The Course of Destiny

Chapter Four

Destiny

We soon arrived in Valentine. Besides the steps of our horses and the lively saloon, it was eerily quiet, but I couldn't tell. The closer we got to my parents' house, the louder my heart thumped in my ears. I didn't even notice that Wesley did not stop at the saloon when we passed it.

I nervously fidgeted with my reins as we went by the last of the shops and started toward the houses. There was no way I was staying after I got back. At least I had thought of a stupid and desperate plan, though.

I pulled my reins back, stopping Silver. Wesley stopped a moment later, giving me a questioning look.

"I, uh." Suddenly feeling short of breath, I sucked in some air. "I know this sounds crazy, but... Could I come with you?"

He blinked at me for several moments before responding, "Come with me... to camp?"

I nodded.

He smiled slightly. "Yeah. You can,"

"You're serious?" I asked, surprised.

"I am."

"The others won't mind?"

"Don't worry."

I exhaled in relief. Yes, it was a stupid idea to go off with someone I didn't really know, but my other option was to go by myself, and I did not know how to survive on my own.

"I will go pack up my things and-" I remembered that I would have to climb back onto the roof to get to my room. "Why don't you stay here and I will come back when I'm done?"

"Nah, I'll give you a hand."

"It's okay. I can do it on my own," I didn't want to have to explain why I had to go in from the roof.

"You'll finish quicker with help. It is getting pretty late, and we got a couple hour's ride to camp."

I frowned, thinking of an argument. "Well, I- I don't want to wake anyone else in the house up-"

"Miss Verlice," he gave me a sympathetic look. "I will make sure nothing happens."

It was like he knew. But how?

There was no use standing here questioning him. I was eager to get away from my parents.

I urged Silver forward and Archie and Wesley followed. We stopped at the front of the house when we arrived. I sat there for a moment wondering how I would get up onto the roof.

Figuring it was the only way, I lined Silver up parallel to the porch railing and started trying to stand on his back. It took a bit of time to balance, but once I was standing, I put my arms on the roof and pulled myself up. I then crawled the few feet to the window and stepped over the sill. Strangely enough, Wesley didn't say a word about my unusual entrance.

Now that I was in my room, I scanned it for things I wanted to bring. Moving quickly because I was terrified my parents would come barging in at any moment, I grabbed my sketchbook, pencils, pencil sharpener, hair brush, and a few clothing items, and placed them on my bed.

I had everything I wanted to bring. The problem was, I didn't have a bag or anything to carry them in. I looked around for something I could use, stopping back at my bed. I ripped the sheet off and laid it out, then placed everything in the center of it. After wrapping the sheet around them, I got a scarf out of my wardrobe and tied the bundle as securely as possible so that nothing would fall out during the ride. It wasn't pretty, but it would have to work.

I picked it up and stepped back over the window sill. With a hand still on the sill, I looked over the roof. It was going to be difficult - not to mention dangerous - to get down while one hand was occupied.