Chapter Five
For some reason, Tex's warning to me wasn't as accurate as he thought. In truth, I'd say it was almost the opposite. Upon Stampedes return, things continued to remain rather calm. Not just around the Hexagon, but with Tex as well.
During this time, I was getting so familiar with everybody, that the only thing that kept me from becoming a part of the gang was not having a criminal record! Other than that I was beginning to fit right in! I also began to realize that the way they coinhabited was no different than any other group or family.
All of them had a scheduled time for everything. From washing their clothes, to cooking the meals, (mine being on Wednesday) which Tex really appreciated. I think he liked the idea that another human was in the kitchen besides him! And of course, he insisted that the same rules applied to me, as well. That, whoever ate my cooking had to do my dishes. And since I was using Tex's rations, he got away with it once again!
He also figured that since I was going to be there for a while, that I might as well learn how to drive their type of vehicle. Therefore he gave me one of the turbo mules, and had Vipra teach me how to run it. This gadget was a cross between a motor cycle, and a hovercraft that sped from 0 to 200 mph, in less than five seconds! At first, I was a little apprehensive. But in no time at all, I caught on; realizing that it was easier and better than my own car! And like a kid with a new toy, I sped across the desert so fast that a plum of dust followed my trail! This in turn began something new and unexpected.
In the meantime, Tex come up with the idea about getting away for awhile, and suggested that the group of us head back to Canyon for a little relaxation and fun. Completely enthused over the idea, I recalled how nice it was the first time Tex and I headed out to that place, and couldn't wait to go there again!
Upon our arrival, Tex immediately set out ahead of the rest of us and began to scope out the area. With his hexmaker drawn, he and Scuzz quietly made their way through the trees and underbrush, until we'd come out in an open area, with the lake as beautiful as ever. Pulling back on his gun, Tex muttered, "Looks like we're the only ones here. So I guess this is as good a place as any ta set up camp."
Looking down at Scuzz he said, "Get the gear out, and start settin up the tents. After I thought we'd do a little fishin." He announced, as I looked toward him with some surprise. Eyes lighting up, Scuzz nodded and spun away from him.
"Right away, boss!" he coughed, puffing away on his cigar.
Shaking his head Tex looked toward me and smirked, "Now. . .Bein a city girl, I don't suppose you're the outdoorsey type, are ya?"
Cocking my head I scoffed, "Well of course I am! I'm not a girly-girl, you know!" Chuckling, Tex replied,
"Really now? Well. . .Ya might think different when ya gotta bait the hook!"
"Tsk! I've baited hooks before. . ." Giving me a shifty glance, Tex pulled out a black bucket from inside of one of the gear bags.
"But not with these. . ." he mocked, quickly flipping open the lid.
There I found myself gaping down at a wriggling mass of worms that were jet black, with a thin yellow streak down the middle. What was so grotesque about them was that they were a cross between an earthworm and a leech! And the smell? Ugggh! By the way my stomach flipped, I knew there was no way I could even touch them! "Hmmm. . .Makes ya appreciate earth worms don't it?"
Swallowing hard, I choked out, "You're kidding me, right?"
Chuckling loudly, Tex closed the lid. "Nope. . .Different fish. . .different bait. . .But don't worry. I'll hook it for ya. . ." Although relieved, I was still somewhat humiliated.
"Thanks. . ."
Although Tex and I spent half our time cutting up, my patience for hooking a fish was beginning to run very thin. Especially when we heard Scuzz and Vipra hollering over the ridge like a bunch of lunatics. Rolling his eyes, Tex shook his head and replied, "Oh, boy. One of um must've hooked a big one. . ."
"Awww!" I groaned, with frustration. "I want to catch one!" Amused with my childish state, Tex smiled and said, "Give um time. . .they'll bite here too."
"I know. . .But how about if I try that spot over there. . ." I said, pointing to another ridge of rock, with a ledge that was no bigger than my rear!
