The Pineview Incident (9 page)

Chapter 14

Every car in town seemed to crowd around the bowling alley. Mark wove his way between badly parked pickups and minivans and parked his own truck far enough away that they could easily run for it if necessary.

He looked in the rear view mirror and saw three black vans pull behind the car wash at the end of the road.

“They're here. We'd better get moving.”

“And you're sure about this?” Donna asked. Her hands gripped the end of the water gun.

“Maybe. I'd feel better if those were loaded. With beer.”

“You and me both.” Donna looked around the truck. “The whole town must be in there.”

“Guess it's time we joined them, too.” Mark took a deep breath and jumped down. He held the water gun behind him as he went to open Donna's door. “We'll need to stash these somewhere inconspicuous.”

“How about by that obnoxious juke box?” Donna landed next to Mark and held her gun behind her as well.

“Perfect. You know, you do really well at this infiltration thing.” He leaned over and kissed her. Then, he kissed her some more.

He hoped he would never get over the feeling of kissing her. It was like a kid who'd won the biggest prize at a carnival and the feeling of coming home all at once. “All I want to do is get this over with and get you to a Las Vegas hotel room. We could make it easy and skip this part.”

Donna put her head on his chest. “That sounds wonderful, but we owe it to everyone to see this through, water guns and all.”

“Sometimes, I really wish you weren't such a good person.”

Someone cleared his throat, and Mark and Donna looked up. “Do you two ever let up?” asked Paul as he slid between cars. He and the others all carried large cameras on their shoulders.

“Head to the back and use the dark green door,” said Mark. When the camera crew was safely behind the bowling alley, he turned to Donna. “Let's get this over with.”

“Oh, wait! I need my purse.” Donna pulled free and darted back to the truck.

“Are you serious?” asked Mark.

“It's a girl thing—don’t judge.” Donna tucked the purse under her arm and put her hand in his.

For a moment, Mark had a strong urge to bolt and make a run for it. Instead, he turned and headed to the front door of the old bowling alley.

The old alley was actually two buildings, a bar and a converted dance hall, connected in the middle by a newer snack bar and shoe counter. The middle portion served as the entrance to both the bar and the alley and was cluttered with tables, bowling paraphernalia, and assorted video games. Normally, the room was full of people coming and going, but today, both the entrance and the adjoining bar were completely empty, which made stashing the water guns next to the old, neon jukebox easy.

Donna's hand gripped his with an almost uncomfortable strength as they turned toward the lanes. Without thinking, he put his arm around her and pulled her close.

The bowling alley seemed to hold most of the town's population. People crowded around tables and even stood on the bowling lanes. They were so focused on something in the middle of the room that no one paid attention to Mark and Donna as they slid in at that back.

“They're here,” hissed Donna. She pointed to the back door by the restrooms.

Four cameras peered around the edge of the doorframe.

“Perfect.” He settled against the wall to watch the show.

“They came after us,” Ed was telling the crowd. “They had huge things on their shoulders and came right for us. I thought I was a goner.”

“But you said they didn't fire at you,” Mayor Brown countered.

“Only because we wore protective foil and ran into the woods,” said Cory. He began coughing and put a wet towel up to his red eyes.

“Don't listen to them,” called out Hank McGee. “Anyone who drenches themselves in oil and wears foil is suspect in my book.”

Mark could have kissed him at that moment.

Chief Michaels, Cory and Ed sat in the middle of the assembled group. The men’s eyes and noses were bright red, and tears streaked down their faces.

Mark bit his cheek to keep from chuckling.
Serves them right
, he thought.

Mayor Brown turned to the police chief. “What about you, Rob? Do you honestly think we need to call in the National Guard? I'm just not convinced.”

“Not convinced? We've been tear gassed and you're not convinced?” The Rob Michaels was normally a calm man, but his voice held a tone of panic as he spoke and wiped at his eyes.

The crowd murmured its approval at his words.

“We need protection,” someone shouted.

Mayor Brown chewed on her lower lip and looked around. “You understand if this isn't what you say it is, our little town will be the laughingstock of the world, right?”

