Down the Hidden Path

by Heather Burch

  “That went well,” David said, sitting in the passenger seat and propping his elbow on the plastic box. Town was shutting down, the remaining snow glistening at the edges of the roads and melting away in snowplow piles.

  Miah winked. “Dangerous little game you played there, son.”

  David concentrated his attention on the trim running along the door of the truck. His finger trailed it. “I know. It was worth it.”

  Miah reached over and gave his hand a squeeze. “You won’t hear me complain.”

  “Stacey’s brother asked me if I wanted to go with them next weekend.”

  An invitation from one of the boys in his class. This was good. Ms. Forrester had it right, suggesting David get involved with the fund-raiser. “What’s next weekend?”

  “Some of the basketball boys are going up to Old Man Carver’s hunting cabin for the night. Bonfire, cook hot dogs. You know, do guy stuff.” He was trying to be casual, but Miah could see the excitement sifting through every pore of his being. Maybe he’d never gotten an invite like this.

  “Is there an adult going?”

  “Trey Billing’s older brother and his friend are going. They’re seniors.” David’s eyes widened as if seniors meant they were utterly adult and fully responsible.

  Still, Miah would like some more details. “I don’t know, David. Let me talk to Gray.”

  David scoffed. “Talk to Gray? You’re my dad. I live with you. Not her.”

  Miah’s collar felt tight. Maybe David was right. There would be a thousand opportunities like this, and Miah had to man up and not go running to Gray every time he was asked permission for something. “And Stacey’s brother is going? Their mom and dad said it was okay?”

  David sat up straighter. “Yeah. No big deal.”

  Miah’s thumb tapped the steering wheel as he turned the truck onto the long driveway leading home. The trees sparkled with melting snow that dripped when the sunlight hit but refroze over the cold nights. Winter could either give way to spring or it could hit again with a vengeance—no real way to tell, and that was one of the things he loved about Missouri. The uncertainty. That fun of the unknown, however, ended with David. Where his son was concerned, Miah would prefer all absolutes and no surprises. What was the right thing to do here? Finally, he nodded. “Okay. I guess I’m okay with it, but I want you to take my cell phone. Any problems, anything going on that shouldn’t be, you call me.” And he gave him a stern look for good measure. A dad look.

  “I promise.” David could barely contain his exuberance.

  Probably Miah was worrying for nothing. Boys did stuff like this all the time. He certainly had. He and his brothers had spent plenty of nights out in the woods . . . and without the comfort of a hunting cabin. He started to mention that if the weather was bad, David couldn’t go, but, on second thought, opted not to. No parents were going to let their boys go out in a snowstorm or with temperatures below freezing, so the trip would be canceled and Miah wouldn’t have to be the one to spoil it. “What’s the weather supposed to be like?”

  David grinned. “Snow and ice this coming week, but nicer on the weekend. Might warm up to fifty-five on Saturday.”

  Though he knew he shouldn’t, Miah hoped this time the weatherman was wrong.

  Sunday was cold but not unbearable, and Miah had fretted over what to wear. Not like him. He’d always prided himself on being a man who knew his own mind. Now, every situation he found himself in had him questioning his own judgment. He came down the stairs and found Caleb and Mr. Gruber sitting on the couch. What was Gruber doing there?

  Miah greeted him as he entered the living room. There was a fire in the fireplace and it gave a perfect glow to the space. Building fires was good for Caleb, working various muscle groups. Plus, he loved watching the flames chew the wood until only embers remained. Then, Caleb would make a trip to the woodshed and start it all again.

  Gruber stood from the couch and whistled. “Must be some lady you’re trying to impress.”

  Miah chuckled. “Yeah, and she doesn’t impress easily.”

  “The boy’s mother?” Gruber asked, his pale blue eyes shining.

  “Yes, sir.”

  “I like your sport coat, young man.” He pointed to Miah’s feet. “Change out of those dress shoes and put on your best cowboy boots. Jeans, not the dress pants.”

