Booker knew that Manny was high on Mexican reefer. For
some reason it always made him want to spell out his words. “Great,” he said. “With Logan out, and with the scare we put into the rest of the team, there’s no way Killington can beat us in district now. Hell, the Jackrabbits might not even play Stanton High tonight after all we’ve done. They’ll probably forfeit the game. But even if they do play, and Killington somehow manages to beat Stanton without Logan, there’s no way in hell they can beat us without him.”

“S-M-O-O-T-H sailing now,” Manny agreed. Booker heard the exchange of another high five. “Listen, bro, I’ll catch you later.”

“Where you going?”

“School. It is a school day, you know.”

“You can’t. I need you to come over here.”

“Why?”

“I need to juice.”

“But we ain’t even playing tonight. Have you forgotten that it’s our off-week? Plus, I think you need to go easy for a while. Hombre Muchacho is strong stuff, you know. You can always double up next week for district.”

“Just get over here and stick my ass.”

CHAPTER 5

GET the hell off me!” Cole jerked his hand away from the young medic attempting to apply fresh gauze to his hand.

The medic recoiled and cast his eyes up to the sheriff. Sheriff Curtis Clark nodded and the man moved away in a huff, stripping off his rubber gloves in Cole’s face as if to say, It’s your funeral, asshole.

Cole sat on the bumper of the ambulance parked outside the gym and rewrapped the bandanna over his wounds. The pain was bad enough to cause his ears to ring, but he refused to let it show.

O’Dell Lamar, the Jackrabbits tailback, and Willard Blunt, free safety, brushed past the sheriff and hovered over Cole. Both boys were fellow starters on the team, and they had been the first to rush to Cole’s side when he had finished his speech at the pep rally.

O’Dell placed a hand on Cole’s shoulder. “Hey, Logan, ease up there, man. I know you’ve been through the shit today, but that hand needs—”

“I don’t need a nurse, O’Dell, but thanks.”

Willard and O’Dell shared a look.

Willard said, “That may be, Logan, but we need a healthy quarterback … and in just a few hours. I think you’d best just let the doctors do their thing. We’re counting on you, man … but we’re also here to help.”

“Well, I appreciate that, but what say you guys worry about holding up your end and let me hold up mine?”

A tense beat passed. O’Dell shook his head and offered a humorless chuckle. “Yeah. Sure thing, Logan. Don’t let us get in your way. Just trying to help, you know?”