3: I’ve Been Shot!

Jan 17 2006 Belle

“Speaking of dead,” Belle shot a sideways glance at Cree while trying to keep at least two tires on the road as they turned a corner, “those guys are gaining on us.”

“I told you to punch this thing!” Cree sounded worried. “How’d they get so close?” She twisted around in the seat to look out the back window.

“If I punch it any more,” Belle growled, “my foot will hit pavement.”

“Oh, no!” Cree moaned. “A stop light. And they’re right behind us.” Her stomach hit the floor as she envisioned her door being jerked open and her pulled out by the hair. “What are we gonna… Ohhhh Beeelllllleeee.”

Cree went deathly white as she grabbed onto the dashboard. Instead of stopping behind the cars at the light, Belle swerved wildly to the right and careened onto the sidewalk. Shoppers, pedestrians, panhandlers and dogs scattered in eighteen different directions, trying desperately to get out of the way.

“Hang on!” Belle yelled, a maniacal look in her eyes.

“I think I just found religion,” Cree snapped through clenched teeth.

“Who are these people, anyway?” Belle asked as she plowed through the intersection, narrowly missing an SUV and two pickup trucks, all three horns blaring furiously.

“I’m not sure,” Cree answered, her eyes glued shut. “They kidnapped me, but I managed to get away. I think they want Miko and Lil.”

“I think we lost ˈem.” Belle grinned wickedly as she studied the rearview mirror. Her grin slowly faded as she saw blue and red lights flashing behind her.

“Don’t tell me,” Cree moaned, her head in her hands.

“Okay. I won’t tell you,” Belle sighed as she looked for a place to pull over on the crowded street.

“I’m gonna die. Just die!” Cree predicted, shaking her head.

“Well, on the bright side, we wanted cops, didn’t we? Now we have some.” Belle pulled over, stopped the car, rolled down her window and waited.

“Good evening, ma’am,” the young officer said as he approached the car. “Driver’s license and registration, please.”

“Yes, sir.” Belle began digging through her purse.

“Um, officer,” Cree leaned forward to look across the car at him, “Could you help us, please?”

“With what?”

“We’re being chased by some kidnappers and we need to get to the Los Lonely Boys concert. Could you escort us there? Please?” She shot him her most girly smile and let her eyes go doe-like.

“Kidnappers? The Los Lonely Boys concert?” the officer repeated. “You know, I’ve heard of a lot of tricks people have used to get into a sold-out show, but this one takes the cake.” He stepped back and looked the car over carefully, noting its rental status, and then leaned forward to look at the two disheveled women. “Maybe you two ought to step out of the car.” He motioned to his partner, who cautiously approached Cree’s door, his right hand taking the strap off his gun holster.

Jan 18 2006 Cree

"Oh, cow! Is a gun necessary? — I can't look!" Cree wailed, tears threatening.

"Both of you ladies need to step out of the car!" the officer said. Cree froze like a popsicle. She shook her head, afraid to move.

"Cree," Belle warned. "We MUST get out of the car. Obedience is the key here. Not resistance."

Cree sighed a heavy sigh. "Okay. Get out of the car," she instructed her feet as she eyed the gun. She moved and the gun came out of the holster. "Eeek! Okay! Okay!"

"Uh, this is a little extreme," Belle piped up.

Cree's ears turned red. "All right! This is IT! Listen, buster, I was kidnapped — in a LIMOUSINE — by four lunatics, chased through a parking lot, nearly run over by Belle here, and NOW I'm at gunpoint...I CAN'T TAKE THIS ANYMORE!"

"Run over?!" Belle screeched indignantly. "You weren't complaining when I saved your ol’ Mexican b-u-t-t!"

The cops watched the two women argue. "This is pathetic," one of them quipped. The other nodded in silent agreement.

Suddenly, a shot rang out and Cree's shirt flamed bright red. Pandemonium broke free and Cree grabbed her stomach.

"Oh, no!" her voice trembled with disbelief. "I've been shot."

6: The Skating Rink

Feb 01 2006 Belle

Within the hour, the LLB tour bus pulled up in front of a large metal building. No identifying sign stood outside.

“What’s this?” Henry asked, pushing his glasses up as he stared through the bus window at their new surroundings.

“Get out and you’ll see,” Kevin invited as he stepped off the bus.

The parking lot held several minivans and SUV’s, all empty and lining the front of the building. As the LLB entourage entered, the temperature dropped by several degrees.

“Brrrr.” Ringo wrapped his arms across his chest, trying to keep warm.

