Ties that Bind by C. J. Darlington

Author:C. J. Darlington
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: drug abuse, horses, inspirational, womens fiction, sisters, christian fiction, ranching, contemporary women, rare books, estranged sisters
Publisher: Mountainview Books, LLC

Chapter 23

The next morning Brynn was surprised when May asked her to drive into town for groceries and to pick up some stuff from Walker’s Feed Store. It gave her the perfect cover to meet with Shane. They’d debated the best place, finally settling on the church parking lot.

Guilt ate at Brynn as she drove Ruth’s truck into Elk Valley with the windows down, the breeze playing with her hair and bringing with it the scent of dry pine and freshly cut hay. It was the first moment since stepping away from those prison gates that her freedom really hit home, but she couldn’t enjoy it. She was out of pills.

The only reason she’d taken any in the first place was to get through Ruth’s death, and now it was just until she got up the nerve to tell May and Christy who she was. She had to make the best impression possible, and that wasn’t happening if she couldn’t sleep or was too stressed to think clearly. As soon as everything was out in the open she’d cut drugs out of her life forever again.

Brynn drove right past the Safeway. Pulling into the empty church lot, she slid Ruth’s truck into a space on the edge to wait for him.

This was May’s church, the same one where Ruth’s funeral had been held, but Brynn tried not to think about that. Instead, she conjured up memories about the churches she and Mom had attended over the years. Mom had always searched out the untraditional ones. They’d even attended an African American church for a couple months, only leaving when they had to move. Brynn had liked that one. The ladies there didn’t hesitate to wrap you in a hug.

Those days seemed so far away. Never again would she be that idealistic Christian girl with a head full of dreams, wanting to make a difference. The old ladies who’d smiled and nodded their approval when she shared in Sunday school would surely look down their noses at her now.

Brynn rested her head on the back of the seat. What a disgrace she must be to God, and she would be to her sisters, too, if they knew. May was trusting her, and she was breaking that trust with every step she took.

It wasn’t long before Shane pulled up beside her in a blue Toyota, and she reached over to unlock the passenger door. He slipped in, slamming the door with finality.

“Wasn’t sure you’d show,” he said.

“I wasn’t either.”

He rested his arm on the seat behind her. “I don’t do this for just anyone, you know.”

“Did you get them?”

“Yeah, but . . .”

“I’ve got two-fifty.” Brynn took the money, her first week’s pay, out of her back pocket and gave it to Shane. This morning, May had pulled an antiquated metal cracker box from her desk drawer and counted it out in ones, fives and tens.

“You’re going all out, aren’t you?” Shane handed her a baggie containing twelve green 80 mg oxy pills.

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