Living The Way (The Way Trilogy Book 1)

by Ellie Aiden

  Behind the first row of buildings in the downtown area, I make my way to the second one where there’s a large metal trash bin. Its large enough to hide behind, but also gives me a direct line of sight to the alley. When the hunting party walks past headed back to the wagon, I’ll see them, but hopefully they won’t be able to see me. While I wait, I pull Chase’s singed shirt out. This is the perfect time to get rid of it. Leaning over, I chunk it into the bin and squat back down, hopefully well out of sight.

  It’s only a few minutes later when I see Elder Jack pass the end of the alley, followed by the rest of the men. Geez, I cut that pretty close. Stupid weak arms. Stupid false bottom.

  When the last man passes the opening, I give it another five minutes and then stand from my crouch. I’m not sure where Luke will be, the most logical place is Hotel Bonham, but the idea of going back in there, after last time, doesn’t make me feel great.

  I’m about to see him for only the second time, and already this morning I have been crammed in a box, and couched next to a trash bin. Do I smell? Crap, I do smell. I try smoothing out my dress, hoping to look a little more presentable, and I decide to undo my braids. I love wearing my hair down in waves, this next few days might be one of the only times I get to do that.

  Deciding this is as good as its gonna get, I throw the strap of my bag on my shoulder, and head to the opposite end of the alley. I don’t want to come out on the end the wagon was parked at, and risk them turning around and seeing me if they haven’t gotten that far.

  At the opposite end of the alley, I take a right, and end up standing at the end of the main road, lined on both sides by two story buildings, the only exception, Hotel Bonham. There are a few people walking the road today, but nothing like it was the last time I was here. There’s no sign of Luke right away, but it’s not like I thought it would be that easy. Okay, I had hoped it would be that easy.

  An old man wanders past me, bumping his shoulder into mine. Geez, buddy. There’s no one else over here, you couldn’t have walked two feet over there? Guess not. A thought occurs to me in that moment, and it’s not a good one. What if I find Luke in Hotel Bonham? Luke, in a brothel, with a woman. I mean, he has no obligation to me. We don’t even know each other really, so it’s definitely possible.

  My stomach rolls with the thought and I think I might puke. No Anna. Even if he is, all it proves is he doesn’t want you. If he doesn’t want you, then you shouldn’t want him.

  And I’ve got a plan where I don’t even have to step foot in that Hotel.

  ***

  The plan was the Post Office, and it was a damn good plan too. After having my melt down over Luke in a brothel, I had made my way to the Post Office, borrowing a slip of paper and leaving a note for Luke. Karen, behind the counter, said he comes in at least once every couple days, and she’d make sure he got it. She was actually really nice, but let’s hope Luke comes in sooner than a couple days, if not, I’ll be sleeping outside in January. I’m not trying to get hypothermia.

  The note told him if he got this in the next three days, to meet me behind the beige and green trimmed building, on the east side of the main road. Anything more than three days, and I was out of time.

  It’s been a few hours at least, since I left the Post Office and said goodbye to Karen. Bundled up in the wool blanket I grabbed from the wagon, I decide to eat the first sandwich from my supplies Cody gave me right before we left this morning. Bacon and tomato. I’m just gonna take a minute to thank God for bacon. Pretty sure I would die without it.

  The sandwich of course does nothing to warm me up. This is probably the coldest it’s been all month. If I have to sleep out here tonight, I’m not sure I’ll make it, and as the sun starts to set that’s looking likely.

  An hour later the sun is almost completely set, only a tiny sliver peeking out over the horizon. Come on Luke, I need you.

  A few hours later, and I’m uncontrollably shivering beneath my jacket and the tiny wool blanket. The wind is blistering, if it would stop it might not be so bad. Unfortunately, it also looks like a storm is rolling in. If it rains, or worse snows, I’m going to die out here.

  When the first drop of rain hits my nose, I realize he’s not coming. At least not tonight. How late does the Post Office stay open? If he hasn’t gotten the letter by now, he won’t get it until morning, at the earliest. I guess I could give in and go to the Hotel, but I have no money, and I don’t want to think about how they would make me pay for it.

