Is Anybody Goin' To San Antone...

I came looking for Billy after a while. He was bent over some sort of small receiving device, listening intently and scowling into the middle distance.

Deb:  What's that?

Billy:  Shut up.

Deb:  Like hell.

Billy shot me a look that would have stopped time.  I had been ready to
take a place beside him but now I backed away.  He looked grim and almost...
jealous.

Ryan:  C'mon, Darlin'.  Let's go get him something greasy.

Deb:  What's he listening to?

Ryan:  Nothin' important, love.  Let's go.

Deb:  What.  Is he listening.  To.  Ryan.

Ryan:  Alright, you asked...Sam and Beth doing...whatever they do.

Ryan didn't need to elaborate.  I turned on my heel and went out to the
Suburban.  At that moment, Billy Strannix was the last thing I wanted to
look at.

Ryan:  You with me, Darlin'?

Deb:  Fell out of the nasty tree and hit every branch on the way down, but
yeah, I'm here.

Ryan:  I don't think it's what it looks like, girl.

Deb:  Then what is it?  He's eavesdropping on Beth - she'll whomp on him if
she finds out and never mind Sam.  He looks like he just sat on a tack and
just flat glares at me like he never wants to lay eyes on me again...

Ryan:  Darlin', she's like a sister to him.

Deb:  My brother listened in on me I'd bust his head.  He looked jealous,
like Sam was getting something that was his.

Ryan pulled me across the bench seat and looped his arm around my 
shoulder.  It was meant to encourage me, but I didn't feel very encouraged.

Ryan:  My love...if I took you to the mountaintop right now...and I could...
he'd react the very same way.

Deb:  I doubt it.

Ryan:  Wanna find out, Darlin'?

I sat quietly in the comforting circle of Ryan's arm.  Migod, what had I
come to in just a few short days if I was actually considering what Ryan was
suggesting.  I had pounded the snot out of Billy, demanded that he be as
faithful as his nature allowed, demanded exclusivity, that was my word, and
now I was strongly thinking about violating my own strictures.

Ryan:  He's breakin' your fragile little heart, wee one.  Give him some of
his own back.

Deb:  It won't matter.

Ryan:  I think it will, love.  Billy doesn't admit he feels a thing, but
we know anybody with that much passion feels plenty.  He feels for Beth...
and he feels for you, too.  He'll be damned if he'll say so, but could be
we might force a declaration from him, of some kind.

Sounded to me like the Irishman was hard-up, but I was mad and I was
hurt.  I wasn't mad at Beth...the woman belonged so completely to Sam
Gerard that I doubted she saw much of anything beyond that dark head.  It
wasn't her fault Billy didn't know when to let go.  I was, on the other
hand, furious with Billy.  He'd awakened something in me that had been 
asleep - restlessly so, but asleep - and now he was telling me in so many
words that it was my problem.  Fine, I thought, we'll see who's got the
problem.  When Ryan kept driving, I said nothing.  When he turned down a
disused road, I held my peace.  And when he finally stopped, and coaxed me 
into the back, I went.  We arrived back at out hotel later than Billy had
expected us to, and he knew the second I came in what had happened.

Billy:  What the hell you been up to, woman?

Deb:  What do you care?  You've been getting an earful there!

Ryan came in, done parking the car.  Billy decked him, Ryan came up off
the floor like a battering ram, and the battle was joined.  Several very
intense minutes went by, most of which I spent dodging from one end of the
room to the other to avoid being creamed.  Finally the two warriors came
to a gasping halt.  Ryan had Billy by the throat.

Ryan:  Now, you stonebrained son-of-a-bitch, you'll be listenin' to me or
I'll be finishin' what I've started here and snap your useless neck.
Nothing happened...

Billy:  Don't shit me, Gaerity.  I know that look.  I've put it there.

Ryan:  So you have.  And so you will again, if you're lucky.  Did you
happen to see the look on the lass' face when she caught you listenin' in
on Beth's most intimate moments?  Idiot!  You made this woman want
you, whether either of you intended for it to happen or not.

Billy:  So why did she...

Ryan:  Are you really this stupid, William, or do you practice?  She never
wanted me...oh, there was fire, alright, but no passion.  It's you she
saves her passion for, you she desires.  Fool...you don't even need to do 
anything special, just be there.  You big sod, all she wants is to be the
only name on your short list.  

Billy:  You're chokin' me.

Ryan:  By rights I should pop your head off your shoulders...Deb even wants
to come before Beth and since that fine lady has won the hand of the Frog
Prince I don't think she's askin' anything you can't give.  You don't
settle yourself down and give the woman your full attention, I'll do more 
than choke you.

Billy:  Turn me loose, fool.  Deb...come for a ride?

I shocked them both.

