CHAPTER ONE
Lloyd and Estelle stood under their favourite tree, watching the young newlyweds dance together.
“They seem so young to be married, maybe we should have tried harder to talk them out of it,” Estelle said.
Lloyd looked at the happy couple for a moment before replying.
“We were not much older than them when we got married. Things didn’t work out too badly for us, did they?” he said.
“Oh, I don’t know about that, I could have had a wealthy politician for a husband…”
Lloyd took his wife’s hand and began to dance.
“You had one, remember? But you didn’t like him very much, did you, Estelle?”
“That was the old Lloyd. You just got lost for a while, we both did. I feel like we’re back at the beginning again, just starting out, like the newlyweds over there.”
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of an engine in the distance. Kaden ran past them, waving.
“It’s Ethan,” he said. “I wasn’t sure he would come.”
A silver motorbike glinted in the afternoon sun as it pulled up outside the house. Estelle and Lloyd watched their son greet his best friend, whom he hadn’t seen in a long time.
“Nice of you to invite me to the wedding. Where’s the bride and groom?” asked Ethan, walking alongside Kaden.
Before his question was answered, Ethan ran towards the couples who were dancing to a slow, Latin beat. He pulled Amelia away from the guy whose arms she was in and threw a punch, knocking him over. By the time Kaden reached them, Tuck was sprawled out on the dusty ground. Lloyd was there instantly, signalling for the music to continue. He held out a hand to the young man, who was struggling to get up.
“Come on you two, let’s go somewhere less public and sort this out,” Lloyd said, placing himself between Tuck and Ethan.
Kaden followed with Amelia, giving her a puzzled look. She shrugged her shoulders and said nothing.
As he watched the group walk away Harley turned to speak to his young bride.
“I told you that life would be exciting if you married me,”
Marissa looked up and smiled at the handsome young man who had just become her husband. Her friends all said he was too serious for her - that she should be with someone more lively and adventurous. Marissa never told them about his past and just how eventful it had been.
“At this rate we will be worn out by our fifth anniversary,” she laughed, as Harley picked her up and swung her around.
Walking to the front of the house, Amelia noticed her bike parked outside. She ran over and hugged it.
“Thank you so much, Ethan. I really missed her,” she said.
“You’re welcome,” he replied before turning to face Lloyd. “I’m sorry, sir, about causing a scene. I wasn’t expecting to see Amelia with a new boyfriend.”
Kaden walked over to his sister, who was sitting on her bike.
“Is there something going on between you and Tuck? I thought you were going to put that on hold until you talked to Ethan,” he whispered.
Amelia looked very guilty as she nervously twisted the throttle on the handle of her bike.
“I was, I mean, I am. For goodness sake, Kaden, we were just dancing.
“Tell them there’s nothing going on between us will you?” she called out to Tuck.
He smiled and looked at Ethan. “She’s telling the truth. Nothing has happened between us - yet.”
Ethan took a step forward but Kaden stood in front of him, putting a hand on his chest.
“Leave it for now. Why don’t we go for a ride on that bike and I’ll show you what a great place this is. I’m sure my sister is quite capable of keeping the guests entertained until we get back.” Kaden shot a warning look at Tuck.
Ethan nodded, taking out a spare helmet. As Amelia was getting off her bike she brushed against Ethan’s arm and was surprised at the effect it had on her. She felt the same way when close to Tuck. Her father noticed the puzzled look on her face. Lloyd put an arm around his daughter’s shoulder.
“Come on, sweetie, let’s get back to the party. I never got that dance you promised me.”
As they walked past Tuck, Amelia avoided any eye contact but he wasn’t looking at her. He was gazing into the distance at the dust cloud left in the wake of her motorbike.
Kaden directed his friend along the scenic route around Lake Chapala. It was good to feel the warm air wash over them. Ethan noticed the tension leave his body as he relaxed. The warm colours of the terracotta soil and cloudless blue sky had a calming effect on him. He pulled over at a picnic area on the edge of the lake. There was no one about and the only sound was the hum of traffic in the distance.
Sitting on a bench at one of the tables, Kaden apologized for what had happened back at the wedding celebrations.
“No need for you to apologize for anything. It was my fault, I wanted to surprise Amelia. I just lost it when I saw that guy holding her so close. Don’t try to tell me she’s not attracted to him, I could see it in the way they were dancing,” Ethan said.
Kaden pointed to the seat opposite him.
“Sit down while I fill you in on a few facts about Tuck. Once you get to know him, you’ll see what a good friend he can be.”
Ethan could not believe what he was hearing.
“So, is he your new best buddy now?” There was no mistaking the hurt in his voice.
Kaden felt pulled in two different directions. Ethan had been his best friend for many years but the extreme conditions he had shared with Tuck and the other boys had created a bond. To Kaden, that bond was like a brotherhood. It would be very difficult to explain those feelings to Ethan.
Instead, Kaden decided to tell him about some of the things that had gone on in Antarctica. They hadn’t spoken much about it over the phone or internet in case their conversation was overheard and got into the wrong hands. This was the perfect opportunity, in a quiet setting away from everyone, to tell his friend about the ordeal he had been through.
