Chapter Two

She was tempted to return to the machine and withdraw everything she could from it from their joint accounts, but she resisted since she knew he would find out. He believed she was a failed wife and an empty vessel who deserved nothing, and he would make sure she received nothing even if he had to find her and take it away.

She shivered all over as panic gripped her from head to toe. This time, he had gone too far, and after he had done so, she didn't think he would ever go back. It would just get worse instead.

She had seen how it had worked for friends in similar situations, so she wasn't concerned to deal with such wreckage. He could stay here and try to go via attorneys and the police to keep her safety and standard of living. She struggled to pick where she wanted to go while looking up at the schedules, ultimately deciding on Eugene, Oregon. She would have more than two days to decide what she should do next since it was a long way from Red Bank, New Jersey.

Under a false name, she bought her ticket and dashed over to the big gas station right across the street to buy some snacks and the cheapest smart phone they had—one of those pay-as-you-go plans that didn't care who the customer was or where she lived.

Jocelyn questioned whether Carter would even care to seek for her, but she was at her wits' end with him. He would undoubtedly file for divorce as soon as possible, so she was going to make sure he left her alone until she was ready to return and deal with him. She simply needed some peace from it all right now. Her mental health had been damaged by dealing with him, and she needed some time to recover.

If she stayed here or if he could find her, she would never get it.

Jocelyn Wray boarded a bus with less than $300 in her pocket to go cross-country to a place she had never been in less than an hour after leaving the suburban house she shared with her husband. They had always kept separate bank accounts, so she wouldn't dare use the shared credit cards, so she would have to get by with what she had. Her strategy was to travel, find a cheap place to stay for a few days, and take any work she could find to get by until she could improve her situation.

She saw an odd sense of tranquility outside the window for the first time in a very long time. She observed the scenery as it moved by the windows. Each mile they traveled through tiny towns and big cities took her further and further away from a life she detested, but in which direction? No matter where she was, she had to get there because it had to be better than the place she was fleeing.

She eventually felt less anxious and more worn out. While being transported to a new location and a new way of life by bus, she slept off and drifted in and out of awareness. She experienced hope during her few periods of alertness, which she hadn't experienced in a while.

She experienced a sense of calm during her slumbers that she had believed had long since left her. She was aware that she had made the right choice.

Every now and then, fear threatened to show itself, but she resisted it by reminding herself of who she was. She was and always had been a survivor. When she married Carter, her freedom came to an end. It had begun long before she was prepared for it. She couldn't claim that she was sad about it because that was also coming to an end. To be free of him was a relief.

Until she eventually got at her objective, or at least the starting point of a journey to wherever things could take her, the kilometers continued to stretch out. Days were spent sleeping upright or slouching on station seats. In Eugene, Oregon, she got off the bus and started exploring. It appeared to be a respectable location, and that was sufficient for the time being. By the time the bus arrived in Eugene, Jocelyn had finished configuring her new phone and using the internet to research her destination and potential activities. She could walk to a bed and breakfast that was close to the bus terminal.

She made the decision to wait and pray for the best results because she was unable to reserve it online without using a credit card. She had bookmarked several of the numerous hospitality-related opportunities that were offered in the internet job boards but wouldn't require any expertise. Even though knowing what she was going to do helped her feel a little better, once she got there, things immediately got worse.

"sorry, honey, we're all booked up," She was pleasantly informed by the elder woman at the BnB.

"Are there any other decent lodging options nearby that are accessible by foot?"

The woman's brow arched in thought. When Jocelyn spoke out from behind, she was already shaking her head to imply a no.

"If you don't mind cramped quarters, I have a place for you. This is a houseboat," A man stated in a low voice, "Bit of a shithole, but everything works, and the view is lovely."

When Jocelyn turned, the biggest man she had ever seen was in front of her. He wasn't overweight, but he was tall and strong. The thankful dead t-shirt and worn jeans he was wearing underneath looked good with his thick beard and ball cap.

To put it mildly, he was intimidating. The woman grinned as she turned back toward her as if to inquire quietly whether she was safe.

"This is Hank Timmons, one of Eugene's best deputies, despite the fact that you wouldn't know it from the way he looks." She informed her that although he and his wife reside in a nice home on the Willamette River, he is unable to quit using his father's old boat for recreational purposes. Jocelyn grinned before turning around.

She said, "Jo Claybourne," to him. Using her maiden name and the abbreviated version of her name wasn't precisely a lie. She was going to return to it eventually.

"Jo Claybourne, Okay. You don't use drugs or have a criminal record, do you?"

"Nope."

He answered, "Well, then get in the car and I'll drive you over. What happened to your bags?"

"I don't have any," she told her.

"Hmm. accent from New Jersey, no bags. You are far from your home. There is a narrative there. Is there anything I should be worried about?"

Jocelyn answered, flashing him her brightest smile, "Not a thing."

"Okay, OK. Then, I'm going to put my faith in you and assist you. Keep your departure from home a secret from my wife. She will assume the worse."

"Understood."

"Are there any items you need while we're in town? Clothes? Shampoo?"

"I'm not sure what I can pay for. What will the cost of the accommodations be?"

Hank gave her a long, careful look. It wasn't one of those looks from men that made you feel uneasy, but rather one that made you feel like he was assessing you and making a judgment about who you were.

"How long do you intend to remain?"