Homeless Heart Read Online Free PDF Page B

Steve told her, staring straight ahead.
     
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    “This is a North Face, one of the best,” Steve said, tying the twine into the stakes. He pushed the stakes into the damp ground and then stood, shoving them into the earth with his foot. Once the tent was spread and staked, Steve directed her to the opposite end. They raised the nylon structure, pulling it tight.
    “This is cool. Amy hooked us up,” Steve said as his eyes roved over the tent, pleased with himself.
    They set up the tent further away from the tree line. With the leaves ready to fall, Steve wanted to make sure that Kelly’s presence was concealed. Steve walked deeper into the woods, looking for additional firewood.
    Kelly opened two cans of stewed tomatoes and beans with Steve’s small can opener that hung on his keychain. There were two keys on the ring. Kelly wasn’t sure if he was hanging onto something from his old life or if they were actually linked to something he had access to. Kelly didn’t like to pry too much.
    You had to be a survivor to make it on the streets. It was like becoming part of a jungle. There were lots of predators, and if you appeared weak for one second, you were prey—chased, hunted down, and consumed.
    Steve had shared that a lot of women got into drugs and prostitution just to survive. He’d seen many women used and abused. “That’s not happening to you,” he told her more than once. A shiver moved over her, recalling how she’d scolded him for making her his project. She was fortunate to have him. Steve didn’t deserve that, and the fact that he’d asked her for nothing in return was beyond noble.
    Kelly had thought at first that he may make a physical overture, but Steve had never laid a hand on her, with the exception of gestures of general affection—a hug, a gentle pat on the back. The thought of him being gay flitted through her mind more than once, but he’d been married. That doesn’t mean anything.
    The sound of Steve’s boots moving through the underbrush directed Kelly’s attention back. His arms were full of thick, broken branches and kindling. Steve dropped the wood on the ground near the fire pit. He wiped his hands down the front of his jeans. He faced her, jerking stands of hair out of his eyes.
    “That ought to hold you. I gotta get going. I wanna check the dumpster behind the Panda Bear. They always throw a lot of stuff out at the end of the week,” he told her. “You gonna be okay?” Kelly nodded, feeling a wave of emotion roll through her. Steve bent down and lifted his backpack, feeding his arms through the straps. He smiled, his eyes darting between hers.
    “Thanks.” Her voice was thick. Kelly leaned into him, kissing his cheek. Faint whiskers were already pushing through his skin despite the fact that he’d shaved while they were at the truck stop. “I was going to heat some stuff up, will you stay?” she asked, suddenly not wanting him to leave.
    “Nah, you go ahead, and you’re welcome.” His mouth tipped with a subtle smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow. If I find anything good, I’ll come back before sunup and drop it off.”
    Steve directed his footsteps toward the graveled lot of Union Gas and Propane. Kelly watched his figure recede into a charcoal dusk that began to coat the sky. The faint line of the day’s sun still sat on the edge of the horizon, shooting an autumn-orange glow into the clouds.
    Kelly started her fire, nestling the cans between two rocks. When the contents began to bubble, she put on her gloves and removed the cans from the fire. Rummaging in her backpack, she found a plastic fork and stirred the tomatoes and beans.
    After eating, she trekked to the restroom to wash up and brush her teeth. It was one thing not to have clean clothes every day, but Kelly was religious about washing and taking care of her teeth. Who knew if she’d ever sit in a dentist’s chair again?
    Thoughts like this always resulted in a panic attack. How long could she