by C. A. Henry
Stevie looked her over. “You don’t look like you need to lose weight. You’re only a little bigger than I am, even though you’re taller.”
“I didn’t mean I’d lose weight on purpose. I meant I wouldn’t be eating as much or as often, trying to conserve food, but there’s no reason to skimp on food at this point. We can’t possibly carry all of it, so we might as well eat what we want before we have to set out on foot.”
Holding the panties up, Stevie smiled. “Thanks for these. It’ll sure feel good to be clean again.”
~~~~
Helen studied the directions that Quincy and Demaris had given her. Their help had been priceless, keeping her off major highways and out of towns; however, she wasn’t sure how far they were from the river. She’d been driving for almost two hours and needed to find a road sign or some other indication of exactly where they were.
The sun shone bright and the day was surprisingly warm for December. There was still a lot of mud everywhere, but things seemed to be drying out rapidly.
Stevie sat in the passenger seat, reading off each step of the instructions as needed. The girl seemed to have a lot of common sense and was a real help to Helen, keeping her from having to check the notes while she drove.
“Let’s look for a mailbox, a sign, or something, that will tell us the name of this road. Watching for old barns or tree stumps is fine, but it doesn’t tell me if we’re almost to the river. I think we must be getting really close, and ….” Before Helen could finish, the motorhome’s engine sputtered a little. Something was wrong, but Helen knew they were on their last leg with fuel, anyway. The time she had dreaded had come. They’d be crossing the Mississippi without their home-on-wheels.
“Stevie, help me watch for a place to pull in, like a drive or a road that hasn’t been used lately. I think we have something going on mechanically and we need to stop.”
Stevie immediately put away the paper the directions were written on and began scanning the narrow, paved road ahead. The engine sputtered again, almost stalling out, but seemed to catch, then sounded smoother.
“There!” Stevie pointed. “That might be a place we can use.”
“Yeah, that looks good,” Helen agreed as she wrestled the big RV onto a dirt track that ran through the forest. “I just hope this doesn’t lead us into trouble.”
The rutted road took them around a thick grove of oak, hickory, and pine trees. Just as they reached a small clearing, the engine died. Helen shook her head and heaved a sigh of resignation.
“I think I might know what happened. The man we bought this from mentioned that sometimes, when the fuel level gets pretty low, the fuel filter can get clogged, especially during hot weather. In this model, the pump is inside the fuel tank.” She tried unsuccessfully to start the RV, then gave up. “I know the fuel was less than an eighth of a tank. If it’s really the fuel pump, there’s nothing we can do. This is not something with an easy fix, that’s for sure. I wish I knew a lot more about this than I do.”
“Well, if it won’t start, why don’t we rest for a little while? We were both up almost all night. I know I didn’t sleep at all; I was too scared, and too sad about my brother and mom. You must be exhausted, Helen. We’ll both think better if we get some sleep before we make a decision.”
“You’re right. Oh, I just remembered! I need to know something, Stevie. Do you know anything about handling firearms?”
“I do. I’m no expert; my dad taught us safety and how to shoot and reload, but I don’t know how to clean a gun. Why?”
“Because in the new reality we live in, you need to be armed. I’m amazed you made it as far as you did without major trouble. If I give you a handgun to carry, can you help me keep us safe? Could you shoot someone if you needed to?”
Stevie scowled, thinking hard. Helen was glad the girl hadn’t answered immediately. This was something a person needed to consider; impulsive, quick answers might not be the truth when things got hairy.
Raising her head, Stevie looked solemnly into Helen’s eyes. “I know I could. If I’d had a gun, I could have shot the men who hurt my mom, and the one who killed Dylan. If someone was about to hurt one of us, I not only could, I would shoot them.”
“Good,” Helen nodded. She opened a drawer and selected a Glock 26. “This is about your size, I think. See if it feels okay in your hand.”
Stevie took the subcompact 9mm and gripped it, aiming it toward the window, her index finger pointed straight ahead, not touching the trigger. Helen smiled a little, impressed that the girl really did know something about gun safety.
