1

A scant fifteen minutes had elapsed since my vacation had officially started and my purse was ringing already. I stifled a sigh of irritation and dug the phone out, glancing at the number on the display screen. "Too late!" I muttered, dropping it onto the passenger seat. "I'm not answering." I cranked up the volume on the radio, tightened my grip on the steering wheel and headed across the desert towards the imposing monolith of Castle Rock. The ragged peaks, now glowing a peachy-coral in the late afternoon sunlight, cut a serrated pattern across a sky of clear sapphire blue.

Considering I'd had no more than a handful of days off since I'd taken the job at the Castle Valley Sun seven months ago, I was psyched, I was jazzed, and I was in no mood to tackle even one more problem, no matter how small. For two whole wonderful weeks there would be no copy to write, no deadlines and no employee issues. Whatever it was would just have to wait until Tugg could handle it on Monday.

The phone chirped a few more times and then quit. Good. My dad always said to be careful what you wish for and he was dead-on right, as usual. Along with the newly acquired notebook computer, the handy little cell phone had been on my 'must have' list for months and, in theory, was supposed to make my life easier. It had in many ways, but it was also a royal pain in the butt. Being accessible 'twenty-four seven' wasn't exactly what I'd had in mind.

I hummed along with the upbeat melody, swung onto Lost Canyon Road and headed home, my mind busy with the details of my upcoming trip to California with Tally. A chill of delight shot down my spine at the thought of just the two of us spending some much-needed R & R in a new setting away from the pressures of work. He'd promised that we'd take time out from the horse show to spend at least one day at the beach. I could hardly wait to bask in the cool sea breeze. I'd survived my first sizzling summer and so far, was less than impressed with what was loosely described as autumn in Arizona. Back home in Pennsylvania, there would be a frosty nip in the air and the forested hills would be a breathtaking tapestry of crimson and gold. But as I drove through the cactus and rock-strewn desert, there was nothing to hint that it was the second week of October, except it was a little less hot.

At that moment the jaunty voice of the radio announcer cut into my thoughts with the optimistic declaration that a weather change was definitely on the way-for sure, this time, he insisted. Right. Predictions of rain by effusive TV meteorologists had been bandied about for weeks, but I hadn't seen anything even remotely resembling a cloud since the last summer storm had swept through town six weeks ago dumping an inch of rain in less than an hour.

The phone jingled again. Damn! I should have powered it off. The office number showed on the screen again. I debated a few seconds, then pushed the button and said in a mechanical monotone, "You have reached the cell number for Kendall O'Dell. She is currently in holiday mode and cannot comprehend anything you may say in reference to work. Please refer all problems to Morton Tuggs. Thank you."

There was an extended silence and then I heard Ginger mutter, "Well, I'll be a dimpled duck's butt. Now I've heard everything."

I couldn't help bursting into laughter.

"Sugar, is that you??"

"Yeah, it's me. But whatever it is, I don't want to hear it."

"Well, good gravy, girl, don't get yourself all in a snit," she said, giggling. "I just called to remind you to bring that big ol' ice bucket and pretty red-flowered tablecloth to the party tonight."

"I won't forget. You still need me there before six??"

"I've got a million and two things left to do, so I could use a little extra help getting things ready and.could you hang on a second while I grab the other line??"

She clicked off and I smiled to myself. Ginger could always find an excuse to throw a party. Get a new car?? She'd have a party. Relatives visiting from out of state?? Why not celebrate?? This evening's shindig was the official welcome for our new reporter, Walter Zipp, who'd thankfully come aboard less than three weeks ago after a fruitless four-month search. His reasons for moving to Castle Valley were rather vague, something about caring for his wife's elderly aunt. In light of his impressive credentials, it was surprising when he didn't blink at the sizeable salary cut. But, considering the circumstances, I sure wasn't about to argue with him.

"Okee dokee," she sighed, coming back on the line again. "Could you do me one more favor and pick up a couple of bags of ice??"

"I thought that was Lupe's responsibility."

"I don't even know if she's coming for sure," Ginger grumbled. "And here I was really counting on her homemade enchiladas for the main dish."

"What's the problem?? Is she sick??"

"She says no, but something's bothering her. She's been real quiet and keeping to herself. But, most important, she ain't been laughing at my jokes the past couple of days."

I smiled to myself. "This does sound serious."

Completely missing my quip, she continued, "I know it. Her eyes were all puffy and red when she came in this morning and when I asked her about it, she clammed up tighter than a Mason jar lid. Right after you left, some woman called asking for her and two seconds later, she skedaddled out of here, looking real worried and mumbling something about maybe not being able to make it tonight."

That had to be bugging Ginger big time. She made it her mission in life to keep close tabs on everyone's business. Secrets drove her to distraction. But, her news was unsettling. Lupe Alvarez was one of our most dependable employees, and one of only two people capable of handling both classified and display advertising. She was always on time for work, eager for overtime hours and, since I'd been at the Sun, had never once left early. On weekends, she maintained housekeeping and babysitting jobs as well. Oh boy. The last thing I needed was a personnel crisis just before leaving town.

"I'll give her a call when I get to the house," I said, watching a roadrunner skim across the road in front of me and disappear into a cluster of creosote bushes. "Maybe I can find out what's wrong."

"Thanks, sugar. See you in a few."

Within ten minutes, I was standing barefoot on the cool terra cotta tile in my living room checking for phone messages. My parents had called and Tally was going to be late getting to the party because of some problem at the ranch. The rest were hang-ups.

I looked up Lupe's home number and dialed. Busy signal. Good grief. She must be among the handful of people left on earth without call waiting. I shed my clothes all the way into the bedroom and stuffed them into the hamper. I couldn't put it off any longer. The mountain of laundry had to be done before I could even begin packing the suitcases that stood beside my bed. A quick shower refreshed me and after I'd zipped myself into a sleeveless cotton jumpsuit, I lugged the hamper to the kitchen, started a load of wash and then set out the ice bucket and tablecloth before trying Lupe's number again. This time it rang.

"Hola??"

"Lupe, this is Kendall. Ginger told me you left work early. Is everything okay??"

A long hesitation. "I.I had to take care of some.personal business."

"So, you're not sick??"

"No."

"Good." Did I detect a hint of wariness in her voice?? "Ginger says you may not be coming to the party tonight??"

There was another drawn out silence. "Oh.well, no, I mean, I suppose I can come for a little while."

"That's great. So, you're still bringing enchiladas and picking up ice??"

"Yes."

"You're sure everything is okay?? Is there anything you want to talk about??"

"No! I mean.it is nothing important. See you there." Click.

My reporter's antenna vibrated as I cradled the phone. Hmmm. Normally, she was outgoing and talkative. Today, however, not only did her voice sound lackluster, I detected an undertone of distress. Disturbing. And then I stopped myself, remembering the promise I'd made myself earlier to put all concerns of the job and my co-workers on the back burner for the next two weeks. Maybe it would be better to find out what was bugging her before I left town though, so my mind would be at ease.

By the time I arrived at Ginger's faded pink adobe house an hour later, Walter Zipp's dented green Bronco was already parked next to our co-worker Jim's sassy little Toyota truck. I smiled to myself. They'd been assigned to bring the ingredients to make margaritas and I had a feeling they'd gotten the party off to an early start. Walter would be enjoying a bachelor's night out, having explained earlier that his wife would be unable to join him since she opted to stay with her ailing aunt.

A foot-stomping country tune was wafting out the screen door as I paused to pet Ginger's...