Escape From the Badlands (19 page)

Shane stared at Chenko until his eyes burned.

Keep looking at the car.

Chenko moved out further now, his gun ready in his hand. “Thanks for coming, Rose,” he called. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for a long time.” His laughter was filled with exultation. “You should have stayed with me. We could have been a family—you, me and Charlie. But now…” He held up his hands in a gesture of helplessness. “Now I’m going to have to raise my boy alone.”

The car crunched along the gentle slope, gaining some momentum.

Chenko leveled the gun at the driver’s side.

Gut tightening, Shane hoped the darkness would be enough.

“Stop the car, Rose, and get out.”

The car moved more quickly, tires kicking up bits of gravel as it went.

“Doesn’t matter if you stop or not,” Chenko called. “I’m killing you one way or another. Wouldn’t you rather stop and do this privately?”

The car rolled on.

“All right!” Chenko shouted, his face twisted in rage. “Have it your way.”

He began to fire the weapon.

Kelly screamed at the sound of exploding glass. She pulled Rose to the ground next to her, peering out from the shrubs, grateful they’d crept from the car just before it started its downward roll toward Chenko.

She wanted to leap from behind the bushes and find Shane, but she had another mission.

Get Charlie.

Grabbing Rose’s hand, the two of them made their way quickly to the end of the shrub line. There was no more substantial cover, only low-lying foliage that wouldn’t conceal them for long. Kelly held up an index finger. “Wait,” she mouthed.

Her sister’s face was ghastly pale, the eyes half-wild, but she did as Kelly commanded.

When Chenko fired the next shot they ran, hurtling down the road as fast as they could before they dove behind the pickup, scuttling around to the side, facing away from Chenko.

Kelly frantically yanked on the door handle but found it locked. Chenko wasn’t taking any chances.

She risked standing and peeking inside. Charlie was curled in a ball, lying on his side, eyes shut. The window of the old truck was unrolled only about an inch, not enough for her to get her hand inside.

Her body was electrified. Any moment, Chenko might turn from the car and spot them yanking on the truck door.

She flattened herself to the ground and looked under the truck. The empty car was slowing now, coming to a stop at the flat area near the mine entrance, windows shattered. Chenko warily moved closer. He would discover their ruse and find them in the act of trying to steal Charlie.

Rose searched in the dirt, hands scrambling wildly. “We’ve got to find a rock.”

She found a sharp chunk of granite and brought it over her head to smash the window.

Kelly grabbed her hands. “No, the glass might hurt Charlie. Let me try.”

She stood shakily and pressed her mouth to the opening in the window. “Charlie, honey, it’s Mama Kelly. I need you to open the door so we can go home, okay?”

Charlie whimpered, but did not move.

Rose shook her head. “He’s too scared. We have to break it.”

“No,” Kelly hissed. “Too much noise.” She tried again. “Charlie, you’re such a big man, aren’t you? Shane is going to help us get home, and he promised you could ride on the motorcycle, but you’ve got to open the door right now, okay? I’m going to take you home, back to Paddy Paws.”

Heart in her throat, Kelly watched as Charlie uncurled himself and reached his little hand toward the lock.

Time seemed to stand still as Charlie pulled, and Kelly thought he might not have the fine motor skills to do it, but finally, after a long moment of agony, she heard the lock slide open.

She eased the door open and Charlie leaped into her arms. Her heart nearly burst at the relief she felt to have the child safe in her embrace.

The relief did not last long. Chenko made it to the car and peered inside.

He let out a roar of rage and spun back toward the truck.

NINETEEN

S
hane was close enough to read Chenko’s body language. The moment he discovered their ruse, he reared back in a murderous rage. He would go toward the truck.

Not if Shane could help it.

He kick-started the motorcycle and roared down the slope before the car rolled to a complete stop. Chenko’s attention was distracted just long enough. Shane was coming quickly upon him before he realized what was happening. He fired wildly as the motorcycle leapt into his line of vision, the shot whistling by Shane’s face. Ducking down as much as he could and zigzagging the bike, he kept after Chenko.

The man’s face creased in fury as he fired again, the shot slamming into the rocks. Shane read it in his eyes. Chenko weighed the satisfaction of killing Shane against the prize he really wanted. He spun on his heel and sprinted downhill toward the truck.

Gritting his teeth, Shane hit the gas and flew top speed at Chenko. Had Kelly gotten Charlie out?

The look on Chenko’s face was pure rage. He might just hurt Charlie to prove a point, if he realized he was on the losing end of the deal. Shane pressed harder and pulled within feet of Chenko as he neared the truck. Chenko raised his gun hand to fire toward the vehicle, and Shane knew he had to put a stop to the deadly game.