  Miah raised his arms and looked down over his clothing. “It’s a fancy place.”

  Gruber scratched at the days’ worth of stubble on his chin. “Boy, you live in Missouri, there’s no restaurant within a hundred miles of here that refuses to serve a man in cowboy boots. They’d go under, for sure. You don’t want to look like you’re trying too hard.” He closed one eye and pointed at Miah with a crooked finger. “Gotta keep that air of mystery. Women love a mysterious man.”

  “All right. I won’t argue with experience. Jeans and boots it is.”

  Gruber gave him a crooked smile. “She’ll appreciate that. Guarantee it.”

  Miah headed back upstairs.

  Caleb spoke up. “Thanks for coming, Mr. Gruber. I’ll plan to drop by tomorrow?”

  At the top of the stairs, Miah paused.

  Caleb answered the unspoken question. “Gray said I need more therapy for my right hand. She suggested painting. Gruber’s going to give me lessons.”

  Miah’s heart swelled. His brother had made so much progress but still struggled the most with his right hand. “That’s great, Caleb. But no naked women; we have a minor in the house now.”

  Caleb’s gaze went to Gruber. “Naked women? Can we paint those?”

  Gruber chuckled. “I’m not interested in corrupting a minor, so no. We’ll start with still lifes. Bowls of fruit, things like that.”

  “Naked women sounds better,” Caleb grumbled. “But you’re the boss.”

  Miah changed into his best jeans while downstairs he heard Caleb telling Gruber good-bye. A minute later, Caleb was at his door. “You look more comfortable; Gruber was right about the clothes.”

  Miah nodded.

  Caleb entered and sat down on Miah’s bed. “Got a minute?”

  He knew he did. He was ready forty-five minutes early. “Sure.”

  Caleb put his hands together, the left rubbing the right.

  He did that often now, and Miah had to wonder if the right hand felt different than it used to. Instead of asking, he sat down beside him and watched his baby brother.

  “I got a call from a guy in my unit. He told me about the accident.”

  Miah’s hand protectively covered his brothers. “When?”

  “He called last week.”

  Miah squeezed, worry crawling over him. “Caleb, why didn’t you tell me?”

  “You’ve been busy.”

  Miah swallowed hard. Between getting the place ready for Isaiah and Gabriel’s visit and everything with David, he’d neglected his own brother—a man who still needed him.

  “Anyway, he was there. There was . . . there was water, Miah. In the bottom of the ravine. I was underwater when they got to me. Two of the other guys in the Humvee cut me out.”

  Cold flooded Miah’s system. “Water.”

  “That’s why I reacted like I did in the pool.” Caleb stood and walked away from him. He came to a stop at the window. “I can’t swim now. Isn’t that the weirdest thing you’ve ever heard? I get in the water and I just seize up.”

  Miah walked to his brother. “It’ll come back, Caleb.”

  He shook his head. “No.” It was one of the saddest resolves Miah had ever heard. “It won’t. I just wanted to say I’m sorry. I know how hard it was for you to let Grandfather Havinger stake a claim here by doing the pool.”

  Miah watched a bird tip its wings and land on the winter water below. His room had a nice view, but nothing compared to the room he’d given David. “Actually, I’
ve been thinking about that. Maybe we should invite him over to see the pool now that it’s done.”

  “What?” Caleb faced him.

  “These last several weeks have made me realize how important family is. What are we really holding against Grandfather Havinger? The fact that he was watching his daughter die and wanted to help? Doesn’t seem like a good enough reason anymore.”

  “There was a lot more than that, Miah. He hated Dad. Never approved of their relationship, cut her out of the will when she married Dad.”

  “But he also wrote her back in. I’ve never understood those kinds of feelings until now. When it’s your child, you’ll do just about anything to keep them from making the wrong choices. Just think about it, okay?”

  Caleb nodded.

  When Miah turned, Caleb placed a hand on his shoulder. “Thanks, bro.”

  “For what?”

