County Road 141

Maps

              Dinner was over so Ren and Jenna took clean up duty.Ren washed and Jenna rinsed.Neither one spoke a word.
Bailey watched them and smiled. Calum noticed the smile and asked "what is it your smiling at?"
Bailey didn't look away from the couple but answered.
"Jenna has been living here for just 3 months and they are a unit. They don't talk much, not to each other or hell anyone else for that matter but look at them. Look how they move together. Neither one getting in the others way. They anticipate each other's moves. Like someone choreographed a dance just for them. Do you know he brings her flowers everyday? And she makes him breakfast every morning. I asked them both do you love him or do you love her. Do you know what their answers were?"
"Tell me"Calum said.
"Jenna said she didn't know because she doesn't know what romantic love is suppose to feel like. And Ren he shocked me. He said not yet but it's sure working its self in and rubbed his heart. My brother said that. Can you believe that? Man I hope love never finds me."
"Why would you say that Bailey?"
Bailey turned then an frowned at Calum. "Oh come on. You've heard everyone say I am just like my momma. I don't want to spend the next 22 years pretending I love someone and fighting with them everyday. I don't want to live like that again."
"You and Ren are not your parents Bailey."
Bailey got up and headed upstairs she yelled down from the top step "night everyone I'm to bed." A chorus of good nights followed her up.
Ren,Jenna and the others sat around the living room and discussed plans to find Jenna's brother. Ren pulled a map and a pen from the drawer in the coffee table.when he looked up everyone was staring at him.
"What I do a lot of work from home." He laid the map out on the table and marked a spot. "Ok this is where Lana hit Jenna with the car." He then moved his finger over and marked another spot. "This is where we found the body of the guy Jenna took out." Jenna winced a little. She hated these people knowing she was a killer.
He looked up at Jenna. "Sorry Hun but we need facts right now."
"It's ok I know what I am." Taylor tsked and everyone else huffed a little. Ren frowned. Sarah grabbed Jenna's hand and looked her in the eye. "Do you think the people in this room are killers Jenna?"
"No you guys were soldiers that's different that was war."
Adam shook his head. "Jenna doll that's how we see you. A soldier, a survivor in a war no one else knows about."
Jenna felt overwhelmed and thanked everyone.
"Let's get back to it" Taylor said.
Ren looked back down at the map and asked "Jenna do you know which direction you were running?"
"No not really. I was already pretty banged up so when it all happened it went so fast and I just got up and ran."
"That's ok. Just answer the best you can. Now were the woods on your left or your right?"
Jenna thought about it.
"Both but when I took off running I went to the right. I was facing the back of the van when I rolled to my right, then I jumped up and ran."
Ren looked at the map for a moment then thinking out loud said. "If you were facing the back of the van and the woods were on the left and right, then the passenger side had to be facing towards the right side. Jenna said she felt like she ran for an hour or so before she came out onto 141.The only road besides 141 that's surrounded by woods is highway 12.That means they were headed to Willow Hill or Walston."
"What's in those places?" Jenna asked.
This time Sarah answered."Willow Hill is a small lumber community. A little smaller then Falling Forge where we live here." Jerry pointed "and Walston is our nearest major city."
Jenna thought for a moment then asked. "How far away from Walston is Willow Hill and Falling Forge?"
Calum answered." I would say about 45 minutes between the small towns and about 3 hours to the city from each."
Jenna looked up. "We were never allowed to know where we were going, but they would need a place big enough to house everyone and keep them out of sight. They will want somewhere the handlers can come and go without anyone asking questions."
Ren left the map on the table,stood and stretched." It's late. Taylor see if there's been any news on the woman Jenna said was shot anywhere near. There's been nothing come across my desk so I'm going to assume she's still alive or they took the body with them. He gave the rest of the pack their orders and sent everyone home. After they all left he made coffee and brought Jenna a cup on the couch. He sat there and studied her for a while. He didn't understand how she could say she blended in. He saw milk chocolate waist length hair, and a nose that had a small bump where it must have been broken a few times. She had a small indent on her chin, and though some may call her small she had long legs. She was lean and graceful. But her eyes they were his favorite part of her. Her eyes were the color of a new nickel, but it wasn't just the color. He didn't know how but somehow with all she had been through her eyes showed the most gentle soul he had ever seen. Jenna noticed him staring and asked "what?"
"How are you feeling Jenna? Your bruises are gone and your stronger. Your not using the crutch anymore."
Jenna fidgeted a little then answered. "I'm fine. No soreness I'm healed enough to help not hinder."
"Good"he said.
The next thing Jenna knew she was lifted off the couch and being kissed. She was so surprised she didn't realize she was kissing him back until she had to pull back for air. She touched her lips and asked "why did you do that?"
Ren's hands were shaking when he said "because I can Jenna. Cause to me your beautiful and strong, because you don't need me, and every time I'm not in a room with you I want to be, but mostly because your mine. I'm trying so damned hard not to let the animal in me take over. You've been through so much and I don't want to take away your choices. I'm praying when this is all over though that you will choose to stay here with me." He kissed her one more time and left the room.
Jenna flopped down in complete shock.
"For a man without much to say you sure know how to say it Darren Holmes."