Silver Wilderness Range

by Kieran York

  “Did you report it?”

  “Naw. My place probably wasn’t broken into. We forget to lock the backdoor. And I’m never sure if it might be a case of me misplacing the keys. But they went missing. Me and the Mrs. make our rounds. The vacant cabins need checking on. There’s that couple weeks in between when folks are in their cabins for the aspen leaves coloring up, and hunting hasn’t started. Lots a folks go back to Denver to their primary residence during that time. Well, one of our odd jobs is checkin’ their vacant cabins.”

  “Have you checked them recently?”

  “We didn’t have the keys, but the Mrs. and me drove around about a week ago, looked in the windows. I contact the owners and had them send me new keys. Got most of ‘em last week. Well, there was a couple that hadn’t sent the keys until yesterday. They’re probably upset that the keys were stolen.”

  “I’ll need the keys, and addresses, Barney.”

  “Sheriff, you got to return the keys back to me. But I’ll give ‘em to you for a couple days. And the addresses.”

  Royce saw the list of seven cabins. “Thanks, Barney, I’ll see that you get these back as soon as we’ve checked them out.”

  On the way back to her vehicle, Royce stopped a moment to look at the splendor of the Colorado scenery. She wondered why she was pursuing so many long shots. The light flecks of snow were making the panorama look animated.

  Thoughts streamed. Lives were so compartmentalized. Everyone had their separate concerns. She continued walking, but her mind seemed to swirl in more directions than the sifting snow.

  ***

  Royce opened the SUV door for Chance. Her radio issued an alert. The scanner code began with a standby alert. “Ten-twelve. Sheriff, all deputies, we have a Code Blue. Bus in trouble. A 23152. Stand by. School bus hijacking. They have just left from the Crystal Ski Lodge.”

  Royce broke in, “Wanda, were there children aboard.”

  “Yes. Children – twelve. They were boarding. Teacher was last; she smelled liquor and began to order her class from the bus. One Earl Harris, the driver, pushed her from the bus. Shots were fired. He left the scene with the children. Headed to the highway, toward Timber.”

  Royce quickly radioed, “All available units.” She attempted to keep her voice from shaking. “We are going to make an attempt to follow the bus. It’s getting slick out there. I don’t want that bus careening off the road. No high-speed chases, if possible. I’ll need a unit at the off ramp of Gulch Creek Road. We are not going to approach until we get to the level area out of Timber. Until then, light up your roofs, but no sirens.” She took a breath. “Wanda, get a search warrant for the Harris home executed. Also contact parents, and get a place in the courthouse cleared for taking statements, and get counselors to work with survivors.”

  “Doing it now, Sheriff. By your playbook, I’ve contacted several. Neighboring communities will be helping.”

  Nick asked, “Are we going to use a strip?”

  “Only if we can’t get him stopped, Nick. Then pick the road stop you think best.”

  “Roger. I’d say they should be ready to place a strip at both highway city lines – entry and exit.”

  Royce continued with instructions, “Let’s have two squads at the first town exit. One on each side of the highway. Everyone knows the drill. I’m vehicle two. Terry is first. Got it, Terry?”

  “He’s in my sight. Driving too quickly and erratically for conditions. But I’m staying on him.”

  “I’ve got eyes on him now,” Royce stated. “Wanda, get emergency vehicles on standby. And call Hertha. We’ll notify as soon as we get him stopped.”

  “Roger, Sheriff.”

  “Slow and easy everyone,” Royce instructed. Let’s get in position for taking him down at the first available spot. Stage area immediately. No flash bang, even if we draw a crowd.” Royce didn’t want the flash bang used to frighten the children when the explosive warnings were deployed. They produced a blinding flash and intensely loud bang, and were usually used to disburse or control crowds. Nothing to unnerve the children or the perpetrator.

  As the cars fishtailed down the pass, Royce took deep breaths. She saw bus going out of control as it winded around the curve. The bus hit the graveled edge. Beneath was a plunging ledge. The bus made it back away from the side-rail.

  When they hit an area of flatland, Royce directed, “Let’s take him down now, before we get into town. Terry, lead. I’m right behind you. Wanda, direct the emergency medics, and escort the school principal and Laura Harris here immediately. Urgently.”

