Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed novel Chapter 886

“How do we get to the village?” Owen Reynolds asked.

“I've already arranged for a ride,” Corley replied. “The village roads are too narrow for a car; only something smaller can get through.”

“How long is the wait?”

He glanced at his watch. “About… half an hour.”

“Alright.”

…

After sending the message, Roseanne put her phone away and turned to find Carlson Smith looking at her expectantly. “Let’s go. I’ve already called for a ride. It’s waiting for us at the village entrance.”

It was a lucky break. The driver, Jean, had initially refused last night but changed his mind at the crack of dawn today. He’d gotten a lucrative offer to pick up two people from town and had to leave immediately. Figuring he might as well take Roseanne's group on the way there, he could make money on both trips.

“We’re running out of time, let’s hurry…” Carlson urged.

However, Roseanne and Mamie stood their ground, hands in their pockets, showing no intention of moving.

Carlson was baffled. “?”

“We’re not going,” Roseanne stated.

Mamie chimed in, “Nope.”

Carlson grew anxious. “But we agreed last night!”

Mamie blinked. “Who agreed with you? That was a conversation between you and my uncle. We never said yes.”

Carlson was speechless.

Roseanne’s voice softened. “I understand how you feel right now, and I know you’re doing this for our sake. But have you considered how we feel? We know about the trouble your family is in, and we’ve already had a run-in with those two thugs. If you ask us to just leave now… what are we supposed to think if something happens to you and your parents? To stand by and do nothing, to just walk away while our friend is in danger… Carlson, if the roles were reversed, if we were in this situation, would you leave?”

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry…” Carlson’s face was a mask of pain. “I should never have gotten you involved… I’m truly sorry…”

Mamie sighed gently. “You need to trust us. It’s better to face this together and have each other’s backs than for you to go it alone, right?”

“Besides, your mom isn’t doing well. You need to get her out of the village to a proper hospital for a check-up as soon as possible. With Fabian and Jay blocking you here, her health is at risk the longer this goes on,” she continued. “And you, you’ll be disciplined or even expelled from school for not returning. Is that the outcome you want?”

Carlson froze, his body going rigid. Defeated, he slumped down onto a stack of firewood by the wall.

Roseanne turned and headed back into the house, stretching as she walked. “It’s not even light out yet. I’m going to catch a little more sleep.” After all, they had a tough fight ahead of them.

Mamie immediately followed. “Me too! Me too!” Her hands and feet had already gone cold from just standing outside for a few minutes; only the warmth of her bed could save her now.