Nothing In This World (BWWM) ✅

Chapter Thirty Four

The men in the trunk bed hooped and hollered when Lance drove over a bump in the road. He laughed at the excitement of them all finally getting a lunch break after hours of work. They pulled up to a gas station for beer and a chance to eat their sandwiches routinely. They even put in some change for gas whenever Lance asked.

"They're selling these seriously?" He pointed out the window to a bunch of flowers aligned outside the station as he parked the truck.

James looked closely then nodded. "They always sell flowers in season. His wife is always going on and on about her garden."

That's all it took for Lance to quickly get out the car and run to grab a plant. It was nothing that he's seen at Charlene's job and he knew she wanted to impress her boss with food. What's another way to show her gratitude than with a unique plant.

"Hello, Raz. I want to buy just one of these." He placed the plant on the counter for his cashier buddy to scan.

"My wife is giving out pots she made for free." He turned to grab one of the many pots and handed it to Lance. "That'll be three dollars."

Lance threw change and a bit extra on the counter then grabbed a handful of newspapers next to him to wrap the pot in to avoid it breaking during his travels. "Thank you!" As he wrapped the pot, he saw a glimpse of faces crumbled within the black and white sheets. It didn't catch his eye until he saw himself. "Holy hell?" He gasped while smoothing the sheet out to see just why he was in the papers.

US FUGITIVES: If You Have Any Tips Please Contact Your Local Police
DANGER TO THE PUBLIC

"Is something wrong?" Raz leaned over the counter to take a look which caused Lance to snatch the papers closed. "Are you okay, Lance?"

"I'm... fine. The news is terrible these days. Just lying to us all." He tipped his head to the cashier and took his things straight back to the truck. "Come on boys! Lunch time can continue back on the property!" The men groaned as Lance quickly revved up the truck signaling that he's leaving with or without them.

"What's got you running like a jack rabbit today? Whole face flushed of color. Did Raz get flip lipped?" Lance quickly brushed his friend off and rested his elbow out the window. "I wasn't tryna eat my sandwich in a bunch of grass and dirt."

"Well you can eat it in the wind on the way back. Hurry up!"

Charlene quickly wiped down the counters as the clock told her that Lance would be home any moment. It was his usual time and she loved to get the house work finished so she could spend more time with him. The sound of his truck entering the dirt driveway made her skip a beat. She just knew he would have more to say about their conversation from earlier and she had a few ideas herself.

"I missed you. I really did!" She sang her way right into his chest. The moment she wrapped her arms around his neck is the same moment she felt something hard against her stomach. She looked down to see that Lance wasn't hugging her back but instead holding something black and cold. "What on-"

Lance covered her mouth just as their front door opened once again to see their landlord strolling in with a smile on his face. Lance hid the gun in Charlene's apron so he could give his uncle a proper hug. "Well, the waters been on for an hour. I was just looking around to see what other improvements need to be done on the place. I really wasn't going to fix much since I never expected anyone to rent here but... I need something to do with all my money right?"

Lance laughed along with the landlord although one laugh was genuine and the other was fake. "Uncle Chandler you are one savvy man. I was actually thinking about that front door there." He pointed at the door that had corners curving inward from the rotten wood. "It's hard to stay safe here, you know?"

"The door is certainly next. I saw it flying back and forth a few times while I was out there. Charlene's here alone majority of the day and we can't have anything sinister happen around here." The deep look he gave Charlene sent chills to her spine. But Chandler whipped out his car keys before anyone caught on and plastered that same smile on his face. "Well, I best get going. The wife is cooking something nice for dinner. I can smell it already."

"Thank you again, Uncle Chandler!" They waved until the door was closed and they could see him next to his car out front. Lance then turned to face Charlene who was panicking in seconds. "They sell this land and my uncle gets a cut then my sister. We'll have nothing left."

"Lance," she said in a stern voice. "Get it away from me!" He quickly remembered his actions and grabbed the gun from her waist. Charlene took three steps back to see exactly what was in his hands. "Where the hell did you get that?! Why the hell do you have it?!"

He placed the weapon on the shelf next to him and slowly walked toward Charlene to take her hands in his. "I'm going to tell you something but you can't get upset." The look on her face showed that it was too late for that. "I'm in the printed paper. It's all lies but I know someone out there will take it serious. They labeled me a fugitive and I'm wanted in the north. I needed to protect me and my family and we can't do that when one touch will knock our whole house down. I needed more."

"You go from one extreme to the next! How did you know where to buy a gun like that? What do you do when you leave this house?!" Lance drug his hands down his face when he felt the stiffness in Charlene's hands. "I be so excited to see you and you too busy thinking about the next way to get us packing up outta here! I can't keep running, Lance. I know I said I'll follow you but it's too soon-"

"We not going nowhere, Char. It's a just in case scenario. I'm not leaving our home. I told you this is our home. This is our land!" He held her hands firmly in his grip with each passing word. "I'm gone fight for what is ours. Now what did I tell you earlier?"

She rolled her eyes away from him and he gently yet firmly forced her to look at him by grabbed her chin. "We... we will..."

"We will have our own. Say it with me." She couldn't help the smile that crept across her face. "We will have our own," they repeated together. "Now make love to me right next to him." He snatched the gun off the shelf and slammed it on the table. Charlene jumped but Lance kept a grip on her waist. "May I?" It took her little effort to give in. She knew she could love this man all night if he asked.

"You may."