A Path Less Traveled

by Cathy Bryant

  Her breath caught. He must have seen the suitcases and boxes. “I’ll tell you later. Find my son.”

  * * * * *

  Andy opened the canteen and took a tiny sip, grateful he’d remembered to get some water before he’d set out on his search. He swished the cool drops around his tongue before they rolled down his parched throat. No more for now. Bo might need it.

  Images of Bo’s injured body floated across his mind and sent tears to his eyes, but he shoved the scene away and nudged Biscuit forward, a constant prayer flowing.

  God, help me find him and keep him safe.

  He used his forearm to swipe away the sweat that rolled off his face, then peered into the late August sun that lowered by inches rather than degrees. It would be dark soon. How was he supposed to know where to look on a ranch of well over a thousand acres?

  Think like a scared little boy.

  The words washed into his consciousness, and he immediately offered up thanks. He tugged Biscuit’s reins and turned into an open meadow, allowing the horse to lead as a childhood memory flashed to the front of his mind—the note on the kitchen table from Mama saying she needed to go away. He’d been the first to find it and couldn’t bear the thought of her leaving without him.

  He’d cried as he ran after her. How far had the seven-year-old version of him walked? It had seemed like hours. Exhausted, he’d searched for a place to rest and had headed into a wooded area to lay down in the cool shade. It was dark when he’d awakened, and the trees had seemed like giant monsters with outstretched arms.

  Biscuit whinnied and slowed to a stop.

  Andy inhaled a deep breath in an effort to dispel the remains of the haunting memory. The Appaloosa snorted and danced to the right, where a trail disappeared into a grove of oaks and cedar. His pulse quickened. He had no choice. Horses had unbelievable instincts, and Bo might be in there. Andy swallowed his fear, and nudged the horse down the shadowy path. “Let’s go, Biscuit.”

  Once under the cover of the trees, it grew dark quickly. His heart pounded against his ribs at a furious pace. Funny how something that happened so long ago still affected him this way. But he had to find Bo and take him back to Trish, no matter how scared he was.

  He breathed easier when he emerged from the trees a half hour later. Only enough light remained to barely make out the edge of a rocky bluff. The hair on the back of his neck stood up. Fresh horse tracks lay in the powder-dry dirt beneath him. “Whoa, boy.” He pulled back hard on the reins and sat silently in the saddle, his ears trained for the tiniest of sounds. A brief breeze rattled the oak leaves behind him, then stilled. From the dark pit to his right came the faint whimper of a child.

  “Bo?” His voice echoed off the boulders in front of him. Biscuit spooked and pranced a bit, sending a spray of gravel over the sharp drop-off.

  “I’m down here, Andy. Help me.”

  He bolted from the horse, wrapped the reins around a gnarled mesquite tree, and crawled to the edge of the bluff, peering carefully over the side. Bo huddled on a narrow ledge about fifteen feet down, clutching a scrawny oak growing out of the rock with both hands. “Hey, buddy, are you okay? Can you move your arms and legs?”

  “I think I’m just scratched from sliding down here.”

  “Good. I’m gonna get a rope to throw down to you, okay?”

  “’kay.” His hoarse voice trembled.

  While Andy scrambled for a rope and knotted it into a loop, he attempted to ease Bo’s fears. “You sure are being brave. Wanna tell me what happened?”

  Bo sniffled. “Domino slipped on the rocks and I fell off.”

  “That crazy old horse sure loves you a lot. He came to the house to let us know to look for you.”

  “He did?” Bo’s voice strengthened.

  “Yep.” Andy tied the other end of the rope around the mesquite tree, then moved back to the cliff. “I’m gonna lower this rope down to you, and I want you to be very careful. Put the noose over your shoulders and under your arms. Then tighten it. Can you do that?”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Good boy.” He sent a quick prayer heavenward and dropped the rope down gently, landing it right beside Bo.

  Bo grabbed the rope a little too quickly, sending loose stones tumbling down the steep mountainside.

  “Don’t move so fast, Bo. Slow down.”

  The boy did as he said, securing the rope under his arms, but each second that ticked by felt like an eternity. At last he tugged on the rope. “’kay, I’m ready.”

