by Sylvia Nobel
We set the last of the munchies on the table, greeted all the guests and then helped ourselves to margaritas before collapsing into the lawn chairs. Brian had made up a WELCOME, WALTER sign on his computer and it flapped in the balmy breeze as a dazzling array of stars sparkled overhead. Everyone had told me the Hunter’s moonrise this time of year would be spectacular and they weren’t kidding. Little by little the horizon began to glow like a second sunrise, snuffing out the stars, and suddenly there it was, climbing majestically above the crest of Castle Rock like a giant cantaloupe-colored disk. The effect was spellbinding and murmurs of awe rose from the small gathering. I knew it was just an optical illusion but the sheer enormity of it seemed unreal, dwarfing the peaks below.
More people streamed through the door, filling the small back yard. “Ready for the hot-seat again?” I remarked to Morton Tuggs as he and his wife, Mary, settled into lawn chairs next to me. “You sure you’re going to be up to it?”
“Oh, yeah. I’m feeling fit as a fiddle,” he said, patting his paunch. He really did seem vastly improved since his ulcer surgery. “Anyway, it’s going to be a whole lot easier with Walter here taking up the slack while you and Tally are gone.”
“I’ll second that.” I raised my glass. “Attention, everybody! My esteemed co-editor and I would like to propose a toast to officially welcome our new man on the street, Mr. Walter Zipp.”
There was applause and a rousing chorus of agreement from the staff while another round of margaritas was poured. Brian re-filled my glass and Ginger leaned in to whisper, “You sure Lupe’s coming? It’s a quarter past seven.” Her worried gaze roamed over the crowd gathering around the buffet table, picking at the chips and dip. We had a cauldron of refried beans simmering inside, but that hardly constituted dinner.
“We’ll just ply them with more appetizers till she gets here,” I assured her, trying to quell my escalating uncertainty. It was long past the time she should have arrived.
To keep everyone’s mind off the fact that the main course had not yet materialized, I suggested we all share the funniest or most bizarre story we’d ever covered. Tugg entertained us with several gems from his early days as a cub reporter and Jim had us all in stitches as he repeated his golden toilets along the freeway story. I, of course, shared my last two big assignments and then we urged Walter to tell us all a little about himself and his last job in Sierra Vista. He hoisted his bulky frame from the chair and gave us a lopsided grin. “I’m happy as a pig in shit to be here,” he slurred, running a hand through his short-cropped brown hair, “cuz there’s big trouble brewing down south.”
Oh. Good opening. The mothers of some of the younger kids exchanged startled glances, so I quickly interjected, “Well, we’re all equally happy to have you here but trouble sounds like a good story opportunity to me.’
“Not if you live and work there now, it isn’t. I’ll tell you what,” he said, hitching up his pants with one hand. “The ranchers and just plain everyday God-loving Americans living near those border towns have about had it with those damned illegals. They’re pouring across like cockroaches and are just about as easy to catch. And, I’ll tell you what, if you add the growing number of White separatist groups springing up to that equation…well, you mark my words, people, there’s going to be bloodshed before this is all over. I’m glad to be out of it. Real glad.”
Bleary-eyed, Jim piped up. “Hey, man, there’s nothing funny or weird about that story.”
Walter edged him a look of mild annoyance. “Oh, yeah? Well, try this on for size. The last piece I was working on before I left, and this is just one among several other strange stories, concerned a particular jumper they caught in Morita.”
“What’s Morita?” Ginger asked, casting a pensive eye at her watch.
“A ghost town about half a mile or so from the Mexican border. Not much left but the mine and a half a dozen buildings. Anyhow, the caretaker cornered this wetback hiding in a shack and turned him over to the Border Patrol.”
“Why does a ghost town need a caretaker?” I asked.
“Cause it’s on private property and there was an accident there last year, but that’s another story,” he said with an impatient swipe of his hand. “So anyway, this Mexican claimed….”
“Hate to tell you, Walter,” Jim cut in, “but this still ain’t funny and it sure ain’t weird.” He turned to all of us and said, “Let me tell you guys the one about the lady who kept a cow in her bedroom.”