“Yeah, that feels good. I think I can handle this one. Does it kick much?”
“No. That’s what’s affectionately known as a ‘Baby Glock.’ It’s one of the most popular carry pistols there is. The recoil on this model is minimal. I’ve got a couple of 15-round magazines for it, too. I’ll teach you to clean it once we’re across the river. We need to get Lewis’s bag out and get it loaded for you. That book bag you’ve got won’t hold enough for the trek we have ahead of us. Let’s eat a bite, sleep a couple of hours, then we’ll get you ready.”
Chapter Nine
December 24-31, Western Mississippi
Helen’s brows lowered and she stared skeptically at the big bag that Stevie was loading. It was going to be heavy, and she doubted the girl could handle that much weight over a long distance.
“Are you sure you can lift that thing? Remember, we’re going to be hiking a long way. The last thing we need is for one of us to strain a back muscle being too ambitious with these packs.”
Stevie grinned. “I’m sure. I’m much stronger than I look, and you haven’t really seen my arms or legs. I was in sports at school and worked on strength training even after my school closed. It was something to do to keep from getting bored out of my mind. I’m more muscular than you’d expect. I can carry a pretty heavy pack, and we’ll be eating the food, so the pack will get lighter as we travel.”
“Well, that’s good, because I bet you’ve got fifty pounds in there already. Did you remember to put in some more clothes? You can have anything you can find. It’s going to get colder soon, so keep that in mind.”
“I did. I picked things I can layer, and I found a windbreaker that will really help, too. I think we should roll up a couple of the blankets and tie them to our packs. They’ll keep us warm at night and we can use them as cloaks during the day if we need to.” Stevie looked around, trying to see if there was anything else she should pack.
“That’s a good idea. I think I have some shoestrings somewhere we can tie them with.” Helen opened a drawer in the kitchen and rummaged around. “Ah! Here’s a couple of extra lighters, too. And here are the shoestrings. Let’s see what else…oh, yes! Some zip ties and a small tube of super glue. Those definitely go.”
Stevie looked thoughtful as she ran her fingers through her short hair. “Why don’t we go through every storage place in this motorhome, and see what we find that might be something we should take? You know, anything that would come in handy, but wouldn’t add too much weight.”
Helen nodded, and they began a systematic search of every drawer, cubby hole, and cabinet. Stevie discovered a pair of small scissors and a pocketknife, both of which she dropped into her pocket. Then she found a slender knife in a sheath, which she slipped into her right boot. In the top of the closet, she found a boonie hat, which she promptly put on her head, then she glanced in the mirror.
“Do you think I could pass for a boy? It might be safer if anyone we run into thought I was a guy.”
Helen considered the question. “From a distance, maybe. Up close, I doubt it. Your features are too feminine and your skin too soft-looking to belong to a boy. If your hair was cut in a more masculine style, it might help some.”
Stevie pulled the scissors out of her side pocket. “Would you do the honors? I guess the points of hair in front of my ears need to go, and maybe take some of the length off the top. I don’t want to draw
the attention of any men with, uh, sex on their minds.”
“Well, I guess you might want to put those dangly earrings away, then. And your necklace and ring. Tuck them down in a zipper pocket of your pack so you won’t lose them.”
Stevie handed Helen the scissors and sat down where Helen could get behind her. Helen took a deep breath and let it out in a big whoosh.
“Are you sure you want to do this? I’m not a barber or a fancy stylist, that’s for sure. It’s not going to look professional,” she warned.
“Cut it. I don’t care how it looks as long as it helps deter men. I heard them…with my mom…and I don’t want to catch any man’s eye. Jagged and choppy is fine. Make it look like a boy who cut it himself, or whatever, just not girly, please.”
Shrugging, Helen began to snip chunks of the cute red pixie cut, and within five minutes, Stevie looked much more boyish. When she put the boonie hat on, the change was even more pronounced.
