Chapter 8
Charity
“How much further is this cabin we are looking for? I thought you said we would make it in a couple of hours, but we have been in these woods for hours.” I know I am sounding ungrateful but if I walk much further I am going to be walking asleep. Ever since Pop sent me with the Hell Keeperz I have not slept without fear. I slept when they gave me the drugs, but it was a fitful sleep and exhaustion is catching up with me.
“We would have already been there if you hadn’t decided to go sliding in the mud. I told you to watch your step and it was slick, but no, you knew exactly what you were doing. How’s that working for you in your mud-soaked clothes?” Brody is pissed at me. It almost makes me laugh. Brody told me the ravine would be slick, but I didn’t shy away from it. I have made my way around muddy ravines before. I was too sure of myself and didn’t remember everything I had been taught about mud slides. It’s not like the world is ending because I took a ride down the ravine. I am covered in mud but there were no broken bones, but Brody didn’t find it amusing.
“I got to the bottom of the ravine faster than you did. This mud will wash off.” I say as I glare at Brody. Brody turns and comes back to me and stops right in front of me.
“I was more worried about a copperhead biting your ass. You ever been bitten by a snake before? We have no way of getting you out of here. You could have died.” I look at Brody and I see the concern in his eyes. Now I feel like an ass. Brody was worried about me.
“I’m sorry for worrying you. I will try to be more careful.” I like Brody worrying about me, but I don’t like seeing the worry in his eyes. Brody thinks he is protecting me and I need to just go with that.
“Alright, the hunting camp is just through that thicket. It has the basics but not much else. We can both get a shower and there may be some can goods in the cabinets. I haven’t been here in a while.” Brody explains to me.
“Is this your place? I don’t want to get shot for trespassing.” I say while looking at the ground. Being this close to Brody is doing things to me that I don’t even want to think about right now, so I can’t look at him. Brody moves closer and lifts my chin, so I am looking in his eyes.
“Charity, we are alright now, so please, look at me when you talk to me. I was just worried about you. And to answer your question, this is a getaway place for my family. No one comes up here much anymore. I think my cousin, Kaden, brings his boys up here to getaway every now and then. You’ll be meeting Kaden when we get to the Demented Revengers clubhouse. He is the sheriff for Wood County.” I am shocked.
“You have government people in your family, and since when does a biker club mix with the law?” I ask honestly curious. The Hell Keeperz would get irate when someone mentioned anything to do with the law. “I don’t have any kind of identification papers. Pop always said we would be arrested with no way to say who we were or where we came from. Is that not true?” Brody looks at me funny.
“There are sometimes that someone would get arrested for not having identification, but Kaden will know you need help. He will be more interested in helping you instead of arresting you. That is a big part of his job, which he takes seriously. Arresting people is what he does if he has no other choice or they break the law purposely. Kaden is one of the most compassionate people I know. My entire family is that way. I was blessed the night Dad brought me home.” Brody turns and starts walking in the direction of the thicket. Wait he said his dad brought him home what about his mom. I move in the same direction Brody is walking. I want to ask him more about his family, but I am afraid he will ask me more questions. There are things in my family that I know are not normal and I don’t think outsiders will understand. I don’t want Brody looking at me any differently than he does now, so I will keep those things under wraps. I want Brody. I think right now it is more of a need than a want. I want to feel safe in his arms and I want to know what it feels like to have a good man want me. I want something just for me, just this once. I will do whatever it takes to make that happen and then I will walk away. More likely, I will run away. As fast and hard as I can. I know I would never fit in Brody’s world and he would never want in mine. I wouldn’t even attempt to bring him into my pitiful life. I am not feeling sorry for myself, I am being practical. Brody is that guy. The kind everyone likes, everyone looks up to and the one that comes from a great family. He belongs nowhere near my life but if I can have him for one night, I will be satisfied and count myself a lucky woman. The thing is, how do I say this to Brody without him thinking I am a total loser?
“Why don’t you stay out here until I have a look around inside?” Does Brody think someone is waiting for us inside? I am not letting him face anyone by himself. Brody is shaking his head and I think I heard a small laugh come from him. “I’m not worried about a person inside, Charity, more like critters.” Brody reaches up and takes the key off the ledge and unlocks the door. I’m not scared of critters as he called them, but I don’t want Brody to be worried about me.
“I’ll wait right here.” Brody opens the door and walks in. I hear him moving things around in the cabin. It’s looks like a well-built cabin. Some of the homes in our community look a lot worse. Our homes in the community I live in are for practical living. No home phones are allowed because no outsiders are allowed in unless it is business. No electricity from the power company. We use solar panels which is a shock at what they cost. It’s one of the things that has regular maintenance and they are replaced when Pop finds updated models. We use well water with a purification system that is also updated often. I hope this cabin has running water with a big water heater. I would love a hot shower for once in my life. In our home we are allotted so much electricity and hot water in a day. When you have used your allotment then everything goes dark. The best I have had since Faith was born, is an almost warm water shower. In our home we went by age, but after Faith was born and she was found to have asthma, I let her go before me, so she wouldn’t get sick. I know in my young mind, I thought cool water would make her sick. No one corrected me and then by the time I was old enough to know better, it was a habit. I went along with Pop’s saying ‘if it doesn’t kill you then it will be alright’, but right now a hot shower sounds perfect. I am brought out of my thoughts by Brody.
“It’s clear and we are in luck the electric fuses are still good, so we have electric. I flipped it on and there are some canned goods in the cabinet. I am going well shed and get the pump going, so we can have water.” Brody walks down the steps.
“Is there hot water?” Brody laughs.
“Thinking of a hot shower, are you?” Brody looks amused by my question. “As soon as I get the pump to the well going. I will turn on the water heater. It’ll take a while for the water to heat up, but we should both be able to shower and get food in our bellies. There should be extra clothes in there somewhere too.”
“Thank you for watching out for me. I don’t mean to worry you. I’m just not accustomed to someone worrying about me. No one has for some time now.” I know I sound pathetic but at least it is honest.
“We’re just getting to know each other. We are building a friendship and there is always a learning curve. I’m not trying to smother you, just watching your back. It is what friends do. I want you to know that after we shower and eat, I am going to get a few hours of shut eye and then I am going to leave you in this cabin and walk out of here to get help. I know your body is aching from taking that slide today and I can move faster alone. I will be back to pick you up as soon as I contact either Rebel or Kaden.” I start to argue with him, but I know this will be the opportunity I need to get away and carry on with my plan for Faith and myself. I also know that this will be the only opportunity for me to get close to Brody. I intend to have just one night of bliss. One night just for me, so I can cherish it. Isn’t that what men want? A night of no strings attached sex and then in the morning things go back to normal or we just go our separate ways. I know Brody is way better than me and I have no right to even dream about such a man but for tonight I want to escape my life and see how most people live.