Hank and Lily stayed at the lodge to help tidy up so Juan could leave. The ranch hands usually did the kitchen cleanup, but Lily always liked to give the it a final pass. After all, this was her workspace. Juan ran home to his cabin to pack his things for the trip with Dr. Zell.
The sun had just dipped below on the horizon, but Juan was glad to see that no lights were on inside his house. When he entered, Max raised his small head and looked at him. A rescued puppy that Juan got from town after his mother died, Max was black and white, and weighed about thirty pounds. He was snuggled on the couch with the woman, who appeared sound asleep, still wrapped in the blanket.
“Max, you’re such a traitor,” whispered Juan. “You don’t even know who she is. What if she’s a cat person?”
Juan stepped into the kitchen and looked around, but saw no evidence she had eaten anything. He went to his room and was happy to see nothing appeared to have been touched there, either. He pulled a large backpack from under his bed and began stuffing it with his essentials. He grabbed a sleeping bag, a compass and knife, his toothbrush. He packed spare pants, underclothes, a thick fleece jacket, and a rain shell. He also made sure he packed his new handheld GPS and solar charger. His dad had given these to him for his birthday because it had both mapping capabilities and a way to text each other via satellite, so it worked from even the most remote places. Then on a whim, he tossed in a compact survival kit and several freeze dried survival meals.
Back at the kitchen, he found pen and paper and quickly scribbled a note. Then he checked on the woman again, but she was still fast asleep. Max whined. Juan patted him on the head.
“I pardon your traitorous behavior,” he whispered. “I wish you could come with me, but since you can’t, stay here and keep her warm and safe.”
Outside he placed the note on the porch and set a rock on it so the wind wouldn’t blow it away. Then he walked down the hill towards the airfield. To his left he saw headlights from a golf cart winding its way down the ravine road on its way to the airfield. The pilot and co-pilot were the only people in the cart. They arrived at the plane first and were prepping it for takeoff when Juan walked up the long stairway to board.
“Put your luggage in that cabinet over there, Juan, then pick a seat, any seat. It’s a short flight tonight, just over an hour. We’ll be in the air soon,” said Kyle. Then a moment later he added “Oh, wait, here comes your Dad, if you want to say adios.”
Juan looked out the window and saw his Dad’s SUV pull up. He went outside and descended the stairs. The doctor, Judd, Carl, and Hank, all got out of the truck. As the men marched up the stairs into the plane, Dr. Zell exchanged goodbyes with Hank, and promised to return Juan safely. Then she boarded, too.
“Be careful, son. I don’t like this,” confessed Hank, when they were alone. “This is so sudden and strange. Plus, it’s…well, your Mom went away and didn’t come back.”
“I know, Dad, I know. I don’t like it either. But I cheated death three times today, so I guess my time isn’t up.”
A quizzical frown formed on Hank’s face. “Death? What do you mean?”
“Never-mind, that has to wait. But there’s something you need to know right now. I left a note on the porch, you have to read it before you go inside. Don’t forget, you must read it. And no matter what, just act normal at all times.”
“Juan,” called the doctor from the top of the stairs. “We need to go.”
“I love you, Dad. I’ll be careful,” said Juan, as he gave him a final hug. “Oh, and give Max something special to eat tonight, he’s earned it.”
“But what are you talking about?” pressed Hank.
“Just read the note. There’s no time for anything else.”
Juan turned and ran back up the stairs and boarded the plane. Hank maneuvered the stairs away from the plane and put them in the hangar. Then he climbed into his SUV and drove away as the big jet engines began spinning up.
A few minutes later, Hank pulled up to his cabin. He sat in his car and watched the plane finish taxiing down the runway, turn around, then accelerate back. The big jet lifted off the ground with a deafening roar.
With a heavy heart Hank climbed out of the car. He watched the plane get smaller and smaller. Suddenly, it banked and headed south. The sun set behind the cabin.
After the plane disappeared from view he walked up to his small home, climbed the porch steps, and saw the note. He picked it up to read it, but stopped when he heard the crunch of footsteps on the gravel behind him.