He accelerated, came alongside Chenko and leaped off the motorcycle.

They came down in a tangle of limbs.

The gun went off again before Shane rolled on top of Chenko, slamming his hand into the ground until his grip failed and the gun skittered away. Chenko aimed a punch at Shane that landed on his jaw, stunning him, but Shane’s grip on Chenko did not weaken.

Somewhere in the back of his mind, he heard sirens approaching, but still he did not let go of Chenko.

Chenko’s face was mottled and sweaty. “You can’t take what’s mine,” he spat.

Shane stared into the mad eyes. “They were never yours, and they never will be.”

Uniformed officers suddenly appeared and secured Chenko, taking him into custody and helping Shane to his feet.

“So I guess I finally got the answer to my question,” a deep voice said.

Shane was surprised to see Bill Cloudman in Tribal Ranger uniform, a slight smile on his lips.

“What question was that, sir?”

“The one about what kind of man you are.” He jerked a thumb at Chenko. “I just caught the end of your crazy stunt, and now I know.”

Though it was dark, Shane thought he caught the barest glint of admiration on Bill’s face.

“Did you find Jean?”

He nodded. “She’s okay. Resting back in the trailer. Refused to go to the hospital. Stubborn.”

Shane smiled. “Runs in the family?”

“Not just in my family, I guess.”

Bill smiled, or maybe it was a trick of the moonlight. Shane didn’t have time to ponder, as Kelly ran toward him, throwing her arms around him. Bill melted into the background. Shane embraced her tightly. “Charlie?”

“He’s okay. Scared but not hurt.” She pulled away to look him over closely. “Were you hit? You’re bleeding.”

He shrugged. “I think I caught some glass.”

She nodded, then started to cry, tears streaming down her face. “How can I thank you for what you did? How can I ever thank you?”

He pulled her to him and kissed her, his lips tingling and sweet emotion flowing through him. “I should be thanking you.”

“Why?” She half laughed. “You nearly got killed tonight trying to help my sister and Charlie.”

“Because you reminded me that what I have is more important than what I’ve lost.”

Her eyes met his, glittering like fallen stars in the darkness. He kissed her again.

It was dawn by the time they made it back to the base camp. Aunt Jean greeted them with massive, tearful hugs. “I’m so sorry,” she cried. “I let that woman take Charlie. How could I have allowed it?”

Kelly reassured her aunt as best she could. “There’s no way you could have known. No way any of us could have known.”

Shane patted her on the back as they sat at the battered table, sipping mugs of coffee. Charlie had finally been soothed enough to go to sleep, Paddy Paws curled up next to him. The trauma he had endured made Kelly cringe inside, but with the help of Aunt Jean and Uncle Bill, he would overcome it.

And Rose, Kelly thought with a start. Rose was back for her son. Kelly’s stomach clenched, and a helpless feeling surged through her. Charlie would go back with his real mother. Why did it feel as if a part of her would go with him?

She looked at Shane. He was bruised and dirty, but he looked more peaceful than she’d ever seen him. Where would they go from here? He would return to his hometown, help clear his brother of Olivia’s murder, and then what?

Her thoughts were interrupted by a knock at the door. Kelly opened it to find Devin and Gwen on the doorstep. She ushered them in. Rose went immediately to embrace her friend.

Devin’s cheeks were red, his easy confidence evaporated. “I know I’m intruding. I just wanted to make sure you were okay and tell you how sorry I am.”

Shane cleared his throat. “Maybe I should be apologizing. All this time, I thought you were the one responsible for killing Olivia.”

Ackerman blanched. “Me? Of course it wasn’t me.” He stopped and sighed. “I do have some blame in all this. I knew Betsy was irrational sometimes. I even had suspicions that she had something to do with making Ellen Brown sick, but I never did anything about it. Maybe if I had, or if I could have seen Chenko for what he was…”

Kelly touched him on the shoulder. “There’s no way to go back and undo things. Betsy didn’t get the chance to hurt anyone else.”

“And she’s never going to have the chance again,” Uncle Bill said. “Neither will Chenko.”

Ackerman nodded. “Anyway, I told the racers what happened. Most have already left. I can’t refund their money so I guess the race is officially finished.” He gave them a final nod and left.

Gwen shuffled forward, put a cardboard box on the table and turned to follow him.

“What is it, Gwen?”

“A cake. For Charlie’s birthday. I made it yesterday.”

Rose hugged her friend, and Kelly saw tears in Gwen’s eyes. “Thank you for everything you’ve done for Charlie,” Rose said.

Gwen shrugged. “I’d do anything for him.”

