Chapter Seventeen
FUBAR, as Granddaddy Dallas used to say. Fucked up beyond all recognition.
During the two plus hours it took for Dallas to get to Foghorn, all he could think about how he had fucked up this situation beyond all recognition.
God. Annie. He’d make it up to her. He’d get to her in time. He had to.
His cell phone vibrated and he picked it up.
“Dallas? Doug Cartwright. Where the hell are you?”
“I’m on my way to Annie, Doug.”
“Damn it. What the hell are you trying to pull?”
“I know where she is, and I’m going to get her. Don’t try to stop me. I love her.”
“If you love her, then… What? You love her?”
“Yes. I love her, I love her, I love her. Her ex-husband, Riggs, is waiting for me in Foghorn. I’m taking him a hundred K in cash and I’ll give him my truck. I’ll bring Annie back in his car.”
“Dallas, this is not the most intelligent thing you’ve ever done. Come back here and let us take care of it. I’ll have the state patrol there in—”
“No! No cops, Doug.” Dallas’s heart nearly stopped. “Please. He’ll hurt her. He’s a loose cannon. He’s violated parole and he’s beaten her again. I can’t take the chance he’ll harm her.”
“Dallas, don’t be a fool.”
“The only foolish thing I ever did was let that lady walk away from me. I love her, and I’ll bring her back. Just give me two hours, Doug. That’s all I ask.”
“I can’t do it. I have a job to do.”
“Please. Please. As a friend. I’m asking as a friend.”
Doug’s harsh breath permeated the other side of the line. “You’re putting me in an awkward position, Dallas. I don’t want that lady in any more danger than she already is. There are professionals who can handle this.”
“Please. Just two hours. That’s all I’m asking.”
“All right. I hope to God I don’t regret this.”
“You won’t. I’ll bring her home. I promise.”
“Don’t do anything stupid.”
Dallas eyed his sharpshooter on the passenger seat. “I won’t.” He clicked the call off.
“Well, fella,” he said to Jet, “let’s bring our Annie home.”
He gunned across the border into New Mexico.
* * *
“Motherfucker better show up.”
Annie heard Riggs’s voice and felt his arms shaking her.
“Wake up, bitch. Come on.”
The thickness lifted.