you back to your cabin, or I can call Ted and ask him—”
“Not happening.” He put his hand over hers and squeezed hard. “I’m coming with you. I can’t let you do this alone.”
“But . . . you’re still not one hundred percent fit, and this has nothing to do with you, and—”
He stared her down. “And I’m still coming. Think of it as repayment for all you’ve done for me over the past twenty-four hours.”
“You don’t need to pay me back for any of that.” Beth looked steadily back at him and he couldn’t resist dropping a kiss on her nose.
“Not your decision.” He took a step back. “Now, do you need to grab anything before we go, or shall we move out?”
She sighed as if finally giving up the fight. “We should let Ted know what’s happening just in case Mikey gets in touch with him rather than me.”
“If you give me your phone, I can text him and Nate from your truck while you drive,” Conner said. “Do you need ID, cash, or supplies for the journey in case we’ve missed him in Bridgeport?”
“Seeing as he left here about three hours ago, he’s probably already gone.” She bit her lip. “Are you sure about this?”
“Yeah.” He took her by the shoulders and pointed her toward the stairs. “Why don’t you get ready while I make some coffee for the trip?”
Fifteen minutes later they were back in the refueled truck and heading out on the county road. Ted had arrived back at the gas station just as they were leaving, and Beth had filled him in on what was going down. He’d promised to tell Nate and keep an eye out for Wes if he came back before them. He’d also said he’d ask one of the hands up at the Garcia Ranch to check in on Loki.
As Beth drove toward Bridgeport, Conner looked up the route Mikey would have to take to get to San Quentin using public transport.
“Basically, Mikey will have to take a bus to Gardnerville, then one to Reno, then a Greyhound to Oakland. After that he’ll have to get on the BART to San Quentin and walk the rest of the way to the prison.” Conner whistled. “Google says that’s going to take him around one day and four hours. It would be quicker for us to wait, get on a plane tomorrow, and meet him there.”
“You’re probably right.” Beth overtook a truck full of tomatoes. “Any idea what time the bus leaves from Bridgeport?”
Conner consulted his phone. “There are a couple of buses a day. One at nine thirty and the other at one thirty. Do you think he might’ve made the first one?”
“It depends what time Wes got them there this morning. His class doesn’t start until ten and he usually arrives about a minute before it begins.”
“Sounds just like me.” Conner set his phone in the center console.
Beth glanced over at him. “I know I haven’t said this yet, but I really appreciate how calm you’re being.”
He shrugged. “I learned patience and strategy in the SEALs. No one wants you panicking in the middle of a battlefield.”
“Well, I appreciate it.” She half laughed. “It’s not like me to get all agitated.”
“I know.” He put on his sunglasses and sat back. “But, if my kid had done a runner, I guess I’d be a little upset, too.”
When Wes sent her a text, Beth handed her phone over to Conner to read it out and type in her reply. Despite her earlier words, she was really glad he’d decided to come with her. She was definitely capable of dealing with Mikey on her own, but having Conner’s quiet support was more reassuring than she’d anticipated.
“Tell Wes not to hang around if he’s done for the day, and to go home,” Beth said as Conner typed.
“He says he’s on his lunch break and he’ll meet you at the bus station,” Conner reported back. “It might be worth talking to him before you send him on his way. He could have some additional intel we’re missing.”
“Good point,” Beth conceded as they came close to the outskirts of Bridgeport and she headed for the parking lot behind the bus station. “But then he definitely will be going home.”
Even as she was parking the truck, she saw Wes approaching, his expression uncharacteristically grim. She knew he’d be blaming himself for what had happened. His loyalty to her and his half brother was central to who he’d