Red Thunder Reckoning

by Sylvie Kurtz

  “How long were you going to hide, Kyle?”

  Kent knew. Kevin’s heart leaped as if jolted with a bolt of lightning. He tried to jerk his hand from his brother’s grasp, but Kent didn’t let go of his bone-crunching grip. “As long as I had to.”

  They glared at each other, eye to eye. The bite of Kent’s gaze found its mark. “At least you have the decency not to lie when you’re caught in the act.”

  Did Kent remember that Kyle never had dodged the bullet when it pointed right at him? “How did you know?”

  “Anonymous tip. The prints checked out.”

  Kevin fell back on old habits of indifference and feigned distance to build a carapace over the dueling love and resentment roiling in his gut.

  Kent’s gaze narrowed. Pain or reproach? “I thought you were dead. I looked for you.”

  “I couldn’t come back.”

  “No, I don’t suppose you could.” He dropped Kevin’s hand as if it was suddenly no more appealing than week-old garbage. “You were never one to accept consequences.”

  Old bitterness soured his mouth. Kent, like everyone else, had seen only the troublemaker. “That’s not it.”

  “What are you doing here, Kyle?”

  Once again words failed him. “I saw the wreck on TV. I saw you. I thought— Ellen—”

  Kent frowned, dragged in a breath as if he, too, were struggling with some internal tension. “She’s been hurt enough. Leave her alone.”

  “I owe her.”

  “You got that right.”

  Kent’s accusation punched him straight in the stomach, dousing the burning fury. “What happened to her?”

  His brother eyed him up and down, then he leaned his back against the truck as if they were two friends shooting the breeze. His voice was low and full of censure. “Garth tried to kill her. When he couldn’t, he kept her prisoner in her own body.”

  Fifteen years of near vegetation.

  Kevin looked down Gabenburg’s main drag. Where was she now? The hardware store? The grocery store? Having her out of his sight suddenly had him sweating. Could someone get to her here in town? The depth of his protective need rankled him. “How?”

  “Drugs. He kept her drugged so he could use her to control her father and skirt the law. Sound familiar?” Kent’s hands flexed, but remained at his side. “Your good buddy was a yellow-bellied varmint. He showed his true colors that day by the river. When he saw we were in trouble, he turned tail. When Ellen tried to get him to help, he walked away. She was so worried about your worthless carcass, she tried to blackmail him.” Kent tipped his head, clenched his jaw, accusing again. “Did you know he cheated to get his scholarship to college?”

  Kevin shoved his hands in his jeans pockets, searched for the feather at the bottom of the right one, found no comfort in the ripple of chiseled ridges under the pad of his thumb. He and Garth had shared all the major milestones of their lives, but in the end his love for Ellen had carved distance in their friendship. Kevin shook his head. “No.”

  “When Ellen threatened to expose him, he tried to kill her.”

  “The cut on her head.”

  Kent nodded. “She was in a coma. You know how Garth was, always wheeling and dealing. His first year in college, he hit it big with one of his schemes. Big enough to get himself into trouble. In exchange for some bending of the law, he promised Carter Paxton he’d marry Ellen and give her the best care his money could buy.”

  “Sheriff Paxton allowed that?” Ellen’s father was an overprotective bull, keeping a tight rein on his daughter’s every movement. He’d never approved of Ellen’s interest in Kyle and had made sure to catch Kyle’s every transgression. Not once had he cut him any slack.

  “He wanted the best for Ellen. The marriage was to ensure Garth wouldn’t renege on his word.” Kevin read the rebuke in Kent’s eyes. “He didn’t know about the drugs your friend was slipping her to keep her mind scrambled.”

  “How could Garth get away with that? Didn’t anyone notice anything at the nursing home?”

  Kent shrugged. “They say the drug was experimental and didn’t show up on any test.”

  Kevin swallowed hard, trying to make sense of all Ellen had endured. The strength of her spirit to survive filled him with awe.

  “She’s had a tough go this past year,” Kent said. “She’s still weak and in no condition to deal with your lies.”

  It’s my fault.

