Highway to Hell (38 page)
Authors: Rosemary Clement-Moore
Justin had gone all the way out to the garden behind the chapel, where he sat on the wooden railing, looking over a marshy inlet. The air was cool coming off the water, and I zipped up my jacket as I leaned on the rail beside him.
“Are you avoiding me?” I asked.
He dropped his arm over my shoulders. “Just the opposite. I was sending you psychic messages to come out and meet me.”
“I haven't seen you much today.”
“Sorry. I guess after near-death experiences, it would have been more boyfriendly to spend some quality time with you.”
“Nah.” I turned and jumped up to sit on the rail, too, my back to the water so I could face him. “I interviewed Doña Isabel today. It's going to make a great article.”
“I asked Hector a ton of questions about
brujería.
It's rare that an outsider gets so much insight.”
“Productive day.” I swung my legs, gazing at the moon-silvered
garden. Darn it if I wasn't going to miss this place a little.
“Justin.” I said his name without looking at him, but I could see from the corner of my eye that my tone had caught his attention. “Do you help me with all this weird stuff because of some kind of Bruce Wayne need to avenge your parents, or absolve your survivor guilt, or something like that?”
He blinked. “I'm helping you because it's the right thing to do. But even if it wasn't, I'd brave Hellfire and more for you, Maggie.”
Something twisted pleasantly in my chest, as if my heart were doing a happy little dance. But I had at least one more thing that needed saying.
“You should know, I don't think this is the last time this is going to happen.”
The corner of his mouth turned up in that crooked smile that I loved. He slipped his arm around my waist, resting his fingers on my hip. “You say that like you think it makes a difference to me.”
“That just proves you're as crazy as I am.”
His arm tightened, and my balance became very precarious. “No, that just proves I'm crazy about you.”
Right then, a normal life seemed
way
overrated.
Eventually, I did make it back to my room, but it was long after Lisa had turned off the light.
CKNOWLEDGMENTS
I'd like to thank the folks at the Kenedy Ranch Museum in Sarita, Texas, for their work preserving the heritage of South Texas ranching, in particular the lives and legacy of the vaquero, and the King Ranch Museum in Kingsville for insight into the cattle industry, past and present. Dulcina and the Velasquez family are completely fictional, but I was inspired by the rugged and hardworking people who fed America as it manifested its destiny across the West. All mistakes made and liberties taken are my own.
My thanks, also, to the great folks at Random House, who have been so supportive of the books, and to my editor, Krista Marino, for her insight, patience, and general awesome-ness. Also awesome is my agent, Lucienne Diver, who gives me advice and encouragement and doesn't laugh too hard when I say something dorky.
Thank you, also, to all the readers who have written or stopped by my blog. Not to mention the librarians, booksellers, and bloggers who have stocked, recommended, and reviewed my books.
Finally, to my mom, and everyone who supported me with infusions of coffee, words of encouragement, and kicks to the rear. Most especially: Cheryl Smyth, Candace Havens, Shannon Canard, Marion Smith, Peter Clement, Delilah Peeler, and K. Hudson Price.
And, best for last, my husband, Tim. You rock, babe, and not just at Guitar Hero.
R
OSEMARY
C
LEMENT
-M
OORE
loves ancient and modern history, Jane Austen and Madeleine L'Engle, the Food Network, the SciFi Channel, and Guitar Hero. She used to live on a South Texas ranch with horses, cows, coyotes, skunks, and mosquitoes of hellish origin. Since moving back to civilization with her husband and dogs, she is most grateful that there is a Starbucks within walking distance and she no longer has to shoot rattlesnakes from her front porch.
Highway to Hell
is her third book featuring Maggie Quinn. You can visit Rosemary at
www.rosemaryclementmoore.com
.
Published by Delacorte Press
an imprint of Random House Children's Books
a division of Random House, Inc.
New York
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Copyright © 2009 by Rosemary Clement-Moore
All rights reserved.
Delacorte Press and colophon are registered trademarks of Random House, Inc.
Visit us on the Web!
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www.randomhouse.com/teachers
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Clement-Moore, Rosemary.
Highway to hell / Rosemary Clement-Moore. — 1st ed.
p. cm.—(Maggie Quinn : girl vs. evil)
Summary: On their way to spend spring break on a Texas beach, college freshmen Maggie Quinn and D&D Lisa are stranded in a town where some believe a chupacabra is killing animals, and as the girls investigate they get help from diverse and unexpected sources.
eISBN: 978-0-375-89193-9
[1. Chupacabras—Fiction. 2. Monsters—Fiction. 3. Psychic ability—Fiction. 4. Witchcraft—Fiction. 5. Demonology—Fiction. 6. Journalism—Fiction. 7. Texas-Fiction. 8. Mystery and detective stories. 9. Horror stories.] I. Title.
PZ7.C59117Hig 2009 [Fic]—dc22 008005304
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