She pulled out of the parking lot, barely missing the curb, but kept between the lines as we headed south. However, her accuracy didn’t last long. A few miles after leaving the town behind, she started to swerve. Nothing drastic, but a definite slip in attention. She needed to get off the road.
Ahead, I spotted a country used car lot, the kind of place that sold more farm implements than vehicles and specialized in old pickups and trading. Perfect. Opening the throttle, I came up alongside her. She glanced at me in surprise. Her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel didn’t escape my notice. I pointed to the dealer ahead and motioned for her to pull over. She nodded and signaled. I fell behind her and almost had a heart attack when she didn’t slow down enough and fishtailed through the gravel turn.
I pulled in behind her and shut off the bike as I tugged the helmet off my head. She’s just tired, I told myself. She wasn’t trying to kill herself. Still, it took several moments to calm down enough so I would be able to speak to her without growling. When I knew I had myself under control, I set the helmet on the bike and approached the car.
Her head was on the steering wheel, and she wasn’t moving. The boys watched me from the back seat as I knocked on her window. She jumped and fear lit her eyes as she looked up.
Even after she saw it was me, the fear didn’t leave her expression. She reached for the window control but only dropped the glass a few inches. Just enough to hear me.
“You were starting to swerve,” I said, putting my hands in my pockets in an attempt to look unimposing. “How long since you last slept?”
It took her a moment to answer.
“It’s been a while.”
“That man, David, hinted this was how he followed you,” I said, nodding at her car.
I hoped she’d understand she needed to get rid of the car.
She looked away from me, and her gaze caught on the single, small building on the property. A man stood just outside the door, watching us. When the man noticed he had her attention, he started to walk toward us.
“Come on, guys. Let’s unbuckle and get out. Stay close,” she said.
I took a step back and glanced at the salesman as she opened her door.
“Howdy, folks. What can I do for you?”
“I need a different car,” Michelle said while the boys climbed out and moved close to her. She gently ran her fingers through their hair. Seeing her love and fear for them jacked the urgency to get her somewhere safe. To take her home. Given her reaction when I’d stepped up to the window, that might not be so easy. She obviously didn’t trust me, despite saving her.
“A trade?” the salesman asked, breaking my thoughts.
She nodded.
“To be honest, your car is probably worth two of any of the cars I have.”
“It’s okay,” she said.
But, the change in her pulse told me that was a lie. She didn’t need to worry about money, though. I’d help her.
“The insurance on this thing is too much for me. I need something worth a little less to bring down the premiums.”
The dealer happily led her through the collection of vehicles on his tiny lot.
“I think I have just the thing for you, then.”
He showed her a dark blue truck flecked with bits of rust. A truck meant I could put my bike in the back so I could drive and she could sleep. But, it also meant the kids would need to share a seatbelt. While I was trying to think of a way to help prod her to say yes, she surprised me by telling the guy she’d take it.
“Come inside, and we’ll sign the papers. Do you have the title with you?”
“Yes, I think so. Let me go get it.”
“I’ll get it for you and move your things,” I said from behind her. It would give me a chance to load my bike without witnesses. The faster we were on our way once she was done, the better.
While she went to the office with the salesman, I jogged to the car. The title was in the glove box. Tucking the paper into my back pocket, I opened the back door. Though the car seats wouldn’t fit in the truck, I removed them and her purse from the car, then loaded the seats in the back of the truck along with my bike.
Finished switching things over, I went back to the office and handed the salesman the title. It didn’t take him long to sign over the truck and hand the keys to Michelle.
I followed Michelle and the boys from the office, trying to think of a way to ask for the keys. When we reached the truck, she glanced questioningly at my bike in the bed.
I tried giving her a reassuring smile.
“I hope you’ll accept my help for a little longer. You need to move from here, but you don’t look like you’ll be able to stay awake for very long.”
Her uncertainty and desperation drifted into the air around us, and I had to put my hands in my pockets to keep from reaching for her.
“Who are you?” she asked.
“Emmitt, for now. When you’re more awake, I’ll give you whatever details you want.”
She nodded, and I wanted to grin. Instead, I walked the three of them to the passenger door and held it open while they got in. She kissed the tops of the boys’ heads as she buckled them in together then sat in her place. Once she buckled, I closed the door and walked around the hood. The road was still clear of any traffic. I hoped that meant the two who’d come for her were still knocked out. They’d catch up to her car, but, hopefully, we’d be miles from it.
I got in and, unable to stop myself, breathed deeply. The cab was filled with her scent already.
“You two have enough room?” I asked, looking down at the cub sitting next to me.
He nodded hesitantly. I buckled, to set a good example, then started the truck. With a wave to the salesman, we left her little red car behind.
“Which direction should I head?” I asked when she didn’t question where I was going.
“Doesn’t matter,” she said, closing her eyes.