  Terry shifted into the passing lane. Cautiously, keeping up. When she saw the deputies ahead, she began moving toward the bus. Royce saw the bus bump the deputy’s fender. Terry’s vehicle slid, but was recovered quickly. The two vehicles on the side edged toward the oncoming bus. The bus veered off the road, and slid across the area, and onto a lifting ravine.

  Following, Royce felt the slip of her vehicle on ice patches. She coasted to a stop around twenty feet from the bus. Royce jumped out, running toward rock that jutted up. She saw Terry emerge from her squad car, and take cover. Both women had guns drawn. Within moments, the area was filled with police and emergency vehicles. Deputies scattered to find their cover and stage. They surrounded the bus.

  Shouting Royce called for the driver, “Earl Harris, I need to see you come out of the bus now.” She pulled her phone from her pocket. “Wanda, get me patched to his radio. Keep me advised about any Harris data.”

  “Got it, Royce.”

  The sheriff shouted, “Earl Harris, let’s get this stopped now. I want you to exit the bus. I want your hands in the air. You’ve got nowhere to go.”

  “You come and get me. I got a little booze left in here, and plenty of rounds in my clips. I got one of those clips in my semiautomatic. It has enough ammo to kill everyone here twice.” His laugh was an ugly crowing sound.” I’ll kill you all. So, you want me, you come and get me. I got a dozen human shields.”

  “Give it up,” Royce ordered.

  His inebriated speech was evidence that he had probably been drinking since he delivered the children to the ski area. Those few hours were enough to intoxicate him. “I’d like to take you out. This country doesn’t need freaks. Queers should be killed. Anyone that ain’t white ain’t right. This is my country.”

  “I want to talk with you. Let’s settle this without bloodshed.” She worked to negotiate. “We can talk this out.”

  “I already shot the teacher. I got nothing to lose.”

  Royce lied, “You missed. She’s fine. Let’s not have any serious charges.”

  “Fucking shut up, you queer bitch.”

  Royce stiffened. “I’m not going away.”

  A squad car pulled up as near as it could get to Royce. From the car exited both Laura Harris and Jane Garnett. Laura was visibly shaken. “Sheriff, I’m going to phone him. I can talk to him.”

  “Get him on your phone. I want to talk with him,” Royce sternly replied. “Now!”

  “Maybe he’ll listen to me.” She tried to talk. From his phone there was cursing, and then they could see that he was throwing the phone from the bus.

  Royce took Laura’s phone. “That didn’t go so great. I want you to talk with Undersheriff Nick Hogan.” She pointed toward Nick. “You tell him everything you know about that man.”

  “He has a record and…” Laura stopped. She slowly, nearly trance-like, walked to Nick.

  Principal Jane Garnett said, “Sheriff, I didn’t know.”

  “You hired a man with a record. You didn’t do a background check. Your crime was that you should have known. That is an unforgiveable crime. And take a look at what we’ve got now. And you are an accomplice.”

  Garnett went to stand beside Laura Harris. Royce glared at them both.

  It was only moments later, Nick ran to Royce’s side. “They’ll be sending his record from Dallas. His offenses include child endangerment, child abuse, and an entire rap sheet ra
nging from child pornography to assault. We have to get him out of there.”

  Royce paused a moment. “He wants me. I’m one of the people he wants. I’m going in. I know it’s against policy, but we don’t have a safe option. The guy is dangerous, and he’s going to begin harming those children. As I approach the driver’s entry door, get two deputies to open the back door. As quietly as it can be opened,” Royce instructed. “And keep Chance back.”

  When the deputies were in place, she motioned. Royce holstered her gun. “I’m coming in to talk with you, Harris.”

  “You try anything and you’ll have a dozen dead kids.”

  Cautiously, Royce neared the door. “Harris, open the door, now.” She watched as the vertical doors eased open.

  When she began stepping up, he yelled. “No, you’re not coming in here.”

  She peered in. “Is everyone okay?” She heard crying from the back of the bus.

  “Nobody’s okay. Got it. Nobody.” Slouching, he sat, most leaning against the seat.

