Page 122 of Cowboy's Last Stand
He’d made excellent time because his pace was even swifter than usual.Misery dogged his heels with every step, so he went fast in an attempt to outrun it.He kept replaying the harsh words they’d exchanged, kept wishing he were dead, and kept on walking.
If only he could do it all over and tell the truth.He would introduce himself as Mike’s former comrade instead of pretending to be someone else.He would tell her why he’d come here and hold nothing back.
Unfortunately, there were no do-overs in life.Ask Mike.
Jason hated that he’d left without saying goodbye to Marcus.Jason imagined the boy breaking down into tears, and he had to stop on the side of the highway.He stared up at the dawn sky, dragging air into his lungs.He blinked until his vision cleared.
Damn.
When he was in control of his emotions, he continued walking.He would go to San Diego and see Tyler.He could surf and cry for a few weeks.Then he’d put on his big boy pants and accept the job offer from Bradley.
It sounded awful, training EOD techs.He would be like the shop teacher with the missing finger giving safety advice.He’d be a cautionary tale.The idea didn’t appeal to him in the least, so maybe it was fitting.If he couldn’t have Natalie, he wanted nothing.He wanted pain.He wanted punishment.
He skipped breakfast and ignored the hunger pangs.When his phone started ringing, he shoved off his backpack and scrambled to answer it.The number on the caller ID screen buoyed his spirits.
“Natalie?”
He thought he heard a smothered cry of distress.
“Natalie?”he repeated.
“This is Deputy Hendricks.”
“Where’s Natalie?”
“There’s been an accident.”
Jason’s stomach twisted with dread.“What happened?”
“Where are you?”
“I’m on Highway9.”
“I’ll come and get you,” Wade said.“Is there a marker nearby?”
Jason glanced around for a highway marker.He saw a billboard advertising fast food, so he described that instead.“What’s going on?”
“Stay where you are.I’ll be there in ten minutes.”
Jason stared at the phone after Wade hung up.Cursing under his breath, he shoved the phone into his pocket and hefted his backpack.He didn’t sit tight.In fact, he started running toward Last Chance.It wasn’t easy with the heavy, unwieldy pack, but the discomfort suited him.He couldn’t stay idle in the best of times.In the worst of times, it was impossible.He ran at a breakneck pace.
When the squad car reached him, his chest was slick with sweat.To his surprise, Wade and his deputy emerged from the vehicle with guns drawn.
“Get down on the ground!Hands behind your head!”
Out of breath, Jason dropped to his knees.He tried to comply, but he couldn’t follow their exact orders with his backpack on.His hesitation was judged as resistance by the deputy, who punched Jason in the side.Jason coughed and doubled over in pain.
The deputy yanked Jason’s pack off in a rough motion that nearly dislocated his shoulder.Then he shoved Jason forward until his face met the gravel.Jason gritted his teeth, tasting blood, while his arms were wrenched behind his back.Wade read him his rights as the other deputy cuffed him and jerked him to his feet again.Jason wanted to spit in the deputy’s ruddy face.Instead, he spat blood in the dirt.
“What happened to Natalie?”he asked.
Wade gave him an impatient look.“Are you going to play dumb?”
“About what?”
“Why were you running away?”
Jason glanced around in confusion.“I was runningtowardLast Chance.”