  I know I shouldn’t fall asleep, but when your entire body is numb, and you haven’t slept in a couple days, it’s hard. Every time my heads drops, I jerk myself awake, but eventually it’s no use and I drift off.

  Sometime later, in a hazy state, I come to. I can barely open my eyes, I can’t feel my body, and at first, I forget where I am. When I realize I’ve stopped shivering, it hits me that I’m dying, and then I’m unconscious again.

  ***

  When I wake, its warm. I’m warm. Wrapped up in no less than six blankets, surrounded by strong arms and cuddled up against a soft bare chest. Wait, what?

  I’m lying on a plush black bear skin rug, in front of a blazing fire. The heat from the fire feels amazing, but my back is pressed to what feels like a very manly chest. A chest that rises and falls in time with my own breaths. The arms encasing me, are wrapped tight enough that I know it will be impossible to roll over without waking whoever it is. I’m scared to even turn my head. Mystery man has one arm resting under the crook of my neck, with the hand stretched straight out on the pillow beneath my head. The other arm stretches across my side, bent up to hold my hand to my middle. Every few seconds, that thumb swipes softly across the top of my hand. I assume its subconsciously, unless this man is already awake, but the low and slow breaths say otherwise.

  The last thing I remember was waking to realize the shivering had stopped, and understanding that wasn’t a good thing, then drifting off again recognizing I was dying. Now the question is who found me? It could be anyone, any stranger wondering the streets could have seen me, bringing me back here. I would imagine I would have been pretty out of it, he could have done any number of things to me, and I doubt I could have stopped him, or remembered.

  “I know you’re awake.” That husky voice is familiar, but still being a little hazy, I can’t quite place it.

  “Little Minx, it’s okay.”

  Oh my God! It’s Luke! Quickly twisting to face him, my eyes connect with his bright blue ones. The smile he flashes me lights up my insides relieving all my fears, at least the ones about who the hell was lying shirtless behind me.

  “Luke.” It’s a whisper, and all I can think to say.

  “I was really worried about you, Little Minx. I found you in the middle of the night on the freezing ground unconscious. If I hadn’t found you when I did well, I don’t want to think about that.” He brushes his nose across mine, affectionately.

  “Luke I…woke up, and realized I was dying.” A shiver racks both our bodies with those words.

  “I think you were. Why didn’t you come find me?”

  “Well, I really wasn’t sure where you would be, and I was too scared to go back to the Hotel. When the sun started setting I realized if you hadn’t gotten my note by then, you wouldn’t until at least morning, and I knew I wouldn’t make it.”

  A look crosses his face I don’t recognize, but its quickly wiped away. “I was…doing business out of town.” He stutters on that admission, but doesn’t elaborate. “When the Post Office closed, and I hadn’t been by, Karen found me having dinner downstairs. I’m sorry Little Minx, I…you’re in Hotel Bonham now. I have a permanent room here, on the third floor. This was the safest place to bring you, and the only place I could get you warm.”

  Regret crosses his features, and I know I need to clear up my fear. “I’m not afraid to be here with you. Just, without you.”

  A smiles cuts across his face, stretching ear to ear. “You have nothing to fear, as long as I’m aro
und. I won’t ever let anything bad happen to you. And later today, once you’re feeling up to it, I’ll make sure everyone in this town knows you are off limits. No one will dare touch you then.”

  My heart skips a beat with his declaration, followed by a warm and tingly feeling spreading from my head to my toes. I don’t feel comfortable using the big L-word, it’s just too soon, but the little l-word, yes, yes I definitely like him. A lot.

  “Are you hungry, Little Minx?”

  I’m starving actually but, I don’t have anything to barter for food, and I don’t know exactly how their financial system works here. I have another sandwich in my bag, along with some fruit. That will have to work.

  “A little, but I have a sandwich in my bag,” I tell him with a shy smile.

  “What!?! Don’t be ridiculous Anna. The restaurant downstairs serves an amazing breakfast. How about you take a bath, and I’ll run down and grab us some.”

  I’m shaking my head before he can finish his sentence. “Luke no, its fine really. I didn’t have room to bring anything to barter. Even if Emily would let me charge it, I don’t want to owe this place anything.”