Within seconds, her breathing evened out. The boy next to her reached up and began anxiously playing with her hair. It made me sad that they were afraid of me.
She relaxed in her seat and shifted so her weight leaned on the door. I reached over and pressed down the lock. The boys watched me closely.
“Didn’t want her to fall out,” I said.
They continued to look at me.
“I have a younger brother,” I said, feeling the pressure of their scrutiny. “His name’s Jim. He lives in Montana with a friend of ours. I haven’t seen him in almost a year.”
The boy next to me glanced at his brother.
“You guys know my name. It’s Emmitt,” I said, reminding them. “But I don’t know yours.”
“My name is Liam,” the one next to me said. “This is Aden.”
“Nice to meet you. I’m glad I have company. It gets a little boring on long drives. Either of you know how to play I Spy?”
They hesitantly shook their heads, and I took a few minutes to explain the game. I tried several times to get them to play along, but they stayed shyly quiet. Undeterred, I kept talking. I told them stories from my childhood and any kid jokes I could remember.
A few times, Michelle’s breathing changed, but never enough that she woke all the way.
“Mimi?” Aden said softly, leaning against Michelle.
“Buddy, if you need something, you can ask me. She’s so tired and really needs some sleep. Try not to wake her unless you really need her, okay?”
Aden nodded and continued to play with her hair. His uncertainty just made me try harder to get them to relax around me. Eventually, they did. Just enough to say a word here and there so we could play some games.
After several hours, I noticed Aden wiggling in his seat.
“I don’t know about you two, but I sure could use a bathroom break. Mind if I find us someplace with a bathroom?”
Neither one answered so I went ahead and pulled into the first motel I found.
As soon as I cut the engine, Michelle sat up. Her bloodshot eyes took in the motel, and panic ripped through her.
“Michelle, the kids could use a break, and I think you’d benefit from some real sleep. How about I get the three of you a room while I stay with the truck?” I said to assure her that I had no intention of joining her, even though it would have been a dream come true.
She turned to meet my gaze, and I saw her mistrust. I tried not to let it hurt. Something had happened to her. Something that had robbed her of sleep and filled her with fear. I didn’t know how to help ease any of it.
“You can hang on to the truck keys, of course,” I said.
That seemed to do the trick. She hesitantly nodded.
“You two keep an eye on her. I’ll be right back.”
I got out and pressed down the lock before I closed the door. It wasn’t that I thought anyone would try to come after them. I just wanted her to feel safe.
In the office, I asked for a room and paid cash. As soon as I had the key, I went back to the truck. All three were watching for me. I held up the key and smiled at Aden. He gave a small smile in return. When I glanced at Michelle, she looked away.
I sighed and recalled something Dad had said long ago. He’d sat Jim and me down at an early age and warned us that, if we were lucky enough to find a Mate, not to expect our first meeting to go well. He’d said women were unpredictable and prickly. Then, Mom had smacked him on the back of the head and called us to dinner. He’d been telling the truth, and I realized it would take some time to win Michelle over.
After unlocking the door, I apologized to Aden for the delay then moved the truck to a spot in front of their room.
As soon as I cut the engine, I handed the motel key to Michelle and got out to open her door. The boys were quick to hop out behind her. She still moved a little too slowly as she walked toward the room and wasn’t able to immediately fit the key, which was killing Aden.
Taking pity on the kid, I went to reclaim the key. Michelle handed it over but then took a quick step back as if she’d given me a weapon. She was so skittish. I needed to find out who David, Blake, and Richard were to her and what they’d done to make her that way. Ideas flipped over in my head. None of them good. Each one made me want to hurt David all over again. The decorative end of the key bent slightly as I shoved it into the lock. With more care, I turned the key and opened the door for them.
“If you need anything, I’ll be right here. Yell, and I promise I’ll hear you.” I moved aside so they could enter.
As she walked past, I caught her hand and placed the room key and truck key in her palm. I could have let her go then. Instead, I took my other hand to wrap her fingers around the keys. I just wanted to prolong touching her, to try to assure her I wasn’t someone to fear. I’d take care of her. Protect her. Forever.
She tightened her hold on the keys and stepped into the room. She was quick to close the door. I didn’t mind. I could hear her lean against the thin wood, watching me. Giving her the assurance she needed, I went back to the truck and got in. The seat wasn’t comfortable, but I leaned back and closed my eyes.
After a few minutes, I rolled down the window so I could hear if any of them called for me, then I watched the sun slowly set.
* * * *
A little after midnight I heard rustling from within the room. I quietly left the truck and stood beside the door to listen.
“I’m hungry,” Aden said.
“We can’t wake her unless it’s an emergency,” Liam said sleepily. “Do you want to watch TV or draw?”
Good kids. I moved away from the door to look up and down the street as my stomach empathized with Aden. We hadn’t stopped for anything until we’d reached the motel, and lunch was long gone. A block away, I saw a fast food place.
