The Gatekeeper's Sons Read online

  Chapter Twenty-Two: The Wildhorse Saloon Revisited

  Therese felt strange Friday evening squished in the backseat of her aunt’s old red Toyota Corolla between two gods, Than and Meg, on their way to the Wildhorse Saloon to meet the Holt kids, Ray, and Todd. Richard kept stealing glances behind him at the eccentric beauty beside her, dressed as she was in a red leather short suit, black go-go boots, and her blood-red rubies on her earlobes and around her neck. Although Therese had been proud of how she looked in her olive cotton camisole and her Levi boot-cut jeans, she now felt totally eclipsed.

  Tizzie had promised to meet them later after her tormenting obligation. Therese imagined her hovered over her victim with a swarm of snakes dropping from her head. Would the blood still be dripping from her eyes when she arrived at the saloon? Therese shuddered.

  “Are you okay?” Than whispered close to her ear. His warm breath sent chills across her scalp and down the nape of her neck. Because her red curls were up tonight in a high pony tail, she could feel Than’s warm breath caressing her neck as he spoke. “Are you cold?”

  “I’m fine,” she said. “Just a little nervous.”

  “Do I make you nervous?” he whispered.

  She made a little nod, but then breathed, “In a good way.”

  He gave her a broad smile, showing his perfect white teeth, and took her hand in his. Therese quivered with desire.

  “Can you drive a little faster?” Meg asked coldly.

  Carol looked at her in the rearview mirror. “I’m going the speed limit.”

  Meg rolled her eyes. “Great.”

  Therese wondered how Meg could get away with punishing people for forgetting their manners and be so rude herself. “I’m sorry we don’t have more room,” Therese offered.

  “It’s quite alright.” Meg’s voice was not kind.

  “That’s not what’s getting on her nerves,” Than whispered. “She’s jealous of how smitten I am with you.”

  “Than,” Meg threatened. “There’s no need to speak rudely of others.”

  Richard gave another uncomfortable glance back at Therese’s companions.

  When they arrived at the Wildhorse Saloon close to eight o’clock, Todd’s giant yellow truck stood out as a beacon in the parking lot, but neither Pete’s truck nor Mrs. Holt’s Suburban was among the three dozen other vehicles. Therese texted Todd while she led the group inside the dance hall, a wave of cigarette smoke accosting her like a stifling blanket. She tried to hold back the cough gagging her throat. Ten or so couples danced a fast polka around the wooden dance floor in front of the empty stage where Pete’s band had performed two nights ago. More people gathered around the two bars—one on either side of the hall—and two or three older men, sitting on stools alone, looked drunk. Todd and Ray turned from where they stood in line at one of the bars and waved, their red minor bracelets dancing around their wrists. Therese waved back and led her group across the dance hall toward them.

  After their initial hellos and some talk about Todd’s truck and when Therese would get her ride—since she had missed the maiden voyage—they stood around awkwardly sipping their straws and watching the dancers on the floor across the room. One of the older men who had been sitting alone and apparently drunk approached Meg and asked for a dance. Therese was surprised when Meg consented, but Meg’s mocking expression made her wonder about the Fury’s motive.

  The new song was a waltz, and Therese could feel Than turning toward her to ask, but before he had his words out, Todd grabbed her hand and said, “Let’s go!”

  Therese gave Than a look of apology as she allowed Todd to pull her out onto the floor. He glided her easily around and around with his thin but strong frame, and soon Therese was having fun and laughing out loud, especially at Todd who was now telling her all about his family’s trip to California and the strange people they met there. He gave a glance at Meg as they passed her and her drunken partner and said, “Though we have a few strange folks right here in Durango.”

  He wanted to know more about Meg and Than. Although Therese was just a bit tempted to tell the truth—Than was the god of death and his sister was one of three tormenting avengers known as the Furies—she decided to hold her tongue, shrug, and say, “They’re guests at the Melner cabin. I don’t know much about them.” She knew she wasn’t telling him anything he didn’t already know.

  “Be careful with this guy,” Todd said. “I have a bad feeling about him.”

  “Okay, Obi Wan Kenobi.” She laughed.

  She wondered exactly what it could be that gave Todd this negative impression of Than. Had Todd sensed something different about him?

  When the song ended, he asked for another dance, but she thanked him and said she was thirsty, maybe later, so they joined the others and finished their pops.

  About that time, Pete, Bobby, Jen, and Matthew appeared. Therese thought Jen and Matthew looked like they were back on, the hot item they had been for most of their freshman year. She couldn’t help but suspect that Matthew had wanted his summer free, in case someone new came along, perhaps while he vacationed in Alaska, but now that school was only a few weeks away, he’d reclaimed her. She didn’t particularly care for his behavior, but she was glad Jen looked happy.

  As Jen introduced Matthew to those in the group he had not yet met, Pete turned with a look of excitement to Therese. “This is an old Bob Wills song! Let’s go swing. How ‘bout it?”

