Between Hope & the Highway (14 page)

A large wave battered my kayak, dousing my already soaked capris. With my arm muscles burning, I dropped my paddle and buried my face in my blistered hands. I couldn’t do this. Shuddering sobs racked my body until I thought of Rawson laughing at my predicament. That sent adrenaline shooting through my limbs. Lifting my head, I swiped at tears and raised my paddle. Glaring at the ominous sky that reminded me of Rawson’s stormy expression, I yelled, “You won’t stop me.”

Hail began falling as if to punish me for my defiance. I cringed and yelped as ice pellets battered me, leaving welts on my tender skin. Digging my paddle into the choppy water, I vowed to never be gullible again if I made it back alive. Going by how every muscle in my body screamed, that was a very big
IF
looming over me.

The hail stopped shortly after it started. My one blessing for the day. As chaotic curls wedged between my cracked lips, I spit them out and concentrated on dodging each new wave. Ignoring throbbing muscles, I shoved the paddle down right, then hard left. When I spotted a miniature Benny on the shoreline, I almost bawled. But I refused to give Rawson the satisfaction of seeing me upset. With each circular arm motion, muscles screamed for me to stop, but I didn’t want that man to win. At least with my destination in sight, if I died, someone would know my watery fate. That was better than being eaten by a bear or drowned in the middle of the lake alone.

Chapter 25

Bentley

As Lizzie’s kayak approached, I could tell she’d been crying. Glancing over at my brother napping under a tarp, I wished to kick his sorry backside. Wading awkwardly into the shallows, I grabbed the carrying handle of her kayak. Though my leg and neck ached, I grit my teeth and lugged her to shore.

“Rawson wouldn’t let me go back. I tried to stop him, but—”

“It’s all right, Benny.” She wobbled on her legs as she climbed out.

“I didn’t know he’d leave you. If I had, I never would’ve gone with him.”

She touched my cheek. “Don’t worry about it. I’m here.”

“What took you so long, Miss Ruthersford? We’ve been here for hours.”

We flinched at Rawson’s sarcastic voice.

“I didn’t know we were on a time line, Mr. Law.”

I grinned at Lizzie’s feisty retort.

“You look like a drowned kitten,” he persisted.

“Someone told me there’s nothing better than a dip in a mountain lake.” Pushing past him, she headed to the truck.

Rawson took hold of her kayak and dragged the orange beast behind him with ease. “Miss Ruthersford?”

She turned to scowl at him. “What, Mr. Law?”

He held up his Leatherman. “Was this on the blanket when you left?”

“Yep.”

“Was my watch with it?”

She nodded and walked to the passenger side.

“Well, where is it?”

“Don’t know, don’t care.”

Judging by how red my brother’s face turned, he didn’t like her answer. “Where’s my freaking watch?” he growled, except he dropped a nuclear F-bomb.

“I threw it in the lake.”

I gnawed on my lower lip.

“You threw my Swiss watch in the lake?” he shouted.

The gloating smile on her face revealed pleasure in his reaction.

“Do you have any idea how much that cost, you…?” I thought he might call her a nasty name, but he bit his tongue.

“No idea. But it couldn’t have been worth much if you left it on the blanket and took off like you did.”

Rawson’s jaw twitched.

“I’m sure your daddy will buy you another one next time he goes to Walmart,” she cooed. “And if you’re extra well-behaved, maybe he’ll throw in a
Star Wars
figurine for your collection too.”

I snickered.

Rawson kicked the kayak. “You can walk home, Miss Smartass.”

I hobbled over to stand beside her. “If Lizzie walks home, so am I.”

“Either shut him up or shut him down.” I recognized Han’s quote about C-3PO, but didn’t dare say so since Rawson looked ready to erupt. “Get in the truck, Benny.”

“Go to hell.”

Lizzie squeezed my arm. “Watch your language.”

“Sorry.” Lifting my head as tall as I could, I turned to my brother. “The devil wouldn’t want you anyway, you’re so mean. Go ahead. Leave.” I grabbed Lizzie’s hand. “We know the way home.”

I dragged her though the tall grass to get up to the road. No doubt we’d have to do a tick-check when we got home in a week. Right step…left leg-lift, swing-out, step-down. I bit my lip to keep from groaning. Maybe Lizzie would be kind and bury me along the journey. Each step sent excruciating pain shooting up my thigh and into my back. I’d overdone it; but Liz needed me, and I absolutely refused to leave her.

After a dozen steps, she dug in her heels. “Ben, you can’t walk home. Go with your brother. I’ll be fine.”

“I’m not leaving you again.”

“She’s right, bro.” Rawson’s voice startled me. “I can tell you’re hurting.”

I turned to glare at him. He had no idea how I hurt.

“Miss Ruthersford can come too. You don’t think I’d really leave her out here for the critters, do ya? Even though that watch cost more than she’ll probably make this whole summer.”

When I crawled inside the cab, my leg throbbed so bad I didn’t know if I’d make it home without crying. But my feelings hurt worse. I hated my brother for ruining my birthday trip by pulling such a low-down dirty trick on Lizzie. Big stupid-head.

Chapter 26

Rawson

As I entered the stable, I spotted the girl leading that new black around the arena. Chance held up the walls, watching her with a goofy grin. I marched over and slapped his back.

“Hey, Rawson.” He straightened and showed more teeth than I thought possible. “Didn’t hear you come in. What’s up?”

