Wasnt that just like a man?
Oh, well, he was gone. She wished him luck. She didnt know what else to do. She would add him to her prayer list tonight. Hed made her feel things shed worked hard to keep buried. Feelings and memories shed banished after her son was born and shed come home a different woman from the girl whod left for big-city excitement with a chip on her shoulder and something to proveonly to find out that home wasnt as bad as shed thought.
The back door blew open and slammed against the wall. Rachel came in with the wind and rain. Whew. It nearly blew me away out there and its getting worse. Lets hightail it out of here while we can.
Im almost done. Determined to finish, Amy upended the final chair. Something dark tumbled to the floor.
She knelt to retrieve it. Mercys As was scrawled in worn gold-and-white letters on the black fabric of a mans baseball hat. The bill had curved into a sagging humped shape as if from years of wear. Her loner had sat at this table, but had he been wearing a hat? She didnt remember one.
It had been a busy day and a busier evening rush. Anyone could have left that cap any time during the supper hours, but there was something about it that made her think of him. Maybe it was the color; her loner had been wearing black.
Her lonerthats how she was thinking of him, as if she knew him. Maybe it was that she recognized a part of herself in the man. Maybe because she understood it wasnt only courage but something stronger that had made him stand motionless staring down death.
Yeah, she recognized the feel of despair that clung to him. She knew a like soul when she saw it.
She stowed the cap in the lost-and-found box, tucked it beneath the cash register and got back to work. Rachel was clattering around in the back officeit was little more than a closet, which it had been years and years ago when their parents had run the place.
But after their death, Paige had taken over and decided the front counter was no place to work on the books. So shed checked out a how-to guide from the library and put them all to work. Amy had chosen the soft yellow paint because it was her favorite color. Of course, she was nine years old at the time. Now the color only reminded her of times best left forgotten. So she was happy to finish the mopping while Rachel muttered about over-rings in the cramped little office.
Amy glanced at the clockten thirty-eightbefore rapping on the door, which was open. All she saw was Rachels back as she hunched over the plywood desk built into the back wall. That didnt look comfortable. Im done out here. Is there anything I can do to help?
Nope. This tape is a mess. I need to talk to whichever of the twins did this today. Frustrated, Rachel slid back in the folding metal chair and rubbed her forehead with both hands. Those two are giving me a serious headache.
Their teenaged cousins were not the most faultless of employees, but they were eager and worked hard. They just have a lot to learn.
I know. Rachels sigh spoke more of her own tiredness than of her upset at the girls, who had both turned seventeen last month. Im just going to throw all this in a bag and take it home. Ill make the deposit tomorrow.
Sounds good to me
The lights blinked off and stayed off. Pitch black echoed around them.
Amy didnt move. It looks like we lost power. Do you think its off for good?
It stayed dark. That seemed like answer enough. Amy was trying to remember where the flashlights were when Rachels chair creaked and it was followed by the rasp of a drawer opening. A round beacon of light broke through the inky blackness. Leave it to Rachel. Amy breathed easier. At least theyd be able to close up without feeling their way in the dark.
Lightning flashed, and immediately thunder crashed like breaking steel overhead. Closer. The front was coming fast and moving toward home. She thought of her little boy. Westin was safe with the baby-sitter, but hed be worried. She couldnt call to reassure him. It wasnt safe with the lightning crackling overhead and besides, if the power was out, then the phone lines were probably down, too.
She grabbed her purse from the shelf and her jacket hanging next to it, working in the near dark, for Rachel was hogging the flashlight to zip the cash receipts and the days take into her little leather briefcase. Once that was done, Amy hurried ahead and rechecked the front doorlocked, just as it was supposed to beand followed the sound of Rachel tapping through the kitchen toward the back door.
Outside seemed just as dark. An inky blackness was broken only when lightning strobed overhead and speared into the fields just out of town. It was definitely heading south. All she wanted to do was to get home before a tree or a power line blocked the road out of town.
She manhandled the door closed and turned the key in the dead bolt. The wind whipped and lashed at her, strong enough to send her stumbling through the puddles. In the space between lightning bolts, she could feel the electric charge on her skin. It came crisp and metallic in the air.