“Over here,” Kevin smiled and approached a long counter. As they followed him, he spoke to the attendant. “We need ice skates for these three,” he pointed to the Garza brothers.

“Ice skates?” Jojo ran to the swinging doors across the lobby and looked through the glass. “Ice! There’s ice in there!” He pointed in horror to the doors. “Lots of ice… Big, frozen water… In there.”

“What?” Henry and Ringo hurried over to confirm his news. Henry scowled at Kevin. “We’re at an ice skating rink? You want us to go ice skating?”

“Well…yeah.” Kevin walked over, joining them. “Look, boys.” He pushed one of the doors open and pointed to the ice rink full of children laughing and skating to “Diamonds”. “These kids are the new crop of ice skaters — maybe even future Olympians. It would be a huge boost to them if you would skate with them, take some pictures, that kind of thing.”

Henry considered this for a moment and then looked at his brothers. “Well, whatcha think?”

Ringo stood there, biting his bottom lip. “I suppose I could give it a go. But only if there’s a rail I can hang on to. Oh yeah, and a rear-end pillow.”

“That’s the spirit!” Kevin said brightly. “What about you, Jojo?”

“Ice. Big, frozen ice,” Jojo hadn’t quit muttering incomplete sentences since his gruesome discovery.

Just then, a young girl, dressed in scarlet, jumped, twirling once, twice, before landing gracefully on one thin blade.

“There!” Kevin pointed. “You gonna let a little thing like that show you up?”

Jojo watched the girl in mute admiration and then glared at Kevin. “I’ll get you for this. If it’s the last thing I do, if I have to crawl across broken glass on my one remaining bloody stump of a leg, I’ll get you for this.” Reluctantly, he took the pair of skates the attendant handed him.

Feb 01 2006 Cree

Belle, Cree, Mel, Stephanie and Todd sniggered as Ringo, in nice black pants, wobbled out onto the ice, with a death grip on the rail. He glided a few feet, swayed and fell.

"That's one," Cree said out loud. The others cackled.

"Hey! No counting!" Jojo whined as he laced up his skates. "Kevin is just doing this to get back at us for getting him addicted to antacids." Jojo sat watching all the little kiddies fly around as if they were born to skate.

Cree took pity on his troubled gaze and sat down next to him. "Buddy," she said, laying an arm around his shoulders. "No one's gonna care if you fall. These little kids look up to y’all for reasons different than ice skating talent. All they'll remember is that they got to skate with you, and they'll treasure the pics from this."

"Yeah. You're right." Jojo stood up. "Thanks."

"I'll be the one counting the falls," Cree added with an evil laugh.

"Very funny," Jojo griped.

"Uh, no. I believe you'll be very funny," Stephanie chimed in.

As he sidled out onto the ice, Jojo pointed a finger at Cree and Steph. "That's it! I was gonna make cheese enchiladas tonight — but you can forget it now!"

Cree's jaw hit the floor, suddenly contrite. "You meanie! You can't go back on a promise we didn't know about!"

Jojo stuck out his tongue and pushed off the rail. "Heh, heh, heh!"

"Well, I never!" Stephanie exclaimed. Cree and Stephanie were so huffy they didn't even notice Jojo skated quite well. "Hey, look!"

Cree stopped blowing steam long enough to watch. She blinked. "Man, he's pretty good." Jojo sailed by, lifting a leg in the air, grinning at Cree. "What's next? A triple sowcow?"

"Take THAT!" Jojo hollered above the din. As he skated backwards, Cree glared. About that time, Henry chose to step onto the ice. His legs went opposite directions, Jojo sailing over them, doing a crash and burn into the ice. "Hey!"

"Oops," Henry winked at Stephanie and Cree, and added his own little, "Heh, heh."

"That's two for the Garza brothers!" Belle chirped. They all watched as the Boys drummed up a little harmless rivalry between themselves and the kids. Shutters whirred as the local paper took shots. A little girl in a red parka and snow cap hooked a finger onto Jojo's belt loop. "Aww! How cute! Jojo has a girlfriend!"

Todd rolled his eyes as the girl’s cheeks turned cherry red. "Oh, brother."

"Pssst!" Stephanie heard from her purse. She looked down, as did Cree. Miko stared up. "Hey, Teo wants to skate."

Belle chuckled. "Miko, I don't think they make skates in Teo's size."

"He can hitch a ride on Ringo," Miko insisted. They all looked at Ringo. His legs wobbled and then went opposite ways. Ten kids followed suit. Major traffic jam.

"Mmm, only if Teo enjoys pain," Cree advised. "He should hitch a ride on Jojo."