Deb:  No.  Not now.  I'm sorry, but I can't.  Between the two of you I'm
so messed up right now I can't think straight.  I'm going out by myself
for awhile.  Just stay away from me, both of you.  

I turned on them, stalked out and picked up a cab outside the hotel.  I 
had the man take me to the place in San Antonio Beth had recommended
above all others.  The Riverwalk.

I walked for...I don't know, an hour, maybe two.  I had no idea then and 
I still don't.  Even with the late hour, this centerpiece of San Antonio was
busy and festive.  The restaurants fronting on the riverbank were crowded
with patrons, night-time excursion boats plied the waters, crowds of 
people strolled the walkways.  It was definitely a romantic spot.  You 
would be surrounded by all the happy activity yet be lost in your companion 
and nobody would molest you.  I looked like the worst mutt in my tired jeans 
and aging t-shirt, yet I felt perfectly safe.  I leaned against a post
and stared into the water, trying to decide what to do next.

Beth:  Deb?  Deb!  Hey, earth to Deb!  What's up?

I came out of my self imposed fog.

Deb:  Beth!  I never expected to see you down here!  How's it going?

Beth:  Never mind me, you know how I am.  I saw you standing here looking
like somebody shot your dog and I sent Sam up to the room for a sweater.
We don't have much time to waste.  What's the matter?

Deb:  A sweater?  In this soup?

Beth:  Boy thinks I'm fragile, what can I say?  I didn't want him landing
on you, I don't think you could stand it.  What's going on?

I turned away from my study of the river.

Deb:  Strannix.  That pustule.

Beth:  Your point?

I grinned despite myself.  Her matter-of-fact acceptance of this little
announcement was like a tonic.

Beth:  What's he done this time?

The grin widened.  Beth understood, didn;t need to be told twice.

Deb:  I'll be vague and brief.  When you get back to your room, pretend to
be the Terminex man.  Look for bugs.

Beth hadn't know Billy as long as she had for nothing.

Beth:  Why that underhanded piece of...I'll...Sam...

Deb:  Whatever you do, don't tell Sam.  Billy was listening to the...er...
soundtrack.

Beth glared at the river.

Beth:  And I suppose the insect was all torqued up.

Deb:  Absolutely.  And when I found out what he was doing, I got torqued up.
I mean, I never asked to feel this way about Billy but I do.  I can't
count the number of times you warned me to run like hell, but it's too late.
I think it's always been too late.

Beth:  You'll never change him.

Deb:  He wouldn't be any fun if I did.  But I told him...I wanted to be the
one.  The only one.  I know he doesn't acknowledge feeling anything but I
guess I'm not worried about that so much.  I just insisted on being the 
first one he thought of when he needed an itch scratched.  I no more than had
myself believing he might when he pulled this.  So I did something...let
myself be talked into something...and I'm ashamed of myself now.  I'm mad
at him and mad at myself and if this is what it's going to be like all the
time I wonder if I shouldn't just cut my losses and go home while I'm still
in one piece.

Beth:  What did you do?

Deb:  I...well, I...Ryan...

Beth:  No way!  You and Gaerity?

Deb:  Oh, yeah.  The silver-tongued devil played right into what I was mad
about.  Give him some of his own back, he says.  So now I've done precisely
what I warned Billy I didn't want to catch him doing...

Beth:  No.  Stop that.  You did the right ting.  Exactly the right thing.

Deb:  What are you talking about?  I lied!  I said one thing and did 
something else...

Beth:  Don't you see, that's Billy's trick.  For him the truth is flexible.
He uses as much of it as he wants, when he wants.  You've just informed him 
in no uncertain terms that he's not the only one able to play by rules
like that.  And given Billy's tendency to own women, you might just have
the upper hand.

Deb:  Are you trying to tell me he'll respect what I did?

Beth:  I think he might.  He doesn't like to talk about feelings - that's a
sign of weakness.  He wants to see action, and by God you gave him some.

Deb:  I hate to sound so dumb...

Beth:  You don't sound dumb at all.  Billy's like a black Swede - a Norse
of a different color.  He takes some getting used to.  Trust me, he will
think twice about making you angry, though he'll never admit to it.  And
it doesn't mean he won't still do it, but he will be taking you into
consideration.  Just stay with him.

Deb:  I'm starting to believe I have to be certifiable if I do.

Beth:  Not nuts, just strong.  Really strong.  And remember that anything
you get out of him is a stone cold victory.  It's nothing like being with
Sam...he wants somebody to care for.  Billy might do the same, someday.

Deb:  There's another threat.

Beth glanced over her shoulder.

Beth:  Sam's coming...gotta go.

Deb:  Thanks, Beth.  You've given me a lot to think about.  I'd better get
scarce myself, in case old Eagle-Eye saw me.  It would wreck your evening.

Beth:  I warned him he was off-duty, but I'm not sure he believes me.
Hasta.

