How do you survive being shot and left for dead in the Chihuahuan Desert? By being found by a beautiful wildlife photographer willing to risk her life to save yours.
A bitter ex-cop fights for his life after he runs to the sound of gunfire on the Ri...
"It's all I can tell you," Mendocino said. "That's what he told me."
"I guess you're talking about the Starlight Club?"
"Yeah, that's it."
She was snide. "Are you sure it's safe to be seen with me?"
"I told Amos, if it's safe for me to be around his wife, it's safe for me to be around you. I told him I was going to ask you to come with me."
"What did he say?"
Mendocino sighed. Tell her the truth. "He said we're adults. Said if we decide to see each other, you have to accept the fact that a sniper bullet might get me, and I have to accept the same thing. They might miss me and hit you."
She was quiet.
"Are you willing to see me? Under those circumstances?" Mendocino asked.
"Is it what you want, Mendocino?"
"Tillie, do you want to go out? Do something together?" He was exasperated. "I want to get to know you. It's like I've said a dozen times now, I don't want to be the cause of something bad happening to you."
"In that case," she said, "I accept. You'll pick me up?"
"Of course. Text me your address and I'll find you. Amos said eight o'clock. If you want, we can eat dinner first. Tell me what time and where. I'll be there."
"Seven," she said. "I haven't had a real date in a long time."
"Me either," he said. "I'll see you Friday."
***
Tillie lived fifteen minutes outside of Alpine in a cedar house built halfway up the side of a white rock hill southwest of town. High native grass grew in a fenced pasture in front of the house, with steep limestone bluffs behind. He caught a faint fragrance in the grassy high country, some blend of grass and cedar and wildflowers.
