by Carolina Mac
A tall, blond guy in a black Harley shirt with the sleeves ripped off to display his biceps, stood on the step smiling at her. “Hi,” he said, “I’m Sid from next door.”
Ted growled and showed his fangs.
Grace stared at the smiling face and the bulging muscles in his arms, wondering why he was at her door. “Oh,” was all she could come up with.
He hooked a thumb over his shoulder in the direction of her truck. “You’ve got a flat on the monster truck,” he chuckled as if it was a good thing. “Got a spare? I don’t mind changing it for you.” His blue eyes looked her up and down and she realized she wasn’t wearing enough clothes.
“Umm… I didn’t realize. Could you wait until I get dressed and I’ll come out with the keys.”
“Sure thing, beautiful. Want to tell me your name? I saw you move in a few weeks ago and never saw you since. You okay?” He took a step closer. “I thought you might be sick.”
“Sick, uh huh.” She nodded her head and her mass of black hair flopped over her face. She pushed it back and tried to say something that made sense. “I’ve had a few problems, but I’m working through them.”
Lie, Grace. A fucking lie.
She struggled to focus. He had asked a question. “Grace. I’m Grace.”
Sid nodded. “Amazing,” he laughed again. “Amazing, Grace. Happy to meet you, Grace.”
This guy is a clown.
She closed the door, hurried to the bedroom and tossed on jeans and a t-shirt. It was too hot for jeans, but she didn’t want too much skin showing if she was going to be near Sid. He was sending signals—all the wrong kind.
Grace peeked in at Joey and he was still sleeping. She’d be right out front, but it bothered her to leave him in the trailer alone. Ted would protect him. She searched through her purse, came up with the truck keys and opened the door with the keys in her hand. Her heart pounded in her chest as she stepped over the threshold and walked down the steps.
Sid was smoking. Leaning on her truck, boots crossed at the ankle, looking pleased with himself. He wasn’t bad looking, but she wasn’t in the market. Lon was dead. She was in the throes of dealing with his death and there would be no other man in her life ever again—except Rob. She loved her husband and she’d wait forever for Rob.
Grace skirted around Sid, giving him a wide berth, and stood at the back of the truck. She pointed to the spare. “Guess I didn’t need the keys.”
He gave her the sexy grin again and pointed at the huge truck, “bet she’s fun to drive.”
Grace nodded. “My brother and I worked on it for a couple of years. We added a lot of stuff.”
“Your brother? No husband?”
Her eyes welled up and she couldn’t speak. She turned and ran for the trailer. The door slammed behind her and she locked it.
“I couldn’t find you, Mommy.” Joey was toddling around in his pajamas holding tight to his teddy.
Grace scooped him up and hugged him. “I was outside for a minute. A man is fixing our truck.”
“Can I see the man?”
Grace walked over to the window and let Joey look. “After you get dressed and eat your cereal, you can go outside with me, okay?”
Knocking on the door. More barking and growling from Ted. Ted hated strangers, and everyone in this park was a stranger to Grace. She put Joey down and opened the door.
“Hey, I said something that upset you and I’m sorry,” said Sid.
“Lon’s dead,” she whispered.
Sid nodded. “Anything I can do?”
“If you get the tire changed, that will be enough. I have to go to the store.”
“Won’t take me long. I’ve got a heavy-duty jack in my shed.” He pointed at Ted. “Nice Red Bone.”
“Thank you, Sid. It’s nice of you to bother.”
A HALF HOUR later, Sid was back at the door. This time Grace was ready for him. She and Joey were both dressed and ready to go. Just the fact that someone was helping her get going—even a complete stranger—took the pressure off doing it alone. She left Ted inside and closed the door.
“I appreciate you changing the tire Sid.” Grace gave him one of the fake smiles she’d been using since Lon died. Practice makes perfect. Nobody can tell what a mess you are.
“The oversize ones are heavy.”
Sid grinned. “Sure are, pretty girl.” He flexed his tattooed bicep, wet with sweat and glistening in the sun, “but luckily I’ve got all the right equipment to deal with big jobs.”
