At one point, Zelda needed rest, and as the other men all found partners, she and Stephanie sat down, observing their friends. Zelda's gaze was masked as she watched Johnnie whisper something intimate in Dolores's ear, causing the woman to smile. And yet somehow, Stephanie instantly saw through Zelda's wall. The young woman reached out and placed her hand over Zelda's, giving the blonde sympathetic attention.
"Don't worry," Stephanie said, looking at Zelda earnestly. "It says quite a lot that Johnnie sees you as something special, whether or not there's another woman in his arms."
Zelda felt her heart clench but said nothing about it. Instead, she feigned confusion. "I'm not worried about anything," she replied, shifting her eyes just as Johnnie captured Dolores's lips with his, kissing the woman longer and more passionately than he had kissed her the very same day. She couldn't stop the tears from misting her eyes, her chest hollow, but she refused to cry while she was out and in front of some many people.
"We don't think about each other in that way," Zelda continued, her voice slow and articulate in hopes that she wouldn't give her true feelings away. "We're friends. Just friends."
Chapter 11
It was only a matter of days before Johnnie and his friends began robbing banks. The first time they left, Zelda's heart was hammering in her throat the entire time. Stephanie tried to get Zelda to listen to the radio, to help them cook, while Dolores offered Zelda something to drink. However, Zelda couldn't focus on anything else, and until Johnnie and everyone else walked through that door safely, Zelda had no reason to calm down.
If she was being honest, she was surprised at how little Dolores seemed to actually care that Johnnie could die or get injured or even get arrested. True, they had only met a few days ago, but it always seemed to Zelda that they were engaged in some whirlwind romance. Maybe booze was really a downer.
Stephanie, on the other hand, worried in a different way. She would either excessively cook or excessively clean, and if the gang was out for longer than what was necessary, it was usually both. Also, the young brunette had a knack for talking as she did so. Dolores and Zelda were her attendants, and while Zelda remained quiet most of the time and let Stephanie ramble, Dolores would respond, more because she was foxed rather than worried.
The first thing the boys robbed together wasn't a bank at all. It was a police station located in Auburn, Indiana. To rob banks, the gang needed weapons and usually, the police had the best weapons, and even more importantly, the best bullet-proof vests. However, much to their dismay but not surprisingly, they needed more tommy guns, ammo, anything they could get their hands on.
Once their weapons were safely stored in the safe house, they robbed another police station a week later. This particular station was located in Peru, Indiana, and just like before, they came back with a car filled with weaponry, ammo, and protective gear.
It was excursions to the police station that really worried Zelda, though she felt equal worry whether the boys were robbing the police, a bank, a grocery store, a gas station, and anything else. It was as though a lamb was purposefully going into the den of a lion, thinking it wasn't going to get killed. Yet, the boys arrived back at the house with not one shot fired, not one person injured on either side. That rabbit's foot Johnnie kept on him at all times really was lucky.
On October 23, the boys were gearing up to rob their first bank together. As usual, it was in Indiana, this time in a town called Greencastle, and the bank itself was a Central National. Before leaving, Johnnie kissed Dolores, Harry kissed Stephanie, and everyone kissed Zelda on the cheek for good luck. As the gang was loading up in the car, Johnnie pulled Zelda aside and handed her a thick wad of cash.
"I know how you worry, doll," he told her in a low murmur. "Take the girls shopping and get your mind off this."
"You know that's not possible," Zelda told him in the same tone of voice.
Johnnie grinned at her – that infamous smirk – and leaned forward, kissing her on the cheek. He pressed the back of his fingers against her cheek, signing the words my girl, and just like that, he was gone. The sign had been a secret communication between them since the day after his escape, and whenever he left on a raid, he always signed the words, kissed her cheek, and was off.
Of course, Johnnie had no idea how much it broke her heart to watch him go, nor did he know that whenever he told her, whether it was with his fingers or with his mouth, that she was his, whenever he kissed her cheek, in that moment, she pretended that she really was his, despite how ridiculous such a notion was. Johnnie had Dolores, and that was that.
