Standing there in the cold by the tiny depot, a man who’d gotten off with her headed to a parked, waiting truck. They skidded away, weaving, fighting to gain traction. He and the older woman behind her were the only disembarking passengers.
Before the woman got into the large vehicle that arrived to pick her up, she approached Tara, obviously distraught and alone, and handed her a twenty-dollar bill. “I don’t know what else I can do for you other than give you enough money to contact your family so they can help you. I’m so sorry this had to happen to you, young lady.”
An immediate thankfulness overwhelmed Tara. “You’re so kind. I certainly need the money, but we’re strangers.”
“I wish I could invite you to my home, but with the virus situation and my old father living with us, I can’t take any chances. I know it’s not much,” she pointed at the twenty still in sight, “but it’s all I can afford since I haven’t worked for weeks.”
“Oh, my goodness, the amount isn’t the reason I’m hesitating. It’s the fact that I left home with enough money for my trip, and now I have nothing and that lowlife next to me will be spending my hard-earned money. It makes me ill thinking about it.”
“You’re that sure he’s the one who took your belongings?”
Shrugging, Tara nodded. “No one else was close by who looked to be the type. I might be wrong, but it’s got to be somewhere. As my mom used to say, it didn’t just disappear.”
“You’re probably right, and I’m sorry. Take care.”
Realizing that the lady still maintained a fair distance between them, a sign she couldn’t give her a hug for being so kind, she thanked her for her thoughtfulness and waved as she left.
In minutes, the SUV lights had faded, and she stood all alone on a dark street somewhere on the edge of the little town and had no idea where to go. Looking for lights, she started up the block, dragging her suitcase through the loose snow, tears dripping, and her shoulders bowed. How in the world had she gotten into such a mess?
Chapter Three
★•**•★
Never had she done anything so crazy as lose that which she needed most. She’d kept that small bag around her shoulders most of the two-day journey. Only those last few hours had she taken any chances, using it for a pillow while wrapped in her jacket. It must have slipped out of the material, off her arm, and from under her head.
She closed her eyes picturing the bus seats yet again and thought how easy it would be for the fellow across from her to have snatched it up. Wishing she’d had the guts to accuse him outright and have the driver search his belongings, she realized she was too late. What was done was done. Now she had to deal with the consequences.
If she could find an all-night diner where she could stay, maybe in the morning she could contact her mom. Remembering it would be the weekend, her sudden nightmare situation worsened and left her reeling.
Her mom and the creep had planned two days at his son’s place, and she had no idea where he lived. The fact that they’d parted after an ugly showdown where her own mother blamed her for acting from pure jealousy because she had a man and Tara didn’t, made her dire position worse.
Sure, she’d sobered up the next day, and as a peace offering had come with Tara to say goodbye, but the hurt still festered.
Oh yeah, and her stepdad’s stupid accusations of Tara being stingy because she didn’t want to pay the ridiculous rent he’d suddenly demanded, made her cringe at the idea of asking for help.
If only her mother were the phone type who always carried the cell around with her, but she wasn’t. Neither was Tom. She’d never get through to them until they returned home. Besides, it made little sense to use up her battery with nowhere to charge it at her disposal. Which meant she had three days to live on a stranger’s twenty dollars.
***
The falling snow hadn’t let up and it was getting difficult to keep going with her suitcase fighting the drifts every inch of the way. Looking around her, she saw a place a little way ahead with lights still on. Gulping down her apprehension, she approached and rang the bell.
Kids answered, two younger teenage boys, and were yelled at to stay back. A woman charged toward them, her voice harsh, “You know better than to answer the door like that. Anyone could be there. Get back.” She kept her distance from Tara, holding onto the door as if she needed protection and made her demand, “Why are you here?”
Smiling as much as she could manage, trying to show she wasn’t a lunatic or someone to be afraid of, Tara answered, “I’m sorry to bother you this way. But I was on the bus from Los Angeles and someone stole my purse. The driver dropped me down the street at the bus depot, but I don’t know which direction the town is. I had planned to call a taxi, but I have no money now. Can you help me?”
“Lady, I’m sorry for your troubles, but there’s a pandemic to worry about, and we’ve been told to isolate. I have no idea who you are, or if you’re sick. I have small kids here. I can’t let you in. But I can tell you that you’re a few miles from town. If you go to that corner and turn right, you’ll eventually find a restaurant called Frankie’s. It stays open late. Maybe they can help you.” She pointed to the east. “I’m terribly sorry.”
Tara couldn’t help the new flood of tears from appearing. Before she could say anything, the woman reached to the table behind her and grabbed her purse. Then she handed a ten-dollar bill to Tara. “It’s all the cash I have right now. I hope it helps.” Rather than taking a chance of touching a stranger, she threw the money towards Tara and closed the door.
Unwilling to push her luck, understanding the situation, Tara picked up the bill to push in her pocket with the other money, called out her thanks, and headed back to the street. Struggling, she got to the corner and around the bend when she noticed a darkened place further ahead on her right. It looked dilapidated, certainly unlived in, and drew her attention.
She struggled toward it, thinking that maybe she could stay inside, away from the snow, and wait out the storm. She dragged her case closer and saw what she hadn’t noticed from the sidewalk. Exactly how decrepit the place had become.
Deciding not to stay after all, she pulled and yanked at the suitcase realizing that the wheels had become a huge liability in the snow. The difficulty to move it had her giving up in frustration.
Or maybe it was the sound that made her hesitate and listen, the pitiful echo of someone or something in there whining. Her heart stopped. Could it be a baby?
Chapter Four
★•**•★
What in the world? How could she pass by whimpering that tore a hole right into her conscience? It was a cry for help, she knew it in her heart. But the gloomy place she slowly approached roused her fear.
There were no lights, and though the building looked to have once been a house, it now appeared unloved and unkempt. One side had almost totally collapsed while the other still held. The light from the closest streetlamp exposed a roof so full of tree limbs and moss, it clearly would be next if the snow piled much thicker.
Surprisingly, that same wing had a modest amount of the white buildup, and after she glanced towards the sky, she realized that the large cedar trees created a barrier that had protected that section from the weight of the snow.