“She ain't here,” Leon shrugged his shoulders. “We must have missed her.”
“The ticket she bought went to Nawlins so let's get back on the road and wait for her there. I'll call Simon and let him know.” Bobby pulled out his phone and punched in the number. As they walked towards the door, Zandria let out a moan as the bus pulled away from the terminal. She was stuck here and they knew she was somewhere close. Closing her eyes she bit back the tears that threatened to fall, allowing herself a moment of misery and wishing she could just talk to Cay.
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“What time is it?” Chase stretched his arms and legs and yawned. In the driver's seat, Cayson glanced down at the clock on the dashboard. “2:45. I'm hungry and we're getting low on gas too, so how about a pit stop?”
Chase rearranged himself in the pickup's passenger seat. “Sounds like a winner to me. I'll take over driving afterward.” He glanced over at his mate's twin and noticed his knuckles were white where they clutched the wheel and a vein jumped in his temple. Everything about Cayson's body screamed stress, but then it was understandable. When Carson was kidnapped last fall, he thought his bones were going to snap from the strain and that had only been a couple of days. Zandria had been missing for almost a week now. “How you doing, Cay?”
“Doing? Honestly, Chase, I feel like I'm barely holding on to my sanity. My wolf is so distressed, it's a constant battle between keeping him from taking over and to get him to stop whining. I keep trying to figure out where I failed her and what I could have done to protect her.“ He let go of the wheel with his right hand and rubbed absently at the place right over his heart. “I should have known.”
Looking out the window, Chase pointed at a truck stop just off the road. “Pull in there,” he directed then patted him on the shoulder. “Look, from the moment she appeared in the woods, she has kept things from you and from us. Nobody knew what she was running from and you were giving her room to come to terms with it. You can't keep kicking yourself over this, Cay. It's not healthy and it's not helping. Right now we need to find her before Simon and his pack of toadies do. Once we have her, then you can worry about 'shoulda' and 'coulda'.”
They parked the pickup and made their way into the truck stop. It was a typical chain dive with cheerfully painted icons holding different foods against bright red and yellow walls. The floor was old and worn but clean and the booths upholstered in silver flaked red plastic that crinkled when they slid into the seats. No soon had they gotten settled when a waitress wearing a faded yellow uniform, a mile of teased hair, too much makeup and smacking on gum stopped at their table. With a wink at them, she slapped a couple of menus down. “Well haven't I just died and woke up in Studville. Be still my heart and hitch up my girdle! My name is Bea, what can I get you two tall drinks of yum?”
Chase chuckled. “I'll just have a glass of unsweet tea and the chicken sandwich with sweet potato fries.”
Cayson hadn't opened his menu. He was staring down at the table and hadn't moved. Chase nudge his ankle with the tip of his boots. “Cay? Didn't your momma tell you to never keep a pretty lady waiting?”
He shrugged and mumbled his apologies. “Double burger, loaded fries with sweet tea for me.”
She smiled at them as she swept the menus up in her hand. “Don't you worry none, sugar. I can see you have a lot on your mind.” She laid a hand on Cay's arm and patted it gently. “You need anything at all, you just yell for me.”
Turning around she made her way to the counter and called out their order to a short tempered cook who growled, “Order up” at her when she fastened the paper to the wheel. She pulled the plates off the window and turned to place them at the bar in front of a couple sitting and sipping coffee. Drawing a couple glasses of tea, she sashayed over and placed them on their table followed by two wrapped silverware packages. Another saucy wink saw her off again.
They sat in silence, Chase watching the humans as they moved around the dining room and Cayson staring a hole into the table that sat between them. Looking out the window, he squinted. “Cay.” When he wasn't answered, he nudged him again with his boot. “Cay look.”
Cayson blinked his eyes and looked around. “Huh?”
Chase looked at him. “Don't be obvious, but glance out the window towards the truck. I'm sure that's the same silver sedan that was behind us in Bristol. Just a little too coincidental for my liking. I think they are following us.”
