Broken Road

by Mari Beck

  “Hey, Riley.” Riley glared at him but didn’t say anything. “Heard it was a nice party they were throwing for you.” Riley still didn’t say anything. Brandon seemed nervous and uncomfortable. Good.

  “Look, I didn’t come here to bother you that’s why I didn’t go to the dinner.”

  “It’s a Community Dinner you could have come if you wanted.”

  “I’m not sure that would have been a good idea under the circumstances.”

  “What circumstances?”

  “You know. . .” More discomfort on Brandon’s part.

  “Oh, you mean the circumstances where you stole my fiancée?” Riley had a hard time forming the words without choking on them.

  “I didn’t steal anything, Riley.” Brandon insisted and Riley could feel his blood begin to boil.

  “We’ve been down this road before, Brandon. Why don’t we just not go there this time?”

  “Why? You planning on breaking my nose again?” This time Brandon inched closer and his voice sounded angry.

  “You deserved it and you know it.” Riley moved forward until they were almost chest to chest. Then Brandon broke off and moved back.

  “I don’t want to fight, Riley. You been through too much shit and frankly, so have we.” The we hit Riley deep in the heart as Brandon said it. “ I just came here to tell you something face to face because no matter what’s happened we used to be friends. You deserve to hear the truth from me.

  “I think I’ve had my fill of truth from you and Misty.” Riley insisted but Brandon put up a hand.

  “Wait. Please. Just hear me out and then I promise I won’t bother you again.”

  “Fine.” Riley agreed and waited. “What is it you want to tell me?” Brandon Cole sighed, then looked him in the eye and said the words he’d come there to say.

  “Misty and I are getting married next week.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-NINE

  The Wedding

  “Hey.” Renae flashed him a smile as she approached his booth. Riley didn’t smile back. She was working the breakfast shift and he’d decided to ride in with her. Lately Riley had realized that he’d been unable to concentrate on getting any of their projects done. It had been almost a week since the Community Dinner and the unveiling of the prototype of the statue Gordon Garfield, the artist, planned to give to the town depicting his worst nightmare, the night on that road outside of Baghdad. It had also been almost a week since Brandon Cole had told him that he and Misty were getting married. Everyone in town had known it was happening for weeks but no one had bothered to mention it to Riley. When they met back up at the house with Renae and Louis, Riley hadn’t had much to say and while it took a lot to reassure his friend that he was okay and that he didn’t need to go back east with him for any individual therapy or group support.

  “Riley?” she asked looking concerned.

  “I’m okay.” He answered not quite meeting her gaze.

  “You look ten shades of the opposite. What’s wrong? Is everything okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m okay.” He said but it was obvious to him that she wasn’t buying it.

  “So are you going to tell me or do I have to get rough?” she teased. A pretty grin crossed her face.

  “You shouldn’t be trying so hard to cheer me up.” He said.

  “I just don’t like to see a good man mope like his dog’s just been run over. There are country songs for that you know.” She smiled again. There was just something about the way it reached all the way up to her eyes that always seemed to draw him in.

  “So what’s going on?” she asked leaning across the counter. There wasn’t any point in lying. He was surprised she didn’t already know or that someone hadn’t told her.

  “There’s going be a wedding this weekend,” he said hesitantly, “or hadn’t you heard?”

  “Of course I heard about it. I’m sorry.” She said, genuine sympathy replacing the playful look in her eyes. He sighed. He preferred the teasing.

  “You’re not going are you?” she asked. The question struck him as odd.

  “No.” he said and then realized that she was teasing him again.

  “It’s not cause you can’t find a date right?”

  “No. Actually, the bride was my date.” He said and almost smiled again. He couldn’t believe he was playing along. What had gotten into him?

  “Yeah, that’s tough luck.”

  “You looking to skip out?”

  “Skip out?” he repeated.

  “You know, skip out of town? Escape? Get away?”

  “I know what you meant.” He said.

  “Well,?” She crossed her arms.

  “Well, what?” he asked confused.

  “Where are you going?”

  “I don’t know. I hadn’t thought about it.” He said and she rolled her eyes.

  “You’re kidding me, right?”

  “No.”

  “How is it that you have no actual escape plan? You can’t stay here. Lord knows, if it was me I’d have packed my bags and run already.”

  “Well, there’s that little detail about not being able to drive.” He said quietly and for a moment she looked genuinely sorry she had begun to tease him about it at all. Then she looked excited. Very excited.

  “I’ll drive you.” She said reaching across the counter and taking his hands in hers.

  “What?”

  “Let’s take a road trip!” She said.

  “Road trip?”

  “Yes! Let’s get out of here for. . . I don’t know, maybe a week.”

  “A week?.”

  “Riley, let’s take a trip. It’ll be good for you to get out of town. It’ll be fun, I promise.” The excitement shined in her eyes. He was speechless. Go on a road trip with her?

  “What do you say?”

  “Renae, I don’t know that I can just leave like that. I’d have to talk to Louis. . .”

