Now how was she going to get back to the bus station in time for the next bus? She couldnt get past the roadhouse without being seen by those men again.
With a cramp nagging at her side, she gulped for air and tried to think of a way out. Jimmy hadnt made a sound while shed been running with him in her arms. But after shed stopped, he began to squirm.
Down, Mommy, he whined as he kicked at her stomach.
Not here, honey, she said with a breathless gasp.
Her no didnt get through to the two-year-old. He kicked again, harder. At that same time the lifesaving pickup turned and came roaring up beside her.
She should have been frightened. Maybe she should have run in the other direction. Instead, her curiosity about what the fancy driver looked like had her standing on tiptoe and staring into the pickups cab.
The guy leaned over and opened the passenger door. Get in. All she caught of his face in the flash of the overhead light was a stubbled jaw and the brim of a beat-up Stetson pulled low over his eyes.
What? Belatedly she found her caution. No.
Look. Those dudes will be back here any second. And if you didnt notice, they have big, frigging guns. Get the hell in.
He was right. She was in no position to argue. StillI cant. But we should be okay thanks to you.
Cant?
This must have seemed like a good time to try to get his own way, because Jimmy squealed. When Clare tightened her grip around him, her child finally looked up at the pickup.
Bye-bye, Jimmy said as he pointed toward the truck.
Is that a kid? The guy in the truck sounded incredulous.
My son. I dont dare put him in your truck without the proper restraint. It isnt safe.
Just then, a loud ping resounded off the trucks back bumper. And a tiny spray of gravel exploded right next to the back rear tire.
Theyre shooting now, lady. That aint exactly safe. Climb in or not, but Im getting the hell out of here.
Shooting? Ramzi would never allow anyone to shoot at his son. Just who were these goons,
if not his men?
From that thought, it didnt take her a whole minute to load herself, her son and their duffel into the wide front seat of the pickup while the driver doused his headlights. Go, she urged while still fumbling with the seat belt.
The driver took off with a crunch of tires against gravel. The whining engine strained to keep up with the man pouring on the gas. His takeoff bounced her around in the seat, but she hung on valiantly to Jimmy.
Those city dudes are still on foot, the cowboy told her as he fought the wheel. This old truck might not look like much, but itll do zero to sixty in ten seconds. They wont stand a chance of getting to their vehicle or catching a glimpse of this truck in the dark before were long gone.
Clare swallowed hard. She was grateful to this man, whoever he was. But she didnt want his crazy driving to end up taking any risks with Jimmys life. After all, Ramzis men couldnt possibly want to kill her son. They must just want to take him back to his father.
She thought of the bullets those goons had fired and amended that idea. They might not mind killing her to get to Jimmy.
Can you go any faster?
The man turned the lights back on and downshifted to take a corner. Sugar, this heap may be fast off the line, but it wont hold together pushed to the limit.
He took four more corners in quick succession. When shed gotten totally turned around and lost, he slowed down.
Theyll never make us now, he said. So, you wanna tell me what the hell is going on? Why were those dudes after you? He took one more corner, but this time on four wheels. Tell me those werent some sort of cops.
Oh yeah, she said with a roll of her eyes. Cops shoot at women and children all the timesure. I was just walking from the bus station to the roadhouse to get my son something to eat. How should I know those jokers?
He shot her a quick glance before returning his attention to the road ahead. Its after ten. Not exactly a terrific time to be waltzing around these streets with a baby. Isnt there a restaurant in the bus station?
Uh, I dont know, she lied.
Yeah, Ill bet. And I suppose you have no idea why those guys were trying to get to you, either. All that drama seems extreme for a simple robbery.
WellMaybe they wanted to kidnap my little boy.
That shut him up for a few minutes. Finally, he cleared his throat and changed the subject. You never made it to the roadhouse. I wouldve noticed you there. Is the kid still hungry?
She looked down at Jimmy in her lap. He and I both could use a little food. Its been a long time since weve eaten anything.
You were planning on a bus trip, Id guess. Whens the bus leave?
Not until midnight.
Then lets go find a decent place to eat. And Ill get you two back to the station in time.
Josh was kicking himself thirty ways from Sunday by the time he found a chain restaurant that stayed open all night. What the hell was he doing with a woman and a child? Only just now recovering from his idiot bout with alcohol, he didnt know about the long-term effects of PTSD. He still wasnt sure the docs were right where he was concerned.