Page 48 of Johnny Gun

Johnny’s nostrils flared. His blue eyes flashed. The muscles in his jaw clenched and relaxed. An image of a charging bull appeared in her mind. Would he give in? Kiss her…touch her? Unfortunately, she made the mistake of smiling too soon and shattered the spell.

Frowning, he put his mug in the sink. “Good. We’ll have breakfast in town. I found a place. Then we’ll shop for supplies.” The stiff words were meant to maintain his efficient and unemotional demeanor. But Isolde had discovered the dangling tip of anunraveling thread. She had every intention to keep on pulling until his cover came undone.

The ride into White Springs along the solitary Fl-136 went by pretty quickly. Johnny turned right on US Route 41, and a few more houses appeared on both sides, giving credence to the termdowntown.They were not in a populated or highly traveled area, which worked well with Johnny’s hiding-out plans.

Isolde glanced out the window at the passing landscape, so different from where she lived. Winter storms had struck several glancing blows to Dalton, leaving behind crisp, cool air. It was much hotter and sunnier down here. She guessed the temperature was in the high seventies, and it wasn’t even noon yet.

“There’s our restaurant.” Without releasing the wheel, Johnny pointed to an unpretentious long bungalow with a green open-gable roof on the left side of the street. The surrounding parking area, crowded at the moment, was an indication of good food. A hard-to-miss sign announcing “The Happy Pig” stood near the street.

Isolde wouldn’t call it a restaurant, but then again, in these parts, this was the closest they might find to one.

Johnny pulled into the parking lot. He turned off the engine, and, remembering his last admonition, she waited until he came around and helped her down. Did he crack a smile or give her an approving nod? Nope. He was still holding on to his shitty mood.

Let’s see how long this lasts, she thought as they entered the place.

The Happy Pig was bright, spacious inside, and fairly busy, but not packed. Sitting arrangements consisted of long tables for family-style eating and shorter ones for folks who preferred to eat alone or with a small group. An ancient jukebox sat near a well-stocked bar, and an abundance of mismatched pictures, posters, and framed photos decorated the walls. The owner took pride in this establishment and kept the place clean. The tables, counters, and wood floors gleamed.

“Welcome. Sit wherever you like,” a middle-aged lady greeted them from the bar, and Johnny led Isolde to a table in the front corner.

“Look, Daddy. A jukebox. I haven’t seen one of those in years.”

“Looks real old to me.” He shrugged. “Probably doesn’t work.”

“Gah, what’s wrong with you?” She was close to reaching her limit.

“What do you mean?”

He had the nerve to appear bewildered, but she saw the lady approach and decided to drop the matter.

“Hi, guys.” She put menus down. “Welcome. I’m Therese. Are you visiting or passing through?”

Isolde bit her tongue. The response was Johnny’s territory. He’d answer according to his plan.

He smiled at Therese. “We spent the night nearby. We may decide to stay a few days. Do some canoeing.”

“Oh, I know. You’re the guests staying at the River’s Edge Road property. It’s real nice and private for a young couple.” She winked at Johnny, and Isolde almost laughed. If she only knew.

“I’m sure it’s equipped for fishing and water sports,” Therese continued. “Anyway, I’ll let you check the menu. Can I bring you something to drink?”

“Isolde?” Johnny asked.

“Coffee and water for me, please,” she said.

“Same.”

“Be right back, and by the way, we’re only doing breakfast, but if you’ve got a hankering for a burger, we could manage one.”

Therese left, and Johnny muttered, “Hankering?”

“Yeah. As in craving, yearning, desiring something very badly.”

“I know what it means. She surprised me, is all.”

“City people don’t use the term. It’s more of a country, down-home kind of thing.”

“I guess so.” Johnny turned his attention to the menu.

Sighing, she went through the breakfast offerings. But she couldn’t get excited about the choices or shake off her disappointment at this turn of events. She’d put such high hopes on this escapade with Johnny. Now she glanced at long and tedious days in near isolation with a man who’d closed himself off to her. She’d made a terrible mistake.

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