“Hey, Cass.” Hannah came rushing up to me, holding out the laptop I’d given her. “Is this the video you want me to play?”
I nodded and swallowed down my worries. “Yep. Just wait until the lights go off. It’s twenty minutes total. There should be sound, too. Make sure they get that hooked up.”
She nodded, but eyed the computer nervously. “Okay, but no promises. You know these things hate me. I’ve called for a mutual cease-fire, but AI can be a sneaky little devil. I swear, robots are just biding their time to rise up and take over the world. They’re evil.”
I tried to smile at her. Hannah was just trying to make me laugh, and usually it would’ve worked, but right now I was feeling so twisted up inside the only thing I wanted to do was cry. Where was Graham? He was supposed to meet me in the parking lot after school. I’d called, texted, and waited until the very last minute for him to show up. Nothing.
Finally, I’d had to call Hannah in a rush and beg her to come run the computer for me while I presented to the council. It definitely wasn’t ideal. Hannah’s inability to run anything with a battery and the fact that no one knew this footage as well as Graham were both working against us. I needed him here. Where was he?
He’d looked so sad today when I’d seen him in the halls. Not at all like the Graham from a couple days ago. The strength had seeped from his bones. Even the will to keep up his mask was gone. Now, everyone could see how tired and broken he was from having his last hope crushed.
I wished I could go back to that Saturday we’d first kissed and talked him out of visiting his mom. At the time, I’d thought I was doing good. But in the end, it had done nothing but destroy Graham.
Was that always going to happen?
What if all of the good I tried to do in this world came back and smacked me in the face?
I squeezed my eyes shut as panic rolled over me. I couldn’t face it.
“Hey, you’re going to do great.” Hannah grabbed my hand, her voice full of concern. “Don’t be nervous. You’ve got this. You don’t even need the video. I think you alone could sell this. You love this town. You love the people. The council will see what you see.”
I opened my eyes and smiled gratefully at her. “I hope you’re right. I just wish Graham was here. Something feels off. He should’ve texted me back by now. I don’t like this.”
“I know.” She glanced up at the clock on the wall. “You’ve got fifteen minutes until show time. Why don’t I see if I can find him before then? You just focus on your presentation.”
I nodded. “Okay. Thank you.”
I didn’t like this, not one bit. But until Graham answered his texts, there was nothing more I could do. So I went over to review my notes until Hannah could find anything out. It wasn’t until one minute until four o’clock did I see her come back into the room. She wasn’t alone. Matty was with her, wearing his practice jersey and cleats. On his face was a worried frown that sent a dart of fear straight to my belly. I excused myself and rushed across the meeting room to see what was up.
“What’s going on, guys?” Wrapping my arms around my abdomen, I glanced back and forth between them, waiting for the news. “Where’s Graham?”
“We...uh...” Hannah looked at Matty and made a face.
She’d never been great at delivering bad news. Her failed attempt made my stomach sink even lower.
“We think he’s bolted,” Matty finished for her. His eyes were filled with sympathy as he took a step closer to me. “I saw him after school. He wasn’t acting right. He fed me some line about how he was going to get your car to load equipment for the meeting. But when I got to the practice field, I watched him walk right past your car and into a nearby field.”
My breaths were coming in and out in little puffs. “He bolted? As in, left town?”
“Maybe. Maybe not. Ken and Mary are both on it. I called Ken at the school and then headed over here to be sure he hadn’t shown up. I’m not sure where he’s going, but he won’t get far.”
I clutched at my stomach. I should’ve known. After everything that happened yesterday, Graham was hurting in the worst way possible. He’d be on the run. Running away from his heartache. From his shame.
From me.
“Maybe he went to Kansas City,” Hannah offered, pointing at me. “Didn’t you say he’s from the city? He could be going home.”
“No.” I shook my head, utterly sure that was the last place Graham was headed. “He won’t go there. Not after what happened last weekend.”
Curiosity shone in both of their eyes. I took a deep breath and prepared myself to break a promise to Graham. He’d probably die if I told anyone the truth about what had happened, but at this point, I could see no other option. We had to find him. He wasn’t safe out there alone.
