Savage (Demented Souls #15)

4. 4

4

D onna hadn’t dared to hope it would happen this soon. She sat in the car, watching out the window and keeping her expression blank as she watched the landscape speed by. They headed into Fort Collins with a load of home canned foods, jellies, honey and specials the others had called it, to sell at the farmer’s market. She didn’t know if she’d have a chance to slip away, but she would keep her eyes open and use every opportunity that might come her way.

She didn’t know if she would manage to get away today, but she would do what she could. The hardest part was waiting. But she knew she needed to get away soon. She had to protect her secret and soon she wouldn’t be able to.

Arriving at the farmer’s market, Donna followed directions, setting up the stall, helping unload the foodstuffs and setting up the display. She was careful to show no life, no sign she might be thinking for herself. She couldn’t let them know she was going to slip away as soon as she got a chance.

She had noticed there was a bus stop just down the street. If she got lucky, she could get there and get a bus out of town. The farther away she could get, fast, the harder it would be for the brothers to find her.

After everything was set up, she worked at the booth for a while, selling the items, taking cash, and making change.

“Sister Donna. We’re all set here for a while,” Sister Maggie said with a kind smile. “Why don’t you wander around and see what all is being sold. Maybe you can come up with some new ideas of things we can make to sell.”

Donna’s heart leapt. But she had to keep her expression from showing it.

“All right. Anything in particular I should look for? Are we just looking at food stuffs or are we open to other craft items?”

“Oh, good idea. Look at things that have been sewn, knitted, that kind of thing. It’s something the women of the commune can do to add to our income. I’m glad I chose you today.” Sister Maggie patted her shoulder then waved her off to wander the market for a while.

Donna strolled through the market, forcing herself to take her time and look at what each stall was offering. She made it to the end of the row and turned the corner, on the next row of stalls she continued to stroll along the stalls, taking time to pause and take a closer look at wares. She used that as an opportunity to check behind her to make sure no one from the commune was following her. After stopping several times to look more closely at the different stalls, and check behind, Donna felt as certain as she could be that she wasn’t being followed. When she reached the end of that row, she turned as if she was finished at the market and headed for the parking lot.

Act naturally, she reminded herself. There was too much at stake. If she acted as if she belonged here, she knew where she was going then fewer people would notice her.

As she made her way across the parking lot, she pulled the kerchief from her hair and quickly unpinned and unbraided her hair. It was the easiest and fastest way to change her appearance. Next, she looked down at the button up shirt and ankle length skirt she wore and quickly tugged the shirt from the waistband, unbuttoning the bottom few buttons and tying the ends instead. She wished she had a way to change the color or maybe get into pants instead of the skirt, but the small changes would have to do. She hoped.

When she made it to the bus stop, she looked around, hoping to find information about when the next bus would be through. She saw nothing but there was a bus approaching.

Relief and hope washed through her.