Rain came in a rage and it bounced like golf balls over the battered blacktop lot and over them. She hadnt gone two yards and she was drenched to the skin. Following the faint glow of Rachels flashlight, she let the wind hurl her toward two humps of shadows that became two parked cars as they stumbled closer. The windshields gleamed, reflecting the finger of fire sizzling overhead. Lightning snapped into a power pole a block or two away. The thunder boomed so hard, Amys eardrums hurt with the shock.
Maybe thats why she didnt see another shadow until headlights flashed to life. She recognized the row of piercing fog lights blazing atop a pickups cab. Oh, heavens. It was the two men whod hassled her in the restaurant.
It happened so fast. The truck screeched to a halt inches from Rachel, whod been in the lead. The passenger door thrust open and suddenly there he was, the dark form of a stocky man, muscled arms held out with his hands closed into fists. Everything about him screamed danger. He stalked toward Rachel like a coyote ready to strike.
Amy didnt remember making the choice to fight instead of run. She was simply there, between the man and her sister. Protective anger made her feel ten feet tall. Get out of here. Now.
Hey, thats no way to talk. I just wanted to give you girls a chance to make back your five bucks. Maybe even earn a tip. The strong scent of hard liquor wafted from him.
She wasnt afraid; she was mad. Thats a horrible thing to say. Shame on you. You get back in your truck and leave us alone, or Ill
Yeah, what are you gonna do, pretty lady? he mocked, and then the smirk faded from his shadowed face.
For out of the black curtain of rain emerged another man. One who stood alone.
Maybe it was the glaze of light snaking across the sky behind him. Or the way his dark hair lashed in the wind, but he looked like a warrior legend come to life. There was no mistaking the sheer masculine steel of the man as his presence seemed to silence the thunder.
He didnt utter a word. He didnt need to. The look of himiron-strong and defensivemade the troublemaker shrink back as if hed been struck. The ruffian cast one hard look at Amyshe saw the glint of malice before he leaped into the cab and slammed the door. The truck shot through the downpour, roaring out of sight.
Amy realized she was trembling from the inside out, now that the threat was gone. She swiped the rain from her eyes. She didnt know why some people behaved the way they did. As long as Rachel was safe. They were both safe. She remembered to send a note of thanks heavenward.
Amy realized she was trembling from the inside out, now that the threat was gone. She swiped the rain from her eyes. She didnt know why some people behaved the way they did. As long as Rachel was safe. They were both safe. She remembered to send a note of thanks heavenward.
And her lonerher protectorwaited, his back to them, his feet braced wide, his fists on his hips looking as invincible as stone as he watched in the direction of the road, as if making sure those troublemakers werent doubling back.
Oh, I cant believe those men! If you can call them men. Rachel walked on wobbly legs toward her car. Ive got to sit down.
They scared me, too. Amy opened her sisters car door and took the keys from her trembling hand. She sorted through them for the ignition key as Rachel collapsed onto the seat.
Are you all right?
Amy turned at the sound of his voice, rough like the thunder and as elemental as the wind.
He was simply a man, not legend or myth, but with the way he looked unbowed by the rain and lashed by the storm, he gave the presence of more.
When he spoke, it was as if the world silenced. He didnt hurt you, did he? I came across the parking lot as fast as I could.
But from where? Amy wondered. He could have come out of the very night, for he seemed forged out of the clouds and dark. She swiped a hand across her brow, trying to get the rain out of her eyes and saw the faint glaze of lightning reflecting in the windows far down the alley. The towns only motel. Thats where her loner had come from.
You arrived just in time, she assured him, standing to block the rain for her sister. Were all right.
Thanks to you. Again. Rachel was still clutching the briefcase to her chest.
Amy knew what she was thinking. Rachel had their days take tucked in her leather case. It was a lot to lose, had the men been interested in money only.
You ladies want me to call the sheriff? The loner kept his stance and his distance like a protective wolf standing on the edge of a forest, ready to slip back in.
No, it looks like the phone lines are down, too. Ill stop by and see the deputy. I drive right by his place on my way home
Lightning flashed like stadium floodlights, eerily illuminating the parking lot and the three of them drenched with rain. Thunder exploded instantly and a tree limb on the other side of the alley crashed to the ground, smoking.
