Those Girls by Chevy Stevens Read Free Book Online Page B

face.”
    “That’s stupid, Courtney,” I said. “You’re still beautiful.”
    “No. I’m not. And even if I were, I’m done with singing.”
    Dani and I looked at each other.
    “We should go to Cash Creek first,” Courtney said. “Troy, he’d lend us some money. We’re going to need a lot for fake ID.” Cash Creek was a small town about two and a half hours southwest of Littlefield. We’d heard it was nothing but farmers and fields. Everyone had felt sorry for Troy when he had to move.
    “We can’t let anyone know where we’re going,” Dani said.
    “He wouldn’t say anything—especially if he gives us money.” Troy dealt drugs, mostly just weed, but he always had cash on him. “He told me they were moving to a trailer park—I’m sure we can find his car easy.”
    Dani thought it over for a minute. “Okay.”
    *   *   *
    That night we packed up. I had some books, clothes, my camera, envelopes full of photos—we didn’t have any family albums. Dad had trashed them all when he was drunk one night. But I had my favorite photo of Mom from when she’d won a fishing derby and posed in front of the tackle shop, her hair wild under her hat, a big smile on her face. I tucked the photo inside one of my books, then shoved everything into a packsack. I also still had the camera lens and film Dad had brought home for me, but I pushed them to the bottom of my bag.
    Courtney packed almost all her clothes and cosmetics. She was going to leave her songwriting books, but we made her take them. We stored a few things in the shed and dragged out the old tent and camping equipment.
    We argued about whether to tell Ingrid and Walter or just leave a note. I wanted to tell them.
    “They depend on our showing up,” I said. “And Ingrid will be upset, she’ll be worried.”
    “That’s exactly why we can’t tell her. She’ll have too many questions.” Dani mimicked Ingrid’s rough voice, her hands on her hips. “Where are you going? What aunt? How come you never mentioned her before? Maybe we should talk to the sergeant and see if anyone’s heard from your father lately.”
    “We have to write a note, Jess,” Courtney said.
    “They’re going to think it’s weird,” I said.
    “They’re going to think whatever we do is weird,” Dani said. “But if we leave tonight, we have a few hours’ head start before anyone starts looking for us.”
    I hated it but they were right. We rehearsed a few different ways of saying it, and in the end they got me to write the note—I had the best handwriting.
    Dear Walter and Ingrid,
    Thanks for letting us stay. We really appreciate everything you’ve done for us and are really sorry to be leaving you. Our dad hasn’t come home and we’re out of money, so we’re going to stay with our aunt in Edmonton. If he shows up, tell him we’re at Helen’s.
    Love, Jess, Dani, Courtney
    We waited until two in the morning, when we figured the streets would be the quietest, taped the note to the front door, and drove off. As soon as we got out of town and the wooden sign for Littlefield disappeared in our rearview mirror, I was filled with apprehension. What was going to happen to us? Would Walter send the cops after us? Would they find some blood in the house? Had we missed something? We’d taken the gun—it was under the bench seat. If we got pulled over we’d be in trouble for having it, but that was the least of our problems.
    “You should try to get some rest,” Dani told us.
    But we couldn’t sleep. We talked a little about what Vancouver would be like, where we’d stay. Dani figured we’d find a youth hostel. Then we’d find jobs, maybe cleaning or waitressing. Dani wanted to see if there were any farms on the outskirts that were looking for workers. We’d have to get new ID right away—none of us had a social insurance number—but we didn’t know where to start. Dani said we’d just have to find out where the rough section of town was, like where drug