Innocent Little Sacrifice

Chapter 8

Clara gave John a stern look. "Do you know how risky it is for you to go up to Connor's territory alone? At least take someone with you, that way you have someone with you to keep you safe."

"Clara darling, I'm fine. That and I can defend myself. I'm old not fragile," John said in a joking manner.

"You have just proven my point, John. It would put my mind at great ease if you brought someone along with you. Incase Connor snaps and goes back to his old ways. Please stop being so darn stubborn and take somebody along with you to give me peace of mind, until you return back home to me, without a single scratch on you. Please for me," Clara asked as Cayden walked into the house.

"Is there a reason as to why Clara is begging you right now," Cayden asked.

"Clara doesn't want me meeting Connor on my own. She believes that he may be up to his old tricks," John explained.

"But he gave up on Angelina a year ago. He freed her from the treaty, once he seen how much she loves me, even though I know it hurt him, and he won't come out and admit it. I can tell by looking into his eyes that he's hurt. I doubt he wants Angelina and I around him. But if John is really that determined to go up and speak with Connor, I will go along with him. John, I know you want to go up there alone, but it would only make Clara worry about your wellbeing. If I'm there with you, then Clara doesn't have to worry about you getting killed," Cayden said. Cayden turned to Clara giving her a reassuring look.

"Don't worry Clara. I'll keep John safe and have him come back in one piece with no scratches on him," Cayden said before turning to John. "Let's go John. Don't want to keep Connor waiting."

Both Cayden and John made their way to John's truck.

Clara stood there watching as they pulled out making their way up to the mountain. Angelina stood by the gate quietly trying to process everything that she had just witnessed. She couldn't believe Cayden agreed to go with John. Yes, it may sound selfish, but in her defense, Connor wasn't exactly happy with the both of them. And she's pretty sure that Connor wouldn't be too happy with the sight of Cayden riding alongside John, let alone see him climbing out of John's truck. Angelina feared that Connor would snap and kill Cayden for being there.

Clara turned and noticed the worried look on Angelina's face. "Oh Angelina, my dear girl. What's with the worried look?"

"What if it was a mistake sending Cayden up to the mountains with Connor? Cayden said it himself; Connor isn't exactly happy with us, because of the way things unfolded. What if Connor snaps at the sight of Cayden, and he does something to hurt him, or worse kill him," Angelina asked.

"My dear girl, all we can do is have faith that Connor is a changed man, who won't do anything to harm Cayden and John. Would you like to stay here; just until John and Cayden make their way back from visiting Connor," Clara asked.

"What about the bar? Someone has to make sure that Gail doesn't go and drink all of the inventory," Angelina said.

"You don't need to worry about that. John had helped manage to keep the bar going strong, as well as keep Gail from drinking all of the inventory. She even took a mini vacation, while you and Cayden were traveling all over. While on her mini vacation, she did a little sightseeing. I think it did her some good. When she came back, she was telling John and I of this quaint little town, that she stumbled upon. She said while she was there, she felt like she was understood; welcomed even. She mentioned possibly getting out of Lupine Ridge and settling down in this town, find a new job and work on chasing her own happiness," Clara said.

"That's wonderful news. Did Gail say what the name of the town was," Angelina asked feeling excited for her older sister.

Clara thought about it for a moment before she remembered the name of the town. "Oh, she said the name was Moonlight Valley. It's apparently not far from here."

Angelina's face dropped from hearing the name. There was no way she was going to allow Gail to move there. Something is off about that town. "Did you say Moonlight Valley?"

"Yeah. You know the place you and Cayden went to," Clara questioned.

"When Cayden and I went there, we weren't exactly welcomed there. We were warned to stay away from that town. How did Gail manage to find it anyway, when she should have been working at the bar," Angelina asked.

"I told you John ran the bar for a few days, while Gail took a mini vacation. She was driving around and she found the town and stayed there for a night or two. She grew fond of that place," Clara said.

"That place is dangerous. Is Gail at the bar? If she is, I need to talk to her about this decision of hers," Angelina said.

"She should be," Clara said.

"I'll talk to you later Clara," Angelina said before rushing away from Clara making her way to the bar.

Angelina walked into the bar, spotting Gail standing behind the bar looking bored. "Gail, I need to speak to you."

Gail rolled her eyes at the sound of her younger sister's voice. "I haven't even touched an ounce of the inventory. So, you don't have any reason to come and yell at me."

"I have every reason to yell at you. And it's not because you were drinking the inventory this time. Though that is another discussion for another day. The reason why I'm here to lecture you because you had gone wandering and made her way to a town called Moonlight Valley," Angelina said.

"So, what does it matter to you that I went there? I happen to like it very much. And I'm even thinking about going back and doing a little house hunting. It's a place that I can see myself living in," Gail said.

"Stay away from Moonlight Valley," Angelina said.

"Why," Gail asked.

"Because it's not a very welcoming place. That's why," Angelina sad.

Gail gave Angelina a confused look. "What on earth do you mean it's not a very welcoming place. Of course it's welcoming. I was even met by the mayor of Moonlight Valley. He was the one who told me all about the homes that are for sale over there. The mayor even told me that he couldn't wait for me to move out there."

"Well, I hope that you don't go through with your plan to move out there. If you move out there, you are only subjecting yourself to a dangerous life, if you agree to live there. Cayden and I went there, and things are not what they were made to seem. Gail you're my only family I have left. I would be crushed if anything happened to you," Angelina said.

Gail rolled her eyes. "Angelina, do you hear yourself? You tell me that I'm the only family that you have. But we both know that is a lie. You have Cayden now. And it's beyond obvious that you and Cayden are crazy about each other. I don't have anything like that going for me here. Besides, this is a perfect opportunity to prove that I can live alone and get clean. I'm tired of being known as some drunk that works at her sister's bar, drinking all of her sister's inventory. Besides, if I go through with this, it would be good for both you and Cayden as well. The both of you can move in together, plan your future. The both of you can work on having a couple of pups of your own. It would be good for your relationship. Always worrying about me or wondering what I'm up to all the time, that is a great way to put a damper on your relationship with Cayden. I promise you, that I will be fine. Once I get all settled in, you can come out to pay me a visit."

"You're really determined to leave Lupine Ridge," Angelina asked kind of sad.

"It's for the best Angelina. You got a break from here. I got a small taste of freedom, and am now longing for it," Gail said.

"Yeah, but I also came back. You're talking about moving away and never returning again," Angelina said.

"Well, that was a personal choice. Nobody said you had to come back to Lupine Ridge. You could have sent a letter saying that you left for good," Gail said.

"I had to come back, because of the bar," Angelina argued.

"You could have sold the bar. You could have made good money from it, and get the hell away and start a new life. But because you chose not to do that, that is simply on you. I'm not letting anything stop me from leaving and starting a new life for myself. I thought you would be happy for me Angelina," Gail said.

"I am happy for you but," Angelina began only to stop herself from saying anything else.