  Therese couldn’t say no. She loved the Western Swing, and Pete was a great dancer. She also loved the idea of showing off for Than.

  Pete pulled her around the floor with authority, easily leading her away from him, to him, away from him, and back to him. He swung her under his arm and around his back and picked her up in the air like she was a rag doll.

  As soon as the song was over, she excused herself and ran straight to the restroom. Jen followed closely behind. Luckily there wasn’t a line.

  Once they were out of the stalls and washing their hands at the sink, Therese asked, “You’ve forgiven Matthew?”

  “Yeah,” Jen smiled guiltily. Her hair was in a ponytail tonight, too. It was like they could read each other’s minds. “He said he didn’t mean to get back with me, but he just couldn’t force himself to stay away.”

  Therese’s forehead wrinkled with doubt, not because her friend wasn’t beautiful and sweet and capable of making it hard for boys to stay away from her, but because she tended to be too gullible when it came to Matthew.

  Jen asked, “So what’s with you and Than? Do you guys like each other?”

  Therese couldn’t stop the smile from crossing her face. “I don’t know. I think so.”

  “Has he kissed you?”

  Therese watched herself blush in the mirror. “Yes. And he had me over for supper last night.”

  “And you didn’t tell me? How did it go?” Jen dried her hands on a paper towel and then dropped the towel in the trash can.

  Therese told her friend a few of the details.

  Jen sighed. “Sounds like he really likes you.” Then she added, “Don’t tell Pete I told you this, but I think he’s jealous.”

  “You mean Bobby.”

  “No. Pete.”

  Therese’s mouth dropped open as she stared at her friend’s reflection beside her in the mirror. “No way. Did Pete say something?”

  “No, but I know my brother.”

  “You’re imagining things. Pete’s like a big brother to me.”

  “Whatever you say.”

  When they rejoined the group, Carol and Richard were out on the dance floor and, much to Therese’s astonishment, so were Bobby and Meg. Ray was telling Than a story, but Than seemed to be only half listening as he kept his eyes on Therese. Before she could make it to Than’s side to hear what Ray was saying, Todd grabbed her arm and said, “Let’s go. I love this song.”

  Therese glanced at Than over her shoulder, but he had politely turned to listen to Ray.

  Matthew and Jen joine
d them on the floor. It was a Texas Two Step to a George Strait song.

  As soon as it was over, Pete took Therese from Todd for a polka. She felt the sweat dripping down her face, the small ringlets of her hair that hadn’t made it into her ponytail sticking to the nape of her neck. Her hands were slippery in Pete’s dry hands, but he held fast to her as he swung her around, closer, she now realized, than he had before.

  As she danced round and round with Pete, Therese wondered if there could be even a smidgen of truth in Jen’s assessment of her brother. Pete smiled at her, laughing when they barely missed running into another couple, or when Therese nearly lost her balance and he had to catch her. Yet his smiles and laughter seemed no different to her tonight than they had any other day. Had there always been something there, just beneath the surface? If Than hadn’t stepped into her life, Jen’s revelation would have excited Therese. She had hero-worshiped Pete all her life—she’d liked the kind of music he liked, played the sports he played, watched the shows he watched. He was gorgeous, just like his sister, his blond bowl-cut hair framing a strong face and blue eyes. But it had all been a sister-brotherly love, hadn’t it?

  She tried to see Than, but the Friday night crowd had thickened, and he was lost in the swarm of bodies and smoke. When the song ended, Therese thanked Pete and went looking for Than, but before she could reach him, Bobby snagged her hand and asked for a dance. This was a Texas Two-Step, Bobby’s specialty, for he hadn’t yet developed the same level of skills in the polka, swing, or waltz as his older brother and Todd possessed.

  The song ended, and a new one played throughout the hall. Therese felt a tap on her shoulder, and she turned midstride to find Than there smiling at her. “A waltz. Shall we?”

  “Yes.” She smiled back, a thrill coming over her. Then she thanked Bobby, who went straight to Meg.

  Alan Jackson’s voice brought a lump to Therese’s throat as Than took her in his arms and with near-expert control led her in the slow waltz.

  As if Than knew what she was thinking, he said, close to her ear, his warm breath sending chills across her cheek and bare neck, “This song describes my feelings exactly. I was worried I wouldn’t get my turn with you. I’m glad it came on this song.”

  She leaned her head against his chest and closed her eyes, unable to look at his sweet longing. It seemed too surreal. All of it. Was she still in a coma, and all this was a dream? Could she jump into the air and turn somersaults?

  Before she had time to answer her own questions, Meg and Tizzie rushed to their side and began talking fervently in Than’s ears. Therese was unable to hear what they were saying.

  “How long?” he asked, his brow bent with worry.

  “There’s no time to lose,” Tizzie answered.

  The group moved from the dance floor, Therese all the while wondering what was going on. “What’s the matter?” she asked when they stopped between the bar and the exit.

