Page 3 of Slavic

I’mjust passing through the small town ofWaverlywhenIsee her glance back quickly.Immediately,Icheck my rearview mirror, looking to see ifIcan recognize anyone behind us. “Whatis it?”

“Turnaround … there’s an olderSUVfor sale back there.”

Atthe next red light,Iswing theCivicaround.We’veno more than pulled up in front of it when an older man with an armed forces hat comes walking out of the house. “Rowan, stay in the car.Thelast thing we need to do is explain those bruises of yours.Howmuch canIsafely spend this for?Ihave like five hundred on me, but that’s it.”

“Ruby,Ihave almost seventy thousand dollars stashed in there.Let’sjust say its severance pay for all the times he sold me in the last few years.”

Ibite down hard on my lip to keep from screaming, butImake myself get out of the car with a smile. “Hithere, saw your car here as we were passing by.Whatare you asking for it?Isthere anything wrong with it mechanically?”

“Askingfour thousand.It’sa solid little rideIwould trust to take me anywhere.Itwas my daughter’s, and she used it to get back and forth to school because it was easy on gas.Shejust got a big promotion and doesn’t need it any longer.”

“Ican give you thirty-five hundred cash right now if you have the title handy.”

Helooks over at my sister who has the window rolled down a little so that she can hear us, but her face is turned slightly away. “Don’tyou want to test drive it first?”

“I’lltake your word for it.”

“Manywouldn’t, but it seems you girls are in a hurry.Areyou in some sorta trouble,Miss?Nothingwrong with asking for help if you are.”

“Nahh, were good,Sir.Simplywondering about the car and if you’re going to take our deal or not?”Iwas getting ready to turn and head back to the car when his words stopped me.

“Cash, huh?”

“Yeah,Ihave it with me.”

“Goget your money youngin andI’llget the title.Mydaughter’s already signed it, so all you have to do is take it to the title agency and get it transferred over.”

“I’llmeet you back here in a minute, then.”Hejust nods his head and walks back toward the house.Bythe timeIget to the car,Rowanis handing me the cash out the window.

“I’lltake your car and meet you at thatWalmartwe passed a few miles back.You’llfind me parked out back near their service area.”

“I’llbe there as quick asIcan,Rowan.”Iwatch as she climbs over the console and into the driver’s seat.Shestarts the car, andIsee her check for traffic before pulling out.Myfirst thought is ‘Iwonder how long it’s been since she’s been behind the wheel?’Someoneclearing their throat has me turning around.

“Hereyou go young lady, two sets of keys and the title.Ifilled it up right before sitting it out here, so she has a full tank of gas as well.Areyou sureIcan’t offer you girls anything else?Maybea safe place to stay for a few days?Inthe armed forces,Isaw many things, and scared eyes are always easy to spot if you know the signs.”

“I… we appreciate it.Iwould love to tell you that your instincts are failing you, butIwon’t.However, if you’re ever asked, please act like you’ve never seen me or my sister.Iwould tell you more, but the less you know the better.Here’sthe money.”Heshakes his head and starts to hand the money back to me, butIrefuse it. “Keepit, where we’re headed, we won’t need it.Thankyou for your concern, and it’s nice to know some people are still willing to help.”

Hittingthe button to unlock theSUV,Iclimb in.It’sa little plain on the inside, but it’s clean and smells good.Turningthe key, it starts right up andI’mhappy to see there are no lights lit up on the dashboard.Theolder guy is still standing in his driveway, soIwave asIpull off.Withina few minutes,I’mcircling around the back ofWalmartlooking for myCivic.

ThemomentRowanspots me, she pops the trunk and gets out of the car.Parkingbehind her,Icatch sight of the lever for the back hatch asIget out.Whileit’s opening,Iwalk over and grab the few bagsIhad in the trunk.Rowanthrows her little bag in and then goes back to close my lid, kneeling down behind the car with a dime in her hand.

“Whatare you doing?”

“Takingthis license plate off.”Iwatch her turn the bolts with a dime, slightly impressed that she would even think to do that.Onceshe gets the tag off, she brings it over to the back of theSUV.Securingit to the back bumper, we both get in andIlook over at the little car that had never failed me for a second before driving off.

“HeyRowan,Ialmost forgot to ask, do you have your meds with ya?”

“Yes,Ihave them tucked in the bottom of this bag.Shouldhave enough to last me a few months ifIdon’t have a bad attack.”

“Onthe way here,Inoticed a gas station up ahead.I’mgonna pull in and get us some snacks and a burner phone.Insteadof driving in no particular direction,Ineed to make a few calls.”Rowanreaches down for that bag again, pulling out an old flip phone.

“Wow, that is a magic bag, isn’t it?”Teasingher,Iwas hoping to see a glimpse of my sister in the shadows of her eyes.

“I’vehad a lot of time on my hands,Ruby.Thisis allI’vegot; the rest is up to you.”

“Well, then dial this number and then give me the phone.”Ipull the receipt out of my pocket and give it to her.Themoment it starts ringing she hands it back.I’mabout to hang up when an older woman’s voice comes on the line.

“Hello?”

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