Page 20 of Freedom to Love

She hurriedly dug in her pockets and panic came over her face. She dug everything back out of her bag.

“What the fuck, what the fuck…” She was desperate, searching for her smack.

“Your heroin is gone,” Brynn said. “Save yourself the trouble.”

Bea straightened slowly and turned, the look of the devil on her face and burning red beneath her skin.

“What did you say?”

Brynn walked from the room, unwilling to fight. She was already pissed enough that Bea wouldn’t give in and come in to give a statement. They couldn’t run forever. And her comment about being sweet on Vander had embarrassed her. She hoped Vander hadn’t heard. Dyke? Is that really how Bea wanted to leave things? If Vander wasn’t there, it was very likely that she’d get into a fierce wrestling match with her younger sister over such words. There was disrespect and ignoring her advice and rules, but this…this was unacceptable. Who she was and who she was drawn to was no one’s business, and she’d tried to keep it that way the majority of her life. She’d even dated a few boys in high school for good measure.

“Everything okay?” Vander asked, turning from the living room window to face her. She appeared concerned, and Brynn searched for any kind of tick or blush that showed embarrassment. She saw nothing. Only the pale, gaunt face of an injured woman.

“We should go,” Brynn said. She grabbed her jacket, her duffel bag, and baseball cap. There was no sense in staying, and Vander was looking really bad.

“She’s not coming,” Vander said.

“No.”

“I’ll have to tell them where she is.”

“I know.”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“I understand.” Brynn opened the door and Vander whistled for Gunner who bolted out before them. Brynn waited by the door for Vander to exit, but Vander seemed to want to be the polite one. She waved Brynn through and followed her out. They both squinted in the morning sun.

“Where’s your car?” Brynn asked. “I can go get it.”

Vander stepped off the porch steps and walked ahead. “It’s this way.”

Brynn watched in disbelief for a moment but then caught up with her, walking back into the woods. Brynn wanted to ask her questions, but Vander was breathing hard and sweating. They walked through thick brush with Gunner crashing through ahead of them. Brynn noticed that Vander had come through the back, behind the cabin. Her car, a black Chevy crossover, was through the brush where it couldn’t be seen or heard. Brynn had a feeling Vander had been more than careful, had watched for a while.

“How long have you been here?”

They paused at the car and Vander dug the keys out and unlocked the doors. Hesitantly, she handed the keys over to Brynn.

“Since yesterday evening. I had to make sure you were alone and had no guns.”

“How could you possibly know that?”

“I snuck in when you two went to the creek.” She waved Brynn off as Brynn tried to walk with her to the passenger door.

“Why didn’t you say something then?”

Vander opened the door slowly and tried to hide a wince. “I was hoping to get you alone.”

Brynn thought back to the creek. How she had stripped and bathed nude, not a care in the world. How long had Vander been watching? She couldn’t help but ask; she had to know.

“Why didn’t you talk to me before I stripped and got in the creek?”

Vander flushed and slid in the car, shut the door, and looked straight ahead. Brynn climbed in next to her, watching her intently. Vander’s jaw flexed as if she were thinking deeply or nervous or both. The sight caused a stirring in Brynn’s chest.

“I had to make sure you wouldn’t run,” Vander said. She lowered her gaze but still didn’t look at Brynn. Then she struggled with her seat belt. Brynn reached to help, but Vander snapped.

“I’m fine. Really.”

Brynn paused, almost afraid to move. She backed away, studied her for a moment, and then started the car. An apology obviously wasn’t coming, but she brushed it off, knowing Vander felt like hell.

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