Biebe Boom

By Layne and B

At this point, John Biebe was on auto pilot. He'd managed get a commuter from Sydney to Coffs then he got a cab from Coffs to the Glen. A half hour or so and he'd be back in his room at Millie's. His lonely room that is. Things were going well until he heard that strange sound. It was metal grinding on metal and it meant only one thing. The cab took a giant shit just about half way between Coffs and The Glen.

"No worries, mate," the driver stated without turning around. "Hour or so, I'll have another cab here to pick you up. I just hope he gets here before Dom's wrecker does. Don't want to leave you standing here alone."

John shook his head before hanging it in disgust. Nothing went right for him lately, nothing!

"I'm just gonna walk, buddy. Maybe it will clear my head."

Handing some cash to the driver he added "This should cover what I own you so far."

"Ah no, mate. Keep it. I'm really sorry bout all this."

John didn't take the cash back. He put his hand up to block the offer. Getting out of the cab, he slung his carry on bag over his shoulder and pondered for a moment if he should try to carry his larger bag or pull it along the road. Either way it would be a strain but … whatever. He'd manage. So, he started out on his nine kilometer journey. It'd surely be dark by the time he got home.

The leather seat of his black Range Rover was so comfortable; Ben Wade thought he might fall asleep.  Normally, he was the most alert man you could find anywhere, but he'd just spent about 36 hours sitting wide awake and worried by Liana's bedside.  Finally, she had come out of the deep sleep that the doctor had told him there'd be a chance she'd never awaken from.  And their new baby girl was doing well.  Right now, Ben was about the happiest man in the world.  And the most tired.

Now that Liana was out of danger, and he knew that both she and the baby would be all right, Ben was making a quick trip home to the Glen.  He needed a shower and clean clothes and to check on the ranch.  More importantly, he needed presents to bring to his wife and child.  He grinned to himself at the thought of the joy on Liana's face, and wondered if his daughter would have any idea what the giant teddy bear was that he intended to bring to her.

Sleepy as he was, he was aware of everything going on around him.  He saw a man walking along the side of the road maybe a half a mile ahead.  His head down, as though he'd been walking forever and expected his walk to go on for the rest of eternity.  Despite the look of the man, Ben was immediately suspicious.  Charlie and Luke had kidnapped Liana and both of them were dead, but Ben was sure he'd never again trust another human being around his family.

He reminded himself that he had his gun under the seat, should he need it.  Slowing, he peered at the man, trying to see if it was anyone he recognized.  It surprised him to see that the fellow walking along was none other than Sheriff John Biebe.  He hadn't been in town for awhile now and Ben had enjoyed that fact thoroughly.  He didn't need trouble from the law.

Right now, though, he was one happy man.  His family was all right and would be coming home soon.  He was in an expansive mood.  Stopping alongside Biebe, he lowered the window on the passenger side.  "Howdy, Sheriff!  Goin' far?" he asked with a grin.

John closed his eyes for a second. He'd have been thrilled to see any one of the Glen residents right about now except for Ben Wade, then again his mind was shot and his back was aching from the cramped seat on the plane and what not.

"I'm going all the way to Millie's. Wouldn't by chance be out of your way, Wade, would it?"

What the hell. A ride was a ride was a ride, right?

"Not a'tall," Ben answered smoothly.  "Stow your bag in the back seat an' climb in!"

When Biebe was settled in the passenger seat and Ben was once again driving down the road toward the Glen, he remarked, "Missed havin' you around lately, Sheriff."

"Haven't been around," he replied, wishing he could just fall asleep or something. Wade was kind enough to offer him the ride so the least he could do was offer some conversation. "Had some things to tie up back home, loose ends an all. You know how that is, eh?"

John swiped a hand through his hair before knotting his arms across his chest. He'd be comfortable soon enough, maybe.

Wade glanced sideways at him.  "Reckon ever man's got a few loose ends in his life that gotta be tied up sooner or later," he remarked.  He had his usual curiosity about people and wondered just what 'loose ends' John Biebe had in his life.

"Where's that pretty deputy of yours?"

John knew the question was coming. He even counted in his head ..three, two…one and BANG! There it was. The one question he didn't want to answer. He didn't even have a prepared response because he was doing his best to forget her. Drawing in a deep breath, he let it out slow to buy himself some time.

"She," he said with emphasis "Has gone back to Philadelphia. It seems life here with me is just too slow and boring for the big city girl."

Licking his index finger he mocked scribbling a number one on an imaginary chalk board. "Chalk another one up for me. I think I'll buy a dog though I may bore it to death too."

He had a notion to ask Ben about Liana and stuff but he knew his tone of voice was going to show some major distress and he didn't want to appear weak in front of the man. Not now, no way.

The man was covering up just how upset he was.  Wade read people too well not to know it when he saw it.  It was always the kind of thing he could turn to his advantage.  Now, he said, "A shame. Some women just ain't cut out for the quiet life."