Grace stared at the cobra winding around his arm and groped for an appropriate response. “Uh huh. I can see that.”
Joey pushed past her and ran down the steps.
“Didn’t know you had a kid,” said Sid. “Didn’t see him when you moved in.”
“He was asleep in the truck when I got here. I carried him in later when I had his bed set up.” She turned and locked the trailer.
“Want me to drive you into town?” Sid strode alongside as she walked to the truck.
“No thanks. I might be awhile. I’ve got lots to do.”
Sid shrugged. “I’ve got time.”
“You don’t work?” She strapped Joey in his car seat in the back and handed him his fire engine.
Sid’s face hardened and his blue eyes flashed—something—what was it? Anger with his work? Fury with his station in life? Could be anything. Grace wasn’t up to analyzing anybody—her own problems seemed insurmountable.
“Course, I work,” he snapped, “but you don’t seem to.” He grabbed the keys out of her hand and jumped up onto the sidestep.
Wanting to protest against Sid driving her truck, but not having the strength, Grace raised a dark eyebrow. “I work from home.”
Sid pulled the door open and slid behind the wheel. “Doing what?”
Grace climbed into the passenger seat, feeling heat rushing up her neck. She’d been numb the last few months, so feeling anything was an improvement. Being pissed at Sid was a step in the right direction. “I didn’t say you could come with me.”
“Yeah, well, like it or not, fancy face, I’m driving you. We have to drop off that fuckin tire, and who the hell is going to lift it if I don’t come?”
“The guy at the garage?” Grace shot him a hard stare over the console.
“You’re a tough one. Know that?”
“Let’s be clear on one thing, Sid. I’m not interested in male company of any kind right now. Get it? Nobody.”
“Uh huh.” He started the big diesel and backed out of the short driveway. “Yeah, I get it. You’re saying I’m wasting my time.”
“You got it.”
Sid drove through the park gate and onto the highway. “Maybe I’ve got time to waste… on somebody that looks like you, Miss Grace.”
“I’m being clear from the outset, Sid. No means no and I don’t want any trouble.”
“Hey, I’m not looking for trouble. Just trying to be helpful to a lady that needs a little help.”
“I hope that’s all it is.” Grace stared out the window and remained mute all the way to Dry Springs.
ROB HEADED SOUTH on route 281, his bike performing like a dream. Started on the first try and she was delivering lots of power. Jay was a great mechanic. Better than Gary. Gary bragged about how good he was with an engine, but he was lazy. Took too many shortcuts and it showed in the final product. He’d messed up a couple of Rob’s bikes, but good.
The first hundred miles flew by. Wind in his face, he felt good about himself and was certain he’d find Grace—if not today, then tomorrow for sure.
The blue sign for the rest area flashed by on the right. A mile to go and he’d take a piss and have a smoke break. The turning lane came into view, he flicked on the turn signal and slowed.
Rob was washing his hands when he saw them in the mirror. Two skinheads with black swastikas inked on their thick necks. More of Frobisher’s guys. Shit.
“Hey, Robbie, kind of far from home, ain’t ya?”
No ti
me to chat or make a plan. Rob spun around and buried the heel of his boot in the groin of the taller one. The guy howled like a sick coyote, grabbed his package and fumbled for his knife. The second guy, let out a roar and lunged. He swung a beefy arm, and his fist glanced off the side of Rob’s head. Rob felt his brains rattle and his eyes were out of focus for a couple of seconds. He shook it off, bent low and pulled the knife out of his boot.
With an animal growl, tall guy charged, leading with a long, thin serrated blade. Rob jumped to the side, spun around and buried his Seal knife between two of tall guy’s ribs. Gritting his teeth, he twisted it hard to the right, and tall guy’s white t-shirt turned crimson. Tall staggered into the wall. On his way to the floor, his shoulder hit the hand dryer and his blade clattered to the floor. He spit out garbled curses, doubled over and vomited on the green tiles.
An older man walked into the washroom, saw what was going on and retreated at top speed.
He’ll call the cops.
