Free The Gatekeeper's Challenge by Eva Pohler Page B

Therese said, “on both counts.”
    The rest of the group stood now, too, and Todd said, “Come see what I’ve done to my truck.” It was a fifty-seven Chevy painted bright yellow and mounted high on a lift kit. They all said goodnight to Carol and Richard and headed outside.
    Matthew linked his hand into Jen’s as they walked down the steps to the gravelly drive, and Therese felt a stab of pain pierce her chest. She blinked and pushed the pain away, telling herself tonight would be a good time with good friends and nothing else mattered.
    “Oh, hold on. I forgot something.” Therese ran back inside, up the stairs to her room and into her desk drawer. She had promised to give Vicki the money for the NDE drugs, and she didn’t want anything holding up their plans. She ran back out just as the group gathered around Todd’s truck. “Okay. So what’s new?”
    “Check out my chrome. I was so excited when I found this authentic fifty-seven grill. Now my truck matches. Cool, huh?”
    “Very cool,” Therese said. “It looks so shiny and new. You wouldn’t know it was an antique.” She enjoyed making a big deal over Todd’s truck because she knew how important it was to him. She would have liked to ride with him and Ray, but she knew Vicki would feel like a third wheel riding in Matthew’s truck, which had an extended cab, and the two girls couldn’t fit in Todd’s, which did not. So Therese oooed and awed and then climbed into the backseat of Matthew’s truck beside Vicki.
    Once they were on the road, Therese silently passed the one hundred dollars over to Vicki, who nodded, folded the bills, and tucked them into her purse.
    The Pagosa Springs Fairgrounds were a happening place by the time the two vehicles arrived. They had to drive up and down a dusty dirt parking lot for over fifteen minutes looking for a place to park. They each finally found one a couple of hundred yards away from the entrance. Therese’s boots were covered in white dust by the time they paid their cover and entered the grounds.
    Carnival rides and game and food booths were scattered across the grassy field that was surrounded by mountains still visible in the summer evening. As the group walked through the lane between the booths, they recognized people they knew and occasionally stopped to talk. Then they continued their way to the dance area where they looked forward to watching Pete’s band perform.
    Someone came up from behind Therese, tucked his hands beneath her armpits, and lifted her in the air, spinning her around and making her laugh. She could tell before he put her down that she was in Pete’s hands. She turned to face him.
    “When’s your band onstage?”
    “About eight.” He led the group to a table where the rest of the Holts were already sitting, except for Bobby, who was dancing the two-step on the concrete dance floor with some girl Therese didn’t know. “Ready?”
    Pete smelled and felt good as he led Therese to the dance floor and took her in his arms. His white cowboy hat brought out the glow in his tanned face and sparkling blue eyes. His nose was sprinkled with a few summer freckles, and when he smiled, his teeth were pearl white. His shoulders were broad and well defined in the starched denim shirt unbuttoned at the very top. His jeans were tight, hugging his backside in a flattering way. Therese wanted to reach out and touch it. She was surprised by how good she felt in his arms, how much she liked him, and now that she was finally giving up on Than, Pete had her undivided attention.
    He was a master at dancing—such a good lead that she hardly had to think at all. He twirled her around and past the other dancers in show-off fashion. She squealed a couple of times when he lifted her over his head.
    And his voice was as smooth as her father’s red wine, which he let her taste when she turned thirteen. She loved to listen to Pete sing the lyrics he knew; and when he didn’t know the words to a song, he