(Mis)fortune

His motorcycle roared to life, a signal that I needed to put my key in the ignition. I didn’t look to the right as I backed out of our spot, but I knew I’d cleared all prone forms when I didn’t hit any speed bumps. The persistent roar of the motorcycle reassured me as I pulled out of the parking lot and headed south just as he’d said. After a few minutes, we passed the town’s sign thanking us for visiting.

The adrenaline from the confrontation stayed with me for a few more miles then I started to slump.

The motorcycle suddenly grew louder, and I checked my mirrors, only swerving a little at the distraction. He pulled out from behind me as if to pass but, instead, stayed next to me. I spared a quick glance at him. He rode with his visor up so I could see his troubled eyes.

He pointed to a spot in front of us—a small combination used car lot, junkyard, and farm implement supplier—and motioned for me to pull over. I nodded, fumbled for the blinker, and braked firmly. Thankfully, I’d pressed the correct pedal. I turned onto the gravel driveway still going a bit too fast, and my tires slid over the gravel for a few feet, making my backend swerve. I barely managed to pull to the side and park.

Heart racing from the wild turn, I put my head back against the headrest, closed my eyes, and willed myself to stop shaking. The boys remained mute behind me. I knew I needed to reassure them, not just about my driving but also about our future. I didn’t know what I could say that wouldn’t end up as a lie. Would everything be okay? David had found us, they could follow our vehicle, and I appeared to be listening to a complete stranger. No, I had nothing.

A knock on my window made me jump. The man stood next to my door, his motorcycle already parked behind him. He eyed me with concern. I hadn’t even noticed the roar of his engine die. This close I could distinguish the deep blue of his eyes from his pupils. I cautiously rolled down the window a few inches.

“You were starting to swerve,” he said quietly, stuffing his hands in his pockets. “How long since you last slept?”

I didn’t want to admit that the swerving was just the way I drove. I considered his question. About thirty-three hours if I counted the very short nap I’d taken while stopped at a stop sign until someone had honked at me. I knew people could survive a heck of a lot longer than that without sleeping. I wasn’t sure I could go much longer, though.

“It’s been a while.” My voice came out scratchy.

“That man, David, hinted this was how he followed you,” he said gesturing to the car.

It took me a moment to catch up with his thinking, and I understood why he’d wanted me to pull over here specifically. I needed a different car.

I looked at the single small building on the property. A man stood just outside the door, watching us. When the man noticed my attention, he started walking toward us. My stomach flipped and not in a good way. I had no idea what I was doing.

“Come on, guys. Let’s unbuckle and get out. Stay close,” I said unnecessarily. The man backed up so I could open my door. He glanced at the salesman then turned his attention back to us…me.

I really needed to ask his name, but the salesman wasted no time closing the distance between us.

“Howdy, folks. What can I do for you?”

“I need a different car,” I said while Aden climbed out and moved close to me. Liam already stood at my side. I gently ran my fingers through their hair, trying to give them what comfort I could without being obvious about it.

“A trade?” the salesman said. I nodded, and he looked thoughtful. “To be honest, your car is probably worth two of any of the cars I have.”

I glanced at my mother’s car. The bright red paint sparkled in the afternoon sun. I didn’t know a thing about cars, but even four years old, it still looked new. Part of me wanted to cry at the thought of leaving it behind. I had nothing else of hers. When we’d run, we’d run fast, just as Richard had said. I hadn’t even grabbed any clothes.

“It’s okay,” I lied. “The insurance on this thing is too much for me. I need something worth a little less to bring down the premiums.” Not bad for someone using the few cells still awake in her brain. Even locked away as long as I’d been, I wasn’t completely clueless. Blake often rewarded good premonitions with simple things like magazines and books.

We trailed behind the dealer as he moved through the collection of vehicles on his tiny lot. He showed us a dark blue truck flecked with bits of rust. It had dual gas tanks, but I would probably only get half the mileage I’d been getting. Not that it mattered. I still had a good chunk of Richard’s cash.

“I’ll take it,” I said firmly. The motorcycle man looked a little surprised that I’d agreed right away. I didn’t care about fair deals. I just wanted to keep moving.

