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  Chapter 21

  Angel

  My plan had been ridiculously simple. Candy and I had been put in charge of the kitchen, but I’d refused to go near it. My assistant, Candy, had bowed out of the job offer immediately. But for my last night at the compound, I’d decided that it was time to cook up some stew. I’d used Gracie’s recipe but added a special ingredient— ground up sleeping pills. Enough to knock everyone on their asses at least for one night. I’d picked stew because it was Max’s favorite. He ate three bowls of it.

  It had only been four days since the horrid day when they’d taken Luke away from me. Jericho was the only person I was still talking to and even those conversations were short and meaningless. I could not even look at my grandfather, and madman that he was, he’d just laughed it off as if I was going to get over my anger eventually. But I didn’t need to get over my anger because the man no longer existed for me. I still had a hard time swallowing that I was in any way related to him. Deep down, I hoped that Gunner would come in and take over the club. My grandfather deserved it.

  A shiver ran through me as my feet hit the cold floor. It was still too early for the dogs. They barely lifted their heads from my mattress. I regretted leaving them behind, but since I had no idea where I was going I couldn’t take them along. I’d left Jericho a note, which he would see once he woke, telling him that I would always care deeply for him and to please feed and water the chickens.

  I pulled my sweatshirt up over my head and swung my backpack over my shoulder. An eerie quiet covered the compound as I stepped onto my porch. I wouldn’t miss its utilitarian buildings or run down cabins or moldy bathrooms. Even though I had no clue where I was heading, I was glad to be leaving this place for good. If the worst happened and I was kidnapped by a rival club, I would still be away from this place and that’s all that mattered. Some of my last weeks at the compound had been the best weeks of my life. I’d fallen madly in love, to the point where I hadn’t even been able to think straight when Luke was near. Now this place was a painful almost paralyzing reminder that my one true soulmate had left this earth without me. There had been a reason that Luke and I had been thrown together. After just one day with him it felt as if we’d been meant for each other, somewhere, somehow, destiny had brought us together. It wasn’t supposed to end like this. There were times in the past few days when something inside told me he wasn’t dead, that he was still out there waiting for me. But that was just me wishing so hard for him to be alive that I was almost convinced of it. My heart had been shattered beyond repair, but I’d always been a survivor.

  I walked toward the gate first. Max wasn’t even at his post. He’d been assigned the early morning shift but my doctored stew had knocked him out. I could pull the switch and leave right now but there was one friend who was going with me, at least for the first part of my journey.

  I hurried across the yard and around the cabins to Chance’s stall. He lifted his head and looked surprised to see me so early. I walked over to the hook on the wall and picked up his bridle.

  “Hey, big guy, up for a morning ride?” I slid the bit into his mouth and adjusted the headstall. He plodded behind me as I led him through the yard. A noise from my grandfather’s cabin made me stop. I waited but everything remained quiet. Chance and I continued to the gate. I pulled the switch. I had no way to close it once we were out, but I didn’t care. Max would probably stumble out eventually and shut it before anyone noticed that he’d left it open. Jericho liked to sleep late, so I had a good four hours before anyone would know I was gone.

  The wrought iron gate swung open and I glanced back to make sure the yard was still deserted. The place looked grim and harsh and the opposite of home. I walked through and climbed on Chance’s back. I never turned around after that.

  The brisk morning air gave Chance energy and he trotted along through the sagebrush. He picked up his pace when we hit the road. His hooves clacked the asphalt, scaring the birds from the bushes. Chance lifted his head and snorted in delight as he realized we were heading toward his favorite place. Five miles down the road from the compound, a woman named Kathy, who’d been widowed for years, lived on a small farm with her horses, dogs and goats. Chance loved the place because there were other horses, and Kathy always brought out an apple for him when she saw us. She’d always admired Chance.

  I didn’t see Kathy, but her horses were already out in their turnout pen. Chance loped toward the pen, and his horse friends all whinnied to him. Kathy came out onto her porch to see what the noise was about. She shielded her eyes with her hand. “Angel, you two are out early.”

  I slid off of Chance and led him to her. “Could you watch him for me, Kathy. I have to go away for awhile, and I don’t know when I’ll be back. But I know he’ll be in good hands here.”

  She had the kind of brown eyes that looked as if they could see straight into your mind. She knew I was leaving for good. She took the reins. “I’d be happy to watch Chance for you, Angel. You take care now. Do you need anything?”

  “No, I’m set. Thanks, Kathy.” I turned around and kissed Chance’s nose. Then I headed back toward the road.

  Several roadrunners scurried across the asphalt, and the jackrabbits were out nibbling at the dry foliage. It was eerily quiet and the blue sky above promised scorching heat. There was a long stretch of highway between me and a different life. I would have to watch over my shoulder wherever I went, and I had no idea what I’d do for money or shelter yet. But I didn’t mind. I was free.

  Rain Shadow Book 3

  Four hours into a long, hot trek down the highway, freedom was no longer such a grand notion. My elation at being alone outside of the compound walls had shriveled to a mere flicker of optimism. But as tired and hungry as I was, I was still glad to be free of Dreygon Sharpe’s control. After what he’d done, I could no longer think of the man as my grandfather. He was a stranger to me now..

  Coming August 20, 2014

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