  Pajackok, what are you responsible for? He remembered Nina’s eyes shining bright, her small hands anchoring his shoulders, her body vibrating with conviction after the one and only time he’d tried to discuss the accident with her. Though few words had come out, she’d sensed his turmoil and tried to use his anger to get him out of it. You’re quite arrogant to think the earth revolves by your power, that your thought set the fire on the mountain, that you can influence any part of my happiness.

  This is different.

  Pah! You are responsible for your actions. Leave others to carry their own burdens.

  He was responsible for pushing Kent into the river. For that he owed him an apology. He was responsible for Ellen’s rescue attempt. For that he owed her a debt of honor. But he was not responsible for the torture Garth had put Ellen through. “I can’t do anything about what Garth did to her—”

  Kent whirled on him and grabbed the front of Kevin’s shirt. “When are you going to take responsibility for your actions?”

  Kevin lifted both his arms at his sides, surrendering. Kent had always been the more stubborn of the two. Once his mind was made up, there was no knocking him off the deep rut his conviction had created. Arguing was useless. “I already have.”

  “You’re still the same.” Kent shoved him away and raked a hand through his hair. “What do you think’s gonna happen when she finds out who you are?”

  She would feel betrayed, she’d have every right to. “She won’t.” Unless you tell her. The silent gauntlet didn’t go unnoticed.

  Kent’s gaze bored into him as if he were trying to lift the scars off his face to find the irresponsible twin of their youth. “For your sake, I hope she doesn’t. If any harm comes to her, you’ll pay.”

  “I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Knowing his own heart, Kevin stood tall. “She’s in danger, Kent. Someone was prowling her ranch last night.”

  “I’ll look into it.”

  “I’ve got it under control.” Kevin’s jaw tightened. Kent had never given him enough credit for anything. “Did you get anything off the castings you took?”

  “I’m tied by the law.”

  Kevin pressed his lips tight, swallowed back the acid words burning his throat. “My first priority is Ellen.”

  Kent drilled a finger into Kevin’s chest. “Those horses are leaving in six days. You’d better follow them out.”

  “She needs me.”

  “If she still needs help, I’ll get it for her.”

  “Kent—”

  “Chance. My name is Chance.”

  Kevin nodded, meeting his brother’s dark gaze. “I’ve changed, too.”

  “Not from where I’m standing.”

  And the truth of it was in his brother’s eyes. Kent— Chance—still saw him as the family screwup. “Fair enough.”

  Sensing this was his last chance to prove his worth, Kevin hurried to rejoin Ellen. He’d show his brother he could keep Ellen safe. He found her at the grocery store and helped her load her supplies.

  “What did Chance want?” Ellen asked as she clicked her seat belt in place.

  “He was just checking up on you.”

  “He worries too much.”

  As Kevin turned the key, the engine growled to life. “You’re lucky to have a friend like him.”

  She smiled. His heart wrenched. “I know.”

  When they drove into the yard fifteen minutes later, the quiet hit him first, then the stir of unrest.

  “Blue?” Kevin warily exited the truck. He closed the door, heard it snick gunshot
loud. Using two fingers, he whistled. “Blue!”

  The baleful screak-squeak coming from the barn ran chills down his back.

  They both started running. In the barn, water spewed from a severed pipe. A geyser churned and frothed from the mangled artery spouting into the four nearest stalls.

  The thunder of the pouring water swept him back sixteen years to the raging Red Thunder. His breath rasped through his throat. Images of Kent drowning swamped over him as the remembered current pummeled him.

  For an instant, he held his twin safe in his arms. All they had to do was swim for the shore. The boulders spiked out of the undulating water. He had no choice. He had to let go. Just before he slammed full force into the rocks, he pushed Kent away. Then pain and darkness engulfed him.

  “Oh my God!” Ellen’s high-pitched whisper fished him from the whirlpool of memories.

  Titan and Hercules stood helplessly, feet mired in a muck of soaked wood shavings and debris. Calliope was down on her side, half submerged. Her breathing was a wretched opera of choking gurgles. The only thing keeping her nostrils above water was Blue’s body pillowing her head.

