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AFTER LORETTA HAD TAKEN her shower, she met Sam at the truck and filled it with gas.
Sam’s long clean hair brushed his shoulders. He was dressed in a clean black T-shirt with an eagle on it, more faded jeans, his scuffed boots, and his well-worn cowboy hat. It seemed the weight of the world was finally absent from his demeanor. He was a new man. Only his ripped denim jacket reminded Loretta where he’d come from.
His jacket also reminded Loretta that he had little to wear, and her guilt over how he’d nearly frozen while out looking for that other truck the night before gave her an idea.
“Sam, before we leave we’re going to get you a heavier coat and some gloves.”
He looked down at his jacket. “What, aren’t these clothes good enough for you? Are you ashamed of me?” Hurt passed across his face. “You know, I started out with presentable clothes but clothes wear out.”
“If you wear them every day for months, they do. I’m not ashamed of you. I’d just like you to look as good as you make me feel. I want you to show the world the Sam I see, the handsome one inside. I want you to be warm. You just got paid and can afford a change of clothes. It’s too darn cold for you to be traipsing around in that light jacket. The weather, I heard, is only going to get colder.
“Tell you what, I know this place that sells used clothing. Prices are cheap, clothes look like new, and it’s five miles from here. What do you say?”
“I say I could use a new coat and gloves, and maybe new jeans and a new shirt, too. Let’s go.” He stepped closer to her.
She’d let her hair hang loose after she’d washed and dried it. Sam reached out, lifted a handful, and buried his face in the crimson strands. “Your hair smells like perfume and feels like silk. I like it loose like that. It’s so long and beautiful.” It fell to her waist. “I should call you Guinevere.”
“Guinevere?”
“You know, King Arthur’s Guinevere? You look like I’d imagine Guinevere would look. Pale skin, delicate features and kind eyes. Ravishing. I can’t believe I’m here with you. Can’t believe I’m so lucky. I feel like King Arthur...no, more like Lancelot because he was the one she really loved. I wouldn’t want to lose you, Loretta.”
Loretta didn’t say what was on her mind. Guinevere hadn’t been so happy all in all. King Arthur almost had her burned at the stake and she ended up in a nunnery or something. No, she didn’t want to be like Guinevere, but she didn’t tell Sam that.
He moved closer and they kissed tenderly. She didn’t move away. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her tightly against him until she was lost in his touch, his smell, and his warm body. She felt as if they belonged together. It felt so right.
They could have become lovers right then and there. There was a bed after all in her truck, but Loretta forced herself to stop. Sam released her but took her hand. Her body instantly grew chilled without him holding her and her skin ached for his touch. It was like a trance she couldn’t snap out of. She’d never reacted like that to a man until Sam. It was a new sensation and she liked it.
Except she wanted to wait until she was absolutely sure of him and his intentions. More importantly, she didn’t want him to think she was easy. Men didn’t fall in love with easy women, Cherie always said. They used them and left them and Loretta didn’t want that to happen to her. It was difficult. She’d been married for a long time and hadn’t been touched by a man in two years. She was only human and wanted to be with Sam in every way.
What would it hurt? Would it be so terrible of me to give in if I think I love him?
Yes, her inner voice warned. Not yet. Be patient.
She listened because her inner voice never let her down. If it was love it could wait, and if it were truly love it wouldn’t go away.
“No doubt about it,” Sam asserted, “you’re going to have to fall in love with me. Maybe even marry me.”
Sam’s hands encircled her waist and the next moment he lifted her feet from the ground and spun her in a circle as if she was as light as a child. He was so tall, so strong. Despite her own height, Sam made her feel small and delicate and not even Jed had made her feel that way. More importantly...he made her feel beautiful.
“Marry you?” She had trouble getting the words out, they’d surprised her so. He was already talking about marriage and he’d only known her a short time. Was that the action of a rational man? It was most certainly not. She looked at Sam with wariness in her heart, but she hid her emotions. “You’ve only known me three days. Why would you say that?”
