Free Tainted Grace by M. Lauryl Lewis

had taken my place up front. Susan leaned against Nathan across the way from us. I hoped the happiness she had found overnight with Nathan would last.
    “Do you suppose it’s much farther?” I asked Emilie.
    “I hope not. It feels too open here. Too vulnerable.”
    Gus called back to me. “Zoe, how’s your head, darlin’?”
    “Good, Gus.” I tried to smile but was too scared and too cold to make it genuine.
    The van bumped from ruts in the road, and rocked back and forth with the curves and bends. The ride had grown rough, and I could tell Gus had slowed our pace accordingly.
    “According to the map we’re nearly there,” said Bill.
    The journey had been so uneventful that I was beginning to wonder when disaster would strike.
    “That rock face there is familiar,” said Bill. “The house should only be about five minutes or so up the way. I think it’s gotten too dark to risk walking the last part, so I’d suggest we go ahead and drive up. Just stay alert and let me and Nate get out first. I’d hate for Aldo to get all gun happy, assuming the worst like he likes to do all the damn time.”
    “Fair enough,” replied Gus. “Zoe, still clear?”
    “ Yeah.”
    “I’m pulling over. Boggs, once the van stops go ahead and climb in back so Nathan can come up front.”
    “You got it, Boss,” said Boggs.
    They made the exchange smoothly and quickly and we were moving again without incident. Time ticked by slowly. The lone house came into view and Gus slowed.
    Nathan sighed. “I see the curtains in the living room moving.”
    Gus brought the van to a stop.
    “Ok, they know we’re here. Nathan, go ahead and climb out. I’ll be right behind you,” said Bill sternly.
    The men both exited the van through the passenger door and slowly walked to the clearing in front of the old house. It looked like an older single story home with peeling yellow paint and broken shutters. Vines, now dead for the season, climbed one end of the building. Like most homes out this way, the drive proper was gravel and littered with clumps of dead weeds, now blackened and limp for the season.
    The front door was flung open and a young girl came running out. She was short and slightly plump with two long brown braids hanging over each shoulder, down past her chest. She wore black round glasses that made me think of Harry Potter. The girl ran up to Bill and wrapped her arms around him tight. He returned the embrace and swung her around in a circle.
    “That must be the little girl, what did Bill say her name was?” I asked.
    “Abbey,” said Susan. “Nathan told me she’s really attached to Bill.”
    “She looks like Harry Potter,” said Emilie.
    “I thought the same thing. Maybe she has a magic wand and can make this all disappear?” I sighed.
    By now another girl had come out. She looked a lot like Abbey, but taller and leaner. She wore a single braid down her back, much like me.
    “That must be her sister, Kelsey,” said Boggs.
    The next to emerge was a man equally as impressive as Bill in stature, and about the same age. He was followed by a younger man.
    “Jack and Aldo.”      
    The two men shook hands with both Bill and Nathan. We watched as they talked and Bill motioned to the step van. After several seconds, Nathan waved and signaled for us to come out.
    “Zoe, let us get out first,” said Boggs. “You girls follow.”
    “Ok,” I answered calmly, although I was anxious to meet everyone.
    Boggs stepped out of the van, immediately followed by Gus. The strangers all stood and faced them, watching. Gus tipped his cowboy hat toward the group in greeting. Susan climbed up front and stepped out through the driver’s door, where Gus had just exited. She speed-walked toward Nathan, who watched her approach with a grin.
    “C’mon, Zoe,” urged Emilie. “Let’s go say hi.”
    I took a deep breath before climbing down from the van. A wind was blowing in gusts. It felt close to freezing out. At least the rain had