“Come inside, and we’ll sign the papers. Do you have the title with you?”

It took me a moment to process his request. Title. Paperwork from Richard. Glove box.

“Yes, I think so. Let me go get it.”

“I’ll get it for you and move your things,” the man said from behind me, making me glad he hadn’t left yet. My thoughts didn’t flow as quickly as they should.

The boys and I walked to the office building with the salesman. The motorcycle man joined us a few minutes later with the papers from the glove box. It didn’t take us very long.

We walked out of the office fifteen minutes later with the truck’s unfamiliar keys biting into my palm. I questioningly glanced at the motorcycle man as he walked next to us. Why hadn’t he taken off yet? It wasn’t that I minded him being there. It was just unexpected, as was his motorcycle already sitting in the bed of the truck.

“I hope you’ll accept my help for a little longer. You need to move from here, but you don’t look like you’ll be able to stay awake for very long.” He glanced from me to the boys, who craned their necks to look up at him.

Since my driving sucked even when I was well rested, I needed to think of the boys. If I got behind the wheel, I’d be just as dangerous as David. But could I consider the man in front of us any less dangerous? He’d just beaten two men with apparent ease, and I still didn’t know his name.

“Who are you?” I asked.

“Emmitt, for now. When you’re more awake, I’ll give you whatever details you want.”

I nodded, too tired to think of another option. Accepting a stranger’s help was better than falling asleep somewhere and risking recapture. If that happened, it wouldn’t be me who Blake would punish. I gently squeezed Aden’s and Liam’s hands.

Emmitt walked with us to the passenger door and held it open while we piled in. The truck only had a single bench seat; we would be driving illegally for a while. I put Liam in first and kissed the top of his head. After putting Aden next to him, I buckled them in together. Out the back window, I noticed the car seats in the bed with the motorcycle.

I settled myself into my own tight space aware that Emmitt was waiting until I buckled up to close the door. As he walked around the hood of the truck, his eyes scanned the road, the direction from which we’d come, and it made me glad he was still with us. Plus, I liked looking at him. My stomach agreed.

He slid into his own seat, asked Liam if he had enough room, then started the truck. He pulled out and nodded to the salesman as we passed.

“Which direction should I head?” he said after a few minutes of silence.

The sound of his voice startled my eyes open. I couldn’t remember closing them.

“Doesn’t matter,” I said as I drifted again.

Aden pressed against my side. I felt him reach over and run his fingers through my hair, his security blanket.

For the next few hours, I lightly dozed. Each time I surfaced, I heard Emmitt talking to the boys. Mostly he played I-spy with them or talked about things like favorite foods. Despite his efforts, the boys remained quiet. The sound of his calm voice and Aden’s hand in my hair reassured me enough so I could sink into a light doze again.

When we stopped moving, my still gritty eyes popped open. We sat in the parking lot of a motel. The sun hung low on the horizon, casting long shadows everywhere.

“Michelle, the kids could use a break, and I think you’d benefit from some real sleep,” he said.

I liked his smooth voice but didn’t care for his suggestion. Stopping at a motel with a strange man? Bad idea.

“How about I get the three of you a room while I stay with the truck?”

Oh. Well, that didn’t sound so bad. But I still cast a worried glance at the keys. If he took off while we slept, we would be screwed. I didn’t have enough cash to buy a new car. When I looked back at him, he was studying me.

“You can hang onto the truck keys, of course,” he said.

The idea of a bed called to me. Just three or four hours. Then we could move again. I grudgingly nodded my acceptance.

He told the boys to keep an eye on me as he opened his door and stepped out. Before he closed it, he pressed the lock down. I reached over to lock mine, but it already was. I didn’t remember doing it.

I glanced at the boys who gazed after Emmitt, tracking his purposeful stride across the blacktop to the office. They looked a little curious.

“How did it go while I was sleeping?” I asked them.

“He’s nice,” Liam said quietly. “He played games with us like you do. He stopped because Aden has to go.”

I looked over at Aden who nodded. We’d driven a long time, again, especially since they’d each had a large apple juice at the last stop.

“Sorry, buddy. You could have woken me.”