  Andy’s pulse roared in his ears. He breathed a prayer for God’s help. “I’m gonna pull you up real slow. When you get close to the top, use your hands and feet to pull yourself over the ledge.”

  Perspiration trickled down his face as he hoisted Bo up the mountain. One wrong move would . . . no! He couldn’t think that way. Instead he breathed deeply and focused on drawing the rope with no jerky movements.

  But with no warning, the ground beneath his feet began to crumble. His foot slipped against the loose rocks, sending him perilously close to the edge. Bo screamed at the lurch, and started to cry.

  Andy fell to the ground and scooted backwards, digging his dress shoes into the rocky soil. “I gotcha, buddy.”

  After several tense moments, Little Bo’s fingers appeared at the edge of the cliff and dug into the gravelly dirt. Andy gave one final tug and pulled Little Bo into his arms. The scent of sweaty little boy was the sweetest smell he’d ever breathed. For a moment, they clung to each other, then Andy’s shoulders began to shake. He managed to hold back his cries, but not his tears.

  Bo, his face streaked with dirt, wiggled out of the embrace. “You crying?”

  Andy laughed. “Yeah, I guess I am. You had me a little scared.”

  “I was scared, too, but I only cried a little bit.” Bo’s eyebrows crinkled. “But don’t tell. ‘Specially don’t tell Mary Simpson.”

  Andy chuckled. “Your secret’s safe with me. Guess we’d better get you back home.”

  “Yeah, I miss Mom.”

  The boy needed to know that what he’d done was wrong. “She’s very worried about you.”

  Bo hung his head. “I know. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have run away, but . . .”

  “But what?”

  “I did it ‘cause I didn’t want to move to Austin.”

  Andy knelt in front of him. “Listen to me, Bo. Your mama’s just trying to do what she thinks is right for you. You may not like it, but she wouldn’t do it if she thought it was wrong.”

  “I know. Can we go now, so I can tell her I’m sorry?” His eyes, though fatigued, held a hint of a sparkle. “And something else.”

  “’What?” Andy tousled his hair.

  “I’m really, really hungry.”

  Andy laughed and scooped him up in both arms, then hauled them both up onto Biscuit’s back. “You’re always hungry.”

  Bo let out a hoarse laugh. “Yeah, I know.”

  They made their way together through the woods, now completely dark. Once they reached the clearing, Andy spotted several flashlights. He gave a loud whistle, and was instantly surrounded by several men on horseback, including Steve and Bo Miller.

  A half hour later they arrived home, every window in the house aglow with light. Trish met them as they sauntered up on their horses, ran toward them and snatched Bo into her arms, sobbing. Andy turned his head to keep from bursting into tears himself.

  Dani hurried over as he dismounted. “Andy, thank you so much for finding him.”

  Andy could only nod, emotion still squeezing his throat. He made his way to Trish and Bo. She stood, her tear-streaked face lit by moonlight and her tawny eyes full of unspoken words.

  “Thank you,” she whispered, her lips trembling.

  “You’re welcome.” Andy brushed away a tear that trickled down her soft cheek then patted Bo’s head. He glanced around. The area was swarming with people. Now wasn’t a good time. He turned back to Trish. “I know we need to talk, but we’re all p
retty worn out right now. I’ll see you at church in the morning. Maybe we can eat lunch together and talk about it then.”

  A brief wrinkle appeared between her eyebrows, then disappeared as she nodded and lowered her gaze.

  Chapter 30

  Andy jerked awake and bolted to a sitting position, raking a hand over his opened mouth as he sucked in air. Something was wrong! He puzzled over the emotions flooding his system. Maybe he’d just had a bad dream. But if that was true why couldn’t he remember it?

  He flopped back onto the bed and tried to relax into the cool, soft sheets, but the longer he lay there, the more unsettled he became. God, I don’t know exactly what I’m experiencing here, but all I know to do is pray. I don’t even know who to pray for.

  Trish and Bo.