Eyes widening with some apprehension, Tex cocked his head and said,
"Uh, Carla. I don't think that's a good idea. . .That ledge isn't stable. . .
"
"I'll be careful. . ." With my pole in hand, I began to carefully move along the edge of the ravine. As I continued to scoot over, rocks crumbled and began falling in the water. This caused Tex to call out, "Carla that's far enough! The rocks aren't holding ya. . .You fall. . ." Suddenly the cliff gave way, and before I knew what was happening, I went straight down into the ice cold water!
Startled out of my wits, I quickly swam up to the surface. As I gasped for air, Tex actually threw his pole down in a panic. "Carla! Carla are you alright?"
As my senses returned from the shock, I began to realize just how stupid I really felt! "Yeah. . .I'm just dandy!" I replied, as Tex quickly threw a hand on his hip.
"Ya hardheaded female! I told you it wasn't safe!" he mocked, as I began to swim toward him. "Maybe next time you'll listen ta me!" I watched as he held his hand out for me to grab. "And ya lucky I'm here ta save ya!"
Being humiliated over my mistake was one thing. But to have him rub it in, didn't set too well with me! This caused me to glare up at him and holler,
"Oh, yeah? Well who's going to save you?" Before Tex knew what was happening, I yanked hard and fierce until I had actually judo-flipped him over my shoulder!
"Whooooaa!" was the last thing I heard, before he fell headfirst in the water! By the time he broke the surface, Tex looked like a soaked white-haired muskrat! The sight of this had me laughing so hard, that I could barely breath. At the same time, he hollered, "Contharn it, woman! Are ya crazy!"
"Maybe. . ." I said, laughing even harder.
"Dang it, it's not funny! This is all I have ta wear, and now I'm gonna be soaked to the skin!" Turning away in a huff, he folded his arms and began to pout! This caused me to swim up to him until we were inches apart.
"Aww. . .Don't be mad. . ." I cooed as he glared at me out the corner of his eye and scoffed. Then before he realized what I was doing, I threw my arms around his neck until I was hugging him close.
"I'm sorry. . ." I whispered in his ear.
By the way he began to tremble, I could tell it had been a long time since anyone got this close to him. When I pulled away, his eyes were wide from my unexpected show of affection. Inwardly loving this, I deviously grinned then asked,
"Do you forgive me?" Blushing intensely, Tex let out a flustered chuckle.
"What do ya think?" he asked in a cracked voice.
Beginning to laugh at him, I whispered, "Good. Because I don't want you upset at me."
Gradually the nervous look softened into a tender glance. "Carla. . .That's downright impossible. . ." he softly replied.
For a minute, there was silence between us. By the way Tex stared at me, I realized that for the first time my arrival, he was actually contemplating whether he should kiss me or not. This had my heart beginning to pound intensely. Because deep down, this was something I think we both wanted. Then just as he slowly began to lean toward me, Scuzz's voice loudly hollered out,
"Boss! Hey boss!" Eyes widening, Tex and I gaped at each other, then impulsively sprang apart just as they came around the ridge.
From behind a bolder, both he and Vipra emerged, dragging in a huge fish on a tess line. "Looky what we caught. It-" Now he stopped cold, gawking down at the sight of us together in the water. "Ehhh. . .sorry. . .not mean to interrupt. . ."
This caused an immediate defensive reaction from Tex.
"It's not what ya think, stupid! She fell in!"
By the way Scuzz and Vipra peered at each other, you could tell they didn't believe him! Not that I couldn't blame them. I had a feeling this was the first time they'd ever seen their boss in this kind of predicament!
Grinning down at him, Vipra playfully implied,
"Umm-hmm. . .and you fall in with her." Blushing intensely, Tex angrily snatched his floating hat off the water, then began wading to the shore.
Trying to cover for him I quickly replied, "It's true you know, he tried to warn me it was steep, but I wouldn't listen." Realizing what I was trying to do, Tex gave me a playful, yet mocking leer. "Yeah. . .And you owe me for a new pole!" he smirked, as he reached out for my hand.