  “Riley, I’m not suggesting we elope to Vegas. I’m just suggesting a little road trip, that’s all. I’m sure Louis will be fine with it. You’re not a prisoner. You can come and go as you please. I promise I’ll look after you. Whatever it is, I’m sure I can handle it.” She smiled and Riley thought about the last episode he’d had. It had been about a month since the last really bad one. He cringed inwardly just thinking about her seeing him go through something like that again.

  “Come on, soldier. What do you say? Road trip or gunshot wedding?” She asked and Riley felt a stab of pain in his gut at the last words.

  “Exactly where are we going?” he asked.

  “South Dakota”

  “South Dakota.” He repeated.

  “Sure. Doreen’s always talking about how wonderful it is up there. She and Elmer take their summer vacations up there all the time. I’ve never been. So, let’s go.” Riley looked uncertain. “Riley, we can take a trip to one of this country’s most beautiful states or we can stay here. Do you want to go to the wedding reception? ”

  “No!” he answered emphatically.

  “Have you ever been to South Dakota?” She asked wiping the counter.

  “No. I’ve only been overseas.”

  “Well, then we have a lot in common, don’t we? Except for the overseas part.” She said smiling and untied her apron “From what Doreen tells me it’s a long trip.”

  “Long trip?”

  “Honestly, Riley. Are you going to keep repeating every other word I say? Or, are you going to get and up and go back to the farmhouse with me to get your stuff?” She asked impatiently. He was quiet for a moment and he weighed his options.

  “I’ll go with you. Thanks for the offer.”

  “Sure.” She said and walked back to the kitchen. After a few minutes she came out with her purse in one hand and her keys in the other. He got up and followed her to the door.

  “See you in a week, honey. And don’t worry we’ll make do.” Doreen called out to Brenda.

  “See you later, Doreen.” Brenda called back, pushing the door open
and stepping out into the parking lot. Riley followed and soon they were in her car heading back to the farmhouse. As they rode back Riley remained quiet until he stuck a hand in his jacket pocket and felt the small box he’d been carrying around for the last few days.

  “Hey, before we go home would you mind making one stop? It’s in Broken Bow.” He asked.

  “Where do you want to go?” She asked. He was nervous. Would he finally go through with it he wondered? How many times in the last two days had he been so close to asking for a ride to go through with it? His hand tightened around the box.

  “Riley?”

  “Bailey’s on fourth.” He said. Brenda raised an eyebrow.

  “The pawn shop?” she said. He nodded.

  “I’ve got to check on something.”

  “What?” she asked.

  “Something my grandpa left with them before died.” He hated lying to her.

  “Sure.” She said and didn’t ask him anything else about it. He was grateful for that. They drove the 17 miles in silence into Broken Bow. Once they pulled up to the shop Riley got out.

  “I’ll just be a minute, okay?”

  “Okay.” She said as he closed the car door and turned to walk into the pawnshop. He took a deep breath and fingered the sharp, square sides of the box in his pocket. He walked in and headed to the main counter. There was a heavy set man, balding with thick glasses, wearing a worn out tan t-shirt with a faded Nebraska logo leaning against the back counter. Riley dug into his pocket and pulled out the box, setting on the glass counter in front of him. The box was small, delicate and covered in soft, black velvet. The man behind the counter came up and picked up the box.

  “You have something you need me to look at?” The man asked.

  “Yes.” Riley responded and forced himself to look away as the man opened the small box and took out what was inside.

  “Well, that’s a very pretty set.” The man said fingering the delicate gold band with the small diamond sparkling under the fluorescent lights above them.

  “Yeah.” Riley said in almost a whisper.

  “You sure you want to sell it?” The man asked examining it more closely. A thousand different emotions passed through Riley as he struggled for a moment to answer the man’s question. After a moment had passed he finally answered him.

  “I’m sure.”

  “Okay, then, “The man replied, “give me a minute to get a closer look and I’ll come back with a number.”

  “Sure.” Riley said and felt the last of the strings that held him to his former life snap as he watched the man take Misty’s engagement ring away.

  CHAPTER FORTY

  The Roadtrip

  They were traveling 363 miles. He had committed himself to riding for 6 hours and 3 minutes with a woman he’d only met weeks ago, the day Louis had brought him back to Bess from the hospital. He had many second thoughts, especially after leaving the pawn shop.

  “You’re going to love South Dakota.” She chirped as she clicked her seat belt on and motioned for him to do the same. She turned the key in the ignition and the car roared to life.

  “Hey, cheer up. We’re going be out of here in just a minute.” She said and pulled out of the parking lot. But he couldn’t really bring himself to cheer up about it especially as they passed right by the Broken Bow First Christian Church. The sign out front, usually reserved for scripture quotes had an announcement:

  COLE/LANGSTON WEDDING 2PM SAT

  Riley’s heart sank as he read the words. She seemed to notice the sign too and sped up. They rode in silence until they made it out of town. Riley looked out the window, watching everything go by, cars, buildings, cattle, silos, trees. He wondered how many months he had longed for these familiar landmarks while he was in the desert. How many nights had he dreamed of driving past them but in the opposite direction? So much had changed, but not for the better. The trip had just begun, but with each mile he put between himself and any thoughts of the wedding, it seemed like he could breath a little better. It still hurt, but he could breathe. He found himself leaning against the window and before long he’d fallen asleep. After a while he woke up. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes. As he did, he realized it had gotten pretty dark.

