Free Innocence Taken by Janet Durbin

of sadness flooded her heart. She had to get outside, she had to get away from the girls; she had to get away from everything.
    "I'll be outside."
    "You okay?” There was concern in his eyes.
    Nature ignored the question. She had to get out now, before she lost control. The gloves on her hands protected her from the feelings of others, but they did not help against what was within herself. She shoved the door open and practically ran to the camper. Getting into the passenger side, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. Her heart was racing, her breath matching its speed.
    Westerly opened his door and got in. He set the food down between them, the drink carrying tray next to it. He looked at Nature. She refused to look at him. She had to get herself under control before she did that. If she looked now, she would lose what little grasp she had.
    "You going to be okay?” His voice was gentle, soothing.
    She nodded her head yes, her eyes remained closed.
    He continued to look at her, one arm thrown over the steering wheel. He knew so little about the woman sitting next to him. He knew only about her ability because she had used it to help solve many of his cases. As if sensing his eyes upon her, she opened hers and looked at him. She quickly looked at the floorboard, unable to maintain contact.
    "It there anything I can do to help?"
    "Nothing."
    "Do you want to talk about it?"
    "No."
    "Nature ... I want to help. The one thing I have discovered over the years is that it helps to talk it out."
    "Web ... please ... let it alone for now. I need time."
    "Would it help if you called Sandy?"
    Nature was forever grateful for those words. They showed that he understood, that he would not demand she talk to him. “No, that's not necessary. I'll be fine.” She opened the bag, grabbed one of the French fries and popped it into her mouth, allowing the end to stick out like an antenna.
    The girls were leaving as Westerly backed the camper out of the parking space. They smiled at him before they turned toward the local town. Nature watched them disappear down the sidewalk. She hoped that they would remain safe, that they would grow up to be wonderful mothers and wives, that they would not be another statistic—like Rew.
    The miles flew past as they made their way to Florida. Westerly hung his arm out the open window after his meal was finished. Nature wasn't hungry anymore, but ate to keep Web off her back. He was so much like Sandy. Maybe that was why she was drawn to him. Maybe that was the reason she insisted on his being here, instead of Sandy.
    "Web, why did you agree to come with me?"
    "Because you asked me to."
    "Web ... really, why?"
    He didn't answer immediately. He stared at the road ahead."
    "Web?"
    "Because I want to see that bastard caught as much as you do. I want to see that son of a bitch castrated and hung for what he did.” He looked at Nature. She saw the fire in his eyes. “I want other families to not have to go through what the Mosby's had to go through."
    "What if this girl is dead?"
    "Then we work harder. We find him before he kills again."
    Nature saw him return his gaze to the road ahead. She turned hers forward also. A sign for Savannah showed they were about two hours away from the city. She looked back at Westerly. He was bleary from driving for so long with only short rest breaks in between.. She watched as he shook his head to clear it.
    "Web, you've been driving for almost 18 hours. Pull over and let me drive. You need to get some sleep."
    "I can make it."
    "To what? An early death?” She was angry at his stubbornness.
    "We have to get there. We have to save the missing girl from that monster."
    Everything fell into place. She understood what drove him to get there in such a reckless manner. “Web, pull over. I'll make sure we get there quickly.” She reached over, resting her gloved hand on his shoulder.
    He flinched at the touch. He knew she was right, though. He was exhausted. The camper