In fact, she held his hand while they looked at the stars for nearly half an hour. That’s got tomean something. Makes him hopeful that all these little moments could add up until semi-intimate contact between them feels normal. Maybe one day it’ll convert into something more, and if it doesn’t, if this is all he ever gets, then he’ll still be lucky.
They’re on the bike again now, looking for a place to rest the night while he ponders his next move. He should try some sort of emotional gesture this time instead of a touch, that usually works in the movies. He’s so caught up in his own thoughts that he doesn’t notice the horse and carriage until it’s too late.
With only the slim beam of his headlight assisted by the glow of the moon, he ends up passing it faster than he otherwise would have, spooking the horse enough to bolt and break his harness, dragging half the contraption behind him.
Wade’s not ready to meet other people again, but he fucked up this time and leaving whoever is back there stranded is an asshole move.
“We gotta try and help,” he sighs, bringing the bike to a stop.
Kara nods as they dismount with their weapons drawn, but lowered. “I’ll keep an eye on them while you grab the horse?”
It’s a solid plan considering the poor animal is aiming right for them. The man from the wagon stopped his chase a waysback, unwilling to risk coming close, and Wade can’t blame him for being cautious.
The panicked horse flies right by, nearly nailing them both with part of the wagon he’s pulling along, only to tangle the reins around a decrepit light pole and almost break his own neck. The leather snaps free like bailing twine. Once he’s no longer being attacked by the broken, dragging wood, he’s far easier to catch.
“Be careful,” Kara whispers, before aiming her gun at the man who’s gotten closer, telling him not to move.
“Please don’t hurt him.” A woman says, with a southern accent that sounds far removed from this part of the country. “We just want our horse back. Don’t want any trouble. We’ll be on our way.”
“Not gonna hurt anyone,” Wade edges closer to the wild-eyed horse before taking hold of the bridle. “We don’t want trouble, either. Didn’t see you until it was too late. I’ll walk him back to you real slow. It’s in your best interest not to try anything. She’s a good shot.”
He tilts his head toward Kara before getting a nod of agreement in return.
What he doesn’t expect when he gets closer is a pregnant woman in the broken wagon, clutching her belly like she’s in an alien movie and something’s about to pop right out. He assumes the guy taking this horse with a curt nod is her husband.
“Fuck,” Wade whispers under his breath after getting back to the bike, watching the others attempt to figure out how to get where they’re going. “Wife’s pregnant. The whole wagon is screwed. We can’t just leave ‘em out here like this.”
“Well, there’s no room on the bike for all of us,” Kara replies.
“Hey,” Wade calls out. “How far do you have left to go?”
“Couple miles.” The man yells back. “It’ll be fine. We’re good. Thank you.”
“Can you ride the horse back together?”
“Not unless we wanna eat this asphalt. He’s not broke to ride. But we can walk. It’s no trouble.”
They clearly still assume they’re about to get robbed or worse, but Wade can’t give up so easily. When he sends a glance toward Kara, she gives him a nod that says she can’t either.
“How about we give your wife a ride back while you walk the horse?” Kara tries her best to seem nonthreatening, but she’s always had an edge to her voice and a resting face that says she’d rather eat glass than speak to anyone. “A couple of miles is a long way when you’re pregnant.”
“She’s not going anywhere with you!”
This is going about as well as Wade expected. They can’t force these people to accept help and a lack of trust is customary these days. Then the woman in the wagon whimpers, gripping her stomach like she could drop that kid at any moment. For a second, Wade worries they’re about to witness a birth they didn’t sign up for.
“It’s fine. Just a bad kick, but Wyatt, I don’t know if I can walk home. Maybe we should….”
“Addie, it’s not safe.”
“Oh, come on now. If they wanted to kill us, they wouldn’t have bothered saving Cheese Doodle.”
Wade holds in a snort at the horse’s name, while one corner of Kara’s mouth twitches upward.
“I’m Addison, and this is my husband, Wyatt. I’d very much like to take you up on that ride home, if you don’t mind.”
It’s not an ideal situation, but the alternative isn’t an option. Eventually, her husband relents. Addison rides with Wade on the bike at a slow pace while Kara and Wyatt lead the horse several yards back. It’s a silent operation except for the rumble of the bike. He’s not feeling great about his girl back there without him, just like he’s sure Wyatt isn’t excited about his wife riding shotgun up here.
His girl.He needs to stop that nonsense. Kara’s not his. The more he allows himself to think about it, the harder the letdown will be.
