Oklahoma Sunshine

by Maggie Shayne

  She was bouncing right off the seat as they sped away.

  "Come back here with me, sis." It was Braxton. He was in the back. There were no seats back there. They were either folded down or had been removed. "It's time to pay for your crimes. Come on back, sis. Don't make me stab you through the nice upholstery."

  "Not in the truck, dude," the driver said. "You promised."

  "Then lose the damn cavalry so we can take her out of the truck."

  Cavalry? She looked at the side mirrors. Jason's truck was speeding behind them. Eve's rental car was doing its best to keep up.

  "Never mind. I'll do it myself." Brax slid his hunting knife into its sheath on his hip, and rolled onto his belly. There was a rifle on his back, its strap around his shoulder. He crawled toward the rear hatch and flung it wide open.

  "No!" Sunny scrambled over the console into the back as the other two tried to stop her.

  He pulled the rifle around and started shooting. Eve's car windshield exploded, and the car went skidding wildly.

  "No!" Sunny shouted again. She kicked free of the hands trying to hold her, and jumped onto her brother's back, wrapped her hands around the gun barrel and yanked with all she had. It was hot and it burned her hands. He rolled up and smashed her body into the side of the truck, but she didn't let go. She brought her knee up between his legs from behind. He grunted, let go of the rifle, and flipped around to punch her in the face, but she still wouldn't let go of the rifle and let him kill Jason. He'd have to kill her first.

  He squeezed the trigger, each tiny explosion eardrum-shattering. And yet, she didn't let go. Bullets riddled the inside of the vehicle as they wrestled for the gun. The driver lurched forward and blood spattered onto the windshield in front of him. The SUV went out of control. Braxton let go of the rifle and she fell backward, she'd been pulling so hard. The weapon sailed out the back, as her brother dove over the seat to grab the steering wheel. The SUV careened, but she was free, and made a split-second choice to dive out the open back doors.

  She hit the pavement and rolled several times, but she saw it all the same. The jacked-up SUV shot off the road and into space, its motor roaring, its horn blaring. And then there were crashing, smashing sounds followed by a splash.

  After that, time seemed to slow. She knew Jason’s truck had skidded to a stop nearby, that Jason was there. Eve and Jack, too. She closed her eyes, opened them again, and took a painful breath.

  "Sunny!" Jason was beside her, touching her face, moving her hair. "Are you okay? How bad are you hurt?"

  "Is he dead?" she asked.

  "Can you sit up?"

  She used Jason's forearms to pull herself to her feet, then limped to where the truck had gone over. There were pieces of it all the way down the steep, rocky drop-off, and a lake at the bottom. Her brother's ride sank deeper, an explosion of bubbles erupting in its wake. She didn't see any bodies, though.

  Eve came to stand on her left, because Jason was on her right, all but holding her erect. "Is he dead?" she asked again.

  "No one could've survived that," Jason said.

  "We'll get divers in there, recover the bodies," Eve was already pulling out her phone. "I still don't know how the hell he knew where we were."

  Sunny couldn't take her eyes off the surface of the water. Every part of her was tensed and waiting for Braxton to break the surface, roaring in outrage. "It was Griz's collar. There was a little device glued to it. I found it just before–are you sure he's dead, Eve?"

  "The collar," she said, like she should've known. Then, "Why don't you take Sunny home, Jason?"

  "Not until I know he's dead. I have to know for sure."

  "Hey." Eve got in front of her, breaking her line of sight to the lake.

  She had tiny cuts on her face. "He shot at you. Your car–are you all right?"

  "Yeah, thanks to a certain ex-con who pushed my head down and took the wheel." She glanced behind her. Jack stood a few feet away, and he had more cuts on him than Eve did from the flying bits of windshield glass.

  Jack gave a nod, but didn't say anything. He seemed shaken, but otherwise all right.

  Eve smiled slightly at him, then returned her attention to Sunny. "I've got this. The FBI has got this. We know what we're doing. You standing here bleeding all over the road isn't helping anybody. Look at yourself, girl."

