Josie hunched low so he wouldn’t notice her watching. Daddy had come home a few minutes ago, drunk off his butt, and right now he was yelling at momma. She felt the need to be there if it escalated, so she crept back to her room as Nick, her baby brother started to fuss. Holding in a squeal as a roach ran across her path, she fumed "Sixteen years we’ve lived here and I’m still not used to that." Gently, she lifted Nick into her arms and started singing softly.

"Run, Josie! Run!!!" Came a panicked cry from the living room. Without grabbing more than the diaper bag, she jumped out the window into the night. Her body froze in terror when she heard the report of her daddy’s rifle. "Oh, no. Momma." She forced herself not to turn back, but her feet felt rooted and she couldn’t move forward, either. She heard the second shot and she closed her eyes to hold back the tears.

"Move!" she whispered and took off.

She flew through the night, clutching the eight-week-old infant to her breast. Making one last turn she slowed to a stop and pounded on the door. "Please hurry!!"

A stranger answered and Josie fell back in panic.

Has she made a wrong turn? How many years had she been coming here after school? Did her frantic brain lead her astray?

Strong hands grasped her, before she lost her balance, and righted her slowly. "Josie?" Her eyes flew to his face.

"How do you know my name?" She struggled before her eyes rolled back and she lost consciousness.

"Tyler!" Gavin yelled as he swung her into his arms.

The door to the house flew open again. "What?" His exasperation turned to concern when he saw Gavin’s bundle. "Who is it?"

"It’s your friend, Josie." Nick decided at that moment to let his presence known. "What the..."

"That’s Nick, Josie’s baby brother." Slowly he pried Josie’s arms away and lifted the baby, leading the way into the house. "If she’s running with Nick, something’s happened. Let’s get them inside quick."

Okay...I know what you’re saying...I just wish she would work on the ones she has started...trust me...I will. I am just trying to keep my mind going so that I don’t lose momentum. Thank you sooooooooo much for reading my stories...and as always...R&R...good or bad...just be honest.
Thanks again. Mell

(By the way got the idea for this one when I was listening to Reba’s song Fancy.)