The crowd burst into a roar of conversation. Mark could see that Cassidy's unexpected show of level headedness didn't sit well with the townspeople. There were only a few who seemed unconvinced of the imminent danger posed by the invasion at the Gilbertson place.

The conversations grew from heated to hateful. People began to shout threats and call for people to arm themselves.

“This is the pitchfork part you wanted, right?” Donna said above the noise. “I hope you know what you're doing.”

“Me too.”

Mayor Brown hopped up on a chair and held up her hands for quiet. The crowd only became angrier.

“If you don't do this, we will!” another man called. The people shouted their agreement.

Cassidy began waving her arms and screaming for the people to be quiet. It took several minutes to calm them down. “I'll call the governor, but if this goes badly, remember, this is what
you
wanted.”

“It's just one family,” said Cory. “All we need to do is get rid of one family and we'll be fine.”

Mark's face grew hot. He pulled his arm off Donna and stepped forward.

“Just one family?” His words were quiet, but his tone silenced the crowd. “One family? What if that family was yours, Cory. Or yours, Cassidy? There are children on that farm!”

“How the hell did
you
get here?” Chief Michaels stood and pointed a red hand at Mark.

“I drove here, same as you. Only I didn't gas myself.”

“What?” asked Cassidy.

“You heard me, mayor, they gassed themselves when they saw
cameramen
running at them.”

“He lies!” screeched Ed. “He's one of them. He and Donna went into the house!”

The crowd gasped.

“You
asked
us to go in, remember?” asked Donna. She came and stood by Mark. “You sent us in because all of you were too afraid to go up there and talk to them.”

Several people backed away. Mark turned to the crowd.

“We went up and visited with them. The Gilbertsons have a camera crew at their house. That's all. A bunch of college guys came up from California to film a documentary.”

“You can't trust them any more,” said Rob Michaels. His voice was quiet and menacing. “Their minds have been taken over. They came here to divert our attention so the Gilbertsons can attack.”

The crowd again began to murmur. Mark held up his hands. “Which Gilbertson do you expect to attack you, Rob? Old Gil? Maybe Ma will crack you over the head with her walker. You'd deserve that one.” To his relief, a few people chuckled. “Maybe one of those pig-tailed girls will take you down. Look at what you are trying to do here. You're willing to attack a harmless family because they live on a mountain.”

The crowd turned their attention to the Chief.

“You can't trust those two. They didn't wear protection. Their minds have been taken over, and I'll prove it.” The chief turned to the crowd. “Look at them! Donna Vanderwald and Mark Lewis have been enemies since birth. They hate each other, but now that they've come off the mountain, they're suddenly an item.”

The crowd backed away from Mark and Donna a bit more.

“Tell me, what other than an alien attack, could get those two together? Nothing on earth could have done it! They are the proof of aliens.” The chief's voice held a tone of madness, and he pointed at Mark with each word, his hand pumping in the air like he was shooting a gun. “You want proof Mayor Brown? Well there it is!”

“Lock 'em up!”

Mark had no idea which man said it, but he swore he'd shave whoever it was bald. In a moment, the crowd began advancing on he and Donna, forcing them back against the wall.

Mark reached around him to pull Donna close, but she was suddenly in front of him.

“Stand back! She's got a mind control device!” Ed ducked behind Chief Michaels as he yelled.

Everyone in the room looked at Donna in fear. In her hand was a dazzling box, which she pointed at the crowd.

“I'll use it!” she threatened. Mark caught the distinct tremor laughter in her voice.

He put his hand on Donna's shoulder and gently pulled her back toward the entrance of the alley.

“She can't get us all.”

“We can take her.”

Mark whirled around and in a stride was by the jukebox. He grabbed the water guns and held them both at hip level, pointed at the mob.

The men up front froze, and several people in the back dove behind tables. Mark wanted to let out a whoop of gleeful victory, but held it back. He and Donna were in real danger, and while he was enjoying it, for the most part, he couldn't let any of the idiots in the crowd hurt her.

