The Faithful (35 page)

CHAPTER SIXTY-SIX

“Do you have him?” Ryanne wheezed.

“Yup. Got him, go ahead,” Josh said. Ryanne took a deep breath and started to climb again.

The way out was much more challenging than the way in, and Josh was sweating profusely. It was a long, slow climb out of the bowels of the earth, made all the more difficult by the unconscious boy they were carrying.

Jack Barbetti had wept in Ryanne’s trembling arms for several minutes, and then, without warning or wind-down of any kind, had simply returned to his comatose state.

That was when Josh decided it was time to hightail it out of there. They left Father Barnabas lying on the ground, blood pooling under his cheek. Although he hadn’t bothered to check his vitals, Josh doubted he was dead. He kept expecting to feel one of those bony claws clamp down on his ankle. Would that wild, screechy cackle be the last thing he ever heard?

Stop it, he told himself. Stay focused on the task at hand. Still, he couldn’t help it. He kept peeking back over his shoulder into the darkness. Josh had never been a fan of horror movies. He hadn’t slept for three nights after watching
The Exorcist
at Kevin Greenwood’s thirteenth birthday party. Now he was living through his own version of one, minus the creepy music, and he didn’t much like it.

“How much farther?” he asked, pausing to redistribute the boy’s weight to the other side.

Ryanne stopped ahead of him, breathing hard. “Another fifty feet or so.”

“Good.”

“Until the fork, I mean. We turn left, and then it’s another hundred yards. Or so.”

He stifled a groan. “Okay, let’s go.”

“Do you want me to take him?” she asked.

While he appreciated the offer, he doubted she could manage more than ten feet carrying the boy up the steep incline. “I’m fine. Lead the way.”

“If it helps, Sumner’s waiting for us near the top.”

“No kidding?” That did lighten his spirits. “And Ora? Any idea if she’s all right?”

“She’s fine. She’s with him.”

“That’s . . . really . . . great.” Tears stung his eyes. Josh had long ago used up any extra stores of adrenaline, and he was on the brink of physical and mental exhaustion. His whole body was trembling with it.

Not too much farther, he thought. Get going.

He focused on the physical task of moving forward, one step at a time. They made it around the curve and he switched Jack back to the left side. Halfway up the final climb, there was a faint lightening around them. The pitch dark gave way an inch at a time until he could just make out Ryanne’s outline in front of him. Ahead of her was a ghostly, silver light.

He switched Jack back to the right side and pushed his quivering muscles through the last few yards, eyes focused on the growing moonlight ahead of them. Ryanne disappeared into the glow, then reached down to help pull Jack up and over the ledge.

Josh pulled himself up beside her and lay with his eyes closed, panting against the cool earth. He had never been so grateful to feel open air around him.

“Is Jack okay?” Ryanne asked.

“I think so,” Josh wheezed. “He’s breathing.”

“He’s so thin.”

“You’re kidding, right? He weighs a ton.” He opened his eyes, and his stomach did a slow roll. “Where the hell are we?”

“The cliff,” she answered.

Very carefully, Josh sat up. They were on an eight-foot ledge, and below, the world dropped away. At the bottom, he could make out the checkerboard formation of farmland, gone fallow for the winter.

“It’s ironic, really,” she panted. “I guess this is where Jack landed when he fell over the edge.”

Josh looked up. The rock face behind him climbed straight up some thirty feet. “Um, I don’t see how we’re going to get up there. Or get Jack up there, for that matter.”

“Haven’t you ever done any rock climbing?” Sumner’s head poked out above him. He was grinning. “Howdy, folks! Fancy meeting you here.”

Josh beamed up at him. “At Quantico. But that was a long time ago.”

“Well, sounds like it’s time for a refresher course.”

“I also used a rope,” Josh added.

Sumner’s grin only widened. “Ask and you shall receive, my friend.” He disappeared.

“There are climbing ropes stashed in a Rubbermaid up there,” Ryanne explained. “This entrance gets used quite a bit. By the younger Priests.”

Phoenix’s head appeared over the edge, his pale skin and white-blond hair glowing silver in the moonlight.

“We’re attaching the rope to the bottom of a tree. Who wants to climb up first?”

“I think you’d better,” Josh said to Ryanne. “I’ll carry Jack up after you.”

“That does it. Tomorrow I’m going to start eating better,” she panted. “And getting more exercise.”

He refrained from commenting.

Sumner lowered a rope, and Josh followed Phoenix’s directions to tie a Swiss seat harness around Ryanne. When he was done, she looked at him nervously.

“I’m not sure I can do this.”

“Just take it one step at a time,” he offered lamely. “And don’t look down.”