Cayson looked through the window out of the edge of his eyes. “I think you're right. I believe I left something in the truck. Be right back.”
Chase watched as he made his way to the truck, opened the door and leaned in as if searching for something. After a moment, he straightened up and closed the door making his way back to the diner and slid into the seat again. “Yep, it's Winstead. He must have been following us, hoping we could lead him to her,” he growled.
“Eyes, Cay,” Chase murmured as the waitress returned and slid their orders onto the table. Cayson realized his wolf must be showing through causing his eyes to glow like golden honey. Quickly he closed them and bowed his head.
“Everything ok here? How about a top off on that tea, darlin'?” She picked up a pitcher and refilled Chase's glass.
“We're fine thanks,” Chase assured her. “Mmm! This looks fantastic.” He picked up the sandwich and took a big bite.
She smiled back at him. “Best food for miles!” Then turned around and made her way back to the counter.
Cay took several deep breaths and once he felt in control, opened his eyes. Picking up his burger, he devoured it in four bites then polished off the fries just as quickly. Sitting back, he let his head fall back on the top of the booth seat, closing his eyes. “I just want her home again,” he said quietly. “I need her home again.”
“I know how you feel. I was the same way with Carson.” Chase stopped eating and pulled his cell out of his pocket. Swallowing the mouth full he had, he mumbled, “Yeah?”
Sitting up straight again, Cayson listened to this side of the conversation as Chase filled Jeff in on their progress. When he was done, he handed it to Cayson who quickly told him about their being followed by Simon Winstead. When he was finished, he promised to call with a progress report when they stopped tonight. Pressing the off button he sat the phone down on the table and felt a pang in his heart when he saw the picture of Zandria. Reaching over, he traced the contours of her face with his finger then took a ragged breath.
“I gotta say, I like big appetites. Can I get you two some desert? We have homemade banana pudding, apple, cherry and rhubarb pie as well as death by chocolate brownies. All of 'em good and not a single lowfat ounce anywhere just like proper Southern food should be. My hips get wider just walking by the case,” Bea teased them.
Chase shook his head. “Just the check please.”
She slid the piece of paper on the table and picked up the plates, hesitating when she saw the cell phone. “Say, I know that girl.”
Cayson's head whipped up so fast it was a wonder he didn't break it. “You've seen her? Where? When?”
The tone in his voice was so broken yet full of hope, she knew in an instant that whatever the girl had been running from, it wasn't these two. Looking around she dropped her voice. “It's time for my break. Give me a minute to clock out.” She turned and took the dishes to the bus bin, then rang them out. Disappearing in the back, she soon returned to their table. Cayson scooted over, letting her have a seat next to him as she placed their change on the cracked Formica top.
“First off,” her tone had turned from playful to serious, “why are you looking for her. I don't know the girl personally but even I could tell she was hiding. So tell me why I should talk to you.”
Chase glanced at Cayson who shrugged as if to say, “Go ahead”. He raked his fingers through his shoulder length auburn hair and nodded slowly. “Only fair. First off, my name is Dr. Chase Blackston and the brooding lump beside you is my brot
her-in-law, Cayson Hennison. We're from a small town in Virginia.” He talked in a soft tone to put her at ease. It seemed to work as she visibly relaxed and her hands quit their incessant mobility.
“Her name is Zandria,” Cayson picked up the cell phone and again ran a finger over the photograph. His voice was soft and wistful, as if he had lost something dear to his heart. “She's my ma.. my fiancé. The moment I saw her I just knew we were perfect for each other. She ran off last week because of a misunderstanding in her past.” He looked into Bea's eyes. “Please, if you know anything at all, please tell us. I've got to find her before she gets hurt.”