CHAPTER TWO
Amelia was sipping a cold drink, listening to her parents lecture, as she called it.
“We are not telling you what to do. All we want is for you to concentrate on the Olympics and catch up on lost time. Put your love life on hold for now,” her father said.
“Dad, I’m not even sure if I want to compete anymore.”
Estelle saw the colour change in her husband’s face and nudged his leg with her foot, beneath the table. Amelia could be just as stubborn as Lloyd and pushing her to make any kind of decision or commitment never worked. Estelle decided that a change of tactic was needed.
“Let’s not worry about the Games just yet,” she said. “You have only just returned to gymnastics, you need time to catch up. I’m more concerned about those two young men. I can see Tuck really likes you. To be fair to him, these last few months he has kept his word about not getting romantically involved with you - in spite of the fact that you have not made it easy for him. How many times have I asked you not to link your arm through his or mess about tickling him?”
“But, Mom, I’m like that with all the boys. I think of them as brothers and treat them the same as Kaden.”
Lloyd felt that as a man he had something unique to contribute to the discussion.
“It’s different for men, they take things up the wrong way. A girl should keep her distance if she…”
He stopped talking when he noticed the look of annoyance on both their faces. The two women continued to stare in silence at him until he stood up, arms raised.
“Well, I can see I’ve been totally misunderstood once again by the women in this family. I will now return to our guests and leave both of you to so
lve love’s great mysteries,” he laughed.
“Don’t stand too close to any women, Lloyd, they might take you up wrong,” Estelle shouted after him.
The joking eased the tension between them and Amelia came around the table to sit beside her mother, giving her a hug. She was a very affectionate young woman and not afraid to show it.
“I do feel different with Tuck. I think I like him as much as I do Ethan. I’m so confused. It doesn’t seem fair to either of them.”
“I’m glad you can see that. You don’t know Tuck that long and you and Ethan had only just begun to have a relationship when we had to leave Chicago. Giving yourself a bit of space will help you see things more clearly. Why don’t you concentrate on Laser Gym for now? I don’t mean to sound like your father but he does have a point,” Estelle said.
Amelia thought about this for a moment.
“I hate to admit this - don’t you dare tell Dad - but it would be the best thing for me right now. Besides, I need the exercise, I’m getting quite stiff. I used to be so flexible.”
Amelia stood up, stretching her back. Raising her arms in a circle above her head, she twirled gracefully.
Lloyd looked over at his wife and daughter and could tell from their body language that Estelle was getting through to Amelia. He wondered how it had been so easy for him to talk his fellow councillors around when he was in politics. It always made his family feel defensive whenever he tried to steer them in the right direction.
Someone else was watching the two women, wishing he could hear their conversation. When Amelia stood up and spun around like a ballet dancer, Tuck had to look away. He loved being part of the family, all the boys did. But he wanted more and he would wait until the time was right.
Lloyd and Estelle had seen how much effort Tuck put into making a success of the vineyard. He had earned their respect and, for the first time in his life, knew the meaning of being rewarded for an honest day’s work. Tuck had learned to be patient. To him, Amelia was worth the wait.
CHAPTER THREE
Henry Brubaker had pressurized his political allies into enforcing laws which would make it a criminal offense for an adult to allow himself to be homeless. Anyone capable of working was obliged to accept whatever job was given them, even at a very low wage. The money had to be used as payment for accommodation in hostels that had opened up everywhere. Empty buildings had been taken over by the government to house homeless people.
The new laws also meant that every homeless person under the age of eighteen could be put into care or sent to training facilities, where they would learn skills that could lead to jobs on their release. Families were often split up, the parents forced to live in segregated hostels, men and women never sharing the same building. Basically it was legalized slave labour but until enough people objected to it, or the law was challenged, that was how things stood.
Vagrancy laws had been difficult to enforce in the past as the courts usually ruled they were in breach of the eighth and fourteenth Amendments - a person could not be arrested for sleeping on the streets if the State had no other accommodation to offer them. After the American Civil War, the southern states passed laws called The Black Codes. It was to control the freed black slaves. Vagrancy laws were included in these. Homeless, unemployed black Americans were arrested and fined as vagrants. Usually they couldn’t afford to pay the fine and were forced to work for the county or hired out to private employers.
Taking advantage of the new laws on juvenile homelessness, Henry Brubaker managed to keep his base open in Antarctica, using it as a training facility. This resulted in the detainees being forced to attend classes on their day off, to give them basic reading, writing and math skills.
Lloyd explained all of this to Kaden and the boys. Since what was happening in Antarctica was no longer illegal, there was no need to hide from Henry Brubaker any longer. The family could use their own identities and go home if they wanted. Estelle had no intention of leaving Mexico. The only one to go back to Chicago was Ash, who wanted to be with his brother. So the Seager’s became a foster family of sorts, to Tuck, Wolf, Harley and Smokes.
Kaden wanted Paco and Radar, who were still in Antarctica, to join them and Lloyd assured him he was working on a plan with Jake. He knew the Brubaker Clinic had something to hide. If they could find a way of getting hold of evidence to that effect, it could be used to bargain for the release of the two boys. This was the best plan they could come up with, as trying to bring down Henry Brubaker would be almost impossible. He had too many supporters in prominent positions.