  Sunny looked down. Her pink pajama bottoms were shredded, and where her skin showed though, it looked like it'd been run over a cheese grater. She was barefoot, and standing funny on one side, because it hurt to put weight on that ankle. The front of the jammie top had tar ground into it, two buttons missing, and the pocket had torn loose.

  "She's right, Sunny." Jason put an arm around her like he knew she couldn't stand much longer. She'd only just realized it herself. He led her to a nearby boulder and helped her sit down. He had a first aid kit and she didn't know where he'd got it. His truck was sideways, near the side of the road, and Eve's car was off the road, in the brush. There were sirens in the distance. He started wiping the sore places on her face with pre-medicated pads from the kit, and it stung.

  "It isn't gonna do any good staying here," he said. He ran his hands along her arms, then down her legs. "You're all scraped up. The medics will clean you up better."

  "I'm not going to a hospital."

  "You were limping."

  "I don't think anything's broken." She unbent her knees, moved her feet around to show him, and tried not to wince when it hurt. "Nope, nothing's broken."

  "Let me take you home, Sunny."

  "Yeah. Back to your mom's. I'll get a shower, clean clothes. I'll be fine."

  "Yeah, and then to our real home."

  She shot to her feet. "What if he follows? What if hurts your family? What if he hurts Big Falls?"

  He made a face at her, lips pulling thin, brows bending deep. "You've lived there how long, now? Nobody can hurt Big Falls." He steered her around, started back toward his truck, standing cockeyed atop some impressive skid marks. "You've gotta have a little faith in your hometown, Sunny."

  She twisted her head to look behind her, at Eve, on the phone, sounding professional and in command. Eve moved the phone away from her face. "My people are already in contact with the Big Falls PD."

  "That would be cousin, Jimmy," Jack said.

  "Step-brother-in-law," Jason said.

  "Police Chief," Eve said. "He'll have backup."

  "He won't need it, though." Jason looked Sunny right in the eyes. "He's gone, Sunny. He's out of your life. You're free of all that for the first time. You can go wherever you want now. So where do you want to go? In your heart, Sunny, where do you want to go?"

  She closed her eyes to block the tears that bubbled up for no reason, and then saw the Cimarron rolling lazily past her princess pavilion. She smelled the dry Oklahoma air, and felt its powerful sun on her skin. "Home," she said. "Take me home, Jason."

  Chapter 15

  Sunny leaned against the passenger door, with the window rolled down. Outside, Jason pumped fuel and tapped his phone one-handed to access the dreaded family text loop. She'd given him the okay. There was no way around it. She had to face them all with the truth.

  He read aloud as he tapped. "Bringing Sunny home and calling family meeting. Sophie, bring your bag. Meet at bakery in two hours."

  He looked up from his phone. "Good?"

  "She doesn't need to bring her bag."

  He tapped send. Swoosh. And just as fast, replies started pinging. "Sophie says, 'if she's hurt, go to closest ER.'" He tapped out his reply, still reading. "Tried that. No go."

  She reached out the window and took the phone from his hand. "I'm fine, nothing's broken." Send. "Watch the kids. Look out for Strangers."

  Replies came through to that one so fast that the messages were speeding up the screen and the pinging sounds tripped over each other. She handed the phone back out to Jason. He shut it off and pocketed it, replaced the nozzle. "You don't need to worry about them. Eve's alre
ady filled Jimmy in. Everyone's safe. They're watching for trouble."

  "He has other followers. If Braxton's dead, they're gonna blame me for it just like he blamed me for our father dying in prison."

  "Eve knows all of that, too. Relax Sunny." He got in and started driving again.

  Sunny laid her head back and tried to close her eyes. Griz climbed into her lap, recognizing the signs she might get a massage. She'd been hiding under Jason's bed when they'd gone back to the house for her. God, what a mess, and it was all her fault. Jason made calls to the insurance company and his mom while she showered. He assured Sunny the place would be repaired before Judith even got back from her cruise, but that didn't make her feel any better.

  She'd wrapped large sections of her arms and legs in ointment-soaked gauze and put on the loosest clothes she could find in her room there, a pair of flowy yoga pants and a soft jersey tee-shirt.

