Chapter 15
Charity
“We made it through Pittsburg without any problems. Faith was asleep before we ever made it five miles away from the only place that either of us has ever called home. I was tempted to stop in at Uncle Hem’s and let him know we are out and safe, but I am afraid we will be seen by someone and that would get Uncle Hem in trouble for helping us. I know I shouldn’t go out of my way to stop in Quitman, but I need to keep my word to Brody and his family. I have the gun I took from the cabin under the front seat of the jeep. I am going to put it in a bag and put with some money for the things I borrowed. I have fake tags on the jeep and as soon as I get out of the Sheriff’s office I will pull off somewhere and replace them with the originals. I know they have cameras and video cameras around the building. I haven’t broken the law, unless, Brody’s family presses charges. What do I know? I don’t even have a driver license. I need to do this to be able to look at myself in the mirror every day. I am no thief. I turned off highway eleven and found the road to go to Quitman. I am filled with doubt and I can’t be sure I won’t be detained I just hope that since this is a small town and small county all the deputies are busy. There can’t be that many deputies on the payroll. It seems like I have been driving this dark highway forever, but I know it hasn’t been that long when I see the town lights. There’s no way I can get lost in this town. The court house is in the middle of town and everything else is in a straight line from it. At least there is a street behind the sheriff’s department and it is mostly abandoned back there. I park the vehicle and when the jeep comes to a stop Faith opens her eyes.
“Where are we?” Faith is rubbing the sleep out of her eyes.
“I need to drop something off at the sheriff’s department, so we can get back on the road. I borrowed some things from Brody’s family and I need to make sure they get one of those items back and payment for the others.” Faith sits up straighter.
“Are we going to get caught? I took money from Pop. They could put me in jail.” Faith looks like she may cry. I take hold of her hand.
“Faith, I will take care of us. We are going to repay every cent of the money that you took from Pop. We have done nothing but work for their community. The money you took is more than what we deserve but I was traded to a damn motorcycle club and expected to pay for some agreement made between them and Pop. I could have been raped and tortured, I was tortured to some extent. I think Pop can do without a little money for a couple of months. We will not spend more than is necessary.” Faith sits up and I can see the stiffness in her body. She is fighting within herself.
“Charity, it wasn’t long ago that their community was our home with our family in it. I am sorry for what you went through, but haven’t we been taught two wrongs don’t make a right. I know we need the money, it’s why I took it, but I feel guilty for stealing and I feel guilty for leaving my friends behind. It’s my burden to bare and I will, it’s just going to take me a little while to come to terms with it. I know that sounds like I am ungrateful to you and that is the farthest from the truth. I just need to get it straight in my head. Do you want me to come along with you to be your lookout like we used to when we were younger?” Faith is struggling with her decision to leave and that is just Faith. She is very loyal, and it is hurting her to understand that the lives we have been living is not what they have seemed. That’s what happens when the people you look up to manipulate you. She’ll get there.
“I want you to stay right here. If I am not back soon and there is a lot of activity that starts outside, then get the hell out of here like the devil is on your tail. Do not draw attention to yourself. Drive back up this road towards the main street and take highway 19 north.” I wait for Faith to agree but she only shakes her head. “It will take you to Sulphur Springs. There is a big shopping center there on the right as you go into town. Go in there and buy a disposable phone and minutes for it. There is coffee shop that has free WIFI, so you can activate the phone. There is a notepad in the glove box with a single telephone number on it. That is Uncle Hem’s, call him and he will help you. Whatever you do, do not try to help me. Get the hell away. If I am caught that is on me and I can take care of myself. One of us needs to escape. When Uncle Hem gets you to Dallas then do not come back for any reason and do not stay in any one place for very long. Stop and work for a while, get money, and then move on. Never let your guard down and trust no one.”
“I can’t let you go in there alone. I need to pull my weight. I am not a child anymore that you need to keep a watchful eye on. I can learn to help you. I am seventeen and I need to know I am helping and not just a burden to you.” I let go of Faith’s hand. I never knew that Faith felt this way. She is no burden.
“You are no burden to me, ever. I love you and I don’t want you dragged back to that community against your will and made marry a man that would lay his hands on you in a cruel and punishing way. You are seventeen, but you are still a minor and until you are eighteen then we need to keep you away from anyone that has to do with Pop. Do you understand that? Right now, we only trust Uncle Hem. He has helped us so much so far and he has a good heart.” I think it will take me a long time to trust anyone else.
