Refusing to take umbrage, she smiled. "I'm tired of the dance, Gully. I'm weary of the constant jockeying for position, and the paranoia it breeds. Management knows what I can do. They're aware of my popularity with viewers, and it's higher now than it's ever been. They've got years of my work, ratings, and awards to remind them that I'm the best choice for that job."
She opened her car door and tossed her bag inside.
"They'll be hearing from my agent while I'm away. I'm making Nine Live a condition of my contract. I don't get the show, they don't get a renewal. And I've received at least a hundred other offers this week to back up that mandate."
She leaned forward and kissed his cheek, which had gone flabby with astonishment. "I love you, Gully. I love my work. But it's work; it's no longer my life."
She made one stop on her way out of town-at a Dumpster behind a supermarket. She tossed two things into it.
One was an audiocassette recording. The other was the two-hour videotape from Gladys and Vern's camcorder.
Tiel cursed the hopelessly snarled fishing line.
"Dammit!"
"They aren't biting?"
Thinking she was alone, she jumped, executing a quick turn at the same time. Her knees went weak at the sight of him. He was leaning negligently against a tree trunk, his tall, lean form and cowboy garb in harmony with the rugged landscape.
"I didn't know you could fish," he remarked.
He'd come all this way to talk about fishing? Okay. "Obviously I can't." She held out the tangled line and frowned. "But since that's what one is supposed to do when there's a clear mountain stream running behind one's vacation condo… Doc, what are you doing here?"
"Good news about Ronnie, huh?"
Ronnie Davison had been upgraded from critical to good condition. If he continued to improve, he would be released to return home within a few days. "Very good news. About Sabra too. She's already back in Fort Worth.
I talked to her last night by phone. She and her mother are going to rear Katherine. Ronnie will have unlimited visitation, but they've decided to postpone getting married for a couple of years. Regardless of the outcome of his legal entanglements, they've agreed to wait and see if the relationship can stand the test of time."
"Smart kids. If it's right, it'll happen."
"That's their thinking."
"Well, Dendy can be glad he won't be charged with murder."
"No, but dozens of witnesses saw him attempt it. I hope they throw the book at him."
"I second that motion. He nearly cost several lives."
The conversation flagged after that. The silence was filled by the chirping of birds and the incessant, friendly gurgle of the stream. When the pressure inside Tiel's chest reached the cracking point, she asked again, "What are you doing here?"
"I got a cheesecake from Vern and Gladys."
"So did I."
"Huge."
"Humongous."
Feeling silly holding the casting rod, she laid it at her feet, but immediately wished she hadn't. Now she had nothing to do with her hands, which suddenly seemed excessively large and conspicuous. She slid them into the rear pockets of her jeans, palms out. "It's a beautiful place, isn't it?"
"Sure is."
"When did you arrive?"
"About an hour ago."
"Oh."