She looked in the mirror again, turning her head from side to side, checking out her new hairdo. “I like it. I think if I keep my mouth shut, and slump my shoulders a little, I can pass for a young guy who doesn’t have any whiskers yet. And I’ll probably get a nice layer of dirt on me once we don’t have a handy way to wash, so that will help. Thank you. Now if I could just walk like a boy.”
“Don’t swing your hips or walk gracefully. Kinda clomp along, and if we run into anyone, keep the brim of your hat pulled down some and don’t let them get a good look at your face. I think this just might work.”
“Why don’t you try to pass for a guy, too? If we braided your hair differently, maybe like Willie Nelson does his, and you had a cap or hat, or you let me whack it off, you could pass for a man from a distance, I think. Well, as long as they don’t notice your…uh…your chest.”
Helen glanced down at her well-endowed bosom and sighed. “There’s no way to disguise that, I don’t think. No, wait! If I wrap strips of cloth around myself to smash them down some, and wear one of Lewis’s old flannel shirts, it might help. And, no, we are not going to cut my hair.”
She grabbed a gray and green plaid shirt from the tiny closet, shrugged out of her lavender sweatshirt, and put the shirt on. Stevie looked her over, and grinned.
“Yeah, that’s better, but you better put a tee on under it. It’s cooler out today. That shirt won’t be as warm as your sweatshirt unless you layer it. It’s also a better color than that lavender; it’ll blend in better.”
Helen smiled. “I’m really thankful we found each other, Stevie. You seem to be a smart young lady, one who thinks things through and comes up with some great ideas. How old are you, anyway?”
“I don’t even know what month this is. My eighteenth birthday may have passed already. Do you have any idea what the date is?”
Helen opened a zippered pocket on her pack and pulled out the small calendar that Damaris had given her.
“I’ve been marking the days off on this. December twenty-fourth. Wow. It’s Christmas Eve.”
A sad look came over Stevie’s face. “Happy birthday to me. I’m eighteen. Today.”
Helen noticed a tear creeping down the girl’s cheek. “And you’re missing your family. I understand. This is the first birthday you’ve had without your mom, I bet.” At Stevie’s nod, Helen gathered her in her arms and hugged her tight for a long moment. “I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“I doubt I’ll ever know for sure, but I heard one of the men say he was going to kill my mom after the rest of the gang had a turn at her. I wanted so much to help her and I’m ashamed I didn’t do something to stop them.” Stevie sobbed.
Helen patted the girl’s back and whispered. “You did exactly what you should have done, the only thing you could do. I know your mom would be happy to know you got away.
“Now, I have to go outside and bury some silver coins. We can’t carry all that weight, but maybe someday, we can come back and retrieve it.”
~~~~
Helen gave the interior of the motorhome one long last look and shrugged. “I’m kinda sad to leave this RV. It’s been both my safety net and my last connection to my husband, but I guess it’s time to move on. You ready?”
Stevie swung the pack onto her back and grinned. “Yeah, I guess I am. Please don’t feel sad about the RV. Your connection to your husband isn’t broken; like my mom and brother, he won’t be forgotten, so he isn’t really gone. What’s in our hearts is a stronger connection than any material object. We’re going to stick together, and pray a lot, and I know deep inside that we’ll make it.”
“Would you like to pray before we set out? I think we’ll need God’s help a lot.”
Stevie smiled a little, then asked, “May I lead the prayer, please?” At Helen’s nod, she bowed her head.
“Dear Father, we’re about to start a journey that we need Your help making. I thank You for helping me get this far and for bringing Helen and me together. Please guide us and keep us under Your protection at all times. Help us to make good decisions and use the blessings You’ve given us for this trip to Your glory. In Jesus’s name, amen.”
“Amen,” Helen echoed. “That was a wonderful prayer, and just about every time you say anything, I am more and more impressed with your maturity, Stevie. You’re a remarkable young la--, er, young man.” Helen chuckled. “I think I should start getting used to calling you ‘Steve’ just in case we do run into anyone. And I guess you can call me by a man’s name, too.”
