Running:
I never really exerted myself when running in Jr. High school. I pretty much hung back with the slower 50% of the class because I never felt a need to run faster. Until I got bored, and then I joined the faster 50%. I ran in that pack until I got bored and caught up with the fastest 10%. I never really thought about that until my daughter said she hated running around the soccer field in Jr. High. Hummm. We mark our paths early, it seems. But even then, we can change our course.
Writing:
I took a technical writing class in college and loved it! I thought I was heading straight toward a technical writing career. Nope, here I am instead, writing fiction.
Usually there is no point in any path where we can't completely change directions...
Secrets at Midnight
Leona Palmer Haag
Chapter 23
Glaring at Matt, Jenn said, “This whole run off to Portland
idea felt bad from the start.”
“Why haven't you run off? I’ve given you plenty of
opportunities,” Matt said.
She sank deep into her seat. “I know what I stepped on, but
that doesn’t mean I know what to do.”
“I gave you a gun, and you still don’t trust me. Should I
trust you?”
“I’m as harmless as a butterfly. Unlike you, I’ve never
kidnapped anyone. And I don’t want to start with you. You've never threatened
me before, so don't start now, or I just might. I’d haul you to the nearest
town and hand you over to the police.”
He shrugged. “Go ahead. Pull out your gun. Let me see what
you’ve got in you.”
Jenn rolled her eyes, then sat forward and glared at him. “What’s
in me is confusion, anger and now it’s starting to include everything mean. You
pulled off the road because you’re jinxed. Well, I am too!”
“Get your gun out,” he taunted. “Kidnap me.”
“Oh, that’s not what I’m thinking about now. No! You know I
might not hit my mark, but I get close enough. But that doesn’t mean I want to
point it at you. I just want to go home, so don’t make me do anything I’d
regret later.” She sank back and turned to look out her window, ignoring him.
He cleared his throat. “What I really mean is—I thought by
now you might have added up the evidence and realized I'm speaking the
truth—and giving you the gun proves it.”
She shook her head but didn’t face him. “Matt, I live in the
real world without a lot of fantasy interfering—except that I might have
another baby, and maybe someday we'll buy a minivan and vacation with our
passports.” She shot a glance in his direction. “I hardly watch TV, although I
read books—even mystery and murder ones. But this isn’t a book. This is life.
Can we please turn the page and go home?”
He looked out the windshield. “Should we go to Canada?”
Her breath caught and she faced him. “No. I do not want
Canada as the first place I use my passport. I was thinking maybe Italy or
Spain. Let’s go home. Now. Please?”
Matt said nothing, just shook his head. They were silent for
a long stretch, with Matt probably planning something crazy, and her watching
rays of sunlight filtering through shimmering leaves and only occasionally
checking to see if maybe he’d change his mind and turn around. He finally said.
“I have a friend with a cabin. Have you ever been to Montana?”
“No, and I don’t want to go now.”
He tapped the steering wheel and avoided her eyes. “Back in
Boise while they were looking at the Mercedes I contacted him. I've borrowed it
for a few weeks. It’s remote so we'll need to stock up on supplies. Make a list
of things we'll need.”
“Define remote,” she sputtered.
“It means safe. We’ll need food—dry goods, and a cooler for
perishables—diapers, chocolate—I don't know—matches. What does Katie need?”
She held up her hand. “Stop. I have bad vibes. See these
goose bumps? Remote sounds like stranded.
I don't want to die in a secret cabin without a fridge. If we need a cooler, I
take it there’s no fridge?”
“Living without a fridge is a killer, all right.” He
chuckled.
“Not funny.”
He sobered. “We're not going to die. We'll live through
this. We'll meet Nick at the airport when he returns.”
“Promise?”
“I’ll do my best.”
“Promises,” she sighed. “All hollow. I’ve learned that my
entire life.”
He started the Jeep and pulled back onto the road.
The motel that night in Somewhere,
Montana reminded Jenn of a cheap thriller flick. She expected rats to run out
from under the beds and sat in the center of one with Katie while Matt surfed
the internet in the lobby. A while later he returned, saying, “Go to bed. I'll
be gone at least another hour or two.” When he hadn't returned by three she
settled into covers smelling of bleach. Her nose wrinkled until sleep overcame
her. A click near her ear jerked her back to reality. She shot up so fast stars
danced.
“Whoa! Are you okay?” Matt asked in surprise.
She spun to face him. “What was that sound?”
He held up his cell phone. “This?”
She suspiciously eyed it. “It was something more.”
“I'm removing the tracking device inside. I need to do the
same with yours.” He smiled, putting his phone back together.
She’d been around the block enough times to know a smile
could be deceptive.
“Where's your phone?”
“My purse,” she squeaked. She swallowed and
tried to make her voice sound calm. “Don't take the money. I may need to bribe
you with it later.” She gave him her own version of up-turned-lips fraud. He
shot her a look revealing he'd caught her true meaning—distrust and fear. Once
he'd turned the Jeep toward the Montana mountains she was certain it had been
the only aura she'd cast.
End Chapter 23
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