“Because all I want to do is make love to you and I suspect that you’re the sort of woman who needs an engagement ring, at least, or a wedding ring before that’ll happen, right?”
“You’re right.”
“Well, we’re either going to have to get back to work or I’m going to try to seduce you here and now. I’m only human.”
She laughed. She’d been thinking the same thing. His lips curved into a mock frown and his mustache curved with it. He was so pathetic looking she almost laughed again, but didn’t. Sam was serious. God, he was so virile and good looking with his muscles rippling beneath his thin shirt. That was part of the problem.
“Then get in the truck and we’ll go find that coat for you—after we get that check of yours cashed. That should get your mind off of other things.”
“Nah, it won’t. But let’s go anyway.” He went to the passenger’s side and got in. She looked and he was grinning. He wasn’t mad. Again she was struck with the feeling she’d known him for a long time and not a matter of days. It was all so confusing.
At the store, after they’d stopped first at the bank to take care of Sam’s check, he bought a new brown suede coat lined in cream-colored fur. It was warm and suited him. No one would know it was used it looked so good. She’d tried to get him to buy a new Stetson but he’d said he was attached to his old one and that was that. But he picked out a few long-sleeved shirts and a couple pair of jeans and made room in his leather bag for them by getting rid of most of his raggedy old clothes.
She watched Sam as they made their way through the streets of Cheyenne and thought he truly looked like a cowboy, strong jawed and mustached, an enigma with old eyes. People stepped aside when he walked among them. He intimidated them. It could have been his height or the confident way he handled himself. Yet Loretta was beginning to accept that most of his bravado was an act. No one could be as sure of himself as Sam seemed to be.
They took a short detour to a gift shop nearby, and Loretta picked up an elegant unicorn of spun glass for Tessa and a gorgeous Indian dream catcher for Cherie. The last few days, if nothing else, made her appreciate how precious her life was and how much she loved the people in it. Besides, she always brought home gifts for the ones she loved.
An hour later, Baby Blue drove away from Cheyenne. Loretta was behind the wheel the first few hours as Sam tried to get some sleep. She was going home and Sam was with her. She was so happy she was almost afraid. She’d learned that fate didn’t like her to be too happy for too long.
The weather held and there was no more snow. She was no longer under a deadline, the oranges were on their way to some grocer’s shelf, and worn-out though she was, she wanted to get home. No hurry. Slow and sure.
Sam had been too excited to sleep long and soon he sat next to her in the passenger seat. They planned for their new partnership (that’s what Loretta fondly had begun calling it) together. Nothing was said about love or the future but it was beneath the words and smiles and Loretta was happy. She let her guard down completely and talked openly about her life, her home, Tessa, and her sister, Cherie.
She wouldn’t let herself reflect on the troubles of their run to Cheyenne, only what was to come. They’d eaten breakfast late so they didn’t stop for lunch.
In the afternoon, Loretta climbed into the bed and slept for a while as Sam drove, then was beside her new driver by evening. She’d had enough of sleeping and wanted to be with him.
The day ended, displaying a winter sunset in a muted rainbow of golds, peaches, and pinks. Cold halos of scarlet snuggled around the trees and buildings Sam drove past and clouds budded against the line of mountains in the distance. The snow reflected the colored neon lights from the storefronts and homes of the little towns they traveled through as the sun, a faint glowing ball, tipped and slowly sunk into the horizon. Through the flat lands and into the mountains. Night came.
Neither Loretta nor Sam uttered a word about the Freightliner.
“I know this truck stop,” Sam said, “not far from here that has the best steak dinners and a jukebox with the best country music around. If it’s okay with you, let’s have supper there, Loretta.”
“Okay. I’m hungry and I love steak. How do you know of this place?” Loretta was a little tired but otherwise in a good mood. The roads had been cleared and the driving had been easy for both of them. Traffic had been light. With no one trying to knock Baby Blue off the road it’d been a breeze.