Giving the motel door one last glance, I took off at a run. It was dark and the traffic light. As long as I stuck to the shadows, no one would notice a man running way too fast. I’d be a blur out of the corner of an observer’s eye and back before the kids’ stomachs could growl twice.
A twenty-four-hour drugstore had me stopping before I reached my destination. I hesitated on the sidewalk. I didn’t want to be absent any longer than necessary. But, I’d emptied their car. They had nothing with them. No clothes, no toiletries, nothing. It would only take me a few minutes, I told myself as I walked inside. Still, as I hunted down supplies for them, I worried they would look for me and find me missing.
After the drugstore, I went straight to the restaurant. I ordered two coffees and a mess of breakfast sandwiches. I used a burst of speed to get back to the motel in less than a minute.
Aden and Liam were still quietly entertaining themselves inside the room when I knocked. A second later, Liam’s little face peeked out the curtained window beside the door.
I winked at him and lifted the food bag. He glanced at the bag then behind him and let the curtain fall back into place. I listened to him try to wake Michelle. He called her Mimi, so close to “Mommy.” She’d mentioned their father, her stepfather, dying. But where were her Mom and Dad?
After his third attempt, I heard her move. Their conversation was equally easy to hear in the still of the night.
“I’m up,” she said. “What’s wrong?”
“Emmitt’s knocking on the door,” Liam said. “I looked out the window and saw it was him.”
The rustle of covers told me she was getting out of bed. I watched the peephole as she leaned against the door. A second later, she pulled the door open and motioned for me to enter. The dark circles under her eyes looked even more pronounced despite her increased alertness. She needed more sleep.
I stepped in, taking my time to pass by her so I could inhale her scent. The fear was lighter now. Not gone, as I would have liked.
Liam and Aden watched me closely as I set the food on the table.
“There’s a fast food place nearby. Since everything’s been quiet, I made a quick run.” I held out the plastic shopping bag. “I noticed you didn’t have much, so I also picked up a few things.”
She took the bag and stared at the contents. It wasn’t much. Toothbrushes, paste. Some clean socks.
“Thank you,” she said softly, not looking up.
Her gratitude was real, but not strong enough to wipe out her doubt and suspicion.
The boys watched us, waiting to see what Michelle would do. She closed the bag and waved them toward the bathroom. Aden looked back at the food, but dutifully listened to his sister. He reminded me of Jim, and I couldn’t wait to get home with them.
While they brushed their teeth, I ate three sandwiches and set the rest of the food out for them.
As soon as the boys were done in the bathroom, they came to sit at the table while Michelle sat on the bed.
She studied her hands for a minute before finally looking up at me.
“Sorry for waking you up so soon. I could hear the boys saying they were hungry,” I said, glancing at Liam and Aden. They were watching us closely as they ate hungrily.
“Slow down, you two, or you’re going to choke,” she said. She met my gaze again. “We haven’t been eating right, so it’s good that you woke me. They needed this.”
“And you need more sleep,” I said before I could stop myself.
“I’m rested enough for you to tell me who you are and why you’re helping me.”
“My name’s Emmitt Cole. I was recently discharged from the military. Now, I’m just taking my time seeing the country as I make my way home to Montana. And I’m helping you because, back at the restaurant, you looked like you could use someone on your side.” I paused, trying to think of what else I should say to help her believe my motives. “As long as it wasn’t anything illegal, I had no reason not to help.”
“I appreciate what you did. I wasn’t doing anything illegal. Those men had no right to take us back with them.”
“I figured as much from what David was saying.” The need to ask questions about the names I’d heard was there, but the distrust in her eyes stopped me. “I’m guessing you’re running. Going anywhere particular? I’d be happy to tag along to make sure you safely get to where you need to be.”
She didn’t answer right away. The hand holding her coffee started to shake enough that she had to use her other hand to steady it, and her scent changed, light traces of guilt lacing it. Something I’d just said had caused it, but what?
“Emmitt, we could use help, but I don’t think it’d be right to accept it.” She looked at the boys. “There’s a lot going on that I can’t explain. And, I didn’t have a place in mind when I left.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
She nodded.
“Keep moving. As long as you’re awake, get further from the last place they found you. That David guy knows you’re exhausted. He’s going to count on you needing to stop. If I were him, judging from how rundown you looked, I’d bet you would crash hard, too. He’s going to start checking likely places where you might have stopped, calling and asking for you by name.”
“If he can’t find you still sleeping, he’ll at least look for a trail to follow. Switching vehicles was a good start, but they’ll have found the dealer by now and gotten a description of the new one. It’s only a matter of time…unless you can disappear.”
Her heart stuttered, and the scent of her fear grew stronger. I’d known suggesting she come home with me would scare her. Yet, it was the safest place for her. I struggled with the words to smooth away her concern.
