Hunting Sawyer

Just Drive

SAWYER POV

Two weeks had passed. I feel like I hadn’t left the safety of Tessa’s basement. Tucked away on a cot covered in worn, yet comfortable blankets and a bassinet made of a couple flat couch cushions wrapped in a fitted sheet.

I laid on my side, tears welling in my eyes as I watched him sleep so peacefully. The way his little chest rose and fell with each breath, and the way his bottom lip would tremble every so often, it broke my heart and mended it again within a single instant. He was my everything.

I was feeling myself but exhausted. Tucker wanted to eat almost non-stop. I felt like the last two weeks I’d been playing 'cow' in between short stints of sleep or diaper changes.

Joe had brought over packs and packs of diapers and wipes and onesies. I guess since I ‘skipped town’ every patron at the bar would donate an extra dollar each night on top of their bill, all to pool a fund for me. Joe wouldn’t have told me all that, but Tessa let it slip. Pair that with the discount the drugstore was still holding in my name, and we were set up okay for the next little bit.

Tucker was easy. I could read him almost before he showed signs of needing something, almost like I could feel it in my soul. The times he was alert he was talkative and interactive. His eyes sparkled, the deep violet outer ring fading into an intricate blue grey center. His full head of dark hair had the slightest curl to it and only added to his squishy little charm. But his little grin was the reason my lungs held breath. How it crinkled more on the right side and wrinkled his eye. A little dimple was forming at the crest of his round cheek. It only added to his maximum adorableness and my heart melted with every coo and sleepy content smile.

Every time he’d drift into a milk coma, he’d pet my arm until he was seconds from sleep. He’d wrap those fingers around my thumb and sigh deeply, his heart rate falling into rhythm with mine.

My son. My universe. My reason.

The plan was still in place. When the time was right, maybe another month, we’d pack up the truck and I’d head west with Tucker. Tessa’s cousin would house us, and I’d work in her shop. Her daughter was a bit older and could help with the baby during the day. At least I could continue to learn the trade and earn enough money to support my son.

I could do this. We could do this. We could escape the threat that was Blake.

I could hear thunderous footsteps upstairs and my heart jumped in my throat. How did he find me?

Joe burst through the door with Tessa right behind. The dread was already painted all over their faces. I knew it before they even said a word.

“Sawyer. He’s coming. We have to get you out of here now.” Joe’s bushy eyebrows were pinched together in worry, and he was already grabbing and tossing all the supplies we’d gathered into bins and stacking them in hurried piles, running them up the stairs.

“It’s gonna be fine, hun.” Tessa’s face told me this was anything but fine. “But Blake called Joe and he is on a rampage. He knows Joe has been frequenting the salon and we’ve got to get you as far from here as we can before he shows up.” I was already up and had Tucker wrapped in my arms, still sleeping soundly. He’d just eaten, so I was praying it would keep him tied over for at least an hour or two. It was barely midnight.

My heart was beating like a hammer in my chest. So hard it hurt. But I kept Tucker secure in my hold as I one handedly threw the last few personal effects from the washroom in a backpack and charged up the stairs. Tessa had the last few baby supplies left in the room and was stomping up the stairs behind us. I could hear her ragged breaths and the panic was thick surrounding us.

I wanted to succumb to the anxiety pressing in from all sides, but I knew that in order to keep Tucker safe I had to keep my wits about me. I couldn’t lose my cool now. So, I took one more look at his peaceful little face and choked back the sob that was constricting my throat.

Blake was dangerous. He was murderous. But he wouldn’t catch me.

I had Tucker buckled into his car seat without even realizing I had completed the task. My hands shook slightly as I put the keys in the ignition and prayed a silent prayer for the engine to start without issue. I pulled my wig on sloppily and tucked one of Joe’s baseball caps over it.

“You know the address, Moxie. Just drive.” Tessa nodded to me. “You’re going to be fine. Just get the hell away from here. Have Nadine call us when you get there so I know you’re safe.”

Joe looked ready to cry. He took a few wads of cash out of his pockets and shoved it in the glove box. “Drive safe. Don’t look back.”

All I could do was nod and bite my bottom lip to keep it from trembling. I managed to whimper out my thanks and love to them both, but I knew the look in my eyes showed them how much I meant it. Because it was the look they gave back to me.

I was on high alert as we drove out of the quiet of this sleepy old bullshit town. I kept it slow and steady so I didn’t arouse suspicion. Joe’s old truck sputtered, but it was our only chance. I turned our sights west and kept my eyes peeled for any danger. My knuckles were white on the steering wheel and I tried to control my breathing.

Somehow, we made it out of town without any challenge. But now on the dark empty roads leading from our town to the next, the world almost seemed more ominous.

I swear I saw dark shadows flashing on the outskirts of the treeline, right outside the cone of light from my dim headlights. My shaky fingers grabbed a can of Joe’s cheap gas station body spray and filled the cab. I coughed back, trying not to inhale the musky scent. Thankfully the entire truck already reeked of old man odor and pipe tobacco.

It felt like years, but finally the sun was rising slowly in the rearview mirror. The rumble of the truck must have kept Tucker asleep longer than usual. There were no signs to signal for a town ahead, so I pulled off the side of the highway to relieve myself in the grass and suck down a bottle of water and a poptart. Tucker woke now that the car had slowed, so I nursed him until he was content and wide-eyed. Back in his car seat with a brightly colored toy, we were back on the road, trying to put as much distance as we could between my old hometown of Juniper, Joe’s bar, and Tessa’s salon…. and my child. As the sun rose higher, dark SUVs were headed in the opposite direction at full speed and my heart dropped into my stomach. I tipped the edge of my cap lower over my brow and tried to look casual in the driver seat, spraying the cab once more in man musk.

Several times more flashes of shadows in the trees made my heart rate spike, but I tried to keep my eyes ahead and only focus on what was ahead of us. We passed through the next sleepy town of Forrester and I debated stopping for actual food and a coffee, but I decided against it. Only when I noticed I needed to gas up the tank, did I decide to go against my gut.

I pulled into the beat up gas station and filled up the tank. I pulled Tucker out of his seat, just for a change of scenery, but pulled the blanket up over him high to protect him from prying eyes. An egg sandwich and a black coffee later, and we were on our way.

Two days on the road. Then to Nadine’s. I had to do this… and I had to succeed. It was the only way.