𝖆𝖓𝖎𝖒𝖆 𝖎𝖒𝖒𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖆𝖑𝖊 ━ 𝖑𝖔𝖌𝖆𝖓 𝖍𝖔𝖜𝖑𝖊𝖙𝖙

𝔠𝔥𝔞𝔭𝔱𝔢𝔯 11

When Verena mentioned that the girl from the bar had hidden herself in the tow trailer, Logan hadn't really registered it—at least not until an hour later, when he heard a rattling from the back.

Verena dozed lightly in the bed of the RV, too on edge to surrender to deep sleep. The soothing strum of Johnny Cash drifted from the radio, a quiet comfort until the sudden lurch of the RV jarred her awake. She bolted upright, instinctively alert.

Logan glanced over his shoulder, his voice gruff as usual. "That girl's still in the trailer. You wanna deal with her?"

Verena let out a sleepy chuckle and stretched her arms out over her head. "What, too much for you, Lo? Can't handle a teenage girl?"

He grunted noncommittally, and she rolled her eyes with a smirk. Pulling on her boots, she adjusted her cattleman hat and grabbed one of Logan's jackets from the floor, the smell of leather and smoke still clinging to it.

Stepping into the biting cold, she lit a cigarette and strolled toward the trailer. The snow crunched beneath her boots as she approached, and it was easy to spot the girl—a huddled lump beneath a hood, trying to stay warm.

Verena leaned against the trailer's edge, taking a drag from her cigarette, her breath curling in the frigid air. "You planning on staying in there all night?"

The girl slowly lifted her head, cheeks flushed pink from the cold, her brown hair peeking out beneath her hood. Her voice was soft, with a southern lilt. "I'm sorry... I just needed a ride. Thought maybe you and your husband could help me out."

Verena chuckled softly, the smoke trailing from her lips. "He ain't my husband. C'mon, out of there. The RV's warmer, and we've got some food. You'll freeze out here if you stay much longer."

She extended her gloved hand, and after a moment's hesitation, the girl took it, grabbing her duffel bag as Verena helped her out of the trailer.

Leading her to the RV, Verena knocked lightly on the passenger side door before peeking in. "Hey, Lo', I found a stray. Think we can keep her?"

Logan grumbled around his cigar. "No."

Verena leaned further in, teasing. "Aw, come on, she's gonna freeze out there."

Logan glanced between Verena's pleading face and the girl's wide, nervous eyes. With a heavy sigh, he rolled his eyes. "Fine. Get in."

Verena's face lit up with a smile as she stepped aside to let the girl climb in first, following behind her. Inside, the RV was a cluttered mess—both men's and women's clothes strewn across the back, an unmade bed with faded sheets, and an extra seat for a passenger. The girl's eyes wandered, taking in the lived-in disarray as she tried to make sense of the pair who had just saved her from the cold.

"Buckle up, the road's a little rough," Verena said, patting the girl's head before sliding back into the passenger seat. Logan's expression was sour, his brow furrowed in a deep scowl as he navigated the icy roads.

"You got any food? I'm starving," the girl called from the back. Verena rummaged through the glove box and tossed her a bag of jerky. Logan shot her a glare, annoyed that she'd given away his favorite stash. Verena raised a teasing eyebrow in challenge, to which he only sighed, rolling his eyes.

The girl tore into the jerky like she hadn't eaten in days. Verena chuckled softly. "Slow down, kid. You're gonna choke."

The girl sheepishly slowed her pace, a small smile tugging at her lips. "What's your name?"

"Oh, I go by Rogue," she replied, glancing at the dog tags that hung from Verena's and Logan's necks. "Were you guys in the army?" She pointed to the tags. "I mean... those usually mean you were in the army, right?"