Escape from the Badlands

Chenko sighed. “It’s the weather. You can circumvent nearly any race obstacle that arises, but not the weather. That annoys me.”

“Have you cancelled races before?”

“Almost. Last year the weather was unpredictable, too. There was an accident on the riding leg of the race. Had to borrow horses from a local.”

Shane stiffened. The locals, he knew, were his brother, Todd, and Olivia. A shadow crossed Chenko’s face. “Nice folks helped us out. I was really sorry the gal was killed.” Chenko shook his head. “You’d think that kinda thing wouldn’t happen out here in God’s country.”

Shane imagined what his brother would say. It’s all God’s country, but anywhere there are people, bad things can happen. He wondered how his brother was doing, locked in a cage, the threads of his faith loosening like a flag fraying in a vicious wind. “Did you have the same team working for you then?”

Chenko raised an eyebrow. “Team?” He laughed. “By team, I suppose you mean Devin. Yeah, been with me for a couple years now. He’s great with people, but he could use some schooling in business. It’s all about connections and keeping your eye on the goal. He’s got his sights on something else most of the time. As my daddy used to tell me, if you don’t keep your eyes on the prize, someone else will take it.” Chenko noticed a newcomer to the group, a mustached man with a bald head toting some serious camera power. “Speaking of which, if you’ll excuse me, I smell publicity in the air.”

Kelly arrived with a bright-eyed Charlie in her arms. Shane opened his mouth to call to her but closed it abruptly when Devin gestured her over. He whispered something to Betsy, who frowned for a moment before leaving the table.

Kelly sat next to Devin with Charlie on her lap. She looked rested, in spite of the harrowing night, slim and strong in the pair of jeans she must have popped in the camp dryer and a race T-shirt. He watched the three of them chatting, laughing, and his heart sank. Man, woman and child. A family. Though Kelly had echoed his desire to not have children, she seemed to have fallen into the mother role so naturally, so willingly.

And Charlie, the little boy with the wide brown eyes, put his hand up and rested it on her cheek.

The gesture knifed through him. Charlie needed Kelly, depended completely on her protection and care. Relied on her to keep him safe.

The terror he’d felt when he’d run down to the river flooded back into his gut.

Please…please don’t let me see him there, face down in that water. Please…

He’d offered the plea automatically, like an ignorant child.

No one up there, Shane. No one for you.

He downed another slug of coffee, relieved when Kelly led Charlie away to prepare plates of food. Devin rose and hopped onto the tiny platform at one end of the lodge, tapping a cordless microphone.

“Good morning, racers. Today is your last day to back out before the official torture begins in the morning.”

The racers responded with laughter and good-natured heckling. Devin turned on a small laptop computer and pulled down a screen. “The race is divided into three legs.” He grinned. “You cowboy types were no doubt disappointed that we’ve eliminated the horseback part of the trip.”

Shane stiffened, fighting the urge to stand up and ask Devin to explain in front of everyone about the mishap and the ensuing visit to his brother’s ranch the year before. He stayed put, though, and Devin’s presentation flowed smoothly on, covering the particulars of the equipment and route. Someone settled into a chair next to him, and he was surprised to find Kelly and Charlie there.

Kelly’s cheeks pinked. “Sorry. This was the only spot with two chairs, and Charlie does better when he’s not sitting on my lap for breakfast.”

Shane managed a smile. “Sure.”

Kelly brushed some hair out of Charlie’s face. “Charlie, this is Mr….Shane. He’s a…” She flicked a quick look at him and then back to Charlie. “He’s a racer, like the others.”

And that’s all he was to her. Just like the others. Like the mom who let her down and the other nameless faces that went in and out of her life. He forced a cheerful tone. “Hello, Charlie. Good to meet you. Do you like to ride bikes?”

Charlie nodded. “I gotta trike for Christmas.”

“That’s great.” He watched Charlie tuck into his scrambled eggs, the fork seeming too large in his small fingers.

Kelly eyed Shane over the top of her coffee cup. She lowered her voice to a near whisper. “Shane…” Her words trailed off for a moment. “I was thinking about the reason you came here. It seems like a long shot to find a way to crack Ackerman’s alibi.”

Shane winced, wishing he hadn’t been forced to tell her about the plan. “It’s the only thing I can do to help my brother.”

“My uncle Bill is back with the Tribal Rangers. Maybe he can help you.”

Shane shook his head, surprised at the offer and fairly certain he would not get much help at all from Kelly’s uncle after what had happened between him and Kelly. “I appreciate that,” he said, looking around to be sure no one had overheard. The group was hanging on Ackerman’s every word. “There’s nothing he can do that the cops haven’t already done.”

“Don’t be too sure. He’s very persistent.”

He couldn’t hold back a smile. “Really?”

She returned the smile for a moment before the humor was replaced by a cool expression. “Anyway, it was just a thought. But you’re not giving up—I can tell.”

“Must be a family trait.”

“I wouldn’t have thought so.”

The words stung. He looked away. She busied herself wiping Charlie’s hands and face, looking around, he imagined, to find another spot to sit. She’d just finished her cleanup when Ackerman announced from the microphone, “Let’s introduce you to our new race medic, Kelly Cloudman. Come on up here, Kelly.”

Kelly flushed and walked to the platform. Charlie watched her. “That’s my mama. I’ve got two. Mama Rose is on a trip.”

Shane found himself unable to answer.

Charlie waved and knocked over his orange juice in the process. Instinctively, Shane threw the nearby napkins down on the spill and said in his best John Wayne voice, “No worries, Cowboy Charlie. We got the flood under control, partner.”

Charlie laughed. “You’re funny.”

Funny. A memory of his little brother’s laughter rolled through him.

Funny Shane. The goofy big brother who could always get a laugh.

Lonnie, whose laughter was swallowed up by Shane’s carelessness in a moment that would change everything.

One horrible moment.

His reverie was broken at the sound of applause for Kelly. She waved, and Ackerman hugged her around the shoulder. Just a friendly gesture, a warm greeting that nonetheless made Shane want to launch himself at the platform and knock Ackerman away from her.

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