  Tizzie answered, “I made your parents’ killer talk, but we don’t have time to explain. You stay here.”

  “Where are you going?” Therese was horrified.

  “Back to your house,” Than explained. “McAdams has men there waiting for you.”

  “They’re waiting for your aunt, too,” Meg added coolly.

  “Clifford! My pets!” Therese felt sick. “Oh, please let them be okay!”

  “We’re on our way now,” Than assured her. “We’ll come back and let you know when you can return home.”

  “Take me!”

  “It’s too dangerous,” he said. “Stay here with your friends, where it’s safe.”

  She followed them through the exit and out to the parking lot. She forgot about god travel and expected them to take a car, but when they went to the dark part of the lot and simply vanished, she sighed, and a feeling of helplessness washed over her.

  Therese knew she should listen to Than and his sisters and stay put, but she was in agony over what might be happening to her pets, especially Clifford, who would have been barking like crazy at the intruders’ approach. Would they have killed her very best friend? She couldn’t wait here for who knew how long. She had to go see for herself. But she didn’t want to endanger Carol and Richard by asking them to drive her home. They would go into her house and directly into danger. The Holts wouldn’t have room for her if they came in Pete’s truck, plus Matthew and Jen were having too much fun. Unless she revealed the true reason she wanted to go, she wouldn’t have their cooperation.

  Maybe Todd would take her! He would be bored by now, with Jen dancing exclusively with Matthew and with Therese unavailable. Todd was too shy to approach girls he didn’t know. She could ask him to drop her off and to not even bother to drive up the long gravelly driveway to her house. He would be safe, she hoped.

  She ran back inside the dance hall, stopped in the entrance, and turned her head from side to side. The crowd was too thick to spot him, even though he was tall. She texted him as she picked her way through the crowd and the noise, feeling more and more desperate. In her haste, she accidentally knocked into someone’s drink, and some of it spilled on her shirt. She weaved through the bodies and smoke, a wave of panic threatening to overtake her. Then she saw Ray.

  She practically ran to him. “Where’s Todd?”

  “Bathroom. Why? What’s wrong?” Her face must have looked bad, because Ray, usually quick to joke around, showed sudden concern.

  “I don’t feel well. I was going to see if he’d take me home. He promised me a ride in his truck sometime. I thought maybe tonight. I don’t want to ruin my aunt’s good time. Maybe you’d like to come, too? Y’all can come right back.”

  “Sounds good to me. I’m bored anyway. But I don’t know about Todd. He loves this place. Where are your new friends?”

  “They had to leave.”

  A flicker of understanding and suspicion crossed Ray’s face. “And they wouldn’t give you a ride? Some friends.”

  “It was a family emergency. That’s why I don’t feel well. I’m worried about them.”

  “What happened?”

  “I don’t really know. They were in too much of a hurry to explain.”

  “Maybe there was no emergency.”

  She shook her head. “It was too obvious. They were so upset.”

  Todd joined them then, and Therese turned and explained everything she had told Ray to him. Would he take her?

  “I don’t know. You want me to take you for a ride in my pride and joy? That’s tough. Hmm.” A smile illuminated his face. “Do I want to show off my new stereo? Hmm. This is a hard one.”

  She gave him a pleading smile.

  Todd shrugged. “Alright. Let’s go.”

  “Great!” Relief came but still could not outdo the approaching panic. “Thank you so much! I’ll be right back. I have to tell Carol.”

  Therese found Carol and Richard on the dance floor and was about to tell them the same story she had told Ray and Todd when she realized Carol would insist on taking her home if Therese were upset, so she stopped, mid-sentence and said, “I’ve been dying to take a ride in Todd’s new truck. He’s ready to leave, though. Can he take me now to get a shake from McDonald’s and then on home? Than and Meg already got a ride. Their sister came and got them.”

  Carol’s face lit up even brighter than Todd’s had, probably because she was relieved to see Therese having fun with friends. “Of course. We’ll be home right behind you.”

  “Don’t rush,” Therese said. “We’ll hang out at McDonald’s for a while before heading home.”

  “Sounds great!” Carol said.

  Therese felt awful about the lie as she ran through the crowd back to Todd and Ray without even bothering to explain to any of the Holts. She was in too much of a hurry to leave so she could check on her pets and her house and see what was going on. She would text Jen on the way. She was tempted to call 911 as she picked through the crowd but decided the Furies and the god of death could handle the situation better than humans. On
ce she found Todd and Ray, they left the dance hall, climbed into Todd’s ostentatiously high truck with her in the middle in the bench seat, and took off.

  Todd turned on the stereo, and Therese oooed and awed over the sound, the feel of the ride, the restoration to the dash, the paint job, and anything else she could think of to show her gratitude and hide her anxiety as they drove through the winding country roads to her house. The height from their perspective did lend a strange sense of power despite the panic threatening to burst inside her. More than anything now, she wanted to be a god so she could better protect those she loved.