Chapter Ten
The “Rescue”
Jose and Scout enjoyed their paradise at the elusive lake, maybe a little too much. Charlie, who had previously disdained extended company while on the road--other than his family of mules, of course--was fully enjoying his guests, particularly fishing with Jose. Charlie even took a bath by his own choosing (disguised as a dip in the lake) due to his welcome guests. The topic of getting back to Broken Arrow had been avoided by all as the days passed. Each waited for the other one to bring it up, and no one did. All three found themselves in a situation desperately desired and needed for separate and personal reasons. They were verging on fantasy, living a daydream with only pangs of guilt here and there.
After lunch in the early afternoon, Jose and Scout decided to take off and go hiking while Charlie elected to stay at camp. They hiked to a large outcrop of boulders and rocks then climbed to a flat area, situating themselves to bask in the afternoon sun. They could hear Charlie playing his harmonica in the distance and the mules added their own sounds here and there. After a bit of prodding, Scout openly talked about her previous life in Monterey and everything about it appealed to Jose; this surprised Scout. She imagined that all the people, the tourists and the bustle would make Jose want to run the other way.
“Did you hear that ?” She quickly moved her head in the direction of the sound.
“Bear?” Jose whispered, half-joking but her serious demeanor held him silent. He listened along with her. She turned onto her stomach and slid down behind the rocks grabbing Jose as she descended. He crouched down beside her.
“What did you hear?”
In a whisper she answered, “I hear somebody, walking.”
“Probably somebody just hiking around.” Jose wasn’t concerned.
“Maybe the kid.” Scout was sincerely worried.
The kid never entered his thoughts. Jose now heard the same sounds. “You stay put, stay here, okay.” Jose moved around the rocks to a higher spot for a better view. The sounds stopped. He waited a minute then stood up. Somebody was a short distance away and Jose recognized him. He squatted back out of view and back to Scout.
“Did you see somebody?” Scout’s heart was beating faster in anticipation that it was the gun-wielding juvenile.
“Yeah, I saw somebody. Don’t worry, it’s not the kid; it’s Bowzer.”
“Bowzer?”
“He’s from Pista, probably came to the lake to go fishing.”
“Did he see you?”
Jose shook his head no.
She relaxed back into a sitting position. Jose joined her, pulling her closer, feeling her relief while his spirits began to dim.
“He’ll see Charlie, hell, he’ll hear Charlie,” he said, “and the mules.” It meant an end to the fantasy. Jose climbed back onto the rocks to see which direction Bowzer would head. He descended halfway down and waved Scout to hurry and join him atop of the rock. Bowzer had stopped to relieve himself. Instead of ending with a quick shake and putting it away, he shook it from side to side then up and down and back to side to side as if he were trying to get catsup out of a bottle.
“A little overkill, wouldn’t you say,” Scout whispered.
“Aaaah, it’s the freedom of the woods, Scout. Shake it Bowzer,” Jose exclaimed with a laugh.
“I guess it’s safe to say our vacation is over.” She squeezed his thigh. “Well, I’m sure Lila is incredibly worried about you anyway. Funny, no one ever came looking at lake.”
“Maybe they did the first day.”
“Or, maybe they relied on one of Burt’s maps.” This elicited a laugh from both of them. Burt’s intentions were always honorable but the outcomes were often trying.
Jose covered her ears while he shouted, “I think it’s empty!” down to Bowzer.
Startled, Bowzer quickly zipped his pants and turned to acknowledge his intruders. He recognized Jose and, taking long lumberjack steps, made a hasty path to the boulders.
“Well bingo!” Bowzer shouted like a 49er finding gold. “It’s the missing persons! Damn, and there ain’t no reward!”
Jose introduced Scout. It seemed appropriate to head back to the lake with Bowzer. Jose gave Bowzer a very brief explanation of how they came to be missing and ended up at the lake as they meandered their way to the campsite. Bowzer and Jose were exchanging digs in fun. Scout initially felt a deep disappointment and was quite sad but eventually thoughts of Pepper and regular food swung her in the other direction. When they approached the campsite, Charlie’s usual halcyon demeanor was immediately gone at the sight of the third party. He stood rigid with a stare that wasn’t saying “Welcome, friend.” Bowzer seemed not to notice and hollered out a greeting that Charlie ignored. His life of solitude was by his choosing and liking until Jose and Scout came along. The three could be together and still enjoy their privacy. It was unorthodox for each, but it worked. Charlie had no desire for a fourth to be added to the mix or for the little family to be broken up so soon.