  Kevin hadn’t been able to stop the river then, but maybe this time he could stop the flood.

  WATER FLOWED from the burst pipe in Calliope’s stall like music from a mad maestro. It thundered and boomed, lashing out in every direction in an endless outpouring of fury. The gush filled the confines of the stall, overflowed the baseboards and spilled into its neighbor. Wave after wave spread in reptilian writhing onto the concrete aisle. It gurgled down the drain in the wash stall, but not fast enough. Dark tentacles expanded and multiplied, creeping into the feed room and tack room.

  When had the pipe broken? How long had the horses been forced to stand in this flood? The weight of the horror anchored Ellen for a moment. Blue’s croaky whine snapped her into action.

  “Hang on, Blue,” Kevin said, and disappeared outside.

  She splashed into the stall and knelt by Calliope. Blood pounded in her ears. Her heart tripped like a runaway train. Hands shaking, she reached for the downed horse. She tried to lift the mare to her feet. But even adrenaline couldn’t give her strength she didn’t have. The dead weight crumpled her like paper.

  Bent over, she tugged on the mare’s neck. “Get up! Come on, girl, you can do it. Get up!”

  All her desperate pleas got her was a shaky exhale of breath. Water kept springing around them. Tears swam, distorting her vision. I can’t save her. I’m not strong enough.

  She whispered into the horse’s ear, holding the mare’s head out of the water. “Come on, Calliope, get up.” Her insides bled when she got no response.

  When Kevin reappeared in the stall, she spewed her frustration at him. “What did you do to the pipes? I should never have let you mess with them.”

  Kevin grabbed her shoulders and pulled her up. Water slopped between them.

  “Let go!” She drove a fist into his chest. “Can’t you see Calliope needs help?”

  “I’ll handle her.”

  As her gaze swung to his eyes, she caught sight of the suffering there. She sucked in a breath.

  Not Kevin. A nip of guilt. How could she have thought Kevin would hurt the horses? A tick of relief. Someone else had sabotaged the pipe. A burn in her solar plexus. “Who? Why?”

  He shook her slightly to get her attention. “Where’s the shutoff valve?”

  Shutoff valve? Of course, the shutoff valve. They had to stop the water. Her hand flopped, pointing to the front of the barn. “Outside the feed room.”

  He aimed her toward the door. “Turn off the water. Call the vet. Call the sheriff.”

  Ellen hesitated, drawn to the bay mare struggling to keep her head out of the water. “Calliope.”

  “I’ve got her. Go!”

  Nodding, she ran in a wobbly line toward the outside of the barn. He was stronger. He spoke the horses’ language. He could work magic with his hands. If anyone could get Calliope on her feet, it was Kevin.

  Alternating between cursing Bancroft and worrying about Calliope, she searched for the access panel. A smooth layer of earth covered the side of the barn. Ellen frantically dug until she found the usually accessible panel. She tore open the valve cover. The bright blue handle sheared off in her hand when she tried to turn it. She roared her outrage and shot to the garage. Her thighs burned. Cramps knotted her calves. Her fingers felt like rusty hinges as she tried to punch in the code.

  “This is not the time,” she yelled, and attacked the buttons once more.

  The door groaned open. She fell to her knees and rolled beneath it. Grabbing the toolbox, she whirled and raced back outside. At the valve, she dumped the contents of the toolbox and reached for the wrench.

  Her vision began to blur. She blinked furiously as she reached for the valve stem and ordered her stiff fingers to adjust the wrench. Nothing she did could make the wrench grab onto the metal. The tool slipped on the stem as if it were greased.

  “I can’t shut it!” she called to Kevin.

  “Keep turning.”

  Grunting, she put her weight behind the turning action, but even the aggressive teeth could find no purchase on the battered metal. “It’s not turning.”

  “Keep trying.”

  “It’s not working.”

  Dropping the wrench, she ran back into the barn. Calliope was standing. Despite his bruised shoulder, Kevin supported her. Her throat swelled. Thank you for being here. Thank you for saving her.

  Blue flanked the mare’s other side as if his presence there could keep her upright. Calliope’s legs shook as though they would buckle under her at any moment. They had to get her out of the water.

