FOLLOW THE LEADER - Chapter 35

 Chapter 35

Rhonda woke with a start from her nap. They had just bounced out of a deep rut. Her blindfold was too tight to see anything. Even though she had eaten a piece of fudge earlier, her stomach was growling again. It was weird. She was sitting in the back seat, closer to the acrid bleach smell but she was still hungry. She had never been able to sleep well in a car or truck, but she had really conked out.

         Never in her life had she felt so good. 

         “Are we there yet?” she asked. Sounding like an antsy child.

         “Minutes away,” said Jason. “Don’t worry, there will be plenty of good food in camp.”

         Did he hear my stomach growl? she wondered, or did he read my mind again?  Amazing.

         Jason stopped the panel truck.

         “Take off her blindfold,” he said.

         Sheena did as she was told.

         Rhonda sighed in relief. “Thanks.”

         Jason drove into the camp.

         Just ahead Rhonda saw a tiny cabin. Nearby three tents formed a crescent. One of the tents was noticeably smaller than the other two. 

         “This is amazing!” said Rhonda. 

         Jason parked the truck next to the cabin.

         “Cocoa!” he barked.

         She woke, blinked her eyes.

         “We’re here,” he said.

         Without a word and leaving her headphones on, Cocoa slinked out of the truck. She stretched once, than shook out her long glossy hair. Gave Rhonda a perfunctory smile and went into the cabin.

         “She wears her hair like that to torture the rest of us,” whispered Sheena.

         “Knock it off,” said Jason.

         “What did you mean?”  Rhonda asked.

         “Never mind,” said Sheena.

         She and Sheena prepared to leave the car, but Jason stopped them.

         “What are we going to call her?” he asked.

         Sheena thought for a moment as she sized up Rhonda. “How about ‘Bird Dog?’”

         “Let’s think of a better one,” he said.

         “Thank you!”

         “I’m not saying she has a dogface,” Sheena insisted. “She used to hunt doves.”

         Jason studied Rhonda.

         “Part of that is right,” he said. “The outdoors part. Bird hunters shoot their prey in the country. You look like a sturdy country girl to me,” he said. “I’m going to call you ‘Country’.”

         “Whatever,” said Sheena. She left in a huff.

         Rhonda felt queasy, as if the earth was moving below her.

         “Why can’t I keep my name for now? Maybe I won’t want to stay.”

         “Give it a couple of days,” said Jason. “Make up your mind then. We’ll go with whatever you decide.”

         “Thanks,” she said.

         She had never felt so accepted before.