As he pulled me out the water, I sneered and replied, "Don't worry Hex. You'll get your stupid pole!"
It just so turned out that after fishing my pole out the water, it still worked! Which was good for me because I honestly think I really would've owed him for another one!
After going to my tent to change, I came back out to find Tex by the campfire, about to cook up the fish that Scuzz and Vipra caught. "I'll do that. . ." I said, sitting across from him. "It's the least I can do. . ."
Catching on, Tex's eyes narrowed. "Well that's mighty kind of ya. . ." he cooed in a sarcastic tone.
"I know. . ." I mimed, beginning to drop the filets down on the grill. At the same time, Tex sat down on a rock and pulled off his boots. Deliberately peering at me, he flipped one of them upside down until the water was pouring out of it! Biting my bottom lip, I looked away desperately fighting not to laugh. But it was no use. Seeing my grin, Tex cocked his head and replied, "It must be nice. . ."
"What?" I repiled.
"Wearin dry clothes. . ." He hinted, cocking his head at me. Giving him a devious grin I played along and cruelly mocked, "It is. . .Would you like to borrow some of mine?"
Scoffing he replied, "Uh, no thank ya! I just assume catch a cold!"
Eyes rolling upward, I sighed and said, "Alright, Hex! If you're trying to make me to feel bad, it's working! I said I was sorry." Letting out a chuckle, he slid his boot back on and said, "I know. . .But you don't have ta be. . .I'm not. . ."
Surprised by that comment, I looked up at him gazing toward me with a soft, shy look on his face. Stomach beginning to flutter, I shyly smiled. . .not sure over what was beginning to happen, here. I don't think he was either. Because over the course of that night he remained kind to me, but very quite and distant. Almost like he were immersed in his own thoughts. In the beginning I just assumed that our little encounter in the lake was a big part of that. But little did I know that it was nothing compared to what Tex was really contemplating!
Early the next morning, I found myself flying out of a dead sleep, to the sounds of loud gunshots echoing in the canyons. "What the. . ." I gasped with alarm.
Feeling my adrenaline kick in, I jumped off the cot and threw on a jacket and my shoes. Flinging open the tent flaps, I was shocked to find myself all alone without a single person in the campsite! Although very confused, the loud firing continued, causing me to quickly head to where all the ruckus was coming from.
Quietly I began to sneak in, meandering through the rocks and boulders, until I found myself walking right into the canyon trail. Right away I saw where all the activity was coming from. About 100 yards away, Tex, Cactushead, Thunderstick, and about six other dingos, were chasing a stratostage from one end of the canyon to the other, and were having a major shootout!
Completely fascinated, I quietly edged my way into the mouth of a cavern, and stood just outside watching the action!
That's when out of nowhere, I could feel the nozzle of a gun pressing against the small of my back. Rolling my eyes with frustration, I heard a dingo's voice hiss out, "Hmmm. . .What do we have here?"
"I don't know, Clyde." Another replied. "Looks like a trespasser ta me! And a female one at that!" Clyde? Now where did that name sound familiar? Slowly I could feel him creep around me until we were staring face to face.
Immediately I perceived him to be the same dingo that held me up nearly a month ago! By the way his eyes slowly narrowed, I could tell he recognized me too. "It's that blasted reporter who got me in trouble!" Quickly his other partner came around, until staring at me with surprise.
"Well, I'll be! Lady, you picked a bad time ta come snoopin around!" Now in an almost jeering manner, Clyde meanly held the barrel of his gun up to my face.
"Yeah. Cause Tex ain't here ta back you up this time!"
"No. . .But I am!" Scuzz suddenly shouted, standing in the entrance of the cave.
Weakening with relief, I watched as he stepped forward until he was pointing a tiny revolver at them. "You let her go, or else!"