  She tried to believe her brother was dead. She imagined the phone ringing, and hearing Eve on the other end saying, "We found his body." She waited for her heart to knot up, for her throat to tighten.

  "Why don't I feel anything?" she asked.

  Jason was driving, watching her and driving and not pushing her to talk, just giving her room to process everything that had happened. "You're not in pain?" he asked.

  "Oh no, it hurts like the very devil. I mean for Braxton. He's my brother. I should care if he's dead. I should feel sad."

  He took a couple beats, then said, "I don't think there's any such thing as what you should feel. There's only what you do feel. And it can't be right wrong, it's just what you feel."

  She nodded slowly. "He's the one who put the tattoo on my head."

  He sent her a stunned look.

  "After our father was found guilty, Eve wanted me to go into protection. I didn't want to. Braxton was out on bail, and he grabbed me right off the street. Took me to a filthy garage and had his boys hold me down while he shaved my head with his hunting knife. And then he drilled that ink into my scalp. Would've killed me then, if not for Eve."

  He swore softly, then reached across to cover her hand with his. "I'm sorry. Baby, I'm so sorry."

  She shrugged. "I don't think it's over. I don't think he's dead."

  She was quiet for a while. Every mile marker taking them closer to home was a bittersweet mix to her. She missed Big Falls so much. But she was out now. Everyone would know who she was. She couldn't pretend anymore. She couldn't hide behind the persona she'd created. She felt like the stains of her past showed as clearly as her scrapes and bruises.

  "I don't think I belong there anymore," she whispered.

  "Well, let's just see what Big Falls thinks about that."

  As they neared the bakery, she saw that the sidewalk in front was littered with bright colors... Flowers! There were bouquets of them piled all over, with other things among them–candy boxes, cards. "Oh my gosh...look at that."

  "You were missed." He pulled up along the curb, because the driveway was full of vehicles, most of them belonging to his family.

  Sunny got out, wincing a little when her feet touched the ground. It hurt to move after so long sitting still.

  Jason came around the truck. "You okay?"

  "All good. I maintain, as I always have, that this truck is farther from the ground than necessary."

  "If you're gonna keep getting yourself beat up all the time, I'll add a step for you."

  It was dark outside. The little gas lamp replica street lights were all glowing, and so were a lot of upper windows. Most of the businesses had second floors. Some were used for offices, others for storage, but most of them were apartments, rented out or occupied by the business owners. Her friends, her colleagues. Her community. Some were looking out those windows. Some even waved.

  She walked along the sidewalk to the bakery's entrance and knelt to pick up a bouquet of mums. "Look at all the flowers." There were roses and lilies and black-eyed Susans. Someone had arranged them to leave a path through their center to the front door.

  Vidalia Brand McIntyre was holding it open. "I got Mouse to unlock it for us. I hope you don't mind." Then she opened her arms. "Welcome home, Sunny. Everything's gonna be all right now that you're back."

  In spite of herself, Sunny walked right into those open arms, and let Jason's step-mom hug her. She was careful not to hug too tight or too long, and then drew her inside, where everyone else waited. Joey and Emily and Matilda Louise. Em was pouring coffee and Matilda was helping. Rob and Kiley were there, and Rob was holding baby Diana on his hip so Kiley could be next in line to hug her. Angie Wakeland was next. "We love you so much," she said in Sunny's ear.

  Sophie peeled away from her handsome husband Darryl. Their son Max handed her little black medical bag to her, and nodded hello to Sunny.

  "All right, everyone," Vidalia called out. "Get some coffee and find a perch!" Then in a lower voice to Sunny, "I made coffee here. If I overstepped, you can kick me later."

  "Thank you, Vidalia. Coffee sounds good."

  "Come on, Sunny." Sophie took her arm and led her toward the back, wending their way through so many familiar faces. Vidalia's daughters, all five of them, were there, and most of her sons in law, too, and they all greeted her, touched her, hugged her as she passed.

  "Sophie's gonna take Sunny in the back and check her over while Jason tells us what we need to know," Vidalia said.

  "The whole town really needs to hear this, Jason," Sunny called back.

