Between Hope & the Highway (10 page)

My brother’s nostrils flared and tight lines around his eyes and lips warned he was ready to blow. To him, there’s nothing worse than a bad driver, and Lizzie wasn’t making a positive first impression. If we hadn’t been on a steep incline, she might have managed, but with Rawson snorting and swearing beside her like a Brahma bull, she kept forgetting to downshift. For a third time, her shoulders curled forward as she killed the engine and we rolled closer to the ledge.

“Oh, for !@#$%&*!”

I didn’t dare chide my brother for cussing again as he shoved her hands off the wheel and crushed her into the door, trying to stop our backward momentum. He braked and moved his other foot over to the clutch to switch gears. “You’ll destroy the transmission doing fool things like that, woman. You have to have the damn gear in first to engage.”

My mouth hung slack. It wasn’t as if Liz meant to kill the truck. She was simply flustered. I would’ve been too if Rawson had yelled at me like that.

He cut the engine and slid back to his side. Lizzie squirmed in front of the steering wheel as she bit her lip. Putting her feet on the pedals, she started the engine and gradually released the clutch. We moved forward, only lurching once before she switched into second and made it over the rise and onto level road. Still, my brother couldn’t leave her alone.

“We’re going to miss the movie if you keep this turtle pace.”

Lizzie’s eyes glistened in the rear view mirror.

“Seriously. Give it some gas, Goldilocks.”

Anger must have been smoldering under her calm facade, because Liz erupted and slammed her boot into the brake. Addie hit the front seat because she’d unfastened her seatbelt without me noticing. As I reached out to grab her, Rawson smacked the dashboard.

“You’re going to kill us all, you !@#$%&*!”

Lizzie hopped out her door as he spewed out burning doozies. “Then drive it yourself, you arrogant pig!” Slamming her door, she stormed down the dirt road as fast as her two legs could carry her.

I felt numb as I watched her go.

Rawson snickered. “Woo-whee. She sure told me.”

“Woooo Wheeee!” Addie copied him.

I frowned. My brother thought he was being funny, but he’d hurt Liz. Yanking on the door handle, I started to slide out.

“Come on, little bro. You have to admit, that was funny.”

When I turned to glare at him, I missed the runner and fell in an awkward heap in the gravel. Rawson leapt out to help me. His big hands lifted me as I grimaced and started to cry. I couldn’t help it. There I sat, three weeks away from being thirteen years old, and couldn’t even act like a man.

Rawson gushed out sorrys as he helped me to my feet, but I flung his hands away. “Go see the stupid movie with Addie.” I rubbed my eyes. “I don’t want to go nowhere with you.”

He caught my arm, but I swiped at him. Right step…left leg-lift, swing-out, step-down. Right step…left leg-lift, swing-out, step-down. Right step.

“Ben, I’m sorry.” My brother’s desperate plea made me pause my awkward rhythm.

“Lizzie’s a good driver,” I said through clenched teeth.

His mouth twitched. “I was only playing, kid. I didn’t think she’d get upset.”

I gave him a frown.

He dropped his gaze. “She drove fine enough, I guess.”

My heart still raced from adrenaline, making me shaky. “You were rude. She only learned to drive stick yesterday.”

“Sorry, Big Ben.”

“You need to be sorry to Lizzie.” I glanced down the road and couldn’t see her anymore.

“Okay, I’m sorry to Lizzie,” he huffed. “Now will you get back in the truck and stop being stubborn? I can tell your leg hurts.”

It hurt like the dickens, but I refused to admit that. “I’m not going anywhere with you until you get Liz.”

“Come on, Benny. Stop horsing around.”

As he tried to grab me, I lashed out with my fist. Rawson wasn’t expecting me to act like a bully; that’s the only reason I connected. In a real fight, no one whips my brother. He’s the strongest guy around. Never had I punched him; shoot, I hadn’t even back-talked. To say I surprised him would be a huge understatement.

