“Good. I’ll follow you to make sure these two don’t.”
Bitter little puffs of fear were coming from the kids who were staring at me.
“Need help getting your kids in?” I asked, looking down at the boys.
“No, but thanks.”
I followed behind them and watched her open the back door. Once the boys were both in, I opened the door for her and waited to make sure she buckled. Her moves were slow and measured. I wanted to offer to drive, but I couldn’t leave the bike. It would be too obvious who’d knocked out the men. The police could trace the plates right to my place.
“Just drive south,” I said. “I’ll be right behind you.”
She nodded, and I looked her over once more before closing the door. Introducing myself would have to wait; she was scared and dead on her feet. I hoped she had enough in her to get out of town and somewhere to rest. After that, well, maybe we’d have more to talk about than the weather.
Chapter 2
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