Weekend Warriors (Sisterhood #1)(31)
“And I love you, too, dear,” Myra called after her.
Ten days later, the eighteen-wheeler gobbled up the miles on the interstate as Kathryn Lucas and Yoko Akia sat in companionable silence, the Belgian Malinois nestled between them. They spoke from time to time about the highway, the miles to a gallon the rig got, the scenery and the different loads of merchandise she had transported over the years.
They’d been on the road for two days and still hadn’t discussed what had transpired back in Virginia or what would transpire once they got to California.
“We’re going to stop at the next road stop, Yoko. Fish some money out of that shoebox. I’ll need to fill up and it’s time to eat. Remember now, don’t do anything to call attention to yourself. This is a straight, legitimate run but we still don’t want to give anyone anything to remember.”
“I understand, Kathryn. Three hundred dollars should be sufficient,” she said, reaching for the Ferragamo shoebox. She snapped the rubber band back into place and set the box back on the floor. She settled her baseball cap, a gift from Kathryn, more firmly on her head. She looked like a child of thirteen when in fact she was thirty-six.
“Are you going to keep driving, Kathryn? It must be very lonely for you with no one to talk to. I understand you talk to Murphy but he does not answer you back.”
“It is lonely. I’ve been thinking about a lot of things but I’m so in debt I have to keep doing this. If I live to be a hundred, I’m not sure I can ever get caught up. Alan’s medical bills were in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If I don’t drive, I don’t know what I’d do. I can’t see myself sitting in some engineering office working on something I probably wouldn’t like. I’ve been on the road and in the open too long. They’d probably fire me after the first week, if I lasted that long.”
Yoko stared out the window. “What state are we in again?”
“Kansas. We’ll be bypassing Oakley soon. There’s a decent stop ahead and the food is pretty good. They don’t have rice, though, Yoko, and they aren’t big on fresh vegetables.”
“It is all right, Kathryn. When in Rome…” she giggled.
“You were so worried about being away the other day. How did you manage the time with the nursery? Who’s going to take care of it?”
“A family friend. My husband is in California. I hope I do not run into him. He is a cinematographer. A very good one. I, too, am fond of the camera but the nursery pays the bills. I like working with the earth, with flowers and vegetables. I told my husband a fib. No, it was an outright lie. I said I had family matters to take care of and he would see me when I finished my business. When I thought about it, I realized it was not a lie. One day it will be my turn to avenge my mother but in order to do that I must be patient and help those who go before me. My husband is very modern in his thinking. He wants me to have my life, my space. We talked about this very much. Many times. It is I who worry. I will not let you down.”
“We got off to a rocky start that first day. I’m sorry.” Kathryn reached across to pat Yoko’s arm.
“I understand. We were all jittery, not knowing what to expect.”
“What we did, what we more or less expected, did it turn out the way you wanted? I guess that’s what I’m trying to say.” Kathryn said.
“I think so. I think each of us wanted our case to be first. I am content to wait my turn. I see now how things will work. Charles appears to have all the right connections. He must have been a very powerful man when he was in service to the Queen. I’m happy that you were chosen first, Kathryn. You have carried too many things too long on your shoulders.”
“But you don’t approve of the punishment.” It was more of a question than a statement.
“I’ve had time to think about it and sleep on it. I now agree. However, I think the others are wrong about the men only going after you because the circumstances just happened to be right that night. I think those men have done this many times before. I think they feel confident enough, macho enough, to believe they won’t get caught. And they haven’t been caught. Until now. I think I will be proved right.”
Kathryn concentrated on the overhead signs on the interstate. “That doesn’t make me feel any better, Yoko. Nothing will make me feel better until those bastards get what they deserve.”
“It will happen. We must stay calm, centered. You know that from your martial arts teachings. I like this truck,” she said suddenly.
“I can teach you to drive it when this is all over if you like,” Kathryn smiled.
“My legs are far too short. I am content to ride…lookout.”
“Shotgun,” Kathryn laughed. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Yoko scratching Murphy behind his ears. The big dog was in seventh heaven with all the attention he was receiving.
“Do you think your dog is starting to like me, Kathryn?”
“Yep. Show Yoko how much you like her, Murphy.” The Malinois wiggled around, placed his front paws on her lap, and barked for her to lower her head so he could lick her chin. “Okay, you’re his bud now. It’s comforting to know there’s someone, even if it’s an animal, who will protect you with their life. If I tell you something, Yoko, will you promise never to tell anyone? You have to swear to me.”