  "That's why Jimmy's not here," Vidalia replied. "He called a meeting over at the town hall. Everyone turned out. Of course, they're curious." Then she nodded. "Go ahead, Jason."

  Sophie went into the kitchen in the back of the building with Sophie, but she flipped down the doorstop to prop it open so she could hear better. She sat on a bench near the sink, and the doc opened her bag.

  "Most of you have heard bits and pieces of this, but I need to put it together for you. Sunny feels you all have a right to know the truth. When she came here, it was to start a new life with a new name. She had helped convict her father of murdering her first love, a boy she met in college. He was the protestor who was killed eight years ago at Barrier Park."

  A flurry of murmurs, exclamations, nods.

  "Sunny's not Sunny?" Kiley asked.

  "Sunny is Sunny, but her given name was Mary Sunlight Hayes. Her father died in prison, and her brother served his time, got out and came after her for vengeance. Jack heard about it and tried to warn her in time."

  Kiley said, "Wait, wait, wait, my father knew about this?"

  "Yes, and he tried to help. In fact, he stayed behind in Texas with Eve DuVall, the FBI agent who helped Sunny escape her brother and start over."

  "Eve was an FBI agent?" Angie asked.

  "Help her do what?" Kiley was louder.

  "Earlier today, Sunny's brother tried to kill her. He shot at Eve, and Jack might very well have saved her life. Sunny and Braxton struggled in the back of his SUV, and she jumped out the back just before it went over a cliff and into a lake. That's why she's all banged up."

  Again, a surprised murmur rippled through the group. Vidalia said, "Someone needs to take him in hand, that's what."

  "His body hasn't been found yet, though the two thugs helping him were both killed. Sunny's sure that if he survived, he'll come after her again."

  Sunny slid off the stool as Sophie finished up. She limped into the main part of the place again. "Even if he is dead, his followers, these neo-Nazi idiots, might try to take revenge on me. Maybe on anyone who helps me. I don't know if my being here is safe for you. For the town."

  "Ohhh, I hope they do come here. I'm dying to meet these guys," Kiley said, rubbing her hands.

  Vidalia said, "Sunny, girl, haven't you been in our family–or this town–long enough to know how this works? You're where you belong, darlin'. We take care of our own around here."

  Then to Jason, "She's all but dead on her feet. Why don't you go on upstairs and get some rest.
Everyone else, let's join Jimmy and the locals over at the town hall."

  "We love you, Sunny."

  "Get some rest."

  "Take care, Sunny."

  Every person touched her as they slowly cleared out, and she kept choking up. Kiley stayed until last, and hugged her less gently than the rest. "Don't you ever run away from us like that again. You hear?"

  "I hear."

  She was so fierce, and so sweet looking with her strawberry blond curls and smattering of freckles. "Did my father really do all that?"

  "He really did," Sunny said. "And uh, there's something up with him and Eve. I think they have a history."

  "Him and Eve?"

  Sunny nodded.

  "Eve, the FBI agent?"

  Sunny nodded again.

  "That's like saying a fox has a history with a hen, you realize that, right?"

  "Didn't say I could explain it."

  "Holy smokes. I guess it's true, there's no female he can't charm." She kissed Sunny's cheek. "Thanks for the info. Get some rest." Then she headed outside.

  Jason, who'd stepped out, returned with the cat carrier and a yowling feline who knew she was home and wanted out. He put his arm around Sunny's shoulders. Ready to try to reclaim your life?

  "That was way too easy," she said.

  "Or maybe you were way too worried. Come on. Let's get you upstairs."

  Jason watched her sleeping from the chair next to the bed. He'd like to be in there with her, but he wasn't gonna let down his guard until he knew for sure her brother was dead. The truth was, Braxton's body not being found scared the hell out of him. That man's mind was all twisted up. He guessed hate would do that to you.

  Sunny was twitching again, and her breaths went short and quick. It had been happening every twenty minutes or so. He went to her, leaned over her. She startled awake before he had the chance to whisper to her that everything was okay. Her eyes were wide and frightened, until they met his. And then the breath just sighed out of her, and her tense body relaxed.