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I observed Shirley as she watched Ed walk away, not missing the longing in her eyes.
“You love him.” I took her hand in mine.
Pink dusted Shirley’s cheeks while she patted my arm. “He’s a good man, River. Save yourself some pain and find a good one the first time around.” Shirley stood and smoothed her uniform. “Are you ready? I’ll drive you to the bus station and buy your ticket. I’ll stay with you until you’re safely seated and on the road.”
“You don’t have to go to all that trouble.” I stood and hid the knife and money in my bra, then put the bag of other items in my backpack.
“Hon, you’re worth going the extra mile for. I’m just sorry no one has treated you that way before.”
I suppose you couldn’t miss what you’d never had.
Slinging the bag over my shoulder, I followed Shirley out of Bob’s office and into the kitchen.
“Here’s your breakfast, ladies. River, you have lunch and dinner as well. I tossed in cookies, chips, and a few apples for you, too.” Ed handed me a bulging brown paper bag.
“Thank you.” I hugged him goodbye, then waited by the back door so Shirley and Ed could have a few minutes alone.
I took a quick peek over my shoulder at them. A small smile pulled at the corner of my mouth as Ed leaned down and gave Shirley a sweet kiss. It was nice to see people who were kind and loving to each other. It wasn’t something I’d had the chance to see very often.
I leaned against the wall and waited for Shirley. My face wasn’t as sore today, but I assumed I looked like a complete mess. Nibbling on my already too short thumbnail, I tried to calm my churning stomach. In less than twenty-four hours, my guardian had been killed, I was homeless, and I had several evil men searching for me. Time was a strange concept. For years my life had been the same. Nothing changed from day to day, year to year, then everything shifted in a blink of an eye.
“Ready, hon?” Shirley asked, pulling me out of my thoughts.
“Yeah.” I pursed my lips together as Shirley pushed the back door open, and we stepped outside into the frosty morning. The woodsy scent of pine and tamarack burning in neighbors’ woodstoves filled the air. I’d always wanted a stove. Often on the freezing wintry nights in the trailer, I would close my eyes and imagine reading a good book next to a roaring fire. It had offered me a little peace.
Shirley walked to a newer silver-and-black Subaru and unlocked the doors. I settled into the passenger seat and clutched my bag in my lap.
“You’ve got tangles. Why don’t you brush your hair while I drive? There should be a tube of concealer in the bag, too. It will help with the bruises.” She buckled up, then leaned over and flipped my visor down. The light on the mirror blinked on.
“Yeah, I look like shit.” I gently touched the tender skin around my eye and nose. “The concealer might not work since the bruising is so dark.”
“That stuff will.” Shirley nodded to my bag as she eased out of the employee parking lot behind the diner, the gravel crunching beneath her tires. “I got it from my neighbor who is with the theatre here in town. She has a ton of stage makeup. What she gave me even covers tattoos.”
“Holy crap. I didn’t realize they had stuff like that.” I reached into the backpack and searched for the coverup.
“Right?” Shirley grinned, checked the main road for oncoming traffic, then turned left toward the edge of town.
Shirley kept the conversation light as I dabbed the miracle concealer on my nose and cheeks, then brushed my hair. By the time we reached the bus station, my appearance was almost back to normal. Too bad my face and head still hurt like a son of a bitch. “Does there happen to be a small bottle of Advil in the bag? I can buy some if not.”
Shirley parked the car and flashed me a pretty smile. “We’ve got you covered. Ed remembered to put Advil in there for you.”
“You both are saints.” I returned her smile as we climbed out of the car and headed inside the station.
An hour later, I boarded the bus and waved goodbye to Shirley. Dryness seized my throat, and I attempted to drown the sudden loneliness that cloaked me as I chose my seat and sat down near the window. Shirley waited until the bus lurched forward before she walked back to her car.
“Goodbye Havre, Montana,” I whispered and dug around in my bag until I located the iPod and headphones. I slipped them in my ears as a young woman that appeared to be in her twenties sat next to me. She stared at me for a moment, then smiled.
It would be a long bus ride, and I hoped I would be able to get some rest. I wasn’t actually sure what to expect when I reached Idaho. For now, I flipped through the tunes on the iPod and grinned when “Bed on Fire” by Teddy Swims started to play. I wondered if this was how Ed and Shirley felt about each other. Chewing on my bottom lip, I adjusted the volume so I could still hear what was going on around me. Then I blew out a soft sigh, the lyrics pulling at my heartstrings. Growing up, I’d never allowed myself to think that a good guy could want me, but after seeing Shirley and Ed, I was beginning to think that maybe love and happiness might actually be a possibility.
Chapter Five
“Next stop is Spokane, Washington,” the bus driver announced through the speaker.
Fear consumed me as I bolted upright in my seat and jerked my headphones out of my ears. Shit. I’d slept through my stop.
I shoved the now dead iPod into my backpack and finally realized that the lady who had been sitting beside me was gone. Anxiety tugged at my insides while I stood and made my way to the front of the bus.
“Hi, excuse me,” I said to the driver. “How far back is the bus station in Coeur d’Alene?”
