Page 49 of Led Astray (Hellraisers 1)

Their attitude made him sick. He had reassured Jenny that they would be glad about the baby. Instead they had judged her and scorned her in a most unchristian way. He wanted to call them hypocrites to their faces, but he didn't have the time. And why waste the energy? As far as he was concerned, they were a lost cause. He had only one purpose in mind now. To find Jenny.

"Where did she go?"

"We don't know," Bob said in a tone that indicated he didn't care either. "She called a taxi."

"I pity the two of you," Cage said before storming out.

* * *

"How long ago?"

"Well, let's see." A gnarled finger traveled down the col­umn of departure times, then traced a line across to the listing of cities. "'Bout

thirty minutes ago. It was due to pull out at six-fifty, and as well as I recollect, there weren't no delays."

"Does it make any stops?"

The clerk at the bus depot checked the schedule again with a meticulous precision that was driving Cage crazy. Didn't the man know anything without having to consult the damn sched­ule?

After talking with the owner of the town's only taxi service and learning that Jenny had been chauffeured from the par­sonage to the bus depot, Cage had driven there at top speed. A rapid survey of the dingy passenger lounge assured him she wasn't there. Only one ticket had been sold to a young woman matching Jenny's description. A one-way ticket to Dallas.

"Nope. No stops. Not until Abilene, that is."

"Which highway do they take?"

The clerk told him and by the time he finished his pains­taking directions, Cage was already running toward the door. The idling Corvette was shoved into gear, but Cage cursed when he checked the gas gauge. He couldn't go forty miles on what was in the tank. Turning into the next service station he came to he filled the tank with gasoline as fast as the pump would permit.

"You've only got a fifty-dollar bill?" the attendant whined. "Jeez, Cage, that's gonna take practically all the money out of my till."

"Sorry. That's all I have and I'm in a hurry." Damn, be needed a cigarette. Why had he promised Jenny he'd give them up?

"Heavy date?" The attendant winked lecherously. "Blonde or brunette tonight?"

"As I said, I'm in—"

"Yeah, a hurry, I know, I know," he said, winking again. "Is she the one running hot or are you? Well, let's see what we can do here." He peered down into the cash register's tray over the top of his eyeglasses. "There's a twenty. Nope, it's a ten. And here's a five."

Had the whole damn town been drugged with a mind-stealing chemical? Everyone had been reduced to an imbecile. "Tell you what, Andy, you keep my change and I'll pick it up later."

"Got the itch that bad, have ya?" he called to Cage's retreating back. "She must be somethin' special."

"She is," Cage said as he slid into the Corvette. Seconds later darkness swallowed his taillights.

* * *

Jenny had learned not to fight the swaying motion of the bus, but to let her body rock with it. It had become almost lulling. The sheer monotony of it was soothing, and it kept her mind off her future.

What future?

She had none.

The Hendrens had made their feelings plain. She was a Jez­ebel who had tempted their sainted son, who had tried to lure him away from his life's calling by getting herself pregnant by him.

Stinging tears filled her eyes, but she wouldn't submit to them. She closed her eyes and laid her head on the seat cush­ion behind her, wishing she could sleep. But that was impos­sible. Her mind was in turmoil and the passengers around her were becoming increasingly restless and vocal.

"Would you look at that."

"A maniac."

Source: www.allfreenovel.com