Kelly stood. “We’re leaving soon for Uncle Bill’s house. It’s a couple of hours from here. We’re going to have a little party Monday, just like we planned. Why don’t you come, too? You can ride back with Rose, and we’ll find someplace for you to sleep.”

Gwen shook her head. “No. It’s a family thing.”

Kelly’s voice shook a little. “Gwen, you tried your best to take care of Charlie by bringing him to me, and you did your best for Rose. That makes you family. Please come.”

Gwen’s face contorted and, for a moment, Kelly thought she would decline. Then she nodded. Rose wrapped her in a hug, and there was sniffling all around. Then Rose turned to her family. “I need to say something, too. I’ve made so many bad choices, and I can’t believe I almost lost Charlie for good.” She wiped away a tear. “I’m not strong enough, not yet. Aunt Jean is going to help me get into treatment. There’s an eight-month program and then some outpatient care. I wanted to…” She looked at Kelly. “I need to ask if you’ll take care of Charlie for me. He thinks of you as his mother anyway.” Her gaze dropped to the floor.

Kelly took her sister’s hand. “I will look out for Charlie as long as he lives, and I’ll make a home for him until his mother comes back, for good this time.”

The sisters embraced until both of them had cried themselves out. Aunt Jean made sandwiches for everyone and after they’d eaten, Uncle Bill and Rose began to pack up for the drive home while Aunt Jean and Gwen swept the floor. Kelly cleaned the kitchen and when she looked up, Shane was gone.

Her heart sank.

What they’d been through, the new feelings she’d sensed in him, had been fleeting after all. Things would return to the status quo. She was angry at herself for thinking otherwise. He’d asked her to leave the race, and now that it was over, they would part ways.

A tap at the window startled her.

Outside, Shane crooked his finger at her. Wiping her hands on her apron, she excused herself and went outside, dreading the final goodbye she knew was coming.

“Hey,” she said.

“Hey, yourself. You okay?”

She nodded, breathing deeply to maintain a calm tone. “Now that Charlie and Rose are safe, I’m just fine. How about you? Have you contacted your brother?”

“I spoke with his lawyer. We’re going to meet Monday morning and go over the details.”

She smiled at the look of satisfaction on his face. “I’m so happy for you and Todd.”

“Me, too. How are you doing with the return of the prodigal sister?”

“I’m glad Rose is going to take some time and work hard on her sobriety. It’s the best thing for Charlie.”

“Is it the best thing for you?”

She shrugged, picking at a loose thread on her shirt. “I’m glad I can take care of Charlie for a while longer.”

He stared at her, the rising sun gilding his hair, his eyes that piercing blue tint that colored her dreams.

After a moment’s hesitation he said, “Charlie is blessed to have you.”

“Blessed? I’m surprised to hear you use that word.”

“I’m surprised to find myself saying it.” He looked away for a moment. “I learned some things about myself out here, because of you.”

She saw emotion shimmering on his face, underneath his breezy tone. “What did you learn, Shane?”

“I’m a real slow study, but I finally figured out that God put a woman in my life to show me the truth, to help me find out what kind of a man I am.”

She looked at him in wonder. “What kind is that?”

“A man who loves you more than anyone he’s ever met or ever will meet.”

Her throat thickened, and she fought tears. “Thank you for saying that, but I know you don’t want to be involved in raising a child, and now I understand why. You did so much for me, for us, and I understand you need to move on.”

He started to speak but she stopped him.

“Please, let’s make this quick and easy for both of us.”

“Okay,” he said, suddenly pulling her into his arms. “Quick and easy. I don’t understand all this God stuff. I’ve spent my whole life raging at him for taking my brother. Now I see that He doesn’t hate me because He brought you into my life. And Charlie, too. I’ll probably always worry about taking care of a child, and there’s plenty I don’t understand, Kell, but one thing I’ve got down crystal clear. I love you, I love Charlie and I’m going to work every day from now on to convince you that I’m the kind of man you can trust this time.”

Her pulse pounded. “You are?”

“Oh yes.” He pressed his lips to her temple and traced them across her forehead.

Tears flooded her eyes, trickling down her face. She gripped his arms, steadying herself against the onslaught of emotion. “Shane, I can’t take losing you again.”

“I’m here to stay. I promise.” His arms tightened around hers. “And someday, when you’re ready,” his lips moved to her ear and whispered, “I’m going to convince you to marry me.”

She could hardly form the words. “Oh, yeah? Sounds pretty cocky, Mr. Mason. What makes you so sure I’ll say yes?”

He looked into her eyes, his own flashing in the morning light. “I’ve been told my baby blues can melt a woman’s heart. Who could resist that?”

“Not this girl,” she whispered. Heart soaring and joyful laughter bubbling up inside, she pulled his lips to hers.

* * * * *