“Get behind me,” he ordered Donna. “I've got ‘em covered.”

“Why do you get to hold both guns?” She gave him a quick, accusing stare, still pointing the sparkling box at the townspeople.

“Can we argue about this in the truck?”

Donna let our a harrumph, but thankfully didn't press the issue.

“I hope you guys got what you needed,” Mark called over the crowd.

Paul stepped out of the doorway. “It was perfect. Thanks so much!” Two of the cameramen joined him.

The crowd gasped, and several others ducked down, only to slowly stand back up.

“What the hell?” Chief Michaels face turned pale.

“This is Paul. He heads the camera crew.” Mark's voice broke on the last word and he began to laugh.

Hank McGee let out a whoop and also began laughing. “I knew it!”

Mark turned to the astounded group. “And these are water guns.” He held them up. “And Donna has a, a—what is that thing?”

“Bedazzled garage opener. Courtesy of my daughter about ten years ago.”

“Nice touch,” said Mark.

“Thank you.”

He pointed to the three tearful men at the center of the crowd. “They gassed themselves when a camera crew ran at them. You have foil behind your ear, Ed.”

Ed began rubbing at his ears.

“And all of you men who were in my shop, and you know who you are, owe me fifty bucks.”

Mark didn't wait for a reply. He dropped the guns, grabbed Donna's hand, and bolted for the truck.

“How quick can you get your stuff together?” he asked once she was safely inside.

Donna was laughing so hard she had to take a few breaths before answering “Ten minutes. You?”

“Already packed.”

Chapter 15

Donna had only been to Las Vegas once, and that was when she was a young child. Being a minister's wife meant they avoided Sin City like a plague. As Mark deftly drove them around town in a rental sedan, she began to think that had been a good decision.

A man, or maybe a buff woman, stepped in front of the truck wearing heavy gold medals and a fur loincloth, and not much more.

A noise similar to a gurgle came from her throat.

“Don't let the creepy ones bother you,” Mark said. “They're just here to show off or try to make a living.”

“At what?” Donna asked. “There is no good way to make a living like that.” She shoved her thumb at the—whatever it was—in the street.

“Try not to think about it.”

“Too late.”

“Maybe we should just get married and go to the Columbia Gorge or Oregon coast or something.”

“No, I'll be fine. It'll be fine. All of it.” Donna tried to sit taller in her seat, but didn't feel any better.

“You don't look fine.”

Donna glanced at him, and slumped. “I'm just nervous. Eighteen hours ago, we faced down an angry mob with glitter and children's toys, and now we're here. With all this, this…” She waved her hands at the bizarre array of humanity in front of her. “Whatever they are. Not that they aren't entertaining.” She and Mark watched as a man rode a water buffalo across the street.

“So, it's the place and not the man?” Mark looked at her apprehensively.

She smiled at him despite her tired nervousness. His little boy looks had always melted her heart, and now they about melted everything else. “I want this, and I want you,” she said firmly. “But the last couple of days have been a bit strange. I'm ready to move past all the weirdness and make a new life.”

“You sure you don't want to go somewhere else? Las Vegas isn't a good place to get past the weirdness.”

“I've noticed.”

“Gets worse after dark.”

Donna took a breath and searched her feelings. Was Las Vegas too much? Was she getting cold feet?

She looked around at the sweating people and glamorous buildings. There were more normal folks here than strange ones, and many of the buildings were actually rather plain. It wasn't this place, she realized. It was her. On any other day, she'd have taken pictures and laughed at the menagerie surrounding them.

Last night, they'd driven to a motel in Idaho Falls and fallen asleep in their clothes. After a quick clean up, they were on a flight to Vegas. Until now, the rush of adrenaline and imminent promise of a new life had kept her from worry. Now, fatigue and uncertainty had set in. And nervousness. Lots of it.

Donna gasped. “I'm a nervous bride!”

Mark laughed. “Is that all?”

“Well, I'm tired and hungry and a bit cranky, too, but yeah. That's it.” Donna looked up at the huge hotel in front of them. “Wow. Is that where we're headed?”

