Two days later the Sons all met in Roswell for a final goodbye. It hadn’t taken long for word to spread that Tina and Jack would be stopping for dinner, and the entire club had turned out.
They had just spent the last three hours laughing, joking, and reminiscing. During the meal Seth called for attention and Tina was officially inducted into the club as a full member on an enthusiastic and unanimous vote… and she cried when Seth held her Desert Sons jacket for her to put on. As was customary, she bought the next round of beers for the club, then paid for nothing the rest of the evening.
Jack held her close as they watched the Sons look over the truck. A few peeked under the heavy Tyvek liners that enclosed the trailer and kept the cars clean, dry, and free from prying eyes, but most simply ogled the truck… Roger more than anyone.
“They still haven’t found your truck?” Jack asked as Roger climbed out of the cab.
“No. They can keep it. I’ll take this one instead.”
“I think I will phone in an anonymous tip tomorrow. This is stupid. I wonder if the damn truck is still sitting where I parked it.”
“No. Don’t do that. The truck is insured. If they don’t find it, I’ll get a new one. Don’t risk yourself over the truck. Besides, insurance is paying to go fishing at the moment since I can’t work. I’m in no hurry.”
Jack chuckled and slapped Rog on the back. “How’s the lip?”
“It’s still sore. Next time I tell you to hit me… don’t.”
“Let me make it up to you by buying you a beer.”
“That should make us about even,” Rog said with a grin.
The Sons’ little party finally began to break up about midnight. “Jack… I need to talk to you,” Seth said after all the others had left.
“What’s up, Seth?” Jack asked as he draped an arm around Tina.
“I don’t like this. I think Goremykin is setting you up.”
“Why would he do that? We’ve got his money.”
“Yeah. But if he fingers you, that may lead back to us. We lead to the money.”
“Don’t worry, Seth. It’ll be fine.”
“Jack, we worry about you,” Michelle said. “Seth and I… we don’t want anything to happen to you. Or Tina.”
“We have some time off coming,” Seth continued. “Let us run blocker for you. We can leave with you in the morning. I’ve always wanted to see the Atlantic Ocean.”
“No. Absolutely not. Thanks for the offer, but if Goremykin does put the squeeze on us, best you are nowhere around. I won’t roll on you guys, you know that. Tina won’t either. We’ll keep the Sons out of it.”
“But, Jack—” Michelle began.
“No buts, Michelle. Tina and I, we can handle it.”
“Jack, I—” Seth tried.
“No. Seth, seriously, thank you, but no. I don’t want anyone else involved. I think we can trust Goremykin, but if I can’t… The less people, involved the better.”
“Dammit, Jack. You—”
“No. The Sons are out of it. This is a separate contract between Goremykin and myself. Just let it go.” Jack grabbed Seth by the shoulder and gave him a gentle shake. “Why don’t you take your money and start your own dealership somewhere? It’s what you want. Take Michelle on a trip somewhere nice. Relax for a change. Okay?”
“Fine. We’ll do it your way. Take care, Jack,” he said before he turned and walked briskly away.
“We’re just trying to help, Jack,” Michelle said.
“I know, Michelle. But if this goes to shit, I don’t want anyone else to take a fall.”
Michelle looked at them a moment, then nodded and followed Seth.
“What’s his problem?” Tina asked once they were out of hearing.
“I don’t know. Seth has always been intense, but… I guess he is just worried that if we get bagged, I’ll drag the Sons down too.”
“He should know better than that!”
“Yeah. He should.” Jack stared after Seth until he and Michelle mounted his bike and rode away into the night.
***
“Jack!” Seth’s frantic voice came over the hands-free in the truck. “Where are you?”
“Uhh…” Jack stalled as he looked at the satnav. “Coming up on Sweetwater, Texas, about to head East on I-20. Why?”
“Is that East or West of Dallas?”
“West, why?”
“I just found out there is a national FOC—that’s the Ferraris Owners Club—meeting in Dallas this weekend.”
“Okay. So?”
“So! So do you want to drive through Dallas where every other person in town will recognize those Ferraris as the stolen cars the moment they lay eyes on them?”
“They’re out of sight. You worry too much,” Jack said as he looked at Tina and rolled his eyes.