"Can I?" Teo piped up excitedly. Belle hollered for Jojo, who glided over like an Olympian.

"Yes?" Jojo sang, his little girlie friend in tow.

"Teo wants to skate," Cree said. The smile faded from Jojo's face.

"NOW?" he asked and looked at Teo. "Well. Okay."

Teo did a high-five with Miko. "Have fun!" Miko said. Teo climbed into the collar of Jojo's jacket.

"Wheee! This is great, Tío Jojo!" Teo giggled. His little tuft of hair flapped in the cold wind. "Spin around again!"

"Hang on!" Jojo said, acting entirely too big for his britches. He never saw Ringo coming.

"Uh oh!" Ringo yelled.

"Jojo, watch out!" everyone shouted at once. Jojo's toe pick caught Ringo's pants. Jojo only remembered seeing a pair of boxers and hearing Teo squeak. Ringo landed on his back, no pants. Jojo landed on his bum. Teo fortunately landed safely in Ringo's hair. All the little kids and everyone from the side of the rink ran over to see if knocked-out Ringo was okay.

"Yeah, forget about me," Jojo grumbled. The little girl looked at Ringo and then turned pale after staring at his hair.

"AAHHH!" she screamed in super soprano. "A mouse! There's a mouse in your hair! AAHHH!!"

8: The Chocolate Box

The three mice sat in Cree's purse. Lil watched Miko as he paced back and forth. "Sit down, honey," she persuaded.

"We've got to do something," Miko said. "Magic Man is at his wit's end."

"What do you suggest?" Lil asked.

"I don't know..."

Feb 24 2006 Belle

“There’s too much junk in this purse!” Miko continued on his prowl. “It doesn’t help that Cree won’t sit still.”

Lil only sighed, knowing that nothing she said could make her husband relax and quit worrying. Wincing, she moved slightly to her left to get away from the comb’s tooth jabbing her side.

Looking around for her son, she saw Teo, now awake though still tipsy, dive head first toward the depths of the dark purse. “Teo! Get back here!” she admonished.

In a few moments, Teo emerged, holding a white square in both front paws. “Mommy, what’s this?” He scrambled over the wallet and held it out to her.

Sniffing cautiously, Lil said, “I think Cree calls them tictocs or tictics or something.”

“Oh. Well, it smells nice. Can I eat it?”

“I dunno. Cree eats them, so I don’t think it will hurt you.”

“Cool. There’s a bunch of them scattered down there.” Teo tried to take a bite out of one corner, but it was too hard. Wiggling his whiskers in determination, he narrowed his eyes and snapped at the corner. A small piece came loose in his mouth. Not ever having eaten mint before, he was unprepared for the sensation. His face turned red, tears streamed from his eyes, his ears spasmed uncontrollably.

In his surprise, he dropped the mint, where it rolled back to the bottom of Cree’s purse. After recovering from the initial shock, the little mouse decided that he liked mint and dove down to retrieve it. With outstretched paws, he had almost reached it when Cree decided to start dancing — again. When she bounced to the left, Teo slammed into the right side of the purse, and a wadded up piece of paper came partially opened. It held chewed gum, which now firmly stuck to one side and the top of Teo’s head.

He pulled and pulled, but the gum just kept stretching longer and longer. Finally, he managed to get the paper off, but the gum still stuck. Not only was it on his head, but it covered his paws and he could barely move them. Shaking his head at his dilemma, he decided to continue looking for his mint.

Just before the Boys were to wrestle, Ringo had been asked to check on Cree, Steph, Belle and the mice, simply to reassure Henry’s worried mind.

“Y’all doing okay over here?” Ringo grinned at the girls.

“We’re doing great!” Cree grinned back.

“How about your three friends?” Ringo asked.

Cree opened her purse. “See for yourself.”

Lil and Miko sat up, blinking at Ringo.

‘Hi, guys,” Ringo smiled. “Just checking.” He turned to leave but turned back again. “Hey, where’s Teo?”

“Teo?” Lil looked around her. “He was here a minute ago.”

“Teo!” Miko hollered. Rumbling sounds emanated from the bottom of the purse and a packet of tissue started to shake. Finally “something” emerged — with purse lint covering its head, blue glitter stuck to its side, lip gloss smeared across its face and down its chest, and red-hots stuck to each eye. The strong smell of mint was unmistakable.

“Teo?” Ringo looked at the creature from the Black Lagoon with glowing red eyes.

“Hiya, Tío Ringo!

21: Ruby

Aug 15 2006 Cree

That night, Ish camped out on the bus floor with a pile of blankets. He refused to sleep in the little motel. A sock hit him in the head.