“Yep.” Mark had made all the arrangements from the airport. He knew all the numbers and had points and rewards that he'd earned in his travels and exploits, something that made Donna a bit jealous. “I think you'll like the room, and the hotel has a buffet that never closes.”

In response, Donna's stomach growled. “That would be good.”

“Apparently.”

“You're not nervous?” She looked closely at his unshaven face. He glanced at her and swallowed. Twice. “Good. At least I'm not alone.”

Something about the fact that the great Mark Lewis looked scared to death made her feel better. She sat back and for the first time since the airport began to relax.

“It really is interesting here,” she said as another crowd walked past at a red light.

“I think you'll like the shows,” Mark ventured. “We don't need to do any of the other, um, activities.”

He had always been quite the adventurer. Donna couldn't remember a single summer he'd stayed put in town. While most of the men worked on farms, he was always off leading fishing trips or expeditions down the Columbia or Snake rivers.

“I'd like to see the town, but maybe we can leave a few days early and you can show me the coast. And I've always wanted to hike the Columbia Gorge.”

Mark turned to her. “Really?”

“Well, yes. You and John were always taking adventures, and I needed to stay at home for the church and my kids, but I've always wanted to travel. Always.”

“I'd love that.”

Mark smiled at her, and Donna felt her skin warm at his look. Every action of his seemed to make her more aware of him now that they were alone, and her body liked it. How bad would this be once they were married?

She hoped it would be unending.

They passed a beautiful white horse, and Donna made the mistake of looking up at the rider.

“Oh dear God! Is she—?”

“We're here!” Mark swung the sedan into an underground parking lot so quickly Donna hit the door.

“Worse after dark, huh? How much worse?” she demanded when he found a parking spot.

“Much. There's more than one Lady Godiva in this town.”

Donna nodded. “It's a good thing we'll be in a hotel room by then,” she said. A grin spread across her face. “You'll need to keep me busy so I don't get too curious.”

“Deal!” He pulled her in for a long kiss.

After a long and exhausting day, it felt like heaven. Even the prickly stubble didn't bother her. Much.

She let herself become warm. She let herself feel butterflies that swarmed from her stomach straight into her lower abdomen. She let herself be a woman in love.

Mark crushed her against him. His lips pulled and sucked on hers, insistent and urgent. She ran her fingers through his hair and held on. Her body throbbed in places it shouldn't. Even her toes curled.

He finally pulled back a bit, mischief glinting in his eyes. “Still hungry?” His stomach growled this time. “Damn.”

Donna took a moment to catch her breath. She looked at her watch. Three hours until they were due at the chapel. “Here's the plan: eat, unpack, clean up, get married, sex. Any issues?”

“Nope.”

“Let's do this.”

She opened her door and headed to the trunk and her bags. Three hours seemed like forever. Three hours was not nearly long enough.

#

Donna had chosen her prettiest dress for the ceremony, but in the glitter and skin of Las Vegas, it seemed frumpy and unattractive. And bland.

Of course, she looked better than any of the senior citizens she saw wandering Las Vegas in herds.

She stood in the lobby of the Las Vegas Have It Your Way Wedding Chapel and watched the crowds meander past the large windows The place was adorned with cheap plastic flowers in clashing colors and pictures of weddings done with an array of fake stars.

“And you want the Elvis package, is that right?” the mousy clerk asked.

“Yes.” Mark had arranged everything this morning. Was it really just this morning?

“Mr. Lewis asked for a song. Here is a list of the ones we offer.” The clerk shoved a menu of wedding services at Donna and pointed to the Elvis section.

Donna picked it up and perused all the options. “The Easter Bunny? Really?”

“Only in the right season. All of our seasonal ceremonies cost extra. The bunny won't be available to officiate until March. I might be able to pull the Thanksgiving Turkey in if you'd prefer.”

“Ah.” Donna choked back a laugh and looked at the available songs. “No, Elvis is fine. Can we have 'Can't Help Falling In Love'?”

The clerk nodded in approval. “It's my favorite, too. When will the groom be arriving?”