Bowzer spoke with enthusiasm as they sat by the dwindling fire. He was a gregarious guy whether warranted or not. Charlie remained standing and silent. Jose and Scout didn’t say much.
“Damn, wish there was a reward or something for finding you guys; I could use the bucks,” Bowzer joked. “I want to go to Vegas.” He hadn’t seemed to recognize that no one was too pleased about the rescue.
“Charlie, you have to come back to the campground with us.” When he didn’t respond Scout added, “We’ll ride with you, and when we arrive we’ll go eat at Elena’s.”
He pondered her request; dinner at Elena’s was tempting. She added another perk, “Lila will have the goat’s hay for the mules; they’ll be happy. I’ll be happy if you come back with us, just for a few days, Charlie, then you can be off to wherever.” Charlie looked as though he was giving the offer serious thought. She continued in a lowered and more private voice, “I don’t want to say goodbye like this. I’ll be leaving for California soon myself. Come back and let me take you out to dinner, a minor thank you for all you have done for me. Please?”
“Lila feeds that damn goat too much,” he said, his voice livened up a bit.
“Same goat that was in the swimming pool, remember that Charlie?” Jose asked trying to favor his humorous side.
“Lila’s goat swims?” Bowzer asked with a laugh.
“Nah. No water in the pool. That gawddamn goat was ricocheting off the sides, buttin’ people trying to get it out, shittin’ pellets all over.” Charlie laughed while remembering. “Damn goat. That thing must be as old as me by now. Lila loves that old goat.”
“You gotta come back with us, Charlie.” Scout prodded. “And, we about wiped you out of your food so you need to restock.”
“Okay, okay… those mules could use some good hay,” Charlie said still smiling about cantankerous Wiggie. “Well, I had better prepare the wagon if we’re leaving.” His mood lifted tremendously and with a bounce in his step, Charlie walked off to get ready.
“You want some help, Charlie?” Jose stood up ready to assist but Charlie waved him to stay put. Before sitting down he looked at Scout, grabbed his derriere and cringed as he anticipated the bumpy ride all the way back to Pista on the wood plank. Scout shot Jose a smile--if Jose was willing to ride with Charlie then she could ride back with Bowzer and bypass the abuse to her back and backside.
Charlie was moving at a Charlie pace and they knew they had a considerable wait. They made themselves comfortable.
“What’s with the outfits, guys? Has Charlie converted you?” Bowzer poked fun, looking them both up and down with a furrowed brow.
With time on their hands, Scout gave Bowzer the abridged version of her encounter with the kid. Jose was quick to take over the synopsis from where he came onto the scene. This kept the story and conversation going so Scout and Jose didn’t have room to feel the woe at the end of their journey. In exchange, Bowzer informed them of what he knew about th
e search for the missing pair. Pangs of guilt tweaked as they listened yet they had no regrets. The punk kid created a blessing, though obviously not his intent.
“Is my dog, Pepper, okay, do you know?”
“Yeah, if that’s the dog that lady’s been walking. Spoiled rotten if you ask me.” Just like with Helga, Pepper was able to win her heart. Bowzer added that it might be hard for Penny to relinquish him since she had obviously become quite attached. Knowing Pepper’s tendency to be temperamental and demanding, she was relieved that he got to Penny’s heart and not her patience. Pepper established a routine quickly and had no hesitation to let one know when they were veering off the established path. Time for a walk meant time for a walk, not time to talk on the phone or time to chat in a stationary position with another human. His moans and his let’s-go-now dance were near impossible to ignore. If you loved him, it was endearing, if you didn’t, it was annoying.
Bowzer told Scout about her truck being found abandoned up north on Nolan’s ranch. She grinned and turned to Jose, “I guess he didn’t make it to Mexico, and he was so close to the border.”
They made small talk. Jose and Scout twice removed from the heart of the trivial conversation. When Charlie and the mules were near ready, Jose grabbed his backside, moaned then headed for the wagon. Scout followed Bowzer to his truck. It was a distance and he was kind enough to give Scout a piggyback ride partway to save her feet. Bowzer talked and Scout listened, thankful for the ride while heartbroken for the sudden end to an idyllic escape with two remarkable people who captured her heart, she suspected forever.