Now we watched as the two dingos looked from him to each other with grins on their faces. Snorting, they uncontrollably began to cackle outloud. "Or else what, you little pipsqueak?"
"Yeah!" Clyde chortled out. "What ya gonna do with that peashooter?!"
Eyes widening with outrage, Scuzz cried, "Peashooter?!"
Cocking back on the chamber, he pressed the trigger. In that second, the barrel of the gun expanded ten times its normal size, becoming the size of a bazooka! Thereafter it loudly fired with a blast so hard, that the kick sent him flying over backwards! In that second laser hit the cavern wall, causing rocks to blow in every direction. Unsheilding my eyes, I watched as Scuzz slowly stood to his feet and snapped, "You were sayin?!" Before they had a chance to respond, low rumblings began to fill the cave, growing louder and louder.
Gaping around rather paranoid, Scuzz looked from them to me and muttered,
"Oh, oh. Me thinks I made a boo-boo." Nervously I gaped at him, watching as pieces of rock began to fall from the ceiling.
"What are you talking about?" I asked, as more and more stones began to crash around us. "Blast cause tunnel to cave in!"
Horrified, I watched as the two dingoes gaped from him to each other.
"Arrooooo! Let's get out of here!" Now we all began running for our lives, as the entrance of the cave began to collapse. As I reached the end, I looked up just in time to see a wall of rock cracking over my head. In that instant, I heard Scuzz holler, "Look out!" Then felt him push me so hard that I actually stumbled and fell face down in the dirt.
Seconds later, I could hear a startled yelp come out of him, as the rocks came crashing down. Then, nothing. Just a silence that was too eerie for words. Now in the distance, I could hear voices shouting and echoing, growing louder and louder. This motivated me to try and push up into a sitting position. But was instantly my breath sharply sucked in to a stabbing pain that shot up my left arm. This had me looking down, stunned to find that my entire hand beginning to swell up. By the way it turned blue, I knew I must've broken something. By then Tex had run up to where I was. Gaping down at me, he threw his hands up and fussed,
"What in tarnation are you doin here?!"
At first I couldn't respond, still traumatized over what had just happened. Not to mention in serious pain. I watched as his eyes darted to my arm and widened with alarm. "Are ya hurt?"
"Yeah. . .Ya might say that" I gulped. "I think I broke my arm. . ." Eyes rolling upward, his head shook with frustration.
"Well that's just great!" Now I began to feel myself getting upset. "I'm sorry, Tex. . ." I whispered in a cracked voice. Hearing my emotion, Tex immediately calmed down.
"No, no. . .It's alright. . ." he gently replied. Trying to be as calm as possible, he asked, "Carla. . .What in the world happened, here?!"
Slowly coming to my senses, I swallowed hard, then gibbered, "I was just watching, Tex. Honest! I didn't know I was gonna get held up again!"
Before I had a chance to finish, Tex snapped,
"Held up? By who?!"
"By the same dingos that robbed me before! Only this time, Clyde was gonna take me hostage." In that instant I could see Tex's face flush red with anger.
"Why that no good, flea bitten mongrel! Who does he think he is? Tryin ta Shanghai you right under my nose!" Standing up, he balled his fist and snapped, "This time he's gone too far! Where is he?!"
"I. . .I don't know. Him and a buddy ran off when Scuzz showed up and fired his cannon. . ."
Suddenly I stopped when the horrible recollection hit me. "Oh, no!"
I shouted, weakly jumping to my feet. Spinning around, I stumbled toward the pile of rubble with a pounding heart. Falling to my knees I began to madly throw rocks to the side with one arm! "Land sakes, Carla! What are ya doin?!"
"Looking for Scuzz! He's under here!" In an instant Tex was on the side of me.
"What?!"
"It's true! The gun blast caused a cave in. . .He saved my life!"
