by Vera Quinn
“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.
Chapter 16
Brody
I hear something in the distance and it is drawing me out of my comfortable spot. It’s loud and it won’t stop. I just want it to stop so I can go back to the dark place. The place with no worries and the rest my body needs right now. My eyes blink open and I listen for the noise. It was just there but now there is silence
. Then I hear a tapping at my window. What in the hell is going on? I grab my gun under my pillow and go towards the window and pull back the curtain. “Open up your damn door. I have been calling your phone and banging on your door for thirty minutes.” I look at Rebel again and wipe my hand down my face hoping it will wake me up a little more. I let the curtain fall and walk out of my room to the living room to open the front door. “About damn time. What did you do, crawl in bed and die? We need to get to the county jail. Kaden has Charity there. That woman just walked the hell in there to give back the gun she took and the money to pay for the other things she took. I thought for sure that we would never see her again. I guess she is a woman of her word.” I knew Charity would keep her word.
“Let me change and I will be ready. This time that woman is not getting out of my sight.” I turn to leave the room and I hear Rebel’s phone go off. I hesitate, waiting to see if this is about Charity. Rebel looks at his phone. I am guessing it was a text alert. A frown comes across Rebel’s face.
“Change of plans. Gracie just received a call from ETMC in Tyler and they just admitted Jilly” Rebel looks at up at me. “I thought she was at thing for women, a retreat or something. I am going to go and pick up Gracie at the clubhouse, so we can ride together. Can you tell your folks? Gracie is trying to get in touch with Kaden. The woman that called Gracie said we need to get there as soon as possible.”
“Go. I will be just a few minutes behind you.” My mind is trying to remember the last time I spoke with Jilly. We have been so busy with trying to find the Hell Keeperz MC and to tell the truth, Jilly and I didn’t leave things between us on the best of terms. I know I have been avoiding her calls and text. I have not been a good friend. I am never a good friend or cousin to Jilly. I just don’t know how to make our relationship work without the strain. Jilly and I are not blood related. I was adopted but the love that my mom and dad showed me is the only true love that I have ever felt. My DNA parents had none left for me. They loved themselves. I am not bitter or angry about it anymore. I realize that if they had not been the way they are that I would never have had Charlie and Gladys in my life. I would have never felt the unconditional love that they gave me growing up. Jilly may say that I am letting a piece of paper stand between us but when the Samms adopted me, I adopted them too, and I know how lucky I am to have their love and their respect, and I would never step over a line that they could never forgive me for. I wasn’t raised that way. I am brought out of my thoughts when I hear my front door shut. If Rebel said anything to me before he left I didn’t hear it, but I am sure that Rebel is lost in his own thoughts of regret. I go back to my room and grab the first pair of pants that hit my hands and take off the sleep pants I have on. It only takes a few more minutes for me to be dressed and ready to go. I grab my wallet and phone. I step in the bathroom and take care of my morning ritual, without the shower. I should call Dad, but I think this should be done in person. I am out the front door in five minutes and get in my truck, so I will not need to come back to my house. I park in front of the house and send a quick text letting them know I am going to be beating on their front door in the next minute or two. I get out of my truck and walk towards the house, but Dad opens the door before I ever make it to knock.
“Kaden called just a few minutes ago. Mom is grabbing her sweater and we will be ready to go. Do you know what is going on? I thought Jilly was gone for a while. She came over and told your mom that she would be gone for a month at least, visiting friends and then going off for a retreat. Did she get mixed up in this stuff you and Kaden have been spending all your time on?” Dad is getting more agitated as he talks.
“Dad calm down. I don’t know anything more than you do except the hospital called Gracie. We are going to get to the hospital and find out.” I try to make Dad feel better about it even though all kinds of scenarios have already played out in my head.
“I brought coffee.” I see Mom has her favorite sweater on. The one that brings her comfort when she needs it while she is sitting beside someone’s bed as they sweat a fever down. The one she always wears to hospitals in time of need. I have seen her wear it many times. I take the coffee mug in my hand as she hands Dad his. She goes back into the kitchen and comes back out with her coffee in one hand and the Bible in the other. Mom has a way of knowing what she is going to need with her when she is called away in the middle of the night. I can tell by the strained smile on her face that she thinks this is bad and my gut is telling me the same thing. “Are we riding with you son?” I have a feeling this is the right thing to do.
“Yes, Mom. If I need to leave I can call Tyler to come and pick me up but until I am sure Jilly is alright I won’t be leaving the hospital.” I answer but it is hard to get it all out.
“Then let’s get going. I want to find out what is wrong with my niece and then find out why she didn’t let us know she is home. I haven’t seen her around her house. Have you Son?” Dad knows I haven’t. I have not been around my house very much in the last few months. There have been days at a time that I have not been home.
