Gabriel's Stand Read Free Page A

bullet actually cut a crease in his skull.”
    â€œWhat?” Gabriel made a face.
    Dr. Owen shook his head, a small smile appearing. “It really was a miracle…or a damn good imitation. Gabriel only lost consciousness for a few minutes. Not even a concussion. You were the one we’ve been worried sick about. I didn’t get your good news until we got off the plane this morning. But when Snowfeather and I left Seattle, you were on the endangered species list. By the way, Rachael, Elisabeth and Josh send their love.”
    â€œI’m no snail darter with the Sierra Club on my side, but I guess I’ll live,” Alice murmured. She looked at her husband, and with a stronger voice, she asked, “How is my man?”
    Gabriel leaned forward and took her hand. “I’m doing fine, Princess. I thought I’d lost you…” Gabriel was fighting tears.
    â€œWho would do this to us, Gabriel?”
    â€œThe usual DC street thugs, I guess.”
    â€œAnd you took them on?”
    â€œI had no choice, Princess. Hey, I know, I know.” Gabriel said. “I should have ducked sooner.” Gabriel grinned.
    â€œNot funny,” Alice said.
    â€œTakes more than a thirty-eight to kill a bear,” Gabriel said.
    â€œDon’t talk like that, Gabriel. We could have both been killed.”
    â€œYeah, I know.”
    â€œWe need to get away from this terrible place.”
    â€œYou mean the hospital or DC?”
    â€œYes, both.”
    Gabriel nodded again, tears streaming down his face. “We will,” he said.
    â€œPromise me,” Alice demanded.
    â€œI promise.” Gabriel said.
    When Alice finally broke out of this reverie and climbed onto the deck of the trawler, she noticed John Owen and her husband studying her. Promise kept , Alice thought. John Owen smiled as if reading her mind.
    No one was talking at the moment; each passenger seemed to have retreated to his or her own private space. It’s going to be that kind of an outing , John thought as he looked out to the open water and slipped into his own memories.
    John Owen was starting medical school at the University of Washington when he first met freshman Gabriel Standing Bear Lindstrom. Despite the age difference, it was an instant buddy relationship that became a lifelong friendship.
    Gabriel seemed to carry his depths with him guilelessly, like a child taking his Marvel comic book on his father’s mountain lion hunting trip in order to hide a volume of Kierkegaard. It seemed that Gabriel’s outer toughness was always betrayed by something suddenly soft or funny or startlingly deep…a lingering glance, a turn of phrase, a stance. John had long ago concluded that Gabriel Standing Bear carried more real depth than any guy he had ever met.
    On a recent visit to DC, Dr. Owen had noticed a new painting in his friend’s office. Senator Gabriel Standing Bear was looking out from the wall. That stocky torso, the white shirt, the bolo tie and Gabriel’s gray braided hair were perfectly rendered. Like a modern Chief, John had thought. Gabriel’s close-set, brown eyes were lit with the irrepressible twinkle John had seen so many times before. As John had stared at the painting, he imagined his old friend launching into another story. He noted the artist’s signature: ACH. He later asked Gabriel who that was. “He really captured you, Gabriel.”
    â€œIt was my Alice,” Gabriel had said, glowing with pride.
    â€œJohn? Earth to John.” Gabriel was waving his hand at his friend from his seat on the boat.
    John Owen smiled. “Sorry, I was just remembering…our history together.”
    â€œLike?”
    â€œOh…like when the doctors cleared Alice for release, and Snowfeather and I met you for pancakes before our flight back to Seattle. You didn’t look that much worse for wear. That’s when you told me you’re going to have that crease in your