“What about Brody? You said you love him and I don’t know anything about love, but it seems to me to love someone that you need to trust him. Would you reach out to him if you are caught?” Faith is right. I do trust Brody, but I won’t be hurt by him or any man again. I may have been born poor and not raised in the best of situations, but no one should judge me by that. I had no choice who I was born to. That sounds ugly towards my Ma and Pop, but it isn’t meant that way. I love my Ma and Pop. I don’t understand where their thinking is right now, but that does not take away from the love I feel for them. They raised me the way they want to live and now that I am an adult it is my choice of how I live my life. I blame them for some choices they have made but I don’t have any hate in my heart for them. They raised me to take care of my loved ones and I am taking care of Faith right now. She should be given a choice of how she lives, and, in the beginning, everyone was given a choice when they turned eighteen but for some reason Pop has decided to take those choices away. I will not let him do that to Faith. I need to answer Faith’s question.
“I trust Brody with my life and I don’t know if I would reach out to him, but I know his cousin, Kaden, would call. Kaden, the sheriff, is Brody’s cousin. That’s why I am coming here to drop off the bag. I would trust Brody with anything, but my heart. I know it will be best if I can keep space between us. We didn’t use a condom when we had sex and I might be pregnant. Brody said he wanted me to take one of those morning after pills and you know how I feel about that. I know it is my own personal issues, and if I am pregnant, only time will tell. I would never try to tie Brody to me.” I haven’t thought about this very much. I don’t want to. I push it out of my mind every time it tries to come crashing to the forefront of my thoughts.
“For someone that is so damn smart, that is pretty dumb. I don’t know where you get the thought that a man is better than you, any man. Then there is the part where you are trying to tie yourself to Brody. When did you become such a martyr? It takes two to make a baby and the two of you should have talked birth control beforehand and I am guessing that you didn’t or neither of you cared at the time. Two people that made one decision to have sex. Where your thoughts should be is on the could be baby. The child has the right to know his father and if there is a baby then Brody has rights too. I’m not harping on you just giving you my thoughts. I am here to stand beside you and support you. Maybe I should take the bag in.” No this is my job to do and I won’t shirk my job. I caused this.
“No, you are not. We are going to drop the baby talk. How many women get pregnant from having sex one night with a man? I am going to get this job done and then we are getting out of here. Do not go back to sleep and be alert. Get in the driver’s side so you will be ready to leave if I am made.” I open the jeep door and take the things out from under the seat, so Faith can’t see what I am doing. “There are loaded guns in this jeep so do not leave it unlocked. There’s one under your seat. Move it over here with you so it is within hands reach.” I take the money out of my pocket that I don’t need to go in the bag and hand it to Faith. “Keep this until I get back. I love you, sis.”
“Love you too. Be careful.” Faith tells me. I shut the jeep door and I see Faith moving over to my seat. I take a deep breath and turn and walk towards the sheriff’s station. I unloaded the gun and there are no shells in the bag. I don’t want these people to think I came here to shoot someone. This is taking a big chance, but my gut tells me I need to do it. I look around outside the building and I see the surveillance cameras. It’s now or never. I walk up to the double doors and open them. The harsh lights inside the lobby are blinding. I rub my eyes with my free hand. I see where there is a woman behind a window and walk up to it.
“Is there something I can help you with?” The lady in uniform asks me.
“Ma’am, I need to drop this off for the sheriff, I think his name is Kaden.” I start to put the bag under the small opening at the bottom of the window. I see the woman bend over to a long microphone. No, this is not what I want.
“Sheriff Samms, could you please come to the front. There is a lady dropping something off for you.” The woman looks up at me and I see the little camera following me. “You are lucky, the sheriff isn’t usually here this early. We had some trouble with some teenagers partying up by the court house. Damn, kids these day.”
“I just want to leave this here. I don’t have time to wait.” I know I am acting nervous. The door to the side opens and a tall handsome man steps out. This man is beyond handsome and the way he walks is with authority. I know this must be Kaden. He walks right up to me and looks down at me. “I’m sorry to disturb you but I needed to return something for your family, but I need to keep moving through town, so I need to leave.” Kaden sticks his hand out for me to shake it. I do it. The man has big hands. When my hand is in his he shakes it and then leads me over to a bench and we sit down.
“You are Charity Connors?” I shake my head yes to him. I don’t know what Brody told his cousin. “I am Kaden Samms the sheriff of Wood County and Brody is my cousin. He has been looking for you. In fact, he is obsessed with finding you and making sure that you are safe.”
“I am safe, Sheriff Samms, and I just needed to bring the gun back to you, like I said I would. I also put five hundred dollars in there for anything I borrowed. I just need to repay all of you and please tell Brody, thank you from me. I appreciate him being a friend to me when I needed it.” Kaden smiles at me.
“I should have known that you were going to be a sweet one. Brody has a weakness for a good woman that needs help.” Another thing that I knew. I know Brody was just taking care of me the way he thought he should. Can this be more humiliating?
