by K. J. Dahlen
Cricket turned to look out the window again. She had plans to make, like how was she going to get three kids and herself to Troy? She didn’t have a vehicle or money for a cab. She didn’t have any money period. Cordy always made sure of that.
Troy wasn’t that far away but far enough. She couldn’t walk the distance and she couldn’t call anyone to come and get the kids. She still needed a way for her and Dusty to get away.
Cordy would view this as the ultimate betrayal, one truly worthy of her revenge.
Something inside her broke free and she suddenly realized that this was her ticket out, if she did this it would be her step toward freedom. Hers and Dusty’s. Sweat beaded her forehead, as she got lightheaded at the thought. She would finally be free of her sister!
She would be able to do whatever she wanted. Cricket had her own dreams. Dreams she’d never told anyone about. Cordy didn’t care enough to ask and she had no one else to talk to, except Dusty. And while he was a great kid, he was only a kid. What did he know of hopes and dreams?
No, she thought to herself. She had to make this right. She must break away and do what she could to gain her freedom. Freedom for her and Dusty. She knew she would never leave him behind no matter what the cost. If she did, she knew her sister would really hurt him even though he was her son.
Cricket tried to close off her mind to what Cordy could and had done in the past when she hadn’t gotten her way.
Then she thought back to what Cordy had said this morning. Something about where she had picked up the kids. What had she called the place? Redemption House? Could that be a way out? Cordy wouldn’t go back there. She wouldn’t dare, not after what she did.
Then a sound broke the silence and Cricket hurried to the bedroom. One of the babies was crying. The two babies were laying on a blanket on the floor while Dusty was sleeping in the bed.
The two of them often shared the bed, as there was only one in each room. She never minded and the closeness gave Dusty security. Deke’s son was crying out in his sleep. Cricket knelt on the floor beside him and shushed him softly. She began singing a lullaby she often used when Dusty was this age.
She knew their names because they had them on their clothes when Cordy took them away from everything and everyone they knew. It broke Cricket’s heart that they missed their mother and father so much.
Little Sam quieted down and went back to sleep and Cricket scooted over and sat with her back to the wall. She watched over the three of them. She laid her head on her knees and closed her eyes for a moment.
The next thing she knew little Jemmia was patting her on the cheek. She had tears in her eyes but she wasn’t crying.
Cricket gathered her into her arms and the baby settled down. She glanced over to the window and noted the sun was coming up. Looking around, she saw Sam wasn’t in the bedroom. Cricket felt a moment of panic and got to her feet. Rushing out to the living room, she found the baby sitting on the floor while Cordy sat on the sofa smoking a cigarette.
Cordy glared at her then turned to frown at the boy. She got a calculating look on her face. “I think instead of going to work today, I’ll just run some errands.” She flicked her fingernails together. “And I think I’ll take the kid with me.” She motioned toward the baby on the floor. “I’m sure you’ll be okay with just the two of them today.”
“What kind of errands are you going to do?” Cricket asked. Her heart was pounding in her chest. She didn’t like the look in Cordy’s eyes when she stared at Deke’s son. “It won’t be any problem to keep all three of the kids.”
“No I don’t think so,” Cordy assured her. “I’ll keep the kid with me today. Don’t worry about him.” Cordy turned to stare at her sister. “You’ll have your hands full with Dusty and the girl.” She paused then added, “Don’t worry, I won’t hurt him. I need him to get Deke back. It might be a different story once I have him back but for now, I need this kid.”
Cricket nodded. There was nothing she could do about this new wrinkle. All she could do was use the time to get herself, Dusty and Jemmia away. If everything worked out, then Deke could worry about getting his son back.
Cricket’s hand went to the necklace around her neck. It was something she got from her mother before she died. Cordy had one too. Their mother Grace had gotten them for her daughters when she knew she was dying. She wanted the girls to have something to remember her by and Cricket could feel her mother standing beside her when she thought about her hard enough. Right now, Cricket needed her mother’s strength to do what she had to do.