Ryanne moved slowly, testing out each hand- and toehold and pausing frequently with her face pressed against the rock. About three quarters of the way up, she slipped. Josh slapped his hands over his eyes.

“Don’t worry! We’ve got you,” Phoenix called.

Josh watched through his fingers as they hauled her the rest of the way. She disappeared over the ledge.

“Are you all right?” he called up to her.

“That harness hurts like a son of a bitch!” she yelled back down. “You’ll see!”

Once again the rope was lowered, and Josh followed Phoenix’s instructions for tying the boy securely against his torso. He started up. There were plenty of little ledges to grip and he moved carefully from one hold to the next. Hauling Jack’s extra sixty pounds had his arms trembling from fatigue by the time he was halfway up. His feet slipped a couple of times, but he managed to regain his hold.

After what felt like hours, hands grabbed his wrists. Josh was hauled over the lip of rock and onto solid ground. He lay there panting while Sumner and Phoenix undid the ropes and lifted Jack off him.

Ryanne knelt down beside him and gave him a watery smile. She was grimy with sweat and dirt, and she’d never looked so beautiful. She stroked the damp hair off his forehead. “Are we having fun yet?”

“Are you okay?” he whispered.

Her tears landed silently on his cheeks, a secret between them. “He didn’t . . . Jack was just in time.”

He pulled her in, tucking her face against his chest and stroking her tangled hair. His eyes burned with unshed tears.

“Come on, kids,” Sumner said. “The girls are waiting for us. Let’s haul ass.”

She pulled away, wiping her eyes, and Sumner helped her and then Josh to their feet.

“We’re parked over that way.” He pointed into the trees, and they followed him. Twenty feet ahead, they could just make out Phoenix, who was carrying Jack over one shoulder.

“Do you think Jack’s all right?” Sumner asked.

Ryanne shrugged. “He was drugged. I’m hoping once it wears off, he’ll wake up. Is everybody okay on your end?”

“We’re all in one piece. And man, do I have some stories for you!” Sumner said, slowing his pace to match Josh’s and Ryanne’s exhausted hobble. “But I’m betting your night has been just as hairy.”

“You could say that. And we’re not out of the woods yet,” Josh warned, and Sumner laughed.

“Good one!” he said, although Josh hadn’t meant it as a joke.

They reached the clearing where the Suburban was parked. Phoenix was standing with his back against the open passenger door, arguing with a newcomer in a white robe.

“Oh hell,” Sumner said.

Josh could see Jack’s feet sticking out the door, and Phoenix was standing protectively in front of them. It quickly became apparent the Priest didn’t want Jack, however.

“You’re not taking her,” he said to Phoenix. “I forbid her to leave The Ranch.”

“Father Narda said—”

“I don’t care what Father Narda said. She’s
my
daughter, and I want her here, where it’s safe!”

“She wants to come with us.” Ora poked her head out of the open car door.

“She’s twelve years old. She doesn’t get a say!”

“Shit,” Sumner said, and moved toward them. “Father Gabriel, I promise we’ll keep her safe. I’ve already promised Father Narda—”

The Priest turned to Sumner and the moonlight danced across his face. He was in his late fifties, with thinning gold and gray hair and a bushy beard. He was fairly tall, but slender and narrow through the shoulders.

“I said
no
, Sumner!” He turned back to the Suburban. “Ashlyn, you come out here right this instant!”

“No!” the girl in question yelled from inside the vehicle. Josh could just make out her outline in the shadowy depths as she moved away from the open door.

“I’m not kidding, young lady!” the Priest said sternly.

“This is ridiculous.” Josh shook his head. The last thing he had expected to impede their progress was a custody battle over some preteen. He was so busy watching the argument unfold, he didn’t notice what Ryanne was doing until it was too late.

“Gabriel,” she hissed, aiming the gun at his head. He turned toward her and froze. Even from a distance, Josh could see the blood drain from his face.

“Rowan . . .” he choked out.

“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t blow your brains out right now, you bastard.”

“No!” the girl yelled from inside the Suburban.

“Rowan . . .” he stuttered again, raising his hands in front of him.

“My name is
Ryanne
,” she corrected, and her finger tightened on the trigger.

“No!” the girl screamed as she flew out of the Suburban. She tripped over Jack’s legs and fell flat on her face in the dirt.

“Please don’t hurt him!” she yelled, scrambling to her feet.

Ryanne’s gaze fell on the girl, and time stopped.

Josh reeled in shock, and if it hadn’t been for a handy tree, he would have fallen. She had red hair, pale skin, and a heart-shaped face. Josh would have bet she had green eyes, too.