Walter put up a hand. “Keep your pants on, Jimbo. I intend to win this contest under the most bizarre heading if you’ll just let me finish.”
Jim continued to look skeptical while everyone else leaned forward a few inches.
“The guy claimed—and I don’t know what the hell he’d been drinking or smoking before they nabbed him, but get this, he said he’d been hunkered down in some bushes the night before and witnessed a whole van load of people getting waylaid by aliens.”
Jim’s face twisted in disbelief. “What the hell does that mean? He is an alien.”
“No, dummy. He didn’t mean illegal aliens. He was talking about space aliens. Little green men from Mars.”
The amazed silence that followed his remark seemed to emphasize the strangled gasp. We all turned around in time to see the glass casserole dish fall from Lupe’s hands and shatter on the concrete patio. Her dark eyes glassy with horror, she muffled a cry with her hand and fled.
Seconds later, Tally appeared in the doorway and, like the rest of us, stared in shocked dismay at the remains of our enchilada dinner. He looked up and shrugged. “Was it something I said?”
2
I hadn’t realized just how hungry I was until dinner evaporated before my eyes. My stomach rumbling in protest, I pulled my eyes away from the tomato and cheese covered lumps to meet Tally’s quizzical stare. “No,” I said quietly, “we can thank Walter here for frightening Lupe with his UFO story.”
“Shame on you, Walter!” Ginger wailed, jumping to her feet. “You’ve gone and ruined supper for everyone. Now what am I gonna do?”
He drew back, looking defensive. “Well, gee whiz. How could I know that was gonna scare her? Geez, I’m glad I didn’t mention anything about the other weird part of the story concerning the cattle…”
Nona’s terrified scream aborted his words and everyone froze. “Stop her!” she shrieked, pointing to Suzie, who was eagerly wolfing down large bites of enchilada casserole. “She might swallow a piece of glass!”
“Suzie, come!” Brian shouted, making a grab for her. The dog artfully sidestepped him, snatched another mouthful and then executed a forward roll through the sauce. Brian lunged for her again, but slipped in the gooey mess and would have fallen if Tally hadn’t grabbed the back of his shirt. When Churchill suddenly appeared from out of nowhere, Suzie took off after him, barking madly. Suddenly, everything looked like a scene from an old Marx Brothers comedy. Some of the kids, shrieking with laughter, joined in the chase while the adults cursed and tried to hang onto their drinks and food as chairs flew in all directions. I tried, but couldn’t suppress a shout of laughter as the dog wove in and out among the startled guests, anointing everyone she touched with enchilada sauce.
Above the mayhem, I heard the sound of a car engine starting and glanced over the fence in time to see headlights flash on. The laughter died in my throat. Oh man. It must be Lupe. She was going to get away before I discovered why Walter’s seemingly innocuous remark had caused such a violent reaction. I sprinted for the side gate and ran out to the dimly-lit street, yelling, “Lupe, wait a minute!”
In response to my shouts, she turned her head in my direction for a second, then shoved the car into gear and floored it. Disappointment mingled with anger as I watched her taillights vanish around the corner. Why had she run away from me? I made one of my instant decisions and swiveled around only to collide with someone in the shadows. My heart contracted and I let out a squeak of fright as arms cl
osed around me. “Whoa!” came Tally’s soothing voice, “what’s with all the drama tonight?”
When I recovered my breath, I said, “Jesus, Tally, you scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry. Where are you going in such a hurry?”
“To get my car keys and go after Lupe.”
“Why?”
“Why?” I stared up at his finely-chiseled features outlined in the moonlight. “Ginger’s party is in complete shambles and you’re not the least bit curious to find out what caused it?”
He shrugged. “Well, I gather something Walter said spooked her, but is it really necessary for you to go chasing after her right this minute?”
“She lives ten minutes away. I can be back in a flash.” I started to draw away, but his hands tightened on my shoulders.