The girl’s gaze flicked my way, but she turned up her nose and acted like I wasn’t there. She’d mastered that move.

“The sky,” I replied before approaching my stubborn boss. “You can stop pausing and hit the play button now. I’m here. Let the good times roll.”

“Your head’s going to roll if you don’t get to work,” she muttered. “You’re three hours late.”

“Needed my beauty sleep. You could’ve used more yourself.”

She snapped the lead rope a little harder. “Grab Yakama Yoda.”

I frowned as I left to saddle the two-year-old roan. If I ever wanted a chance to show Dad what I could do, I needed to ramp up my game to get her to throw in the towel. The girl had surprising tenacity.

For the next hour, I made snarky comments and argued constantly, but she didn’t bite. Desperate to get a rise out of her, I strode over to the tall gray’s stall and unlatched his gate.

“Let’s work this guy.” We’d purchased Sidekick Shooter weeks ago and the stallion was wilder than a cougar on crack.

“Absolutely not. He’s still adjusting. I sense so much anger in him.”

“You sound like Yoda. The only thing I sense is that he needs boundaries.” I held up my arm and flexed. “Muscle can tame any horse, but a delicate thing like you wouldn’t know that. Why, you can’t even steer a kayak in a straight line.”

Her scowl returned, letting me know I was getting under her skin.

“With my skills and these bad boys,” I paused to kiss each bicep, “I’ll be riding this cuss in under ten minutes.”

“Do you have a death wish?” she asked as I led Shooter from his stall. “Put him back.”

I waved my hand in front of her. “Your mind powers will not work on me. Now watch and learn you will.” Even as I saddled the fidgety stallion, I knew I was being stupid. Pride wouldn’t let me back down though.

“Don’t be a fool.” She sounded desperate.

I winced as Shooter took a chunk of skin off my arm as I brought the bit to his mouth.

“You’re making him angry.”

“You’re doing the same to me, woman. Either help me saddle him or zip it.”

She folded her arms. “I’m ordering you to put him away.”

“Don’t pull the boss card on me, Goldilocks.”

As I succeeded in getting the headpiece over his ears, I yanked the gray to show who held the reins. A firm hand was all he needed. Leading him into the arena, I mounted and held on as the wild cuss reared in an attempt to dislodge me.

“Rawson!” she yelped.

I brought the reins back sharply, reminding the spirited stallion who was in charge. He shuddered and settled into a canter.

“See? There’s nothing to it if you have some force behind your commands,” I yelled over my shoulder.

Shooter had an energetic gait I enjoyed. Maybe that’s why I let down my guard. As I rounded the last corner of the arena, he reared and bucked simultaneously. That athletic move combined with the element of surprise displaced me like a rodeo pro. As I hung suspended in air, I caught a blur of movement from Lizzie’s direction before I smashed into wood shavings. Time flashed by as breath whooshed from my lungs and hoofs thundered next to my ears.

This is it!
I thought as twelve hundred pounds of horseflesh struck the ground next to me.
I’m a dead man
. Any second a hoof would crash through my skull and end my life.

“Easy, boy.” Lizzie’s soothing voice entered the chaos of whirling dust and kicking legs.

I heard a shrill neigh and a thudding whump against the gate, followed by a grunt. Had the loco stallion crushed her?

“It’s all right, boy,” she soothed. “I’m not going to hurt you.”

Frozen lungs relaxed as the stallion moved away from my fetal form. I managed to lift my head enough to see Liz lead the skittish beast to the gate and secure him. As she turned, I noticed blood streaming down her forehead. Rolling into a sitting position, I opened my mouth to ask if she was okay, but my tongue wouldn’t work.

“Did he get you?” Her voice sounded small and scared.

No. I still heard beating hoofs in my ears and felt a taunting death dance in my heart, but she was the one bleeding. I struggled to form words, but there was too much to say. I wanted to apologize for being a world-class jerk. I needed to thank her for risking her neck for me. Mostly, I wanted to beg for a do-over. But all I could manage was to raise my thumb.

Her brown eyes glistened in the florescent light as blood trickled down her cheek. With a disgusted huff, she grabbed the reins and disappeared with the horse from hell.

As I considered how close I’d come to going there myself, I began trembling. If Liz hadn’t read the signs and raced to my aid, I’d be dead. I knew it. The courage she’d displayed shocked and filled me with shame for every mean thing I’d ever believed, done, or said to her.

I glanced around the arena to ensure I was alone before standing on wobbly legs. Somehow I made it out of there and saddled Bayder without being seen. Once my trusty steed was ready, I dug the heels of my boots into his sides and galloped into the hills, trying to escape my prickling conscience.

PART TWO

Shaping Hope

Let your hopes, not your hurts, shape your future.

Robert H. Schuller

Chapter 27

Bentley

I felt more confused than a bear in January. As Lizzie and I finished breakfast, Rawson ran out and caught us in the hallway. I didn’t even know he was there until Liz stopped talking and glared at someone behind me. I looked over my shoulder and there my brother stood, holding his Swiss watch in the air.

“I found this in your kayak,” he said as introduction. “It was stuck in the back compartment.”

Lizzie made a face. “I guess now your daddy won’t have to drive to Walmart to replace it.”

I thought Rawson might get mad, but he only chuckled. “No, he won’t, although I still wouldn’t mind a
Star Wars
action figure.”