  “I’m sorry.” He said trying to stretch.

  “Don’t worry about it.” She said and turned the radio up. She must have turned it down so he could sleep.

  “What time is it?”

  “It’s almost 8.” She answered.

  “I’m really good company, aren’t I?”

  “Nothing I didn’t expect. You aren’t exactly a Chatty Cathy when you’re awake.” She was smiling.

  “Guess not.” He said.

  “I figured we could make a stop to get quick a bite to eat, gas up.

  “That’s fine.”

  “Great.”

  “How are you feeling? You’re not exactly an open book, you know. So I feel like I have to ask just to make sure.”

  “You want to take a look in my eyes?” he teased.

  “I’m not sure I’d be able to tell even if I did. Is that part of the military training they give you guys? Or are you a gambling man? You know, the poker face and all?”

  “I don’t know.”

  “Wow. Don’t overwhelm me with the information.” She teased again.

  “I’m not trying to be difficult. I just don’t know. I don’t go around staring at my face-taking notes about it.”

  “Maybe you should, then you’d realize how intimidating you come off sometimes.”

  “Intimidating?” he asked incredulously.

  “Sure.”

  “I didn’t know that.”

  “ Doreen told me you weren’t always like that.”

  “You were talking about me at the café?” he sounded uncomfortable

  “No. I wasn’t.” She lied feeling ashamed of herself. “Those folks think a lot of you and your grandpa, that’s all. They were worried about you. Although, some of the stories they were telling made you out to be quite the local hell raiser. To be honest, you and your friends were quite the wild bunch according to some people. I’m surprised you guys didn’t get picked up more by the Sheriff.”

  “We did,” Riley admitted, “but he would just drive us back home and give us a stern talking to.” The thought almost brought a smile to his face but she could see that he fought hard to bury it deep inside.

  “Nice.” She said. The memories she talked about had to do with Brandon and the better years of Riley’s life. Back when he had a best friend and a brother. Brenda could sense the change in him, so she decided to change the subject.

  “So where do you feel like eating?” she asked brightly.

  “I’m not picky.” He said.

  “All right, then how about some place up the road that looks decent? There should be one according to the GPS. There’s a gas station nearby too.”

  “Sounds fine to me.” He answered and they rode in silence again.

  10 miles up there was still no restaurant to be found but there was a little place where they stopped for gas, bought some sandwiches and started on the road again.

  “I’m feeling a little tired but I really want to make it there by midnight or 1 at the latest. You still okay?”

  “Yeah. I’m just sorry I can’t help drive.”

  “Don’t worry. I probably wouldn’t let you drive even if you could. I’m kind of a control freak when it comes to driving. I’m not a good passenger-trust me. It’s better this way.”

  “Good to know. Anything else I should know before we go any farther?”

  “Nothing you need to know just yet. You can handle that can’t you? Being on a need-to-know basis only?”

  “Yes,mam.” He said

  “Good man.”

  “But, if you don’t mind, can I ask you just one question?”

  “I don’t know depends on what it is.”

  “I was just wondering when your boyfriend’s ever going to show up and actually do
any of the work?”

  “My boyfriend?” Brenda had been able to keep Riley from asking too much about this by changing the subject but being stuck in a car for hours made it difficult to keep from answering his questions.

  “Isn’t that where you run off to when you go into town with your computer tablet?” Riley asked.

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Is he your boyfriend, the person you go into town to contact?” he asked finally.

  She felt the sadness permeate her whole body. If he only knew it was her kids, Shane’s kids, she wondered what he would say or do.

  “Why are you asking?” she said

  “No reason. Just wondering how he’s going to feel about you living with some guy he’s never met.” He teased but her eyes were filling up with tears and she wasn’t sure she would be able to stop them from overflowing.

  “I didn’t mean it that way. . .” he said apologetically.

  “There is no he- no boyfriend.” No husband. She thought feeling sad and empty.

  “Then, who?”

  “It’s a girlfriend.”

  “Oh.” He said awkwardly.

  “She’s the friend who recently suffered the death in her family.” Brenda said quietly and willed the lump in her throat to recede.

  “The one who sent you out here? But she’s in Tennessee.”

  “Yeah.”

  “But the house is in Nebraska?”

  “It belongs. . .belonged,” She corrected herself, “to her husband’s side of the family.”

  “It was her husband who died?”

  “Yeah, it was.”

  “Not an accident? I’m sorry sometimes I forget things.”

  “War.” She said and watched for his reaction. The questions stopped and they rode in silence again.

  “Hey, there’s a sign for the motel Doreen recommended. We’re getting closer.” She said changing the subject and after another hour or so they arrived at the motel and she ran in and got them two rooms next to each other.

  “See you tomorrow, bright and early? Doreen gave me a list as long as my arm for sightseeing.” She said as she turned her key in the lock.