  He was in the middle of standing up when I began to speak, and with my admission he stumbles, eyebrows raised, jaw dropped. I’m not sure what I said that has him so shocked. Did I offend him in some way?

  Reaching down he grabs my hands, pulling me to my feet without a word, and nudging me into the bathroom. This room looks old, but well kept. With distressed white walls, black and white checkered tile flooring, a pedestal sink, and a gorgeous white porcelain claw foot tub. There’s no curtain surrounding the tub, and since there’s no door separating the bathroom from the bedroom, I’m feeling a little shy. Let it be known, I talk the talk, but when it’s time to walk the walk, I freeze.

  I’m just standing here, arms wrapped tightly around my chest, despite still having my dress on, as Luke bends over to turn on the water. When steam begins to rise to fill the space, I realize they have hot water. Bet the Church wouldn’t want everyone to know that.

  Luke turns around, the fear reflected in my eyes, and the posture of my body, and reaches his hand up to cup my chin.

  “It’s not up for debate, Little Minx. You shower. Me food.”

  You Tarzan. Me Jane.

  I don’t move from my position for a few more minutes, as the water rises in the tub, until I hear the bedroom door close and lock, knowing Luke is gone.

  With him gone, I feel more comfortable removing my dress and undergarments, slipping one foot in to test the water temperature. It’s absolutely perfect. Slipping in fully, the water hits just about my chest, and any remnants of the chill from last night is immediately washed away. There’s a fresh rose scent filling my nose, and I notice a bottle of rose water on a small red stand next to the tub. Luke must have slipped some into the water when I wasn’t looking. Well, that’s adorably sweet.

  Next to the rose water is two different types of homemade shampoo and a clear bottle of conditioner, as well as one filled with body wash. I know their homemade because it’s clear the original labels have been peeled off, replaced with a handwritten one. Picking up the body wash and screwing off the lid, I take a whiff. I’ve never heard of cinnamon body wash, but that’s exactly what this smells like, and I realize this is why Luke smells so good. Pouring a good dollop on a red wash rag laying on the side of the tub, I wash my body and then using the rose scented shampoo, I manage to get my hair washed and rinsed too, before I hear the lock on the bedroom door click. Shit.

  Frantically, I look around for a towel, but don’t see one. Well, this is just great. Hearing the tell-tale sign of the door opening, and then closing, I sink down further into the water. Like that will do any good. Sure wish I had some bubble bath.

  The water is starting to turn cold, and I realize, I can’t just sit in here forever. “Um, Luke? Could you maybe, bring me a towel, and my bag?”

  I hear him rummaging around for a moment, and then his footsteps grow near. Pulling my knees to my chest and wrapped myself in a hug, I look to the door as Luke walks in. Oh my God you are adorable. Will you marry me?

  Luke has a red towel and my bag in one hand, the other is respectfully covering his eyes. He stumbles around trying to set the bag on the counter, and I let a giggle slip. After finally getting the bag safely on the counter, he uses his empty hand to guide his way along the wall to where I sit. I suddenly feel very brazen, and the fact that he was such a gentleman, I kind of don’t mind if he sees me just a little. I stand in the tub, dropping my arms from my chest, the water sluicing off me, and I reach one arm out to grip his shoulder. His surprised inhalation, gives me even more confidence, and so I step from the tub fully, my feet steady on the cold tile, my naked body no more than an inch from his.

  Grabbing the towel I tell him, “Thank you,” and watch as he backs out of the bathroom, never opening his eyes.

  It’s then that the aroma from whatever food he’s brought us for breakfast hits my nose, and my tummy rumbles. How embarrassing.

  “Was that your stomach growling?”

  Just kill me now.

  When I don’t respond right away he says, “Get your cute butt dressed and get in here. I’ll not have my girl hungry.”

  Cute butt? My girl? Be still my heart.

  My heart beats so fast and so loud in response to his words, I’m afraid he’ll hear that over the growling from my stomach, so I remove the towel, using it to quickly dry my hair, and hurry dressing, opting for my favorite green dress.

