“You have a short memory, Gabe said, buttoning his shirt and standing to tuck it into his jeans. “What about the times he followed you? What about Friday night? If I weren’t around, you’d be in hot water, lady.”

His tone sent her hackles up. She paused in the act of reaching for her jeans. “I think you’re exaggerating the situation. “

After all they’d shared, she didn’t think he’d react with the same closed-down expression as before. She was wrong. “Gabe, for heaven’s sake, what is it? Why do you get this way? “

He shoved his hands in his pockets and gazed out the window.

“Dammit, what aren’t you telling me about Neal? There’s more to this, isn’t there?”

He seemed to be struggling with whether to confide in her or not. Whatever thoughts he had, they were obviously painful.

A horrible suspicion arose in her mind. She tossed the jeans aside and walked over to lay a hand on his arm. “Gabe, is Neal related to that man who killed your parents?”

He shook his head and glanced down at her. Then he looked away again. His words, when they finally came, were filled with fury. “Neal Parnell raped my sister.”

DALLAS HUGGED HERSELF against the sudden chill that engulfed her. She stared at Gabe, who kept his back to her, his head bowed. “Your sister is Celia Martinez?” she asked, her voice little more than a whisper.

,


He nodded.

“Oh, Gabe. Why didn’t you tell me?”

“Because I thought it would make you question my judgment about Parnell.”

“I’ve been questioning it, anyway.” And now she doubted he had any objectivity at all. Her heart ached-for him, for her, for the tender emotions that had been created between them and now seemed in jeopardy. She forced herself to say the words. “You weren’t at the trial.”

His jaw clenched. “I didn’t have to be. Celia told me he did it. That’s enough for me.”

“But the evidence-“

He whirled, his expression dangerous. “Damn the evidence! She knows it was him. And you would, too, if you weren’t so caught up in the details! Everything has to be lined up and neat for you, doesn’t it?”

She had to grit her teeth to keep them from chattering’ That how the system works.”

“That’s what I’m trying to tell you. It didn’t work.”

“It did! He had a fair trial. I agree he’s not the most appetizing guy to have around, and I’ve gone along with you and Amber because I didn’t like the way he seemed to be fixating on me. But twelve intelligent people studied the evidence at that trial. He did not commit that rape .”

“Like hell .”

They stood as if a ten-foot wall separated them. And perhaps it did, she thought. They were never going to agree on this. And it was no longer a philosophical discussion , as she’d thought before. Hisnarrowed eyes and the arrogant tilt of his head told her he wa sing full warrior mode again. Her stomach churned as she realized what she had to do. “you’re sure he’s a rapist and his next target is me , right?”

“I’d bet my life on it.”

“But he seems to have backed off now that yodre around all the time.”

“That’s right. I could have protected Celia, too, if I’d been here. But I wasn’t. That’s something I’ll have to live with for the rest of my life.”

Anguish tore at her. Was his devotion to her only a salve for his guilty conscience about his sister? She couldn’t believe that or she d go completely crazy. She took a deep breath. “We can proae your premise. All you have to do is leave.”

His head snapped as if she’d hit him across the face. His jaw worked, and when he spoke his voice was strained. “I caxi t leave the way open for him to hurt you.”

“Then we’ll never know who’s right, will we?”

His gaze grew icy cold. “Do you want me to go?”

It was the hardest word she’d ever had to say. “Yes.”

All emotion left his face. “All right.” “you’re wrong about Neal. He won’t come after me : ‘

His tone was almost conversational, and all the more chilling because of that. “Let’s hope not. Because I’d have to kill him.”

Dallas.ns sPIN’r’re Dn Y riding q the foothills until Sugar was lathered and the tears soaking Dallas’s T-shirt had dried in the warm sun.” She stayed away from the trailer as long as possible, but eventually she had to go back to the rumpled sheets, the damned sticky mug and spoon still on the table and the rest of the coffee ice cream. She’d never be able to use it as comfort food again.

She threw out the ice cream. If Amber hadn’t given her the mug, she d have thrown it away, too, rather than rinse it out. But Amber loved that mug and used it every time she came over. Fresh tears streamed down Dallas’s cheeks and she used water hot enough to hurt her hands as she cleaned the mug and spoon. The least he could have done was rinse his own damned dishes!

Thoughts of Amber reminded Dallas that she needed to explain the changed situation before she and Amber worked together again. She called and made a lunch date for the next day.

“What? You can tear yourself away from that gorgeous hunk for a lunch with little ol’ me?” Amber asked.

“Anytime; Dallas said, forcing cheer into her voice.

“Want to go shopping, too?”

“Maybe.”

“I’ll bet you need some new underwear. I always get new underwear when I start a relationship. This will be fun, Dallas, having you two as a couple.”

Dallas gripped the phone and tried to think of how to stop Amber from babbling on.

“I think Vince and Gabe might get along,” Amber continued. “Maybe the four of us can go out together sometime.


“


Dallas grabbed at the first thing she could think of. “Oh, God, I think I left the gate open; Amber. Gretchen might get out : ‘

“Oh, no! can’t have that.”

“Right. See you tomorrow: She hung up and gazed at the phone through her tears. Gabe had certainly messed up her life. Even her dog wasn’t the same.

But she could do something about Igor. She dialed the number of her neighbor who owned the dog. “Mr. Stanhope? This is Dallas Wade down the road. I suggest you either get Igor neutered or keep him penned up. If I see him on my property again I’m taking him to the Humane Society.”

“What happened? Did he compromise that pretty little Great Dane of yours?” Stanhope laughed.

