Chapter 9
CHAPTER
NINE
Troy continues to give me driving lessons whenever we get the opportunity.
We have to be careful. Just because the governors don’t seem concerned with us doesn’t mean they aren’t watching.
We find free time by getting our work done quickly.
As long as we keep the storage building stuffed full of items, there’s no reason for them to suspect we’re doing anything but working.
“You’ve got the hang of it now,” Troy tells me as he’s dropping me off after another night of work and lessons. “I think you’d pass the driver’s test.”
“Sure, I’ll just go let Keeper know I’m going to get my license,” I scoff.
“I meant once we’re in the real world. You caught on fast.”
The real world. For a while, I forgot so much exists outside our little bubble of hell.
Troy showed me a spot in the woods, a hole under a tree that holds a plastic bag of money.
It’s not the only spot where he has one hidden, but he wanted me to know in case of an emergency.
It isn’t much. He can only skim a few dollars here and there from the market without getting caught.
We have a plan and it’ll take us a while, but I’m okay with that. Things are fine right now. Even if it takes us a year to get what we need and find the opportunity to run, it’ll be alright. We’re young and have a whole life outside of this place to look forward to if we don’t screw it up.
“I had a good teacher.”
He beams at me. “Oh, I’m the best. Can you be ready a couple of hours early tonight?”
“Sure, do we need to move stuff from storage to the market?” That’s the only reason we usually get an early start, before the stores close.
“No, storage is stuffed full and so are the market stalls. I want to take you out to have some fun.”
My anxious expression doesn’t escape his notice, and he reaches for my hand. “We won’t get caught. It’s not a big risk, I promise.”
“Okay. I’ll be ready.” I have no idea what he has planned but I’m excited, despite my nervousness. We’re walking a fine line, trying to have any sort of life here while also plotting our escape.
Once he pulls away, I get on with my duties for the day. I’m heading back to my trailer to sleep when I notice Jane sitting behind her place with her head in her hands. There’s no one around as I veer off the path to check on her.
Her newborn sleeps in a bouncer under the shade of an umbrella while her toddlers play in a tiny wading pool. “Jane?”
Her head whips up and she swipes at the tears on her face. “You scared me.”
“Sorry. What’s wrong? Did Nolan punish you?” Her husband, like most of the rest in the cult—funny how it’s getting easier to accept that word—believes punishing his wife for a mistake is part of his duties. He paddles her like an unruly child when she angers him.
“No, he’s being made a governor.”
I’m not sure why that’s upset her. “Is that a bad thing?”
She looks over at me and heartbreak shines from her eyes. “You have to keep this between us. They’re going to make the announcement this evening but right now no one knows. Keeper is going to make some big changes.”
Fear drips down my spine. That doesn’t sound good. We both glance around to be sure we’re alone before I ask. “What changes?”
“Another Guardians of His Natural Order collective will be joining ours. They’re coming from Iowa.”
“I didn’t know there was more than one.”
Jane nods, wiping tears away again. “Neither did I. It’s a lot of people.
More governors and stewards, but especially unmarried women and girls.
They’re moving all their mobile homes to Hearth and Vine.
Keeper’s going to announce new privileges for the governors.
The first is that they can have multiple wives. ”
My jaw drops and I sit on the small stool beside her. “You’re kidding.”
She shakes her head. “Nolan said it’s nature’s way. That it’s how God intended. More wives mean more babies. He’s going to marry other women.” She drops her face into her hands and sobs. “I gave him three babies in four years. Why isn’t that enough?”
I glance around quickly then reach over to hug her. “It is, Jane. It is enough. This isn’t your fault.”
“He’s moving out tonight.”
“What?”
“That’s another change. All the governors will live with Keeper in the main house.
They’ll only visit their wives and children.
I’ll be alone with the kids all the time.
” She looks over at me. “I don’t understand.
I love him so much. Why would he want this if he loves me?
Just because he can take another wife doesn’t mean he has to. ”
My heart breaks for her, especially because she blames herself.
She believes their teachings and she embraced being a wife and mother.
The truth is none of this is right, but she won’t see that and I can’t risk trying to convince her.
She’s my friend but she’s also one of them now. All I can do is try to comfort her.
“I’m so sorry. It’s going to be okay. You’ll still see Nolan and you have your kids. We can find excuses to work together sometimes too. You won’t be alone.”
She takes a deep breath and gets ahold of herself. “I’m sorry. You’re the last person I should be complaining to about being alone.”
“Don’t be sorry. I’m fine.” I’m far better off than she is right now. We’re both trapped in different ways, but I’m going to get out.
In that moment, I know I’m going to find a way to get her out too. Not just her but everyone. Once I’m far enough away, I’ll go to whatever authorities I can, or to the press. I’ll burn this place to the ground if I have to.
After the talk with Jane this morning, I didn’t get a lot of sleep. I’m not sure exactly how it’ll affect our plans to escape, but if more people joining means Troy and I will be assigned to other duties, we’re in trouble.
Troy takes one look at my face when he comes to pick me up and says, “I guess you heard what was announced at today’s gathering.”
“I know others are coming to live here, and that things are changing for governors and wives, but I don’t know what that means for us.”
“Nothing. It means nothing for us. We couldn’t be further under their radar.
They held a meeting for stewards and governors this morning.
They’ve already started getting areas ready for the additional mobile homes in the back field.
They’re all going to be busy as hell. We just need to keep on doing what we’re doing. ”
“Okay.”
