Freedom Train

February 5, 1963

February 5, 1963 cont.

"What are we going to do?" Annabeth asked Terry as they disappeared into the trees, going back the way they had come.

"We'll figure it out," he said calmly as he squeezed her fingers.

It was easy for him to say, but on the inside Terry had not the slightest idea on what they would do now that his car was gone and they had no way to get into Birmingham.

They were quiet as they walked together, hand in hand, back toward the cabin. A set back like this was discouraging to say the least. The walk was quiet, neither of them wanting to worry the other with talk of how this would turn out for them.

Annabeth noticed little wafts of smoke coming from the chimney as they got closer to the little cabin in the woods. She stopped walking and turned toward Terry with wide eyes, knowing damn sure that they had put the fire out long before they left.

"I see it," he whispered in the darkness.

"Stay back here," Annabeth told him as she started to walk forward.

Instead of letting her go forward, he gently pulled back on her hand.

"I can't let you go in there alone. God only knows who it is."

"Well, if I was a gambling lady then I'd say it's just Bobby," she smiled sarcastically. "But you're going to stay right here, just in case it's not."

Annabeth took a step forward, just for him to pull her back once again.

"Which brings me back to my point," he added with a low grumble.

Annabeth smiled and wrapped her arms around his shoulders, his hands instinctively resting on her hips.

"It's cute that you're worried about me..."

At this, Terry rolled his eyes and reached up for her arms to pull her away. Annabeth shrugged him off, keeping her hands firmly linked behind his neck.

"Let me finish," she laughed lightly. "It's cute that you're worried about me, but you don't have to be. If I feel in the slightest bit of danger I'll scream out and you can come to me. You're literally no more than twenty feet from the back of the cabin."

Terry sighed and relaxed his tense body.

"If it is Bobby in there..." Annabeth continued. "Then we might just have us a ride to Birmingham."

Terry nodded and she raised herself on her toes to kiss him quickly. Then, he took a step back from her and watched as she walked the rest of the way toward the cabin.

Annabeth hesitated when she reached for the wooden door knob. In her heart, she knew it was Bobby who would be waiting inside. It was a daunting task to have to face him again. She hadn't talked to him since he told her exactly how he felt about her. A part of Annabeth was angry with him for talking to her the way he had. A bigger part understood where he was coming from.

All of her, however, knew that Bobby Warren was a good man. He would help them get out of Addumnly, if for nothing else than for Terry's safety.

Annabeth opened the door slowly to see Bobby sitting in front of the fire, reading a book. He didn't even look up when she came in, as if he'd been expecting her any minute.

"I saw them tow Terry's car this afternoon," he greeted, his eyes still on his book. "I came here to tell him, but you'd already left."

Annabeth took a slow step toward him, her hands fidgeting in front of her jacket as was her nervous habit.