A box of Cheez-Its was glowing on the front seat of his truck. Quickly, before the vision disappeared, “May I?” Scout asked already grabbing onto the box.
“Of course, it’s all yours.”
She climbed onto the truck, relaxing into the seat and began to devour the Cheez-Its. Bowzer hit rocks, ran over logs and other obstacles in his path—a bumpy ride but unlike Jose, she had cushioning below her derriere.
“Comfortable?” asked Bowzer.
“Very, thanks. Poor Jose,” she couldn’t help but comment. “Have you ever ridden on Charlie’s wagon?”
“Nope, can’t say I have ever had that experience. Why, not comfortable?”
“That’s putting it mildly.”
“Serves Jose right for scaring Lila like he did, the shit.”
“You mind if I turn on the radio?”
“Course not.” Bowzer reached over and turned the radio on for her. “Country western?” he asked doing a once-over at her long johns again.
“Anything you want is fine with me.” Then she corrected herself. “On second thought, almost anything.”
“This?” He pushed to the next station. “This?” Then the next, asking each time, “This?” until she responded with “That.” Scout leaned her head back preparing to get lost in the music instead she listened to Bowzer drown out the tune with commentary on how the men at Caballeros suspected the two had run off together. “Not far from the truth, huh?” He turned to catch her response.
“Yes, very far from the truth,” she corrected.
“Didn’t look far from the truth to me.”
“You heard the story. Don’t think that would qualify as a planned vacation, do you?” Though, it was a vacation--a rustic romantic tale for Scout where Jose rescued her from more than the threat of the kid.
Jose bundled up a blanket for a pillow and lay looking up through the trees at a solid blue sky with only brush strokes of clouds, patiently waiting for Charlie to finish readying himself and the mules.
As Bowzer and Scout were pulling onto a paved road, Charlie was loosening on the reins to start the journey. Charlie remained relatively steady and began whistling as Jose sat on the bundled blanket, held on and rocked like a hard plastic toy in a child’s wagon. He tried to lift his backside up from the seat as they meandered down the dirt road but grew tired from the effort and took the butt-al abuse without complaint.
Charlie started conversation. “Lots of ravens,” he commented looking up at the trees.
“Pretty common around here, Charlie.”
“Ever eat raven?” Charlie asked.
“No, but I bet you have.”
“Yep, and it don’t taste like chicken either.” Then Charlie ran down the list of offbeat critters he had eaten in his life with a connoisseur-like critique of each.
“I ate dog once,” Jose contributed.
“Never!” Charlie shook his head. “Never ate a dog, wouldn’t eat a dog. Lord Jesus Jose, why would you eat man’s best friend?”
“I didn’t know it was a dog when I began eating it, damn…” and so their conversations went as they rocked and rolled their way down the road. The two engaged in long conversations between periods of comfortable silence. A subject came to Charlie’s mind and he would delve into it. Jose would respond. There were long conversations ending with another extended bout of silence until something of interest came to Charlie’s mind. So went the bumpy ride back to Pista.
Bowzer drove into Broken Arrow about the time Charlie finally hit a bona fide road. The ever-vigilant Burt was first to catch sight of them as they slowly entered the campground. He immediately hollered to the others and by the time Bowzer parked a small crowd had gathered around his truck. Hugs before questions. Everyone was taking turns, even Eric. The only regular not participating was Tom. He stood in the far background leaning his back against a tree with his hands resting on a rake, watching. Scout began to weep from the heartfelt reception. Her own family never displayed such concern for her well-being and she was overwhelmed. She had anticipated a flurry of questions. She thought that there would be an immediate need to explain the extended absence and lots of questions about Jose, but she need only respond to the love and concern of friends. The explanations and details could wait; they wanted to know that she was okay and how they could help. Scout felt what so many experienced once at Broken Arrow--that she mattered, truly mattered. No one needed to move mountains to be worthy of love and genuine concern at Broken Arrow.
A cold wet muzzle pushed up against her hand.
“Pepper!” and she smiled at Penny to say thank you, falling to her knees to hold a wiggling whining pooch.
