Standoff

To which Dendy had said, "How about some sharpshooters?

A SWAT team? Now that would be helpful."

"Using force would risk the lives of your daughter and her baby."

"Baby?" Davison had exclaimed. "It's come?"

"From what we understand she delivered a baby girl about two hours ago," Galloway had informed him. "Both are reportedly doing okay."

"Reportedly," Dandy had snorted. "For all I know my daughter is dead."

"She's not dead. Not according to Ms. McCoy."

"She could've been talking to save her own hide. That lunatic could have been holding a gun to her head!"

"I don't think so, Mr. Dendy," Galloway had said, striving to remain calm. "And neither does our psychologist, who was listening to my conversation with Ms. McCoy. She sounds in perfect control, not like someone under duress."

"Who's this Ms. McCoy?" Davison had wanted to know.

Galloway explained, then he'd regarded Davison closely. "When was the last time you spoke to Ro

"Last night. He and Sabra were about to go over to the Dendys' house and tell her parents about the baby."

"How long have you known about the pregnancy?"

"A few weeks."

Dendy's face had turned beet red. "And you didn't see fit to tell me?"

"No, sir, I didn't. My son confided in me. I couldn't betray his trust, although I urged him to tell you." He had turned his back on Dendy and addressed the remainder of his remarks to Galloway.

"I had to run up to Midkiff today on account of a deep fryer going out. I didn't get home until late this evening.

Found a note from Ro

"I'm surprised they would pay you a visit. Weren't they afraid you'd try and talk them into returning home?"

"Truth is, Mr. Galloway, I told Ro

Dendy had attacked so quickly no one saw it coming, least of all Davison. Dendy landed on Davison's back with all his weight behind him. Davison would have fallen forward, had not Galloway caught him and broken his fall. As it was, both men landed hard against the wall of the van that was lined with computer terminals, TV monitors, video recorders, and surveillance equipment. Sheriff Montez grabbed Dendy by the shirt collar and hauled him backward, slamming him into the opposite wall.

Galloway had instructed one of his subordinates to drag Dendy the hell out of there.

"No!" Dendy had had the wind knocked out of him and was gasping for breath, but he managed to rasp, "I want to hear what he has to say. Please."

Somewhat mollified, Galloway had relented. "There will be no more of that crap, Dendy. Do you understand me?"

Dendy was red-faced and furious, but he nodded.

"Yeah. I'll get even with this son of a bitch later. But I want to know what's going on."

Order restored, Galloway had asked Davison if he was all right. Davison had picked his cowboy hat off the floor and dusted it off on the leg of his jeans. "Never mind about me. I'm worried about those kids. The baby, too."

"Do you think Ro

"Could be. Regardless of what Mr. Dendy here thinks, I didn't offer to help them run away. In fact, just the opposite.

My advice to them was that they should stand up to him." The two parents exchanged dirty looks. "Anyhow,"

Davison had continued, "I reckon they could've used some cash. Ro

He'd gestured toward the store, his expression remorseful.

"My boy's not a thief. His mother and stepfather have done a good job with him. He's a good boy. I reckon he was feeling desperate to take care of Sabra and the baby."

"He's taken care of her, all right. He's ruined her life."

Paying no attention to Dendy, Davison had asked Galloway,

"So what's the plan? Have you got a plan?"

Galloway had brought Ro

That-"

"Give away the baby?" Davison had looked at Dendy with patent dismay. "You threatened to give away their baby?" His disdainful expression spoke volumes. Shaking his head sadly, he'd turned back to Galloway. "What can I do?"

"Understand, Mr. Davison, that Ro

"I reckon he knows that."

"But the sooner he releases those hostages and surrenders, the better off he's going to be. So far no one's been hurt. Not seriously anyway. I'd like to keep it that way, for Ro

"He won't be hurt?"

"You have my word on that."

"Tell me what to do."

That conversation had resulted in Cole Davison placing a call to the store just as the deadline expired.

"Dad!" Ro

Tiel and Doc moved forward and listened carefully to what Ro

From what Gully had told her earlier, Tiel knew the two were close. She imagined Ro

"No, Dad, Sabra's doing okay. You know how I feel about her. I wouldn't've done anything to hurt her. Yeah, I know she should be in a hospital, but-"

"Tell him I'm not leaving you," Sabra called to him.

"It's not just me, Dad. Sabra says she won't go." As he listened, his eyes cut to Sabra and the baby. "She seems to be doing okay too. Ms. McCoy and Doc have been taking care of them. Yeah, I know it's serious."

The young man's features were taut with concentration.

Tiel looked around at her fellow hostages. All, including the Mexican men, who didn't even understand the language, were still, silent, and alert.

Doc felt her gaze when it moved to him. He raised his shoulders in a small shrug, then returned his attention to Ro

"Mr. Galloway seems like a decent man to me too, Dad.

But it doesn't really matter what he says or guarantees. It's not the authorities we're ru

We aren't going to give up our baby and have strangers adopt her. Yes he would!" the boy stressed in a voice that cracked with emotion. "He would."

"They don't know him," Sabra said, her voice as ragged as Ro

"Dad, I love you," Ro

Whatever Ro

Tiel's chest constricted. "Oh, no."

"We don't want to live apart. I think you know what that means, Dad. If Mr. Dendy won't give up his control of our lives, our future, we don't want a future."

"Ah, Jesus." Doc dragged his hand down his face.

"Yes, Dad, I do," the boy insisted. He was looking at Sabra, who nodded her head solemnly. "We won't live without each other. You tell that to Mr. Dendy and Mr. Galloway.