Page 41 of Running to the Mountain Man

“Then they win,” Olivia says sternly.

“I have too much to lose if I stay,” she says. “I put you all at risk. It’s better if I go back and play nice with Elder Mark.”

Curly steps forward. “I’ll take her. None of them have any beef with me. I’ll make sure she’s treated well.”

“How?” Wylie says, shouting.

Everyone else agrees with Wylie, and soon we’re all shouting and protesting. Curly holds up his hands.

“Now, listen. Don’t worry about Georgie. We’re all in this for the long game, right?”

Jake folds his arms across his chest. “What are you thinking of doing, Curly?”

“Don’t anybody freak out. But I’m going to take her back to her mom’s house, and then I’m going to disappear for a while.”

Ennis is the first to shout, “No way. Absolutely not.”

I look at Ennis; he is so mad he could spit nails. So could Wylie and Jake.

“I have to. It’s the best plan to take down these sonsabitches once and for all.”

“It’s suicide,” Wylie croaks.

Olivia stomps her foot. “What the hell are you all talking about?”

Curly doesn’t answer. Just levels a stoic gaze at Wylie, Jake, and Ennis. “I’m grateful for everything you all did for me. Now it’s my turn to give back.”

Louisa’s voice trembles. “Give back what?”

He winks at her. “That’s for me to know and you to find out. But a little later. Have patience.”

“You don’t have to do this, Curly,” says Barrett. My hand goes in his, and I give him a squeeze. I feel like my man is losing a friend. Those are not easy for him to come by.

“I’m going that way, anyway. Besides, I have a box of candy to drop off,” Curly says reassuringly.

Candy…

I turn to Louisa, but she’s already figured it out. “That was you? With the phone numbers in the candy wrappers?”

He winks at Louisa and then turns to Georgie. “Let me know when you’re ready, honey.”

Much to his consternation, Curly is subjected to tearful goodbye hugs from almost everyone. Only Wylie and Barrett manage to keep it together.

“I told you all. No tears,” the older man grumbles.

He shakes Barrett’s hand, and then he’s gone.

The rest of us wait on Georgie. Will she stay, or will she go?

My heart feels like it’s been ripped out of my chest.

My one constant, my rock, wraps his hand around mine. The gold band on Barrett’s finger presses into my flesh, reminding me I’m not alone.

I hate this plan.

But Louisa and Olivia trust Curly. And because they do, so do I.

I don’t know what he has planned. I don’t know how this will all work out in the end.

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