“Graham and I drove up to Kansas City last Sunday,” I explained. “He wanted to see his mom and her new place. She’d told him in a letter that she’d cleaned up her act and it was only a matter of time before the boys would get to go home...”
My gaze trailed over to the wall as I remembered the scene. The smell of that apartment was still with me. The dankness. The dirty dishes sitting in the overflowing sink. The spilled beer. The open garbage can stuffed full of rotting carryout containers. None of that compared to the state of Graham’s mom. I would’ve bet money that she was still drunk when she answered that door. Maybe even high. She’d lied to her boys. She’d given them hope where there was none to be found. She’d crushed Graham’s spirit and now he was running away from the only home he had left.
“Let me guess, she hadn’t cleaned up her act,” Matty said softly, finishing my thought and tilting his head forward to look in my eyes.
I nodded. There was no need to spill any more of Graham’s trauma to them. They had the gist.
“So I don’t think he’s going to KC,” I said. “There’s nothing there for him. Not anymore.”
“Then, where?” Hannah twisted a strand of red hair around her finger, tugging it anxiously. “Where’s he going?”
I thought about the teddy bear from Graham’s backpack. There was only one family member left in this world who hadn’t let him down—the owner of the matching bear. He’d be headed in that direction. I’d bet my life on it.
“Graham’s going to find his brother,” I said, looking at both of them. “I’m sure of it.”
Matty’s brow furrowed and then he nodded in agreement and pulled his cell phone out of his pocket. He turned away to talk on it when someone answered the other end of the line. Hannah wrapped her arm around me and rubbed my back. I’d hoped getting more information on Graham would help me settle down for the start of the meeting, but now it was like I was sucking in fumes. My head was dizzy and my heart racing at a pace that couldn’t be healthy.
“We have to postpone the presentation,” I said, looking over at the council members already getting situated in their seats behind the table at the front of the room. “I can’t do this right now. I have to help find Graham.”
“Go talk to them,” Hannah said. “Maybe they’ll understand.”
I marched up to the front, nerves wound so tight in my stomach that I was sure I would explode if I didn’t hear from Graham soon. Mr. Cook was just arriving and no surprise, he was the last one. He sauntered in, wearing a fancy gray suit and blue undershirt. His expression was the same one I made when I smelled dog poop on my shoe. He dropped into his chair, his arms crossed tightly over his chest, his jaw set.
“Excuse me, guys,” I said, pressing my hands together and looking at each of the six members of the city council. “I’m so sorry, but something really important has come up. Would it be possible to reschedule this meeting for a later time?”
Sherry Dwight sat closest to me in a blue power suit. Her expression fell and she leaned toward me over the table. “I’m afraid we’re taking our official vote on Saturday, my dear.”
I gaped at her. I thought we had more time. “So soon?”
The sligh
t puckering of Sherry’s lips was the only outward sign that she was upset. “I’m afraid it was moved up to accommodate some scheduling issues. You know how these things are.”
My gaze swept down the row of the rest of the council members. Mr. Cook sat in the last seat and it was when my eyes met his that I realized I was sunk. The cocky, self-important smirk he wore made me want to jump over the table and slap some empathy into him. He was probably the reason why the vote had been moved up. I had no doubt about it. And when it came to granting me a little grace and postponing my presentation, I could be equally sure that he wouldn’t budge an inch. Not even if I spilled the real reason for my emergency request.
I had two choices: stay here and fight for all the people on Cherry Street who were about to lose their homes or run after Graham.
Pressing my hand to my mouth, I stifled a frustrated cry. There was no way I could leave. Not now. Too many people here needed my help, too. There was no way out of it.
“Okay, I’ll stay and do the presentation,” I said, blinking back tears.
Sherry smiled sympathetically at me and I knew she wished she could help. But we were stuck—all of us—because of one man.
I turned away and walked numbly back to where I’d stashed my notes for the meeting. Hannah appeared at my side, rubbing my back. I hadn’t realized she’d followed me over here. She walked with me, whispering comforting words the whole way.