When Cricket had the children fed, Cordy grabbed her purse and Sammy’s hand. She smiled wickedly at Cricket. “See you later then. You have fun today.” Jerking the boy’s hand, she half dragged him to the door.
She ran to the door and watched as Cordy lifted the boy to the backseat of the truck. She kept an eye on the truck as Cordy took off. Seeing the tail lights disappear Cricket turned and began gathering what she would need to start her life over.
Knowing she couldn’t take much, Cricket packed only the essentials. The last thing she did was pack food for their trip. Troy might only be eight miles away but walking with two small children was going to take a while, maybe all day. They would have to travel carefully and be ready to hide along the way, if the need arose.
Cricket found her hands were trembling as she committed to her journey. Her plan might not be the best she could come up with, but she had to take this chance. This might be her only way out. Glancing over at the baby girl sitting on the floor playing with Dusty she knew she had to do it. She had to take this little girl home to her Daddy.
Finally, she picked up the baby and looked over at Dusty. “Are you ready for this?” she asked him quietly.
She saw him swallow the lump in his throat. She knew he was as afraid of what was about to happen, as she was but he also knew they didn’t have a choice. Finally, he looked up at her and nodded. “Let’s do this.”
Cricket reached her hand out and Dusty took it. Wordlessly, they left the house. The sun was mid sky by this time and Cricket couldn’t help but wonder if they would make it.
They rounded the corner and began walking down the back way. The road here was a simple dirt road. It was hot and dusty and soon their shoes were coated with dirt. A while later, they heard a vehicle coming toward them from behind. Cricket stepped off the road and rushed toward the ditch. She’d been so absorbed in putting one foot in front of the other, she hadn’t paid any attention to the traffic.
Glancing around behind her she was glad to see the vehicle coming toward them wasn’t Cordy’s truck. The older car belonged to a neighbor and as it drew closer, she found herself gazing into the face of old Joshua Marky.
Shifting the baby in her arms, she narrowed her eyes against the brightness of the sunny day. “Oh Joshua, you scared me.”
“Are you going somewhere Miss Cricket?” Joshua asked as he frowned at the child in her arms. Usually, he only saw Dusty with her but now she had a baby girl in her arms.
Cricket fidgeted with the small child in her arms and glanced at Dusty before she answered, “Actually I am,” she confessed.
“Would you and those kids like a ride somewhere?” Joshua asked.
Cricket took a deep breath. Glancing into the girl’s eyes, she came to a decision. She knew trust didn’t come easy but for the first time in her life she was going to trust someone. She turned and stared at Joshua. “We’re going to Troy if you’re headed that way.”
For a moment, Joshua just stared at her. “Troy huh?” he repeated. Then he nodded. “I guess I was headed that way anyway. Hop in.”
Cricket laid her hand on the window opening. “I don’t want any trouble,” she told him quietly. “I don’t want to drag you into this mess. Cordy is not going to be happy about this. She doesn’t know I know anyone in the neighborhood. I wouldn’t want to bring down her wrath on you or anyone else. By giving me a ride she might come after you.”
Joshua frowned a
s he stared at her. “Now, why would I have the time to talk to your sister? I’m on my way to Troy to visit with some old army buddies. Might be gone a day or two.”
Cricket cocked her head to the side.. “What about Miss Rosie and Simon?” Miss Rosie was a neighbor on the other side of the house Cordy rented. She was an older lady and her cat Simon meant the world to her. Cricket had met her about three months ago when they first arrived. Rosie was outside when she tripped and fell. She laid there for over an hour before Cricket had seen her. She rushed out and helped the old lady back into her house. Rosie had insisted she wasn’t hurt and had talked the whole time and Cricket hadn’t minded a bit. Over the next few weeks, she and Dusty had become friends with the old woman.
Joshua nodded. “I spoke to Miss Rosie and she told me her brother was coming to pick her up for a visit. Said she might be gone for a few days.”