“Remember I drove with my dad most summers growing up. I’ve been in every state and I know where all the best, but reasonably priced, restaurants are.” Sam stretched behind the wheel and studied the darkness outside the window. He seemed suddenly nervous about something and when Loretta asked what, he replied it was nothing. But she noticed his eyes continually searched the landscape around them.
Sam parked Baby Blue behind the Steak House and they went in. They ordered dinners and Sam was right, the food was tasty. The place was filled with hungry customers, and couples line danced the latest country steps in front of a blinking noisy jukebox.
It was as if they were on a date. Sam was attentive and witty and sweet. He kept her amused and after they’d eaten, he dragged her out on the dance floor. He patiently taught her a step or two and before she knew it they were in a line of people laughing and treading on each other’s boots. Loretta forgot how tired she was and let herself go. She hadn’t done that in a long time, either. And it felt great.
Sam made friends with everyone. The women loved him and the men enjoyed gabbing with him. Loretta couldn’t get over the difference between the gloomy Sam she’d first met in the parking lot, the dangerous Sam she’d seen at the Diamond Truck Stop, and the one he was now. The dark cloud hanging over his head was gone, or, as had crossed her mind so many times before, he was a fantastic actor.
****
AFTER DESSERTS OF HOT fudge sundaes, Sam went to report in to Sgt. Wilder and Loretta stood beside him in front of a second pay phone and called Cherie and Tessa.
She got her daughter on the phone first, who answered so quickly she must have been waiting for her call.
“Hi, Mom!” she answered breathlessly after the second ring. “I’m glad you called back. Aunt Cherie really needs to talk to you. She was real unhappy she missed your call this morning. Says she’s been trying to reach you for days on your cell but couldn’t get through.”
“My cell won’t work this far away.”
“I know. You told me that and I told her. She still needs to talk to you. I’ll go get her. She’s in the kitchen making pudding for us. Then we’ll talk, okay?”
“No, let’s talk a few minutes first and then you can go get your aunt. I miss you.”
“I miss you, too, Mom. Oh, I forgot to tell you this morning...I made an A on my history paper yesterday. And, oh yeah, we checked on the house today and Precious didn’t seem to be feeling well. He was throwing up and everything. Aunt Cherie looked at him and said he could of ate something bad, so we brought him back here with us to nurse him. When you coming home?”
“We’re on our way, sweetie. The weather’s cleared up. We should be home in a few days if it holds. What else is going on?”
“Oh, Mom, what you really want to know is if I’m wigged out about you bringing a strange man home, right, now that I’ve had time to think about it?”
Smart girl. Loretta was somewhat anxious about that. She thought about lying to her daughter but they didn’t lie to each other. “Oh, you know me too well. Go ahead, fire away.”
“He your new boyfriend?”
“What makes you say that?”
“You wouldn’t let any guy working for you come and live in our house. Come on, Mom, I know you. You must really like him, huh?”
“Some. Maybe. I don’t know, Tessa, it’s too soon.” Loretta tried to explain her feelings about Sam to her daughter. That she, yes, liked him but she’d just met him. He seemed like a nice guy, competent driver...blah, blah, blah. She didn’t hear half the stuff she told her daughter, she was so nervous. She also didn’t know why she wanted Tessa to like Sam so much. But she did. Perhaps Loretta still wasn’t sure about him and didn’t want to color Tessa’s acceptance with her own doubts. Tessa could decide about Sam herself.
“Sounds like you like him a lot. If you do then I will, too. Except Aunt Cherie really freaked out when I told her.”
“About Sam?”
“I think so. She’s been acting weird all day. Jumpy, you know?”
“Go get her for me, honey.”
Loretta waited while her daughter fetched her aunt. “Loretta?”
“Hi, Sis,” Loretta said cheerfully. “What did you want to talk to me about?”
