Angels Fall

camping, etc. (Could the couple by the river have come there on   horseback?) Cowboy type, womanizer. Drives a pickup. Easy access to Joanie's office —  and keys.   Violent streak when riled, as demonstrated at Clancy's .

    It seemed so cold, she thought as she read. And unfair perhaps not to note that he seemed so sweet-natured, loved his mother and had considerable charm.
    She continued with Reuben.
    Early to mid-thirties , she supposed.  Employed at Circle K Guest Ranch. Knows area well, as   above. Hood with his hands. Pickup  — with gun rack. Is in town at least once a week. Likes to   sing at Clancy's. Previous affair with married woman Jpossibly victim) . She blew out a breath. She knew he liked his meat rare, his potatoes fried and his pie a la mode. That didn't say much for her purposes.
    She continued on, listing names, information, then stopped with a twinge of guilt as she thought of Doc Wallace. He was hitting toward the top of her age barrier. But he was healthy, even robust. He hiked, fished and was welcome everywhere. And wouldn't a man who healed know how to kill?
    Then there was Mac Drubber. Dean, Liquor Store Jeff, the stalwart sheriff, accommodating Lynt. And more besides. The idea of listing them all, men she knew, some she considered friends, made her feel a little ill.
    She made herself finish, copied to a thumb drive. When she had put the laptop away, she soothed her nerves and guilt with cooking.

    ACROSS THE LAKE, Lo knocked on Linda-gail's door. He had a single pink rose in his hand and lust in his belly.
    When the door opened, he held out the rose and said, "Hey, baby." Linda-gail ignored the rose and fisted a hand on her hip. "What do you want?"
    "You." He made a grab for her with his free hand, but she stepped back and gave the door a boot that nearly slammed it into his face.
    He caught it on the shoulder, butted it open again. "What's the problem. Jesus, Linda-gail."
    "I don't take flowers from liars. So you can just turn around and get your boots walking."
    "What the hell are you talking about?" This time he kicked the door when she swung it. "Cut that out. I put in fourteen hours today so I could get tonight off and see you." 
    "Is that so? Seems unfair when you had to work extra last night, too. With a colicky horse." She saw his wince, and her eyes narrowed. "You lying son of a bitch. You may have been rolling in the hay, but it wasn't with any damn horse."
    "It wasn't like that. Just hold on."
    "How could you lie to me like that?" She swung on her heel, stomped away. "I told you I wouldn't be one of the herd for you, Lo."
    "You're not. You couldn't be. Hell, you never were. Let's just sit down a minute."
    "I don't want you sitting down in my house. I gave you what you wanted. Now it's done.
    "Don't say that. Linda-gail. Honey. It's not anything like what you think."
    "Then what is it, Lo? You didn't lie to me?"
    He shoved back his hat. "Well, yeah. I did, hut—"
    "Get out."
    He tossed the rose, then his hat. aside. "I in not leaving like this. Yeah. I lied to you about last night, hut I had a good reason to."
    "Oh? And what's her name?"
    The frustration, the hint of embarrassment hardened on his face into cold anger. "I don't cheat. Never have, not with women, not with cards, not with anything. If I'm ready to move on. then I break it off first. I don't two-tnne anyone. Why would I start with you when you're the one who matters?"
    "I don't know." Her eyes filled. "I wish I did."
    "I wasn't with another woman, Linda-gail, I swear it."
    "And I am just supposed to take your word on that, when you've already lied to me?"
    "You got a point. But I've got one, too. If you love me, you need to trust me on this one thing."
    "Trust gets earned, William." Furious with them, she dashed the tears away. " Tell me where you were."
    "I cant. Not yet. Don't turn away. Don't, honey. I had something I needed to do. It wasn't another woman."
    "Then why won't you tell me?"
    '"I will, it you just wait till Saturday night."
    "What's Saturday night got to do with it?"
    "I can't tell you that, either, or not all of it. But it's all part of the whole thing. Give me until Saturday  night. I want a Saturday night date with you."
    She finally gave up, sat down. "You want a date with me after you lied and won't tell me why?"
    "That's right. Trust me on this one thing. I'm banking it'll be worth it to you." He crouched down now, brushed a tear from her cheek. "I swear on my life, Linda-gail, it