Read Online Hawk's Way by Joan Johnston - Free Book Online Page A

station—just enough amenities to service the fishermen and weekenders who come tubing on the Frio River.”
    â€œWhat’s tubing?”
    â€œFolks take the rubber tube from inside a tractor tire and fill it up with air, then use it to sit in while they float down the river,” Dallas explained.
    â€œWhy would they want to do that?”
    â€œBecause it’s fun,” Dallas said. “In the summer the water’s cool and as crystal clear as—asit must have been in 1864. We’ll go sometime and you’ll see.”
    Angel didn’t answer him, because she planned to be long gone before she ever had a chance to experience something so frivolous. Didn’t people in this century have to work?
    â€œWould you like to stop in for a Coke?”
    â€œWhat’s a—”
    â€œA drink of something cold,” Dallas interrupted. “As if you didn’t know,” he added.
    Angel could tell he was upset with her. It wasn’t her fault she didn’t know what he was talking about.
    â€œLook, Angel,” Dallas said. “Don’t you think you’ve carried this farce about far enough? What are you hoping to gain by pretending to be from the past? It just doesn’t make any sense!”
    Dallas felt Angel stiffen behind him, then withdraw until only the tips of her fingers clung to his ribs. “Aw, hell! Why am I bothering? I ought to take you into San Antonio right now and—”
    â€œNo! Please don’t.” Angel didn’t like the thought of asking for anything, but she couldn’t take the chance that Dallas would spirit her any farther from the cave than she already was. “I don’t expect you to believe me,” she said in a quiet voice. “It’s a little hard for me to accept myself. If you could just be patient with me, I’lldo my best not to be a burden to you.” In fact, I’ll be gone before midnight tonight .
    Dallas snorted in disbelief, but he didn’t turn the horse around.
    â€œI’d like that cold drink,” Angel said. “If the offer’s still open.”
    Dallas didn’t say anything, just headed Red down the berm of the asphalt road.
    Angel sighed in relief when the wood and stone buildings came into sight. This place didn’t look too much different from a dozen other one-horse towns she’d been through. However, there were differences that became apparent as soon as they rode up to the structures.
    She stepped down off Red, and Dallas threw his leg over Red’s neck and slid down to stand beside her.
    â€œCola machine’s over here,” he said, heading for a tall, boxy-looking object with colored lights on it. He fed in a few coins and a can dropped into a hole at the bottom of the machine. Dallas pulled it out, popped something on the lid and handed it to Angel. Then he got one for himself.
    Angel watched him for a moment, then copied him and took a long drink from the hole in the top of the can. She nearly choked on the sweet, fizzy liquid that burned her throat going down. “What is this?” she demanded, sputtering.
    Dallas pounded her on the back until she could catch her breath. “Popular drink of the day,” he said by way of explanation.
    â€œIt tastes awful! ”
    Dallas laughed. “Maybe to you. But it’s plenty well liked nowadays.”
    â€œWhere can I get a drink of water?”
    Dallas stepped over to the drinking fountain beside the cola machine.
    Angel stared agog as water spurted from the top of the fountain. “How did you do that?”
    He took his boot off the pedal and showed her how the fountain worked.
    â€œThat’s a pure miracle!”
    â€œNope. Just modern technology at work.”
    Angel took a drink and was astonished that the water was cold. “Where do they keep the ice?” She examined the fountain, looking for an opening where blocks of ice could be inserted.
    â€œNo ice is used.