From the side, I noticed an actual look of fear cross over Tex's face. Glancing over his shoulder he hollered, "Hey, ya'll come give me a hand over here. Scuzz is trapped under these rocks!" In that instant, the rest of the group, Vipra included, all approached us from behind. Glaring up at the frightened expression on her face, Tex angrily snapped, "And where were you?! You were supposed ta be in charge of her!" Now I watched as her eyes found mine, widening when she saw the way I cradled my broken hand against my chest. At the same time I caught onto what he said and glared toward him with suspicion.
"What do you mean, in charge of me?!"
Almost instantly, Tex's eyes widened, then tightly closed, as though realizing what he had let slip out. Actually swallowing hard, he tensely muttered,
"N-now Carla. . .It's not what you think. . ."
Realizing that all of this had been planned from the beginning, I became so outraged that I was shaking like a leaf. Gritting my teeth, I angrily hissed,
"Yes it is!"
Then I spun away from him, just as a hand shakily rubbed over his face. Now pumped with angry adrenaline, I began tossing boulders aside like they were nothing! Gradually, I could feel Tex creep up on the side of me. Out the corner of my eye I noticed the guilt-ridden expression on his face, but ignored it, more consumed with getting Scuzz than anything.
Yet the longer we continued to dig through the rock, the more worried I became. For I knew that with each passing minute, Scuzz's chances were for survival were getting shorter and shorter. That is we came upon a dark hole inside the rocks. Stopping dead, Tex leaned forward a bit. "Wait a minute. . .I think I hear somethin. . ." Getting on his hands and knees, he leaned forward until he was peeking inside.
"Do ya see him boss?" Catushead asked, getting on the side of him. Growing more and more hopeless, Tex's head slowly began to shake. "No. . .And I don't know how much longer he cn. . ."
Before he could finish, we all convulsively jumped when a furry hand sprung out and grabbed him by the arm! Letting out a startled gasp, Tex watched as the bloody hand held on and wouldn't let go. Blowing out a nervous breath, he gasped, "Scuzz?! Scuzz. . .can ya hear me?"
"Boss." His muffled voice echoed from inside the hole. "Gets me out of here!" Trying to keep calm, Tex shouted, "Just hang on, Scuzz. Hang on. Will get you out in a minute."
Now he began throwing more rocks to the side, until eventually, Scuzz's dirty, cut up face was revealed. For a minute, Tex could only sit back staring down at him disbelief, as though not able to comprehend what was actually happening.
Inside, I believe this was the first time that he was ever faced with this kind of situation. Staring down at Scuzz's frail, semiconscious form Tex once again leaned forward until he was inches away from his face. "Scuzz. . ." he whispered, "Are you alright?" Slowly Scuzz's head began to turn from side to side.
"No. . ." he grunted in a cracked voice. "My head. . .it hurt." Making an attempt to move, he winced, sucking in a quick breath. "Ohhhhh." He moaned, gripping onto
Tex's arm. Now the look on his face puckered into one of sheer agony.
"Me thinks my ribs are broken. Can't move. . ."
By the way Tex swallowed hard, I could tell he was trying with everything he had not only to be strong in front of him, but the others as well. "Hey, now." He whispered in a cracked voice. "Just calm down. We're gonna get you out of here." Weakly shaking his head, Scuzz replied, "No. . .You can't. Me pinned underneath big rock. . ."
Now Tex looked up above him, eyes widening with apprehension. Following his worried gaze I could immediately see why. Over Scuzz, lie a huge slab of bolder that was angled slantways, with it balanced over the few remaining rocks that surrounded him. One wrong pull and the weight of it would come falling down, crushing him. This caused his head to slowly shake. "Oh, boy. . ." he tensely muttered under his breath.
"Boss. . ." Scuzz whispered. "Me know time is up. So just leave me."
Gaping down at Scuzz with disbelief, Tex's head began to shake as a defiant look crossed over his face. "No! Don't be stupid!" Grimacing, Scuzz hopelessly looked up at him through half closed eyes. "But it true. . . Me know I'm done for."