  “For everything. You took in your crippled, brain-damaged little brother. Didn’t have to. I just want you to know I appreciate it.”

  Miah faced him fully, because it was important, vital that Caleb know this. “I didn’t do anything you wouldn’t do for me, Caleb. Any one of us brothers would take a bullet to protect the other. And we each know that. No need to say thanks.”

  Caleb’s eyes softened. “Guess I’d save your sorry butt if it came down to it.”

  “You know you would.”

  “Will you hate me if I don’t attempt the pool anymore?”

  The only thing Miah hated was the idea that Caleb was willing to give up on it. “Of course not.”

  “Will you hate me if I move on to my own property in the summer?”

  Miah frowned. “I thought you were happy here.”

  “I am, Miah, but I’ve got a pretty cool cabin sitting in the hillside surrounded by hot springs. I’m totally able to live on my own. Besides, your lodge is getting crowded. If you play your cards right, Gray is going to end up being my sister-in-law and there’s no way I can listen to her nagging all day and all night.”

  Miah knew his little brother. Knew him so well. “You want to live on your own, don’t you?”

  “You’re close by. Plus, I’m planning to have you help me renovate it. It’s in good shape, but needs to be updated.”

  Miah understood the spark of excitement in his brother’s eyes. He’d had it, back when he talked about fixing up the lodge. “I get it.”

  “One more thing. This hunting, fishing lodge?”

  “Yeah?”

  “What if it was something else?”

  Now he had no clue what his brother was getting at. “Like what?”

  “Still a hunting, fishing lodge, but rehab too.”

  “Huh?”

  “Miah, there are a lot of guys coming home like me. We’ve got the pool; we’ve got Gray. You could guide hunting trips and fishing trips. It’d be great for guys who are taking that first step back into civilian life. Hunting is familiar ground for soldiers. It’s just something to consider.”

  Giving injured soldiers a place to begin that long assimilation back into civilian life. It definitely had its merits. But funding something like that would be costly. His lodge was supposed to make money, not drain his trust fund, plus there was David to think about now. Miah needed to make money, at least some. Eventually.

  His brother had given him a lot to think about and Miah pivoted to see his own reflection in the bathroom mirror once again.

  Caleb grunted. “You look fine. Go have a great night with Gray. If David gets home before you get back, I’ll take care of him.”

  Miah’s brows shot up.

  “Really. We’re good. The science nerd is even starting to grow on me.”

  Miah pointed. “Don’t corrupt him.”

  “Whatever.”

  Miah picked Gray up with a good supply of nerves jangling in his gut. “We’re going to Kensington. There’s a restaurant there that sits on the riverbank and used to be a speakeasy in the twenties.”

  Gray’s face lit. “I’ve heard about it. They renovated it several years back.” She clasped her hands together. “I’ve wanted to go there since I read an article about the place.”

  Miah reached for her hand. “I thought you’d like it.”

  She pivoted in the truck seat so she could look at him. “You look really great tonight.”

  Gruber had it right. “Thanks. Caleb and Gruber dressed me.”

  This made her nose crinkle and her head tilt.

  He laughed. “I was overdressed. Gruber set me straight. You, on the other hand, look perfect.”

  She wore a dark gray sweater dress that accentuated her curves, hugging her body in all the right places. Tiny diamond-stud earrings made her lobes twinkle and tall black boots covered her calves and feet. “And you look like you just stepped off a fashion show runway.” he added.

  Her shoulder tilted up. “It’s the boots.” At that, she raised the edge of her dress to give him a better view of the shining leather and tall heel.

  He reached over, grabbed her calf. “Nice.”

  She squirmed to get away, but giggled when the attempt proved futile. Miah had her in a death grip and was in no hurry to let go. Beneath the leather, he could feel her flesh. It was warm, muscle tightened. He’d like to drag that boot off her . . .

  Miah cleared his throat. He’d weighed the options about when it would be appropriate to discuss certain matters. Now seemed as good a time as any. Honestly, he wanted to get it over with because if she bucked—like he expected her to—he’d rather deal with it now. “I need to talk to you about something.”

