Chosen (13 page)

“What can I get you?” the waitress asked, the question directed to Will.

“What I want doesn’t seem to be on the menu.”

His response pleased the waitress who preened, a blush fanning her cheeks. Emma wondered how a woman with her obvious experience could muster a blush.

“I’ll have a club sandwich,” Emma volunteered, handing her menu to the waitress. She pointed to Jake. “He’ll have chicken nuggets and he’ll,” she pointed to Will, “take a cold shower.”

Will laughed. “Make that hamburger and a hot order—”

Emma snatched the menu out of his hands and thrust it at the waitress. “Just give him some fries. Thank you.”

The waitress narrowed her eyes at Emma before turning around and walking to the kitchen.

Will leaned back, arms crossed over his chest, a huge smile spread across his mouth, but his eyes were dull. “Jealous?”

“Jealous?
Jealous
?” Her voice raised an octave. “Hell, no. Disgusted? Annoyed? Sullied? Yes. Jealous? No.”

“Don’t worry, Princess, you’re the one I’m bringing with me.”

“Not likely if you keep this up. It’s insulting.”

His smile faded. “It’s not like you have a choice now, is it?”

Emma’s anger spilled out. “Don’t tempt me, Will. Russell, Kansas or God Forsaken, South Dakota. It’s all the same to me. I won’t be there longer than a few weeks anyway.” It occurred to her maybe that was his intention. Maybe he wanted her to stay behind.

They sat in sullen silence while Jake played with his car. The waitress came back with their food, attempting to flirt with Will again, but he ignored her and turned his attention to his plate. Emma could hardly eat, her stomach twisted with apprehension. What was she going to do? Where would they go? A homeless shelter seemed like the logical choice, but that squeezed her stomach into a tighter knot. She looked over at Jake, trying to imagine taking him to a shelter. It couldn’t be much worse than the last motel they stayed at. She wondered if a town this size even had a homeless shelter. She pushed her plate away, the smell of the grease making her nauseous.

“Do you feel sick?” Will asked, suddenly alert.

Their eyes locked and she tried to read his emotions. He didn’t seem angry, only concerned.

“It’s not like yesterday.”

“Are you sure?”

She sighed, trying to calm her nerves. “Yes, I’m sure.”

Will didn’t look convinced. “Let’s hurry up and get out of here.” Will got the waitress’s attention, not a difficult task since she stalked their table after Will’s abrupt change of attitude. He paid the check while Emma and Jake went to the bathroom. When they finished, Emma saw him through the windows outside, pacing in long, quick strides on the sidewalk. She pushed open the door and he stopped, turning to face her. Lines of worry and tension wrinkled his forehead, but they softened when he saw her. Emma realized he was trying to hide it from her. He might be an ass but there was no denying he owed her nothing, yet he risked his life for them twice now. It was unfair to put him in more danger.

“Will.” She held Jake’s hand and squeezed it tighter as she drug Jake toward him.

He stared down at her, his hands stuffed in his jean pockets.

“I think this is where we should part ways.”

His eyes widened and his mouth gaped, making it clear that wasn’t what he expected.

“We’ve already asked far too much of you. You were almost killed last night and your truck was damaged because of us, and while I appreciate everything you’ve done for us, I think this is where we should say goodbye.”

Jake’s hand wriggled in hers and she released her unintentional death grip.

The color drained from Will’s face.

“Mommy…”

“Jake, enough.” Her tone was firm. The wind blew with remarkable force and she reached up to control the hair whipping into her face, never breaking eye contact with Will.

“Emma,” Will said in a ragged breath as he pulled his hands out of his pockets. He started to reach for her, but stopped.

“We’ll be fine. We always have been.” Her voice softened and she hoped Will heard her gratitude. She couldn’t believe Jake hadn’t tried to intervene again.

Will snapped out of his daze. “Emma, don’t be an idiot. Just get in the truck.”

“Will…”

“What? You want an apology? Fine. I’m sorry. Okay? I was a complete ass. There. Now let’s go.” He wrapped his arm behind her back, pushing her toward the truck. Jake followed behind.

Emma stopped and turned to face him. “Will, that’s not it.” His apology caught her off guard and his delivery made it clear it wasn’t something Will frequently did, but that wasn’t what she was looking for. “I think it’s time we went our separate ways. I obviously annoy you, and that’s okay. You don’t owe us anything. You don’t have to drag us around anymore.”

