“He’s been helping out a lot with the youth group,” she relayed.
He pulled into the church lot and parked. Brianna reached for the door handle. “See you at nine.”
He nodded and she hurried out of the vehicle. He watched after her as she joined a group of kids near a covered area in front of the church.
After shifting into drive, he was about to pull away when Jim spotted him. He gestured for him to stop and came jogging toward the truck.
“Hey, good to see you,” he said with a wide smile. “Do you have a minute?”
Ryan shut down the truck. “Sure, what do you need?”
“Could you come inside?”
Ryan followed him into the church. He waved at the kids, many of whom he knew, as he strode past.
Jim led him into a small room just off the entrance. “What’s up?” Ryan asked.
Jim smiled. “I heard you sold the business.”
He nodded. “In the process, but yes.”
“I’m really glad for you,” he said. “And I also heard you’re going to hang onto the property.”
“For now anyway.”
Jim nodded and folded his arms across his chest. “Good. Good.” He gave his friend a knowing look. “Could these big decisions have anything to do with Holly?”
Ryan couldn’t fight the smile that tugged at his lips.
Jim laughed. “I thought so. Well, good for you then.” He measured him with a glance. “Have you … filled her in about the property yet?”
“I went by there tonight, to do just that, but Holly is working.” He sighed. “I’m afraid she’s going to be so furious she’ll never speak to me again.”
Jim considered that. “To be honest, I’d be angry with you. You know, that house means everything to her and Brianna. It represents security for both of them and you’re about to tell her that the land beneath it belongs to you. She’s going to be…”
“I know,” Ryan cut in. “I know.”
Chapter Thirty-three
Brianna felt her legs go wobbly beneath her. She had overheard Jim and Ryan’s conversation when she followed them into the church to ask a question of Jim. She hadn’t intended to eavesdrop, but it happened.
She couldn’t believe her ears. Had Jim really said that the land on which her and Holly’s home sat didn’t belong to them, but instead belonged to the McGraws? It couldn’t be.
If it was true, why hadn’t Ryan, or Annabelle, told them?
Brianna felt tears spring to her eyes. Jim was right about one thing. That home, and property, represented security to her and her sister. It was their home!
She couldn’t bear to hear another word and spun on her heel. She ran out of the church, past her friends, across the parking lot, and to the sidewalk parallel to the church lot. Lungs bursting, she continued running down the block and to the end of the street. Her friends watched after her, unsure what was happening.
She looked left, then right, and was about to cross the street when a car pulled up. “You want a ride?” a deep voice inquired.
Tears streamed down her face, obscuring her view of the driver. She didn’t care what he looked like. She was angry, hurt, and needed to get away fast.
As she eased into the seat, she turned toward the driver. He began rummaging between the seats and pulled out a napkin. “Here, wipe your face.”
She did as instructed and finally realized that she recognized this guy. He was the same kid who had shown up at her home and asked if they needed any work done.
“Are you all right?” he asked.
She shook her head. “No. I’m not.”
“Want to talk about it?”
“No.”
“Where to?”
“I don’t care.” She took a deep, steadying breath. “Wait, can you drive me by my house?”
“Where do you live?”
She pinned him with a skeptical glance. “You know where I live.”
He grinned in response. “Yes, I do. Your sister home right now?”
“No, and I need to get out of there before she gets home.”
He gave her a speculative glance this time. “All right.” He smiled and focused on driving.
Soon after, they arrived at the little manufactured house that had become the only real home Brianna had ever known. She felt her eyes well up with tears when she realized that she and Holly had been living a fairytale, that their little corner of the world didn’t belong to them after all.
Forcing back her tears, she turned toward the driver. “Can you give me a minute?”
“Sure. I’m Matt, by the way,” he said, extending a hand to her.
She shook his hand. “Brianna.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
She hurried into the house and to her bedroom. Dashing to her closet, she pulled open the door. She stood on tippy-toes and began running her hand along the shelf above her. Finally, she felt it. The envelope containing several of the twenty dollar bills Holly had given her. She’d hidden them for safekeeping, in the event they needed ready cash.
She hurriedly counted the bills and then stuffed them into her jean’s pocket. Next, she spun toward the pile of clothing folded neatly on her floor and grabbed a couple tops, as well as shorts and jeans. After stuffing them into a duffle bag, she hurried into the great room. She did a slow circle, imprinting the cozy space in her memory. Her eyes lit on both chairs and she felt a shooting pain in her heart. She and her sister had refurbished those chairs together…
She forced away the sentimental thoughts. She was being ridiculous. Soon, Holly would know the truth about their home and once again, her world would be turned upside down. She didn’t deserve it. Holly had been through enough. A father who had abandoned her, the loss of her stepfather and mother, a pile of debt she’d assumed responsibility for, and later—most difficult of all—she taken on the role of guardian to her.
Brianna felt a crushing weight on her own shoulders imagining how devastated Holly was going to be when she discovered they had a home, but nowhere to put it.
Where did one put a manufactured home? In a mobile home park? She had no illusions the process would be cheap. Where would they get the money?