“As soon as he gets his tux fitted,” Donna said with another glance out the window. Mark had left two hours ago to get a suit for the wedding. He'd slept in his only suit last night and wanted to wear something less wrinkled.

“Did you bring your own witnesses, or do you want us to provide them?”

Donna looked at the woman. “We're here alone.”

“That's fine, it's no extra cost. Witnesses can be anyone.”

A twinge of regret tightened Donna's chest. She had good friends who would have wanted to be here. Her daughter would have stood by her, and her son could have ushered.

She looked up at the pictures of other weddings. Happy couples stood on either side of everyone from Sinatra to Santa. This was definitely more fun than a wedding that required an usher.

Besides, Haley couldn't dare call her life boring any more.

Another herd of aged tourists shambled by the chapel, almost all stopping to take a snapshot.

Across the street another group of people in full costume gathered outside a hotel. Donna's eyes grew wide. The sign above them read, “We Are Not Alone: SETI Contact Convention.”

“Witnesses can be anyone, right?” she asked.

“Sure. We just need a valid ID.”

“Perfect. I'll be right back.”

#

Mark cursed as a sheep nipped his butt. He slammed the door to the car shut and scooted away from the bleating animal.

“They think it's funny,” said the ranch hand by way of apology.

“Normally I wouldn't mind, but this is a rented suit,” Mark said. He looked back to check for damage, but only saw a slimy spot.

The two sheep and two rams tugged on their leashes and bleated loudly. He and the ranch hand had tied blue and pink ribbons on them, but one of the rams had chewed two off already.

“We'd better get this done before they get ornery,” said the hand.

“This isn't ornery?” Mark asked. He took two of the leashes and marched toward the door.

“Nope. Ornery is when they go for your crotch,” said the hand.

Mark shoved open the glass door and pulled the sheep through.

“Oh, you didn't,” said Donna. She began to laugh.

“These are our bridesmaids and groomsmen,” Mark explained. “I thought they went well with the theme of our lives.”

Two of the animals rushed up to Donna. She bent down to pet the ewe munching on her dress. “You found sheep in Vegas? Why on earth are there sheep in Vegas?”

“You don't want to know,” said Mark.

Donna cocked an eyebrow at him.

“No. Seriously. You
don't
want to know.” A shiver went down his spine and Donna's eyes got big.

“Don't let them near your crotch,” warned the ranch hand.

“Who are these?” Mark only now noticed four metallic figures standing by Donna.

“Our witnesses.” Donna pointed at the bulbous headed alien. “When I explained our situation, they were more than happy to help.”

The alien nodded, and a green woman in a silver dress stepped forward. “Besides, this place is air conditioned. Beats standing in a line. Can I pet the sheep?”

Mark nodded and turned to Donna. “You have no idea how proud I am of you. This is better than anything I could have dreamed of.”

“You dreamed of a wedding like
this
?” asked Donna.

“Not exactly, but it works.”

The desk clerk pulled out a camera and began taking pictures.

“Okay, folks, are we ready for this?” a deep voice called out. A tall man in rhinestones and long sideburns stepped out of the back room. His gaze swept the wedding party. “Looks like it,” he said without batting an eye.

“At least it's not snakes and tarantulas this time,” said the clerk.

“Thank the gods for that,” agreed Elvis. “Make sure you get good pictures, Lucy. These folks are going to want to share this back home.” He opened the door to a small, white room lined with stained glass windows. Fluorescent bulbs glowed behind the colored windows. “Aliens grab the sheep, and the bride and groom follow me.”

Mark handed the sheep to the green woman and reached for Donna's hand. She slid it into his, and they turned to follow Elvis.

He wasn't entirely sure they were touching the ground, but he couldn't care less. The life he'd longed for since he was a boy was about to become his reality.

He'd won the girl. Nothing else in the universe mattered other than that fact.

He walked beside Donna prouder than he'd ever been in his life. The only thing he knew was that Donna's hand was securely wrapped in his and that his heart, his thundering heart, still beat in his chest.