“Better to not risk it. I did some looking. If you can keep going South, you can get on I-10 and avoid Dallas altogether.”
“Seth, for God’s sake. What is wrong with you? Nobody is going to see anything.”
“Jack, I’m telling you, if you go through Dallas, one phone call is all it would take. They would have all the expertise they need right there to know those cars are the real deal, despite the paperwork that says they’re fakes. That truck isn’t exactly hard to spot either. Why take the chance? If you were to get stopped anywhere else, you would probably get away with it, but not in Dallas. Not this weekend.”
“All right Seth. Thanks for the heads up.”
“Are you going South?” Tina prompted when he glanced at her.
“What do you do think?” Jack asked.
Tina started punching at the satnav. “It only adds four hours to the trip. Since we are just puttering along anyway, that won’t make any difference. Oooh… we could stop in New Orleans! I could flash my boobs and get some beads!”
Jack chuckled and focused back on the call. “I still think you’re being paranoid, Seth. But I want to see Tina flash her boobs. So yeah, I guess I will head South. But Jesus, you need to relax. You’re going to give yourself a heart attack.”
“You can’t be too careful. Thank you, Jack.”
“No problem. Anything else?”
“No. Got to run. People to do, things to see.”
Jack chuckled. “Okay. I’ll call you in a few days when we get to Savannah. But watch your texts. I’ll send you a picture of Tina flashing her boobs.”
“You will not!” Tina cried from the passenger seat, but Seth was already gone.
***
“Uh oh,” Jack said as he began to slow, spotting the line of cars at what could only be a routine police checkpoint.
“This isn’t good,” Tina echoed.
“Just relax and don’t panic,” he said with a grin and a wink. Jack slowed the truck to a stop just South of Menard, Texas. “How can I help you officer?” he asked after he crept through the line of traffic.
“Just a standard license check. License, log, and manifest please,” the officer said.
“Jac, hand me the paperwork please,” Jack said, holding his hand out to Tina.
Tina fished out the driver’s log and the rest of the paperwork Rodchenko had given them and handed them to Jack. He, in turn, handed the paperwork to the officer then pulled his license from his wallet and handed that over as well.
“This your truck, Mr. Lanier?” the officer asked as he checked the paperwork.
“No. I’m driving for Goremykin Transport.”
“Replica Ferraris, eh? Mind if I take a look?”
Tina’s heart sank and her stomach began to do somersaults, but she kept quiet as Jack stepped out of the truck. Fifteen minutes later he crawled back into the cab and handed her the paperwork. “He took some pictures for his kid.”
Tina couldn’t help it when she began to giggle in relief. “I hope he never finds out. How embarrassing would it be to have taken pictures of one hundred million dollars’ worth of stolen cars and not even know it?”
“Very,” Jack replied with a grin as the truck growled its way up to speed.
When they stopped for the night in San Antonio, Tina was jubilant. They had been stopped by the Texas highway patrol, passed them through with no questions asked, and Jack’s fake ID had stood up to a casual scrutiny. She was sure now they were going to make it and she was looking forward to starting her life again.
She and Jack spent the night in the truck. After their lovemaking, as she coasted into sleep, Tina realized she enjoyed the soft putter of the huge diesel engine at idle as its rhythmic thrum lulled her into a deep sleep.
Late the next afternoon, Jack pulled into the T/A truck stop in Lafayette, Louisiana. While Jack filled the tank Tina located a place to spend the night. As much as she liked sleeping in the truck—not to mention the fun they were having in the process—they needed a shower, and the truck stop showers gave her the willies. They had fallen into the routine of one night in the truck, the next night in a motel. This time they would spend a couple of nights in the motel, however, because Jack had agreed to pull the Audi off the trailer so they could spend tomorrow in New Orleans before they made their final push to Savannah.
After some looking she finally located a well-reviewed motel just outside of town with a large parking lot and located near a restaurant. She punched the location into the satnav, and when Jack finally returned to the cab, they set off for the short drive to their destination.
“Oh my God, it’s hot!” Tina gasped as her sunglasses fogged when she crawled down from the truck. “How do people stand it around here?”
“Said the woman that has lived her entire life in New Mexico,” Jack teased as he pulled their kit from the truck.
“Yeah… but here it’s hot and humid!”
“Well… look around. Nothing but swamps.”
