by Vera Quinn
“You’re not from around here. Who are you? Sadie doesn’t need any trouble and she’s too nice for her own good. You just remember, I won’t forget what you look like.” I almost laugh at loud. I look at the older man and I see his eyes are sharp and I don’t doubt for a second that he will remember what I look like, for some reason that makes my stomach tie in knots. I need to leave this man with the impression I am harmless.
“I am C.C. and Mrs. Sadie is giving me a lift, so I can meet my family. My car broke down a ways back. You are right too; Mrs. Sadie is a very nice lady and she keeps me laughing. This trip is going to be something to remember.” I try to give off an innocent feeling so maybe this man will relax. “I love this store it’s so rustic. These floors are to die for.”
“Uh huh, you can save that hot air for Sadie. You have trouble chasing you, it’s written all over you, but I warn you to not bring it to Sadie’s door. If all you need is a ride, then take it and say thank you when it’s over. I will be keeping tabs on Sadie today and when she comes back by here this evening, she better not have any extra worries, or I will hunt you down to the depths of hell and make you pay. Are we clear?” I look at my feet and I feel guilty for taking advantage of Mrs. Sadie.
“Are you a friend of Mrs. Sadie?” The man gets a bag and puts my items in it and then pushes it towards me.
“Not that it’s your business, but I know Sadie will answer you when you ask and then she’ll cry. My Millie and Sadie were friends since they were in diapers. Millie passed last year. That’s why Sadie sent you in here and she didn’t get out. Sadie knows that her money is no good here, so it’s no charge, unless you’re telling me that the money you’re using is yours and not hers. Sadie can’t go by this store without stopping for a cream soda and chips. Sadie and Millie shared a bag of chips every afternoon. Habits are hard to change.” The man hands me the bag.
“Thank you, sir.” I see the harshness leave the man’s eyes.
“I’m just protective of that woman. Don’t take what I say to heart, I’m a gruff old man, but I would chase you to hell if you hurt her. You have my word on that.” I smile and turn to leave but turn back.
“I’m glad Mrs. Sadie has you as her friend and you have her, thank you again.” I leave the store and know having a friend like that is out of my reach. A real friend you can always trust and one that has your back even if not asked. I long for this kind of friend or anyone who will worry about me and I know that sounds awful, but I don’t remember anyone besides my parents and sisters caring about me. I thought Brody would be that kind of person for me, but that was something I made up in my head. I reach the car and get inside and before I can get my seat belt on Mrs. Sadie is speeding down the road. I get my seat belt buckled and reach in the bag for Mrs. Sadie’s cream soda and loosen the lid on it and put it in the cup holder between our seats. I open her chips and sit them beside her. I slip the twenty in the cup holder, so she will keep it.
“Go ahead and eat C.C., then we can talk some more. I don’t let any grass grow under my wheels. We’ll be pulling into Pittsburg in about thirty minutes. I’ll let you use my phone when we’re blowing through Leesburg, so you can get in touch with your family.” I am unwrapping my sandwich but do not hesitate when I give my lie to Mrs. Sadie.
“Out on Couch Mountain the cell service is like you said it is here. It’s hit and miss. I can try their landline, but they should be working the garden until it’s time for them to meet me in town. My uncle has a place he uses for storage in town and I can go there and wait. I know where he keeps his spare key. If that’s alright with you to drop me off there, if not I can walk from the stoplight.” Mrs. Sadie looks at me.
“All this time I thought you were feeding me a line of bull hooey, but I guess you have been on the up and up. That will be fine C.C., if the place isn’t too far off the main street. I don’t want to be late for my appointment.” Now, I feel guilty for making this woman believe my lies. I fold the sandwich back up and put it back in the bag with my drink.
“No, it’s not far. It’s on an alley right off Davis Street. It used to be where Uncle Hem repaired lawn mowers and other small engines. He shut it down a couple of years ago but couldn’t bear selling it. He and my aunt built the place up from the start and all three of his sons and a couple of nephews worked there growing up. His sons and nephews have moved away. His brother and wife have both passed and it’s his way to hang on to the past.” I stop talking. I know oversharing is a red flag. Everything I said is true but the part where Hemric Currey is my uncle. Well, Uncle Hem did insist I call him Uncle Hem. Not related by blood but I tried to help him, and he said one day he would repay me. I never expected for him to repay me for something I did because I cared. I know this is all happening because I have no choice if I want to get to Faith, but it still makes me feel like I am using a friendship. Doesn’t matter now it’s what I am being forced to do. Mrs. Sadie keeps me laughing through her antics all the way to town. I have heard more stories about her love life than I ever wanted to know, but I also have heard of her and Donald’s love story. I hung on each word. They didn’t have an easy life, but they stuck together through it all. They fought, raised a family, loved, and survived. I want that, but I don’t think it’s in the cards for me. I need to stay focused on getting Faith out of the community and to get us out of Texas. I don’t know if we will ever be able to stop running. Pop and the other men in our community will come after us. I don’t know why after what Pop did with trading me to a motorcycle club, but they will and then there is the Hell Keeperz MC. I have only been half listening to Mrs. Sadie for the last few miles. We hit the city limits and I started getting scared. When the car stops, I look up and we are at the stoplight in the middle of town. The light turns green and we continue with the traffic.