The rain increased so she had to shout to be heard. This is dangerous. Get inside. Ill
She didnt get to finish her invitation for breakfast in the diner. The lightning returned and made every surface of her skin prickle. Here she was, standing up in the parking lot, and how dangerous was that? She yanked her car door open and dove into the seat, grateful for the shelter. Through the rain-streaked windshield, she could see her loner in the parking lot, a dark silhouette the storm seemed to revolve around.
Rain hammered harder, sluicing so fast down the glass she lost sight of him. When the water thinned for a second, he was gone. There was only wind and rain where hed stood.
Good. Hed returned to his motel room, where hed be safe. The car windows began fogging and she realized her fingers were like ice, so she started the engine and flipped the defroster on high.
In the parking spot beside her, Rachels old sedan came to life, too, the high beams bright as she put the car in gear, creeping forward as if to make sure Amy was okay.
Amy wasnt okay, but she knew her sister wasnt going to drive off and leave her sitting here. So she buckled up and put the car in gear. She ignored the groan of the clutch because it needed to be replaced and, after creeping forward, realized she needed both the wipers and the lights on.
Rachels car moved away and Amy followed her, steering through the downpour that came ever harder. But her gaze drifted to the rearview, where the motel ought to be. She couldnt see it; there was only darkness. Remembering the loner and the way hed stood as if he were already not a part of this world, she wishedshe didnt know what she wished. That he would find rest for whatever troubled him.
She would always be grateful hed stepped between her and possible danger twice. Lord knew there had been times when that wasnt always the case.
The rain pummeled so hard overhead, she couldnt hear the melody of the Christian country station or the beat of the wipers on high as she let the storm blow her home.
Mom!
The instant Amy had stumbled through the front door, shed been caught by her son. His arms vised her waist, and he held on tight, clinging for moments longer than his usual welcome-home hug as thunder cannoned over the roof and shook the entire trailer.
Oh, her sweet little boy, the shampoo scent of him, fresh from his bath, and the fabric softener in his astronaut pjs just made her melt. She feathered her fingers through his rich brown hair the color of milk chocolate and when he let go, he didnt look scared. But his chin was up and his little hands balled tight. Westin was great at hiding everything, true to his gender.
Only she knew how storms scared him. The hitch in his breathing told her his asthma medicine was working. The image from earlier today of the needle pricking along his spine tore at her. Her little one had had a rough day, and she remembered how hed set his jaw tight and not made a sound. Tears had welled in his eyes but he hadnt let them fall.
Her tough little guy.
She knelt to draw him against her. I figured youd be sound asleep by now and I wouldnt get to read you another chapter in your story like I promised.
The thunder kept wakin me up. Its loud. So I just stayed awake.
That was his excuse. Tough as nails, just like her dad had been. Every time she looked at him, she saw it, the image of her father, a hint that always made her remember the man whod been twenty feet tall for her. Who could do anything.
There were the little things Westin did that would twist like a knife carved deep. In the innocent gestures, as he was doing now, chin up, arms crossed in front of his chest, all warrior. Tough on the outside, soft as butter on the inside. Yeah, he was just like her dad.
Okay, tiger, its way past your bedtime. Get to your room and under your covers. Ill be back in half a second.
His big brown eyes stared up at her. She caught the flash of fear when it sounded as if golf balls were hitting the roof with the force of a hurricane, but she nodded, letting him know without words that she was here now. He might be cowboy-tough, but he was a little boy who needed his mother. She wouldnt let anything hurt her little one.
Kay, he agreed, but hurry up! We got a light all set up and everything. Bye, Kelly! he called to the woman in the shadows of the tiny kitchen.
Gnight, dont let the bedbugs bite! came the answer and then her cousin by marriage emerged from the dark with her coat in hand. Kelly slipped one arm into the raincoats sleeve and then the other. Hi, Amy. I got the dishes put away, too, just to help out. If you want me tomorrow night, just give me a call. You know I can use the extra cash.
Sure. Amy dug through her apron pocket and counted out a small stack of ones. Tips had been sparse with the state economy the way it was and theyd been even worse tonight.
She regretted that three-quarters of her tip money was already gone, but there were other places to cut corners. Her sons care was not one of them. Rachel wants to come over and spend time with him tomorrow, but if I have to work at night, Ill give you a call. Were still short-handed. Are you sure you dont want a job at the diner?