Chapter 21

Leighanne's View

"Are they following us?" Courtney asked looking out the window nervously. I looked in the rear view mirror and found that no one was following us. We were alone on the road. It was pretty much deserted except for a few trucks here and there. I just sped down the highway still fearing that someway, somehow they were going to catch me. I was terrified that I was going to get caught and then killed. I didn't want that at all.

"No, they aren't," I said shaking my head.

"I'm scared," she said hugging her teddy bear to herself.

"Don't be, things are going to be just fine. You'll be with your Mommy and Daddy soon enough," I smiled at her.

She smiled at me and said, "Thank you. Thank you so much."

"You're welcome," I said giving her a small smile. I turned my head around and looked in the back seat. Brian was sleeping now and Brianna was chewing on her blanket and kicking her little feet around. She looked so adorable.

"Are you hungry?" I asked looking at Courtney again. She shook her head and said quietly, "No."

"All right but when you are just tell me OK? I have all the food in the back. We won't be able to go to Mc. Donald's or anything because I only have money for gas and I can't be seen out in public."

"Why?" she asked.

"Because I'm wanted by the police."

"Why?"

"For kidnapping you," I said as I drove past another Semi-truck.

"But you are taking me and Brian and Brianna home," she said looking up at me. I looked down at her and she began again, "Isn't that a good thing?"

"It is a good thing but kidnapping someone is a very serious crime. I'm going to get in a lot of trouble."

"Why?"

"Because it's the law. I would have gotten in trouble anyway if I didn't get you out of there. No matter what I'm going to go to jail again but maybe for not as long now."

"I don't want you to get in trouble, you're so nice," she said.

"Thank you Courtney," I smiled at her.

"Your welcome," she grinned up at me. I reached over and ruffled her hair, "Ready to go home?"

"Yes!" She said excitedly.

I laughed lightly and turned my attention back to the road. Only 4 more states to go through and they'll be back with Brian and Tiffany...at least I'm hoping.

The Next Morning

Nick's View

"Hey Rok, how is everything going?" I asked as Brian picked up the phone.

"Oh Hey Nick, things are going OK...I guess," he said trailing off.

"How's Tiffany holding up?" I asked sitting down on the couch.

"She's not that good. She's not very happy, she's been crying a lot. She's up in the shower right now," he said.

"Oh, I hope she gets better. We're all worried about her and you and Michelle and Christian and...well I guess everyone in your family," I said softly.

"I am too, I'm VERY worried."

"I bet but Bri just hang in there, things will turn out all right."

"I really hope so, I keep saying that to Tiffany trying to get her to think positive about all this but I don't even think I'm listening to my own advice. I'm so worried I swear I'm about to have a nervous break down."

"I understand..." I began but was cut off. "Nick, no you don't understand. No one does except for Tiffany and I. You have no idea what I'm going through. You have no idea at all. Put yourself in my shoes Nick...You're wife almost dying of a heart condition and falls into a coma, you're three youngest kids being kidnapped by three of the most selfish and monstrous people in my life, and then those people taking two of your other kids and almost killing them. Can you imagine what that must feel like?"

"I..."

"No, you can't," he interrupted. "You can't because it has never happened to you and it will never happen. You're lucky Nick, I'm not. The only thing that I have had luck with was with Tiffany and my kids but I'm not even having luck with them nowadays. Nick I'm losing my family. I mean literally losing my family. You could not have any idea how I or Tiffany must feel."

"Brian, I didn't mean to upset you like that. I was just trying to help," I said.

"No one can help me, the only people that can are the ones that will bring back my children..."

"Brian, they'll be back soon. Just don't give up hope."

"I'm not, I'm never giving up hope because if I do I know for sure that they won't come back."

"OK, well keep praying. We're all praying with you, things will be just fine. I just wanted to call to see how you were. I'll talk to you later OK Bri?"

"Yeah OK Nick, bye," he said.

"Bye," I said and then hung up the phone. I sighed and ran my hands through my hair. That didn't sound like Brian at all. His voice was hoarse and he sounded so depressed and tired. I don't blame him but I wish I could do something...anything to end all of this pain and suffering. I don't see how him or Tiffany have held up this long. Those two are strong people, the strongest that I have probably ever seen. Brian's right, I have no idea what he is feeling but I kinda do. I just don't have the full affect and as for me being lucky...I'm beginning to believe that too. Nothing like this has ever happened to me but everything that you could probably think of has happened to Brian and Tiffany and that's not what I call luck. I've had it pretty good...but as much as I want that to be a good thing it isn't because to see my two best friends having to go through all this is terrible. It's actually beyond terrible. I would never wish what they have to go through on anyone. Brian and Tiffany are the strongest people that I have ever met in my life...and without that strength I doubt either of them would be here today. I doubt that a lot.

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