  “The handle sheared off and I can’t get the stem to turn,” she managed to say. “Will she walk?”

  “How’s the stall across the aisle?” Kevin asked.

  Sweat and dirt streaked his face, blending away the scars, deepening the color of his skin. For an instant she thought of Kyle, of her last view of him, muddied and wet. Man merged with boy, tugging at her heart. Don’t go there! She shook her head and squinted at the stall.

  The water current flowed the other way—for now. “Mostly dry.”

  “Move Perseus. I don’t think I can get Calliope to walk much farther than a few feet.”

  The process of moving Perseus was excruciatingly slow, but she couldn’t rush the injured gelding. By the time she’d settled him in the corral outside, Kevin and Calliope both looked ready to collapse. Such courage, such strength. Her heart squeezed with admiration at his determination to help the mare.

  Ellen opened both stall doors. Reaching under the mare’s belly, she joined a hand with Kevin. The solidity of his fingers bolstered her.

  “Ready?” he asked.

  She nodded. Blue shepherded from the back, nipping gently at the mare’s fetlocks. Kevin crooned at the horse in nonsense words. Calliope’s ears flicked. Her eyelids crept open. She gave a weary snort, then took a shaky step forward.

  Ellen cheered as she huffed and gritted her teeth to carry her share of the burden.

  “That’s it, that’s my girl, one step at a time, there you go,” Kevin’s voice droned on, casting its spell.

  Soaked from head to toe, they supported-dragged-cajoled Calliope across the aisle to the relatively dry stall.

  Silently, they each fitted halters and moved the remaining horses outside. Like an extension of herself, Kevin knew exactly what to do and did it. She never should have doubted him. He’d proved his loyalty time and again. Hiring him was the best thing she’d done for the ranch.

  “The pump,” Ellen said as the last of the horses was settled outside. “I should have thought of it earlier.”

  “Where’s the circuit breaker panel?”

  “At the house.”

  While he found the pump circuit breaker and shut it off, she placed a call to Dr. Parnell, one to Chance, another to a plumber, and reluctantly, a fourth to the judge. Better he hear about this lat
est mishap from her than the Bancrofts.

  As she hurried back to the barn, dappled gray clouds scoured the sky. Dampness rode on the breeze. The unease of a storm settled in her bones.

  Rain was the last thing she needed.

  The pasture’s shed wasn’t big enough for eight horses. The barn was ankle-deep in water, but none of it was drinkable. Five of her eight stalls were too soaked to use. Her wooden grain bins were no match for the skulking reach of unleashed water.

  Was that the plan? If she couldn’t see to the horses’ basic needs, would Bancroft swoop in, bare her failure to the judge and take the horses away?

  She had no feed, no fresh water, no shelter to give to the horses in her care. Calliope was worse off now than when she’d arrived. Given the circumstances, would she also lose Luci, C.C. and Pudge?

  Her step faltered. A hand went to her heart. Her limbs shook. Tiredness, she told herself. But even as she strode forward, she recognized the zigzag of fear snaking through her. She couldn’t lose them. She couldn’t let these beautiful animals be taken away only to be put down.

  All those years in the nursing home, she never gave up. As long as she’d woken up to the sight of sunshine dancing rainbows in her collection of crystal horses on the dresser, she’d had a ray of hope that she would one day escape. But now a cloud of despair blackened her heart.

  You’ve already lost fifteen years. You can’t give up.

  She jutted her chin forward, defying the darkening sky. Whoever had messed with that pipe wasn’t going to win. She’d go down fighting. She’d have more feed delivered. She’d rig up makeshift stalls in the outside sheds. She’d haul water from the pond if she had to. But she’d meet the horses’ needs.

  She had Chance and Dr. Parnell on her side. She had Blue to guard her. She had Kevin to help her. At the thought of him, a warmth radiated to her chest and a smile lit her lips. She wasn’t alone. She had people she could trust.

  She might still lose, but at least she’d have the satisfaction of knowing she’d done her best.

  Somewhere after the storm, there had to shine a rainbow.