He swallowed hard as he rubbed his cheek. “Great shot, kid. That was one in a million.”

My knuckles stung as if I’d batted a wasp’s nest. “So go get her.”

“I’m not leaving you on the side of the road.”

“And I’m not going anywhere unless you apologize and make things right with Liz.”

Rawson scowled and marched to the truck. “Stop crying,” he snapped at Addie as he leaned in to fasten her seatbelt. “Keep this on and I’ll get you jelly bellies at the theater. Kay?”

He climbed into his seat and slammed his door. After turning the old Ford around, he pulled up beside me and rolled down his window. “I’ll be right back. Stop walking and sit down to wait. You’re aggravating your muscles.”

Before I could reply, he peeled out, making me cough on choking dust. As the old truck disappeared, tears streaked my cheeks. I rubbed them against my sleeve and sat to relieve the pressure on my leg.

Hurry
, I thought.

Chapter 17

Liz

Could two brothers be more different? If Rawson Law didn’t resemble his sweet brother physically in so many ways, I’d have a hard time believing they were related. They were the do-gooder Dr. Jekyll and the monstrous Mr. Hyde. For months I’d heard about Rawson from various sources, and I’d looked forward to meeting him. The framed photos of an eight-year-old Rawson and a high school-aged one wearing charming grins definitely were appealing. But the present day man was no Prince Charming. He was an arrogant bully.

Kicking a rock off the road, I made a face as I recalled his last remark. “Goldilocks,” I muttered. “What a jerk.” Tears stung my eyes as I wondered how many miles loomed between me and the ranch. Increasing my pace, I rubbed my jaw that ached from clenching it so tight. Putting my hands together, I tossed words to the sky. “Please, let Rawson Law work with the cows, not the horses. And let him step in manure every day.”

The sound of a gunning engine shattered my irreverent prayer.

Turning, I saw the old, white truck barreling over the hill at breakneck speed. When he didn’t decrease his momentum, I moved off the road, figuring the jerk would throw me a taunting wave as he passed. Instead, he slammed on his brakes and spun out, flipping the vehicle around in a half circle and teetering on two wheels before coming down on all four tires to face me.

As dust enveloped me, I closed my eyes and coughed. A door slammed and heavy footsteps approached. Peeking, I jumped when I saw Rawson scowling at me through the swirling dust. His eyes had been more green this morning, but appeared icy blue now. His face creased in threatening lines, but my temper detonated first.

“Are you nuts driving like that with children in the car?”

“Addie’s got her seatbelt on. She loved it.”

“What if she’d unbuckled it, you psycho?”

When he threw back his head and laughed, I marched off in a huff.

“Oh, no you don’t.” He caught my arm.

“Let me go!”

“Get in the truck.”

“No way. I’m not going anywhere with you.”

He twisted my elbow behind me, making me yelp as he scooped me up into strong arms. Outraged, I lashed out with my fist and connected with his nose. For a moment, I feared he might drop me. He staggered, but held me steady long enough for gushing blood to ruin my gray T-shirt before he set me on my feet.

I grimaced. “Disgusting.”

“Roth-un!” Addie climbed down from her seat and ran to him, signing something with her hands.

“Yep. I’m okay.” He squeezed the bridge of his nose.

I jogged away to put distance between us. Soon I felt winded, but didn’t dare pause or check over my shoulder to see whether the jerk was behind me. Hopefully, he’d leave. I’d gladly jog-walk all the way back to the ranch if I didn’t have to see his smug mug again.

When I heard the diesel motor, I mentally prepared for another confrontation. At least he wasn’t speeding this time. As the Ford inched up beside me, Rawson rolled down his window.

“Miss Ruthersford?”

I kept walking, my face set forward.

“I’m sorry, okay?” His apology sounded like sour milk in his throat. “Please get in. Benny’s ticked and refused to ride with me until I apologize to you.”

I turned to stare at the thoughtless man hanging out his window. “You left your crippled brother on the side of the road?”

