Journalistic chapt.13

Chapter Thirteen:

Vera walked beside Leon, her hand resting on his arm and her thoughts trudging through her head. She knew where he was leading her, back to her home and the alter she wasn't prepared to step up to. Her heart sunk when she imagined if he was right after all, that her running away was simply a charade, and that her freedom was meant to be restricted by housework and child bearing. When she looked to Leon she saw him staring ahead, his eyes not drifting to the scenery around him. Upon seeing him defeat ran through her veins. Sam remained plastered to her thoughts as well. She couldn't believe he had left her, it wasn't in his nature.

But then again, he did have a family that needed him.

She shut her eyes, trying to expel the heaviness on her heart, as she had already forgiven the young man she'd met in the woods.

"Vera." Leon said, breaking her from her thoughts.

"Yes?" She answered in a near whisper.

"Are you ready to head home?" He asked politely, looking down at her with his distant green eyes.

She paused, "If I must go, then I suppose."

Leon smiled and touched her hand lightly before gesturing to the Stanly Steam Automobile that rested on the curb of the street.

Vera looked at the machine before something caught her eye behind it. Her eyes widened when she saw the nasally-voiced man walking into a nearby paper company building that seemed to have been abandoned for a while. "I knew he wouldn't just leave." She whispered as she jerked her hand away from Leon and ran across the street, causing frustrated drivers to sound their horns.

"Vera! Vera get back here!" Leon shouted, following behind her.

The blonde woman didn't stop, but opened the paper company door with force. "Sam!" She called as the three thieves turned quickly to face her.

"Look here, we didn't need to find her after all." The nasally voiced man said as he gave a yellowed grin.

"Vera?" Sam said, a look of horror forming on his face, "Vera you've got to get out of here! They're going to kill you!" He struggled against the ropes that held him avail.

The blonde woman ran quickly to the young man, ignoring the thieves as though they were flies on the walls. "Oh Sam!" She cried, "I'll get you out of these." Her hands moved against the rope, trying to work through the knots.

She froze when she heard the click of a gun and she looked up to see Benny's pistol wavered only a few feet away from her face. "Don't move honey, you've got to come with us."

"You're wrong on that one." Leon said, his revolver resting against the thief's neck, "Fire that weapon and you'll be singing with the angels."

"Is this you're friend?" Sam asked, looking up at Vera.

"Sort of." The blonde woman replied as she continued to work the ropes.

"Okay, let's just put all the guns down, how 'bout that?" The deep voiced man said, holding his hands up.

"As soon as your friend does, I'll put mine down." Leon said slowly, his eyes not leaving the back of Benny's neck.

Benny held up his hands and moved the gun to the floor, "You're turn." He said with a scowl.

"I don't think so." Leon said before pulling the trigger.

The thief once called Benny feel to the floor as the gun boomed. The other two stared in shock before glancing at each other and fleeing the paper company, yelling at the top of their lungs.

Vera didn't look at the body as she worked through the last knot on the rope, freeing Sam. The young man turned to her as she wrapped her arms around him, and he returning the favor.

"For a moment I thought you left without me." She confessed.

"I'd never dream of it." The young man replied with a shy smile, his face blanched.

"I know." Vera replied before she heard the revolver spin, seeing it pointed directly at Sam.

"I can't go back to your father without you Vera, and I know you'll follow him." Leon said.

"Leon no!" Vera shouted with wide eyes and her body moved without thinking as she shoved the young man behind her. The bullet rang through the air and the blonde woman feel back with a gasp.