"Now listen here you cigar-smokin prairie rat!" Tex angrily interrupted. " We've been through a lot of fights. But this ain't one we're gonna lose! Now you either hang on, or I'll kill ya myself!"
"Well. . .well. . .well. What do we have here?" A familiar voice echoed from out of nowhere. This caused us all to look up, surprised to find the Marshall standing on a ridge overhead! Although I was relieved to see him, I couldn't say the same for Tex.
Completely disgusted by his presence, his eyes slowly rolled with frustration.
"Great!" he hissed loudly under his breath. From the top, I could see Bravestarr shake his head in a rather playful manner. "Tex Hex. . .I should've known it was you causin all the ruckus. Fancy finding you face down in the dirt!"
Slowly getting up to his feet, Tex glared up at him with humiliation. "This ain't funny, Marshall! This is serious!"
The grave tone of Tex's voice had the Marshall's head cocking down at him with suspicion. "Judgin by your tone, I reckon it must be. What's wrong?" At first hesitating, Tex then glared up at him and shouted, "Instead of snoopin around, why don't ya come down here and see for yourself!"
Looking over his shoulder, Bravestarr hollered, "I'm over here, Thirty-thirty." Thereafter he quickly jumped off the cliff, until he was standing right on the side of us.
Immediately one of the first things he noticed was the way I cradled my wounded arm, which was indeed turning purple. Gaping at me, he asked, "My word, Carla! What happened ta you?"
Shaking my head, I replied, "Forget about me, Marshall." I said, pointing a finger in Scuzz's direction. "It's him you need to worry about." Immediately his mouth fell open with shock and disbelief. "Holy smoke!" Quickly he ran up to Scuzz and knelt by his side. "Scuzz. . .Scuzz can you hear me?" Slowly his eyes opened to the sound of his name being called. When he realized it was the Marshall, Scuzz actually let out a broken sigh of relief. "Bravestarr. . .
"
"Hey there. . ." he mildly whispered. "You got yourself into a tight spot, didn't ya?"
Weakly looking up at him, Scuzz sharply inhaled then began to cry. Out the corner of my eye, I watched as Tex looked away with a guilt-ridden expression on his face. As he weakly stared up at him with desperation, tearstains streaked down Scuzz's dirty cut up face "Marshall. . . I know we not get along. But. . .please do something. I not know how much more I can take. . ." Touched beyond words, Bravestarr shook his head, trying not to get too emotional himself.
"Don't worry, Scuzz. You'll be alright. I guarantee it."
By then Thirty-Thirty was kneeling on the side of him, with Sara Jane in hand. "Anything I can do Marshall? Maybe, blast some of these rocks out of here."
"No, big pard. Not this time. That cannon of yours might just make it worse. Just stand aside. And when I say now, I want you to grab Scuzz as fast as you could. Ok?"
"Ok."
"Just take care when ya do. I got a feelin he's hurt pretty bad." Making the motion for me to step aside, Bravestarr then stood to his feet and cried out in a loud voice, "Strength of the bear!"
Now I watched with amazement, as an almost supernatural glow over took him.
Suddenly he reached down and lifted the front of the bolder, until Scuzz's entire body was exposed! "Now, big pard!" In a flash, Thirty ran up to him. And though quick about it, lifted Scuzz up as gently as possible. Once Thirty was out of the way, Bravestarr dropped the bolder, then jumped to the side just as the rocks quickly buried over that very spot!
In the intense silence, we all looked at Thirty-Thirty who had Scuzz cradled in his arms, as though he were an infant. Yet, this gentle effort was useless. For Scuzz continued to cringe, moaning and groaning with agony. Shaking his head, Bravestarr said, "He's pretty bad off. I think we'd better get him to Doc Claten. Thirty-Thirty, check with the prospectors who were out here and ask them if we could use their stratostage to bring him into town."
"Sure thing, Marshall." As Thirty carried Scuzz away, Bravestarrs angry glare shifted onto Tex, who for the first time actually looked helpless!