“I have been busy and haven’t noticed anything. I am sure Jilly has just worn herself out again.” I hold the door open, so Mom and Dad can walk back through it. I make sure the door is locked and I step out on the porch and shut the door. Dad goes down the walk and opens Mom’s door in the back and helps her get situated. I get in on my side and once Dad is in and his seat buckle has snapped, I drive away from the curb. The trip is only a little over an hour and I don’t know if it is because of worry or because we were woken up from sleep, but it is quiet in the cab of my truck as we make it into Tyler. The traffic is light at this time in the morning and we find a close parking space. I text Rebel to find out what floor Jilly is on. I wait for his text back, third floor ICU. That’s the heart floor. “They have her on the third floor, intensive care.” Mom and Dad look at each other. We all know this hospital well enough to know what that means. The worry on their faces makes my heart feel heavy.
“We need to get in there. This is going to hit Kaden hard. He’s lost his parents and anytime Jilly goes in the hospital, he thinks the worst.” Mom doesn’t give Dad time to say anything else. She starts walking towards the front doors of the hospital. She looks back over her shoulder at us.
“Our family needs us, get moving.” Mom tells us. Mom is always the strong one. I am the first one to move but Dad catches up. The doors slide open for Mom and we jog to catch up with her. Dad walks up to Mom and takes her hand and I am right behind them as we approach the elevators. Dad hits the up button and the doors open. We walk in and the ride is short. When the doors open we hear Gracie crying. Rebel is standing in the general waiting area holding Gracie in his arms as she cries. My stomach clenches. We walk toward them and Rebel notices us and gives us a nod and then he lets go of Gracie with one arm but hugs her up next to him and points to the corner. It is empty and we all walk over.
“I think everyone needs to sit down.” Rebel says. He sits Gracie in a chair and walks over and picks up a box of Kleenex and brings them back and hands Gracie a few and he sits them on a table beside Mom and then sits beside Gracie. She is getting herself under control. I break the silence.
“Why is Jilly here?” I ask. Rebel picks up Gracie’s hand up and holds it.
“From the information we have heard Jilly wasn’t at any retreat or visiting friends. She was in Mexico and receiving alternative treatment for her heart failure. She quit taking her medication that the doctors her prescribed. Then the meds the doctors were giving her in Mexico damaged not only her heart but also her kidneys.” Rebels looks at me. “I’m sorry to just blurt this out but Jilly is having complete organ shut down. Kaden is with her and her doctors now. He had to argue to get to hear what they have to say. The nurse said Jilly was in and out of consciousness.” I am blown away by what Rebel just told us. Why would Jilly do something like this, she’s a damn registered nurse. She knows better, and why didn’t she let anyone know what she wa
s doing so we could research it with her? I don’t know what to think. We can’t lose Jilly. No, this must be a mistake. Maybe, Rebel is confused. We have been working hours on end on finding The Hell Keeperz MC.
“Are you sure there is no mistake? Surely, Jilly would have told someone what she was doing.” Mom says and gets a tissue and I see the tears rolling down her cheek. Dad has her hugged under his arm. He hasn’t said anything.
“I need to go back there with Kaden. He needs someone to lean on. Is Laura with him?” Dad asks Rebel.
“No one is with Kaden and they won’t let anyone else back there. If one of the doctors that Jilly had seen for her heart had not been here, then they would have booted Kaden out. Jilly had the papers drawn up that Kaden has her medical power of attorney and the doctor has a copy in his office and remembered when it was brought to his office to be filed. The damn doctor in charge of Jilly’s case now, Dr. Sine, made Dr. Hodge call one of his clerks to go over to the office and fax here. I thought I was going to need to go and pick it up. Kaden made sure the hospital will have it on record from now on. Jilly had one filed here too but they have lost it. Jilly also has a DNR recorded.” I don’t know what to say to that. I know Jilly and I have discussed this subject, many times, and I have a DNR also, but right now all I want to do is find Jilly’s damn paper and tear it up. Everyone has gone quiet. I don’t know how long we all sit in silence lost in our own thoughts when I hear a noise and see Kaden watching us. I can tell by the redness in his eyes he has been crying. I try to swallow but my throat is too dry. Kaden walks over and sits beside my dad.
“Jilly’s heart is only working at forty percent. It is hard for her to breathe because her lungs are filling with too many fluids. Jilly is being stubborn and won’t let them drain her lungs and if she is still cognitive I cannot make the decisions for her. Her kidneys and liver are also failing. She has something they call MODS and it was caused by sepsis. The medicine that they were giving her did nothing to help her and they were giving her high doses of tramadol. I don’t know who is running this place she was at in Mexico, but I know I am going to have them shut down if it is the last thing I do. They gave her hope and now…” Kaden stops and tries to control his emotions. “now she is dying.”