Run Wild Horses

Chapter 1

She's fighting back tears,
She's fighting back years of the only life she's ever known
There's a future that's bright in the dead of this night,
All she's gotta do is go.

With my windows down, and my radio blaring, I felt free and weightless as I got on the interstate and left Baton Rouge behind in my rear view mirror. As I got further away, the feeling of calm began to diminish. I pushed the feelings of doubt deep down, and just drove. My vintage Mustang was purring, eating up hundreds of miles along I-12, but my nagging doubts were starting to cause me havoc. By the time I crossed the Mississippi state line, I was in a near panic. I pulled into the welcome center and began sobbing. What the hell did I just do?

I thought quitting my job was impulsive, but that had nothing on this. Leaving the only life I had ever known was just certifiably crazy. I've never lived anywhere else. I didn't have a job. I didn't have a place to live. I didn't know anyone, well, hardly anyone. I almost turned towards the exit to go back home, but I heard that voice in my head again: "you would absolutely love North Carolina sweetheart."

It's just a visit to clear my head, I reminded myself, also thinking about that one person who I knew would be there for me.

I pulled back out onto the interstate and continued on to my destination. Four and a half hours and three hundred plus miles later, I had reached Birmingham, which was approximately half the distance. I pulled off into a hotel for the night. I had some things to figure out, but right now, it was late and I was too exhausted to even think. A good nights rest and I would finish my journey in the morning.

I ignored the texts coming in from Steven. I would deal with them later. Or not. I powered off my phone and slipped into a restful sleep.

*********

I was very lucky to have someone in my life that I could count on. Courtney Calloway was my cousin and best friend since we were both in cribs. My ride or die. We were the same age, grew up together and were co cheer captains for our high school. I last saw her for my dad's funeral seven months ago, and since then, she's been begging me to come and visit her.

My dad and his sister Sherry were born and raised in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Shortly after finishing college with an engineering degree, he moved to Louisiana to accept a plant job, where he met my mother. When Sherry came to Louisiana for their wedding, she fell head over heels for his best friend Randy. Within a few months, she had moved to Louisiana. She and Randy were married and the following year, Courtney and I were born, six weeks apart.

During our senior year in high school, uncle Randy and Aunt Sherry divorced and she moved back to North Carolina. Courtney stayed with uncle Randy until she finished high school. After graduation, she moved to North Carolina with her mother and attended college. After spending some time as a cheerleader for the Carolina Panthers, she landed her dream job in NASCAR where she met her boyfriend.

I missed her like crazy and I hated it when she left, but I had plans of my own. I attended LSU and earned my degree in marketing and public relations. I had also developed an interest in the healthcare field. Courtney came home several times to visit with her father, and we stayed as close as we could by regular phone calls, texts and social media. But the last time I had actually seen her in person was for my dads funeral.

As I sat down at a table in Starbucks sipping on a Frappuccino, I pulled out my phone, hesitating for just a moment before I hit the call button. She answered on the second ring.

"Court, is that offer to visit still available?" I blurted out, barely giving her a chance to say hello.

Of course it is Sam. Anytime, you know that. Are you okay? When would you like to come?"