Page 66 of His Road Dog

Chapter 27

Nicole

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TWO MORE MEN WALKEDout of the woods, a quarter-mile from the cabins. Nicole searched the area behind them, waiting for her dad to show up. Finally, seeing him hauling out a filled black garbage bag, she rushed forward and grabbed the end, taking half the weight off his back.

"You know better than to be here." Her dad's gaze softened his words. "Is your mom okay?"

"She's visiting with Lola and Esther." She lugged the bag higher. "I wanted to talk to you."

"It couldn't wait?"

"Not really." She went with her dad to the white paneled van, waited their turn, and then helped heft the bag up into the vehicle.

Her dad looped his arm over her shoulders and walked her away from the others. "Talk to me."

"I'm going to take off in the morning." She peeked up at her dad, not wanting to disappoint him. "I haven't told mom yet."

"Why are you hesitating?"

She shrugged. "I'm not sure where I'm going."

"That never stopped you the first time you left home." Her dad caressed her cheek. "You haven't been happy here."

"I'm happy to be with you and mom."

Her dad's mouth softened. "We love having you home, but we want you to be where you find happiness around you. Life is too short to hide."

"I'm not hiding." She swallowed.

Essentially, she was hiding to stay safe. She had to remind herself that her parents at one time lived like everyone else. They went to public school. They had jobs. They'd dreamed about a different way of life. Luckily for them, they'd found a spot where they thrived and found their joy.

Her parents never thought of their way of life as hiding, but listening to some kind of inner voice that directed them on the right path.

They hadn't always lived on the commune. Her dad understood there were more opportunities for her than in the middle of a state forestry area.

She was different than her mom and dad. She sought something that wasn't attainable in the commune.

"I enjoy working and the things that are available out there. I like not knowing what tomorrow brings and surviving around lots of different types of people." She inhaled swiftly. "I need to go."

"Your mom told me there's a man you've set your sights on." Her dad held up his hand when she opened her mouth. "I've always let you lead your life, but I want you to think twice if he's the cause of all your heartache."

"He's not the one who hurt me," she whispered.

She couldn't explain how she felt because she hadn't figured out why her happiness depended on Priest. To know if Priest had sent her away with the thought of never seeing her again, she'd need to speak with him.

More and more, the desire to leave the commune and go somewhere else started to make more sense. On the outside, away from home, she could clear her mind. She could also call Priest whenever she wanted and talk with him. Or, if she found another area where she could find contentment, she would force herself to put him in her past.

All she knew was staying here, doing nothing but waiting, wasn't helping her. She couldn't keep sneaking off to town and trying to call Priest from the payphone. It was apparent their schedules hadn't meshed, even though she'd tried to call him three different times, hoping to catch him at home.

He was the president of Tarkio Motorcycle Club. Business could've pulled him away. She certainly hoped he still wasn't dealing with Mark Coveck. She'd rather stay here and not force him to exert the energy going after someone who meant absolutely nothing to her.

"I need to find out if what my heart is telling me is true." She blew out her cheeks. "I can't sit here and wonder. All it does is make me miserable."

"You deserve to be happy, baby." Her dad held out his arms. "Come here and let me give you some love."

She walked into his embrace. Closing her eyes, she clung to the security of being with him. But she was no longer a child. She was an adult and had a taste of the life she wanted to live.

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