She nodded her head slowly. “I believe you, honey.” She clasped his hands in hers. “Four days ago, she came in here and sat right here in this booth. Poor thing, looked like she didn't have a friend in the world. She ordered a grilled cheese sandwich and a glass of water. There was something about her that just called out to me, like I could hear her heart.” She shook her head a minute then sighed heavily. “Anyway, she was looking at the map on the back of the menu. She was real interested in New Orleans. I asked her about it but she said it was just curiosity. Now I knew it was a lie, my Momma had the sight and well, every once in a while I just know things, too. That girl had more than curiosity about New Orleans. If I was a betting woman, I'd go look there.” She patted him on the hands and started to get up. “Oh and I told her to stop running and face her fear. I don't know what went on and it's not any my business, mind you, but that girl has some heavy duty baggage. When you find her, you make sure you take a load of it off.” She stood the rest of the way. “Ya'll excuse me, I need to grab a bite before my break's over.”
She turned to leave when Chase caught her hand. “Bea, one more thing. That past that has been haunting her is sitting out there in that silver sedan next to my truck. If he asks you about anything, we'd appreciate it if you wasn't so forthcoming with information.”
She smirked slyly. “Sugar, don't you never mind. If he comes in here looking for anything, I'll be sure to get him so confused he'll need a GPS to find his own butt.”
ELEVEN
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She had waited in the closet for over an hour, barely breathing with her heart thudding like a jackhammer in her chest before finally sneaking out of the bus station. Watching every step she took, she jumped at every noise that had her nerves jangled and on edge. Blending in wasn't just a precaution now, it was a necessity since she'd been found. Though it took the better part of the afternoon, Zandria finally made it to a rest stop just past the Mississippi River. Taking the first real deep breath since the bus earlier, she slid down the side of the building and contemplated where she would go now. New Orleans was definitely out; they knew she had been heading there on the bus. Jackson was too close to where she was now and by nightfall, there would be more of them looking for her. Memphis? No, not there either. She had no way of knowing if there were more looking for her and if they would return and retrace her movements. That left west then – somewhere with a lot of people that she could get lost among, somewhere she could feel safe again, though she was pretty sure she would never again feel as safe as she had in Virginia.
At the thought of what she had left behind, her eyes welled up with tears again. Silently she cursed herself for being so weak and angrily wiped them away with the back of her sweaty hand. She didn't have time for tears – they were a luxury she couldn't afford. Instead she pushed thoughts of him deep to the back of her mind and focused on her current problem. Looking up, she realized her glasses were fogged over due to the amount of sweat pouring down her face. She should be safe enough now to take her hoodie off, which she quickly did and tied it around her waist. The hot breeze that caused the flowering bushes to dance and weave felt like heaven to her soaked skin and face.
She saw a man walk towards her, a little black and white dog trotting alongside on a leash. He looked to be in his late fifties to early sixties, stocky with a shock of short cropped brown hair streaked at the side with gray. He wore red plaid shirt, opened and untucked over a plain black tee. The jeans belted tightly to his waist were baggy and frayed with several patched spots. A baseball cap proclaiming 'My Other Truck is a Big Rig” sat jauntily on his head. His tanned weathered face had a smile on it as he talked to his companion. “Come on, South, let's get your business done and get back on the road. We gotta get that load of pipe to Dallas before morning and Clara has a honey-do list a mile long for us this week.” He knelt down beside the dog and scratched behind his ears. Zandria watched him, using just a bit of her gift to touch the man and ascertain whether or not he would be safe to get a ride from. Satisfied he would do her no harm, she stood up and approached him.
“Excuse me, sir?" she hesitated when he looked up at her. “I was wondering... I mean, I heard you say you were going to Dallas, and I was hoping maybe I could get a ride with you? I can give you some money. I don't have much, but I do have a little. I really need to get there as soon as I can.” She let her words trickle off and dropped her face, her long sweat soaked hair hang limply around her face.
He stood up. “Well now, I don't normally take on riders, but my daddy would turn over in his grave if I didn't help a lady in distress. Don't you worry none about paying either. I'm going that way anyhow. The name's Marshall and this here is Southpaw.”
“I'm Zandria,” she shook his hand then knelt down and held her hand out to the dog. He took a step back and looked at her, ears back and tail tucked between his legs. The pose was almost like he was afraid of her. She wrinkled her brow. That was strange, usually animals took right to her.