  “Harris, we need to get these kids off the bus. Some of them may be hurt from the accident.”

  “If they don’t shut the fuck up, they’re gonna be dead. Even the white ones.”

  “They’re noisy. Why don’t you let the white children get off the bus?” She was reading his face. “A few of them. The ones that are crying.”

  In his right hand, he held a gun. In his left a bottle. He took a gulp. He stood, “You kids back there,” he pointed to a few. “You white kids can go. Get that screamer the hell out of here.”

  He shoved some of the children. Royce quickly reached for them as they were retreating from the bus. She helped them down the steps as they debarked. She whispered for them to run. “Harris, that was a good show of faith.” She counted seven. That meant five remained.

  Royce pointed to the back of the bus. Nick radioed for the two deputies, to get it opened and try to board, or get more children off. Then Royce stepped up, aboard the bus. As she did the backdoor was opened. She heard one of the children at the back of the bus being drug away to freedom. Four. Four left.

  “I said stay back.” He looked at Royce’s body. “I’d like to rape you. Fuck you, you dyke bitch. Yeah, I want you.” He felt his crotch. “You queer.”

  Royce watched the gun as it made a loop from the children back to the sheriff. As he lifted the bottle, Royce spat the word, “Being a racist and a rapist of children must be thirsty work.” She paused. “Why wouldn’t it be? You’re at the bottom of the barrel. You’re the lowest of the species.”

  His eyes were angry; his beefy face was now red. “You bitch. Queers are the bottom. That’s who is at the bottom. Your kind and your black and brown races.”

  Royce turned to the right; she saw Antero and Vannie for the first time. They were trembling. They knew they were targets. Suddenly she looked down the aisle to where they sat. There was a large open bag of road salt two rows ahead of theirs. It was only a chance, but they knew a story of Royce and Hertha’s history. If Royce’s line of sight lowered, they would see the salt. Maybe they would understand. She glanced downward. Both children gazed down to what she was looking at. Then she opened her hands widely, and gripped them several times. She was telling them what to do. Grab and hold salt. Royce watched as the bus driver took another slug of booze.

  “Okay, so you’re winning now, Harris. You’ve got four kid hostages. And a sheriff.” She was directing his attention. She stood in the aisle. Her arms lifted as she spoke. “You’ll have some fame with your haters. White supremacists. And you will be able to take out a couple of children of color. You’ll be a hero to you clan. You are part of a group, aren’t you?”

  “Yeah, I got my group. I told that stupid bitch I married that I was going to a hunting convention. It was a group. We were hunting for coloreds and queers. We’re taking over the world.”

  Attempting to hide her disgust, she spoke tranquilly, “Look, I’ve been fair with you. I want something. You can keep your gun aimed at me. I just want to hug those kids. They’re my kids. Let them come up to the front. Then I’ll ask the deputy to get you another bottle of whiskey, I see your bottle is almost spent. Then you can kill us.”

  He howled, jeering, “Yeah. This bottle is almost gone. Hug those little redskin shits. Say goodbye. Drop your gun first.”

  Giving up a weapon was also a last resort. But again, no options. Royce eased her gun out touching only the handle. She dropped it. She turned and walked to the seat where the salt was. She motioned for Antero and Vannie to come hug her. They moved slowly and were seated. She continued looking at the salt. “Okay,” she turned to Harris. I’m just going to hug the kids. Then I’ll come back to where I was. You’ve got me in your sight.”

  “Hug ‘em one last time, bitch.”

  Royce opened her arms and hugged Vannie. As her arms went behind the small girl, Royce’s hand felt the tightly closed fist. It opened, dropped a handful of salt into the sheriff’s hand. Then she hugged Antero. His hand filled her other grasp with salt.

  “Get back here,” Harris screamed impatiently. Royce returned, her hands in fists. Harris lifted the bottle to his lips. As he tipped the bottle back, Royce tossed her handfuls of salt toward his eyes. He shrieked. Royce bolted toward him, hitting his right hand with all the force she had. She swung his arm to the side, pressing hard to hold it.

