Robin Perini - Last Stand In Texas

Hardly.

He kissed the perfectly coiffed hair. “I have work, and you have a date.”

She flushed and patted his arm. “Don’t work too hard, my sweet boy.”

Burke escorted her to his office door and gave her one final kiss.

“I’ll do what I have to do.”

SEVEN IN THE morning didn’t come early enough, especially when you’d bedded down the night before in a small grove of trees. Thank God Faith had made an emergency plan in case something like this happened. Zoe was safely hidden. Faith had stayed up all night clutching the bat, staring at the back of the shack where they’d lived for the past few months.

She stretched, and her body protested with every movement. Each time she blinked, she could have sworn sandpaper scraped off a layer of her eyelid.

Burke hadn’t shown up, though she’d caught a glimpse of a couple of figures lurking around. Unfortunately, she hadn’t been able to get a good look except that one appeared to be bald. Just like Zoe’d said.

If she’d harbored any last hope, it was gone. Burke had definitely found them.

Her daughter squirmed out of their hiding place and crawled over to Faith. “Is it time to get up?”

“Afraid so.” She wrapped the blanket she’d been forced to steal from the shack’s bedding around Zoe.

Her daughter rubbed her eyes and let out a yawn as big as Texas. “My stuff is still in the bag, isn’t it? We got everything? My unicorn? The baseball Daddy gave me?”

“It’s all here.”

“What if we left something?” Zoe asked.

“We didn’t.” Faith had no plans on ever going back to that shack. “Let’s get ready.”

Using water from a bottle, they cleaned up as best they could before the long walk into town. Faith took the backstreets and traveled across a vacant lot or two. No need to make their presence visible.

Zoe didn’t skip along like normal, and Faith found it tough to smile or fake any optimism. They were in deep trouble. She tucked her money into her pocket except for one hundred dollars for gas. She just prayed the mechanic would cut her a break on the car repairs. Especially since he already had the ten grand she’d prepaid for the IDs.

Finally, Faith made out the siding of the auto shop. She gripped Zoe’s hand and rounded the back of the building. A shiny new vehicle sat outside the small repair shop. At least Ray was early. She scanned the empty streets and tried the doorknob, but it was locked.

She pounded on the front door. It yanked open.

The guy looked like he’d done an all-nighter. Oil and grease streaked his jeans and work shirt.

“Oh, it’s you,” Ray said with a frown. “Come back next week. Car’s not ready.”

He moved to shut the door on her, but she stuck her foot through the crack.

“Not an option. I need to leave town.” She shoved her way inside. “Zoe, stay out here, but where I can see you.” She turned on Ray. “I need the car. And the other items. Today.”

Faith crossed over to the counter and laid the envelope down.

Ray followed her. He fingered the bills and clicked his tongue. “You’re $500 short.”

“I know. But we have to go.”

He shook his head. “No can do. Besides, I found another problem. It’s gonna be another $750 before it’s drivable. Parts, you know.”

His twisted smile challenged her. Faith tried with everything in her not to react, not to cry out in defeat. She straightened her back. “This is all I have. You gave me a quote, and I’ve paid you a lot of money. You know I’ll come through with the rest.”

“Sorry,” he said, though he didn’t look sorry at all. “I can’t give you the car without the full amount.” He moved closer, his face just inches from her. “Besides, it don’t matter. No IDs yet.”

Her knees buckled. She gripped the counter to keep from sinking to the floor. “I need those IDs,” Faith said, her voice rising.

His gaze scraped up and down her body. A horrible feeling slithered through Faith. She stepped away from him and crossed her arms over her chest. Lifting her chin, she met his gaze. “Then the deal’s off. I want my money back. All of it.”

She grabbed at the cash but he yanked it away.

“Hold on now.” With a slimy smile painting his face, he leaned toward her. “I’ll get the IDs in a couple of days. As to the car, well, maybe we can work something out.” His smiled broadened. “A trade wouldn’t be a bad idea.”

“Mom?” Zoe called through the cracked open door.

Days? Faith stilled. Impossible. They couldn’t return to the shack. Her mind whirled with possibilities. Mrs. Hargraves might help. Or maybe they could sneak in after closing and sleep in the library.

His smile broadened as if he knew he’d won. He leaned forward and lowered his voice. “Ditch the kid. Come back at noon. We’ll have a little fun for the next few days until the documents arrive, and I’ll give you the car when it’s ready.”

Faith swallowed deeply. She couldn’t believe she was even entertaining the proposition.

Ray fingered a stray piece of her hair. “Just so we’re clear, I’ve been very lonely lately. Your enthusiastic company would square the account. A fair trade.”

He scooped up the cash from the counter and pocketed it. She now had $100 to her name. Ray had everything else.

“Mom?”

Could she let him touch her? For Zoe?

“I’ll see you at noon, sweet cheeks.” He leaned close and licked the edge of her jaw to her ear. “If you’re not here, the sheriff will get an anonymous tip, and I don’t think you want him to wonder about you. Sheriff Redmond’s the curious type.”

She couldn’t hide her shudder. She hated that he assumed she’d comply. As much as she loathed to admit it, she wasn’t sure he was wrong.

Faith would do anything for Zoe.

THE SUN HAD fully risen when Stefan paused outside the Carder Diner, his empty thermos at his side. He’d grown tired of burning his morning brew over a campfire. Besides, Carla had a way with coffee beans.

The post-dawn glow gave the huge expanse of sky a soft tint. The angry clouds of yesterday were a distant memory. He’d been forced to get used to the constant sun and blue sky here. He missed the rain of Bellevaux, but the truth was, he’d grown to like the drama of the West Texas landscape. He hadn’t decided where he’d go after this, but he might want to stay where the sun wasn’t constantly hidden by clouds.

He pushed through the restaurant door at eight in the morning. The sizzling of hot bacon and scent of fresh coffee evoked a groan of temptation. Out of habit, he scanned the seating, lingering on the rear exit and timing his escape from the building. He didn’t anticipate trouble, but he doubted he’d ever break the habit. It had saved his life more than once.

When his gaze landed on the booth closest to the back door, he paused. Faith and Zoe sat at the table. Seemed he and the pair had one more thing in common.

Zoe dug into a plate of bacon and eggs while Faith watched her daughter, sipping on coffee, no plate in front of her. He walked over to his standard seat at the counter and took a sip from the cup Carla had placed at his usual stool before setting his thermos on the counter. Carla scooped it up to fill, but he didn’t attempt a conversation with her. He had every intention of eavesdropping.

“Mom? Aren’t you going to eat?” Zoe asked.

“Not today, honey.” Faith’s voice whispered with a quick look under her lashes at him. She flushed and dipped her gaze, stirring her coffee longer than anyone would need to.

So she’d seen him come in. No need for pretense. He grabbed his cup and slid into the booth adjacent to theirs. Her eyes widened. He lifted his cup and smiled at her.