They wouldn’t get it, that’s what.
She shook her head, to clear away the cobwebs. She needed to think…
She would leave. If she wasn’t around, Holly would be free to sell the house and move on. She wouldn’t have to deal with a teenager and all the aggravation that came with trying to provide for her. Maybe she could get enough money from the sale of the home to pay off her debt.
Holly was still young. She deserved a chance…
Brianna left the house and climbed into the car. “Can we make one more stop before we go?” she asked.
“Sure. But where to after that?”
She glanced off into the distance. “Could you drop me at the bus station in Vancouver?”
“I guess. Where you going?”
“California. Hollywood,” she clarified.
He wordlessly started up the car and backed out of the driveway and onto the country road behind them.
“That way,” Brianna directed.
“Where?” he asked, furrowing his brow. “We need to head south.”
“I need to stop by the McGraw’s place first. There’s somebody I need to say goodbye to.”
“Annabelle, right?”
She felt her heart tug. Annabelle was her friend. But friends didn’t withhold critically important information from their friends. Friends told the truth. No. Annabelle was no friend of hers.
***
Brianna crept into the barn where her beloved horse, Cover Girl, was waiting. The beautiful brown mare seemed to sense Brianna was near. Her head popped over the door to her stall and she turned in Brianna’ direction. She whinnied a greeting.
Brianna hurried toward her and wrapped her arms around her neck. “I have to leave, girl,” she said softly. “I just wanted to say ‘goodbye.’ Be a good girl,�
�� she finished sadly, and then kissed her on the nose.
“We should go,” a voice said from beside her.
“I know.”
“Someone might see us.”
“Yes.” She ran her hand along Cover Girl’s face, kissed her again, and then turned. “Let’s go.”
***
Ryan and Jim left the small conference room and headed outside—Jim to tend to the youth group kids, Ryan to head home until it was time to pick up Brianna from the church.
Several kids were congregating out front. Ryan glanced around. He didn’t see Brianna anywhere, but wanted to confirm with her the time she needed a ride home.
Jim seemed to notice she was missing about the same time. “Where’s Brianna?” he asked of the group.
“She took off that way,” a boy volunteered.
“What … do you mean, ‘she took off’? Took off, where?” Jim said.
He shrugged. “I don’t know where. She came out of the church—looked kind of upset—and ran off toward the end of the block.”
Ryan glanced at Jim and back to the boy. “You said she came out of the church?”
“She followed you guys,” a girl spoke up. “She needed to ask you a question, Jim.”
“A question…” he mused.
Ryan stepped away from the group and Jim followed. “She heard us,” Ryan said, feeling sick to his stomach. Brianna had overhead them talking about the house and the property. His heart sank. The teenager probably felt horribly betrayed.
He looked off into the distance, hoping to spot her. She was nowhere in sight.
“I’ll go after her,” he said.
A girl overhead and walked toward the two men. “Brianna left with some guy.”
Ryan spun toward her. “What?”
“Some creepy guy kept driving past the church earlier. Anyway, when she took off running, he pulled up beside her at the end of the street.”
“Where?”
“There,” she directed. “She got in the car with him.”
“What kind of car?” Ryan demanded.
“I … don’t know.”
“A Dodge Dart,” a boy said. “I recognized it, because my brother has one. Of course, my brother takes care of his…”
Ryan felt as if he’d been punched in the gut. Had Brianna gotten into the car with the same guy who had been by her house looking for work?
No, she wouldn’t have. He had told Holly about the guy’s rap sheet. Surely she had warned Brianna to steer clear of him.
Brianna wouldn’t do something so reckless as to get into a car with a stranger, would she? A sharp pain sliced through his temple. She had apparently done exactly that.
He ran both hands along the sides of his head and he spun toward Jim. “Jim…”
“Ryan, what is it?”
Ryan grabbed his arm and pulled him several yards away from the kids. “Jim, the guy’s bad news. He did time for improper conduct with a minor…”
“Oh, God,” Jim cried, his face rife with fear. “We have to find her.”
“I’m calling the police,” Ryan said.
“What do you want me to do?” Jim asked.
Ryan sighed. “Send the kids home, and if you could go with me to…”
“Where?”
“To see Holly. To tell her what’s happening…”
“Is she at work?”
He nodded.
Jim turned and hurried toward the kids. In the meantime, Ryan called his friend Devin at the police department and filled him in on what had transpired.
“How long ago did this occur?” his friend asked.
“Eight, ten minutes,” Ryan said.
“Long enough for them to get out of Battle Ground,” he mused. “Just the same, I’ll dispatch my guys to the major thoroughfares. I’m calling Clark County for help,” he added.
“Devin,” Ryan said, “find her, please. She’s…”
“You care about her?”
“She’s like a sister to me,” he said, realizing it was true. He loved Holly, but he also cared about her kid sister. If something happened to her…
Jim was suddenly beside him. He read the misery on Ryan’s face. He clutched Ryan’s hands. “Pray,” he ordered.