“A few things. Hey, I hear you’re bringing a man home with you that you picked up on the road?”
“My daughter has a big mouth.”
“She told me everything. God, Loretta, a stranger? What do you know about this guy? She says you’re going to rent him the spare room.” Loretta could hear the disapproval in her sister’s voice.
“It’s not as bad as it sounds.” Loretta gave the details about how she met Sam and why she hired him. She left out a few things like fearing Sam was a murderer, the fiendish Freightliner and the truckers that had been killed on their route so as not to scare her. “You’re going to like him, I know you will.”
“That’s to be seen. Right now I’m worried about you. I couldn’t reach you was one reason, then Tessa said your cell phone’s not working, but there’s another reason.”
“Yes?”
Cherie sounded distracted. “Thing is, we’ve been getting these really bizarre telephone calls since you left, at all hours of the day and night. Started the first night you were gone. No one ever says anything. We thought it was you and that something terrible had happened and with that stupid cell phone of yours you just couldn’t get through. I guess Tessa mentioned how relieved I was when you called this morning?”
“She did. Though I did try many times. Most of the calls never connected, though. So all those weird calls weren’t me. I haven’t called since this morning.” Sam was off the phone and smiling at her from their table. He waved and she waved back. Boy, his call had been quick.
“Nah, this has been four or five times a day and as many at night. I thought it was you then I thought no, you wouldn’t call us at two or three in the morning. Over and over. I haven’t had a good night’s sleep since you left.”
“Wasn’t me, Sis. I wouldn’t call you that late unless it was a dire emergency. You must have a crank caller.”
“That’s what I was afraid of.” Cherie sounded uneasy. “Except, funny thing is, the last time my crank called I could have sworn the person on the other end whispered your name, real low and husky. It was hard to hear through all the static. It might have been my imagination, though I don’t think so. Something about the voice scared me, too. It was so spooky. You know how uptight I get for you when you’re alone on the road. Always terrified something bad’s going to happen.” Like Jed. “You sure you trust this Sam character...does he have a cell phone...could he be making these phone calls?”
Shocked, Loretta asked, “Why would he do that?”
“I don’t know. I guess I’m being overly suspicious.” Cherie let out an audible breath. “You know me.”
They were sisters all right. “Besides, Sam doesn’t know your phone number. He doesn’t know your last name, either.” Of course, she had Cherie’s telephone number in her address book in her purse and stored in her cell phone and Sam had access to both while she’d been sleeping. Nah. Sam harassing Cherie and Tessa didn’t make any kind of sense. “And again, there’s no reason for it. I’ve offered him a job and a place to live.
Why would he want to mess that up?”
“I don’t know. There are some really sick people out in the world, Loretta. You’re probably right. It’s not your Sam.”
Your Sam?
Loretta wondered if the trucker murders had made the Oklahoma nightly news and if Cherie had seen it. If so Cherie would have said something. Loretta wasn’t about to. Her sister would only worry more. “Does Tessa know about these calls?”
“No, she doesn’t. She’s a heavy sleeper and I cover on the other ones.”
Thank goodness.
“Well,” Cherie finished up, “you’re okay and that’s what matters. Nothing unusual has happened to you, has it?”
“Not really,” she fibbed. “There was a snowstorm and slick roads. I had to replace a fuel filter and had some tire problems. Nothing I couldn’t handle.” I also picked up a homeless guy who’s too handy with a knife; I’ve been hounded by a vindictive truck, needless vandalisms and almost got run off the road into a bottomless gorge. A sudden chill fell over her at what Cherie had disclosed. Strange phone calls and someone whispering her name. “That’s about it.” Loretta hated lying to her sister but knew it wouldn’t do any good to frighten her worse than she already was.
Everything was fine now.
Loretta was more concerned over her sister and the crank calls. Cherie was divorced, so she and Tessa were alone. That worried her.
“Cherie, you be careful, you hear? If those calls continue, call the police.”