“Emmitt said you were tired. He said we could wake you up if we were scared but should try not to,” Liam said.

I thoughtfully studied the motel, a single story structure with russet wood siding. It looked like something from the seventies but seemed well maintained on the outside. Emmitt really seemed to be trying to help us. He was doing way more than what just some guy who’d been in the right place at the right time would do. But why?

He came out with a room key just then. He held it up and smiled at the boys. His gaze met mine briefly, and my heart fluttered. Troubled, I looked away. I needed sleep. My emotions were all over the place. He was just being nice and didn’t need some silly teen constantly staring at him because she didn’t have her head on straight.

Climbing back into the cab, he apologized to Aden for taking so long then moved the truck to park it directly in front of the room’s window. With a small smile, he handed me the room key and the truck key then quickly got out to open the door for me.

I didn’t know who he was beyond his first name, or why he wanted to help, but I wasn’t ready to question him. I wearily climbed out of the truck and helped lift the boys down.

He waited by the truck as I tried to unlock the door. When I failed the second attempt, he came over and held out his hand. I willingly surrendered the key and backed up a step to give him room. He slid the key into the lock, and the door immediately clicked open.

“If you need anything, I’ll be right here. Yell, and I promise I’ll hear you.” He moved aside to let us into the room.

Before I could walk past him, he caught my hand. I turned in surprise. He lifted my hand, placed the key in my palm, and wrapped my fingers around it. I realized I would have walked into the room without asking for the key back.

Trying not to dwell on his warm touch, I nodded, stepped into the room, and closed the door. I watched through the peephole as he went back to the truck and got comfortable. He didn’t lock the doors for himself as he had for us. He closed his eyes and appeared to sleep right away.

I clicked the bolt into place and tiredly turned around. Aden and Liam stood beside me, watching.

“Both of you use the bathroom,” I said, bending to kiss their foreheads.

Aden made a beeline for the toilet, and I shook my head. Poor guy.

I looked around the room. It appeared clean enough with a queen-sized bed, television, and small table for eating. Honestly, it could have been a cave with a pile of straw in a corner, and I would have found it inviting.

Pulling back the bed covers, I kicked off my shoes and listened to the boys giggle as they washed. The bed tempted me, but as soon as my head hit the pillow, I knew I’d be out. I waited until they finished in the bathroom.

“I like Emmitt,” Liam said softly after taking off his shoes. Aden did the same and nodded.

“I’m glad you like him. I think he might be willing to help us for a while. At least until I get some real sleep.”

They climbed up on the bed. I knew they weren’t tired but would stay close to me while I slept. Thankfully, the room had cable with a cartoon channel. I showed Liam how to turn on the television then went to use the bathroom. As I washed my hands, I saw a plastic-wrapped cup on the bathroom counter. I opened it, filled it with water, and brought it back to the bed with me. Liam watched me set it on the nightstand.

“Use this on my face if you need to wake me up fast,” I said. He looked at me in surprise. “It’s okay, buddy. Use it if you think you need to. I won’t be upset.”

I gave them both tight hugs and planted a kiss on top of each of their heads. No one but me to keep them safe now. I studied them as they watched cartoons. Neither smiled nor laughed. We were such a broken family. Tears gathered in my eyes for them, and I wiped them away quickly. I just needed some sleep.

Distantly, I became aware of a wet hand gently tapping my face. Peeling my eyes open, I saw Liam peering down at me. I blinked and focused on his concerned expression. He stood beside the bed, holding the cup of water.

It took several heartbeats for everything to click back into place.

“I’m up,” I said quickly to avoid a soaking. “What’s wrong?” I looked over and saw Aden sitting up in bed, quietly drawing on a piece of motel stationery. They must have been awake awhile.

“Emmitt is knocking on the door. I looked out the window and saw it was him.”

I nodded and pulled back the covers, forcing myself to stand though I still felt tired.

I checked the peephole. Emmitt stood in the dark, illuminated by the outdoor light. My stomach did its strange flutter again. Apparently, my sleep-deprived brain hadn’t imagined how good he looked. He watched the door. It felt like he was looking right at me, but I knew that wasn’t possible.