Ryanne’s hands were trembling, but to her credit she kept the gun trained on Father Gabriel’s head.

“You’ve had her for eleven years, Gabriel. I’m taking my daughter back.”

She lowered the gun, aimed, and fired.

CHAPTER SIXTY-SEVEN

It was a strange ride to Denver. Sumner found himself trying to cover up the awkward silence with jokes, which naturally fell on deaf ears.

Ora and Lexy were sitting as far from each other as they could manage while in the same vehicle. Neither had said a word since leaving The Ranch, and the hurt and tension between them were palpable.

The family reunion in the middle row of seats wasn’t going well, either. Sumner guessed that trying to connect with a long-lost daughter after shooting the only parent the girl had ever known was going to be a challenge.

Of course, it was only a leg shot. Father Gabriel would likely recover. Sumner had pointed that out to Ashlyn, but she failed to see the logic.

She refused Ryanne’s attempts at conversation with the rudeness only a twelve-year-old could manage, curled into a ball against the door, and fell asleep.

Everyone’s nerves were shot. Well, except Jack’s, since he was the only one lucky enough to be comatose. The rest were either jittering like junkies coming off a three-day binge, sleeping fitfully, or lost in their own dark thoughts.

“The Magical Mystery Tour takes Denver!” Sumner said as they passed a sign that said they were forty miles outside the city. No one replied, and he shrugged and refocused on the road. The traffic was light. The morning was frosty and full of big blue skies.

“Do you think she’ll ever forgive me?” Ryanne asked Josh softly. Sumner watched them surreptitiously in the rearview mirror, straining to hear their conversation over the road noise and Ora’s gentle snoring from the seat beside him.

Ryanne’s eyes were red and puffy, and Sumner felt a stab of compassion for her.

“I’m sure she will, just give her time,” Josh replied softly. The two were squished in next to each other, giving Ashlyn much-needed space on the far side. The girl was sleeping against the door with her mouth slightly open.

Lexy and Phoenix were sharing the third row, Jack stashed between them. Lexy was watching the world pass by outside her window, her brow furrowed in thought. Phoenix was sprawled with his bare feet on the armrest in front of him, snoring.

“I don’t know.” Ryanne shook her head sadly. “She must feel like I abandoned her. Like I didn’t love her, or something.”

“But that’s not true,” Josh said gently. In the mirror, Sumner saw him take her hand. “You didn’t choose to leave her. It’s not your fault.”

“I let myself forget her,” Ryanne said. “How could she ever forgive me for that? I can’t forgive myself for that!”

The sight of her small hand tucked inside Josh’s made Sumner’s stomach clench, but he refused to acknowledge it. As usual, his mouth opened against his will. “She’s lived the last twelve years on The Ranch. Give her some credit; she knows what goes on. If there’s something she won’t forgive you for, it’s shooting her dad.”

Josh and Ryanne both looked up at him.

“Thanks Sumner; you always know just what to say.” But her lips curled up into a tremulous smile.

“Homeboy speaks the truth,” he said, and went back to driving. A little while later, he asked, “Any idea where we should go?”

Josh had been looking over a map, and he nodded. “I think we should rent a cabin. There’s an area called Idaho Springs in the mountains west of Denver. It’s still off-season, so we should be able to find something. What do you think?” he asked Ryanne.

She nodded. “That would be good for Ashlyn. She’s never been off The Ranch. Heading straight to a city would be overwhelming.”

“All right,” Sumner agreed. “Which way?”

By late morning, they had rented a furnished log home at the top of Soda Creek Road. Past the Indian Hot Springs Resort, the road angled up into the trees, winding past the occasional home as it moved into the mountains. The property Josh had rented was miles away from its nearest neighbor. It was set on at least an acre, accessed by a small bridge that crossed over Soda Creek and became a gravel track as it curved toward the house. The best part, as far as Sumner was concerned, was that it had its own mineral hot spring, located in a cave carved into the mountain on the edge of the property.

They made it to their new, temporary home just before lunchtime. As the others piled out, Phoenix carrying Jack, Josh offered to go back to the Safeway to pick up supplies. Ryanne volunteered to go with him. Sumner nodded, but didn’t move from the driver’s seat.

“What is it?” Ryanne asked. “Are you okay?”

Their rental was a large, two-story log home, half hidden in the shade of the pines dotting the property. It butted up against a rocky outcropping where Sumner guessed they would find the hot springs. Tucked behind the house he saw a storage shed and a separate two-car garage. A large pile of firewood was stacked neatly against the side of the garage.

“Would you consider this far enough away from the city?” Sumner asked.

“Far enough away for what?” Ora asked, yawning.

After a moment, he shook his head. “Never mind.”