“I already did that. There’s not much they can do. Tap my phone. I don’t want to do that yet. Seems too much for now.”
“Doesn’t to me, if the calls continue.”
“All right.” A pause. “You got caught by that snow then?” Cherie inquired. “Tessa said she saw scenes from it on the television. Horrible. I was scared out of my wits for you.”
“A blizzard. It’s stopped.” Loretta chatted a little more with her sister and then said, “If the weather stays this calm I should see you both in about two days. Sam’s sharing shifts with me.”
“That’s one good thing about you meeting that man. You’re not alone and it’s got to be safer. There’s all kind of weirdoes out there.” Cherie chuckled.
Oh, how well Loretta knew that.
“Hurry home, Sister, but be careful. You want to talk to Tessa anymore?”
“No, we said what we wanted to say. She’s probably getting ready for bed. It’s past her bedtime. Tell her I love her, would you?”
“I will.”
Loretta didn’t know why she said it, but added, “I love you, too, Sis. Don’t forget that.”
“I won’t. Oh, wait a sec. Tessa’s here and she wants to ask you something.”
“Mom?” Tessa whispered and at first Loretta didn’t understand why. “I don’t want Aunt Cherie to hear this so I’m talking real low. Her birthday is on Sunday and I want to give her a surprise birthday party. I called some of her friends, neighbors, and some of the people from her work. I’m going to bake a cake and everything. It’s going to be awesome. Can you be here by Sunday night? It’s only two days away?”
Oh, no, she’d forgotten Cherie’s birthday. With all that had been going on, it had slipped her mind. She did a mental calculation. Yes, it was this Sunday. Now she was glad she’d bought that dream catcher. It would make a nice birthday present.
“I’ll be back by then, I promise.” With Sam’s help she would be. She looked across the people two-stepping and the people chewing steak at the tables and locked eyes with her new partner. He grinned and waved at her. She held up two fingers an inch apart to let him know she wouldn’t be long.
“Great. Don’t say anything to Aunt Cherie about it if you talk to her before then. It’s a secret. Hey, Mom, I checked the weather for you on the Internet and there’s no more snow expected up that way for the rest of the week. So it should be easy driving all the way home. See ya Sunday. Try to get here early. Can you pick up some more food at the market on your way? Stuff to make little sandwiches or something. Love ya, bye.”
“Goodbye sweetheart. Mind your Aunt Cherie and I’ll see you Sunday. Love you back.”
Once Loretta hung up she couldn’t get Cherie’s strange telephone calls out of her mind. What if the strange things that had been happening to her were linked somehow to Cherie’s unwanted phone calls? Now that was a ridiculous idea. There was no link. There couldn’t be, could there? Yet for that she had no answer.
She joined Sam. He was in his new coat, hat on his head, waiting for her, and he looked cornered. A young, pretty waitress in tight jeans perched above him jabbering like some crazy magpie, her ample cleavage visible as she leaned closer to him. Loretta caught the irritation in the waitress’s catty eyes when she walked up.
Sorry, Loretta mused, he’s sort of spoken for.
Sam excused himself from the clingy waitress, stood and took Loretta’s hand with a smile, and greeted her with a kiss. The waitress threw Loretta a dirty look and sashayed away.
Loretta had to hide her smile.
“I already paid the tab and we’re ready to go,” Sam said. “Unless you want to stay and dance some more.”
“No, I’ve had enough. We need to get going. My sister Cherie’s birthday is Sunday and there’s going to be a party. Cherie’s been so good about taking care of Tessa, and I don’t know what I’d do without her. She deserves a nice birthday party so I want to be home for it. Tessa is counting on me.”
His warm hands lingeringly stroked her skin as he helped her into her coat and his touch made her shiver. “Then home by Sunday we shall be. I love parties. Is everything else all right?”
Cherie had asked her if Sam could have been involved with the crank phone calls so for some reason she didn’t tell him about them. She’d say something later. They’d had such a pleasant day with no problems and she didn’t want to ruin it with new suspicions. At least that’s the explanation she gave herself.