“Girl, you’ve been off in your head for the last fifteen or twenty minutes. Do you want to use my phone to try to get in touch with your folks?” I shake my head no. “Are you sure this is what you want to do? You can ride to Mt. Pleasant with me and then go back and stay with me and my old man for a few days until your head is straight. I’m sure he could help you with your car. Donald is pretty handy when it has to do with motors.” Mrs. Sadie hasn’t believed a word I have told her, and I am happy about that in some ways but in others it tells me I need to improve on my lying. For what lays ahead of me it’s a must do. At least I know Mrs. Sadie isn’t as gullible as I had thought. I already have a soft spot for her and the old timer at the store. That scares me. I need to be stronger.
“Mrs. Sadie, I’m fine, and the shop is the next right.” I look at her and try to give her a reassuring smile. “I was just getting sleepy. These comfortable seats and the cool air made me wish I had slept later this morning.”
“Don’t I know that. It’s nap time in Sadie land. We get up by five every morning and about this time I’m waking up from my nap to start dinner.” Mrs. Sadie laughs and then turns onto the alley. I don’t see Uncle Hem’s truck parked anywhere.
“That’s it right there.” I hear Mrs. Sadie’s intake of air. I know the place looks neglected and abandoned, but it is in the middle of town, even if it is in an alley hardly used anymore.
“C.C., I know you’re an adult, but I don’t feel comfortable leaving you here alone. Are you absolutely sure about this?” I reach over the console and hug Mrs. Sadie and then lean back and grab for the door handle. I half turn back to Mrs. Sadie and give her the best smile I can.
“I’ll be fine Mrs. Sadie, no worries. You need to go so you’re not late for your appointment. You need those spank bank visions.” I feel my face getting red, but I don’t let it slow me down. I get out of the car and reach in the backseat for my duffle and get the bag with my sandwich in it from the front floorboard. “Thank you for the ride and the sandwich.”
“Oh sweetheart, you are welcome, and you take care of yourself. I’ll drive back by on my way home to make sure you’re not still waiting. I’ll take you to your parents if you
don’t have a ride by then.” I am trying to come up with an excuse, but I see Uncle Hem’s truck coming down the alleyway. This is not how I wanted this to play out, but no turning back now. “That’s my Uncle Hem. He’ll give me a lift.”
“Thank goodness. I didn’t want to leave you here alone. I need to get going then. Take care. If you ever get out to my neck of the woods again, then drop by. I would love to meet your family when you come and pick up your car. Drop in for some iced tea.” Mrs. Sadie hasn’t told me where she lives but I don’t remind her of that.
“If Pop has enough time I’ll do that. Thank you again but this is Uncle Hem’s parking spot. If he parks anywhere else, he’ll get a ticket. City ordinances and all.” Mrs. Sadie is shaking her head.
“Okay, take care. The ‘man’ is always wanting the working man to give his hard-earned dollars away.” I laugh at that. Mrs. Sadie does quote marks in the air when she says man. I am still shaking my head when I shut the door and Mrs. Sadie is still looking in her rearview mirror and I watch her until she is out of sight. Uncle Hem walks up behind me.
“Why are you here Charity and where have you been? Your Ma and Pop are worried sick over you. They said you run off one night.” Uncle Hem is waiting for me to answer. I have my eyes on our surroundings. I am watching everywhere for who or what I don’t know but I don’t want anyone catching me here.
“Uncle Hem, I will answer all your questions, but can we please go inside first? I don’t want anyone seeing me here. That might cause trouble for us both.” Uncle Hem looks me over from top to bottom.
“Let’s get inside.” I follow Uncle Hem inside and I feel much better when the door shuts behind us.
“Can you lock that door? I don’t want to take any chances.” Uncle Hem does as I ask, and he looks out the window, and then he closes the inside shutters, so no one can see in and walks back over to me.
“Charity you need to give me something because I am too damn old for all this cloak and dagger bull.” I take Uncle Hem by the arm and bring him over to chair, so he can sit down.
“I don’t know where to begin.” I start to pace in front of the elderly man who I know I shouldn’t bring into my problems, but it’s not like I have a choice. “Ask me questions you want to know and we can go from there.”
“Why did you run away and worry your parents? I know your lifestyle out there on that mountain isn’t the normal type of life, but no parent should have to worry about their child, night after night.” I hope Uncle Hem is ready for my answer.
“I didn’t run away. My pop traded me to the Hell Keeperz MC for some reason and the things they wanted me to do were unimaginable.” That brings Uncle Hem to his feet and he begins to pace.
“What are you talking about girl? I don’t agree with the way the people live in your community but why would Darren and Alice do such a thing? Do you know what you’re saying about your parents?” Uncle Hem is as confused about it as I am.
“Uncle Hem, it doesn’t make sense to me either. I was given no heads up about it, but I did overhear the man my pop was making the deal with and the Hell Keeperz wanted Faith. That’s the reason I didn’t argue when they took me away from the community. I was afraid they would take her. Pop lied to the Hell Keeperz MC. He told them I was seventeen.” Yes, I leave the part out about Pop saying I was a virgin. “They also said if Pop lied to them and they found out they would be back and there would be consequences to pay. I need to get Faith out of there before they come back for her.”