Will swallowed hard, and spun away, running his hand through his hair. He appeared upset, although Emma couldn’t understand why. Finally, he turned back to her, his eyes full of worry. “I’m not ready for you to go yet.”

“Will…” His reaction baffled her. There was no way he could really want them to go with him. His actions all day told her the opposite.

He grabbed her hand in his, holding it with a gentleness she didn’t expect. “Not yet, okay? Just come with me.”

She searched his dark brown eyes trying to figure out why he was doing this, but they gave nothing away. She hesitated. Common sense told her to ditch Will now, but a part of her was still drawn to him and she didn’t understand it.

“All right.”

A sigh escaped him as he ushered her to the truck. Emma sensed he was trying to get her in before she changed her mind.

They sat in the truck in silence. Tension hung in the air as Will peered out the front window, his hand draped over the steering wheel. His eyes narrowed as they focused ahead.

“Will…” Emma hesitated. Maybe he changed his mind.

He hung his head for a moment, confusing her even more. Slowly, Will tilted his head toward her, defeat in his eyes. “Change of plans. We’re going to Colorado.”

Will told himself it made sense to take the long way. It occurred to him maybe her enemies knew where to find her because they knew he was taking her to South Dakota. If that was true, then he should be able to elude them by detouring through Colorado. It sounded good, but in the back of his mind he had to admit he was also postponing her handover.

“What are you talking about?” Emma shook her head, incredulous.

“I think we should take the long way to South Dakota and see if we can lose the guys after you and Jake.” Will started the truck and turned onto the road.

“It doesn’t really matter where you go. They’ll still find us. Besides, what about the job waiting for you?”

“I don’t have to show up for a few days. I’d rather try to lose those guys.”

She agreed in the end, to his relief. After her stand in the parking lot he didn’t want to push his luck. He had almost pushed her too far with the waitress incident. Hell, he wasn’t even interested in the waitress. It had been a combination of automatic reflex and his need to prove he wasn’t interested in Emma. The fact that it irritated her was pure bonus. But in the parking lot, as she calmly announced she was parting ways, he realized his job wasn’t the real reason he convinced her to stay with him. He really wasn’t ready to let her go.

Jake napped in the back seat as Will and Emma rode in silence, although it was more comfortable than the morning. His earlier anger was tempered, but his nerves were still on edge. He snuck glances at Emma, who found the rusted oil rigs, pumping in their monotonous circular motion, more entertaining than the small talk he tried to make. The dilapidated pumps, dispersed among large bales of hay and scattered black cattle, littered the flat green fields of western Kansas. He might have bought her fascination if he hadn’t known she spent so much time in Texas. Not that he blamed her for avoiding him.

Jake woke from his nap unusually subdued. He laid his head against the side window, gazing out through the glass with a vacant stare as the landscape blurred past. When he didn’t shake his lethargy, Emma became concerned. She reached back and brushed the curls off his forehead, using the age-old mother’s thermometer.

“Jake, are you alright?”

“I’m okay, Mommy. I just have a headache.” He offered a forced smile and tried to push her hand away. She stroked his cheek, lingering.

“I don’t have any children’s Tylenol.” Will heard the self-recrimination in her voice. If she hadn’t confessed concerns about being a bad mother the night before, he never would have caught it. Then again, before last night he wouldn’t have paid attention.

“Emma, I can stop for some.” His voice was gentler than usual and she turned and looked at him, distrust in her eyes.

“Mommy, I’m fine. I feel better already.” Jake sat up and smiled, though even Will could tell it was only to get Emma to leave him alone.

Emma relented, and sat back down in the front seat, biting her lip as she snuck glances at Jake.

They stopped outside Denver to eat. Will bought a Colorado map from a convenience store when he stopped for gas and a bottle of children’s Tylenol. Studying the map while they ate, he determined which direction he wanted to go from Denver. He considered heading north since it was closer to South Dakota, but it was peak tourist season and the Estes Park area was the closest northern mountain range. It would be crawling with people. South seemed like the better choice.

“Where are you planning to go?” Emma asked, peering over the top of the map.