"Pssst."

"What, Ringo?"

"Do you think there's really a ghost in that church?” Ringo whisper-shouted.

"I don't know, but that sock better had been CLEAN," Ish grumbled. "Why don't you just go to sleep?"

"I can't, man," Ringo quaked in his bed. "I hate ghost stories. I don't like the dark. That's why I sleep in the dark. So I can't see what's going on around me."

"We're twenty-five hundred feet away from the church, so I doubt we'll see any ghosts," Ish pointed out.

"I wish we had a cat."

Ish sat up on his makeshift bed and stared at Ringo in the swatch of moonlight. "A cat? WHY do you want a cat?"

"Didn't you ever watch those TV shows? Cats can see ghosts. They do the hissing thing."

"Ya know, I don't want to hear anymore," Ish waved his hand and lay back down. "I have to get up at five to go to Denver and set up the stage."

"Sorry," Ringo said. He rolled over and then sat up. "You know I'd feel a lot better if we went to the church. We should check it out..."

"For cryinˈ out loud," Ish moaned.

Meanwhile...in the motel, Jojo stared at the ceiling, lying next to Henry who snored. Jojo had the cover up to his chin, listening, as he thought about the ghost story, too. I must look like a sausage, rolled up in this blanket. But he made sure his feet didn't hang off the bed, and stayed deep under the covers...didn't want any ghosts touching him...gulp.

Almost asleep, he heard a scratching sound and mumbling. He dove under the blankets, waking Henry up. "Yikes!”

"Jojo!" Henry said. "What are you doing?! Get out from under me!"

"Uh, I thought I felt a bug on my leg," Jojo stammered.

Henry sighed and sat up, brushing hair out of his face, then he flicked on the lamp. "Bro, you shouldn't let that ghost story scare you. And you shouldn't have eaten that burrito so late! You know you always have nightmares when you eat too late!"

They both looked up when the door shook. Jojo stared at Henry with wide eyes.

Henry unplugged the lamp and raised it above his head.

"I thought you didn't believe in ghosts!" Jojo needled.

"I don't. But there's nothing wrong with being prepared," Henry stated. He crept to the door, Jojo on his heels. Henry put his hand on the door and opened it to find himself face-to-face with Ringo. They both screamed. Jojo leapt across the room and jumped back under the covers.

"Aahhh!"

Ish stood behind Ringo. "Chicken Man wants to make sure there are no ghosts at the church."

* * *

The church looked eerie and ghostly in the pale moonlight. The little town lay dead silent at one a.m., though the glow from Denver could be seen ten miles down the road. The four men stood in front of the church, staring at it. A light breeze blew, moving the brittle bushes in front of it.

"Now what?" Henry asked Ringo.

After a minute of silence, Jojo suggested, "We should walk in. It's not like it's locked or anything."

They walked up the rotted stairs and pushed open the door. The wooden pews looked decrepit and fit for a church of the dead. Dust lifted as they walked across the planked floor, creating a hazy path of moonlight. Feeling momentarily brave, Henry walked up to the front of the church and sat in one of the chairs behind the podium. The others soon lost their fear and walked around inside, touching the broken windows.

"This ain’t so scary," Ringo boasted. They all joined Henry behind the podium and then froze.

The door to the church opened on its own. Two figures materialized in front of them — a bride and groom. The young woman smiled up at her beloved. The Boys watched the murder play out. The couple never saw the spurned lover coming. He opened fire: bam! bam! The two lovers fell. The Boys weren't sure if they really saw it. Henry's chair broke beneath his weight, splintering to the floor.

Then the door slammed and all the apparitions disappeared. Ringo wasted no time jumping down from the tiny stage. "I'm outta here!" A frantic race to the exit immediately followed.

22: Pierre and the Saloon

Aug 17 2006 Belle

Harry leaned his chair against the wall and watched as Henry stepped out of the bus and crossed the dirt street toward the saloon.

“Hey,” Henry nodded amicably.

Harry gave Henry a bleary-eyed look and then sent a stream of tobacco juice shooting across the old wooden porch. Setting the chair down on all four legs with a soft thud, he slowly stood.

“You goinˈ in there?” he asked and pointed to the interior of the saloon.

“If you don’t mind,” Henry smiled. “I need to see the layout so we can set up for the concert.”

“Well, if you have to, come on.”

“I don’t want to bother you,” Henry shook his head. “I can find my way around.”

Harry stared at Henry again while he thought about that. “Suit yourself, then.” He sat back down and resumed leaning against the wall. Henry walked past him and pushed his way in through the swinging doors.