“How about ‘Harry’ or something like that?” Stevie asked.
“Harry, it is! Let’s go, kid. We’ve got miles to travel.”
~~~~
Much of the terrain they crossed was farmland, which was open, but mostly dry. Whatever crops had been grown there were long gone, and the fields were bare dirt. The danger of being seen made them change their routine for several days. Each morning, they found an abandoned barn or shed to sleep in during the day and set out after dark to cross fields where there were few places to hide.
Both women dressed in the darkest clothing they had, wearing the same thing every day in spite of the clothes becoming increasingly dirty and smelly. There was no way to clean up after flopping down flat in the dirt whenever they heard sounds that indicated the presence of other people.
Stevie chuckled to herself when she thought of how her mother had always insisted on personal hygiene and neatly combed hair.
Helen noticed Stevie’s smile and asked, “What? Is something funny?”
“Yes,” Stevie whispered. “My mom was always picky about staying clean and well-groomed. I guess it goes along with being a hairstylist, but I was just thinking that being stinky and covered with dirt adds to our disguises. Who would think that two filthy bums out wandering around in the dark would be women?”
Helen grinned, her white teeth reflecting the moonlight. “That’s us: a couple of hobos wishing we could hop a ride on a freight train.”
They had no idea how far they’d traveled since leaving the RV behind. All they knew was that they’d crossed a couple of major highways and several paved roads. Exhaustion from sleeping on the ground and hoarding their food had taken a toll on them both. The days and nights became a blur of putting one foot in front of the other, crossing field after field, avoiding houses that might still be occupied, and steering clear of the few people they saw.
Eventually, they spotted a wooded area that looked like it might be a good place to hole up and get some rest. Both of them needed a break.
They entered the woods just as the sun was starting to turn the sky behind them pink. Stevie led the way deep into the trees, then stopped and turned to Helen.
“Should we stop at the first decent place we come to, or keep walking for a while? Should we start transitioning to daylight hours again, or keep moving at night?”
Helen glanced around, catching her breath before answering. “I honestly don’t know. We’ve pushed ourselves to cover ground, to get across those open fields, but I don’t think we
should try to tackle the river as tired as we are, and certainly not at night, so I suppose we should get used to days again. There should be a good spot around here to stop and rest, give our bodies time to recuperate. Besides, we need to set some snares if we plan to keep on eating. We’re getting low on food; it won’t last our whole way across Arkansas, even if we supplement it.”
“Okay. I’m glad you feel that way, because I’m not sure how many more nights I can do this. I have a little more energy left right now, though, and I think we should get further into the trees before we stop. Let’s look for a really good place and try to recharge before approaching the river.”
Chapter Ten
January 2, Mississippi River
“Listen!” Stevie whispered, holding up a hand in warning.
They stopped, straining their ears to catch any unusual sounds. Then Helen’s head came up and she met Stevie’s eyes. “The river. We can hear it, so it must be close. Wait….”
Stevie nodded that she understood. She tilted her head to listen intently, looking up sharply at a new sound, then hissed, “Yeah, I hear that, too. Voices, but I can’t make out how many or whether they’re male or female.”
“This is when we go into super-sneaky mode,” Helen cautioned. “Watch where you step, don’t talk, and be careful not to brush against any limbs. Stealth movements only, now.”
Skirting around some poison ivy, Helen led the way, moving cautiously downhill, closer to the voices. There was plenty of cover and once the voices became clear enough that they could hear actual words, they crouched low behind some bushes to listen.
A male voice, raspy and dry sounding, drifted up to where the women hid. “We ain’t gonna find no food around here. There ain’t a house in sight. Ain’t gonna find no wimmin, neither.”
A second voice chimed in. “Nope. We need to find a town or leastways a farm where there’s people livin’. Every person we seen lately has been dead or carryin’ a gun. Ah’m ‘bout ready to start eatin’ dirt, Ah’m so hungry.”