Once they had left for the bank, Zelda went over to the two women and showed them the wad of cash. "Johnnie wants us to go shopping," she announced. "He thinks that we shouldn't worry so much and that we should get our minds off of the whole –" Her voice hitched before she could stop it, but Zelda forced herself to continue. "Well, you know. But –"
Before she could finish, Dolores grabbed the wad of cash, her eyes wide, and her mouth turned up into a smile. "Oh, my God," she said and then laughed in disbelief. "I have never seen this amount of money at one time in my entire life. I can't believe this. Let me change and then we can go. Oh, I've been wanting a fur coat since I was a girl..." Her voice still carried as she headed up the stairs.
Zelda looked over at Stephanie, who rolled her eyes at Dolores's departure. Though it wasn't much, there was tension between Stephanie and Dolores probably because Stephanie was usually left to cook and clean along with Zelda while Dolores did absolutely nothing. Zelda usually kept Stephanie as calm as possible when Stephanie was about to go off on Dolores, and if it wasn't for Zelda, such a thing would probably have happened.
"Well," Stephanie said, shrugging her shoulders. "I could do with a new pair of shoes." She glanced up at Zelda. "What about you?"
"I think I'm going to stay home," Zelda said firmly. "I wouldn't... Well, you know. I just can't spend money and be happy until they're home and I know that they're safe."
"You're leaving me all alone with her?" Stephanie asked in a hushed voice.
"Are the shoes that important?" Zelda asked, raising her brow.
"Actually, they are," Stephanie said, crossing her arms over her chest. "Maybe it's a good idea that you're staying, too. Oh, all right. Do you want anything while we're out?"
Zelda shook her head as Dolores reappeared, and after a quick goodbye, the two women were off, leaving Zelda alone. It was easier to allow her body to be encompassed in worry now that they were gone, which, oddly enough, calmed herself down. She was still pacing back and forth when, forty-five minutes later, the boys walked in, laughing, cheering, and teasing.
When Zelda saw Johnnie with the rest of them, she couldn't stop herself from running over to him and launching herself in his arms. It was the first bank robbery she had to endure, and though she knew there would undoubtedly be more of them, she couldn't help but be grateful that this one was over with and that everyone, at least from the looks of it, was all right.
"You're okay," she said into his neck, her arms wrapped around his torso underneath his warm jacket.
"Of course I am, darling," Johnnie said, wrapping his own arms around Zelda in hopes that it would soothe her. "You doubt me and my abilities? We did get away with quite a take, let me tell you."
"I don't care what you came away with," Zelda said, allowing her mouth to speak what she truly felt. She lifted her head off of his shoulder so she could look into his eyes. "As long as you come back with your life."
Johnnie opened his mouth to say something, but for whatever reason, he slowly shut it, and though he had yet to release Zelda, he glanced around the room. When he realized that both Stephanie and Dolores were out, he arched an inquisitive brow, his eyes finding Zelda's once again. "Why aren't you out shopping with everybody else?" he asked her.
Zelda shrugged her shoulders. "I couldn't," she began, but cut herself off. "I had no reason to go shopping."
"It would have –"
> "It wouldn't have," Zelda said, knowing exactly what he was going to say. "It really, really wouldn't have. In fact, I'd probably be even more worried because I wouldn't be here to welcome you and make sure that you're all right, and –"
Johnnie placed his fingers over her lips to cease her from talking. He said nothing, but the smile on his face was nothing short of teasing, his smoky grey eyes sparkling as he regarded the woman in his arms.
"I just want you to know," Zelda told him in a low murmur, though her voice was just as firm, "that I don't think that what you're doing is wrong, despite it being against the law. In fact, I sincerely admire you and everyone for fighting back against the banks. People admire you too. You're a hero, Johnnie. And you're probably going to be one of the most famous people in the history of this country. But I just want you to know..." She wasn't actually going to tell him, was she? "I want you to know that I truly do get worried about you, and I probably will always be worried about you, whether I'm here with you or wherever. I just want to know you're safe..."
