Chapter Fifteen

Old Tucson is a replica of 1860's Tucson complete with storefronts, saloons, banks, hotels, and a genuine adobe church. A gentle breeze ruffled my hair as I automatically scanned the theme park. So far, no drunken idiots, but my Annie Oakley outfit was drawing a lot of attention. Our shooting exhibition was very popular with the tourists.

An ululating battle cry sounded. I spun around and watched as a stagecoach came barreling down the dirt road. A bunch of Apache warriors on horseback chased after it. Oh, my God! Sebastian, Chase and Mateo made awesome Apaches with their cotton leggings, leather breechcloths and warpaint.

My jaw dropped. The big, muscle-bound warrior on a black stallion was Dante. His ferocious expression, long black wig and warpaint made him downright scary.

The stagecoach driver cracked a whip over the horses' heads, while the guard fired an old Winchester rifle at the Indians. Boom. Boom. Boom.

An Apache warrior tumbled off his horse and played dead.

A bugle sounded as the cavalry charged to the rescue, pursuing the Apaches down Main Street and out into the desert. The thrilled spectators cheered loudly.

"Welcome to what is now the wild, Wild West." I walked down the wooden footway toward the administrator's office. Mom wanted me to double-check our schedule of events.

A loudspeaker blared to life. "Folks, the Clanton boys have challenged Marshal Earp and his deputies to a gunfight at the O.K. corral. Mosey on down and watch the best gunslingers in the West battle it out. Ladies, you might want to retire to the ice cream parlor. It's gonna get bloody."

My dad played Marshal Earp, and my brothers were Earp's deputies. They got a big kick out of playing Old West lawmen.

All the tourists hurried over to watch the reenactment of the shootout. One of the gunslingers shouted, "The undertaker will be puttin' you in a pine box, Earp."

"I've got a spot all picked out for you on Boot Hill, Clanton," Dad snarled as he pulled his pistol and fanned the hammer. My brothers, the deputies, opened fire at the same time. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. The Clanton boys returned fire. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.

My ears rang from all the gunfire. Amazingly not one bullet hit Marshal Earp or his deputies, but the street was littered with dead desperados. My dad twirled his gun and slid it back into his holster. He was such a showoff.

The crowd clapped loudly.

The undertakers hurried out, picked up the dead gunslingers and carted them off in old wooden wheelbarrows.

A train whistle blew. Waaank! Waaank! Waaank!

"The train leaves in ten minutes and you still have time to get a ticket. There's a rumor it's gonna get robbed," Marshal Earp announced, doffed his hat and disappeared into the jail. My brothers followed him. They would be heading to the bull riding event to see how Dante handled being a rodeo clown.

The horde of tourists rushed toward the train station.

"Gemma!"

I turned and watched Julie dodge a horse-drawn wagon and jump over a pile of dung. She was already dressed as Belle Starr, the outlaw queen; with her authentic six guns and black, gaucho-style riding habit "What's up?"

"I've already got the schedule. The bull riding event starts in fifteen minutes and your mom is saving us seats." A giggle escaped Julie. "Dante isn't wearing the clown costume; he's still dressed as an Apache warrior. Warpaint and all!"

"Oh, my God. I gotta see that."

"And he's carrying a matador's cape!"

I laughed. "This is gonna to be so good, and I bet Dad will have a meltdown."

A Hispanic woman in her twenties rushed up to us and held out her cell phone. "Have you seen her?"

I glanced at the phone. The photo of a cute little girl wearing an Annie Oakley outfit was on the screen. "No, I haven't."

"Neither have I," Julie said.

"We were watching the shootout at the O.K. corral, and she just vanished." Big, fat tears rolled down her cheeks. "I've looked everywhere, and I can't find her."

Julie frowned. "How old is she?"

"Isabel's seven."

I scanned the crowd. "Did you check the train yet? Kids love riding on the train."

"No, I haven't, but she has been wanting to pet the horses."

Julie and I exchanged glances. We were going to miss the bull riding event.

"I'll check the train," Julie said, assuming her cop demeanor.

The crowd at the arena went wild. It sounded like Dante was giving them one hell of a show. Sometimes being a police officer really sucked. "I'll check the corrals and stables."

"Oh, thank you. Thank you," the woman gushed and trotted after me.

I frowned when I noticed a van with Ranchman's Feed on the side backed up to the stables. They weren't on the approved list. I had better notify security. I pulled out my cell phone.

A sharp stinging pain erupted in my right butt cheek. What the hell? I yanked out a tranquilizer dart. Shit! A wave of dizziness swept over me.

A cold expression on her face, the mother took my six-shooters. "You will take us to the gold."

"Are you working for Chet Nargi or Ichabod?" My knees buckled.

"The Zetos brothers want their property back."

I pushed the emergency button on my phone and fell face down in the dirt. Dante was going to be so pissed I missed his performance. Everything faded to black.