He had left his jacket off and wore a plain, white tee with his jeans. I blinked slowly and looked at his hands. He held a plastic bag in one hand and a paper bag balanced on top a drink-carrier in the other. Food. I opened the door and stepped back so he could enter. He nodded at me as he stepped in. When he walked past, he seemed to slow, and I couldn’t help but notice he smelled good, too.

The boys perked up and inched toward Emmitt when they saw him enter. He smiled reassuringly and waved them over to the table where he set the paper bag and drinks.

“There’s a fast food place nearby. Since everything’s been quiet, I made a quick run,” he said as I closed and locked the door. When I turned around, he offered me the plastic shopping bag. “I noticed you didn’t have much, so I also picked up a few things.”

I took the bag, opened it, and blinked at the contents: toothbrushes, toothpaste, new socks, and t-shirts for all three of us.

“Thank you,” I murmured, not looking up. Gratitude warred with suspicion. He’d bought us things. He didn’t even know us but saw our need and shopped for us. Instead of trying to resolve my feelings over his kind gesture, I nudged the boys toward the bathroom.

While the three of us crowded around the sink and brushed our teeth, Emmitt set the food out on the table.

The boys brushed longer than usual to make up for the missed brushings—Liam’s idea. I smiled at them. When they finished, we closed the door so they could change into their new clothes. The best part was the clean socks. Aden’s little feet got so sweaty when he had to wear shoes for an extended period.

Emmitt leaned against the wall near the motel door, looking relaxed with a hand in his pocket as he drank his coffee. Two fast food wrappers already sat in the garbage.

The boys settled at the table and tentatively reached for some food. I went straight for the coffee then sat on the edge of the bed. I finally glanced at the bedside clock. I’d slept for five hours. Good enough for now, but it would catch up with me fast. At least I could think better.

Suspicions I should have already considered continued to creep in. Why would a complete stranger want to help me to the extent he had? Was it just chance he’d hung around so long at the diner? Feeling watched, I glanced at Emmitt and met his gaze. Did something lay hidden there? I couldn’t tell anything beyond the intensity with which he watched me.

“Sorry for waking you up so soon. I could hear the boys saying they were hungry,” he said quietly, shifting his gaze to look at my brothers.

Having his attention diverted brought relief. Perhaps I was just being paranoid, but it felt like he constantly watched me. Maybe he just wanted to figure out what he’d gotten himself into. Or maybe he already knew. The suspicion that he’d been planted at the diner rose in my mind, but I quickly killed it. David had been following me. I’d picked directions at random, never knowing where I wanted to go until I turned. He’d been halfway through his meal when we’d arrived. There was no way he could have been there for me.

I followed his gaze and smiled at the boys. They took huge bites, plowing through their burgers.

“Slow down, you two, or you’re going to choke,” I warned them. I glanced back at Emmitt. “We haven’t been eating right, so it’s good that you woke me. They needed this.”

“And you need more sleep.”

The soft concern in his voice made my stomach do a very large, very crazy spiral, and I decided to change the subject.

“I’m rested enough for you to tell me who you are and why you’re helping me.”

He nodded. “Name’s Emmitt Cole. I was recently discharged from the military. Now, I’m just taking my time seeing the country as I make my way home to Montana. And I’m helping you because, back at the restaurant, you looked like you could use someone on your side.” He paused a long moment. “As long as it wasn’t anything illegal, I had no reason not to help.”

I sipped the coffee in quiet thought, very aware the boys listened as they ate.

“I appreciate what you did. I wasn’t doing anything illegal.” In the parking lot, anyway. “They had no right to take us back with them.”

He studied me and nodded. “I figured as much from what David was saying. I’m guessing you’re running. Going anywhere particular?” His gaze flicked to the boys briefly. “I’d be happy to tag along to make sure you safely get to where you need to be.”

His question brought a pang of guilt, and I waged another silent war with myself. The boys were counting on me. Could I really keep them safe on my own? Blake had changed before my eyes. He wasn’t normal. Didn’t appear human. My hand holding the coffee shook slightly. I wrapped my other hand around the cup, too, trying to steady it and my thoughts. How could I hide from what I didn’t know, from what I didn’t understand? I needed help. But, could I trust a stranger? Even if I did, was it fair to put him in danger, too?

