Page 34 of Fighting for Tawny

“That’s what I love about you, T. You’re so optimistic,” Jo remarked. “As if every day in prison isn’t exactly the same.”

Sadness dampened their laughter.

When the bus arrived, guards escorted Tawny, Yolanda, Terrin, and the seven other women to it. It didn’t surprise Tawny that Whitcomb was one of them. She’d half-expected it.

“Whitcomb. Are you merely walking us to the bus? Or have you been assigned to the camp?”

“Would you miss me if I said no?”

Tawny flashed a flirtatious smile. “Maybe.”

“Well, don’t worry. I’ll be guarding all of you at the camp.”

“I imagine you’ll see things differently on the ground. You know, coming down from your ivory tower.”

His eyes narrowed. “You’re a real smartass.”

“It’s a gift.”

Warden Stoltz waited next to the bus. Moira stood beside him. He greeted the women with an expression that Tawny could only deem as a sign of relief. “I wish you all nothing but the best. I know you’ll make us proud.”

He shook their hands as they boarded the bus one by one with their bags of personal things. Stoltz held Tawny’s hand too long, and her skin crawled when his thumb caressed hers. She yanked her hand away from his and climbed onto the bus behind Yolanda. A guard Tawny didn’t recognize sat in the back of the bus. The women kept their distance by selecting seats in the middle of the bus. Tawny slid next to Yolanda, and after Moira and Whitcomb took their places, the bus lurched forward.

Once they passed the prison gates, Yolanda murmured, “What’s wrong? You look angry.”

“I am. That SOB rubbed his thumb against mine when he shook my hand.”

Yolanda made a face. “Ew.”

“Listen, Yolanda, you and I can fight, and we have street smarts. But Terrin and the others, they’re not as tough as us. We have to protect them.”

“Protect them from what?”

“I’m not sure yet. Just be on your guard.”

“I hear ya, Ginger.”

It took almost an hour to reach the camp located a couple of miles northwest of Chino Hills State Park. Dense forest and undergrowth surrounded an open space with two bunkhouses carved from redwood and arranged in an L formation. The main bunkhouse contained three bunkbeds, a long redwood dining table, and a smaller card table. A moderate-sized kitchen occupied space along one wall. There were two horizontal dressers, six drawers each, twin nightstands, and a small sofa. A glassed-in area served as the fire captain’s office. On an old desk sat a laptop, a satellite phone, a landline phone, and a printer. The inmates weren’t allowed to have cell phones or use the office phone. A landline phone was attached outside the main bunkhouse where they could make and receive calls with permission. Laundry facilities were in the second bunkhouse. A basketball hoop was attached to it. Behind Bunkhouse B, a toolshed had been erected.

Moira ordered the women to line up single file. “As you can see, there’s only room for six of you in this bunkhouse. You’ll be assigned a bunk in a few minutes. Like at a regular fire station, you’ll be expected to share the responsibility for cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry. On your bunks, you’ll find two extra jumpsuits and underclothes. Your gear is stored on hooks and in cubbies. It’s your responsibility to maintain it and keep it in good working condition.

“There will be mandatory inspections, and we will continue drills to keep up your performance levels. During downtime, you’re free to entertain yourselves. One last thing. Here, you’re not penned in or handcuffed unless you become violent or aggressive. The temptation to run will be great. Overmaster it. The consequences will be severe.”

Moira paused as she read her clipboard. “Bunk assignments are as follows. Tawny, Yolanda, Terrin, Ronette, Joy, and Precious, you’re assigned bunks one through six here in Bunkhouse A. Dee, Debbie, Barbie, and Susan, you’re assigned bunks one through four in Bunkhouse B. While you six get settled, I’ll take the rest of you to the other bunkhouse.”

Tawny allowed the others to choose their bunks first. When Yolanda tossed her bag onto the top bunk, the others left the bottom bunk for Tawny. It was a silent acknowledgment of their bond. While waiting for the other four to join them, they organized their belongings and explored the bunkhouse.

They moved with wariness, unused to their freedom. Yolanda opened the refrigerator and exclaimed, “Look at this!” Everyone rushed over to see an array of soft drinks, bottles of water, milk, juice, and fresh meats and vegetables. “Is this for us? Can we really eat whenever we want?”

Terrin checked out the pantry filled with dry goods. “Someone stocked our favorite snacks.”

“And look.” Yolanda pulled out a box of a popular brand of brownie mix. “It’s not homemade but a damn sight better than those hard bricks that pass for brownies at the prison. I’ll make these tonight for dessert, with the captain’s permission.”

“You don’t need my permission, Yolanda,” Moira said from behind them. “Yes, you have rules to follow because, technically, you’re still prisoners of the state, but within these walls and in the field, you act as a team. You decide what to eat and when to eat. Now grab an axe. We’re practicing how to cut a line.”

They followed Moira into the woods. She stopped at a spot of dense overgrowth and explained why cutting a line helped prevent a fire from spreading. “Like a car, it needs fuel. This method keeps it from consuming the fuel.”

The women hacked at vines and small bushes until they’d cleared most of it and cut a line to Moira’s standards. Though a chill hung in the air, they were hot, sweaty, and tired by the time they returned to the main bunkhouse. After they cleaned their axes and washed their faces and hands, they settled around the long redwood table and ate a simple lunch of grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup.

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