Page 32 of Almost There
“Are you okay?” Robin stood with the kids and Moose beside her. Mason was freshly dressed and Emily eyed her mom curiously.
“I’m fine.” Tessa blew out a heavy breath as she took off running to the truck. “Just give me a minute and we’ll get back on the road.”
Thank you, Landon. She found the hatchet under the seat and pulled it out, holding it close to her chest as she raced back over to the stubborn bush.
She swung once, barely splintering the hardened wood with the rusted blade of the hatchet. And then she swung again. A splinter in the pole. A tiny mark. Tessa screamed internally, swinging again and again and again.
Finally, the tender flesh was exposed. She twisted on it, but it wouldn’t give. Just cut me a break already. She balled her hands into fists at her sides, dropping the useless hatchet to the dirt.
“Do you need some help?” Robin moved forward slowly with the kids stunned to silence behind her.
“I’m fine.” Tessa grit her teeth, reaching for the stem and yanking it with every last bit of her strength. It broke free with a wet snap and she landed on her butt in the dirt, holding the branch triumphantly in the air.
“Something’s wrong with Mom.” Emily took a step back, moving closer to Mason as Moose cocked his head to the side.
“Nothing’s wrong.” Tessa jumped to her feet and dusted off the back of her pants. “Come on guys, I want to show you something.”
She stripped the sparse leaves off the branch as she made her way to the ranger’s Jeep. “Modern vehicles have safety valves so you can’t just siphon the gas out of the tank. There are a few ways to get around it, but this one is easy and since it’s parked on the hill, we shouldn’t have a problem with the rollover value as long as I cut the top of the tube with an angle like this.” She motioned the kids forward to watch.
“And you know this how?” Robin arched an eyebrow.
“I’ll explain later.” She maneuvered the stick into the gas line, guiding the tube along with it. “Voila!” Tessa stepped back to admire her handiwork with the length of tube piped into the gas tank and the excess hanging on the outside, touching the ground.
“Yep. She’s gone crazy,” Emily whispered. Tessa pretended not to hear her as she squatted down next to the tube.
“Now we just need a little suction to start the flow of gravity.” She put the tube to her lips and sucked in deep.
“Are you sure you want to do that?” Robin cried out as Tessa gagged, struggling to put the tube into the gas can while the fluid spilled over her hands and the burn of the chemicals coated her tongue and flared up into her sinus cavity. Her stomach revolted. She gagged again involuntarily and shoved the tube into place to capture what was left of the flowing fuel.
“Are you going to puke, Mom?” Mason stepped forward and placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. The color was back in his face. Tessa dry heaved, the taste of gas scorching her nose and making her eyes burn, but she choked it down with a smile.
“I’m fine,” she said hoarsely, wiping the drool from her lips.
“Let’s go get your mom some water.” Robin pulled the kids away.
“I said I’m fine.” Tessa spit on the ground, turning her back to them so they wouldn’t see her cry.
The dirt around the gas can was soaked, the earth stained dark brown from the wasted fluid. Tessa watched the last of the drops fall from the tube while the taste of hell still coated the inside of her mouth. Always use a cloth. The words were a distant memory, buried so deep she’d forgotten they existed. Tessa spit again, surprised she had any left to expel. Water sounded amazing, but she felt so stupid that she knew she deserved this pain.
Three freaking gallons. That was it. Tessa twisted the lid back onto the gas can and marched it to the truck. She hated to think of all she’d lost. All they’d lost. She glanced up from under her eyelashes at the kids and Robin who sat watching her from behind the windshield and tried to stop feeling sorry for herself.
The tailgate slammed a little too hard as she closed it and she took a minute to wipe her tongue against the hem of her shirt, attempting to rid her mouth of the taste. You have to protect them. Her stomach rolled as another wave of nausea passed through. Yeah, but what if I can’t?
“To Grandpa’s house?” Mason asked as Tessa climbed into the driver seat and adjusted her pillow.
“Yep.” She spit again out the open window, trying not to swallow.
“Yay!” Emily screamed as she threw her hands in the air. “I can’t wait to get out of this stinkin truck.”
“Oh, it doesn’t smell that bad.” Robin gave Tessa a nervous half smile. “Some people like the smell of gas.”
“It definitely smells like something.” Tessa grimaced as she turned the key in the ignition.
“To Grandpa’s house then,” Robin confirmed.
“Right.” Tessa focused on the road ahead. Six gallons total was one hundred and twenty miles. It won’t be enough. She’d have to get more. But it was a start. And the next time, she wouldn’t make the same mistakes. “To Grandpa’s house, but we still have a few more stops before we get there.”