“It's ok Southpaw,” she crooned to him. “I'm a friend.” She hummed softly towards him and he relaxed finally rolling over on his back and exposing his belly. She grinned and rubbed it gently.
“Well that settles it. If South says you are good people, then I'm not going to question it. Come on, Zandy. I'll show you to my truck; well as soon as South finishes his business." He chuckled as the dog wandered over to a bush and hiked his leg. When he was done, Marshall tugged on the leash and made his way across the grass to where a large green and white eighteen wheeler sat. He opened the door for her then went around to the driver's side and grabbing the dog, hauled himself up into the cab.
Marshall was an excellent host and soon had her laughing with stories of the many places he had been over the years. “I've been driving one of these monsters since I was 26, through sun, rain and snow. Been all the way across this land more times than I can shake a stick at, but in the end, there's just no place like home, and me and South are ready to get a little down time with the family. You got family in Dallas?”
She startled and shook her head. “No, sir. I'm just out seeing the world and thought I'd take a look.”
He frowned. “I thought you said you had to get there as fast as possible.”
She bit her lip and nodded. “Well see, I was afraid if I didn't say that, you wouldn't let me go with you.”
He chuckled, “Worked, didn't it.”
She grinned at him. “Seems it did, Marshall.”
She sat Indian style in the seat with Southpaw curled in her lap, watching out the window and gently petted the Jack Russel Terrier. Every once in a while, he would snore causing her to giggle and her glasses to slip down her nose. She pushed them up again. She was able to relax finally and it felt great.
“You ever think about that laser surgery they do now on people's eyes? If you forgive me for saying so, them's some pretty thick glasses you have.”
She looked at him. His eyes were locked on the road ahead. “I was supposed to have surgery in Roanoke last week but had to leave in a kind of a hurry. Wish this all had waited until after then, but I guess fate is like family, it does what it wants. That's what my Grandpa Adam used to say.”
“Well Zandy, speaking of family, since yours isn't in Dallas, where are they?”
The question took her off guard. “Behind me,"
she mumbled absently, unwilling to give up more than the barest amount necessary, but out of gratitude to his kindness she said, "far behind". It was her thinking that the less he knew, the safer it would be for both of them, but he didn't deserve to be lied to either.
“Mine's in Dallas. Got the little lady, two daughters, one son and seven grandbabies all living within ten miles of us. Married my best friend, Cora, thirty-four years ago next Tuesday and never looked back. Pretty little thing she was too. She caught my eye at a football game, and I got so flummoxed, I fell right at her feet. Took a lot of work before she would accept a date.” The smile that brightened his face was full of love for his lady. He glanced over at her. “I know you're young yet, but you take an old road man's advice. You'll find your 'Cora' some day, Zandy, and when you do, grab on to him with both hands and don't let go.”
She lowered her head and sighed heavily. “It's too late for that. Cayson... it's difficult to explain. I left him.” She didn't realize she was going to tell him until it was already out of her mouth, but it felt good to finally talk about it.
“Cayson? If you left him so easily, maybe he's not your intended.” Marshall glanced over at her again.
She shook her head. “He is... was. I know it. There will never be anyone else for me.” Her hand touched a place just above her heart as her eyes misted making her glasses fog over. She ignored it. “He's perfect. Strong, handsome and so careful of me. He never pushed, just sat back and waited on me. He's all I ever wanted and needed.”
They sat in silence as the miles disappeared behind them. Finally he spoke again. “If he means that much to you, then there's your answer. Call him and tell him where you are. Whatever happened that made you leave can be fixed. I learned that with my Cora. There's nothing in this world that 'I'm sorry' and a good night's sleep can't fix.” He fished out his cell phone from his pocket and held it out to her. “At least call him and let him know you're ok. If he's half as smitten with you as you are with him, I bet you he's beside himself with worry about you.”
Broken Melody (Luna's Children) Page 10