Chapter Twenty-Two

I DROVE NORTH, away from our farm, the Lake Tavern, Bend, and everything familiar. I tried to make sense of what had happened over the last few days. I listed the chaos out loud in the truck. “Charity’s going to Europe with Kelly, Marin declared she’s sweet on me, and Ricky’s about to name his attackers. Shit.”

I wish I could go into a medically induced coma. I wouldn’t have to think about any of it. I was tired and sickened. The truth of what hurt people could put on one another rattled around in my head. Brutes beat a sweet boy like Ricky and leave him for dead just because he’s gay. Grown men have sex with teenagers. Haters are elected officials and have a taxpayer paid forum to spew hate and make it into policy. The church sometimes feels obliged to sponsor the haters or vice versa. Tears ran down my face. I had to pull over to wipe my eyes, so I could see to drive. At least it was still daylight. I didn’t need to be as vigilant for deer as I would at dusk in a half hour or so.

My cell phone rang. Shit. I’m not answering. It’s probably Momma.

The phone kept ringing. Maybe it’s an emergency with Allan or Ricky.

I answered the phone.

“We got them—well, two of them!”

“What?”

“It’s me, Petey. I’m calling to tell you we got those two college boys and guess who pulled into the parking lot right after they did?”

“I don’t know.” Then it sounded like he dropped his phone. “Petey.”

“Ouch.” Petey came back on the phone. “Lewis said he’ll tell you when he sees you.”

I pulled my truck onto the shoulder of the road. “Petey, tell me who else was involved with this.”

“Can’t. Don’t worry, Lorraine. Lewis gave him a tongue lashing about how much trouble he’s in when Ricky’s wires come off tomorrow. He drove off and Lewis left after him.”

“What are the college guys saying, Petey?”

“Lorraine, your phone is breaking up,” Petey said. “Lewis and I will meet you at your house. Ricky is going to be surprised about us getting those boys. Don’t tell him until we get there with that other fool.”

“Any idea where the guy Lewis is chasing was headed?”

“I don’t know, but he high-tailed it out of here and took off in a big shiny black truck. Hey, that preacher Grind and old man McGerber came through all frantic and serious. They were asking if anybody out at the Lake Tavern had seen you. I told them they should go home and lock their doors. There’s some outlaw faction of that Traditional Party creeping around town.”

Great! “Where’d Grind and McGerber go?” I asked.

“They all headed west toward town or your place I guess,” Petey said. “Didn’t they get there yet?”

“I’m not home.”

“Where are you now?”

“Just about twenty minutes from our farm.”

“Are you proud of us for telling them off and catching most of them?” Petey said.

I was silent probably for too long.

“Lorraine?” Petey said.

“Did you tell the guy Ricky was at my place?”

“Oh, shit, Lorraine,” Petey said. “Everybody and their brother knows you got that boy at your place. Do you think he’s headed there?”

“I don’t know, but I’m going to find out.”

Ricky? What about Momma and Allan? Will the bastard kill them?

I tried calling Momma from my cell phone.

No answer.

She probably turned the damn thing off trying to save the battery.

I called the landline.

No answer.