“They’ll find him,” she said confidently. “Don’t worry. He won’t get far.”
I hoped she was right. It wouldn’t take much for a kid like Graham to disappear as quickly as he’d come into my life. He was a fighter and far smarter than anyone gave him credit for. My heart ached for him. It just wasn’t right that I had to sit here, waiting for news.
Maybe I couldn’t do anything, but there was someone else who could.
“Wait,” I said suddenly, looking over my shoulder.
Dad was deep into a conversation with Grandma when I appeared at his side. He took one look at my face and abruptly stopped.
“What’s wrong, buttercup?”
“I need you to do something for me,” I said. My throat was thick with worried tears. I swallowed it down. “I need you to call Ken White and go help him look for Graham. He ran away.”
Grandma gasped, putting a hand over her mouth. “Oh no! I hope they find the poor boy.”
I sniffled slightly. “Me, too. I’m worried he might try to hitch a ride. We have to find him before he disappears. He could get hurt out there.”
Dad’s jaw snapped shut and he nodded. Jumping up from his seat, he morphed straight into Sheriff mode. He didn’t even say anything to me as he pulled his radio from his chest and hurried toward the back door. I knew he was on it. If anyone could find Graham, it would be my dad.
He’d bring him home.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Graham
The roar of an engine behind me gave me just enough time to jut my arm out and put my thumb up. I kept walking along the shoulder of the interstate, not peering back to see if they were slowing. At least two dozen vehicles had already passed me by without stopping. I’d been walking for over an hour. I wasn’t sure how long it would take before I got someone brave enough to allow a stranger into their truck, so I wasn’t getting my hopes up.
I just needed to get out of here.
Before I lost my nerve.
The vehicle coming up behind me began to slow down and it seemed like they were going to stop. My heart rate picked up. This was it. My ticket out.
I should’ve been feeling relieved, but a wave of disappointment rolled over me first. This was it. No going back. Goodbye Blue River.
A silver Ford pickup pulled over in front of me and shut its engine off. My feet came to a sudden stop as I stared at the familiar vehicle. Crap! This wasn’t going to work.
I looked around, considering my options. I could make a break for the field of beans planted to my right. Find another road on the other side and keep searching for a ride. But the idea of racing through dozens, if not hundreds, of acres of farmland wasn’t exactly ideal.
The driver inside the Ford leaned across the cab and swung open the passenger door—a passive aggressive move if there ever was one. But it put an end to my idea of running. There was no way I’d get far. Not when he was already looking for me.
“Hey,” I grumbled as I came up to the passenger door.
Ken sat in the driver’s seat, his attention squarely on the road in front of him. He nodded slightly in greeting and then waited silently for me to get inside the cab and buckle up. We sat there for several minutes, looking at the road and watching the cars go by. I fiddled with the clip on my backpack, just waiting for the lecture to start. When was he going to lay into me? Tell me what a headache I’d been for him and Mary? When would I get passed onto the next foster home?
I’d been told that the Sweet Oak Teen Ranch was the last stop for kids. What did that mean for me?
“You had Mary in quite a tizzy,” Ken said, finally breaking the silence. I felt him look over at me, but I kept my gaze glued to the windshield. “She was worried you’d get hurt out here.”
Sour bile filled my mouth. “Don’t worry. You caught me. No one at family services is going to know. You won’t get in trouble.”
“We don’t care about any of that, son. We care about you.”
A flush worked its way up my neck. I ducked my head and bit back the nasty words I wanted to say. Instead, I laughed bitterly. “You care about the paycheck the state sends every month for us boys.”
Ken matched the tone of my bitter laugh, his head tipped back as he chuckled. “Graham, if we cared about money, we wouldn’t be in the ranching business. Do you really think we keep you boys around for the paycheck? If so, I’m starting to think we’re severely underpaid.”
