Page 64 of His Road Dog

The others had their routines, and while it was nice to catch up with everyone and join in on the gatherings, she felt like an outsider. Her thoughts were ridiculous. The commune was her home.

But she was unhappy. That was an emotion that was unfamiliar to her.

Grabbing a sweater out of her bag, she slipped her arms into the sleeves. The added warmth only made her feel more alone.

Like she had a habit of doing every night, she dug out the piece of paper Priest had given her and recited his phone number in her head. It was a foolish ritual as if knowing it by heart made her closer to him.

Her parents had yet to buy a cell phone like a lot of people were carrying nowadays. Living on state land, they couldn't get the telephone company to string a line, even if they wanted to secure themselves to the land—which they wouldn't even if someone paid the bill.

Living without electricity and all the conveniences that came with being hooked to the grid were things she missed.

The music outside filtered through the open windows. It was late, but she knew the party would go on until dawn. The men had the day off tomorrow.

She sighed. Her temporary stay with her parents had hit the thirty-two-day mark. She'd lost hope of ever making it back to Missoula with each passing day.

She wanted to know what was happening back in Montana. If Michael had stopped Coveck from wanting to use her. If Kristi had hired someone new.

She looked around the room. Mostly, she wanted to know if Michael ever thought about her or if he already found another woman to take her place.

Sometime during her stay at home, she'd started thinking of him as Michael and not Priest. It kept her closer to him, even though they were apart.

Her stomach cramped, and she hugged her middle. She should've talked with him, explained where she was in their relationship and how she was feeling about being so easily replaced.

She walked over to the dresser and grabbed the keys to the car she borrowed and her purse, and left the house. Not realizing she'd made up her mind, she ran toward the entrance of the commune.

Almost to the gate, she spotted Charlie sitting on a boulder, a loaded shotgun on his lap. She slowed and came to a stop.

"What's happening?" Charlie never moved from his spot.

She held up her keys. "I'm going to go into town."

"Alone?"

"Yeah." She looked over her shoulder, back at where everyone continued to party. "I won't be long. Maybe a half-hour."

The community always had men standing guard to protect what they'd created. Though they couldn't stop someone from leaving, most of them believed the fewer trips out, the less risky it was for the commune.

"The locals in town haven't changed since you lived here." Charlie frowned. "Why don't I get one of the men to go with you?"

"No. I need to go alone." She walked toward the car. "If my parents happen to ask where I am, tell them I'll be back. I shouldn't be that long, though."

She unlocked the door and slipped into the car. There were no rules about coming and going, but it was the middle of the night, and besides dealing with those in town, she had to drive through the forest. There were bears and the occasional snoop that tried to get around the commune to higher ground, where it was off-limits—per the community. Luckily, the men guarded the perimeter.

White knuckling the steering wheel the whole way, she rolled into the closed gas station thirty minutes later and sighed in relief that there was still a payphone. She dug through her purse, finding all the change, and hurried out of the car.

4-0-6-5-5-5-3-1-7-2

She repeated the numbers as she slid coins into the slot, and a dial tone came over the receiver. She pushed each number, making sure she got it right.

Reaching behind her, she closed the bi-folding glass door.

On the other end, Michael's phone rang.

And rang.

And rang.

She let it ring ten times before she got her money back and tried calling again. Her hands shook, waiting for Michael to pick up the phone. It was the middle of the night. If he wasn't at home, was he at the clubhouse? Was he with another woman?

She tried three more times before giving up. Her hope to hear his voice dashed, leaving her depressed. Sliding into the car seat, she sat, staring at the empty phone booth.

Her heart hurt, and she had no way to make it feel better.

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