Page 31 of Vaughn

I nod, watching both ways of traffic before I pull out into the flow of traffic. "I was able to drive some. On our property, but it was so different compared to how it is to drive on the street. I'm still trying to learn to parallel park. Vaughn tells me I shouldn't use the backup camera, but it's so much easier."

She busts out laughing. "Vaughn would be someone to tell you not to use the backup camera. Probably because he's been driving since he was like ten. That's how it goes around here. I'm telling you to use whatever makes it easiest for you."

"Thank you." I reach over and hold my hand up for a high-five. "I appreciate you saying that."

"Us ladies have to stick together. These men we're with they have a habit of believing in us in a way that over states our capabilities sometimes. Which, I mean, God bless 'em, but there are a few things I just can't do. If you were to ask Barrett though? He'd tell you I could do absolutely anything I put my mind to."

"It's sweet." I take up for them.

"It's also delusional." She laughs. "This is it, right up here. You're gonna need to parallel in front of the building, but use that camera if you need to."

I giggle, thinking about how Vaughn would be on me about it. "I will, and it'll be our little secret."

The two of us got back a little over an hour ago, and it's been crickets since. The sky outside is getting darker than night, and the wind has picked up considerably.

In the distance, I see a flash of lightning, and then the boom of thunder as it rocks the building we're in. I'm used to storms, as I've lived here my whole life. The past few years they've gotten worse than they've ever been, and we've dealt with a lot of damage. Out where I lived with my family, we were spared most of it, but Broken Falls has gotten hit a few times.

Rain starts beating against the windows, and that's when there's a loud blaring. "What is that?" I ask, as we're finishing up the closing procedures.

"The fucking tornado sirens. We need to get in the walk-in." Gabby grabs my hand and hurries me toward the middle of the store. "That means there's one radar indicated, it might not be on the ground, but it's probable. I'd prefer not to stick around and find out. C'mon."

I follow her, our hands glued together as we head to the walk-in. I'm beyond glad I'm not here by myself, I don't know what I would do without her. She pulls me in.

"Make sure you take all that stuff off the top." She indicates some glass jars of supplies. "We don't want that to fall off and hurt us. This isn't the best place to be, but it's the best place in this building to be. It's bolted to the floor."

There's a lot of loud noise, and then the lights go out. We hang onto each other, and I do what I've done for most of my life.

I pray. This time not for forgiveness, but salvation.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

Vaughn

I'm on my way home from what was a relatively quiet day, when the weather makes a change. I almost turn around and go back, but I want to go by Get Baked and see if the girls are upstairs or not. Hopefully they've been watching, and can see that it's definitely going downhill.

Taking my bluetooth off, I turn it to the local radio station.

Falls county needs to be on alert. This severe-warned storm is screaming your way from the north, quickly. Everyone needs to get into their safe spots. It's bringing with it some hail, as well as what looks to be rotation on the radar. There are storm spotters out, but nothing has been verified.

I head toward downtown, watching as everyone is starting to bring their outside merchandise in. A bolt of lightning strikes across the sky, and the wind picks up. There is no parking on the square, so I pull around the back, to where I've claimed one as my own. As soon as I get out, the rain starts pouring and the sirens come on. My heart pounds within my chest, because I don't know where Val is.

Running to the backdoor, I try to open it, but it's locked. Typically I'd be proud of them for making sure it's locked. So many times I've come through this door and they haven't evennoticed I'm here. I've bitched about it, especially as they're starting closing procedures and get involved with what they're doing.

But dammit. Today of all days? They decided to start fucking listening to me? Running around to the front, I burst through that door, and look around. Absolutely no one is inside, including the girls.

"Val, Gabs? Where are you two?" I yell.

Running to the back, I look around again, and when I don't see them. I try to think about where I would go if I were them, and it hits me. The walk-in. Hurrying over, I knock before opening the door.

They look up, surprise clear on both of their faces. Immediately, Val runs over, throwing her arms around me. "Oh my God, what are you doing here?"

"I saw the weather heading this way and wanted to make sure y'all were okay. As soon as I got here the sirens started. According to the news it's coming from the north, I think we're going to be okay, because they said they didn't see anything on the ground, but we need to stay until it stops."

I pull my phone out of my pocket, and connect to the local news station, so we can watch the broadcast. I huddle with the two of them, putting my free arm around Val.

Storm spotters are saying they do see rotation, and it has been on the ground. Radar indicates the winds are right at seventy miles an hour, along with some small hail.

"Do you think it's going to be bad?" Val questions, burying her face in my neck.

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