Cricket closed her eyes in relief. “Good. I’m glad she’ll be safe.”
After getting the kids settled, Cricket got into the front seat with Joshua. Putting on her seatbelt, she looked over at him and found him watching her. “What?” she asked softly.
“You know everybody’s been watching you over the time you’ve been in our hood.”
Cricket knew a moment of fear. “How so?”
“We like to know what’s going on in our little circle,” Joshua told her.
“And what did you discover about us?”
“We know your sister is Looney Tunes, but you and the boy are right fine people,” Joshua told her as they drove down the road.
Cricket laughed. “Cordy is more than crazy, she’s bat shit crazy and you all have to watch your backs after today. She’s not going to like it when she gets back to an empty house.” She glanced back at the girl in the backseat. “She has her brother with her and while I don’t think she’ll hurt him, she might do anything.”
CHAPTER ELEVEN
Joshua glanced in the mirror and saw the girl she spoke of. His friend Amos had called him yesterday and asked him to come over. Joshua didn’t know what was going on but if Amos was calling around for help, it must be big.
A little while later they entered the city limits of Troy. All the way from Albany, they had been passing scores of men on motorcycles. Now as they entered the city, everywhere they looked, the men were present.
As Joshua searched their faces, he could see they were not happy men. He couldn’t help but wonder what the hell was going on. Then he glanced over at Cricket and wondered what she might have to do with all of this.
Cricket finally spoke, “You can drop us off anywhere along here.”
Joshua pulled the car over and waited while she got the kids and her stuff out. “Are you going to be okay?”
Cricket picked up the little girl and nodded. “I’ll be fine.” Reaching out to take Dusty’s hand, she turned and started down the street. Before she took a few steps, she turned back to Joshua. “Thank you for the ride. I wish I could warn you about Cordy but I have no idea what she’ll do next. Just be careful.”
“Don’t you worry about me, Miss Cricket.” Joshua chuckled. “I can take care of myself. I made it through the war. I think I can survive your sister.”
Hitching the girl higher on her hips Cricket turned and made her way down the street. Dusty walked beside her and when Joshua started the car again, she was gone. He made his way down the street in the opposite direction.
A few more turns and he found Redemption House. Joshua just watched the building for a moment or two then turned off the engine and got out of the car. He watched as the front door opened and three men came out. Joshua smiled as he caught site of them.
His grin widened as one of the men saw him. Sarge hadn’t changed much in the years since Joshua had seen him last. He still looked as ornery as ever. Joshua took a step forward and reached out his hand. “Sarge, you old sonofabitch, you are still the ugliest man I ever knew.”
Amos smiled. “Corporal Joshua Marky.” He grabbed the other man’s hand and shook it. “Thanks for coming. We need some good men on this mission.”
Joshua frowned as he looked at the other two men beside Amos. “What kind of mission are we talking about here?”
“Recon,” Amos said. “We need intel and we need it fast. We got two missing kids and the President of the local MC is a friend.”
Joshua finally understood the situation. “I don’t think I’d worry so much.”
Amos snorted. “You don’t understand what’s at stake.”
“No you don’t know what I do.” Joshua nodded. “Let’s go and talk about it. I’ll tell you what I know and you can tell me what you know. But right now, I could use a cup of coffee.”
~* * * *~
By late afternoon, everyone in the clubhouse was edgy. No word had been heard from anyone on the whereabouts of Sammy and Jemmia. Deke was pacing the length of the main room while Cassie sat at one of the tables.
She looked pale and she hadn’t eaten since her children had been taken. She knew she should, she had another child to nurture but she just couldn’t get the food past her lips. She felt her baby move from within and Cassie placed her hands on her belly. She smiled sadly, wondering if this child would ever know her brother and sister. She had to hope she would.
Cassie searched the room for Deke and found him over by the table with Zipper, Sam and Mountain. They were studying the security tape from Redemption House. Zipper had been trying to clear up the tape enough to see the face of the woman who had taken Sammy and Jemmia.
