Gonzo Garza reclines in his bed, watching the storm rage outside. The rain falls in heavy curtains, obscuring his view of the Capitol’s pink dome.   Tori Mangonel sits naked on the other side of the bed, facing the wall.  Gonzo stares at her back.   “Where’s your car?” he asks.   Mangonel ignores him… Read More

They’ve been putting out yard signs for more than 12 hours, and it’s just after midnight on a Thursday. Bud’s driving, and Kerry is curled up in the passenger seat, trying to sleep.   “He’s the one, right?” Bud asks again.   Kerry moans plaintively. She tries to turn farther away from Bud, but her… Read More

The old ranch truck slides to a stop at the crossing of FM 669, and a cloud of dust washes over the truck. The passenger door creaks loudly as James Carlos Cates steps out to unchain the gate.   Britt Huff drives the truck across 669 while Cates closes and rechains the gate. Then Cates… Read More

Carol King slowly dries her hands as she looks at herself in the mirror.  The bathroom is empty, but she knows that at any moment, other guests from the fundraiser could appear.   She wishes they would; King hates to be alone.  She hates the quiet.  But she forces herself to be mindful of her… Read More