  Luke is sitting at a small table in the corner of the bedroom with his back to me. The spread of food across the top is mind blowing. Bacon? Bacon, bacon, bacon! How do they have bacon? The elders said no one outside of the Compounds raised livestock any more. Crap, is this some kind of tofu bacon? Say it ain’t so.

  Taking a seat in the only other chair, I check out the spread. There’s a heaping pile of bacon on a silver platter, as I mentioned, scrambled eggs that look like they have cheese in them, fluffy biscuits, and a gravy boat filled with cream gravy. Which means, they have cows too. There’s also a bowl of fresh fruit, and a pitcher of fresh squeezed orange juice, with two glasses already poured, one next to my plate, and one Luke sips from now.

  I’m a little overwhelmed. At the Compound, oats or grits are a normal breakfast food, and yes we normally have fresh fruit as well, but we rarely have all this to choose from. Having enough eggs for twenty-five hundred people isn’t easy, so they’re usually reserved for cooking with. I can’t remember the last time I had scrambled eggs.

  My stomach rumbles again, and clearly, I’m not moving fast enough for Luke. He stands, making his way to my side of the table, and begins heaping food onto my plate.

  When he’s satisfied with the pile of food, he says, “I’ll feed you myself if I have to.”

  Shaking my head and taking my first bite of bacon, he seems satisfied and moves to reclaim his seat.

  Finishing the first strip I open my mouth to speak, after all we have a lot to do and not a lot of time to do it in, but he raises his hand and cuts me off. “Nope. Eat first. Talk later.” Guess we’re back to Tarzan and Jane. “When I don’t hear your stomach growling, then we can get to work.”

  I can’t help the smile that slips across my face. Some girls might see it as controlling, I see it as compassion. His concern for my well-being is evident, and I’m not gonna lie, it makes me feel good.

  Luke eats a strip of bacon, a few bites of eggs, some fresh fruit, and then sips on his juice, waiting for me to finish. I on the other hand, destroy six strips of bacon, two heaps of eggs, half the bowl of fruit, two biscuits with gravy, and finish off my orange juice. Luke pours me a second glass, while I decide on one last strip of bacon. It’s a good thing I’m not one of those girls who can’t eat in front of a boy. I should probably be embarrassed by the amount of food I’ve shoveled in my mouth, but ain’t nobody got time for that.

  Finishing off my last bite of bacon, I lean bac
k in my chair to give my protruding belly room. It’s a good thing I’m wearing a dress; pants would be a no go right now. Luke lets out a full belly laugh, and I look up at his eyes, filled with mirth.

  “What?” Really, I’m not sure what’s funny.

  “Are you full?” My nod and grin is enough for him to go on. “Good. I’m glad. They aren’t feeding you enough in the Compound. You’re a tiny twig, a beautiful twig, but still a twig. We need to put some meat on your bones.”

  I eye the last remaining strip of bacon and confess, “All the woman are fed the exact same portion. It’s pretty small. Men are fed more. When I hit a growth spurt when I was fourteen, I nearly starved to death,” I giggle, but it’s really not funny.

  His eyes fill with murder, snatching up the last piece of bacon, and thrusting it toward me. I take it because, bacon. They aren’t starving us though, not really. We are given what they say is, the optimal amount for an adult woman. Not everyone is as tiny as me, some of them would even be considered over weight, and while that could be due to a medical condition, I’ve always been convinced the higher up in the Church you are, the more perks you get, including additional food.

  “That’s bullshit. So while the men grow big and strong, the woman go hungry. Don’t they realize they can’t, repopulate the earth, without those woman?” He says repopulate, while making quotation marks.

  The room goes quiet for a moment, not uncomfortable, more like neither of us are sure where to start.

  Luke is the next to speak. “Before we get started, I want to get one thing straight.” He pauses, making sure I know he’s serious.

  I’m a little worried about what we could possibly need to get straight. He seems angry, and I wonder what I’ve said or done wrong. I hate that I tend to think things are my fault, but it’s a character flaw. I’m working on it.

  “This whole, I’m going to eat a two-day old sandwich that’s been smooshed in my bag, because I don’t have anything to barter, isn’t going to happen.” I go to interrupt him, but he cuts me off, “No.”