A tear slipped out of her eye and eclipsed her cheek. Johnnie dropped his eyes, noticing it, and reached up to wipe it away.
"You ain't goin' anywhere, doll," he told her in a low voice. "You're stuck with me, worried or not. And me? Well, I'll always come back to you, no matter how tough times get, you got that?"
Zelda forced a smile, reveling in the warmth his words brought her. She nodded. "Yeah," she replied. "I got that."
Chapter 12
It had been two weeks, and Zelda had come to the conclusion that she did not like Dolores Bernier. Surprisingly enough, her dislike for Johnnie's paramour did not stem from jealousy (though Zelda was becoming quite familiar with the emotion whether she wanted to admit it or not), nor was it biased because Stephanie had no problem revealing how much she disliked Dolores herself. No, Zelda did not like Dolores Bernier because of how she presented herself. It was in such a selfish manner with complete disregard to the other occupants of the house as well as to Johnnie himself.
There were strict rules that everyone had to follow, and getting drunk was something Johnnie was adamant against. Being drunk only loosened one's lips, and it wasn't uncommon for many of the other criminals to get locked away because a trusted companion had had too much to drink and too much to prove. Zelda never really liked alcohol, so the rule didn't concern her very much, but Dolores was notorious for getting drunk and passing out. Zelda and Stephanie would often find the woman, and then seclude themselves from the men – most importantly Johnnie – because they didn't want him to overhear their utter distaste for his chosen woman. Zelda and Stephanie both knew how stubborn Johnnie could be, and if he was approached by the two of them in regards of Dolores, he might misinterpret their meaning as some sort of attack. The only reprieve the two women got was their bitch fits, as they had dubbed them, which usually took place if Johnnie had taken Dolores out or after Dolores had fallen asleep (or passed out).
Zelda naturally liked to observe people, and she was always observing Dolores only because the two women were so different and yet they were attracted to the same man. In the two weeks since she had been with them, Zelda had figured out a few things about the raven-haired beauty. The first and most important thing Zelda had learned was that though the two women had feelings for Johnnie, there were different reasons behind it. While Zelda had fallen in love with the man, Dolores had fallen for what Johnnie was. A bank robber, a man who lived every day as though it was his last, who was never wanting, who was always charming, and who would get her anything she could ask for. That was why Dolores acted the way she acted. She didn't realize just how serious this situation was. Mortality wasn't something Dolores seemed to take very seriously in this particular setting, nor was she overly concerned at the fact that Johnnie or anyone else – herself included – could get arrested at any time.
Or maybe she was and she drowned out her worries in alcohol. On that point, Zelda couldn't be certain one way or the other, and as a result, wouldn't make a judgment about it.
Currently, it was Wednesday night, November fifteenth, and just after six o'clock. Dolores had already drunk her fair share of booze, and was currently resting in the room she shared with Johnnie. Zelda was setting the table while Stephanie had placed the finishing touches on the food she had made, when Johnnie walked in.
"Zelda," he said in his low twang, "I need to ask you a favor."
Zelda glanced over at him, placing the last fork down before giving him her full attention. "Of course," she agreed. "What is it?"
"Well," he said, and surprisingly enough he looked somewhat embarrassed about what he was about to ask, "since Dolores is... indisposed, I was wondering if you could drive me to the doctor's. I got this ringworm, and I know a man I can trust to treat it."
Zelda looked questioningly over at Stephanie without saying anything. It wasn't a look of asking for permission, but rather, if she needed anything else before Zelda took her leave.
"I'm fine," Stephanie said, hiding a smile as she turned back to her food.
