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“Thanks.” Judge climbed into his truck and pulled out of the lodge parking lot as a large moving van pulled in with another delivery.
He felt a bit guilty that he wouldn’t be there for the next couple of hours. But, with so many people there to help, he wouldn’t be missed. Still, he’d worked on this project for months and wanted to see it all the way through.
When he’d left to infiltrate TCW, he’d been torn about walking away from the last weeks of the renovation. Now, he was glad he’d done it. If he hadn’t gone, he wouldn’t have met PJ. In the short time he’d been with her, he’d come to appreciate her strength and integrity. What little he did know about her made him want to know so much more.
He arrived at Hank’s place a little before noon to find an SUV parked in front of the house and people gathered on the front porch.
Hank, with his beautiful movie-star wife, Sadie, at his side, waved at Judge as he dropped down from his truck.
Chuck leaned against a porch rail with a tall, platinum-blonde standing in the curve of his arm, smiling up into his face.
Seated in a rocking chair with a blanket draped over his lap was Mud, his face pale but not waxy white, as it had been the last time Judge had seen him. The boy’s gaze shot between the people around him as if he were an animal trapped in a cage.
Judge found it ironic, considering the boy had been trapped in the TCW compound for who knew how long. Now that he was free, he looked even more lost and eager to escape the well-meaning people around him.
When the teen’s gaze met his, he anchored on Judge.
Judge approached the porch, maintaining eye contact with Mud.
Hank shook hands with him, Sadie hugged him and Chuck introduced him to his wife, Kate.
“The kid’s been asking for you,” Chuck said as he pulled him forward in a forearm grip.
Judge nodded in acknowledgment, glad Mud had somehow remembered who’d gotten him out of the camp.
After the formal greetings were complete, Judge looked around at the people who’d gotten him and Mud out of Kalispell. “Could I have some time alone with Mud?” he asked.
“Absolutely,” Hank said.
“I need to check on the children,” Sadie said. “When you’re ready, I have sandwiches and lemonade in the kitchen.”
Chuck glanced down at Mud. “You need anything, kid, I’ve got your back.”
Kate smiled at the boy, took Chuck’s hand and followed Hank and Sadie into the house.
Alone on the porch with Mud, Judge sank into the rocking chair beside the one where Mud sat, staring out at the forest and mountains around Hank and Sadie’s beautiful home.
“Take me back,” Mud said.
Chapter 12
Judge shot a glance at the boy. Of all things the kid could have said, he hadn’t expected that. “Take you back?” He shifted his rocking chair so that he was facing Mud. “Why?”
The boy’s gaze dropped to his hands. “I’m better now. I need to go back.”
“But you’re free. You don’t have to go back.”
The boy shook his head and raised his gaze to connect with Judge’s. “You don’t understand. I have to go back.”
“You’re right. I don’t understand.” Judge leaned forward. “Help me to understand.”
Mud shook his head. “I just have to go back. I belong there.”
“But you said so yourself that Augustus didn’t love you and didn’t care about any of the people in the camp. Why would you want to go back?”
“Sometimes, it sucks there. Sometimes, it’s hard. But it’s the only place where I belong.”
“Mud, what’s your real name?” Judge asked softly.
