Page 62 of Run with Me

By the morningon the third day, I was sitting on a rock outside our tent in the mountains. About five miles out in the distance, the flat roofs in Pace blended with the background. I’d never seen my town from this point of view, and compared to New York, it looked almost foreign, lost and forgotten. The only part of my return that felt nice was the beautiful weather. Worst of all, the town appeared to be abandoned, although we knew it wasn’t because Xavier had scouted the area last night. Life went on, and Ben still lived there with his family.

At the thought of possibly seeing him, I couldn’t help feeling apprehensive, though we were hoping we wouldn’t run into him. During the past forty-eight hours, Xavier had been watching a little screen with a traveling dot. It looked very futuristic, and he’d explained that it was a beacon he’d left at the motel. So far this morning, before Xavier went out to the woods, the beacon had remained at the Bistro.

The sound of approaching footsteps crunching over the rocky footing forced me to turn around.

“I found some gooseberries.” He held out his cupped hand for me, and I tossed a few into my mouth.

“I used to love these as a kid. Thankyou.”

“You’re welcome. You lookcalm.”

“I’m nervous and anxious. It’s beyond time that I made contact with John. It feels like so much has happened in the past sixteen months. I feel guilty and selfish that I’ve spent that time withouthim.”

“You were a pregnant woman trying to survive on her own, and now you have a baby and a godson whose life you’ve saved. I wouldn’t call that selfish.”

“My life has changed so much, I just hope that he still wants to be part ofit.”

“What if he doesn’t?” Xavier asked.

“What?”

I’d never truly considered the possibility. What if Xavier was right? What if John didn’t want anything to do withme?

“I’m not saying that he won’t. He’d be a foolish man if he didn’t.”

I warmed at his words.

“What I am trying to say is that you should keep an open mind. Look how much your life has changed while away. If John had Ben Cortez hanging over his head, I’m pretty sure he had his hands full aswell.”

Xavier sat down on the rocks beside me, and I picked some more gooseberries out of hispalm.

“I hope you’re right. I just have this weird feeling in my stomach, like my life is about to be changed forever.”

The sides of our arms touched, and I leaned my head to the side, resting it on his shoulder. He was one of the most comfortable people in my life to be around. Xavier reached his arm around me, pulling me closer.

Why was I dreading this reunion? I knew that part of the reason was the scary possibility of running into Ben, but it felt like so muchmore.

“No matter what happens, remember that you have a family back in NewYork.”

“Thank you. I don’t think I’d be alive today if it weren’t for you and Jack. Actually, I know I wouldn’tbe.”

“So, since we’re on this honesty streak, I don’t want to freak you out, but there’s something I need to tell you. Three years ago, when I showed up in Pace, it wasn’t because I got lost on my way to Jack’s wedding.”

“What do you mean? I know when Jack got married. Mary’s shown me their wedding pictures.”

“Yes, I was still going to the wedding, I just got sidetracked to check out a lead. The Cortez family was thatlead.”

“Wait – are you telling me that someone put a bounty on theirhead?”

“Yes, and not just someone. The government.” Xavier stood up and reached for something in his backpack. When I saw him check the metal piece, I froze.

“You have agun?”

“Well, of course I have a gun. What did you expect me to bring? A pair of scissors?”

“A gun cankill.”

“That’s the point.”

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