Chapter 10:
I was scare now. I put my hand near the blade. The tent unzipped and I saw Curly. "Damn girl," he said.
"Curly, I need to get everyone else money too," I said. I couldn't let these guys take their money. I saved Dallas's money so I had to save their money too.
"Alright, you get the Cutis's money and I'll get Randles and Mathew's money," he said. "But make it quick." I ran into Darry's tent and looked for the money he had. I finally found it. I quickly counted how much he had and wrote it on a notebook and pencil that came with the belt. I wrote it down then threw the money in the patch. I raced over to Soda's tent and searched him bag for money. In this bag were all snacks and some clothes but mainly snacks. I finally found his money. I counted it, wrote down how much I had and put it in the patch I raced over to Ponyboy's tent and had sure he didn't have money. He didn't have any so I looked in Johnny's bag. He had some. I recorded that too and meet Curly outside. "Here's Two-Bit's money," he said as he handed it to me. I kneeled down on the ground. I counted it, wrote it down and threw it in the patch. I did the same for Steve's money. "Let's go; they're coming." He held out his hand and I took it. He helped me up then we ran. We hide near the camp for a second. I guess Curly wanted to see what we were up against. People on motorcycles arrived and searched the camp. These people were older men. They threw everything out of the tents. "Damn, if only we could get our hands on one of those cycles," I heard Curly say.
I looked down and saw the men weren't paying any attention to the motorcycles. "Curly come on," I said. I started walking back down there. Curly was telling me to come back. I went over near the motorcycles. They still had the keys in them. I saw Curly come behind me.
"You better not be thinking what I think you're thinking," he said. "We can't ride these."
"Why not?" I asked.
"That's stealing," he said. I laughed silently.
"Wow; now you don't steal," I said as I got on the motorcycle and put on the helmet. Curly came on behind me and put the other helmet on.
"I do steal but not from drug dealers," he said. "They'll kill us."
"Is the great Curl Shepard scared?" I asked.
"Hell no," he answered. I turned on the motorcycle. I turned back and saw the men looking at us. I turned around and rode off. I'm not real sure how to driver this but it looks easy. "They're following us," Curly said. "Do you know how to drive this?"
"I never learned how," I said.
"Are you trying to get us captured or killed by them?"
"Either. If you're not safe or don't trust me, I can stop." I felt his arms got around my waist. Either he was telling me he's staying, he just doesn't want to fall off or maybe both.
"You can't get rid of me that easily Winston."
"Look behind us and tell me what's going on."
"You are one guy on each side of ya and one behind you."
"So I have to speed up?"
"I guess; if you can handle it." I speeded up. I looked right and saw the guy on my right was coming closer. I looked back to the road and saw there was a person in front of us. I stopped and turned onto one side. Then I rode past the guy in front of me. Then we rode down a hill. "Damn Winston," I heard Curly say. "You're good but they are still following us."
"Curly, once I lose them, we're going by foot," I said.
"Why?"
"I think it's easier that way."
"Turn left here!" I turned left. "I think we lost them." I looked in front of me. There was a person there.
"No we didn't," I said as I tried to stop the motorcycle real quick. Curly and I ended up flying off the bike and the bike crushing into the guy's bike. I landed by a tree trunk and so did Curly. We threw off the helmets and ran away. "I really got us in trouble now," I said.
"Yes you have," Curly said. "Over here." I followed him into another cave. It was hidden well. I'm surprised Curly found it. We crawled under to get inside. It wasn't really big but it wasn't too small. If we stay down on our knees, we'll be fine. We got in near each other and sighed. "You really pissed them off now Winston," he whispered.
"I know," I whispered back. "Curly, you should go back with the others."
"We're not talkin' about that again."
"But Curly, you haven't done anything." Curly was now lying on his back. I was on my knees beside him.
"I'm not leavin' ya to face 'em alone Winston and I ain't changin' my mind."
"We can come out during the night. We better get some rest now." Curly wrapped his hand around my right wrist and pulled me down. My head rested on his chest and his arm was going around my waist. I blushed and Curly saw it. He silently laughed.
"You know you're so cute when you blush."
"Stop teasing me Curly."
"I'm not teasin' ya."
"Yes you are."
"No I'm not; this is teasing." I saw Curly's other hand go t my hair and he started to play with it. "Damn Winston, you're hair is so flat. What do you use to make it this flat; an iron?"
"That was bad Curly."
"No; I mean it. I wasn't tryin' to tease ya that time."
"We should rest Curly." I tried to get over him but he wouldn't let me. "Curly."
"Stay like this Winston so I can make sure you're safe."
"Curly…"
"What?"
"Nothing; don't worry about it."
"Night Winston."