Zipper looked up from the tape. “That’s as clear as it’s ever going to get boss.”
Deke stared at the woman with tired eyes. Being up all night and half the day was exhausting. He stared at the woman on the tape. There was something familiar about her but he didn’t know what it was.
Sam leaned in closer. He was studying not her face but the mark on her wrist.
Suddenly the quiet within the club was shattered by a baby’s cry.
Deke’s head snapped up and he glared at the main door. His feet were moving toward it before he even realized what he was doing.
~* * * *~
Cricket and Dusty walked through the woods, just outside the city limits of Troy. It had been a long day and Cricket lifted the little girl higher up in her arms for the millionth time. She was getting heavy and Cricket was getting tired. She had to ask where the clubhouse was located and right now, everyone in Troy was nervous about strangers asking questions. She had a feeling it was because of what Cordy had done. But she finally made it. She was where she needed to get the baby girl to.
Just ahead, she saw a break in the trees. She was almost there. Her heart pounded in her chest and she stopped a moment. Looking into the face of the little girl, she could see the trust in them. Her blue eyes looked around her with the wonder of innocence she still possessed.
“Are we there yet?” Dusty asked. “I’m getting tired.”
“Yeah sweet boy, I think we’re here.” Cricket knelt down beside him and wrapped her arm around his shoulders. “As soon as she gets to the gate and someone finds her, we can go.”
“Good.” Dusty rubbed his nose with his fingers.
“You know this isn’t going to be easy,” Cricket warned him. “We have to be very careful because your mom isn’t going to give up on finding us.”
“I just wish we could have gotten her brother back too,” Dusty told her.
“Me too buddy.” Cricket patted his back. “Me too. Okay, now I need you to find a place to hide and I want you to promise me you won’t come out until I call you. I have to make sure someone finds her but I can’t do that if I’m worried about you.”
“I know what to do,” Dusty assured her. “You just be careful you don’t get caught.”
Cricket grinned. “I don’t plan to. Now hide yourself, I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
She turned and walked to the edge of the trees.
The little girl in her arms began to bounce with excitem
ent. She saw the clubhouse and she knew her parents were close by.
Cricket put the girl down and watched her toddle off toward the front gate.
She squealed as she ran along the road. Suddenly, the door was flung open and Deke rushed out. When he saw his daughter he shouted, “Jemmia.” Then rushed to her.
Cricket watched from inside the trees. Tears filled her eyes as she watched who she assumed was Jemmia’s mom join Deke and together, they hugged their daughter. Then she watched as the mom turned toward the gate and called out, “Sammy. Sammy are you there?”
Cricket had to swallow hard knowing Sammy wasn’t there to answer his mother’s call. She was about to turn back when someone grabbed her by the arms. She screamed and fought back but the hold on her was strong. She struggled and got at least one good kick in before a fist came flying toward her head. When it connected, Cricket dropped to her knees stunned.
“Don’t you hurt my Cricket, you big bully!” Dusty screamed as he rushed forward.
She tried to tell him to run but she couldn’t get the words to come out of her mouth. The blow she’d taken had stunned her badly.
When Dusty reached them, he kicked the man standing over Cricket in the leg. When the man stumbled backward, Dusty sucker punched him in the nuts.
The man grabbed his privates and groaned as he fell to the ground.
Suddenly, the area was crawling with other people. One of them grabbed Dusty and lifted him off his feet. Another man shoved Cricket to the ground and wrenched her arms behind her back. She screamed as the pain in her back made itself known. Then she felt the bite of the rope as someone tied her wrists together but her head was too foggy from the hit she took to object.
“Hold it!” Deke shouted as he finally reached them. “What the hell is going on here?”
“We found her when you caught up with Jemmia. She’s the one that brought her back here.” The big man that Dusty hurt got to his feet. He looked to be in pain but was able to walk.
