A/N: Apologies for not updating sooner. I've had a truly horrendous week and little time to update.
It was about two o'clock in the morning. Serena woke up suddenly, not quite sure why. Her left shoulder was aching, probably because it had been pinned under the pillow by her head. She rolled over onto her right side, closing her eyes. Exhausted though she was, sleep wouldn't come. She turned over several more times, but didn't manage find a comfortable position.
Throwing back her red-and-white checked quilt, Serena climbed out of bed. Maybe a midnight snack would help her settle down enough to sleep. She left her bathrobe where it was. After all, her sleepwear was a V-neck T-shirt and tie-up sweatpants, nothing too revealing. Besides, she didn't expect anyone else to be awake.
Serena padded down the stairs, crossing the creaky wooden floor as quietly as she could. She crept past Billy, who was sleeping quietly on the sofa. She poured herself a glass of milk and heated it in the microwave. She sipped her drink as she moved toward the glass dish on the counter that contained half a large cake.
"'Rena?" said a voice behind her.
Serena busied herself with the cake server. She wasn't in the mood for company right now. Why hadn't she thought Billy would notice if he heard someone moving around in the kitchen? After all, for a small man, he had an extremely large appetite.
"What're you doing up?" Serena asked, retrieving a fork from the silverware drawer.
"Nothin'," Billy shrugged. "Just wanted to make sure it was you. Someone was movin' quiet like a mouse and I thought Murphy or some other slimebag broke into the house."
"They didn't," Serena answered.
"Then you should learn to make noise like the rest of us." said Billy. Stepping closer to the counter, he added, "Can I have some of that cake?"
A loud howl from outside caused Serena to drop the bit of cake she was holding. She flicked on her pocket flashlight, pointing it in the direction of the kitchen window. She caught a reflection of blazing yellow eyes.
"Coyotes," said Billy, drawing his gun. "Stay in the house, 'Rena. I'll take care of 'em."
"No, don't," she begged.
Before she had time to explain the situation, Billy had dashed out the front door. She hurried after him. The rest of the regulators streamed out of the bunkhouse, all of whom looked like they'd gotten dressed in a hurry. Chavez alone looked calm as the coyotes advanced. Billy poised to shoot.
"Pull that trigger, chivato, and I'll bury you," Chavez warned.
"If I don't shoot, they're gonna jump all of us," said Billy.
"They won't," Chavez said simply. "Because they know I am their friend."
"'Rena, what's he talking about?" asked Charley nervously.
"These are the dogs of the Red Sands," said Chavez. "They and I are the only survivors of that horrible day two winters ago. They won't harm us. I give you my word."
Chavez lowered himself onto the ground. The coyotes approached him, all wagging their tails happily. They dragged their tongues across his face, whining to be scratched behind the ears. Chavez got quite emotional when a large female who wore a collar made of beads rested her head on his lap. "Spring Dawn," he whispered.
Serena blinked back tears of her own. She knew from Chavez that Spring Dawn had been his mother's dog. Spring Dawn had been inconsolable in the weeks following the attack on the Indians of Red Sand Creek. She'd finally disappeared into the desert and Chavez had thought he'd never see her again.
"Let's leave them alone," she said quietly to the men, watching Chavez dry his streaming eyes on Spring Dawn's fur.
