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Bubba pulled his truck onto westbound I-12 and set the cruise control before glancing over to where Celia lay curled in the seat. He wasn’t as rested as he let on, but he wasn’t ready to tell her the police were looking for her. Not yet.
He’d gotten a couple hours sleep before his phone had rang and woke him. The call had been Gizmo, bless him, letting him know a missing person’s report had gone out nationwide on Celia. She’d said she hadn’t been seen going in the motel, but she had ordered dinner and the faster they got out of town, the safer she would be.
Bubba clenched his teeth again as he remembered the deep purple and black of the bruises on her face. He’d seen more bruising peeking from beneath the shorts he’d given her last night too. Both made him want to kill the bastard who’d done that to her, but as badly as he wanted to hurt the man, he needed to get Celia to safety more.
* * *
Three hours later, the sun was well up and Celia still lay curled in the seat. She’d moved a few times, but not much. Bubba wasn’t sure if she was still sleeping or feigning sleep so she didn’t have to talk to him. Either way, he wasn’t going to push for answers, not until they were home, and he could be certain of keeping her safe. Now, his priority was getting her to Arizona where he and his brothers could make sure this Troy fucker couldn’t lay his hands on her again.
They’d hit the outskirts of Baton Rouge before Celia opened her eyes. She stretched, winced, and yawned then pushed his coat off into the back seat then gingerly lifted her seat up right.
“Sleep well?”
“Surprisingly, yes.”
Bubba glanced in her direction then back to the road.
“Why is it surprising?”
Sissy took a deep breath and let it out slowly, as if she were trying to control her emotions.
“I thought I’d have nightmares. I thought every time I closed my eyes, I’d re-live Troy screaming and beating the crap out of me.”
“And you didn’t.” Bubba didn’t ask. From as well as she slept, he knew if she’d dreamed it hadn’t been of that experience.
“No. Well, other than the one you woke me from before we left. It wasn’t as bad as I’d expected.” She turned back and watched him.
He wanted to ask what she was thinking but not here, not when he couldn’t watch her reactions. Better to change the subject.
“You ready for something to eat? Coffee?”
Celia made a face. One he didn’t know how to interpret.
“I need to use the ladies room.” She glanced around. “Where are we?”
“Baton Rouge. How about we find somewhere you can use the bathroom and I can grab some coffee. Maybe some food too.”
“Not a sit-down place.” Celia reached up and gingerly touched the outside of her swollen eye. “Something we can eat in the truck, if you don’t mind.”
“Can do.” He didn’t say he’d already been planning that. He wanted to keep her as much out of sight as he could, so hopefully, no one would recognize her and report they’d seen her. The longer they could stay under the radar, the better chance he had of getting her to Tucson before her asshole ex came after her.
“I have no doubt I look a mess.” She ran her fingers through her hair as if trying to make it behave. Bubba could tell that she was having much success.
“There should be a cap hanging off the back of my seat if you want to just cover it up. I have a brush in my overnight bag it you want to try to do something with it.” He hoped she’d opt for the hat. He didn’t want to take the time to dig in his overnight bag and the cap would disguise her looks, at least a little. “How’s McDonalds? I can get us coffee and something to eat while you use the facilities.”
“Sounds good.”
They made their stop without incident, getting back on the road as quickly as they could. Bubba drove for hours stopping only when they had to for drinks, food, or facilities. They stopped for the night at a motel outside a wide spot in the road called Junction, Texas. Bubba got a room with two beds then showered and stretched out on one bed to get some rest.
* * *
A sound woke Bubba. One so soft he couldn’t identify right away, not until he heard it again.
A muffled whimper.
He froze, not sure where the sound was coming from. He suspected Celia but wanted to be sure before he chanced waking her. When the sound came again, he had no doubt Celia was the source of the sound. He rolled out of the bed and onto his feet. He looked around the near dark room and made sure they were still the only two there, then checked on her.
She was still sound asleep. He found her curled into a tight ball under the blanket, her arms wrapped over her head as she huddled and whimpered.