“Kendall, for the life of me, I don’t know if I’ll ever understand why you feel the need to dash off half-cocked at the slightest provocation. You might want to think about working on your overly-impulsive behavior.”
I smiled sweetly. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
His weary sigh spoke volumes. “Okay, then, how do you think Ginger’s going to feel about you skating out in the middle of her party?”
“She’ll be pissed.”
“Then why do it?
“But, what about Lupe?”
“What about her?”
I swallowed my agitation and pulled away from his grasp. “All right, I won’t go right now. But, you saw her. She was in a total panic. Something set her off and I’d wager it’s more than just a story about UFOs.”
He folded his arms and regarded me with skepticism. “I don’t suppose you’d buy into the notion that the dish just slipped out of her hands and she left out of plain old embarrassment?”
He had a point, but it was more of an adrenaline boost to believe otherwise. “I suppose it’s possible, but Ginger said she’s been acting kind of weird all week, and today she got a phone call that sent her tearing out of the office right after I left. I really had to lean on her to come here tonight. Nope. Something’s definitely wrong.”
He looked away from me and for a few seconds there were no sounds except for the echoes of conversation from Ginger’s back yard and an owl hooting from a nearby saguaro. I could tell by his rigid posture that something else was on his mind. Unlike me, he was very capable of keeping his emotions in check and his mouth shut.
I tilted my head to one side. “What’s wrong at the ranch?”
He didn’t answer.
“Come on, Tally, I can tell something’s bothering you.”
He lifted his hat and raked his fingers through his thick hair. “Damned INS is on my back again. They’re claiming some of my hands are undocumented, but as far as I could tell they checked out okay. I got a Notice of Intent this afternoon that I’m going to have to deal with.”
“What’s that?”
“I’ve got 72 hours to show evidence that they’re here legally.”
“I see. Are you sure that’s all?”
He cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Um…you are coming to California with me next week, aren’t you?”
“Of course I’m going with you, silly. I’ve been looking forward to this trip for weeks. Don’t worry, I’ll be ready to leave Tuesday at the crack of dawn just like we planned.”
“Uh-huh.”
“What does uh-huh mean?”
He blew out a protracted sigh. “I know you well enough to recognize all the signs.”
I bristled. “What signs?”
“It’s been about two months since your last adrenaline fix.”
I laughed. “Oh, come on. Who’s being dramatic now?”
“I mean it, Kendall. You’re like a bloodhound and it’s going to bug you to no end if you don’t find out what’s going on with Lupe. Am I right?”
I linked my elbow through his and pulled him towards the house. “Well, Mr. Know-it-all, I’m afraid you’re wrong this time. Nothing is going to stop me from going with you and that’s a promise.”
He edged a dubious look at me. “I’m going to hold you to that.”
There was no mistaking his solemn tone. He was right, of course. I was burning with curiosity about her strange behavior, and if he hadn’t intervened, I would already be at her place. But I certainly had no intention of altering my vacation plans. And anyway, we weren’t leaving for three whole days. That should be plenty of time to ferret out the answer.
We’d just set foot on Ginger’s front porch when the screen door flew open to reveal our pressman, Harry, and his family tromping out one by one followed by Al Robertson and his wife.
“Hey! Where’s everybody going?” I asked, stepping aside to allow Harry’s three small children to scoot past. “The party’s not over already, is it?”
“It is for us,” Harry replied gruffly. “The kids are starving and if we hurry we can make it to Angelina’s before they close. I don’t know about you guys, but I don’t feel like lapping my dinner up off the patio.”
“Oh, dear,” I said under my breath. Ginger must be having a major cow. How could I have even entertained the thought of chasing down Lupe? What kind of a friend was I anyway?
I left Tally standing there talking to Al and headed for the back yard, dodging the tide of people streaming towards the front door. On my way through the kitchen, I spotted the two bags of ice Lupe had brought, melting in the sink. I stuffed them into Ginger’s freezer and went outside once again. Brian stood among the jumble of overturned chairs grasping the wayward Suzie against his sauce-streaked shirt while Ginger knelt on the patio sopping up the mess with a wad of paper towels. “Well, I beg your pardon,” she griped to Walter, who was still seated in his chair, looking befuddled, “if you hadn’t scared the bejesus out of her we’d all be eatin’ supper right now instead of wearing it.”
