County Line Road

By Marie Etzler

With no money for college, the possibility of a track scholarship is the one hope on the horizon for 17-year old Jimmy Bodine. All he wants is to run – away from the lies at home and towards his only chance of a life. When his manipulative stepmother sets him up to take the fall for a theft he did not commit, and his unyielding father does not believe him, Jimmy begins a search to clear his name. He discovers pieces of the past that could endanger more than just his future.

This title is published by Marie Etzler and is distributed worldwide by Untreed Reads.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Untreed Reads
• Release date: Jan 23, 2011
• ISBN: 9780615638195

Book preview

AUTHOR

CHAPTER 1

Jimmy ran down the back stretch of his high school track in his own world. He had the track to himself early in the morning, nothing but the sound of his sneakers and his breathing, his arms, legs and heart all working together, like a good rock band, everybody playing their part, the sound blending together into something new, something that has that hit feeling, that you know is going to work. He loved this feeling. It was freedom, freedom from everything at home, at school, in his brain, all the things he hadn’t done right and wasn’t sure he’d ever get a chance to do at all. All of it was gone, left in the dust like everybody who ever tried to race him. He was state champion last year and he was hell bent on breaking his own record this year. Nothing was going to stop him.

He imagined how he’d look on ESPN as he took the final turn, the orange track beneath him, white lines marking out his territory, flags flying, those Olympic rings waving him on, photographers kneeling down to get the right angle.

But it wasn’t ESPN watching him; a woman in a red sports car was. She licked her lips as she lifted a pair of mini binoculars to her dark eyes and got a fix on Jimmy. She rolled the tip of her finger across the focus dial and held it there, her red nail polish glinting in the sun.

Jimmy crossed the line, clicked his stopwatch, and slowed down. He checked the time and smiled, his signature wicked grin. Happy, he walked around to cool down, flapping his faded Lynyrd Skynyrd t-shirt in the summer heat, enjoying the moment.

A car horn beeped repeatedly, interrupting his thoughts. Then he saw his stepmother, Linda, get out of her car and approach the chainlink fence. She picked her way through the wet morning grass in her high-heel sandals to wave at him and call him over.

Jimmy ignored her.

Jimmy! She yelled, angry.

He strolled over, checking his stopwatch again, the enjoyment fading.

What, Jimmy said. It wasn’t a question.

Your father wants to see you, she said.

I’m training, Jimmy said. I’ll be home in an hour.

No, she said. Now.

CHAPTER 2

Jimmy knew the warning signs of his father’s anger.

Standing in the small, hot living room while waiting for his father to make his big announcement, Jimmy tried to act nonchalant but his radar was intently focused on his father, ready to pick up the slightest change in his posture or his eyes so he could figure out exactly how bad this was going to be. Then Jimmy could tune him out or get ready to run.

Which one of you stole my signed baseball? his father, Earl, said.

Jimmy and his older brother, Rich, looked at each other in surprise then back at their father. Neither one of them would ever touch their father’s baseball stuff, especially not his 1997 World Series Marlins baseball.

It was right here. Earl pointed to an empty space in his memorabilia case. Signed by the entire team. The wood case was the only new piece of furniture in the room.

You got me up for this? Rich said. I’m going back to bed.

Earl leveled an unrelenting stare at Rich.

Jimmy saw his father inhale, saw his shoulders enlarge like a dragon rising, and it was pissed.

Jimmy opened his mouth, a breath escaping out of him involuntarily, but he stopped when his father’s gaze shifted to him. Jimmy’s attempt to put on a posture of defiance only locked them in a standoff.

When his father turned back to Rich, Jimmy felt the shadow of the noose pass overhead and vanish, for the moment.

Rich rubbed his eyes, bored.

His father leaned almost imperceptibly toward Rich, and Jimmy thought for sure his father was going to hit him. It wouldn’t be an easy task. Rich was 6 foot 2 and about 160 pounds, bigger than Jimmy or Earl by a few inches, although no one ever accused Earl of being small, or kind.

Jimmy clenched his stop watch in his hand tighter, the strap wrapped around his fingers so tight they were white.

Jimmy began to remove himself mentally from the scene to watch it like a movie on mute. The good feeling from the track was gone. He fixed his eyes on his own distant, mental horizon that held his track scholarship at Clemson and escape from this.

Rich turned to leave.

You stay right there, Linda, their stepmother, said as she appeared in the kitchen doorway. She lifted her cup of coffee in Rich’s direction.

Linda, Earl said without looking at her. I’ll handle this. He only tilted his head slightly in her direction, his jaw lining up with the epaulettes on his pilot’s uniform. A man used to being in authority, he spoke with a solidness in his tone that Jimmy knew well. There was no more need to yell. He had everyone’s attention.

Linda relented and leaned against the kitchen door frame. Jimmy heard her click her red polished nails against the black coffee cup. He looked her over with distrust in his eyes. She was dressed for work in her nurse’s uniform that she wore too tight on purpose; Jimmy thought, she’s dressed not to work but to work people over.

