Here is another chapter, thanks for reading !
I was bone tired, everything hurt mostly my back and feet. Kelly gave me a check-up, all the old medical equipment still in the back ballroom, the baby was fine doing very good. The heartbeat was on par, I was a good weight, everything was fine but still, worried Gunner fibbed and this was not Jesse's baby but Kelly said a test could be done up.
The path doesn't care about the terrain, that's for me to deal with. The path is the path. So whatever comes I keep going. When I get knocked down I have to get up, 'cause there's no other way. I know what's out there though, I know 'cause the universe told me. It said "just walk" and so I did, I still do. It says at the other end is peace, real happiness for everyone, and I gotta keep going even if the path makes me bleed. Sometimes it has, sometimes so much I just wanna stay down and feel the cold... then I remember why I started this journey and find my feet again
The road lay before them like a tarmac ribbon; albeit, one that had been worn over time. A white line ran down the center, relatively unbroken compared to the scarred and potholed concrete. I was so close now, I munched on some jerky but after this, all the food was gone, but I would be able to eat Mae and Celia's cooking. I turned right onto the long-forgotten gravel path, the truck had just enough room as I after another five minutes saw the little castle.
My feet could not carry me any faster, but all I was welcomed too was the house with everything covered in white. They left to regroup with Hun, I had one other place to try and if they were not there than I could stay until they returned, that was their home. Once in another small town, I walked through the local market putting some fresh fruit, snickers bars in honestly a lot of them, some random drink and chips, but wanting another homecooked meal was mouthwatering but stopping was not going to happen. I focused and with the brain and good memory I was blessed with, I drove the roads Miles once did.
It was dark again, but I drove on knowing by light I will be at the river. I was determined to reach the homestead by noon even if I couldn't walk after. Days without sleep are starting to bother me, I wanted to just sleep but the need to find Jesse was all consuming. The sun rose like a flower opening, gifting its petals unto the world. Amid the dancing, raindrops were the blush of scarlet, the warmth of tangerine. Gazing toward the illuminated clouds, still beneath the ethereal glow.
On the left was the sign, it was chained up again as I walked to it, letting the right side of it fall into the mud before getting into the cab and driving past it. Only to repeat and hang the sign back up letting no one see me do as such, my back was hurting and knowing I was not going to last much longer had me moving from the cab for the last time at least for a few days.
Last time we were running for our life's, but now I walk keeping my balance my hands braced on the bump protectively. It was easy to walk through the green lush land but the trees are littered with autumn leaves in varying colors of yellow, brown, an orange-red hue. I knew the river was coming and after that a straight shot to the hidden land and cabin, that a movie star would envy.
When I get to the river my heat sinks. It is wider than I've ever seen, flowing swift and strong. The water is a turbid white the banks it usually passes by so softly. Branches have been blown in by the storm. The water eddies around them, but not that relaxed way water usually does, but harshly, more like mini vortexes. In the rain that still falls the surface is pitted so thickly that the radiating ripples cancel one another out. Adding to the torrent coming from the stone-grey sky is the melt from the mountains to the East. This river is not what I prepared myself for, but there is one way to the cabin and this is it, I ebb into the freezing water feeling it hit me with grand force. This was too hard as I grabbed a large boulder and tugged myself feeling a branch cut into my skin but was so close as tears streamed down my face this was just too hard.
Struggling to the other side was the rapids nearly had pulled me under was a feat, but now every bone was chilled. "Come on Finlay, we have to get out of the cold. All your clothes are there, just get the heck up," talking to myself when all my body wanted to do was cave and sleep in the cold.
But on fawn legs I walked, seeing the cabin but what got me was the black smoke coming from the chimney, someone was there. I stumbled to the floor once but got right back up filled with happiness.
I shook from fear, cold, happiness everything as I touched the door handle, smelling food cooking. All I could do was call out, "MAE, MAMA?"
My legs gave and I went down like a sack as the fear-filled face of Mae came from the kitchen, but for me, I was safe now. Her warm hands touched my face, "MY GOD, THANK YOU! HOLD ON GOING TO GET CELIA, her tone loud as she bolted to the back rooms, laying my head on the wooden floor ready to pass out. But soon the pounding was heard as it vibrated through the floor when a scream was heard before Celia's face was next to mine.
"Mae we need to get her to her room, she is soaked," feeling them trying to lift me, using the last of my strength as we made it to my room where they got me some jammies, I just stripped seeing their shocked faces.
"Not slept in days," but it was the small round bump that had them shocked, not my resemblance to a zombie. The bed was warm as I was covered trying to stay awake, "Jesse?"
