One Step Over the Border (27 page)

“Did you say other women in your family have a similar mark?” Hap probed.

“Most all. They have different shapes and sizes.”

Hap took a deep breath. His eyes glazed over. “Have you got any relatives named… Juanita?”

“Half the women on the Rodríguez side of the family are named Juanita. What’s this all about?”

Hap shot his arms in the air. “There is a God in heaven!”

“Are you going to preach?”

“I’m going to tell you of a quest so exciting, it will rivet you to the edge of your chair.”

“I think I’ll go out on the porch and take a nap,” Laramie groaned.

The sun blazed, then teetered on the edge of the horizon like a big red ball about to roll off the edge of the table.

“Take care of yourself, partner,” Hap called as they climbed into the truck.

“You’re the one taking all the chances. I’m just sitting here, waiting. I’m about two days shy of sleep, so I won’t mind some
peace and quiet. But if you two aren’t back by the time the groceries run out, I’m leaving.”

“Give us twenty-four hours,” Rosa said, adjusting the cuffs of Laramie’s blue denim jacket, which was bulky on her smaller
frame. “After that, just hike out of here.”

When they drove to the gate, Rosa slumped down in the seat, Hap’s black beaver felt hat pulled over her face.

Hap honked, and Ferguson swung open the gate. After they drove through, he signaled for them to stop as he surveyed the truck.
“What happened to your buddy?”

“What happened to yours?” Hap challenged.

“He’s sleeping. It’s my turn for night duty.”

“Laramie got sick. That Mexican gal fed us a bunch of strange vegetables. I passed on them, but Laramie chowed down. They
didn’t sit well with him.”

“Vegetables? She tried to kill you. We sprayed them with weed killer.”

“That’s nice to hear. Then we’ll know who to sue.”

“You can’t sue us. We don’t even exist. We aren’t on the government record. We’re a private security operation. On loan, so
to speak.”

Rosa groaned in a deep, raspy voice.

“What did he say?” Manny leaned closer.

“I don’t know, but I want to reach Fort Stockton to get his stomach pumped before he barfs all over my truck again.”

Hap lurched the rig forward. Ferguson closed the gate behind them.

When they broke out of the trees, Hap patted her knee. “Okay, girl, you can breathe easy for a while.”

“Not all those groans were phony.”

“You gettin’ sick?”

“I think I ate too much, too fast.”

“You let me know if you want me to stop.”

“You haven’t done anything yet.”

Hap felt his neck and face warm. “No… I meant…”

“I know what you meant. For a cowboy, you certainly blush easy.”

“You ambushed me with that tease.”

“It’s been a long time since I could relax enough to tease.”

Hap turned right at Basin Junction. The sun dropped. The air bristled with a tinge of chill.

Rosa pulled off the hat. “I’m not used to wearing this. No one can see me in here now anyway.” She twirled the hat in her
hand. “I can’t believe you two would do all of this for me.”

“Chalk it up to the cowboy code. You’re Milt’s sister and he couldn’t be here. I’d appreciate some cowboy pal of mine lookin’
after my sis, if she needed the help.”

“Yes, Milt is that way. But I still say, you don’t know much about me.”

“That’s not true. Milt told us lots.”

“Like what?”

“He said you were a really smart, stubborn, opinionated woman who was too forceful and driven to get married.”

“Milt blabbed all that?”

“Yeah, is it true?”

She drummed her fingers on her leg. “Yes, but I don’t like hearing it.”

“Rosa… win or lose, this land conflict will be over someday. What then? Where is your life headed?”

“Geez, Hap… what is this? I want to get out, hold a press conference, and get back to the cabin. I want to make a scene over
the government grabbing private property. I don’t have any more plans than that. Just out of the blue, you decide to go philosophical
on me? Don’t ask such personal questions. You’re beginning to sound like Dr. Phil.”

“Okay, I’ll change the subject. No more brain-numbing discussions of life goals. No politics. No social causes. Let’s relax
and talk about something generic.”

Rosa let out a deep sigh. “Good.”

Hap scratched his forehead. “Why don’t you wear a bra?”

Rosa burst out laughing. “I love it. Now, that’s a nice, neutral, nonphilosophical question. It’s a no-brainer and not a feminist
statement. I left some clothes drying on a short clothesline stretched between the trees behind the cabin. The jerks came
in and stole them one night.”

“Kind of like Tom Hanks in
The Terminal
. They’re tryin’ to make it so miserable that you’ll leave. It’s a wonder they didn’t poison the spring.”

“They don’t dare. A couple years ago, before this harassment began, the University of Texas conducted a study on natural springs
all over the state. The Rodríguez Ranch on Panther Mountain rated the purest natural water in west Texas. I think even Davenport
is afraid to contaminate it. Besides, it supplies most of the park residences as well.”

“We’re close to the entrance. Put my hat back on and play sick. I’ll hook up the trailer and load the horses.”

Under the dim glow of streetlights, Hap backed up to the horse trailer. When he led the horses from the corrals, Erika waited
for him.

Hap nodded. “Thanks for lookin’ in on the horses. I didn’t figure you’d still be on duty.”