“I want to head into the mountains.” If the gunmen were tracking them, he thought they might have planted a tracking device on his truck. If they had, he hoped the poor radio transmission in the mountains might lose them.

“Tonight?”

“Yeah, it won’t take more than a couple of hours to get to where I want to go.”

Jake picked at his food with his fork, pushing the macaroni and cheese on his plate around in circles.

“Jake, you want something else to eat?” Will asked. Emma suggested Jake get something other than chicken and he could see the guilt on her face. She wouldn’t ask to get Jake something else since he was paying for it.

“No, I’m not hungry.”

Emma put her hand to his forehead again.

“I’m fine, Mommy.” He lifted his luminous blue eyes to Will, pleading for help then stabbed several noodles and put the fork in his mouth. “See?” He mumbled with his mouth full of food.

Denver evening traffic was still heavy when they left. They inched their way around the city and headed south, the Rocky Mountains grew larger framed by puffy, towering white and purple lined clouds.

“Jake, have you ever seen mountains before?” Will asked over his shoulder. Jake’s silence was beginning to concern him.

“No,” he answered with an exaggerated sigh.

They drove into the mountains and Jake remained eerily quiet while Emma fidgeted in her seat. Anxiety hung in the air like a thick cloud of smoke, choking Will with a dread he couldn’t pinpoint. He questioned if he was doing the right thing, heading this direction.

“When you get a dog, what will you name him?” Will asked Jake.

Emma’s head whipped up.

Jake looked up to face Will’s reflection. “I don’t know. Maybe Rusty.” A small smile lifted at the corner of his mouth and his eyes glistened with unshed tears.

Will’s stomach dropped. “Jake, you’d tell me if you saw something, right? You’ll tell me if the Bad Men are coming?”

“Does Mommy feel bad?” Jake hesitated a fraction of a second before responding, but it was enough to confirm Will’s fears.

Will turned to Emma. She shook her head, biting her lip.

“Then there’s nothing to worry about,” Jake answered and turned back to the window. Will wasn’t convinced and neither was Emma.

“Jacob, I insist you tell me if you see the Bad Men!” Emma’s voice constricted with fear.

“I don’t see them, Mommy.”

“Don’t lie to me, Jake.” Her tone was harsh.

Will had never heard her raise her voice to him.

“Mommy, I’ve never lied to you. You know that.” He sounded weary, more weary than a five-year-old should sound.

What about a lie of omission?
Will was positive Jake wasn’t telling them everything.

“Jake, last night we were really lucky to get away,” Will said softly but direct. “You have to tell us the minute you see something.”

Jake held Will’s gaze in the mirror. “I’ll tell you when we’re in danger.” He finally answered, closing his eyes.

The highway turned into a two-lane road that began to twist and wind as the incline increased. Trees grew dense, giving Will a sense of claustrophobia. Sky visible in the thin strip above the road became overcast and gray, and the smell of rain hung in the air. Will found it difficult to shake off the feeling of foreboding.

They drove through a small town with a few motels lining the street. Will decided to risk staying in a motel, although he would have preferred camping in an out-of-the-way spot. But he didn’t have any camping gear and the threat of rain remained. A rundown cabin rental office came into view and Will pulled off.

Emma and Jake waited in the truck while Will went to check them in. He returned with the cabin key and a bag of marshmallows.

“The guy at the desk said there’s a fire pit outside the cabin. I thought you might like to roast marshmallows, Jake.”

Jake graced him with a real smile. “I like to roast marshmallows.”

The motel consisted of about fifteen small cabins staggered along a curvy winding gravel road that wound back along the side of the mountain. The parking lot held more cars than he would have preferred, but it was summer and they were in a tourist area. But their cabin was in the back in a secluded area, and he parked the truck out of sight.

Emma and Jake went inside, Emma carrying their suitcase. After Will carried in his bag and the metal gun case, he grabbed some newspaper in the cabin and took it to the fire pit, bringing his rifle with him. Will grabbed several logs from a nearby firewood stack and started a fire. It crackled and sputtered before flames erupted, spreading across the stack with a burst of yellow and orange. Jake emerged from the cabin, appearing more animated than he had all afternoon. Emma followed behind him and they sat on one of the benches encircling the pit. The sky had quickly darkened and their faces glowed in the firelight. Will sat on an opposite bench, watching them in silence as the fire roared to life.