“Do I look like a country boy to you?” Tension coiled in Bobby Ray’s belly. How many miles was he from everything familiar? He knew how to survive in the streets. How to get by with less than nothing. “I got a raw deal and you know it, Sam. If I have to be in a group home, why not one in Alameda County?”
“Because it’s right across the bay, and you’d run away again.”
“San Francisco is my home!”
“Just because it’s the only place you’ve ever been doesn’t mean it’s the best place for you.”
“It should be my choice, shouldn’t it?”
“You’ve been making choices all along, Bobby Ray. Your most recent choice landed you here. When we get to the Mastersons’， you’re going to have to choose whether you use this time to learn something useful, or see it as time served.” Sam gave him a weary look and turned onto another narrow country road. “Don’t think I haven’t noticed you checking every sign. But I’d better warn you. If you split, you won’t get far. People know Chet up here. No one is going to give you a ride anywhere.” He gave a nod. “There it is.”
A big barn, corrals, a long, single-story ranch house, two pickup trucks parked in a dusty front yard. Bobby Ray’s worst nightmare had come true. The court might as well have sent him to Mars.
Sam turned left onto a freshly graveled road. As they pulled into the yard, two large German shepherds barked ominously. Sam chuckled. “Another reason not to run away.” He got out as a tall, broad-shouldered man with cropped dark hair came out of the house. He looked half–country hick in boots, jeans, and a plaid shirt and half–action figure. Bobby Ray had seen others with his confidence and aura, most with hard eyes and fists. This man had laugh lines around his mouth and eyes.
A quiet word silenced the two dogs. “Good to see you, Sam!” His voice was deep, rock grinding in an earthquake.
“How’s Susan?”
“On the road again.” Masterson laughed. “She’s in San Antonio, visiting her folks.” He took in Bobby Ray with a glance. Bobby Ray pretended not to notice or care. “Long way from your neck of the woods, isn’t it, Mr. Dean?” Bobby Ray stiffened, sure he was being mocked. When he met Masterson’s gaze, the man grinned. “We’re glad to have you.”
“I’m not glad to be here.”
“Didn’t expect you would be. You look like a tough kid. It remains to be seen how tough you really are.”
Sam opened the car trunk. He said something low, and Masterson chuckled. “He wouldn’t be the first. He can try.”
Sam handed over a thick file. “Everything you need to know about him is in there.” Bobby Ray knew it held family history, a list of foster homes he had been in and out of over the past eight years, along with his former foster parents’ reports, school records, test scores, court records, and whatever else the system had managed to dredge up and commit to paper in an attempt to describe who he was. Nothing worth anything. Nobody knew him.
Masterson held the file flat on his large hand, as if weighing it. “Impressive.” His blue eyes sparkled.
Sam looked edgy, ready to get back on the road. “I promised my son I’d be at his basketball game tonight. If I leave now, I’ll just make it.”
Bobby Ray felt a twinge of jealousy. Must be nice to have a dad who showed up. Must be nice to have a father, period. Then again, you could always have one like Reaper or Wolf.
Masterson slapped Sam on the back. “I’ll call in a couple of weeks and let you know how he’s doing.”
Bobby Ray didn’t plan on sticking around that long. “Where do I go? The barn?”
“You stay where you are until I’m ready to show you in.”
Bobby Ray muttered his opinion and turned toward the house. He’d forgotten the two dogs until they stood and bared their teeth. He swore again. Masterson chuckled. “Nice fresh meat, boys. Easy now. Stand still, Mr. Dean. They’re about to get to know you.” He gave a soft command and the two German shepherds moved around Bobby Ray. The hair rose on the back of his neck when they stuck their noses in private places. “Easy now. If you run, they’ll take you down. They’re just giving you a good canine hello.”
“Don’t expect me to reciprocate.”
“That’s a big word for a street kid.”
Masterson gave another soft command and the two dogs sat, tongues lolling in doggy grins. Sam got back in the car and gave Bobby Ray a salute.