The Life of the Campbells'

The Life of the Campbells'- Part 3

-Lisa-

Come on, Buster. Leave that squirrel alone; we gotta go." Lisa said annoyingly. Buster found a squirrel on the way to Bakersville and wanted to take it with him. Buster looked at his mother's annoyed face and said goodbye to the squirrel before he set it down. As it scurried away, Buster ran up to catch up to his mother and grabbed her hand. They walked so far, Lisa could feel blisters forming on her feet. It was around noon and she could see the buildings In town. She couldn't wait to sit down.

Buster tripped over a rock and brought Lisa back to reality. Luckily, she had quick, motherly reflexes and tightened her grip on Buster's hand. He caught himself with Lisa's help and didn't get hurt. He whispered sorry and Lisa picked him up.

"It's all right, Buster." Lisa said smiling through the pain on her feet. They were about a mile and a half away from town when a wagon leaving town was passing by. The driver looked down at them and stopped. It was a young woman with red hair and curls.

"You guys are the second group I saw these few days. You wanna ride?" She said with a smile.

"That would be wonderful! Thank you," Lisa replied, "Who were the other people you saw?"

Lisa helped Buster up and she climbed in after him, "That would be..." the girl hesitated to remember, "I think the girl's name was Maddie or Molly and the man was John." She giggled, "He was flirting with me until he found out I was married. He turned as red as my hair!"

"Did-did you say Molly? Molly is my daughter! Is she still in town?" Lisa asked with hope in her voice and tired eyes.

"No. I'm sorry. I saw them leave town this mornin' around three. 'Said she needed to go." The woman said. "Oh! By the way, name's Jane."

"I'm Buster," he blurted out with a smile, "and I think your perty."

"Well thank you. You are a real sweetheart." Jane smiled and kissed him on the cheek; turning his face into a red cherry. He hugged Lisa's arm with a smile across his face.

"I'm Lisa. I'm looking for Molly. We are trying to start a new life away from their father. He abuses us every day."

"Oh, my! I would do the same if Lawrence did that to me and my kids if I had 'em." Jane said as she turned her wagon. They rode in silence because of the loud clanging of pans and rocks against hooves.

They entered town and Lisa started down the small ladder to the ground. He reached up to help Buster down when they heard a gunshot. Lisa froze and looked back to the forest they came out of. She didn't see anything but knew what caused that dreadful sound. Lisa turned back to Jane.

"Jane, can you please give us a ride as far east as you can? I think that's Harold; my husband." Lisa pleaded.

"No doubt! Get on!" Jane helped Buster back up and Lisa climbed on. Jane snapped the reigns and they were off yet again.

-Molly-

"John? What are you doing?" Molly asked the man wading in a river they found.

It's hot, this is cold water, I'm coolin' off!" John responded as he sunk further in the water. He looked up at her again and smiled, "Hey, come closer to the edge. I gotta show you somethin'."

"Yeah, no. I know that's a trick."

"Come on. You need to see this. This rock is shaped like a face."

Molly looked at him and at the rock in his hand. She slowly went to the edge of the bank and knelt down. Just as she went to look, John pulled her in the water. Molly was underwater for about three seconds before she grabbed John's feet from under him and yanked. He slipped and Molly came up above water holding him upside down in the water. She let him go so he could come up to breathe. When he surfaced, he started laughing. Molly joined him when John showed her the rock he was holding.