A storm brewed behind his sapphire blues. “I didn’t want to. It’s your fault for heading off by yourself. If you’d stayed, he wouldn’t have snapped.”

“My fault?”

“Yeah. I was only teasing, but you had to get bent out of shape and cause a scene. Benny has a tender heart. You upset him.”

I shook my head. “Get out.”

He narrowed his eyes.

“I refuse to drive anywhere with you, so either let me drive or go away.”

I thought he might argue, but he hopped out and gestured for me to get in. As I climbed in and watched him walk behind the truck, an evil imp whispered in my ear. I eagerly obeyed its suggestion.

Pressing my foot to the clutch, I hit the gas and jerked forward. Rawson ran alongside, beating at the passenger door. Before he jiggled the knob, I found the locking mechanism and made him swear all sorts of terrible.

“Stop, you !@#$%&*!” I tuned out the rest of his shouting. For being a brilliant Stanford graduate, he spoke very caveman-ish. “Let me in, you !@#$%&*!”

“La la la la,” I sang as he banged on the window.

Shifting into second, I increased my speed and pulled away from the maniac. He jumped, screamed, and shook his fist in the rear view mirror as I left him in my dust…right where his filthy mouth belonged.

When I’d driven far enough away, I stopped and performed a three point turn.

“I think your brother needs a time-out so he can get his head on straight,” I said to Addie in the backseat. “Let’s go get Benny.”

“Benny!” she bellowed.

I focused on shifting gears and not killing the engine. That’d be mortifying, not to mention dangerous with psycho cowboy in the vicinity. As I shifted into third and accelerated, Rawson planted himself in the middle of the road.

“Don’t be a fool,” I muttered as I gunned the engine. Gripping the steering wheel, I kept a straight course.

When he folded his arms over his muscular chest, I wondered if he’d be dumb enough to stand there and get run over. Probably. At the last second, I chickened out and swerved into sagebrush, jarring the teeth out of my head as I fought for control and prayed I wouldn’t stall.

“Please don’t die,” I chanted to the hormonal truck.

It lurched like a bucking bronco as I downshifted into second and maneuvered back onto gravel. My fingers tingled from clutching the steering wheel so tight and the engine made scary screeching sounds, but Addie’s booming laughter made me grin.

“More.” She tapped her fingertips together. That was her favorite word.

“Maybe later.” I glanced in the rear-view mirror and snorted as I saw Rawson Law throw his hat on the ground and kick it. “Too much of a good thing can make you sick.”

Chapter 18

Rawson

Black smoke polluted the air as Juan’s ancient Chevy pulled away from the garage. After walking for an hour in the afternoon heat, Susa’s grandson happened to drive by on his way to visit and pulled over to give me a lift. That saved me walking five more miles. I’d been too proud to call anyone. Gritting my teeth, I stomped into the four-car garage and threw the air pump into the back of my new truck. Revenge settled on my mind as I stripped off my sweaty shirt and grabbed a fresh one from the duffel bag behind my seat.

That girl would pay.

Within minutes, a trail of dust flew behind my F-350 SuperCab as I sped toward town. If I booked it, I’d arrive before the movie ended. My grip tightened on the wheel as I thought of her cold-hearted trick. No one pulled one over on me, yet my blistered feet were proof I’d been bested. Of course, I was up against a professional since the woman conned people for a living.

Reaching town in record time, I drove up and down the rows of the theater parking lot until I found Dad’s old Ford. Parking on the next row, I grabbed a pair of gloves and sauntered over to release the air on the two back tires. I finished just as movie patrons began pouring out of the theater.

Sauntering back to my truck, I waited and watched. If the blasted woman didn’t have my siblings, I’d just leave her stranded.

It didn’t take long to spot the traitorous wench with my brother and sister. Addie held a licorice rope in one hand while holding onto Miss Ruthersford with the other. Benny appeared to be talking nonstop, a cheesy grin on his face. I pounded my leather seat, hating how she’d wormed her way into their innocent hearts.