  “Okay.” She tilted the mirror down and checked her lip gloss. It looked good enough to kiss right off her mouth, but he opted to keep that idea to himself until later.

  “Stacey’s brother asked David to go camping with them next weekend. He and some boys from the basketball team.” Full speed ahead.

  Her gaze slipped from the mirror to him. “And?”

  “And I told him yes. It was okay to go. Another thing about the trip. No parents going. Two of the senior boys are chaperoning.”

  One blink. Two. Three more and her mouth opened. A tiny dimple appeared on one side and she clamped her mouth shut. Silence filled the truck.

  “Gray?” His eyes left the road. “Gray? Say something.”

  Her lips pursed.

  “Say something, for Pete’s sake. Yes? No? Good idea, bad idea?”

  Her fingernails clicked together on her lap. “I don’t know.”

  Okay, this wasn’t helping. She was the one who was supposed to have the answers.

  She ran her fingers through her hair, but it wasn’t to smooth the strands, instead it seemed an attempt to shake off her tension. Finally, she turned to face him. “Miah.”

  And in that one word, his name, there was a desperation borne of too many nights of uncertainty. Jeremiah pulled the truck onto the shoulder of the road and put it in park. He flipped the blinkers on and turned to face her.

  Her head shook slowly. “I’m no good at this. I mean, David’s growing up. It always seemed like Angela knew exactly what to do. I don’t. He’s twelve. Caught between child and teen. I know it’s not all up to me; he’s living with you, so you’ll obviously be making more of these kinds of decisions, but I still can’t stop hoping I’ll know what’s right.”

  His hand cupped her cheek. “You are good at this. You don’t even know how good. And like right now, we’ll be making these decisions together. Maybe Angela seemed sure, but maybe it was just an act. Maybe inside, she was just as scared and uncertain as we are now.”

  Gray smiled; her hand came up to caress his and hold him there. “Whether she did or didn’t, we can tell ourselves that, right?”

  Miah nodded. He was learning that parenting wasn’t an exact science. “I didn’t know what to say to him. In the e
nd, I went with yes, you can go.”

  Tension entered her features and she dropped her hands to her lap. “We don’t really know any of these boys or their families.”

  “I know.” Outside, a few fat snowflakes began to blow in the beam of light before them.

  “We don’t know what kind of kids they are.”

  “I know.” Snow collected on the windshield.

  “We . . .” She glanced down at her hands. They’d fisted. “We have to learn to let go. Okay.” She raised her fists to eye level and opened her hands. “I’m letting go.”

  Miah took her hands in his. “I promise it’s going to be okay.”

  “How can you promise that?”

  “We don’t know what kind of kids they are. But we know what kind of kid David is.”

  She moved and gripped his wrists. “You’re pretty smart.”

  He grinned. “I had a great teacher. Let’s go to dinner.”

  She bobbed her head once in agreement. “Let’s.”

  Miah pulled back onto the road. That had gone better than he’d anticipated. With each passing day, Gray was becoming more and more open. She was beginning to see him as actual father material . . . a fact Miah appreciated. Mostly because she was a tough critic, and if she believed he could be a good father, he could believe it.

  A half hour later, they arrived at the restaurant that was already teeming with patrons. Apparently, the encroaching snow wasn’t a deterrent for speakeasy lovers. Miah and Gray sat at a table with a picture window overlooking the river. Gray had insisted on touring the entire restaurant before eating. Now, she sat with her sweater sleeves shoved up to her elbows, eyes glistening with all the discovery and magic that made this place special. She scanned a brochure about the building. “Oh, look! Here in that cellar we walked through is the entrance to the cave. They don’t let people go inside anymore—unsafe. But they say Jesse James used to hide in there.”

  Yes, Miah had been along on the tour with her, but she seemed intent on recapping it. “Cool.”

  “Did you notice the false floor in the kitchen?” she said.