Celia answered as Mae nearly tripped coming back in with a tray filled with food. "They're hunting for the hood, should be back in town for three days in about two days. You just rest my darling, you need rest," but the food was the best, and I just shoveled it down like I had not eaten since the last time we saw each other. In truth, food was given but not enough, so after Mae took the tray coming back in with a kit.
"Finley, you just rest. Going to clean the wound on your feet and arm," I launched into the explanation of everything, from being taken to today. Celia sobbed, "She was alone, not fed up, she was alone and scared," there was no denying it but Mae calmed her but that was the last that my eyes saw, soon it was blackness.
I don't remember dreaming, but when I woke again it was bright out but both girls are in the room Mae was writing while Celia was sewing something. My throat was dry as a bone, sounding like I crawled through the Shari desert. "How long was I out?" Mae was up with a glass of sparkling water while Celia hovered.
"Just two days, I was getting ready to head to town and wait for the boys," Mae smiled as Celia took my hand into hers. The anxiety is like being hooked up to a cattle fence - not enough voltage to kill but sufficient to keep things uncomfortable.
I spoke, "Gunner he told me in secret that when Jesse was taken in Hydro, his sperm was taken. But a test is in order,"
Mae looked paler, her body flopped into her chair with eyes wide. "He was taken, but they let him go. Celia feeds her up, time is not to be wasted. How far along are you?"
Answering, "Fourteen weeks, I have nothing for the baby. I have to get better and go into town," it hit me we had nothing for the baby, the baby would need so many things.
Celia sighed, "You have time, we will all make sure the little bit has whatever they need. They'll be safe, loved, and taken care of," but they both leave as I get to my feet needing to pee something awful, the green tank top is tight now as it stretched over my belly, the black pants are still good as I stand to brush my teeth and hair, looking better but feeling so drained. I move from the bathroom heading to Celia seeing if mama needed help, but her eyes are stern as she sees me.
Holding up my hands, "Needed to move, and use the bathroom. You need help?" offering her my assistance.
A wooden spoon was pointed at me, "Go to the den and sit, cover up its chilly. Lunch is coming darling," I was in no way stupid, she would hit me with It, so I leave her taking up the sofa with my feet tucked under me with the black and red fleece blanket.
Grilled cheese with steak, cheese, and potato soup is resting in front of me while Celia eats alongside me. She is worried by the look on her face, scared and worried that I die when the baby came along. There is a kind of waiting that feels like gentle onshore breezes kissing salty stones. It isn't warm but there is a sense of calm, of nature, of things expected. Then there is the kind that feels like the head of a medieval mace is loose in my guts and my head has taken a beating with a hefty plank of wood. As I wait to see if Jesse is coming home.
Celia just holds my hand rubbing small circles on the back of my small hand, when I take her hand and brace it on my hard belly. Her fingers move over it on her face is a smile, "Our family is complete now," she mumbled her eyes on mine.
"It has been hours, soon they should arrive. I am going to finish supper," she walked away, he left to cook a few times, but with them coming it needed to be completed. I just don't have it in me to move from the sofa, I wanted to help and not be a lazy girl.
She smiled coming back in as I glance up from my book seeing her eyes on the window, I gazed up seeing men running. I tried to stand but my legs gave as I hit the sofa, Celia gasped hitting me with the rag before helping back down covering me. But right then the door opened Miles his eyes found me, he hugged me and kissed my head just holding me as if I might disappear once again. "My baby," his voice worried but then all the pain faded, other than the pain from the baby or my escape.
Jesse stood looking wild, "FINLEY?" disbelief colored his tone, but he was in my arms both sobbing as Celia hugged Miles, Angus, and Mae smiling arms link around the other.
His eyes filled with tears as he cupped my face, "I love you, never stopped looking for you."
"I know," knowing he would never have stopped because I never would have stopped looking for him.
Dinner for once was in the den, I was just too drained for more it has been a hard week for me. The chicken was perfect, Jesse just pushed his own around, and if he wasn't going to eat it I was. Taking his plate and replacing it with my empty one, "I was taken, they knocked me out and with a test, we will find out if they took my sperm. I don't care, Fin, this is our baby," smiling with tears in my eyes deep inside the fear was eating at me he rejects the baby.
Jesse scooped me up carrying me to his room, I was tired and didn't want to leave his side. His room was dark and cool as he set me on the bed before he striped getting in beside me. "Sleep, you need your rest. I will be right here when you wake," praying he was, that this was not some elaborate dream.