desk. Stuffing hands in his pockets, he leaned against the doorframe and watched the way her auburn hair hung down as she bent her head to listen to each plucked string. Unbidden, the image of her in Jack’s embrace came to his mind, and he said, “Don’t go out riding tomorrow.”

  She looked up and blinked. “What?”

  “Don’t go out riding tomorrow.”

  She set her guitar on the bed beside her. “Do you have a reason for saying that?”

  He spread his hands, palms up. Pushing away from the doorframe, he walked over to look out the sliding glass door, his back to her. “I’d like you to come to St. George with me instead.”

  “When did you decide that? You’ve known for a full day that I was planning on going to Inchworm tomorrow.”

  He turned to face her. “I just don’t feel good about you spending the day with Jack.”

  She didn’t answer. She simply stared at Spider.

  He recognized the flinty hardness that came into her brown eyes and looked away first.

  She stood suddenly, wiped the palms of her hands on her pants, and then clenched them as they hung at her side. “I realize you’ve just buried your mother,” she said. “I’ve be
en trying to cut you some slack, but I’m a little tired of the snide comments about Jack.”

  “There’s nothing snide about this. I’m asking you not to go out riding for a full day with another man.”

  “With my cousin.”

  “With your handsome, rich, fourth cousin.”

  Laurie’s chin came up. Her mouth compressed in a straight line, and Spider was wishing the whole conversation unsaid.

  She clasped her hands in front of her, and her voice had a studied calmness. “You know, Spider, these last eight years have been tough. I didn’t mind selling the cattle. I didn’t mind when we had to sell my car. I hated selling Taffy, but I was willing because it was going to let us pay our taxes and hang on a little longer.”

  “I hated it, too.” Spider reached out to Laurie, but she seemed not to notice.

  “When I saw Taffy in Jack’s stable, it was like a tender mercy, as if the good Lord was saying, ‘Well done, Laurie. You finished the course.’” Her jaw tightened, and she looked away for a moment.

  Turning back, her eyes were bright with unshed tears. “Don’t get me wrong. I was glad to have your mother come live with us, even if it meant losing my freedom and spending every waking moment watching that dear woman spiral down into a black, bottomless pit.”

  Spider opened his mouth to speak, but she held up her hand. “No, let me finish. Last week just about took the cake. Do you know what it’s like to have someone’s life depend on you, trying to judge the insulin for a body that‘s no longer taking nourishment? I live every day wondering if something I did may have killed her.”

  “Oh, Laurie.” Again he reached out, and again she forestalled him.

  “This ride tomorrow was to be a day of freedom offered to me after two years in Alzheimer’s Prison.” A single tear rolled down her cheek, and she dashed it impatiently away. “You’ve got your undies in a bundle because Jack has a nice house, a herd of Angus, and a stable full of horses, but by the Lord Harry, that’s your problem. I’m riding tomorrow.”

  She opened a drawer and took out her pajamas. “I’m going to go take a shower.”

  Spider watched as she went into the bathroom without another look at him. He stood for a moment and stared at the white decorative panels on the door, wondering if he should burst through, take her in his arms, and apologize. He wanted to, but what would he say? Forgive me for catching you in Jack’s arms? I’m sorry there’s something going on between you two?