He was surprised when Ryan didn’t object, but began praying in earnest. He asked for Brianna’s safe delivery from evil. He prayed that both Holly and Brianna would forgive him. “And God, please, please, speak to Brianna. At the first and safest opportunity, tell her to jump out of the car. Please, please,” he implored.
Jim nodded. “Let’s go to Holly. I’ll drive.”
Beside Jim in his car, Ryan continued praying aloud. “Lord, tell her to jump out of the car. Please, talk to her and make her listen…”
Chapter Thirty-four
Brianna cast a furtive glance at the driver beside her. He looked like a kid. Or … maybe he was a man. She couldn’t tell. He turned toward her and smiled. Something about his smile made her uneasy.
She met his eyes. They held a predatory gleam.
This was wrong. All wrong. She had gotten into a car with a stranger—with a man who had already set off warning flags to both her and Holly. She should have known better but she’d been so upset and angry, she hadn’t been thinking clearly.
That’s not true. She had been thinking, but for a brief amount of time, she hadn’t cared about the consequences. She hadn’t cared what happened to her. Suddenly, she did care.
Her thoughts turned to Holly. She was going to be devastated when she realized that on top of losing their land, she was also losing her sister.
But leaving was the right thing to do…
For Holly’s sake…
Wasn’t it the right thing to do?
Brianna glanced ahead and spotted the commercial district of Battle Ground. They reached a major intersection and came to a stop at a red light. But something was wrong. Matt suddenly pulled into the left turn lane.
“Where are you going?” she asked, her senses on high alert. “Vancouver is that way,” she directed, pointing.
“We’ll stop by my place first, if you don’t mind.”
“But…”
The light changed and he turned left. He continued east until they reached another stop light. It turned red. As the seconds ticked away at the light, the driver became more agitated and jittery. He began gnawing on his left thumbnail.
“Get out of the car. Now!”
Brianna glanced around. Who had just spoken to her? She turned toward Matt but he wasn’t even looking her way. Instead, he was now clutching the wheel with both hands, his knuckles white from the exertion. He was leaning forward, but suddenly his eyes darted her way. He smiled, but it was more a leer. His right leg began to bounce against the gas pedal. The car surged. “Turn green,” he muttered.
“Get out of the car. Now!” The voice was adamant.
Almost of their own volition, Brianna’s hands reached for the door handle.
“Now! Get out!”
She flung open the door and practically tumbled out of the car.
“What the…?” Matt cried, as the light turned green. He hesitated and reached a hand toward her. “Get back here! Now!”
“Run!” the voice commanded.
Brianna veered past a car in the right lane beside them and ran to the sidewalk. There, she continued running, but opposite the direction of the Dodge. She glanced back, but to her horror, the Dodge did an illegal u-turn and began traveling in her direction.
Brianna spun around, to run in the opposite direction, when she collided with a rock hard body. Two strong arms shot out to steady her. “You’re all right,” the voice said.
She looked up into the face of a police officer and then heard a lot of commotion as the Dart was pinned in by two patrol cars from opposing directions. She heaved a sigh of relief as the officer escorted her to an awaiting patrol car.
“You’re a lucky girl,” the cop said, as he helped her inside. “You shouldn’t have gotten int
o a car with that guy in the first place, but thank God, you had the good sense to get out.”
***
An officer arrived at Holly’s place of employment with Brianna in tow. He relayed what had happened.
Holly listened in abject terror. She realized she hadn’t told Brianna about the guy’s rap sheet when Ryan had filled her in. Regardless, her sister should have known better than to have gotten in a car with him.
Holly nearly collapsed from the weight of ‘what could have been,’ and if Ryan hadn’t shot forward to grab a hold of her arm, she would have ended up crumpled on the floor.
“Brianna, why?” she murmured. “Why would you get in a car with that man?”
Brianna opened her mouth to speak, but no words came. Ryan stepped forward, to finally, finally explain everything, but Brianna found her voice and began screaming at him.
“You need to leave! We trusted you! How could you?”
Holly sat still, stunned by her sister’s outburst. She’d yet to process that her kid sister had voluntarily climbed into a car with a pedophile. Why was Brianna screaming at Ryan?
Suddenly, Annabelle and Harrison arrived. “Brianna! Are you all right?” Annabelle cried, as she crossed the distance between them. She gathered Brianna against her. “Honey, why?”
Brianna began struggling and pulled away. “You know why! You lied to me! You lied to us!”
Annabelle’s face fell. She turned to Ryan and shook her head. She began crying as Harrison wrapped an arm around her. “We wanted to tell you…” she began, but Brianna would have none of it.
“You should have told us. You should have!”
Holly shook her head to clear it. Her nerves were frazzled, her heart still pounding erratically in her chest. Brianna had willingly climbed into a car with a bad man. What had possessed her?
“Brianna, come here,” she said, and patted the chair beside her.
Brianna moved to sit beside her and watched her expectantly.
“Brianna, talk to me. Why did you get into that car?”
Tears began flowing down her cheeks and her lips trembled when she spoke. “I decided it wasn’t fair for me to stay. You have enough to deal with as it is, but now…”
By Summer's End (Christian Fiction) Page 22