Page 64 of Final Ride

“Okay, I see him.”

He could see a kid lying there all beat up and he told Max and Sarge to sit while he knelt down and pulled the weeds away to take a better look.

“Hey, what are you doing here, son?”

The boy didn’t answer right away, but he was alive and breathing.

“You need help, kiddo?”

“Nope.”

“Okay. If you decide you do need help or some food or a drink, my boys will run in and get you a burger and a Coke.”

“I’m good,” he mumbled. “I don’t need nothing.”

“Whatever you say. I’ll be over there with the horse trailer if you change your mind. We’re on our way to Texas and we got room for one more if you’re looking for a ride or some new scenery.”

Travis walked back to the trailer and took the dogs with him. He sat the dogs down and lit up a smoke while he watched the boys come back from the restaurant.

Carrying bags and a drink tray, they hurried towards him. “Who were you talking to over there, Dad?” asked Virge.

“Homeless kid. I offered him food. Best if we let him come to us on his own.”

“I can’t see him too good in the weeds,” I said. “How old is he?”

“Fourteen, fifteen at the most. He’s small for his age. All beat to hell.”

“On drugs?”

“Could be, but he looks like he got himself beat up recently. The cuts are fresh and barely crusted with dried blood. He’s not moving too fast.”

We were leaning against the truck eating our burgers and drinking our shakes when the kid pulled himself out of the weeds and limped across the parking lot towards us. He was hurt bad but wasn’t complaining.

“You want a burger before we leave here?” asked Travis.

“I guess I could eat.”

“I’ll go,” said Harlan. “Anything special you want?”

“Nope.”

“Be right back.”

I came back with a burger and fries in a bag and a large Coke in my hand for the kid. He was sitting in the front seat of Dad’s truck, and it was easy to see he was in a lot of pain.

“This is Corb, Harlan. He’s decided to ride with us to Texas. Y’all take Max in the Jeep and Sarge can ride with me. Corb might need room in the back to lie down after he eats.”

“Copy that, Dad.”

Virge and I went to the Jeep, and it was my brother’s turn to drive. He slept all morning he was so hungover. My turn to sleep. Right after I checked to see how far it was to Texas and looked to see if Lucy had texted me.

Colorado/New Mexico Line.

Crossing into New Mexico, Dad pulled into the welcome rest area to give the dogs a run. Virge parked our Jeep next to Dad’s big Ford, and I leashed Max.

He whined to get out and go for a run with Sarge, but Dad was slow getting Sarge out of the back of his truck because the boy had fallen asleep half on the dog.

Black and blue marks were showing up on his face, neck and arms, and the kid must have been in pain. I figured Dad would be stopping at a clinic soon enough.

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