They were in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana, a small town just East of Lafayette, and while there were no swamps in sight at the moment, she had seen more water today than she had ever seen in her life. It seemed the entire state was nothing but one big, mosquito-infested swamp.
“I know. I don’t know how people stand it. I’m starting to sweat already,” she groused as she peeked over the top of sunglasses.
“I thought you like working up a sweat,” he teased as he led her to the motel.
Tina snickered. “I do, but not from just standing around.”
***
They had dinner at a seafood restaurant across the parking lot from the motel. Tina had never been a fan of seafood… so she allowed the waitress to order for her as she delighted in listening to her soft, rolling speech pattern.
“I love how they talk here!” she gushed after the waitress left.
“You need to get out more,” Jack grinned as he poured on the New England accent. “Wait until we get to Georgia. Being that we are from there, you need to learn to speak like a southerner.”
“How are y’all?” Tina tried.
Jack’s explosive laugh indicated she had some work to do. “On the other hand, maybe you moved away as a baby before you learned to talk.”
“Oh yeah? Can you do better?”
Jack cleared his throat. “Howdy, y’all. I do believe I will have the peach cobbler and some ice cream,” he said in a passable southern accent.
Tina was impressed. “Where did you learn to talk like that?”
“Gone with the Wind.”
Tina snickered. “Uh-huh. I was born, but I wasn’t born yesterday.”
Jack shrugged. “It’s just easy for me to do. If I can listen to someone for a moment, I can kind of imitate how they sound.”
The waitress returned and placed their drink order and a roll of paper towels on the table before she scurried away. Tina took a sip of her iced tea and her eyes widened. “Whoa! That’s really sweet!”
Jack took a sip from his own glass and made a face. “Wow! They put a little tea in their sugar!”
Soon enough their food arrived and Tina took a tentative taste of her Jambalaya after blowing it cool. It didn’t look particularly appetizing, but the flavor of the thick rice dish, loaded with sausage, seafood, and chicken, exploded on her tongue.
“Oh my God! This is so good!” she exclaimed as she blew on another fork full before shoving it into her mouth. She had heard of Jambalaya, but had no idea what it tasted like. She also sampled Jack’s Gumbo, another dish she had heard of but never tried, and nodded her in approval at his choice.
“I couldn’t live here… I would weigh three-hundred pounds,” Tina said as she scraped up the last of her meal.
“How was it?” the waitress asked as she refilled their glasses.
“It was great! I didn’t think I liked seafood, but I like this.”
“Pooh… that’s just because you haven’t had good seafood. Where y’all from?”
“New Mexico,” Jack replied.
“Well no wonder y’all ain’t had good seafood before. Did you save room for dessert?”
“I’m stuffed,” Tina said.
“No room for some lemon meringue or pecan pie?”
Jack grinned. “One slice of each, please.”
“Comin’ right up.”
“Jack, I’m full. I can’t eat any more.”
“Me too, but I have always wanted to try those.”
The waitress returned and sat two thick slices of pie on the table, along with two new forks. Tina tried both, but nearly swooned over the pecan. “Make that four-hundred pounds,” she muttered as she took another bite of the pie.
***
“I ate way too much. I think I’m going to hurl,” Tina moaned as they walked out.
Jack snickered in sympathy. “I know how you feel. But it was good.”
“It was great! But I still didn’t have to make a pig of myself.”
“We’ll just have to work it off.”
Tina groaned. “I’m too full for that!”
“No. I meant for you to help me get the Audi off the truck.”
Tina giggled. “You did not, you big flirt.”
With much groaning about being too full to bend over, they released the Audi from its tie-downs before Jack started the truck and lowered the ramp. Once the car was off the trailer he secured it and truck while Tina parked the car.
Inside the room Jack talked to Marshall while Tina showered. He found that all the money had been distributed, with the exception of his and Tina’s cut, and the Sons were having a meeting to discuss if the club was going to continue to exist.
“I’m going to vote we disband, and I think most everyone else is going to vote the same way. The Desert Sons was your club, and it’s just not the same without you,” Marshall said.
Jack pursed his lips at the thought, but it was no longer his concern. “It is just as much yours, and the rest of the Sons’, as it was mine. You and me, we were the charter members.”
“I know. But you were the glue that held us all together.”