"Good night Curly."
I woke up when I heard footsteps comin' closer. Curly was still sleep. I slowly took his arm off me and I went to see what was comin' on. I saw Ponyboy and Johnny runnin' down this way with some of those guys Curly and I saw. They were a little behind. I heard Curly get up and crawl over to me. "We need to save them Curly," I said.
"I know," he said as he crawled passed me and outside. "Stay here Winston." He crawled out. "Curtis, Cade, get your asses in here." I moved away from the exit so Ponyboy and Johnny would come in. Once they were in, Curly came in. We heard footsteps go by.
"Where are the others?" I asked silently.
"They would us and we all split up into pairs," Ponyboy said. "Me and Johnny, Soda, Darry and Steve and Two-Bit and Dally."
"Do you know if they were found?" I asked.
"We don't think so," Johnny said. "What you two been here the whole time?"
"Almost," I said. "We were sleeping when I heard you're footsteps. Curly woke up on his own. I hope the others are safe."
"Same here," Ponyboy and Johnny said.
"I should just-"
"Don't you dare say it Winston," Curly said.
"But-"
"Don't say it," Curly said.
"They'll find everyone eventually and probably force them to tell where the box is," I said. "I need to return it."
"But that one guy who we ran from will be there. Your bike crushed with his," Curly said.
"Cassandra rode a bike?" Ponyboy asked.
"No; I drove one and Shepard was hanging on," I said.
"Wow," they said. We heard footsteps coming closer. I looked at Curly and saw he had his hands on the ground. I switched places with Ponyboy so I was next to Curly. I saw a foot stepped on his fingers. I saw Curly was about to yell so I went over to him and kissed him on the lips. I heard a moan come out. Once I saw the foot was off his hand, I broke the kiss. I looked at Ponyboy and Johnny. They were staring at us.
"Dal is going to kill you both and us," Ponyboy said. "He won't like knowin' a Shepard is goin' to be his brother-in-law."
"Then shut ya trap and don't say anythin'," Curly said.
"Please Ponyboy," I said. "Don't tell him. I'll tell him at the right time."
"If I die, I blame you," Ponyboy said. "Same with Johnny; if he dies too-"
"Dallas won't lay a hand on either of you," I said. "I won't let him hurt you."
"What about me?" Curly asked.
"Same for you," I said.
"Sir I heard voices," we heard one of the people say outside. We all shut our mouths and listened.
"Find them!" another man said. "Search everywhere!"
"Yes sir," the first guy said. We stayed silent. They were searching this area I think. Sooner or later they would find this place and we all would be caught. I couldn't let Curly, Ponyboy and Johnny get caught because of me. They didn't do anything. I ruined this whole vacation. I made up my mind: I'm going to turn myself to them. I quickly crawled out of the cave and outside. I heard Curly telling me to come back. I moved away from the boys and over to some trees. Here goes nothing.
"Hey; over here!" I yelled. All the guys looked at me and ran toward me. I better run now. I ran into the woods. I guess turning myself in to them was a bad idea. I looked behind me and saw no one. Then I realized I bumped into someone. I looked up and saw a tall guy. I tried to run away but the other guys had come and surrounded me. I wouldn't go without a fight. I tried to get though the guys but they grabbed me and forced me onto my knees.
"Search her," the tall guys said. I had no choice. I quickly grabbed my blade and brought it out.
"Stay away from me," I said. "I will use this."
"There's no doubt in my mind you will use it," the tall guy said. "Give us what you want and we'll leave."
"Promise?" I asked.
"Yes," he said. I didn't trust this guy. I put my hand in my porch and grabbed the box. Then I threw it to the tall guy. He picked up the box and laughed. "Stupid broad; men, unarm her." The guys take my blade, put my arms behind my back, tie them and pushed me onto the ground. The tall guy took my blade from the guy who took it, kneeled down and put the blade against my neck. "Now behave," he said.
"You promised to sent me free if you got what you wanted," I said.
"I lied," he said as he put his hand in my hair. "You have nice hair, eyes and body. You have guts and bravery but I'm not sure if you have brains. Men, bring her with us." Two men pulled me off the ground and we began to walk away. Another guy searched me and found the gun. He took it from me and handed it to the tall guy. "You really are dangerous," he said as he stopped. Everyone else stopped too. The tall guy came over to me, grabbed my chin and leaned down to make eyes contact. "What else do you have in these pockets?" he asked me as he slid his hand into my pouch. I kicked him in the shins. "Tough little thing aren't ya," he said. "Men, let's move out."
"Hold it right there," a voice said. Everyone began looking around. I knew who voice it was is: Curly's voice. I could recognize it anywhere. "Release the broad and no one gets hurt."