“Everything’s fine. Tessa misses me, that’s all. She can’t wait to meet you.” She looked up at him and smothered any trepidation she had.
Sam accepted that without a blink. “Then we leave now. I’m driving and you’re going to get a little more time in the sleeper. You look like you need it.”
“Maybe later. I guess everything’s finally catching up with me.” Loretta’s mind was busy planning. If they got into town by Sunday afternoon she could stop at the market near her house and pick up a platter of those fancy sandwiches and some extra desserts for the party as Tessa had asked her to do.
They said goodbye to the people they’d met, collected doggie bags and a thermos of fresh coffee, and went out to the truck. Loretta hated leaving the Steak House. She’d had a good time with Sam. It’d been a few hours when she’d forgotten everything but the food, music and the handsome man holding her in his arms. It’d been fun.
Now they were heading home. It was an exciting sensation, along with the love she was beginning to feel for this stranger who’d come almost out of nowhere to steal her heart.
On the road they shared a cup of coffee and kidded each other about their dancing. Loretta made plans for Cherie’s party as the darkness drifted past the windows.
She couldn’t see the mountains but knew they were there and experienced dread as she thought of the winding steep roads with the cliffs on each side. There’s nothing to be frightened of, though. There’s no one chasing us now. It’s not snowing. The ice has been cleared off most of the roads. We can take our time.
It didn’t help. She was still apprehensive. Leftover fear probably.
They logged in the miles as the moon rose above like a lone sentry casting shadows on the snow. The moonlight bathed the roads leading into the mountains in a soft radiance. It was like a Christmas card picture. Serene. Beautiful.
“I’m taking an alternate route through the mountains for our way home, Loretta, and a different one back to Oklahoma. I plotted it on the map before we left the Steak House. It won’t be any longer than the way you came out but it’ll be different. Is that okay?”
She almost asked why and then a picture arose in her mind of an abandoned gas station tucked up against the rocks and she knew why. Sam didn’t want to retrace the same path that had been so filled with anxiety for them. He didn’t want to drive by that gas station or the Diamond Truck Stop where she’d run out on him or the rest stop or the I-55 Truck Stop where the murders had taken place. He didn’t want bad memories rekindled. Neither did she. And it would be safer.
“Sounds like a good idea, Sam. I trust you to get us home.” She patted his arm and yawned. It was time for her to get some rest if she was going to drive the next day. She needed more sleep to be at her best and hadn’t been getting it. “I wonder if Sgt. Wilder knows anything more about those murders,” she suddenly muttered aloud. “If he’s made any arrests—”
“Or if there’s been another one?” Sam finished for her.
“Yeah. You called him again before supper, what did he say about them?”
“I didn’t get to speak to him that time. He was out on a call somewhere, but I left a message saying we were on our way back to Oklahoma and I’d call again tomorrow morning. Maybe you should call and give him your address and telephone number. I’m pretty sure he’s going to want them. I suppose I’m still a suspect.”
Loretta glanced at Sam and caught the look of annoyance on his shadowed face, caught something in his manner that even now made her uneasy. Again the thought occurred to her: What if Sam isn’t as innocent as he professes to be and you’re bringing a murderer home with you...and to Tessa?
She was instantly angry with herself. She still doubted him and her own intuition. It wasn’t healthy that she couldn’t let these uncertainties die.
She switched on the CB, but for a while there was no talk about the killings, old or new. When she was about to call it a night and slip into the sleeper for her eight hours she felt the change come over Sam. He stiffened. Grew quiet. Two truckers had begun to commiserate about the murders over the CB and how awful it was that no one was safe on the highways anymore.
Sam reached over to turn it off but Loretta stopped him. “No, leave it on. I want to hear this.”
Sam obviously didn’t, though he said nothing, she could feel his agitation. But she had to hear what the truckers were saying.