Page 48 of Operation: Unify

“You do?” Her eyes widened. “I thought I’d have to convince you. Especially since you’ve called me your wife twice this week.”

He shook his head, hoping to convey how much her opinion meant to him. “While I agree, a piece of paper doesn’t make you family, it does mean an awful lot. Especially when it means something to you.”

While some would say his actions showed her he cared, he wanted her to know he was more than a protector who’d show up and flex his muscles. He was there for her in every way, especially emotionally. She might even need to know that the most.

Lacy helped Melindainto her car and waited for her to get comfortable and buckled in. She’d have to use the drive -thru at the pharmacy to get the medications Melinda would need in the next few weeks to combat pain, but the doctor had been sure that rest was the best medicine, especially for her headaches.

Even knowing Tod and his brother were in jail, Lacy kept on high alert. In a small town like this one, he might have friends willing to do something to stop her for him. After transferring her bags from the back of Connor’s truck to the trunk of her car, she finally settled in behind the wheel, only feeling safe once the doors were locked.

“I never dreamed I’d be alive to leave town,” Melinda mumbled as she stared out the passenger window. “I really thought my life was over. I’d happened upon a video online that showed how to permanently delete phone calls from your log. I knew he had threatened my aunt, but I figured he would never recognize your number, even if he found it. I could claim it was a mistake.” She slowly shook her head and heaved a deep sigh. “I’m sorry for all this.”

Regret was one thing Lacy wanted to avoid. “Don’t. Not for one second. I’d do all of this three times over if it meant you got out of that situation. You didn’t deserve to be there. I know, you’re going to convince yourself over the next few weeks that it wasn’t really that bad. He didn’t do all those things. You weren’t really in danger. Our minds like to convince us that we’re over-reacting. I’m here to remind you that you aren’t. You are a survivor, and you are worth every second of effort to get you out.”

Melinda flashed an embarrassed smile. “Thanks. I don’t know how to respond to that.”

“And you won’t for a long time. Encouragement will make you uncomfortable because you’re used to being put down. You’ve come to accept nothing more than the minimum. There’s more to life than that.”

One thing she needed to know was how Tod had gotten into the house. “Melinda, you don’t have to answer this, but at the rental, there was no forced entry. How did Tod get in? What happened?”

Melinda swallowed so hard Lacy heard it. “He told me he was sorry, just like he always does. He told me he’d never hit me again if I just came back. He was so quiet, so contrite, so believable. I wanted to trust him. I keep believing that my life won’t be wasted if he changes. So, I opened the door, and then he hit me over the head. I’m so sorry, Lacy.” Melinda hung her head.

“You don’t have to apologize. You’ve lived on hope for a long time. Hope, then disappointment.” She pulled out onto the road behind Connor and Randy followed her in their little caravan toward home. While she hadn’t planned when she left to return with more people, the willingness to help others made those in need attracted to the cause, whether they fit or not. Wayside and the people there would always want to help people, meaning those in need would gravitate toward Connor and those around him.

After days of watching behind her back, the road ahead seemed a little too open. Connor had been at her side for only a few days but having him in the truck ahead felt too far away.

“You mind if I turn on the radio and rest?” Melinda said as she dug her medication out of the stapled bag from the pharmacy.

“Of course. Rest if you need. There’s a long road ahead of us. We will either stop along the way or get back to Wayside early in the morning.”

Part of her hoped to push through the night so she could get home to all that was normal. Odd how the terrible stories from the survivors there were welcome compared to what she’d been through. Even being caught by one of Viceroy’s wives hadn’t been as terrifying as being on the run from a killer.

The sun dipped over the horizon to her left as they headed straight north. Random, widely spaced houses gave way to nothing but long stretches of land. While concentrating on theroad, she couldn’t tell if it was privately owned or if they were traveling through some type of preservation area. All that was apparent was they were alone on a long section of highway.

Headlights appeared in the distance far behind Randy’s vehicle. While they could simply be another driver, her thoughts refused to ignore them. They seemed to be traveling fast, as they closed the distance quickly.

Their little caravan hung close together. If the person wanted to pass there were no other drivers coming, but they hung in behind Randy like they either couldn’t pass or wanted to stay with the group.

Lacy’s phone rang and she grabbed it, wanting to keep the car quiet for Melinda. “Hello,” she muttered, keeping her voice low.

“Hey. We have company. I just talked to Randy, and he said it’s Cal in a different car. We both know this isn’t about money anymore, it’s personal. We stopped his brother and had him arrested. They must not have had enough evidence to hold Cal. Knowing there aren’t any large towns between here and home, we’re going to keep driving. Unless he starts some road rage, we’re safest keeping on the road in our vehicles. When we get close to Wayside, I’ll let them know if he’s still tailing us. My hope is that he sees we aren’t threatened and backs off when we cross the state line. Federal crimes carry a lot more weight than state.”

Connor was right, of course, but that didn’t make her mind feel any better about the fact that a man who wanted them either dead or hurt was following them closely. “Okay. Let me know if the plans change. I have my caffeine at my fingertips and Melinda is asleep.”

“Good. Let her rest. She’ll be worried enough if she wakes up and sees a car back there.”

Lacy hung up and glanced in her rearview. Randy was now hanging very close to her as they drove, preventing Cal frompassing him to get to her. If he tried, he may try to shove her off the road. Defensive driving was hard enough to do in the daylight but at night, while tired? She prayed for God to protect them and to keep Cal away. He’d seemed like the one of the two brothers who was less likely to want to personally do anything, but if he was following them, that couldn’t be the case.

She slowly sped up to get closer to Connor, allowing Randy to adjust his speed and do the same. While Connor was right, there were no large towns on the way where they could find safety in numbers, there were small towns. Within those, they would have to slow down and possibly even stop. Would Cal use that as his opportunity?

She glanced over to Melinda whose chin lay against her shoulder in a terribly uncomfortable looking position. She was probably so groggy that she wouldn’t notice later. She had bandages up both arms and various healing wounds and bruises were visible on her face and neck. Over the years she’d been married, she’d toughened herself. She had a will to survive, which was why she was here. There was no way she’d let Melinda be caught or hurt again.

Her thoughts tumbled around in her head. She needed to stay within the safe bubble of Connor and Randy, but a rebellious part of her wanted to pass Connor and speed for home. Run. As fast as she could. If she got pulled over by police, all the better. She could tell an officer why she had to run.Lord! Help me decide what I should do. Is this Your Spirit, prodding me to do something I feel like I shouldn’t to avoid harm or is this doubt? Help me decide.

Instantly, she felt the tension in her foot release. She’d been ready to press the gas pedal and go, but if she was to relax, then God had this. He didn’t need her to do anything more than what she was already doing.

A small town loomed in the distance. It was only the soft glow of a bunch of security and street lights delineating a segment of humanity was asleep ahead. Connor kept heading right for the town as they passed a sign on the side of the road saying they’d entered Colorado.

They wouldn’t have to stop for gas anytime soon, since they’d all filled up before leaving New Mexico but any stop was dangerous. The closer they came to the town the more tension rose in her stomach. She vaguely remembered going through this area on her way and getting stuck at a hanging stoplight that they didn’t turn to flashing red at night like many small towns did. Unless Connor planned it just right, one or more of them would have to stop, possibly separating them and worse, giving Cal time to do something.

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