I sealed my lips shut. Okay, so I hadn’t really believed Ken and Mary did it for the paychecks. The crap us boys put them through was enough to make anyone swear off having children. And yet, they kept accepting boys into their home. I didn’t understand it. Maybe I never would. But they weren’t the bad guys here, no matter how much I wanted to blame my pain on them.
“Have you got this running away thing out of your head?” Ken asked. “Or are we making this a regular thing?”
One stubborn glance in his direction and I was pretty sure Ken knew this wouldn’t be the last time. I had to get to Nash. Family was meant to be together. I’d promised him we’d be together again soon, even if it was just the two of us.
Ken bent forward and started up the engine again. He pulled out onto the interstate and sped forward, my heart sinking just a little bit. He was taking me back. I’d probably be on manure duty for the next month, mucking out every single stall in the barn. They’d never let me out of their sights again. Getting out of here would become nearly impossible.
Except, we didn’t head back toward the ranch. Ken continued to drive west for at least fifteen minutes, passing field after field of soy and corn. I stared out the window, feeling more puzzled by the second. Finally, I turned toward him.
“Where are we going?”
“You were headed to your brother, right?” Ken’s brow rose as he glanced at me. “I reckon if I can’t get you to stop running away, I might as well save us both a headache and drive you there myself. Another hour and a half and we’ll be there.”
My jaw dropped and I stared wordlessly at him. Could he do that? Was he allowed to do it?
“You got a plan for when you guys take off together, right?” Ken glanced over at me. “Like, where you’re going to live? Work? How you’re going to feed yourselves?”
I snapped my mouth shut. No, I hadn’t exactly thought that far ahead.
“It’ll start to get cold pretty soon around here,” he said, glancing in the rearview mirror. “You can’t sleep on a park bench forever. You’ll need some shelter. And if you don’t finish school, there won’t be a lot of jobs available to you. What’s nex
t?”
“I don’t know,” I grumbled, sinking lower in my seat.
“Of course, since you’re both still minors for the next nine months, you’ll also be avoiding the law. If they catch wind, you’ll be off the streets and back in a home again. I doubt any landlord would rent to minors.”
Everything Ken was saying made sense, as much as I hated to admit it. Running away didn’t have quite the shine as it did only minutes ago. I crossed my arms over my chest and grumbled my anger at the dashboard.
“Okay. Fine. I don’t have a plan,” I practically spat at Ken. “The one thing I know is that I don’t belong here. I don’t belong anywhere. Finding Nash is the only thing that makes sense.”
The lines around his mouth deepened. He pulled over to the side of the road again, his tires kicking up lose gravel from the shoulder. After throwing the pickup in park, he turned to me and scowled. “Who says you don’t belong here? At the ranch?”
I harrumphed, feeling a little tickle of nerves from having him look directly at me like that. Ken could be an intimidating guy when he wanted to be. “Come on. That’s not my home. It’s just a bump in the road. A temporary stop before I’m kicked out into the world and either end up in prison or the military. The trajectory for a guy like me is pretty clear. You must’ve missed the memo in all those family services classes they made you take.”
“Well, last time I checked, we all make our own choices.” He tilted his head to one side. “This old foster boy wanted to marry the girl of his dreams and start a ranch. So I did. And then we opened our home to boys like me. You don’t have to go those routes, if you don’t want ’em.”
Once again, I found myself staring at him, jaw unhinged and my brain utterly useless. Ken was a foster kid? How had I never known that?
A small smile played on his lips. “See? You teens don’t know everything, no matter how much you like to pretend.”
I rubbed a hand over my chin processing this new bit of information. “Were you really a foster kid?”
“Yep. Aged out in ’89. Got on a bus and headed west. Found Blue River. Met the girl I was going to marry and saved up to buy a ranch. We agreed that we were going to provide a home for boys like me. A home they’d never have to leave, if they didn’t want. I know what it’s like to not have a home, Graham. I know that kind of misery deep in my bones. You don’t have to carry that with you, if you don’t want. The ranch is your home. We are your family.”
Cowboy Crush : A Small Town, Enemies-to-Lovers YA Romance (Sweet Oak Teen Ranch Book 1) Page 16