Second skinhead had his gun drawn. Rob hit the floor and rolled towards him. Second guy jumped away from Rob’s knife. He didn’t have time to line up his shot but pulled the trigger anyway. The round shattered the mirror over the row of sinks. Rob’s ears rang as he jumped to his feet. Second guy zeroed in for the kill-shot, eyes darting, trying to focus on Rob’s lightning movements. Rob hollered taunts as he zig-zagged and danced circles around the shooter, all the while slicing his blade through the air and making second guy jump out of his way.
The big Aryan was on the defensive now, waving his gun in Rob’s direction with no chance of a shot. Rob charged. The razor-sharp Seal knife zig-zagged through the air as Rob twisted his wrist in some well-practiced moves. He let out a yell and dropped low. The blade pierced the hefty thigh of second guy. Rob roared and pulled down hard on the hilt for a good eight inches hoping to slice the artery wide open. Second guy let out a scream of pain. He fired off an errant shot as he fell face first into the tiles.
Rob ran. Out the door and gone.
He was running at top speed for his ride when he caught a glimpse of orange out the corner of his eye.
That cop bitch better not be following me.
GRACE STARED OUT the passenger window, as a smiling Sid powered her big diesel past the population sign for Dry Springs. Twelve hundred people, and she didn’t feel like dealing with one of them.
Sid pulled into a Citgo on the north end of town. “Let’s drop the tire off first. It might be done when we come back.”
“Okay, sure,” said Grace, not caring what he did. She didn’t want him with her and was still angry with herself for giving in when he pressured her. She unbuckled Joey and lifted him out of the back of the cab while Sid hefted the tire out of the load bed.
“You didn’t need to get out of the truck,” he barked. “I’ve got this.” He rolled the big tire across the parking lot and into the garage.
Grace ignored Sid and took Joey’s hand. They stood in the doorway of the two-bay garage and waited. Every surface seemed to be covered in oil or greasy black grime. The mechanic fit in perfectly with his filthy surroundings. Grace thought at first his coveralls were black, but on closer inspection—not that she wanted to get closer—the outfit had been blue at one time. The mechanic raised his arm to shake hands with Sid and she saw a flash of the original colour.
The two men talked in low tones for a few minutes, giving her the odd furtive glance and quickly looking away, then Sid said, “We’ll be back in an hour or so.”
After his visit to the garage, Sid’s Mr. Nice Guy persona slipped away from him, and Grace felt a tingle up the back of her neck. Without asking what her plans were, he drove to the only grocery store in town, pulled up to the front door and sat behind the wheel with the engine running. “I’ve got a few things to do. I’ll be back to pick you up.”
Grace cranked her head around so fast, her neck hurt. “You sure as hell won’t be taking my truck anywhere. Park it and give me the keys.”
Sid grinned, but anger flashed in the icy blue eyes. “Just kidding.” He found a spot and parked.
Grace locked the truck and watched Sid hoof it across the parking lot and onto the sidewalk before taking Joey into the store.
She had almost finished loading the bags of groceries into the back of the cab, when Sid appeared wearing the same grin on his face he’d had earlier in the day.
I’ve got to get away from this guy.
Without giving him a chance to argue the point and gain control, Grace slid behind the wheel and drove onto the main street. “Is there a phone store?”
“Convenience store where you can get a burner,” said Sid. “That’s about it. To get anything high end, you’ll have to drive into the city.”
“I need a phone until I can get my charger fixed.”
“Turn left and you’ll see the Quickie Mart.”
Grace parked out front. The street was quiet. No traffic. She wondered how the stores in this town managed to exist with so few customers. The man behind the counter
explained the disposable phone to her and she bought one. He had no parts for any of the major tech companies, but told her about a couple of places in San Antonio where she could get what she needed.
On the way back to the truck, Sid startled her by grabbing for her hand. Her other hand was in Joey’s little one. She jerked her hand away and glared at him. “Don’t.”
He shrugged. “Okay, okay. I was just being friendly. You don’t have to freak out.”
Neither said a word all the way back to the park.
