Page 44 of Almost There
Robin stood silently for a moment and then straightened her shoulders. “Listen, I know I was a mess a few days ago, but I made a promise to myself to help you out. I can take care of a few screaming kids for a bit if there’s something you need to do. Trust me, I’ve dealt with worse in my line of work. Have you ever held a drag queen’s wig as she goes on a rampage while orchestrating just the right lights in the middle of the dance floor to let her voice be heard over a vomiting crowd?”
“No.” Tessa giggled. “I can’t say that I’ve ever done that.”
“Well it was freaking beautiful.” Robin cracked a smile and wrapped her arm around Tessa’s shoulders. “Can you tell me what’s bothering you?”
Tessa sighed, drawing strength from the warm and simple embrace as she scanned the open fields. “Something just doesn’t feel right today. I think I’m overly worried because of the way Sally sounded last night and the situation with the stop tomorrow.”
“That’s why you were panicking about the gas all morning?” Robin asked. Tessa nodded.
“I trust Arthur and Sally. Really, I do. But I don’t think it’s safe to be solely dependent on their plan.” She squinted thinking she’d seen a human shape move over the fields of dirt in the back field, but it was only a tumbleweed.
“Alright, so maybe we trade with these people for the extra gas,” Robin offered. “They have tractors and stuff so they must keep a lot on hand. Then we can drive straight through and not worry about the last stop. And,” she paused to bump her hip against Tessa’s side, “we’ll take shifts this time.”
“That could work.” Tessa smiled, still staring at the fields. Moose had made his way out there and was enjoying the scent filled hunt.
“I can give them some money,” Mason called out excitedly as he jumped off the swing. “I brought my piggy bank.” Tessa’s smile fell and she cringed, realizing both kids had stopped playing and were listening to the conversation.
“And I can give them my mermaid Barbie,” Emily chimed in. “Maybe their kids want to play with her even though her hair is a teensy bit cut.”
Tessa’s heart swelled with pride and simultaneously broke for them, hating they were even in this position. “Come here guys.” Both kids ran straight to her open arms and she hugged them tight. “Don’t worry about this, okay? Mom will take care of it.”
“So I get to keep my Barbie?” Emily asked as she took a step back.
“You get to keep her.” Tessa laughed as she ruffled the top of Emily’s hair. “They don’t have kids here anyway. This playset is for their grandchildren.”
“Um, Tessa. Are you sure about that?”
“That’s what he said.” She turned to look at her, confused.
Robin clasped a hand over her mouth as she pointed to the second story window. A curtain moved up and down, a signal of distress, and a little girl’s face pressed against the glass, waving frantically as she tried to get their attention.
“Moose come here!” Tessa barked, grabbing the kids by their arms before they slipped away to the swings.
“That looks like a kid, right?” Robin tripped over her words, frozen to the spot, but Tessa was already moving back. Her eyes were trained on the open door to the house and her heart beat hard in her chest. Something IS wrong.
“Mom.” Mason looked up to her with wide eyes.
“Get to the truck,” Tessa’s voice was a feral low command.
“I shouldn’t have left the rifle.” Robin gasped as she turned around, getting ready to sprint.
“Looking for this?” Laughter came from behind them as the door to Old Blue was slammed shut. “You know it’s not smart to leave your weapons laying there in an unlocked vehicle.”
No. Tessa spun around, shoving the kids behind her back. A heavyset man with a backwards turned ballcap held Landon’s .30-30 Winchester in his hands. Moose came running across the yard, spit flying from his massive jaws as he barked. The man by the truck placed the rifle at his side and in a single sweep pulled out a pistol from the waistband of his jeans, aiming it at the dog.
“Moose lay down!” Tessa screamed, blood pounding in her ears as the gunshot fired and the bullet whizzed through the air. Her children cried out, clutching to her legs, and she covered their faces as she shoved them down onto their knees into the gravel rocks that dug into their skin.
Robin stepped forward, placing Tessa and the kids behind her, with her hands raised. “What do you want from us?”
The man’s laughter echoed through the yard and made her stomach churn. She chanced a glance to the field where Moose was but couldn’t see him anymore. The kids were screaming as they held to the back of her shirt.
“What are you thinking, Gerald?” The newcomer hitched Landon’s rifle against his shoulder and turned to address the man on the porch.
“I’m thinking it took you long enough to get back.” Gerald stood in the open doorway, well rested now and fully alert. He looked over the yard and his lips curled into a cruel smile as he focused on Tessa’s face. “You know, I gave them an open invitation and they decided not to come in.”
“That’s rude.” The big man scoffed, moving forward with the pistol trained on Robin’s head. “What do you say, boss? Should I escort these fine ladies into the sitting room?”
Gerald reached up to scratch his beard, watching them lazily for a moment before he snatched out the handgun from the side holster under his hooded sweatshirt. “You might be weird, Scott, but I’ll play this game with you. Besides, they look parched. Let’s get our visitors something to drink.”