“What exactly do you mean?” she asked.
“I live on a big spread. No neighbors close by. Plenty of room for you to lay low without feeling like you’re being locked away.”
She looked up and studied me.
“What’s in it for you?”
She was killing me with her mistrust.
“Haven’t you ever had anyone help you just to help?”
She sighed and set her coffee to the side.
“May I see your wallet?”
Though the question surprised me, I immediately took out my wallet. She could have anything in it. I’d give her anything and everything if it helped her feel safe with me.
She studied the contents, staring at my library card then the empty donor circle on my driver’s license. After that, she pulled out the only three pictures I had.
“Family?” she asked.
“My mom, brother, and dad.” I moved away from the door and looked at the pictures in her hand. They were several years old and well-worn. Being away from my family had been hard in the beginning. I’d gotten used to it, but I still missed them.
Michelle set the pictures aside and continued searching my wallet. There wasn’t much else, just a piece of paper with phone numbers but no names.
“What are these?” She held up the paper.
When she looked up at me, something happened. Her scent changed ever so subtly. A wisp of something sweet and fragile, there and gone again, had me wondering if I’d imagined it. The way she immediately dropped her gaze had me wondering what she’d just felt. What had caused her scent to change like that? I knew better than to ask, and focused on the paper.
“The first one is compliments of my mom. It’s the number for a friend of the family close to where I was stationed, in case I ran into trouble. The next one is my brother’s number. I left just after he and I moved down here from Canada. I wasn’t sure I’d remember the number.”
“How can you be from Canada but in the U.S. military?”
Her immediate suspicion and accusing tone warned me to answer carefully. Her brothers had finished eating and were watching us warily.
“My mom’s from the U.S. and insisted both Jim and I be born here. It drove my dad crazy because she didn’t want to leave home until the last minute. He swore it was her sheer determination that kept us from being born on the ‘wrong’ side of the border.” I smiled, remembering my dad’s expression every time that story was retold. Mom had worried the hell out of him.
Michelle nodded to her brothers, and they moved off to the bathroom to wash up.
“The last number?” she asked.
“My parents. I figured if something ever happened to me, those three numbers would be good emergency information.”
She slowly put everything back in its place. As she did so, I could see she was lost in thought.
“Is it so hard to trust?” I asked, sad for her.
“You have no idea,” she said softly. “Tell me more about this big spread.”
She was considering it. I smiled widely. They were going to love it there. I was going to love her there.
“It’s been awhile since I’ve been back. It’s an old three-story with wrap-around porches. Before I left, my brother and I talked about dividing it into six apartments. From what he’s told me, he’s done the dividing and now just needs to complete the finishing work in three more apartments. It also has a huge backyard that’s a pain to mow, according to him.”
“Just you and your brother, then?”
“No, a friend of our parents, Winifred Lewis, who we call Nana Wini, moved in as soon as he completed the second apartment.”
She glanced at the bathroom, worry pulling at her face. Then she dropped her head into both hands.
“You should know they won’t stop looking for me. Ever,” she said.
“Doesn’t matter to me. You’ll be welcome as long as you like.” I just needed to get her there. Then I could work on convincing her to stay.
She looked up as the boys walked out of the bathroom hand in hand. They watched her closely in return.
“We’ll go with you and take one day at a time,” she said, looking at me.
I grinned. One day at a time was next door to forever.
* * * *
I drove the rest of the night. The boys fell asleep almost immediately. Michelle tried staying awake but gave up after twenty minutes.
I reached out to Winifred again.
She’s agreed to come with me. Her two brothers are with her. The oldest can’t be more than four or five.
Have you told her anything? Winifred asked.
No. She’s running from something and is scared. I’ve never smelled this much fear on anyone. I won’t risk running her off with more than she can handle right now. I just want to make her feel safe again.
Don’t worry. Jim and I are here to help. Have you told your father?
Not yet. She needs time before family and friends start showing up.
I understand.
Michelle woke several times, but never for very long. Once the sun rose, I stopped at a gas station for a bathroom break and food then pushed hard for Montana.
While I drove, I continued to try to play games with Liam and Aden. They went in spurts. When they got quiet, I tried jokes and stories to pull them out again.
Michelle’s vigilant study of the road behind us didn’t help calm them. Every time I saw her looking, I let her know everything was okay. Gradually, her fear eased a bit.
We were a few miles from home when I heard Aden’s stomach growl. The little guy had the appetite of a true cub. My kind didn’t like missing meals, and it was close to dinner.
“Do you want to stop for something to eat or drive on to your new home?”
Her pulse skipped a beat. Did she like the idea of calling my place home?
“How much longer?” she asked.
“About thirty minutes.”
“Let’s keep going.”
Anticipation filled me.
Winifred, we’re almost home.