“Now, forget about all that and let’s go before we’re late.”
“Late for what?”
“You’ll see.”
I have no idea what he has planned but any night with him is a good one.
We listen to music with the windows down as usual, singing along to our favorite songs.
At the edge of town, he makes a turn onto a winding road that leads uphill through the forest. It narrows until there’s barely any road left then ends at an old barn that’s half hidden in trees.
Judging by the height of the grass and overgrowth, no one comes up here.
It’s pitch dark once Troy turns the headlights off. He grabs a flashlight, hops out, and slings a backpack over his shoulder. He picks up a small cooler from the bed of the truck then walks up to my door with a smile on his face. “Are you going to get out?”
“Are we going into the woods?” I ask. A night hike isn’t exactly what I had in mind.
“Just for a minute. There’s a trail. Here. You hold the flashlight.” As soon as he hands it to me, he catches my other hand in his.
He follows what probably used to be a clear trail but is now a barely visible path through the trees where the weeds haven’t quite taken over.
The sky is lighter in the direction we’re going.
Probably because we’re so close to town.
It’s all uphill and I’m breathing hard by the time we reach the top.
The trees thin out on the other side and I see it. The hill slopes down, ending in a tall fence that surrounds a drive-in theater. I suddenly realize where we are. I’ve never been to the drive-in but I know where it is. The lot is full of cars, all facing the huge screen at the far end.
“This should be a good spot,” Troy announces. It’s well outside of the fence, and we’re tucked out of sight in the trees up on the hill with a great view of the screen.
A smile bursts across my face. “We’re going to watch a movie?”
“Two movies. It’s a double feature.” He pulls a small battery-operated radio out of the bag and hands it to me. “See if you can get 87.9 FM. That’s where they broadcast.” While I’m adjusting the dial, he pulls out a blanket and spreads it in front of a tree.
“Found it!” I exclaim when the sound on the radio matches the preview that’s playing on the screen. “It comes in really clear.”
“That’s how I found this spot. I used to park by that barn to hide out and get away for a while. The truck radio picked up the drive-in station so I hiked around to see if I could get close enough to watch. What do you think?”
“This is great!” I sit down on the blanket beside him as he flips over his backpack and shakes it.
“I brought snacks.” Packages of chips and candy rain out of it, making me laugh. A small bottle of Southern Comfort is mixed in. I pick it up and raise my eyebrows at him.
“We don’t have to drink any if you don’t want to.”
“I had a little vodka with Jane before, but I haven’t tried whiskey.”
“SoCo is barely whiskey. It’s smoother and kind of sweet.” He grabs a bottle of Coke from the cooler, takes a large drink, then pours in the alcohol. His grin is so cute when he offers it to me.
“Mmm. That’s good.” I hand it back and he takes another drink.
“The movie’s starting. Let’s get comfortable.
” We scoot back until we’re both leaning against the large tree trunk, our shoulders touching.
The first movie is a hilarious comedy, and we spend half the time laughing.
We pass the bottle of Coke with whiskey back and forth, then mix another when it’s gone.
A wonderful warmth buzzes over my skin, and I move closer to Troy without giving it a thought. He puts his arm around me and it’s the best feeling in the world. When I look over at him, he brings his hand up to cup my face. I can’t seem to breathe as he leans in and presses his lips to mine.
I was wrong. This is the best feeling in the world.
It’s a brief brush of lips, soft and tender.
When he starts to retreat, I pull him back.
He slides his hand behind my neck and kisses me again.
My lips part, and his tongue lightly skims over mine, lighting me up in a way I’ve never felt before.
I can’t believe this is actually happening.
I half expect to wake up from one of my dreams about him.
“I’ve wanted to do that for so long,” he murmurs after we break apart.
“Really?” My lips tingle as he looks into my eyes.
His head tilts. “You sound surprised.”
My hand mindlessly travels up to touch the tattoo on my neck. “I didn’t think you…liked me like that.”
He reaches to move my hand and brushes a fingertip over the withered flower. “I’ve liked you since the first week you were brought here.” A smile grows on his face. “Do you remember telling that steward to get the hell away from you when you were twelve?”
Giggles spill out of me. “My ass remembers.” One of the worst paddlings I ever got.
“You’re amazing. Beautiful and strong. You don’t deserve what they’ve done to you.”
A lump rises in my throat. “Neither do you.”
He nods and tucks me under his arm again.
“I asked the governors for you to help me with this job. They saw it as me asking for a servant to do the dirtier work, but I was already planning to leave, and nobody deserves to escape this place as much as you do.” He chuckles, running his hand down my arm.
“You shocked the shit out of me by trying to run before I was ready to tell you. I should’ve seen it coming. You’ve always been so brave.”
“I liked you from the beginning too. You’re always kind to everyone and good to me.”
“It wasn’t my stunning good looks?” he jokes.
“Well, that and your modesty.”
“My humility is pretty impressive, I agree.”
“Shut up.” Laughing, he slides his hand into mine, interlacing our fingers. I never want to let go. “If Keeper or the governors find out…” The words hang there, bringing down the mood.
“I know. They don’t suspect anything between us. They think you’re afraid to go to the bathroom without my permission. I’m sorry that’s how it has to be for now.”
“It’s okay. I get it. They can’t know I’m happy.”
He shifts to smile down at me. “Are you happy?”
“As happy as I can be as a servant.”
He kisses me again and I think I could spend the rest of my life with his lips on mine. “You and me, sweetheart. We’re going to be happy together.”