He studied Biebe carefully.  Decided to turn the knife in the wound a little.  "Reckon I got lucky with Liana."

That blasted shock of hair fell in John's eyes again and he brushed it back with a nervous huff. Liana Wade was a wonderful, beautiful woman but would he risk ire if he said just that? Fuck it!

"Yep, reckon you did get Lucky. Luckier than her I'd say but you and I never really did get to know each other, Wade. We just judged each other without a fair trial. I guess you figure me for being a hard assed law man with no sense of anything but by the book justice and I figure you for being a similarly hard assed criminal from the opposite side of the law. If we met in the middle we just might see how alike we are. By the way how is Liana doing," he asked swiftly to divert Ben away from his previous statement. "and the baby?"

Wade was slightly startled by those words.  "You know 'bout Liana and our baby?"

John nodded. "Talked to Millie here and there. Had to make sure she kept my room for me. Don't know when your wife is due though. Any time now?"

"Already here," Ben said, with a touch of pride in his voice.  "I'm comin' from the hospital right now."  So the sheriff didn't know.  He didn't know about everything that had just happened--the kidnapping and how he'd almost lost Liana.

He hadn't missed a word Biebe had said and now he went back to the statement that had intrigued him.  "Just how is it you got me figgered for a criminal, Sheriff?"

"You didn't give me a chance to say congratulations before you blind sided me, Wade," John said with a sideways look. "Congratulations. Kids are the best thing that could ever happen to you in my opinion. Now as for the million dollar question. Call it intuition. People with your intellect and savvy are either lawmen or criminals. From where I stand, you seem to avoid the ones with the badges. Stands to reason that you might be hitching your horse to the other side of the fence then right? Anyway, you can't blame me for checking things out can you? It's just my job. It's what I get paid for. Doesn't mean I don't respect you. A woman like Liana wouldn't give you the time of day if you were all bad now would she?"

John didn't bring up the fact that Wade seemed to throw a lot of cash around too.

"Thanks."  Ben couldn't help grinning.  "That baby is the sweetest thing I ever seen in this world.  'Cept for her mama."

"But you sure you ain't  profilin' there, Sheriff?  I 'magine there's bound to be a few smart, savvy fellers out there that ain't lawmen or outlaws."

For the first time in weeks, John let out a hearty laugh. He paused to catch his breath before saying "Where I come from, we call the leftovers politicians though with a few exceptions, some of them aren't smart enough to tie their shoes.

"He laughed a bit more then wiped the tears from his eyes. "Of course I'm profiling. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, you still do it. It's like staking out a bank you want to rob. If it doesn't seem profitable you move on to another one."

Another moment passed before he asked "You said 'her' mama. I reckon that means you and Liana had a girl. What's her name?"

"Olivia."  Ben stated the name proudly.  "Olivia Danielle Wade.  After Liana's mama and Dan Evans.  I'm guessin' you remember Dan?"

John crooked his head to face Ben and nodded. "Haven't been gone that long, have I?" he asked with a shrug. "I know a lot of things have gone on since I left and I'm sure I'll get caught up but to be honest with you, I need a hot meal, a cold beer and a warm bed right now. I'm mentally and physically beat to shit."

Losing Siobhan took a lot more out of him then he'd like to admit. The scar on his soul right now would never heal by his reckoning. Never again would he let himself fall for a woman. John Biebe was a confirmed and bona fide bachelor.

Ben stifled a yawn.  "You'n me both.  The warm bed'll have to wait, though.  Gotta check on things at the ranch, get changed and get back to the hospital."

He glanced over at Biebe again.  "Guess you didn't hear 'bout ever'thin' that went on 'fore the baby was born?"

"No but I'll catch up. I'll talk to Bud White first. He'll give me the low down on all the bad stuff that went on and then I'll catch up on the other stuff."

Ben's yawn was contagious. "If you don't mind, you could drop me off at Millie's and I'll be out of your hair."

The new comradery with Ben surprised John. He never expected his hospitality let alone the conversation but at this point it was needed and appreciated.

Turning into the parking lot at Millie's, Ben stopped the Range Rover by the front door.  "Seems to be a good man, Bud White.  If it hadn't been for him deliverin' the baby..."

John opened the door and got out of the car. He pulled his stuff out of the back and set it on the ground. Leaning in the open door he said "There's a lot of good people here in the Glen. You'll have to fill me in what happened with Bud delivering you're little one but It'll have to be when my head's clear enough to digest it all. Thank's for the ride, Wade. I'll drop by to see your young one when you're settled at home. If you don't mind."

"Not a'tall, Sheriff.  You'll be welcome.  I'm lookin' forward to gettin' my two little ladies home where I can keep an eye on 'em.  Good to have you back!"  Ben wasn't sure what made him say that, and he wasn't sure if he meant it, or if it was pure sarcasm.