Zelda couldn't help but smile as a rush of adrenaline coursed through her. It seemed like forever since she had been with Johnnie alone most likely due to the fact that Dolores was attached at his hip and truly believed that Zelda was out to get her man. Of course, all of this went unknown to Johnnie, and Zelda refused to bring it up unless it got really bad. Johnnie gave Zelda the keys to his car, indicating that he meant for her to drive, and it was only a moment later when they were both on the road.
The beginning of the drive was silent, but it was comfortable and familiar. There were a few times when Zelda could swear she felt Johnnie looking at her, but she couldn't bring herself to acknowledge his attention. Her face, however, did so by turning an unattractive shade of red that was, for the most part, hidden by the darkness.
"I'm worried about Dolores," Johnnie finally mentioned, rubbing his hands together. "I feel she isn't being discreet and she's always drinking." He ran his fingers through his hair, though the look on his face was cool. "I've talked to her about it a couple of times, but I don't seem to get through to her. I'm not certain what I should do."
Though he didn't ask her, Zelda knew that he was looking for her advice.
"And doll, I've known you quite a while now," Johnnie said, dropping his hands in his lap, "and I've come to depend on you and trust your judgment. What should I do?"
Here it was, an opportunity to advise Johnnie to break up with Dolores, to get rid of her, to assure him that he would be so much better without her. Yet, Zelda felt herself falter. Even though Dolores didn't appreciate Johnnie as much as Zelda should, she could tell by the way Johnnie looked at Dolores that he cared about her.
Zelda couldn't say if it was love or not, but she did know that Dolores was, for whatever reason, important to Johnnie.
"I think," she finally said, forcing the tears that had accumulated in her eyes to cease from falling, "that if you truly care about her, you should give her another chance. Talk to her again and show just how important your rules are to you. If she cares for you, she'll at least attempt to understand."
Johnnie reached over and squeezed Zelda's knee just as Zelda pulled up to a building. "I always knew I could count on you, sugar," he said. "I should only be a minute." He released her knee but leaned forward, kissing her cheek before leaving the vehicle.
Only then did Zelda allow herself to relax. Her breathing was shaky, and one tear actually managed to slide down her face without proper warning, but Zelda quickly wiped it away. She had no idea why she didn't say how she truly felt about Dolores. If Stephanie had been in her position, she wouldn't need Johnnie to bring up Dolores at all; Stephanie would just say something about it.
But Zelda? Zelda wanted him to be happy, even if he cared about Dolores. Even if it meant he'd be with Dolores instead of her. Even if it was the most excruciating pain she would have to endure. She wouldn't be the one to break the couple up. Johnnie would have to do that on hi
s own. Hell, even Dolores had the opportunity to do it. But they had to make that decision, and she wouldn't aid them in it whatsoever.
At that moment, Johnnie walked back to the car and slid in the passenger seat. Before Johnnie could open his mouth and tell her what the doctor said about his ringworm, sirens were heard turning down the road.
The police somehow knew that Johnnie would be making an appearance at this office at this time, and they were on the brink of not only forcing Johnnie into another arrest but Zelda as well. Without thinking twice, Zelda threw the car back into reverse just as the police cars made their appearance. She quickly backed the car up, and then threw it into drive without taking the time to stop in between. It didn't take a brain surgeon to figure out that the police would follow the car, and though she didn't want to be arrested, she couldn't lead them back to the safe house with everyone there.
Instead, she quickly turned the car into a dark alleyway before immediately shutting down the car. It was a long shot, but it was something Zelda needed to take a chance on. The dark car blended in with the shadows, and the moonless night also helped shield their car from the view of the police officers, and as a result, they whizzed by the alleyway without a second thought.
After waiting a moment, Zelda started the car and began to drive at a regular speed back to the safe house, looking in her rearview mirror every other moment. Johnnie, on the other hand, couldn't take his eyes off the woman sitting next to him.
With that smirk on his face, he murmured, "Well, darling, I didn't know you could drive like that."
Come Away with Me Page 6