He exchanged a look of pure frustration with Jim and then turned to face her. “Okay, okay. I’m sorry as hell. What do you want me to do about it?”
As more and more people jostled past me, grumbling their goodnights, my heart went out to my generous, fun-loving friend. Without thinking, I blurted out, “I have an idea. Why don’t we all go over to Angelina’s for Mexican food and…and…well, dinner’s on me!”
Ginger sat back on her heels and stared at me, her eyes shiny with tears. “I can’t let you do that, sugar.”
I waved away her protest. “Of course you can.”
“Nope,” Walter exclaimed, rising from his chair. “Ginger’s right, Kendall. This fiasco was my fault. I’m buying dinner for everyone.”
Jim hiccupped loudly. “Walter, my man, you are one cool dude.”
Ginger pushed to her feet with a grunt and threw the soggy towels into a trash bag. “Well, gee, that’s real nice of you.”
Walter nodded. “It’s settled then.”
Jim staggered when he rose from the chair and Walter grabbed his arm. “Steady there, Jimbo, I’ll do the driving.”
I was really curious to hear the second part of Walter’s story that had been aborted by Suzie’s shenanigans, but now didn’t seem the time. Later, definitely later.
The news of the free dinner spread like wildfire and within minutes, cars roared out of the driveway and a curtain of dust hung in the air as the caravan disappeared down the dirt road towards the south end of town. It suddenly occurred to me that Angelina’s was only a mile or so from Lupe’s house and a plan began to percolate in my mind. I pulled Ginger aside, whispering, “I need you to do me a favor.”
She listened intently as I explained my strategy. “So, if all of you ride with him, then we’ll have to take separate cars. I’ll scoot over there, check things out and then join you at the restaurant.”
Her honey-colored eyes sparkled with mirth. “Ain’t you the sneaky one?”
“I prefer to think of it as surreptitious.”
“Tally ain’t dumb.”
“
Look, you told me yourself that your car keeps dying. Just explain to him that it would be better for everyone to ride with him. He can put Nona’s wheelchair in the back of the pickup.”
“Bet you a dollar to a donut, he ain’t gonna buy it.”
“Tally’s too much of a gentleman to refuse, trust me.”
She shook her head in disapproval. “You’re bad. Can’t this wait ‘til tomorrow?”
I set my jaw. “Ginger, I don’t know if this will even develop into a story, but I haven’t taken an interesting assignment for over two months! I mean, Tally’s really happy with things just sailing along at an even keel, but I need…I need, I don’t know…something. Just to satisfy my own curiosity, I want to follow up on this. Please.”
An unreadable light glowing in her eyes, she stared at me long and hard before heaving a conciliatory sigh. “Give me a minute to clue in Brian and Nona.”
“Thank you.” I gave her a quick hug, but she looked unusually agitated as we parted. I busied myself at the kitchen sink and within minutes I heard her corner Tally in the living room. I glanced up at his reflection in the window as she explained her transportation dilemma and noticed his expression of polite interest turn decidedly dubious. Doubt assailed me. Was this thing with Lupe a big enough deal to risk antagonizing him? I was the first to admit that Tally was the best thing that ever happened to me, even though Ginger described our relationship as fire and ice. His steady, easy-going disposition had a definite grounding effect on my volatile one. So, why was I doing this? Was it my way of rebelling against his overprotective behavior, or was I shying away from his recent overture that we take our relationship to a new level of commitment? Even though he hadn’t voiced it aloud, I knew his vision for our future together didn’t include my career. Was I ready to settle into ranch life?
“Not yet,” I muttered to myself when I heard Tally graciously agree to drive Ginger’s family to Angelina’s. My heart fluttered when I heard the click of his boots on the tile floor behind me and I could barely make eye contact when I looked around.