I melted into the shadows as Sam approached.  Watching them was a treat.
He wrapped her in the sweater and she stretched up on her toes to kiss his
cheek.  Sam was eating it up.  Here was a man who had denied himself simple
bread for so long that now, when a feast was spread before him, his
gratitude knew no bounds.  It was nothing like Billy, who would have nailed
me with the sweater, had he been convinced to go fetch one at all.  Beth
looked in my direction then, with a combination of determination and
sweetness led The Sam back in the direction they had come.  He was putty in
her hands, every bit as much as she was in his.  I waited until the pair was
well on the way, then I started in the opposite direction.

Billy:  You still pissed, baby?

Deb:  Where'd you come from?

Billy:  Thought you might be here, is all.

Deb:  Yeah, right.  You hacked into some taxi dispatch computers, didn't you?

Billy:  Ryan did.

Deb:  So what do you want?

Billy:  To know if you're still pissed, for one thing.

Deb.  Yes, I am, but I'll get over it.

Billy:  I wanted you to know I'm cool with what you and Ryan did.

Deb:  Oh, you are, are you?  Big concept.  Would it make you feel better if
you could convince me to be cool with you for what you did?

Billy:  No.

Deb:  Then why are you even bothering?

Billy:  You really are pissed.

Deb:  Yeah, I really am.  Surprise.  Somebody gives enough of a rip about
Bill Strannix to get mad at him when he does something rotten.

Billy had walked me to where he had parked the Suburban.  Now he stopped
several feet shy of the passenger door.  I did as well, since I had no
desire to tangle with the 9 volt coil wired to the battery and grounded to
the frame - Billy's crude but effective form of auto security.

Deb:  You gonna unlock this thing or what?

Billy moved to open the car up.  I clambered inside and reached across 
the seat to unlock his door.  Billy kept giving me odd looks as he took his
place, and as he drove.  I remembered what Beth had said, and I decided
that even if I couldn't get any kind of an admission, I could at least be
strong and no nonsense.

Billy:  You hungry?

Deb:  I lost my appetite earlier.  You want to stop, go ahead, I'll sit with
you.

There was nothing further said until Billy had found a 'Denny's' and got
us situated in a corner booth.  He ordered a beer for himself and some huge
foul sandwich.  I settled for coffee.

Billy:  So what's all this about?  You want me to keep things zipped up, then
you go do the horizontal bop with Gaerity?  I'm supposed to forget about
this shit?

Deb:  No.  I think you should remember it.  Now that I have your attention,
anyway.

Billy:  So you've got some 'orders' for me?

Deb:  They're not orders, Billy.  Maybe they never were.  It's a request.

Billy:  And if I say no?

Grammar and diction were improving.  You can take the boy out of 
Annapolis, but you can't take Annapolis out of the boy.

Deb:  Then I guess I'll have a decision to make.  I imagine it's just as well
all this is happening now, before I get too attached to you.

Billy:  Too late, baby.  You're already too attached.

Deb:  Attachments can be broken.  Do you want to hear or not?

Billy:  Fire away.

Deb:  This is what I'm asking, Billy.  No other women, please.  None.  Not
even Beth.  I know the two of you have been friends forever and I hope you
can be friends again, but she doesn't need you to protect her anymore.  
She's got Sam, and he's worth ten of the average guy, and at least as much 
as you are.

Billy finished his beer.  His gaze was level, and strangely I could 
detect nothing of his usual challenge.

Billy:  And you need me.

Okay, spit it out, girl.

Deb:  Yes.  I do.

Billy:  And if I can't, or won't do as you ask?

Annapolis, hell!  Harvard, Oxford...

Deb:  Then that will affect my decision.  I'll have to decide that I don't
need you, after all.

And that felt like big lie number two for the day.

Billy:  If I do as you ask?

Deb:  I'll try to see to it that you don't need anyone else.

Had anyone ever looked Strannix in the eye and said things like this?
Based on his expression, which was relieved enough to allow some of the
attitude back, I thought not.

Billy:  That's all you want?  I don't have to change?  You don't want me
to get a goddam job or mow the grass or coach the damn little league or any
of the rest of that middle class shit?

Deb:  No, Billy.  I don't want you to change.

Billy's sandwich came.

Billy:  Eat some of these damn fries.

Deb:  I'm not hungry, Billy.

Billy moved over to my side of the booth and got in my face.

Billy:  I said eat some of these fries or I'll feed 'em to ya.  You're 
gonna live to regret this, baby.

Deb:  Regret what?

Billy:  Not lettin' me look after the pipsqueak anymore.  Now you're
gettin' it all.

I had my victory.  It was as close as I would ever come to a declaration.
He shoved the plate towards me, gestured sternly at the fries.  In a move
that was as close as I would come to raw obedience, I reached for a fry
and began to eat.

TO BE CONTINUED...