“I’m not. This is my own time.” She peered across the pickup at the office entrance.

“Is Davenport still here?”

“Yeah, I expect him to barrel out any minute. I probably shouldn’t be talking to you. But you need to know something before
he does. Then I need to know something.”

Hap handed her Tully’s lead rope, then walked Luke up into the trailer. “What do I need to know?”

“Those two guys at the gate of her place are not park service employees. They work for Davenport. The two trucks they drive
are registered to ‘Out West Development Corporation, East Orange, New Jersey.’ This is not a park service dispute, but everyone’s
afraid to investigate further. Most of us are just summer employees and we need the work. Official complaints have been filed,
but everything takes a long time to process. We think Davenport’s about to be transferred or fired. It isn’t the first time
he’s gone on a vendetta. If Rosa can hang on a while, this could be settled.”

“Thanks for the info.”

“Now, there is one thing you have to explain to me.”

“What’s that?”

“Why in the world is Rosa Rodríguez Tryor slouched in the front seat of your pickup with your cowboy hat pulled down over
her face?”

“Obvious, huh? We’re headed out to the newspapers to tell her story. I’m going to get her back before daylight.”

“Your partner is at the Rodríguez Ranch?”

“Yep.”

“If Davenport finds out she’s gone, he’ll go ballistic and bulldoze the place tonight.”

Hap looped his thumbs into his jeans pockets. “I’m hopin’ a Rapid City cowgirl like you will keep it to herself.”

“I won’t say a thing. What newspaper are you going to talk to?”

“Probably the one in Fort Stockton, but we’re hopin’ for broader coverage.”

“My college roommate works for a newspaper in Odessa. She’s not a reporter or anything, but let me call her. Do you know where
Tiny’s Café is in Fort Stockton?”

“We’ll find it.”

“I’ll see if I can get someone to meet you there for a story. If no one’s there, I didn’t have any luck. Go on, now. Here
comes Davenport.”

Hap slipped into the pickup.

“What are you doing out here?” Davenport called out to Erika.

“You told us to make sure they got out by dark. I thought that meant supervising the loading of the horses.” Erika strolled
off toward staff housing.

Davenport marched over to the pickup. “I could have you arrested right now.”

Hap closed the door, but rolled down his window. “For taking groceries to a hungry woman? Are bread and eggs contraband in
a national park?”

“The illegal transportation of firearms is.”

“What firearms?”

“You’ve got two Winchester carbines in the saddle compartment of the horse trailer.”

“We didn’t transport them anywhere. We left them at the entrance.”

“You came 150 feet within the park. I have the legal right to arrest you.”

“I just followed your instructions.”

“You could be jailed.”

“Not without a court fight.”

“Don’t threaten me with judicial blackmail.”

“No threat. A court case might be nice. Then you could explain by what authority you searched our trailer by busting a padlock
without permission. In fact, it provides the perfect platform for me to describe the emaciated and wretched condition we found
Rosa Rodríguez Tryor in as you tried to starve her out of her own legal property. What do you think, partner? Let’s get arrested.”

“No… wait,” Davenport cautioned. “I didn’t say I was going to arrest you. I merely mentioned I had sufficient grounds. Now,
if you two drive off and I never see you again, I’ll get so busy with other duties, I won’t even remember your names.”

“You don’t know our names now. But we’re leaving anyway.” Hap drove the truck up on the blacktop and headed out of the park.

Rosa sat up and handed Hap his hat. She tossed Laramie’s denim jacket behind the seat. “Do you think we can trust Erika?”

“We’ll find out at Tiny’s Café in Fort Stockton. But this whole deal sounded much more logical in your cabin.”

When they reached the junction of Highway 90, Rosa pointed to the
For Sale
signs on the southeast corner.

“This is barren, godforsaken country. Who would be crazy enough to buy out here?” Hap said.

“You want to hear something bizarre? A few months ago, when I had more freedom to come and go, that property sold. So, out
of curiosity, I called the county recorder to see who purchased it. It was an outfit called Out West Development Corporation…”

“Of East Orange, New Jersey?” Hap replied.

“Have you heard of them?”

“When Erika and me were visitin’ by the horse trailer, she said those two pickups at your gate were registered to that same
company.”

“Wait a minute.” Rosa slapped her hand down on Hap’s knee. “There’s a connection between this barren five acres on the crossroads
to nowhere and those thugs at my gate?”

He studied her hand on his knee. “Kind of leaves my head spinnin’. It’s got to be oil wells or somethin’ dealin’ with a lot
of money. Maybe you’re sittin’ on a gold mine.”

“Sure, a west Texas gold rush. That sandstone on the ranch is as far away from gold as you can get.”

“Diamonds, maybe?”

She let out a smooth, easy laugh that tickled Hap’s throat, then pulled her hand off his knee. “You’re getting delusional.”

“Yeah…” he let out a long, slow sigh. “But I know an old guy in the Ruby Mountains of Nevada who claims to have a platinum
mine.”

“I wish I knew what Out West Development Company really developed.”