“What does Seth think?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t seen him. He didn’t come in to work today. I called him but he didn’t answer. I’ll try him again later tonight and make sure he is okay.”
“Okay. If you get him, tell him we got stopped yesterday.”
“Everything went okay, I assume, since you are not in jail.”
“Yep. The cop even took pictures of a couple of the cars for his son. But other than that, he didn’t bat an eye. I think Seth will find it funny that I got stopped after he warned me about it.”
Marshall chuckled. “I’ll tell him.”
“Tomorrow we are going to go sightseeing in New Orleans, and then on Wednesday we are going to drive to Mobile, or maybe Pensacola, and spend the night. Then drive the rest of the way to Savannah the next day.”
“Then what?”
“Then I’ll drop the truck, store the bikes, and… then I don’t know. Tina and I will have to talk about it.”
“Are you two going to… stay together?”
“I hope so. She is the best thing to happen to me since…”
“Since Colette?”
“Yeah.”
“She seems like a good woman, Jack. Don’t let her go unless you are damn sure.”
Jack smiled. “I don’t plan to. We’ll just have to see what happens.”
“Well, I wish both of you the best of luck. For whatever you want to do.”
“Thanks, Marshall. You’ve been a good friend.”
“As have you, Jack… as have you.”
“I’ll call you when we get to Savannah.”
“Do that. Let us know you made it safe.”
“Count on it.”
***
Jack and Tina spent the next day exploring the French Quarter. Even though it was mid-October, it was still warm enough for the dress she bought for her meeting with Rodchenko. Jack also dressed up, though he left his jacket at the motel.
Tina spent almost three thousand dollars on a new wardrobe for herself and Jack. Jack carried the packages without complaint, though they did have to stop and unload his burden into the car once, before she was satisfied she had everything they needed for their new life.
As the sun began to set they changed in a Walmart fitting room, with much snickering, into more formal attire for dinner a Gautreau’s, one of the town’s best restaurants.
“For someone that just changed in a Walmart, you look stunning!” Jack said as Tina stepped out in a rich, ruby red dress. The plunging neckline and hip-hugging cut presented her curves to devastating effect, and he kissed her gently on the lips.
“You cleaned up nicely yourself,” she purred as she adjusted his tie. There was nothing wrong with it, but it gave her an excuse to step in close and touch him. They walked out of the store, arm in arm, with their other clothes stuffed in the same bag they used to bring in their new.
They spent the next two hours being doted on by the wait staff at Gautreau’s and they enjoyed themselves immensely. It was by far the most romantic dinner Tina had ever had, with by far the most fantastic man she had ever met. As she lingered over the last of her wine, she couldn’t believe how lucky she was to have found Jack.
“What?” he asked.
“Nothing. I’m just so… happy. Happier than I have ever been. And I…”
“What?” he prompted when she trailed off.
“And I… feel so lucky that I met you.”
Jack took her hand into his own and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Would it surprise you if I were to say the same thing? That I am happier now than I have ever been... and I’m so glad you tried to steal my bike?”
She could feel herself wanting to cry. “Do you really mean that? Really?”
“I do. And even though you promised never to steal from me again… you have.”
Tina went cold. “What do you mean?”
“You’ve stolen my heart. I love you, Jacqueline Marie Wendell.”
Tina whimpered as she fought her tears, recovered, then whimpered again. “And I love you, Bradley Colt Lanier.”
“Stay with me. When we drop the truck off, stay with me. We’ll find someplace to live, and I want you to come with me. Live with me. Maybe even…”
“Marriage?” she whispered when he didn’t continue.
“Maybe. Come with me and let’s find out together.”
She whimpered again as her eyes filled with tears. “I will Jack. I will. I want to be with you, always. I will follow you anywhere.”
Jack smiled and brought her fingers to his lips for a tender kiss. “And I want to be with you… always.”
Tina sniffed as she looked down at the table and smiled. “It’s been almost two weeks since you made me cry. I thought I was past that.”
He kissed her fingers again before he released her hand. She’s had so much pain, so much loneliness, he thought as he waited for her to look up. But no more. Never again will she be alone and afraid.
She finally had control of her emotions and looked up to see him smiling at her—a tender loving smile that warmed her… and she smiled back.
***