Shaking his head, he said, "You know, Tex, I had a notion that eventually, somethin like this was gonna happen." Completely thrown off guard by his allegation, Tex's eyes widened with shock. "Now wait a cotton-picken minute!" He defensively argued. "This time, I had nothin ta do with it! Why. . .I wasn't even near that cave!"
"That's right. You were here pullin another robbery, as usual. But if you wouldn't have done that, this never would've happened in the first place!"
Outraged by Bravestarr's accusation, Tex spun around and snapped,
"I'm out of here!" As he angrily stalked away from him, I timidly approached him and asked, "Um, Marshall. . .Don't you think you're being a little hard on Tex? I mean, he really does feel bad about what happened."
Cocking his head at me, Bravestarr replied, "Frankly, ma'am, I find that very hard to believe. For as long as I've known him, Tex has never had a lick of compassion for anybody, including his own gang. Every time the stakes get a little too high, he bails out and leaves them all behind." Hesitating, the Marshall seriously peered at me and said, "And today is no exception. Not only has he left Scuzz behind, but he's abandoned you, too. That says a lot right there. . ."
Although I didn't want to admit it, deep down inside I had a feeling Bravestarr was right.
Within a couple of minutes, I returned to the campsight to find Tex actually waiting for me with his arms folded. Finding it rather hard to face him, I replied,
"I need to go back with the Marshall to get my arm looked at. . ."
Rolling his eyes, he looked away and scoffed. "Well, I figured that!" his belligerent tone didn't sit too well with me. In fact, it got me rather irritated. "And. . ." I continued, "somebody needs to stay with Scuzz. I wouldn't want him to be alone."
Slowly Tex turned around and threw a hand on his hip.
"And what's that supposed ta mean?" Sighing heavily, I whispered,
"Nothing. . ." Thereafter I quickly walked passed him and headed for my tent. Immediately he was right on my tail.
"Oh, don't nothin me! I know better than that!"
He said, as I reached inside and grabbed my things. "I want ta know what kind of malarkey the Marshall was tellin ya back there!" Spinning out the tent I turned around and faced him, beginning to grow angry.
"You want to know? Fine! I'll tell you! He said that everytime things get a little rough, you leave everyone behind!" Actually stunned by my angry outburst, Tex could only gape at me in silence.
Hesitating for a minute, his arms slowly folded in a defensive stance. "Oh really, now? Did I abandon you, Carla?!"
"Not at first. . ." I replied, barely able to look him in the face. "But after. . . you did walk away. . ." Sighing heavily, he threw his arms up in the air.
"That's cause he blamed me fer somethin I didn't do!" He vented with exasperation. "Normally I could care less what that varmint thinks! But him blamin me fer this, is like sayin I'm the one who hurt ya! And I would never do that!" Giving me a hurt look, he turned away and began to roughly toss our gear on the back of his Scullwalker. "Clydes the one ta blame, not me! That meddlin coyote has interfered once too many, and I'm sick of it!"
Now for a minute, he didn't see Vipra approach from behind. The look on her face was strangely sober. Almost too serious. Stiffening, she replied out of nowhere.
"I not think you have to worry about him anymore, Tex. . ." Already miffed with her, he glared over his shoulder then turned around and flung a fist on his hip.
"Oh really? And why's that?!"
Hesitating, she looked from me to him and said, "Because him dead. . ."
For a minute, I thought my heart would stop. Swallowing hard, I watched as Tex's gaze widened, then narrowed as though not believing her. "What?"
"It true. . .They just found him in tunnel, crushed beneath rock."
Swallowing down a lump in my throat, the reality of what had happened began to sink in fast. Especially when the realization hit that. . .it could've been me. By the way Tex's troubled gaze found mine, I could tell he was thinking the same thing. Unable to bear it anymore, I put my head down and whispered, "I'll see you around. . ."
To be continued. . .