“Emmitt, we could use help, but I don’t think it’d be right to accept it.” I looked at the boys. “There’s a lot going on that I can’t explain.”

He didn’t say anything as he studied me.

I took another sip of coffee then answered his original question. “I didn’t have a place in mind when I left.”

“Can I make a suggestion?”

I nodded. Never hurt to listen.

“Keep moving. As long as you’re awake, get further from the last place they found you. He knows you’re exhausted. He’s going to count on you needing to stop. If I were him, judging from how rundown you looked, I’d bet you would crash hard, too. He’s going to start checking likely places where you might have stopped, calling and asking for you by name.”

I realized then that Emmitt had booked and paid for our room. I’d been too tired before to notice. He’d known what he was doing.

“If he can’t find you still sleeping, he’ll at least look for a trail to follow. Switching vehicles was a good start, but they’ll have found the dealer by now and gotten a description of the new one. It’s only a matter of time,” he said slowly, meeting my eyes. “Unless you can disappear.”

My heart stuttered in fear at his words, and I looked down at my coffee to hide my frown. I’d disappeared four years ago and didn’t want to disappear like that again. I just needed a place to hide. A place where I’d be in control.

“What exactly do you mean?”

“I live on a big spread. No neighbors close by. Plenty of room for you to lay low without feeling like you’re being locked away.”

His words, echoing what I had just thought, continued to pluck a familiar chord of fear. I looked up, met his eyes, and searched for a hint of an ulterior motive.

“What’s in it for you?”

He shook his head slowly and frowned slightly. “Haven’t you ever had anyone help you just to help?”

I sighed. If someone had, it happened in a past I barely remembered. Should I trust again? And a stranger?

“May I see your wallet?” I asked cautiously.

I doubted he had anything to do with Blake, but I still needed to assure myself that he was whom he said and wasn’t trying to hide something.

He didn’t hesitate. A complete stranger reached into his front pocket to hand me his slim bi-fold wallet.

Liam, no longer pretending to eat, watched me closely. Fear had crept into his eyes. I gave him a weak smile, and feeling slightly embarrassed, I opened the wallet.

The name he had given me showed in print on his license, military ID, and library card. I looked at the library card for a long moment. I didn’t own one. I studied the driver’s license. Emmitt Alexander Cole, twenty-six years old and, surprisingly, not an organ donor. He would help a random stranger by fighting off two guys at a diner, but wouldn’t donate? I stared at it for a second before looking at the rest. I pulled out a credit card and eyed the same name. Everything matched.

I found three pictures tucked into the main pocket, along with several large bills. The first picture showed a very attractive woman with blonde hair and eyes that matched his. When I looked at her, I had a vague sense of recognition, but couldn’t place it. The other two photos were of men who bore an obvious resemblance to Emmitt.

“Family?” I asked, indicating the pictures.

“My mom, brother, and dad.” He pushed away from the door and moved closer to look at the pictures with me.

The picture of his mom couldn’t be recent. She looked amazing. I would have guessed sister because of the resemblance. I looked through the rest of his wallet and found a piece of paper with phone numbers, but no names.

“What are these?” I held up the piece of paper, and tilted my head to meet his eyes. The focus I found there made my stomach dip and heat suddenly. I looked back down at the paper.

“The first one is compliments of my mom,” he said in an affectionate tone that made me miss my own mother. “It’s the number for a friend of the family close to where I was stationed, in case I ran into trouble. The next one is my brother’s number. I left just after he and I moved down here from Canada. I wasn’t sure I’d remember the number.”

“How can you be from Canada but in the U.S. military?”

“My mom’s from the U.S. and insisted both Jim and I be born here. It drove my dad crazy because she didn’t want to leave home until the last minute. He swore it was her sheer determination that kept us from being born on the ‘wrong’ side of the border.” A genuine smile split his face, and I could see his family meant a lot to him.