Instantly, he felt the air change. The hairs stood up on the back of his neck and along his forearms.

The cavernous room no longer sat empty. Cowboys and miners lined the long wooden bar, their scuffed boots propped up on the brass railing, while they downed beer and whiskey. Poker games, drinkers, liars and boasters filled the tables. Women of questionable morals and scandalous attire flirted with the patrons, asking the men to buy them drinks. A musician thumped loudly on the out-of-tune piano next to the stage.

Henry looked around in amazement and then looked down at himself. He no longer wore jeans, sneakers and a T-shirt. Chaps covered his legs, a buckskin shirt his torso. Two pearl-handled pistols hung from his gun belt and two ammo belts crisscrossed his chest. His long hair hung loose underneath a Stetson pulled low over his face. He took a step. Ka-ching. Another step. Ka-ching. Looking down behind him, he noticed spurs on his heels.

“What the…?” Henry studied the room, trying to understand what he saw. “Miko? You still here?”

“Yes.” Miko popped out of Henry’s top pocket and pulled his head back, his eyes wide in surprise. “What happened to you?”

“I dunno, man. I’m trying to figure that out. Look.” Henry indicated with his chin toward the room. Miko turned to look and gave a sharp intake of breath.

“Where are we?”

“I think we’re trapped in a spaghetti western,” Henry whispered out of the corner of his mouth. He didn’t want to draw attention to himself.

“Hi, sugar.”

Henry turned to look at the speaker. A young blonde woman, dressed in shiny pink satin and black lace, sauntered over to him.

“Wanna buy a lady a drink?”

“Hmmm…Uh…Er…” Henry spun around on his heels and sprinted back outside.

Aug 17 2006 MamacitaRuth

Henry paced back and forth in front of the saloon. Harry still sat in his chair, propped against the wall.

“You’re gonna wear a new rut in that road,” Harry predicted.

Henry stopped for a moment and looked at him. “What are we gonna do if Mamacita can’t help us?”

“We?” Harry taunted, “This ain’t my problem, boy. It’s yurn!”

Henry went back to pacing. Miko whispered from his pocket, “What are we gonna do?” Henry mutely shook his head.

Just then, they saw the truck pull up and rumble to a halt. When Mamacita climbed out, Henry’s eyes widened at the sight of her. She looked like she meant business, and he thought, Maybe she can help us.

Mamacita walked up the steps to the porch. “Harry,” she tipped the corner of her hat at him.

He nodded back. “Ruby.”

She saw the look of confusion cross Henry’s face, so she put her hand out to him. “Guess we were never formally introduced. Ruby LaCroix.”

They shook hands, and Henry asked her, “What now?”

She stared at the front of the building. “I’m gonna take a look-see first. You stay here.” She slipped inside, and returned within a minute, no more.

“Yup. Just as I thought. We’re gonna need some help.”

“Great!” Henry protested, “We don’t have time to wait for the guys to get back. Not to be disrespectful, ma’am, but I thought that’s why we called you. Harry said…” Ruby held up her hand and cut him off.

“Relax, son! I brought help.”

Henry spun around, looking in every direction. “Excuse me?!”

Ruby went to her truck and opened the back door. She took out the little box, and walked back to the porch with it. Handing it to Henry, she said, “I believe you know these fellas.” Henry opened the box a little and peered inside. He saw Miguel and Teo waving up at him!

“And…” Ruby reached into Henry’s shirt pocket, “I think you brought another helper of your own.” She brought Miko out and set him on Henry’s hand.

Teo jumped up and down. “DADDY!”

Henry opened the box and put Miko inside so the three of them could enjoy a reunion while he tried to figure out this crazy old woman.

“What are we going to do with three mice?” Henry scratched his head.

“We’re gonna deputize ˈem!” Ruby said. She took the mice out of the box and one by one, put them down on the porch.

“Let’s go, boys!”

“I’m ready!” Teo shouted. Miko patted his son on the head.

Miguel tried to stand taller, “Me, too! I weel fight for Mees Rubee!”

Harry chuckled and spit out his chew as if talking mice were an every day occurrence.

Henry mumbled, “You’re all nuts!”

Ruby looked over at him. “Maybe, but we’re all you’ve got! Now, come on.”

“I ain’t going in there again until you’ve done…well…whatever it is you’re fixing to do.” Henry backed down the steps. “I’ll just wait in the bus.”

Ruby faced Henry with a look that he usually got from only his mother. “You have to go in, son. It’s your soul they called here.”