Cold Path To The Devil

Meeting Maverick

"Yes, but she's just a girl. We are your family! I hear maverick yell at wren. They stood a few yards away as I sat on a log with mavericks daughter.

"This is rainbow and this is sugar berry."

The little girl handed me two horses with bright pink hair and purple bodies.

"And your name?"

"I'm Ashley. I'm three. Want to hear my ABC'S? A,B,C,D,E,F,G,J,L,M,N,O,K."

"Wow good job, ashley. Did you learn that at school?"

"I can't go to school?"

"Why not?"

"Daddy says the bad people will find me."

I looked down at the little frail body. She wore a short sleeve shirt and denim overalls they barely reached her pink sneakers, exposing her mix matched socks.

"What bad people?"

"I don't know! Just bad people who are looking for us."

"Where do you live, Ashley?"

"Daddy says I can't tell anyone."

"It's ok. I'm a friend. You can tell friends."

"Well I live with my mommy and daddy and my grandma gg." She smiled pleased with herself. "We live in the trees in a small house where no one can see us."

"It's it a fun house?"

"No, it's dark alot. We can't have lights on during the night because they will see them."

"Who will? The bad people?"

I heard footsteps come up behind me.

"Ready to go ash?" Maverick took Ashley's hand.

"Yeah daddy!"

"Say thank you to the nice lady for playing with you?"

"But we didn't play!" Maverick looked at ashley then glared at me. "She just asked where we lived and asked about the bad people.

Maverick pulled Ashley behind him as Wren did the same with me.

"What the hell, Sam!? Who is she?! Who is she working for?!"

"No one! I was just curious about what was going!" I yelled back.

"Curious? I'll tell you. You're the slut that they want! You would make me and my family live normal lives and allow my cousin to be free if you just turn yourself in. Don't bring an innocent little girl into it." Maverick picked up ashley as they climbed the hill disappearing into the trees.

"What the hell, Lennox?"

"I didn't mean anything by it, wren!"

"Get in the jeep and drive home lennox. Now."

"What about you?"

"Why do you think that concerns you?" He said coldly before turning around and making his way down the road.

-----

"Where have you been? Where is your cell phone?! I thought you died Lennox. I was minutes away from calling the police." My dad stopped me as soon as I walked through the door.

"I'm alive."

"Answer my questions dammit!"

"I was with Oakley!"

"I called Oakley. She's worried too. Where were you?"

"With a friend."

"Wren?" I hung my keys up on the hook before turning towards him.

"Since when do you care?"

"Since you stopped answering your and giving me answers!"

"I'm going to sleep." I ran up the stairs. I laid in bed for what seemed like hours. I was so worried about Wren. Did he make it home? Was that even his destination? My eyes got heavier and heavier before I drifted off to sleep.

-----

"Have you seen him?" I ran up to Oakley's locker after third period.

"Where were you, Lennox? I came to my house telling me all about this stuff about Wren and his dirt baggish life then disappear?" She slammed her locker shut.

"Wren!" His face was cut up and he had a black eye.

"Lennox, Lennox!" Oakley yelled after me as I ran to Wren.

I finally reached him. I grabbed his face gently between my hands looking him over.

"Was this cohen? Did Bret get you? Why weren't you in first period?"

"Get away from me Lennox."

"Did I do something?" Wren shoved passed me.

"Yeah you did..." Wren's voice stopped as he looked passed me. His jaw clenched as he grabbed my hand and yanked me forward. He spun me around and shielded me behind him.