I looked away and noted we also had Aden’s undivided attention. I smiled at Liam and nodded toward the bathroom. It was a nod Liam knew. He had seen it many times before. Liam seemed more relaxed as he grabbed his brother’s hand. Emmitt’s answers must have passed muster with him, too, so far.

They moved into the bathroom to clean up, and I turned back to Emmitt.

“The last number?”

“My parents. I figured if something ever happened to me, those three numbers would be good emergency information.”

It seemed like a normal wallet. I looked at the floor, debating. I hated driving. If we went with him, we were far more likely to arrive at our destination safely just because of that. But I didn’t know him. I thought of Richard and scowled. Did you ever really know someone?

“Is it so hard to trust?” His quiet and curious question penetrated my thoughts.

“You have no idea,” I whispered more to myself than to him. “Tell me more about this big spread.”

He smiled wide. “It’s been awhile since I’ve been there. It’s an old three story with wrap-around porches. Before I left, my brother and I talked about dividing it into six apartments. From what he’s told me, he’s done the dividing and now just needs to complete the finishing work in three more apartments. It also has a huge backyard that’s a pain to mow, according to him,” he said with a slight laugh.

“Just you and your brother, then?”

“No, a friend of our parents, Winifred Lewis, who we call Nana Wini, moved in as soon as he completed the second apartment.”

I really wanted the picture he painted. A quiet secluded home where we could roam outside all day and, finally, in the sun. I wanted that badly. But I needed to think clearly, beyond what I wanted. What were my options? I could cut ties with this man, and the boys and I could try it on our own. With the truck, I might have a chance…if it was just me. I listened to the boys whispering in the bathroom. I couldn’t keep running as I was with them along. They needed a safe place, and if I wanted to give them that, I needed help. Accepting Emmitt’s help sounded nice, but what would be the repercussion?

Why couldn’t my premonitions just tell me what to do? I dropped my head into both hands, frustrated and afraid of making the wrong choice. Sometimes when things sounded too good to be true, it was because they were. His offer might be sincere. The place he described might even be real. But, he had no idea what he was getting himself into.

“You should know they won’t stop looking for me. Ever.” I had to give him the chance to turn us away, and part of me cried at the thought of never finding a safe place to stay.

“Doesn’t matter to me. You’ll be welcome as long as you like,” he assured me.

I looked up as the boys walked out of the bathroom hand in hand. Both watched me closely, the little eavesdroppers. Their carefully blank expressions decided me. They tried to hide what they felt, just as we’d been taught, but I knew what hid behind their masks. We all were scared and needed somewhere to finally feel safe.

“We’ll go with you and take one day at a time,” I said, turning to meet Emmitt’s eyes. A wide smile split his face. It stole my breath again, and I hoped I was making the right decision.

Emmitt drove the rest of the night. The boys fell asleep almost immediately. I tried staying awake but gave up after twenty minutes. Several times, I woke and looked over at Emmitt’s face, illuminated by the dash lights. Each time my eyes fell on him, my stomach flipped and my heart fluttered. Without fail, he would sense my attention, meet my gaze, and gently say I needed more rest. My eyes always agreed and drifted closed again.

We continued driving the next day, stopping only for short breaks. Emmitt entertained the boys again with games, jokes, and stories while he casually watched the road behind us. I did the same. Whenever Emmitt caught me checking a mirror—he caught me every time—he assured me everything was okay. As the day progressed and there was no sign of David, my fears eased.

Before dinner, Emmitt posed a question.

“Do you want to stop for dinner or drive on to your new home?” He didn’t look away from the road as he said it, and I was glad. The way he said home had filled me with so much longing that I flushed. I glanced at the boys, but they didn’t voice an opinion.

“How much longer?”

“About thirty minutes,” he said.

“Let’s keep going.” Then I started to imagine every possible scenario that we might find when we arrived, from nudist commune to axe murderer in waiting.

My nervousness grew, and I paid closer attention as we drove. We passed a bar, which Emmitt said had good food. Across the street from it, a small convenience store’s window displayed a blinking neon sign for beer. After that building, there was nothing but trees and a few rutted driveways whose frequency decreased the further we drove. My stomach churned with worry. Please don’t be a weirdo.