CHAPTER FOUR
Henry Brubaker watched his granddaughter walk her horse around the paddock. He marvelled at how quickly she had grown up and how much she reminded him of his wife, Rebecca. Relaxing as he rocked in his favourite chair on the porch, the old man allowed himself to drift back to his youth.
As soon as his career as a surgeon was established he had proposed to Rebecca. They had a wonderful relationship and a deep bond, which had become even stronger when their son Grant was born. The clinic had been well established by then. As his young wife was so busy with the baby she hardly noticed the many hours he spent there working on his experiments. Henry’s parents died when he was in his twenties and he had used his inheritance to buy the land in Mexico where he built his home and later a private clinic.
Seeing himself as an altruist, he wanted his work to benefit mankind. The financial rewards that Henry’s research brought to him over the years was of little importance in his eyes. His son didn’t realize how close they had come to closing down the clinic some years before. Leasing the mine in Antarctica was what kept them going. Now everything was legal and above board, thanks to his political friends.
“Hey, Pops. Are you asleep?”
Megan’s voice interrupted his reminiscing and Henry waved to his granddaughter.
“Not at all, what do you think I am, an old man who needs a siesta? I was watching Pharaoh and wondering when you would feel confident enough to ride him.”
“I think I’m the one needing a siesta, I’m so tired,” Megan said as she slumped into a chair beside her grandfather.
“That’s because you stayed up so late last night yapping on that phone of yours.”
“I was talking to Amelia, we still keep in contact even though there are bad feelings between our parents.”
Henry was quiet for a moment, then said, “You know that she is welcome here any time you want some neutral ground to meet up on.”
“I don’t think the Seager’s would even consider that option. You do realise that what happened to Kaden did a lot of harm to their family, don’t you Pops?”
“Have they any idea that you and Amelia are in contact with each other?” asked Henry.
“Oh Estelle and Lloyd have no problem with me, Pops. I was even invited to a wedding at their place, a friend of the family was getting married and Amelia was a bridesmaid. Mom and Dad didn’t want me to go, so I respected their wishes but I regret that now.”
Henry’s suggestion that they go into town to Megan’s favourite restaurant brought a smile to her face and lightened her mood.
Next morning Megan woke up early and went to the stables. She brought her horse to the paddock so he could run free, then joined her grandfather on the veranda for breakfast. They sat watching Pharaoh’s black coat glistening in the sunshine as he raced around the edge of the paddock. Now and again he came to the fence nearest to where they sat and shook his head, his long mane flowing from side to side.
“It looks like he is calling you over, Megan,” said Henry.
“He is, Pops, he’s a very clever horse.”
The old man excused himself, kissing his granddaughter on the top of her head. He explained that he needed to get to the clinic to check up on something new he was working on. Megan ran over to Pharaoh and climbed up onto the fence next to him. As she stroked his long elegant neck the temptation to saddle him grew. She would love for her grandfather to see her
sitting on the magnificent animal he had bought for her. Megan decided she would surprise him when he came out for breakfast the following morning.
“What harm could it do? I promise I won’t even attempt to make you move an inch, Pharaoh. How about it, boy, for Pops?”
The horse nudged her shoulder, as he usually did when she spoke to him. Megan gave him one last walk around the paddock before returning him to the stables to brush him down and leave him in the coolness of his stall. She was going into town and the sun would be quite hot at midday.
The ranch hand who normally took care of Pharaoh was on vacation and Megan had insisted she could do the job herself. This would be the longest she had stayed away from home and she was relishing the freedom her grandfather gave her while she was there. On her visits to the ranch, Megan had the use of a small sports car that Henry had tired of driving. As she switched on the engine a computerized voice told her she needed to top up the fuel. There was a depot nearby where she could fill up and she pointed the car in its direction.
While she was having an ice cold smoothie at a juice bar in a shopping mall Megan’s phone rang. It was Amelia.
“Hey, I wanted you to be the first to know, I’m going to enter the Laser Gym Olympic event next year. What do you think about that? Do you think I’ll be ready in time after all the practise I have missed?”
Megan smiled at the sound of her friend’s cheerful voice.
“That’s great news. I don’t see why you’re worried, there’s lots of time to catch up. It’s been held in Spain, isn’t it?” she said.
“Yes, Spain. Europe. The Olympics. Oh Megan, you have to come with me, promise me you will.”
“You’ll have to give me a job on your team. Maybe I can be chief brow-mopper, that’s the only way I could apply for a pass to leave America. You know how difficult it is to get permission for intercontinental travel these days,” said Megan.
Amelia laughed at the thought of her friend doing any kind of work on the team, it was not her style. Megan had never been very interested in any type of sport.
“I’m sure we’ll come up with something for you to do. Oh, I can’t wait. I’m going to train really hard,” Amelia said. “When your ranch hand returns from his vacation, can you come on down here for a week or so before you go back to college?”
Finding 02 Finding Megan Page 1