“He’s a good boy.” Penny smiled back.
“He looks like a chimichunga.” Scout laughed. Pepper had a way of getting others to feed him like a slot machine.
The group huddle around Scout as they all walked to the office. No one mentioned Scout’s peculiar outfit though it didn’t go unnoticed. Martha made a fresh pot of coffee and Scout grabbed the first donut she saw--dried out or not, it was delicious. She sat at the table and the others positioned themselves across from her. It reminded Scout of a book signing. She smiled, almost laughed. Now they wanted answers. They wanted the story.
“Would you like a robe, Scout?” Lila asked. Lila grabbed one of the guest robes hanging in the hall to the showers and handed it to Scout.
“I should shower and change, Lila.”
“No, no. You look just fine,” barked Burt; he was ready for the details.
She informed them that Jose was fine and on his way with Charlie but Burt was on the edge of his seat for more.
“Okay, in brief…” and Scout told of how her vehicle stopped, about the kid showing up then Jose showing up. She told of the kid holding a gun to her head as Jose drove and of their escape to Charlie and his mules. She apologetically added that they believed someone would come for them at the lake and they thought it best to stay there and wait. There was some truth to the statement, some.
With the exception of Burt who pushed in a rather tactless manner for more specific details, Scout’s audience was quiet, no interruptions.
“You need to get out of those clothes, Scout; we can continue this later.” A disgruntled Burt turned to Lila ready to contest her suggestion. She shot him a look and he knew better; he turned back around in frustration. He fel
t he deserved the details since he led the posse; didn’t they remember?
“We are all happy you’re home safe. I’ll fix you something to eat. Go on, go get out of those clothes. Go give Pepper a good tummy rub.” Lila prodded Scout to get up with several gentle pushes of her hand.
“I could go for all of those, Lila. I’d really like to take a shower and get into some of my own clothes. Get something to eat that’s recognizable. Thank you.” Scout pushed herself away from the table with all eyes upon her and the tattered long johns draped by the robe. Lila accompanied Scout out of the door and out of earshot of the office crowd to suggest Scout contact Woody. She offered to call him herself.
“Honestly, I don’t want to file a report. I just am glad it’s over with.”
“Would you like me to call him for you?”
“I don’t want to file a report. I just want to put this behind me.”
“Woody has to close up this incident. He’ll need to talk to you and you don’t know that the boy who stole your International didn’t do something else out there in your truck and you may be held accountable.”
Scout hadn’t thought of that aspect and agreed to speak with Woody after she showered and got a bite to eat. She looked Lila in the eyes and grinned, “I had to eat Charlie’s packed-away food stuff.”
“And you lived to tell about it. You’re a lucky girl.”
Woody was aware of Scout’s arrival and was already headed for the campground. He arrived without fanfare and patiently waited for Scout in the office. Mary had over stuffed cheese sandwiches also waiting for Scout in the office. Woody insisted she eat when Scout arrived; he could wait. She sat down and did just that. Burt and a few others joined them. There were a few seconds of silence but only a few, Burt started right in telling Scout about their “posse” with exaggerated details. He told about Manny’s truck running into Jarred’s Mercedes. Jarred stood at the door, listening and not the least bit amused.
“I’m sorry, Jarred,” Scout said after pulling the sandwich from her mouth and releasing the shock from her eyes.
“Not your fault,” he responded, his eyes still fixed on Burt.
She could visualize every mishap, every detail of the scenario and the humor was hard to deny but she felt responsible for their trouble. When others started adding their versions and comments, the laughter crept out of all of them, even Jarred and Scout felt free to join in.
Burt began the story of Manny in Grada when George cut in.
“Wanna hear the really big news?”
“Of course,” she answered.
“Lester got a date.”
“But did he get a second date?” Scout asked since Lester didn’t have a big problem getting the first date, it was getting the second that consequently frustrated Lester.
“Hasn’t gone on the first one yet and I don’t think she knows anything about him---“
“Then maybe if he keeps his preoccupation with dead bodies to himself he’ll get a second,” Jarred interjected.
The group reminisced about Lester’s past dates, which always got heads shaking and people laughing. The mood was light. Woody tilted his head gesturing towards the door. He was officially at work. Much to Burt’s dismay, Lila offered her home to insure privacy.
