Chapter 7

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys

"I'm sorry I can't give you more details, Colonel," Angie said, her brow furrowed, "I was kinda busy trying just to survive there."

"What you've told us is plenty," Hannibal assured her. The evidence of their repast had been swept aside as they discussed Angie's problem.

"Yep," Murdock said forcefully, "The Colonel will come up with a plan that'll have your dad in prison so fast his head'll swim!"

"And I'll make sure he gets some pain first," B.A. growled.

"Thanks," Angie said, smile wavering, "I can't tell you how much I…" her voice broke and she looked down, swiping at her tears.

Hannibal rested a gloved hand on the back of her neck, his thumb rubbing gently, "We know," he said.

"Well…" Face said, standing, "I've got plans to meet someone for drinks, so I'll be heading out!"

"Jennifer or Jessica?" Hannibal asked.

Face looked slighted, "Or?"

"Playa," B.A. muttered, causing Angie to giggle.

Face left and B.A. flipped on the TV, leaving Hannibal chewing thoughtfully on his unlit cigar as Angie shifted uncomfortably and Murdock stared down at the table, shredding a paper bag into a pile.

"Hannibal," Angie asked softly, "would it be okay if I slept in the van tonight? Not that I don't appreciate the room!" she added quickly, "I just…"

"Don't worry about it," Hannibal said, waving his hand, "B.A. will love having his own bed. But I don't know how safe it is in the van…"

"I'll stay with her," Murdock volunteered, and then looked quickly over at Angie, "If that's okay with you?"

"I don't want you giving up a comfortable bed for my sake," Angie said, shaking her head.

Murdock laughed, "You really think Face shares the bed? I sleep on the floor anyway, and one floor feels just like another. Besides, it'll be fun! We'll have a slumber party!"

"Okay," Angie said hesitantly.

"Great!" Murdock said, leaping to his feet and clambering over the bed, "Get your blankets and pillows and we'll get the van all comfy!" He rose up from the side of the bed with blankets piled up in his arms and twisting around his body like an overstuffed toga. He took a step and fell onto the bed face-first, pillows scattering.

Angie left, chuckling at his antics.

As soon as the door closed behind her Murdock stood and gathered his things without a problem. They were neatly folded under his arm within seconds.

"I'll keep an eye on her, Colonel," Murdock said.

Hannibal nodded, "Thanks, Captain. But a little piece of advice; don't get too attached. Once her situation's resolved, we're going to have to let her go."

Murdock looked down, "But, Colonel, she needs…"

"She needs real help, Captain," Hannibal interrupted, "Something none of us are equipped to give her."

Murdock nodded without looking up, "Yes, Sir," he said softly.

Hannibal stood and grasped his shoulder gently, "She'll be okay, Murdock, you'll see."

"Yeah," Murdock said bitterly, pulling away and leaving quickly.

-000-

Murdock dumped his pillows into the back of the van with a deep sigh. He turned when he heard Angie's door open.

"Murdock, look how cute this is!" Angie said excitedly. She was dressed in her new pajamas, managing to look simultaneously childlike and alluring. "Watch!" she said, pressing Rudolf's nose, just above her left breast. A tiny red light lit up and blinked on and off with regular slowness, like a heartbeat.

"I didn't even know it lit up!" Angie said, staring down at her shirt with a grin.

Murdock forced a small chuckle and then turned back to the van. Angie looked at him, puzzled. With a shrug, she stumbled over to the van with her load of blankets and joined him in silently creating a pair of comfortable nests in the back.

Angie grabbed one of the thicker blankets and slipped on her shoes.

"Come on," she said, pulling the still fully clad pilot by the hand.

"Where are we going?" Murdock asked, taking the blanket from her as she nearly tripped.

"You'll see," she said with a grin, "not far."

She led him across the vast cement parking lot behind the motel and into an empty field, the high grass slapping against their thighs. When the lights from the motel no longer lit the grass in strange shadows, she stopped and took the blanket, laying it out. Angie sat down on it and leaned back on her elbows, looking up.

Murdock followed her wordless example. He stared up at the stars for a few seconds.

"What are we looking at?" he asked.

"Just hold still and wait," Angie whispered.

Murdock huffed and fell back, one hand pillowing his head.

As the crickets chirped loudly, lights began to appear.

Angie lay back next to him, shuffling over to speak softly in his ear as she looked up.

"Fireflies," she said, her warm breath tingling against his ear.

Murdock smiled as the stars seemed to come to earth, flittering inches away from them.

"When I'm free," Angie said quietly, still staring up, "I'm going to sell that house. I'll buy one in the country, somewhere where we can always see this. And I'll get you a plane, something small but fast. And B.A. a big garage with everything he needs. And Hannibal can fish in the creek behind the house. And I'll make sure there's a pool for Face." She turned towards him, "I don't mean you have to stay there. I know you have a job to do. It'll just be a home for you all. Somewhere safe." She reached to take his hand but he pulled away, sitting up.

"Angie, I…" Murdock started, yanking off his cap and running a hand through his hair.

"No," Angie said coldly, "It was a stupid idea. I shouldn't have said it." She stood, "Thank you for your help, Captain. I'm going to bed now."

She stormed off, quickly limping towards the motel.

Murdock sighed angrily, shaking his head. Pulling on his hat, he stood and gathered up the blanket. He took the time to fold it carefully, wanting to give Angie a few minutes to calm down before he was stuck in the back of the van with her.

The squeal of tires made him look up. Angie had made it halfway across the motel parking lot, moving fast despite her limp. A black town car roared across the lot, straight at her.

His heart in his throat, Murdock ran, knowing he'd never get there in time.

As the sound of his footfalls changed from the swoosh of grass to the crunch of gravel, the black car skidded to a stop, two well-dressed men popping out of the back.

"Murdock!" Angie screamed, struggling in the men's grip, her face twisted in terror.

He ran faster, pushing himself beyond his limits as they forced her into the back of the car. As he ran he pulled out his gun, aiming at the tires. Gravel flew as the car took off and Murdock started shooting.

Angie hammered on the back window, waving frantically at him. The car turned slightly, revealing a man leaning out of the passenger window. He shot at Murdock, who dodged and kept running behind the car.

Angie shrieked as the man shot again. She watched in horror as Murdock's hat flew off and he fell, crumpling boneless to the ground.

"No!" she whimpered as his still body shrunk in the distance. Just before the car turned the corner, she watched one dark man and one white-haired man run towards him.

"I killed him," she whispered hoarsely, curling up into a ball.

My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys
Willie Nelson

I grew up a-dreamin' of bein' a cowboy,
and Lovin' the cowboy ways.
Pursuin' the life of my high-ridin' heroes,
I burned up my childhood days.
I learned of all the rules of the modern-day drifter,
Don't you hold on to nothin' too long.
Just take what you need from the ladies, then leave them,
With the words of a sad country song.
My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin' dreams.

Cowboys are special with their own brand of misery,
From being alone too long.
You could die from the cold in the arms of a nightmare,
Knowin' well that your best days are gone.
Pickin' up hookers instead of my pen,
I let the words of my youth fade away.
Old worn-out saddles, and 'old worn-out memories,
but no one and no place to stay.

My heroes have always been cowboys.
And they still are, it seems.
Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin' dreams.

Sadly, in search of, but one step in back of,
Themselves and their slow-movin' dreams.