  His heart pounded faster. He rolled over to his side to check the digital alarm clock. It wasn’t even five o-clock in the morning. They were probably both still asleep, and after yesterday’s ordeal, he wasn’t about to call and wake them up.

  Lord, keep them safe. You know how much I love them. Help them feel Your presence. Make their paths straight, Lord, and help Trish trust You completely.

  Familiar peace drifted over him, but sleep still wouldn’t come. He lugged himself to his feet and padded to the kitchen to make coffee, the fragrant aroma teasing his senses as the machine gurgled and dripped. When it finished, he headed outside to the deck, a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. The outdoor space had been Trish’s suggestion, and he was glad he’d agreed to it. How many hours had he already spent out here praising God for His night sky handiwork and praying—most of the time for Trish and Bo?

  He sipped coffee and stared at the stars. The birds stirred in the trees and shrubbery surrounding him and began to twitter, the only sound except for an approaching car. It slowed a moment, then drove straight past and headed out of town, the tail lights oddly familiar.

  Trish! He jumped to his feet drizzling hot coffee down his t-shirt and pajama bottoms. Surely he’d been mistaken, but what if it was her? Panic sent a cold chill down his spine. What if she and Bo were leaving? He paced to the kitchen and deposited his coffee cup in the sink. There was no way he could rest until he knew for sure.

  He unplugged his cell phone from its charger and called Trish. It went directly to her voice mail.

  “Hey, it’s me. I know it’s early, but I thought I saw your car go by. I was worried something might be wrong. I want you to know that I . . . well, I . . .” No, he couldn’t say it for the first time over the phone. “Call me back.”

  Next he punched in Steve’s number. No answer.

  Now what? There wasn’t a second to waste. He laid the phone on the counter and trotted to the bedroom to change clothes. Just as he reached the closet door, his cell phone rang out. As he turned to retrace his steps, he caught his toe on the nightstand. Pain throbbed in his big toe, and the bedside lamp toppled to the floor with a crash. He didn’t bother to pick it up, but hurdled over it and half-ran, half-hopped, to the kitchen counter. The phone’s song was replaced by silence just as he reached for it.

  A missed call from Steve. He quickly redialed the number.

  “It’s Andy.”

  “Hey, Andy. Sorry I missed your call.” His voice sounded groggy.

  “I think I just saw Trish’s car drive by, and she didn’t answer her phone. Is something going on?”

  “I thought you probably already knew.”

  “Knew what?”

  “She’s moving to Austin.”

  The same ache he’d known as a child pierced through him. Yet another woman had chosen a career over him.

  * * * * *

  Trish dropped the phone to her lap, and brought a hand to her cheek. The car tires droned against the pavement as she approached Morganville, the eastern sky now edged in pale purple. Like murky floodwaters, questions boiled in her brain. What had Andy left unsaid? In his message, he’d been about to say something and changed his mind.

  What had he wanted to tell her? That moving to Austin was a big mistake? That he was sorry about Bo’s disappearance? That he cared about her?

  She squeezed her eyes shut for a brief moment before refocusing them on the road. Andy’s tired and strained face from the previous night sent a cloak of guilt to enshroud her heart. He’d been so good to her and Bo, but if he truly loved her, he’d had plenty of opportunity to say it and hadn’t. And even if he’d said it, she couldn’t go there. Not yet. Not until she figured out if God wanted her in Austin.

  It had been dark when she’d left town, eager to start this new adventure. But now that they’d put a few miles between them and Miller’s Creek, doubts started to rise. This was the right choice, wasn’t it? It was the only move that made sense. The only one that allowed her to make a living for her and her son. Her chance to prove she could make it without help from Dad or Steve or . . . or anyone else.

  Lord, am I making the right decision?

  Trust in Me with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding.

  There it was again—the same verse from Dani and Steve’s wedding and stitched on Dad’s old bookmark. The one carved on the box of brushes Andy had given her. A verse she’d known since childhood. What was God trying to tell her? That she wasn’t trusting Him? She gave her head a shake. Nonsense, Trish. The move to Austin proved she trusted Him. It was a huge leap of faith.

  In all your ways acknowledge Me. I will direct your path.