“Have a seat, if you would, Scout.” Woody was very matter-of-fact, not part of the Broken Arrow family with whom she felt comfortable. “Scout, Lena, which do you prefer?”
“Either is fine. I guess Scout, that’s what everyone here calls me.” Then she added, “I prefer to stand unless it bothers you.”
“No, go ahead and stand but I’ll remain seated if you don’t mind; it’s been a long one.” He leaned back. “Okay, let’s start from the beginning. You were headed to the lake?”
She instantly thought of the kid’s rage and bizarre behavior. She thought of what he might do to someone else. She felt a responsibility.
“Yes. I was trying to find the lake but never did. Burt’s map, you know.” She shrugged her shoulders. Woody gave a half smile. “On my way back to Pista my car began to miss….” Woody had the whole story up until they set up camp by the lake. His questions centered on the kid; he listened and took notes. He thanked Scout and said he would need to talk with Jose to wrap everything up. He was finished unless Scout had something else to tell him or if they found the kid. Scout said it all. She thanked him and watched from Lila’s front door as he walked to his truck and he drove away under the front sign. Scout didn’t return to the office though she knew the others were waiting for her there; she wanted to be alone for a while. Penny had Pepper so she went to her camper, made herself comfortable on the bed with her book of sketches.
Scout flipped through the pages remembering when, where and what inspired each one. She stared at the drawing of an overstuffed, oversized chair in an empty room and remembered its inspiration. Scout turned the pages and studied the drawings. It was settling, autobiographical in abstract and seemed appropriate at this time of transition. She examined a sketch she had done of an old graveyard in San Juan Bautista. The graveyard was over a century old and one of her favorite places to go and sit, and sometimes sketch. A pleasant old man on a bicycle passed by which inspired her to add the bicycle to the gravesite sketch, leaning it against a gigantic old willowy tree that shaded the headstone and coffee-colored dirt of a new grave. The drawings reminded her of home and of her intent to go back. Pepper and Penny approached the door and Scout put the sketches away.
“You up for company?” Penny asked.
“I’d love your company.”
“I was teaching Pepper how to howl; it was driving Myra crazy.” She looked over at Myra’s and Sam’s RV and leaned towards Scout, “Ya gotta let me borrow him, great fun.” She imitated Myra in a screeching voice yelling at Sam, “Sam! Tell her to shut that dog up!”
“Did he?” Scout asked.
“Of course not.” Penny loved it. “Myra nagged, Pepper and I howled and Sam played deaf, dumb and married to Myra.”
Scout invited Penny to a dinner at Elena’s and Penny gladly accepted; it was a date and a way for Scout to say thanks. Sitting down to eat with others was different at Broken Arrow. It meant more than a meal. It was casual and intimate, like a hug; you did it with those you cared about.
“Aunt Penny will bring a doggy bag for you, yes I will, oh yes I will….” Penny nuzzled her nose up to Pepper’s face.
“You are going to come visit me in Monterey, Penny, right? In your travels? You’ll love it, I promise you. You won’t want to leave.” As she was pressuring Penny with her invite the reality of her leaving Broken Arrow was sinking in. Going home meant leaving each wonderful person she had come to love.
“So, you’re heading home soon?” Penny asked while still cuddling with Pepper.
“Yes, well, I’m not sure when, exactly. Eventually. I am enjoying myself so much here, Penny. This is like a whole new home for me. I love the people here. It’s hard to think of leaving but Monterey is my home. It’s calling.”
“You have a lot of friends there?”
Scout thought for a moment. “Not like I have here actually. It’s different.”
“Well, you know best. I’ll miss this little guy, you know.”
“I know. Thank you again for being so kind to him. He obviously has grown quite fond of you Penny, which is another reason you must come visit and stay awhile. I promise, you’ll love it there.”
Pepper followed Penny halfway to her camper then returned to Scout. He took his sweet time as Scout waited for him to jump up the steps and hop into the camper. The little camper never felt so luxurious. Pepper jumped on the bed first to get good positioning. After he settled in, Scout squeezed in next to him--grateful to be in her comfortable bed and grateful Jose did the courtesy of riding back with Charlie. Scout easily drifted into a sound sleep.
Chapter Eleven
Tumbleweed Logic