Chapter 17
The more distance they put between themselves and the barn, the more Veronica second-guessed her decision to make a run for the city.
Though the encounter had been close, they had both come from it unscathed.
Still, it was a stark reminder that there was a very clear and present danger to them wherever they went.
Had it been a few minutes later, she didn’t want to think about how dire the outcome might have been.
When they reached the fork in the road where a decision needed to be made, Veronica hesitated.
The bike was already running low on fuel, and it seemed like an ideal time to dismount and have a conversation with Bella.
Though Veronica was the one with the bike and the one leading the way, she wouldn’t make a decision for Bella without her input.
The last thing she wanted to do was make the girl feel like she was less than an equal on their journey.
She would do everything in her power to keep the child safe as long as the girl wanted to stay with her.
If at any point she decided to venture off on her own, Veronica had no intention of stopping her, though she would do her very best to dissuade her.
“We’re going to need to refuel,” Veronica said. “We’re also going to have to make a decision as well.”
“What’s going on?” Bella asked.
“When we left the barn, I was able to catch a glimpse of the man you thought you saw. He definitely wasn’t alone, and I saw more than one man in the forest. I think if we end up going through the city, it’s going to be a lot more danger we could come across.”
“I knew I saw something, but I wasn’t certain until you just said that you spotted them as well. I guess that means we’re going to end up taking the long way to the farm.”
“It’s certainly something I would prefer to do in order to keep us as safe as possible. I just think going through the city is going to be more dangerous than what it’s worth, and adding an hour or more is going to be worth it in the long run.”
Bella sighed. “I’ll do whatever you think is best, but I am really excited to get to see the farm where you grew up.”
“I know, but that’s why I think it would be best if we make the decision together. I’m not going to decide something that’s going to affect you as much as it’s going to affect me without letting you help me make the decision.”
Seeing the look of complete shock on Bella’s face tugged at Veronica’s heartstrings.
It was obvious she wasn’t used to having a say in anything that happened around her.
Not only was it infuriating, but it was disheartening as well.
Veronica was well aware of the shortcomings the government faced when it came to the foster system, but knowing something was broken and seeing how it affected real people firsthand were two entirely different things.
She absolutely despised the fact that Bella had been abused within the system, and one day she vowed to right those wrongs.
For the time being, though, Veronica was determined to make Bella see just how valued she was.
The homestead would be good for her, restoring her faith in humanity after years of abuse.
After a few minutes of indecision, Bella looked at Veronica with a worried expression on her face.
It was the opposite of what Veronica had been trying to do.
She didn’t want Bella to suffer more, yet the child genuinely seemed upset.
Veronica smiled at her, trying to put the girl’s mind at ease once more.
“I don’t know that I’ve ever had anyone talk to me the way you do, who allowed me to be part of a decision that was going to affect me,” Bella said.
“That’s one of the reasons I wanted to get as far away from the foster system as I could.
With that being said, I trust you to make the decision that is going to keep us the safest.”
“Going around the city is our best bet.”
“As long as we get there in one piece, that’s all I care about. I’m looking forward to a little peace and quiet at the homestead. If everything is like you described it, I don’t really care how we get there, and I know it’s not going to be worth losing the bike.”
Veronica smiled. “You’re quite grown up for your age.
I’m going to treat you like an adult because you’ve practically been raising yourself for most of your life.
There’s never going to be a time that I don’t ask your opinion, especially when the outcome concerns you.
I’m not always going to know what’s best for you, but your well-being is very important to me. ”
Bella blushed. “No one has ever treated me like this. I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to thank you enough for treating me the way I’ve always known I should be treated. Nobody has ever given a damn about my feelings or my opinion when it comes to my own well-being.”
“All of that is going to be in the past now. From here on out, you’re going to have a voice all of your own. I’m always going to expect you to use it.”
With the knowledge that Veronica genuinely valued her insight in her mind, Bella once again looked around.
She seemed to be giving the question at hand a great deal of consideration.
As she looked down one road and up the next, Bella took a deep breath and turned back to Veronica.
It appeared she had made up her mind, taking into account both their safety and the added time and resources it would take to circumvent the city.
Veronica couldn’t help but feel pride for the young woman, knowing it was a huge breakthrough for her.
“I think that even though it’s going to take us a little longer to get there, it’s going to be for the best to go around the city. I would much rather go the long way and take a few extra hours to get there than risk our safety.”
Veronica chuckled. “I agree with you on every level. I’m ready to get this voyage out of the way, but risking everything isn’t going to be worth it. At the end of the day, a few extra hours are not going to make a difference as long as we still have wheels underneath us.”
“Sounds to me like we have a plan now. Is there anything I can do to get us on the road any faster?” Bella asked.
She smiled, knowing the young girl was willing to do whatever it took to get them to the homestead.
She quickly glanced around the surrounding area and spotted a car about fifty yards down the road.
Veronica knew they were going to need some more fuel if they were going to get to their destination.
Pointing in the direction of the car, she turned back to Bella and grinned.
“Do you see that car down there?”
Bella nodded.
“We’re going to need fuel if we’re going to get there. If you can, run over to that car and see if there is any fuel or food in it. Make sure you search it well and see if there is anything that can be used at all.”
Watching the young girl scurry off in the direction of the abandoned vehicle, Veronica smiled.
She really was quite insightful and intelligent for her age.
Once again, Veronica was left thanking a god she wasn’t sure she believed in for sending the young girl into her path.
She didn’t want to think about how Bella’s life would have turned out had they not run into each other.
Veronica quickly started to work, unscrewing the gas cap as she unstrapped the fuel can and attached the nozzle to it.
They were running low, both in the tank and in the can.
Hopefully, Bella would have luck with the abandoned vehicle.
After several minutes, she felt the gas reach the tip of her middle finger inside the tank and quickly stopped pouring.
It had been a few minutes since she had seen Bella, and Veronica quickly set down the can to glance back at the vehicle where Bella had been working moments before.
When she saw the girl’s book bag lying on the ground, the gas tank door on the vehicle opened, but Bella was nowhere in sight, her stomach plunged to the ground.
Within seconds, her hand was wrapped around the butt of the pistol tucked into her jeans as she sprinted away from the bike in the direction of where she had last seen Bella.
She called out for her, her panic growing each time she didn’t get a reply.
If something had happened to her, Veronica would never forgive herself for as long as she lived.