Escape from the Badlands. Dana Mentink
“He sleepwalks sometimes when he’s upset.”
Shane nodded. “The flood?”
“Probably.”
He cocked his head, water droplets plunking softly to the floor. “Why do you look worried?”
She stiffened and turned away to drape the blanket over a chair. “It’s nothing.”
He put his hand out and gently caressed her shoulder. “Nope. I can tell when nothing is something. You used to call me a mind reader, remember?”
She felt the flicker of familiar comfort from his touch, hands that had held and reassured her, thrilled and strengthened her. Pulling away, she turned to face him. “Maybe you can’t read me so well anymore, Shane.”
“And maybe I can.” He fixed her with eyes so intense, she could not look away. “You think something isn’t right.”
She folded her arms. “Not really. It’s just that Gwen is…” She struggled to find the words.
“Hiding something? I’m not surprised. Gwen turns up with Charlie, and Gleeson seems to know more about me than he should. Good reasons to pack up and go.”
“But you’re staying.”
“I have to. My brother is out of options.” He reached out to her, but she did not let him touch her.
“Go, Kelly. Take off while you can.”
“I’m not going.”
He sighed, a defeated look coming over his face. “We’ll leave it for now. We can talk more in the morning. Lock up, okay?”
She turned the bolt as soon as Shane left, stifling her instinct to peek out the window and watch him leave. Slipping off her damp clothes and pulling on an oversized T-shirt, she crawled under the covers next to Charlie and listened to the reassuring ebb and flow of his breathing. Paddy Paws joined them.
Kelly whispered a prayer of profound gratitude and turned off the light. Closing her eyes, she remembered Shane’s expression as he came up from the river. She had never seen Shane Mason afraid of anything, but the anguish written on his face spoke of something from the past, something dark and terrifying imprinted on his soul.
Shivering, she pulled the blankets tighter and fell into an uneasy sleep.
Shane awoke to Gleeson pounding on his door the next morning. His body complained from the rough treatment the previous night as he greeted Gleeson.
“Good news,” Gleeson bellowed as he clapped Shane on the shoulder. “After your idiot stunt on the ropes yesterday, Chenko approved you to race. We’re good to go for a one o’clock prelim to familiarize everyone with the course. Then we start tomorrow.”
Shane blinked. “One o’clock. Got it.”
Gleeson looked around the trailer. “Heard you thought someone broke in.”
“How’d you hear that?”
“Ackerman told me this morning. Said you’re crazy to think someone here would rifle through your stuff.”
“That’s me. Crazy Shane.”
Gleeson’s smile vanished. “Not making too many friends, Matthews. Folks don’t like being accused.”
“I haven’t accused anyone. Yet.”
Gleeson’s eyes narrowed. After a moment he smiled. “Whatever. All I care about is the prelim at 1:00. Have your bike ready, and we’ll hope this rain doesn’t delay things.”
“Where’s Ackerman?”
Gleeson looked surprised. “In the lodge eating breakfast, along with everyone else. Why?”
“Just wanted to check in on a few things.”
“What things?”
Shane gave him a grin. “Nothing that concerns you, Mother Gleeson.”
“Why did I ever take you on as a partner? You’re gonna make trouble before this thing is over.”
You have no idea. Shane followed him out. The morning was cool, water still dripping from the juniper trees that clustered around the campground. The sun had not yet fully risen, the weak light illuminating veils of clouds.
The lodge was crowded with racers clutching coffee cups and crowded around long tables. A breakfast of fruit, granola, scrambled eggs and juices was set up buffet-style in the corner. He scanned the room immediately for Kelly and Charlie, but he didn’t spot them. Shane noticed Ackerman talking to Betsy, who laughed and toyed with her braid. Ackerman was sandwiched between chatting racers, and Shane couldn’t get close so he poured himself some coffee and took a spot near the door. Chenko appeared at his elbow, looking tired. He lifted his cup in salute.
“Thank goodness for coffee,” he said.
Shane nodded, taking in the shadows under the race producer’s eyes. “Bad night?”
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