Page 6 of Refuge for Cherilyn

“Gotcha. Yeah, so hang on and let me give you these. Just a minute.” The young woman disappeared into the building. Cherilyn almost ran. What if the girl was really going to get someone else to have them keep her there until they called the police?

But in just a couple of minutes, the girl came out the back door with another garbage bag. “Okay, there’s some tampons in there, and I put a couple of packs of wipes in too. And here.” She reached into her apron and held something out to Cherilyn. “It’s all I’ve got.”

It was a five dollar bill.

Tears rolled down Cherilyn’s face. She couldn’t believe how generous the girl was being. “I can’t take that. No. You need that.”

“You need it a lot more than I do, honey. Take it. Please. I’ll sleep better tonight if you do.”

Cherilyn reached out and took the crisp bill. “Thank you. Thank you so much. I don’t know why you’d help me, but thanks.”

“You’re welcome. Just be careful, okay. And if I were you, I’d move the car to maybe another spot down the way there. They’re watching it, I think.”

“Oh! Thanks. I appreciate it. My name is…”No. Don’t tell her.“Sherry.”

“Pretty name. I’m Amanda. I’d better get inside before they start looking for me. You take care, okay?”

“Yes, ma’am, I will. Thanks again.” Cherilyn stood there, frozen in place, as the girl stepped back inside, but before the door closed, Amanda turned and gave her a little wave.

When she got back to the tent, she handed Maya the bag. “Can I?”

“Yes. I’ll wait out here so I can see you and you’ll be safe enough. Be sure to drop it in the bucket and screw that lid on tight so it won’t smell or it’ll draw the animals.”

“Yes, ma’am. Thanks, Mom.”

“You’re welcome, honey.” Cherilyn watched as Maya made her way about forty feet down the path and ducked behind a tree where they kept the potty bucket. At some point she was going to have to empty it, but she didn’t know where. If she had a shovel, she’d dig a hole and cover it. Until then, they’d just have to try to keep the lid on tightly. Maybe the next morning she could take the five dollars to the little store over on the road and buy some trash bags. That would be best.

When Maya was back in the tent, Cherilyn opened her backpack and pulled the food out. She watched as her girls ate ravenously. They had one meal a day, and she had to make it count. How long could they go on like that?

She had no idea, but she’d do whatever she had to so they could stay alive.

* * *

The sun was bright,and Shaw was pretty sure it would warm up in the middle of the day, so he dressed accordingly. As he sat on the deck with his cup of coffee, he looked at the map again. The only place anywhere near the park to get anything was the gift shop and the vending machines at the campground, and both were quite a hike. If they were staying out in the woods and the car wasn’t moving, where were they getting food? Water? Were they bathing at all? He couldn’t imagine that they were. And she had two children with her? How were they getting by?

He decided his first stop would be at the lodge again. Maybe they’d missed something on the video footage. It was time for a second cup of coffee when his phone rang. “Got news for me?”

Aaron laughed. “No. I’m just calling to enjoy a moment of your winning personality!”

“Well, I know that’s a lie!” Shaw laughed back. “What’s up?”

“I checked her financial records. None of her money has been touched since she left. She’s hiding well, almost like she knows how to do it. I don’t know how she’s living out there.”

“She’s got two kids with her.”

“What? Are you kidding?”

“No. A fifteen-year-old girl and a ten-year-old girl who’s intellectually disabled. If they’re out there, I don’t know how they’re staying alive.”

“Think they have help?”

“I dunno. But I’m going back to the lodge today, and then I’m going into the woods.”

“You need backup?”

“Nah. I’ll be fine.”

“Shaw, women carry guns too.”

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