Jimmy’s attempt to mute the scene wasn’t working this time. His senses told him something was different; Linda looked too relaxed. Usually she would try to calm Earl down when he was mad at him, even though Jimmy wished she’d leave him alone. She wasn’t running defense for him now.

Then a terrible thought hit him like a baseball bat – she was going to set him up to take the blame!

I didn’t do it! Jimmy shouted in the silent room. He knew instantly that his father wouldn’t believe him. He’d heard his father say it a hundred times: Only the guilty speak up.

Jimmy could feel Rich staring at him.

Give it up, Rich said to him.

I didn’t take it! Jimmy said. Maybe you did. He backed up a step to get away from Rich.

Bullshit, Rich said. Rich tried to grab Jimmy.

All right. Stop. You both shut up, Earl said. If that baseball isn’t back by the time I fly in from Phoenix next week, I’ll cancel your trip to Clemson and destroy your motorcycle. Earl pointed first at Jimmy then Rich.

Jimmy froze. The threat of canceling his trip was like plunging a knife into his lungs.

As Jimmy struggled to breathe again as if he’d just run a race, Earl swept out of the room, taking his rage with him. The tension level dropped like a kite freed from dangerous winds.

Rich went back to his room, and Linda slipped back into the kitchen like a snake withdrawing into a cave, leaving Jimmy alone. He heard his father bang out the side door, knocking his pilot’s case against the door frame as he left the house. Jimmy spread his fingers as if reaching for something to balance himself in the silence. Then he heard Linda’s voice from the kitchen cheerily greet his best friend, Double A.

Hi, Double A, Linda said. Come on in. I’m just making some toast. Want some? I know your mother doesn’t cook much.

No, ma’am, she doesn’t, Double A said. Her arthritis.

I know. Poor thing. Have this. Sit here.

Jimmy heard a plate being set down on the table and the chair scrape on the floor as it was pulled out. One by one, his senses came back to him as he recovered like a lights flickering on in building after a power outage.

I’ll tell Jimmy you’re here, Linda said. Jimmy!

Linda leaned out the kitchen door, her chin and chest forward, smiling a smile Jimmy didn’t trust. As she leaned, she lifted one leg back and pointed her toe, almost touching Double A.

Excuse me, she said to Double A and took the opportunity to pat him on the shoulder. Are you boys going to the beach again? she asked.

Yes, ma’am, Double A said. He wore a bathing suit and Ron Jon Surf Shop t-shirt.

Jimmy pushed past her, hoping to bump her cup and make her spill her expensive coffee on her expensive boob job.

She lifted her cup above her head as if reading his mind. Oops! She said.

She was too happy, angering Jimmy more. Why is she doing this? He couldn’t think straight. He had to get out of there.

Let’s go, Jimmy said to Double A.

Double A looked up from his plate, mouth full of food, but his face indicated he recognized the tone in Jimmy’s voice and got up right away.

Thank you for the toast, Mrs. Bodine, Double A said.

Bye, boys, Linda said. Oh, Jimmy. Would you be a dear and put the trash cans by the street?

No, he said and continued walking down the driveway to Double A’s car.

Jimmy, she said, the syrup gone from her voice. You wouldn’t want your father to find out you’re being disrespectful, especially after what he just said.

You —, he seethed, but she cut him off.

Uh-uh, she said and wagged a finger in his face. Be on your best behavior and I’ll see if I can help you.

Jimmy was so angry, he couldn’t speak. He grabbed the trash cans and dragged them down the driveway. He dropped them at the end, half hoping and half fearing they’d fall over. If they did, she’d make him clean it up, and all he really wanted was to get out of there.

They got in Double A’s car, a 1970 Cutlass 442 he was restoring. As Double A started the engine and leaned over the steering wheel to listen to the rumble of the engine, Jimmy slid his sunglasses in place to cover his eyes from the morning sun and block out everything he could.

Linda waved from the door as if they were a normal family.

Jimmy wished the sunglasses concealed his emotions, but they were boiling off him like steam.

Man, what just happened? Double A said as he got onto the highway, passing the ramp sign that said ‘East to Ft. Lauderdale Beach’. I saw your dad tear outta here.

He’s an asshole, Jimmy said.

You’ve said that before, but what now? Double A said.

Know what he said? That he’d cancel my trip. Yeah, said I stole his baseball.

What? No way!

And she’s in on it, Jimmy said. I know it.

Coach Chediak will have a heart attack if you don’t go. It’s the biggest training camp of the summer. All those scouts are gonna’ be there. He’s about to name the track after you, Double A said. What are you going to do?

I’m going, that’s what, Jimmy said. I’m going to Clemson if I have to run there myself.

Call your mom, Double A said. She’ll help you.

No, Jimmy said. I’ll do this. She’s fought enough with him.

He stared out the window at the houses flying by as they cruised down the highway. He reached for the car radio.

Turn this up.

He let the fast beat of the music fuel his