  He was disabled enough for the two deputies in the back to rush him. He was thrown back against the dash. Royce rammed his arm against the steering wheel. His gun fell and skittered down the aisle. He was frantically clawing at his eyes to remove the salt. He went to his knees. From the side, Chance had rushed up the steps and past the open door. She was ferociously growling into his face.

  Terry stood in the aisle, pointing her service weapon directly at Harris. She whispered to the sheriff, “I’ve got a dead-center aim on him. Let me shoot him. Please.”

  Royce smiled. “Where he’s going for the remainder of his life, shooting him would be doing him a favor. But let’s call Chance off. The poor dog will be drunk if she doesn’t get away from his boozer breath.” Her eyes met with Terry’s. “Great charge, Deputy. I’m proud of you.”

  Two deputies and the sheriff cuffed him, then pulled his bulky body up. Terry whistled for Chance. “Chance, you were just the backup needed.”

  Lifting herself to her feet, Royce turned to see the children. She took them in her arms. As the three walked off the bus, they walked past the other ten children. Royce pointed to her children. “These two youngsters that some of you were bullying, they saved lives just now. You and you,” she pointed to the two children that had remained. “Your lives were saved by Antero and Vannie.”

  Wide-eyed, the children surrounded Hertha’s children. They hugged them.

  Royce turned and smiled to her deputies. “Good work. You are all plenty amazing.”

  She looked toward the crowd that was gathering. Hertha walked toward her. There embrace was for many moments. Royce gazed into Hertha’s eyes. For the first time, the sheriff felt she was part of her new family.

  Royce’s love had evolved. She had evolved into a person that wanted to trust more than she wanted to be alone.

  Chapter 23

  Later that afternoon and through the evening, Royce was going over the deputy reports, as well as reports from onlookers at the bus high-jacking. Nick had taken a statement from the teacher. She had been hit, and only had superficial wounds from the bullet and from falling. She had been checked and released.

  The children had been checked, and would be given psychological evaluations, and provided with any emotional help they would need. All of them had stated that he hadn’t touched them. But they feared he would.

  Royce informed Principal Jane Garnett, that she would be held responsible for not doing background checks on the longtime criminal, Harris. That implicated her, and the D.A. might wish to bring charges against her. Garnett’s chance of remaining principal of the school, or any school, was slimme
r than none. Laura Harris would be accountable for not alerting the school to Earl Harris’s record. Conspiracy, collusion, it would not be good. She claimed not to know he was a molester of children.

  With the current attempted murder, kidnapping, endangerment, and reckless driving, and a list of charges, including hate crimes, he would undoubtedly be sent back to the state where he was incarcerated to serve out the remainder of his twenty-year sentence. With ten years remaining, he would be there for some time. Then he would end up in Colorado to serve the new sentence for the attempted murder of fourteen. The children, the teacher, and the sheriff. Thankfully, the only one experiencing the burst of gunfire was the teacher. And thankfully Earl was a lousy shot; Royce had mentioned that to the deputies. The children’s teacher had escaped with a small, but brag-worthy graze on her arm from the errant bullet. Harris would undoubtedly be serving the remainder of his life in prison.

  Finally, at the end of the day, Royce had interrogated the semi-drunken, Earl Harris. He was still spewing his White Supremacist threats and hatred. Harris had always worn long sleeves. When the sheriff Royce saw his arms, she knew why. His jail garb showed his various symbols of hatred. Ink covered his arms.

  That ink would insure that Laura Harris knew what he was. Royce was glad that Laura would be a charged as an accomplice. Although she would probably not receive much time, she would certainly never work in Timber County again. And most would shun her if she stayed in Timber. She would probably go internet dumpster diving to find another man to insert in her life. She wasn’t too picky.

  Royce spent what remained of the night attempting to sleep. Gran had fixed her a meal, and the sheriff had only eaten a few mouth’s full. She then went to her room to rest or try to sleep.

  ***

  When she woke that morning, Royce asked Undersheriff Nick to also interrogate Harris. The criminal would be sober, and Royce didn’t wish to be near him. She was certain he wouldn’t be out of prison soon. So many pedophiles had the treatment disguise and would be given an excuse bath. Guilt free. They are sent back out into the public. Released with a hand slap. The sheriff hated the revolving doors that brought them back to harm children.