BRANDON STARED AT KEVIN AND FANTASIZED ABOUT strangling his manager. They had taken another wrong turn on the way to Well Spring Ranch, yanking them another twenty minutes off schedule. Kevin was the navigator and his skills were not pinging the bell.
“Do you want to drive and I’ll tell you where to turn?” Brandon opened his bag of sunflower seeds and popped a few in his mouth.
“The GPS on my phone keeps screwing up.” Kevin smacked his cell phone and stared at the screen. “The blue dot, which is us, keeps disappearing. But we’re on the right path now. Pretty sure. Kinda sure.”
“Let’s stop at a house and ask.”
“Other than the fact that guys aren’t allowed to even consider asking for directions, there hasn’t been a home for the past three miles.” Kevin tapped his phone again.
“I sure hope you’re right, Columbus. I’m guessing we’ve only got a few more miles before you lose service.”
“What?”
“Reece said cell coverage is almost nonexistent out here.”
“But you’ll have Internet and cell service at the ranch, right? Satellite?”
“Nope. I’ll be off the grid.”
“No way, uh-uh.” Kevin frowned and shook his head. “That can’t happen. You have to have cell coverage.”
“Don’t think that’s going to be the case, pal.” Brandon grinned.
“What if I need to reach you? And you know I’ll need to. We have to be able to communicate.”
“Do me a favor while I’m here. Find out what people did before cell phones and the Internet and e-mail. See how they survived.”
“That’s hysterical. My gut has busted and spilled out on the floor.”
A snake slithered across the road ten yards in front of them. “Did you see that?” Brandon jabbed his finger at the road. “That thing was huge. It was like a sewer pipe crawling across the road. Probably a rattler.”
“Great. No coverage and you’re going to die of a snakebite.” Kevin slid his cell phone into his pocket and pulled out the map sitting on the dashboard.
A half hour later their Ford Escape bounced from rut to rut on a narrow dirt road, bouncing them as well, their seat belts the only thing keeping their heads from slamming off the ceiling like pinballs.
“Glad you rented an SUV,” Kevin said.
“Reece recommended it highly. He said I would hate him if I didn’t.”
“I’m hating him even with the SUV. How far out is this place?”
“He said it was remote.”
“He must be the bard of understatement.”
A gulley in the road jerked them to the left and Brandon yanked on the wheel to get them back to the center of the road—and calling it a road was a generous description.
“How long have you known Reece?”
“About three years. Don’t you remember? He came to a couple of my concerts and we hit it off. Now he offers perspective on life.” Brandon propped his elbow on the edge of the window and stared at the gathering rain clouds.
“And you think you need some.”
“Hey, don’t play dumb. I’m not the only one who thinks that.” Brandon glanced at Kevin. “You’re thrilled I’m going.”
“All right, I admit it. You’ve been off lately, and I think some counseling could be good for you.”
“This isn’t counseling. The way he was talking up at Snoqualmie Falls, I’m about to learn the ways of the force. Help me, Kevin K. Kenobi, you’re my only hope.”
“The gospel according to George Lucas.” Kevin smiled. “But you’ll also get into how you were all hurt by your fathers, won’t you?”
Brandon sighed. “My father was okay. He loved me. There’re really good memories there. I just wish he’d stood up to my stepmom every now and then. Always made me feel a little undervalued.”
For the next fifteen minutes they rode with rough cuts from Brandon’s next album providing the sound track for their crosscountry trek. Brandon flicked off the power and glanced at Kevin. “I suck.”
“What are you talking about?”
He wasn’t saying it to make Kevin tell him the music was great. Brandon really did think the new songs were weak. Yes, he said that about every album and felt it to be true at the time the songs were made. But this time it really was true. Sure, he could rework the songs—speed up the tempo or slow it down, slide in a guitar solo or another layer of backup vocals—but it wouldn’t do much good. Without God’s spark, the album would tank. Brandon sighed. If Well Spring didn’t provide an answer, he had no idea what would.
Kevin broke his downward mental spiral a few minutes later. “Remind me, who else is going on this retreat?”
Brandon blinked and gripped the wheel tighter. “There’re four of us, plus Reece. One’s a physics professor from U-Dub, one’s a personal trainer, and the third works in downtown Seattle.”
“You’ve met all of them?”
Brandon slid on his sunglasses and shifted in his seat away from Kevin. “I met the prof and the trainer up at Snoqualmie Falls last week, the other gal couldn’t make it.”
But she’d be there at the ranch ready to rock both their worlds. Now he understood why Reece hadn’t told him who it was till last night. If he’d had more time to think about it, he might not have come.
Brandon shook out another handful of seeds into his hand and popped them in his mouth.
Kevin laughed. “I don’t know how you can shell those things inside your mouth and not choke on them.”
“Talented teeth and tongue.” He slowed for a series of five-inch-deep potholes.
“You’re sure Reece is legit?”
“What are you talking about? Just last week you were telling me I should go on this thing. Now you’re telling me to watch out?”
“I’m just saying you better be looking for cameras in that place when you get inside to make sure you don’t wind up on some reality TV show. It’s my job to worry about you.”
“He’s the real deal. Trust me, K2.”
Kevin folded his arms. “There’s nothing wrong with keeping your eyes open.”
“For what?”
“A handout. You told me how he dresses.”
“Just because his clothes are old doesn’t mean he’s going to hit me up for cash.”
“Not yet. But once he puts his guru spin on everything, he’ll be asking you to donate fifty thousand dollars so he can advance his cause.”
“I’ll put him in touch with you if he asks.” Brandon grinned.
“That’s what I’m afraid of.” Kevin glanced at the map. “I think we should be there pretty soon.” He tossed the map onto the car floor. Ten minutes later they crested a rise in the road and Well Spring appeared in front of them.
“Wow.” Kevin rolled down his window and the scent of pine filled the car. “Reece must have some sizable donors to his cause to get you all into this place for free.”
Brandon stared at the ranch. Stunning. He parked next to what must be Reece’s rental car, exited the SUV, and grabbed his backpack. “You want to come in and meet everyone?”
Kevin came around the front of the vehicle and got comfortable in the driver’s seat. “No thanks.” He looked at his cell phone. “Zero bars. No service.” Then he squinted at Brandon. “I guess I’ll be talking to you in four days. I’ll be praying for you.”
“Thanks, bud.” Brandon stared at the cabin as the crunch of the SUV’s tires driving away faded into the afternoon. This next part wouldn’t be easy. He tramped down the path to the cabin, lugging his backpack over one shoulder, each step bringing him closer to the fuse he couldn’t stop from lighting.