“How did you escape from them and what did they want from you? I need specifics.” I pull up a chair and sit down. Uncle Hem sits back down. I didn’t want to go into any of this, but if I am going to get his help, he deserves answers.
“They took me to some house and I was locked up with some other women there. They kept us chained up and they drugged us at night. They took the women out one at a time. Only one came back and she was young. She told me they took her to another house and they had cameras set up to record her with some older man. The Hell Keeperz were going to use the recording against the man. He refused to have sex with her and they killed him and brought the girl back to be chained up again. Out of all the women that left she is the only one that ever came back.” I stop and look at Uncle Hem and he is taking it all in.
“Get it all out Charity. I need to know the rest.” I take a deep breath and continue.
“One day I was the one they chose to take. I was also taken to another house way out in the country. I don’t know if it was Wood County or Upshur County. When we arrived at the old farmhouse, there was a biker from another club there with his friend.” I leave Brody and Rebel’s names out of it and the name of Rebel’s club. No need to get myself in more trouble by mentioning something I shouldn’t. “We escaped together. One went out one way and I took another way with the other one. The one I was with found us a cabin to stay in the woods one night. The next morning, he walked out in one direction and I in the other and then I hitched a ride here with Mrs. Sadie.”
“There are such big holes in that story that I could walk through them. It seems you’ve come out the other side of a situation that would break most people. You are a strong one, just like I have always told you. Do you think any of these people are tailing you?” Uncle Hem is giving me a way out of telling him everything and for that I am glad.
“I can’t be sure. All I know is if Pop traded me for something of value then the Hell Keeperz are going to come and collect someone in place of me or for whatever they traded. Pop told them I would cooperate.” I haven’t taken the time to process all my thoughts on my pop, because if I do then that makes me look at the thought of what my ma thought about me being traded. Denial is the best protection I have right now. Then my mind goes to the others in the community and there it turns bitter. Everyone in our community had to have known I was traded. I mean I was missing. If nothing else, they would have missed me doing the work I was expected to accomplish each day. The only one I think they would have hidden it from is Faith. We are closer than most sisters. We are also the only friend that each of us had. I can’t imagine the loneliness that Faith must be feeling right now. I would fight to the death for her and she would do the same for me. It is the only thing in my life that I know for certain.
“Charity do you even know what your parent’s community is all about? I don’t carry tales, so I will only tell you what I have seen with my own eyes.” Uncle Hem looks at me.
“I don’t know everything, but I know a man is only supposed to have one wife legally and that is not how it is up on the mountain. I also know we have a lot of weapons moving in and out and I don’t see how that is normal at all. I also know they have a cabin further up in the mountain that only certain people are allowed at and that there is a marijuana crop that is harvested every year. In my heart I know these things are not how we are supposed to live, but I have witnessed more than one person being dealt with if they speak against it. I also know that a husband does not have the right to beat his wife or their children.” I stop talking and I feel the tears falling down my cheek. I am ashamed of my tears and I wipe them away quickly. Pop says strong people don’t cry. Tears are for the weak. “I also know there is no reason that we spend hours training in self-defense and how to use those weapons. The men of the community say if our defenses are penetrated that we are to defend what is ours, every man, woman, and child.”
“That’s the biggest load of horseshit that I have ever heard. No crop or anything else is worth the life of a loved one.” Uncle Hem gets up from his chair and comes over in front of me and stoops down to my level. “When Darren first brought that group of people up there to settle they were neighborly enough. That is until they were organized, and everything was set up, then they started cutting ties with our town or any town. They became reclusive, only coming into town when they had a delivery at the post office or needed materials. After a while they built that shack up by the road, so they could get things shipped there. Now don’t g
et me wrong. I do business with your family, but it’s more of a barter system. I have an old sawmill out behind my brother’s old house. I inherited it when he passed. The people up in that community use the sawmill. They keep the saws and machinery running, and they have repaired the buildings out there. In return I can come up to the mountain and get fresh vegetables, farm animals if I need them, and the homemade quilts, honey, jams and jellies. I live alone now and have no woman to do those things for me. I wasn’t using the sawmill and it would have fallen in on itself if your folks hadn’t asked about trading out their use of it. It has been a good arrangement for both sides.” Uncle Hem gets back up and I see his eyes cringe when he stands up straight. “The weapons and drugs are illegal as hell. That’s why they don’t want anyone on their property. They aren’t like the regular drug dealers around here. This is a small town, but they’re shipping them out to places unknown. The way the men are married to more than one woman is illegal, but so is the way they treat all of you out there. They are afraid that the law is going to come knocking on their doors and if the people out there fight the law then, they are either going to jail or hell. You can bet your bottom dollar that the men in charge will be hightailing it out of there when the fighting starts.” I knew there were things I was not privy to, but I can’t even wrap my mind around everything Uncle Hem is telling me. How naïve am I? This makes my heart hurt. I know I need to get Faith out of there as fast as I can.