Read Online Always: You'll Never Walk Alone by Keith Whiting - Free Book Online Page A

knew I was heading west. As the sun left the sky and the night set in I was finally too exhausted, too cold and too hungry to go any further.
    A barn sat on the side of a hill off to my left. Making my way towards it, I kept low so as not to be seen. Although I hadn’t seen anyone since leaving Guildford, I didn’t want to take any chances now. Reaching the barn I opened the door a crack, it was silent and I slipped inside. It wasn’t much warmer inside than out, but at least it provided shelter from the wind. I looked around for something to eat but there was nothing, and after a fruitless search, I sank down exhausted on a pile of straw and fell into a sleep full of bad dreams and nightmares.
    A bright sun shining through an opening in the side of the barn woke me. Peering out the door, I saw a figure coming towards me, a dog bounding along at his side. I looked for a way out but there was no other. I was trapped. The farmer, I assumed he was a farmer, was only a hundred yards away, and if he found me I didn’t know what he would do. I couldn’t go back to jail. I looked around frantically then saw a ladder leading up to the hayloft. I ran to it and climbed up. I could only hope he wouldn’t come up. I covered myself with hay and lay as still as I could.
    The door opened and I heard him enter, followed by his dog. The dog ran straight to where I’d been sleeping moments earlier, sniffed the straw and started barking.
    “Shut up Tucker”, the farmer shouted. With a whine he stopped barking but continued sniffing and followed my trail to the ladder. Putting his paws on the second step, he barked again. “I’ll cut your damn tongue out if you don’t stop that infernal noise.” The barking stopped, but he continued to whine at the ladder.
    The farmer ignored him, went to a bench and rummaged through some old bridles and halters. Finding whatever he was looking for, he called the dog, and went back out. The dog did not want to leave, and was frantically trying to climb the ladder, until finally the farmer shouted, “Tucker you damn mangy mutt, get out here now.” Looking up once more, he glumly slunk out.
    I waited a few minutes before climbing down the ladder and carefully peering out the stable door watched the farmer and his dog, heading back the way they’d come. I continued watching, waiting until they were just a couple of specks in the distance, before stealing out of the barn and running in the opposite direction.
    I hadn’t eaten since yesterday morning, my stomach was growling and my head was aching. I had to get something to eat before I went much further, but what? I was penniless and if anyone saw me, I risked being recognized and taken back to jail.
    I trudged on, weighted down with hunger and fear, following the road heading west. Every step was a step closer to Sarah, but how many steps could I take before I could go no further? I was slowing down! There was no running now, just one foot in front of the other trying to ignore the pounding in my head and the cramps in my stomach, the fear in my chest. Walking for hours, stopping only to eat some snow, my legs ached, my shoes soaked through… I kept walking.
    The sun slowly sinking, taking with it whatever heat it had given. Body shivers shook my body… damp, cold, hunger… how much further could I go? I saw a house in the distance. Whatever the risks I had to get something to eat. Without conscious thought or intention, I turned towards the house.
    By the time I reached it, the sun had disappeared behind the hills to the west. The sky bathed in the last pink rays of the day coated the fields with an orange glow. The unlit house stood in the middle of a silent world, suddenly broken by a murder of crows having a final argument before settling down for the night in a lonely tree standing behind the house. A muddy path, which at one time may have been paved, lead up to the house. Now just a few flagstones fought to retain their place in the oozing