GRACE PARKED IN her short gravel drive and turned off the engine, hoping Sid would jump out and go back to his trailer next door. No such luck.
He sat in the shotgun seat, looked over the console and said, “Too bad the tire wasn’t ready. Now you’ll have to make another trip.”
“That’s okay. I have to go into the city anyway.”
“When?”
Grace ignored the question, jumped out and unbuckled a sleeping Joey from his car seat in the back.
Sid had circled the truck and was standing close behind her. Too close. “The kid is quiet. Got to give him that.”
“He’s shy with strangers.”
“Maybe I won’t be a stranger too long.”
You’ll always be a stranger, Sid.
Grace carried Joey inside and laid him on his bed. When she headed back to the truck for the groceries, Sid was on his way in with three bags in his arms.
Ted stood at the door, growling and snarling. Grace stood next to the dog and held out her hands. “I’ll take those. I can manage on my own, thanks.”
Sid gave her the grin again. “So, you’re not letting me in?”
“That’s right. You’re not coming in.”
Sid set his jaw and gave off a vibe.
I’ve seen that look before. He wants to hit me.
Grace grabbed the bags and took a step back.
“Give me one good reason why not?”
“I don’t want you in my trailer. I made it clear from the first. I don’t want a man. I already have one.”
“He’s dead,” Sid stood on the top step and hollered in her face. “You told me he was dead.”
“Not Lon. Someone else.”
“Liar.”
“I’m not a liar. You don’t know anything about me. Please leave me alone.”
Sid grabbed her, pulled her close and clamped his mouth over hers. Grace struggled, dropped one of the bags of groceries and jerked away from him. She hollered, “Stop it. Leave me alone.”
Ted lunged and clamped his teeth around Sid’s leg. Sid flailed at the dog hollering out curses. “I’ll kill this fucking dog. He’s taken his last breath.”
Joey ran down the hallway from his room crying. “Mommy, mommy, I’m scared.”
Grace dropped the bag in her hand to the floor and scooped Joey up. “I’m calling the police,” she said as she tried to push the door closed on Sid.
Sid pushed back, and he was str
ong. Grace couldn’t push him out the door. Ted grabbed Sid’s pantleg and pulled.
“Hey, what’s going on here?” An older man stood behind Sid at the bottom of the three steps.
“I need help,” hollered Grace. “Sid won’t leave me alone, and he’s scaring my son.” She cuddled Joey closer and he sobbed into her black hair. “Would you call the police?”
“Yep, ma’am. Happy to do that.”
Sid spun around and pushed the older man down the steps. He staggered backwards with his phone in his hand as Sid threatened him with a fist. “No need for the cops, Mike. I was just leaving.”
Ted bounded down the steps and chased Ted across the grass. As soon as Sid beat it across the lawn to his own trailer, Grace went out to help Mike up off the ground. “I’m sorry he pushed you.”
“Don’t worry. I’ve had worse beatings than that little jab. But you’re right, we need the police. Sid and his gang are becoming more and more powerful in the park and they have to be stopped.”
“Is there a gang living in the park?” asked Grace.
Mike nodded. “Quite a few members have moved in since Sid first arrived. This used to be a nice quiet place to live—ain’t anymore.”
“Sid started off being nice, saying he wanted to help fix my flat tire. I guess he fooled me a bit at first.”
Mike brushed the dirt off his khaki pants. “Probably slashed the tire when you weren’t looking. That’s his style.”
“Oh my, God, I never thought of that.”
How dumb am I?
“Let’s go inside, lock the door and call the cops,” said Mike. You ain’t safe living here with that maniac next door.”
Grace whistled for Ted and brought him inside. “Good boy. I’ll get you a biscuit.”
GRACE MADE COFFEE and sandwiches while they waited for the sheriff’s department to arrive.
“I wondered how long it would be until Sid caused you problems,” said Mike. He stroked Ted’s ears as he talked. “Last couple that lived here broke up because of Sid. Couple of good dust-ups on the driveway, and Kathy left. Jack stayed on a couple of months and then he was gone too. Trailer was empty for six months before you moved in.”