“Brody was a good friend when I needed it and you are right about that, but we were mere acquaintances. I am thankful for his help and I am sure he is glad to be back to his normal life. Did Rebel make it back alright too? I was worried about him taking off by himself.” My thoughts have been centered around Brody and I had not thought about Rebel at all. We may not have gotten along that well, but I still owe him for his help getting away from the Hell Keeperz MC.
“I think that you and Brody were a little more than friends since from what I hear you may be pregnant. I hate being so forthcoming, but I need you to know that we help our own. Brody told me a little bit about your situation and we are all here to help. I need to text Brody and Rebel to let them know that you are here. They have been looking everywhere for you. They have a few questions to ask you.” Kaden takes his phone out and starts texting on it. I need to get out of here. “Rebel is doing just fine, to answer your question. I swear that man has nine lives.”
“Sheriff, those kids are at it again. They need you in front of the court house, asap.” Kaden look at me.
“Okay, I just need to get Charity in my office, so she can wait on Brody.” The woman eyes me. She has a look in her eyes I am not sure how to take or even decide what it means.
“Sheriff, the deputy says it is urgent. They have six teenagers raising all kinds of hell on the court house lawn.” Kaden stands up and so do I. He looks at me.
“Can I go get my sister? I have her stashed out in the bushes. I wasn’t sure what I would walk into, so I told her to stay put. She’s right behind the building.” Kaden hesitates, giving me a hard look. Kaden walks over to the counter and takes the bag I left under the window. He opens the bag and looks inside.
“Alright, but right there and back.” Kaden looks at the woman behind the window. “Betty when they get back in here put them in the interrogation room and if Brody or Rebel gets here before I get back then take them to where the ladies are, so they can talk to Charity, and Betty, these ladies are not under arrest so treat them as our guest.” Kaden winks at me. The door where Kaden came in from clicks open and he walks through it. It doesn’t take me long to get back to Faith. I get in on the passenger side.
“Let’s get out of here. When we get to the edge of town, Uncle Hem says there is a road that turns back to the right. Pull in there. It will be past the Suds and Such laundry mat. I need to change the license plate and I will drive.” Faith starts the jeep.
“I was beginning to worry. I still don’t have much experience driving and I get nervous when I meet a car. How far is it?” I should have thought about that.
“About three blocks over, not far at all. You’ll do fine, you need the practice.” I encourage Faith.
“Did you have trouble back there? It took a while.” Faith is keeping her eyes on the road and doing just fine.
“I met Brody’s cousin, the Sheriff. Not really trouble, but I am glad that the teenagers in Quitman are irritating the law enforcement tonight. Kaden wanted me to wait and talk to Brody and Rebel. I don’t want to see Brody again, it hurts to see the one you want and can’t have. I am not one to wallow in pity, but I am going to be the one to protect my heart.” I stop for a minute when Faith pulls into the side road. “We are making a fresh start. No more regrets or what ifs just finding our way.”
“Yes, we are, and whatever comes our way then we will tackle it together.” Faiths tells me as she opens her door. I open the glove box and take out the tag I need to put on the car and grab a screw driver to do it with.” I see that Faith is stretching.
“When we get to Sulphur Springs we will stop at a truck stop and eat breakfast and get a quick shower. I will watch for you and you can watch for me and then we will fuel up. Then when we hit Greenville we will find a shopping center and get a phone and an activation card. We will find somewhere to put the minutes on and set up the phone. That way when we make it to Dallas all we will need to do is call Uncle Hem’s son.” If my brain is still operating correctly, I am guessing about four to five hours.
“Sounds like a plan. Do you think we can stay at a motel for one night before we reach out to the man we are meeting? I would just like one night alone, you and me.” I wish we could. I didn’t know living in the outside world was so difficult. Uncle Hem had to explain it all to me. It’s hard to do anything without an identification card or a driver’s license and I didn’t even know that there were places that you could get fuel, eat, and take a shower.
“We need to meet up today.” Faith shakes her head. I take the old license plates and toss them in the ditch. I have the original ones on in a few minutes and we are ready to go. I walk around and get behind the wheel and Faith gets in on her side. I hope the next part of our trip is a little easier than the first half. The further we get away from Couch Mountain the more I can relax. I look over at Faith and start to say something, but her head is already sinking into her shoulder. She’ll be sound asleep about the time I see the city limits sign of Sulphur Springs. I’ll let her sleep. My mind wonders back to the conversation I had with Kaden. Brody let his cousin know just how acquainted we became the night in the cabin when we were alone. No, I can’t let my mind go back there. I just need to look ahead. Today is better than yesterday and tomorrow will be better than today, I hope anyway. No one sets my destiny, but me. I will not be defined from where I come from, only by who I become by my good deeds and hard work. I don’t ever expect to be rich by money but rich by the life I make for myself and Faith. I need to keep saying this until I believe it. I reach down and turn on the radio on to keep me awake. I feel a peace come over me. And I know my life is going in the right direction.