Page 52 of Nomad

A faint smile traced Russell’s mouth as he shook his head. “Thought I’d seen it all, son. But this is a first for me, too.”

Cann turned to see Bud swarmed by reporters. He found Brant in the crowd and saw that he was seconds away from shoving people out of the way and rescuing her.

Bud never took her eyes off Cann. Just before he was put in the Ranger SUV he said, “Don’t worry.”

She couldn’t hear him, but she knew what he said. She held up three fingers. When he realized what she meant, he grinned.

The reporter closest to Bud put a microphone next to her face and said, “People are eager to hear your story. What do you have to say?”

Her father reached her before Brant. He stepped in front of the mic and said, “She doesn’t have anything to say. Now get out of the way and let us pass.” He grabbed Bud’s elbow, but she jerked it away.

“Don’t touch me. And don’t speak for me either.” She turned to the reporter who asked the question. “This is my father. He planned to have my baby aborted against my will. So I ran and the angels were smiling when a stranger named Cannon Johns found me. When he heard my story, he helped me get away until I turned eighteen. Today. He helped me save the life of my baby, knowing the risk.”

“So Cannon Johns is not the father of your baby?”

She shook her head. “No. He’s not my lover. But he is my hero. And he’s not the one who should be in jail. It’s my daddy who ought to be in jail.”

Everyone present turned in unison to register the look of shock on the Ranger’s face at being publicly called out by his daughter.

Then Bud saw Brant elbowing his way through the people like a linebacker. As soon as he was within reach, she stretched out her hand so he could pull her to him. He put a big arm around her shoulders and slowly began to move her through the throng.

Pro Life advocates lined the road, most carrying signs. She heard constant shouts of, “God Bless You”.

It took almost half an hour to make their way to where Garland waited. She sat waiting patiently behind the wheel, but wore lines of concern on her face. Brant put Bud in the front passenger seat next to his wife and got in back. And even then, the crowd didn’t want to let the car go.

Little by little Garland ooched forward, eager to leave, but not wanting injury on her conscience.

When they were finally clear, Garland turned to Bud and said, “I’m Garland. Happy birthday.”

“Doesn’t feel happy.”

“Well, it should.” Garland smiled. “You’re baking the best kind of baby. The kind that’s really, really wanted. By the way, I like your bag.”

Without hesitation Bud said, “You can have it. It’s the least I can do. Since you picked me up and all.”

Garland was so touched she was speechless. She assumed the girl didn’t know that the car’s driver was one of the richest women in the world. “That is very generous of you, but I think you need a bag of your own.” She smiled. “Brant will buy me one, won’t you?”

Brant huffed. “Jesus.”

Bud swiveled in her seat belt so that she could see Brant in the backseat. “Is that every biker’s favorite word?”

He chuckled. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

“Well, either you’re a seriously religious bunch or you’re in trouble for… I forgot what they call it.”

“Blasphemy?” Garland supplied.

“Yeah. Blasphemy.” She faced forward again. “I’m worried about Johns.”

“You call him Johns?” Brant asked from the backseat. She nodded, but didn’t answer. “So, if I understand the situation correctly, you’re homeless, jobless, got no prospects, but you’re worried about Cann?”

“He’s the one in handcuffs. I’m the one in the cushy car on her way to lunch.”

“We didn’t have lunch either,” Garland said. “What’re we having?”

Brant pulled out his phone. “We can stop in Uvalde.”

“How far is that?” Bud asked.

---