Page 51 of Freedom
On the way back, Jake took a scenic route Alex had recommended that stopped by Madera Canyon. He’d never thought much about national parks other than as hidey-holes for wendigos and other nasty supernatural critters too fond of human flesh or souls, but Alex had looked at Tobias when she made the suggestion.
As he pulled into the small parking lot, it clicked, and Jake was pretty sure he was the dumbest idiot still alive.
Toby liked trees. Toby liked city parks. Toby loved watching the forest and mountain scenery they drove by. Actual wilderness parks weremadefor him.
From the parking lot, they slowly walked down a gravel path, through a trail in the trees, and to a viewpoint marked with a sign. They stepped to the edge of the canyon, a sturdy metal railing keeping them from the sheer drop, and the full extent of the park sprawled out at their feet.
As far as the eye could see, the land stretched out in patches of green and brown, covered in a range of scrubby desert plants, until they rose into mesas, buttes, and finally mountains in the far distance. Their peaks and outlines were sharply visible as they met the blue sky.
Not another soul was around, human or animal or otherwise, except for a couple of large birds sailing at a high altitude in the far distance. The silence was perfect, broken only by rocks shifting under their shoes and Tobias’s slow exhale as he leaned onto the metal bars framing the overlook. His eyes shone bright, face mesmerized by the expansive, untamable terrain.
Jake leaned close, their shoulders and arms touching. Without looking away, Toby took his hand, intertwining their fingers.
Finally, Jake said, “I think I saw something about a secret waterfall on the park sign. Let’s come back and track it down.”
The smile Tobias turned on him was blinding in its delight.
They returned to Alex’s just in time for dinner, and she rewarded them with an enormous pan of enchiladas verdes she’d just finished reheating in the oven. The meal was another gift from a parishioner, she told them cheerfully.
As they finished eating, she asked, “You don’t mind staying another day or two to make sure everything’s gone quiet at Jose’s, do you?”
With a glance, Jake checked with Tobias. “Yeah, no problem. Especially if you keep feeding us.”
Her brown eyes gleamed. “Not a problem, though I may set you up with a couple of nonsupernatural assignments. Roger told me you’ve got a knack with car engines, Jake, and my cousin Elena’s truck has been acting up. It’s the only car they’ve got, and she needs to get to work in Tucson every day, so if you can figure out what’s going on before it dies completely, you’d be a hero.”
“Sure, no sweat.”
Alex turned to Tobias. “We’re going back to the church kitchen tomorrow to make a bunch of tamales for an event this weekend. Come give us a hand?”
Tobias only looked briefly at Jake before answering. “Yes, that... sounds nice. If I can help.”
“Absolutely. We’ll get you going as fast as Carmen before you know it.”
The next morning, Alex asked if they’d give her a ride to the church so they could go together from there to Elena’s, and Jake hesitated.
It was a little weird, but he hadn’t had anyone in his car but Tobias for well over a year. Before then, it had only ever seen whatever pretty hookup he’d picked up in a bar, and even that had been pretty rare. He didn’t like exposing his Eldorado to strangers.
But Alex had made it possible to get Toby out of Freak Camp. Plus, she’d fed them some incredible meals, so she’d probably earned the right to at least a short ride.
“Toby’s got shotgun,” he said at last, and she beamed again.
“I appreciate it.”
Inside the church, the three of them found a group of women assembling ingredients in the kitchen. Alex made the introductions—Carmen, Maria, Rosa—and Toby haltingly said, “Hola, mucho gusto, me llamo Tobias. Gracias para la comida, es muy bueno.” He’d practiced the lines with Jake the night before.
“De nada,” they all chorused.
Jake nudged Toby’s arm and spoke into his ear. “You sure you’re okay hanging out here for a while?”
Finally, a little amusement showed in Toby’s smile. “I think I can manage.”
“Okay, okay, just checking. You’ve got your phone on you?”
Toby pulled it out of his pocket to show him—a near-full charge as always—and Jake patted his own in his pocket.
Alex chatted to the ladies for a little longer in Spanish before ushering Toby forward. Carmen waved him over and began pointing and naming ingredients in Spanish, Toby repeating them after her.
Alex cleared her throat beside Jake. “You ready to go? If you think you can trust the abuelitas.”
