He looked at her. “I was over there in that war for two years. I still can’t believe I survived. I don’t want others to go through that.” He took a breath. “Let’s get these loaded and go.”

It was a peaceful march until two hours later, when the army called a halt to the protest. They didn’t use their guns, but they used tear gas, and arrested anyone who resisted. Miguel grabbed Vera’s hand and pulled her into an alley. She fought him. To her, they were cowards to hide, but Miguel was too strong for her.

“I need to help. I need to stay with them.”

His arms were around her and they held her tight. “You need to choose your battles,” he said. “Don’t try to win the whole war in a day. Don’t blow up a bridge and kill people in the explosion. Chip away at it slowly. Do you understand me?”

Her face was pressed into his chest and she nodded.

The shouting stopped, the tear gas cleared and Miguel released the strength of his hold on her. “Know where to get some barbecue around here?”

In spite of herself, Vera smiled. The Kansas cure for everything: beef. Thick, succulent, tender beef. “Sure,” she murmured. It was rather nice to be held against him. She could feel his heart beating against her cheek.

They walked to his truck and got inside. “So when’s the next one?” he asked.

“Next what?”

“You can lie to the others but not to me. When’s the next protest, meeting, riot or whatever else you plan to stick your nose into?”

“You don’t have to get involved in this.”

Miguel pulled his shirt out of his jeans to expose his right side. There was an ugly scar just below his ribs. It was round, as though he’d been punctured with something. “Four days after Kent, eleven students at the University of New Mexico who were protesting the war were bayoneted.”

“And you were one of them?” Her eyes were wide. At his nod, she looked away, out the window. “Next Friday.”

He drove for a while and they were silent. “How did the old cellar hold up over the years?”

She gave a one-sided smile. “I’ve had to do some work on it but it’s good. It’s where I, uh, do things.”

“Like make your signs? Write angry letters? Generally cause chaos?”

Her smile broadened. “Yes. You can’t go to any of them with me. Gabby needs you.” She was teasing.

Miguel groaned. “I’m afraid to be alone with her.”

“She might get you pregnant?”

Miguel wasn’t laughing. “When Rafe and Forey aren’t there, she takes a shower, then walks around in just a towel.”

Vera frowned. “That’s kind of serious.”