MY NOTES: Greatest thanks to my reviewers! I'm so excited, because on they have a message board, and I left a few questions for the team. I got answers from both Paula (Coach Hines's daughter), and Jerry Buck! Major YAYness! Special thanks to Jamaican Sunshine, Shannon, and Grace for being so faithful in reviewing! You makest me happy! Oh, well, how I ramble... I'm kinda like an old lady talking about the past. It just goes on and on... Sorry! I'll shut up and get with the program. At least until next time. But the good news is, I know where this is going now. I have it planned out to the end! YAY, me!
Chapter 9: Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone
Rachel walked all day, and hoped Ronnie wouldn't try to follow her. She had a bad feeling that he would, though.
Ronnie couldn't believe she was gone. That she had just left without...without a goodbye, or anything. Just a peice of paper. Did she think that her little note was going to make Ronnie feel better? Did she really think it was even going to help?
He and his dad were in the Camaro, checking all the places she might have been. At Ronnie's suggestion, they went to the football field. Rachel really liked it there. When noone else was there, and all was quiet, she said it was the best place ever to think. She went there whenever she got the chance. She loved being there and being silent. But when they got there, she wasn't there.
After they had checked the police station and the hospital, they took to the woods. It was beginning to get cold already, and Ronnie was glad for his coat. He and his dad went to Marshall Harris's store after a while in the woods, and purchased some coffee.
"Mr. Harris?" Ronnie asked.
"Yeah, son?"
"Have you seen Rachel?" he asked, hoping that the old man might know something.
"Yeah, I have. Saw her this mornin'. She said she was goin' on a trip, and she bought a few things. Some bread, peanut butter, several bottles of RC Cola."
Ronnie nodded. "Did she say anything about where she was going?"
"No. Sorry, son. She didn't."
"Thanks, Mr. Harris."
Colonel Bass and Ronnie left and went deeper into the woods. They needed to find Rachel. To tell her that everything was going to be OK, and that her dad was in jail.
Rachel was alone in the woods, crying her eyes out and trying to keep walking. She wanted to escape her problems, but something inside of her wanted Ronnie to find her and hold her, at least one time.
Ronnie knew he'd never be able to rest easy until he knew that Rachel was safe, and that she was happy, and with people who truly loved her. He didn't know how she planned to live without any money, or a job. Or a high school education. He pushed those thoughts to the back of his mind, and whispered a prayer that he would find her safe and sound. He wondered how badly her dad had hurt her. It must've been badly for her to have run away.
As he and his dad went even further into the woods, Ronnie heard a noise. A familiar noise. It was crying. Rachel crying. He prayed that she was OK. He pused on through the woods, and the crying became louder.
Ronnie saw her first, sitting alone by a tree with a thin blanket around her shoulders. He held up a hand to his dad, and went ahead of him to Rachel. "Rache?" he said, softly.
"Please, don't hurt me!" she screamed, frightened beyond belief.
"Oh, no! Rache, I'm not gonna hurt you. I love you."
"Ronnie?" she sobbed. "Please, don't make me go back to my dad!"
Ronnie winced when he saw her swollen eye and the split place on her forehead. "No, Rachel. I will never make you go back to your dad. He's in jail, and he can't hurt you anymore." He walked over to squat beside her. "Come with us. We'll get you some help."
She was so weak, and he had to help her stand up. He wondered how she'd made it this far with her bag, considering her injuries. She could barely walk, so Ronnie lovingly scooped her up into his arms and carried her the rest of the way. She buried her head in his chest and let herself rest, in the one place she felt truly safe. Ronnie Bass's arms.
A/N : That's GOT to be the shortest chapter in the history of this story! I can't believe this. And, Grace, I'm sorry about that last little part. I had to put her in Ronnie's arms. :-) Well, I'll say adios now, until next time.