  Trish released a sigh. That settled it. Didn’t her prayers acknowledge Him as God? He would direct her path. This was nothing but nerves. Except for college, she’d never lived away from Miller’s Creek. It was only natural to be a little apprehensive.

  Bo, still in his pajamas, stirred in the backseat, then raised himself to a sitting position, his eyes squinting. “Where are we?”

  “Almost in Morganville. Want some McDonald’s?”

  He glanced at the box of toys beside him and his face took on an immediate scowl. “We’re going to Austin today?”

  “Yes, sweetie. I didn’t have a chance to tell you with everything that happened yesterday, but I got the job. My new boss wants me to start tomorrow.”

  A big tear rolled off his cheek and plopped onto his chest. “But I didn’t get to tell anyone goodbye.”

  “We’ll be going back to Miller’s Creek on the weekends until we can get everything mov—”

  “Did you tell Papaw and Uncle Steve we were leaving?” The words sounded more like an accusation than a question. Bo’s lips turned down at the corners.

  “Yes, I talked to them last night after you went to bed.” They had taken the news much better than expected, but she knew they were hurt. Dad hugged her, his eyes sad, and told her she had his full support. Her throat knotted at the memory. Dad had also been kind enough to agree to pay Otis, and she’d promised to pay him back once she started bringing in a steady income. That was the last option she wanted to take, but she didn’t have much choice.

  “Did you call Andy and tell him?”

  “No, why would I do that?” Trish kept her eyes on the road, but chewed the inside of her cheek.

  “’Cause you promised you’d see him at church this morning.”

  “No, I didn’t.”

  “You nodded, and nodding is the same thing as saying yes.”

  She searched for words, but everything that came to mind sounded like a lame excuse.

  “You lied to Andy.”

  Trish huffed out her exasperation. “Good grief, Bo, I didn’t exactly lie to him. It’s complicated, and you’re too young to understand.”

  “I’m not too young to understand that it’s wrong to lie.

  His words stabbed at her. Trish pulled into the drive-through line at McDonald’s. “Speaking of lying, that’s exactly what you did when you tucked a pillow under the covers and then took off on Domino.”

  “Welcome to McDonald’s! I’ll take your order when you’re ready!” The over-exuberant voice blared through the c
rackling speaker, enough to make even non-coffee drinkers beg for a cup.

  She looked at Bo in the rearview mirror. “Would you like a sausage biscuit?”

  “And a hash brown.” Resignation and disappointment resonated in his tone and expression. Normally breakfast at McDonald’s would have him bouncing off the seats in excitement. Not today.

  “I’ll take a sausage biscuit, a hash brown, and a milk.”

  “One sausage biscuit, one hash brown, and one milk, coming up! Pull around to the next window, please, and have a good morning!”

  Trish pressed both hands over her ears until the blaring voice stopped, then released the brake and pulled up as far as she could, counting four cars in front.

  “Aren’t you gonna get something to eat?” Bo’s eyes held a knowing look.

  “Nope, I’m really not that hungry. I might take a bite of yours, but that’s all I want.”

  He studied her a while longer, then turned his head away.

  Now was as good a time as any to discuss yesterday’s episode. “Wanna tell me why you ran away?”

  His eyes filled with tears, and his mouth worked like he wanted to speak but couldn’t. Finally the words spilled from him. “’Cause I’d rather live outside on the ranch by myself than move to Austin.” He dissolved into tears.

  Trish pulled up to the payment window, choking on his words. She somehow managed to count out the right change and take the bag from the woman.

  “Thank ya much! Come back and see us!” The woman sent a toothy grin that Trish didn’t even try to return.

  Instead of pulling out of the parking lot, she yanked the car into an empty slot near the highway and buried her head in her hands, loud sobs pouring from her. Bo could have been killed in yesterday’s ordeal, and it was her fault.

  Chapter 31

  Andy gave his head a shake, then rubbed his eyes and yawned, forcing his attention from the mesmerizing center stripe on the pavement to the early morning lights of Morganville. It didn’t help matters that he’d spilled his earlier cup of coffee down his shirt instead of into his stomach.