Crimson Highway by David Wickenhauser (i can read with my eyes shut txt) 📕

“It could be more than that,” James said. “The Associated Press reporter who’s been interviewing us said he’s interested in writing a book about it. He said it could go viral, maybe even get a movie out of it.”

“I’ll be durn,” Hugh said.

“Well, buddy. I’ve got to get going. Roly is driving me to Spokane, where I’m hooking up with another driver to ferry me back to Portland.”

“Thanks, James. For everything,” Hugh told him.

“No problem, pal. Stay in touch, and give me a call when you’re back on the road.”

Hugh was up and about a few days later, with no permanent damage done by the concussion and the blow to his temple.

A couple of days after that, Hugh and Jenny were sitting on the porch when they saw an Idaho State Patrol car come up the driveway. Curious, but not alarmed, by the visit, they descended the porch steps to greet the three officers who were just exiting the car.

“Well, I’ll be,” Hugh exclaimed. “If it isn’t Officer Donovan. It’s so good to see you.”

“Howdy, Hugh, ma’am,” Donovan said, tipping his hat to Jenny. “I’d like you to meet Herman Schwartz, Regional Commander of the Idaho State Patrol. And this is Officer Joel Benz, Public Relations.”

They shook hands all around.

“What can I do for you, officers?” Hugh asked. He thought that the legalities of the hijackings had been taken care of long before. And the last one hadn’t even taken place in Idaho.

The commander spoke up, “We’d like to present you with a commendation from the Idaho State Patrol for the part that you played in apprehending the men who had attacked one of our officers.”

He read the commendation, and then handed Hugh a plaque, while the PR guy took photos and made a short video.

“This will make the morning papers, and the television news,” Donovan said. “You’re going to be quite well-known.”

They invited the officers in for some fresh-squeezed, cold lemonade. And Officer Donovan regaled the family with details about the hijacking attempt that he had been involved in with Hugh.

After dinner the next day, they were all sitting on the porch enjoying the pleasant evening.

Hugh announced that he’d like to go on one of his outings.

“Can I come?” Mary piped up.

Martha nudged her in the ribs, shook her head, and mouthed, “No.”

Hugh continued, “Jenny, I was wondering if you wanted to ride out with me. You’ve camped, right?”

“Yes, Hugh, that would be great. It sounds like fun. When were you planning to leave?”

“First thing in the morning. Can you be ready?”

“Sure. I’ll check with Martha and Mary about what to bring. Is that OK, Martha?”

“Sure, sweetie,” Martha said, rising. “Let’s go get you outfitted right now.”

Hugh descended the stairs shortly after dawn, and found Jenny already at the table having breakfast with his mom. He grabbed a quick bite himself, and then asked her if she was ready to go.

“Yep. Let’s do it,” she said.

Hugh kissed his mom good-bye, and she whispered, “Go slow,” to Hugh. He whispered back, “I will, Mom.”

Then he and Jenny walked out to the horse barn.

“Hey, Buck, you good old boy. This is your lucky day,” Hugh said, while Jenny went to a different stall to saddle her favorite horse. She had been doing a lot of riding with Mary, and was now very comfortable working around the barn, and riding their horses.

Hugh tied their saddle bags on, shoved his Mini-30 into its scabbard, and they both mounted up.

He led Jenny up to the ridge where he had first spotted her down at the ranch the time she had nearly fallen onto the bench. When he arrived at the spot, he took out his binoculars, and showed Jenny what they could see from that location.

“You stinker,” Jenny said, peering through the binoculars. She told Hugh what his mom had told her that had caused her to get weak-kneed.

“Well, Mom knows best,” Hugh said with a grin.

“Yeah, but that seems like ages ago, doesn’t it,” she replied.

There was one particular location that Hugh had in mind to take her to. It was about a half-day’s ride if one wasn’t in a particular hurry. And, he wasn’t. In fact, he was quite nervous.

He turned his horse’s head to point him due north, and they started riding up the narrow Idaho panhandle.

He pointed out interesting features and landmarks as they rode along—a burned part of the forest here, and the story behind the fire; some virgin, old-growth forest there; another place, where he had killed his first deer; and then where a moose had spooked Roly’s horse, and it had run all the way home, leaving Roly to walk back.

Jenny listened with only half her attention, wondering where Hugh was taking her.

Sometimes, they just rode along in silence, enjoying the beautiful forest, and the peace and quiet.

Finally, when Jenny thought that Hugh intended to just keep riding forever, they topped a ridge and broke out of the trees onto a little grassy meadow in a saddle of the ridge.

They dismounted next to a big, flat rock. Hugh jumped up on it, then held out his hand, and beckoned Jenny to come up and join him.

He told her that he’d always looked forward to coming up here on his outings. He told her that if she looked due north, that everything she saw over there was in Canada. Then, he told her that everything over her right shoulder was Montana. And, that the view over her left shoulder was Washington State. There were beautiful, forested views in all directions.

Jenny appreciated what he was showing her, but she was perplexed as to the reason why. “That’s interesting, Hugh, but…”

“The reason why I brought you here, is so you will always remember this as our spot,