“Mr. Stanhope, I’m warning you. It’s irresponsible to allow an un neutered dog to run around impregnating the world : ‘

Stanhope laughed even louder. “Hell, that dog of yours is the only one he can reach. Any of the other females in the neighborhood would have to agree to stand on a stool.”

“Mr. Stanhope-“

“Ease up, Dallas. I’ll help you find homes for the puppies, if that’s your problem: ‘

“No, that’s not my problem, and please keep your dog penned up!” She put the phone down with more force than necessary and stomped out to feed the horses their evening meal.

As the shadows lengthened in the yard, she found herself glancing down the road. If a black Corvette showed up… but of course it wouldn’t. Neal would probably spend the night at Rowdy Ranch, and tonight was Amber’s night to work alone, so Dallas wouldn’t have to risk seeing him-or Gabe.

Maybe she’d spend the night watching television. She hardly ever gave herself time to do that. And she’d lock all the doors and windows. Not that she really needed to. Gabe was so determined to find his sister’s attacker and punish him that he couldn’t see that Neal was innocent

“Come on, Gretchen.” She took the dog by the collar and went inside, locking the door firmly behind her.

The sound of the television kept her company all evening. She ate a microwaved dinner in front of it, and if she didn’t like the current show she switched over to the country-music video station. When the video for “A Cowboy’s Dream” came on, she channel surfed until she found a sitcom that made her laugh.

“Televisioxi’s good; she murmured to herself. “I’ll watch more television.”

On one of her forays through the stations a courtroom drama caught her attention. The judge was in her chambers discussing some point of law with the prosecuting attorney

“I’m sorry, but that’s not admissable; the judge told the attorney.

The prosecutor looked about ready to explode. “But it proves the defendant murdered his wife.”

“Nevertheless, you and I know it’s not admissable. If you enter it, I’ll have to declarea mistrial, and I know you don’t want that, either. Prove your case without this evidence. you’re a good enough attorney.”

But he didn’t, and Dallas’s attention was riveted to the set as the supposed murderer went free because the jury never learned about the damning evidence. She switched to another channel, but the courtroom drama stayed with her.

That was only television, she told herself. How dramatic to have unusable evidence that would convict a killer. That probably happened once in a million times. She and the jury had heard everything there was to hear about the Celia Martinez case. Of course they had.

She didn’t sleep well that night and got up three times to recheck the locks on her doors and windows.

DALLAS MET AMBER at an Italian restaurant near the bustling Tucson Mall. They’d both dressed in slacks and sweaters; lunching out for them had always meant getting away from cowgirl clothes for a few hours.

Dallas saved her announcement until after the waiter had deposited a large all-you-can-eat salad bowl and two salad plates on their table. Then she told Amber what had happened, even including the incident with Gretchen.

“You sent that man away?” Amber wailed, her fork “That’s what counseling does for you, Amber said. clattering to her salad plate. “You are out of your mind, “It helps you deal with the trauma, so you won’t get ” hysterical every time you think about what happened.

“He’s paranoid, Amber: Dallas picked up a green I should know: ‘

chili pepper by the stem and put it back on her plate.

Dallas’s eyes widened. “You?” She wasn’t hungry. “I can understand it, I guess. If your I was raped when I was eighteen, she said evenly, sister swears some guy raped her, then you want to be-as if giving a weather report. , h the “Oh, my God.” lie’ve she’s right, so you can have somebody to ang , hate on. ” Amber’s tone grew harsher. “Some guy I met at a

“Dallas, look at me.” party took me out in the desert. I was drunk, but he

Dallas lifted her head. definitely raped me, the bastard.” Her hand shook as

“Has it ever occurred to you that-now don’t get mad she reached for her glass of iced tea and took a long, at me-that maybe, just maybe, Neal was guilty of that slow drink. The helpless fury remained in her eyes as

” she looked at Dallas. I couldn t prove that, either, but charge?

Dallas gazed at her as snippets from the television my pqents got me a good counselor, which is why I can , talk about it now without breaking dishes .” courtroom drama played in her mind. “But the evi

, pp “

Dallas reached across the table and covered Amdence didn’t su ort-her s hand with her own. “I wish I’d known. All this ” y y

I know you hate the idea that you mi t have hxmed the we’ve been discussing this, you’ve probably been a rapist loose: reliving what happened to you: ‘

Dallas shook her head. “I didn’t. And the other ” “

Amber sighed. Some. eleven people on that jury didn’t, either.” q, ,

“


I’m sorry. Dallas squeezed her hand.

“Criminals do get off sometimes, you know. “It’s just that it’s hard to prove, babe. You like your

Dallas poked at her salad while sorting through her world to be all organized, and when it comes to this jumbled thoughts. “We listened so carefully to every-crime, everything’s disorganized. This Celia and the thing.” She glanced up at Amber. “Gabe’s sister was rapist were the only people there. But I’ll tell you this. very composed on the stand. You’d think someone If she says it was Neal Parnell, I’d believe her.” who’d been through that would be more upset.” Dallas began to tremble. “You would? Even if the guy

“How long had it been?” was wear inga ski mask and disguised his voice?”

“Four months .” Amber’s laugh was short and humorless. “You can

“Did she have counseling in the meantime?” tell by the smell of his skin.”

“Yes, but-” Goose bumps rose on Dallas’s arms. “What?”

“You don’t think you remember how a guy smells, do you? But the memory s there, all right. I’ll bet if Gabe came up behind you, youd recognize him without looking. You say Celia went out with this guy once, probably even kissed him. She’d remember the scent of his skin. Or at least a part of her mind would, even if she doesn’t realize it. But of course something like that won’t stand up in court.”