Page 28 of Shadow Touched

“I’m going to miss you,” she murmured. “ButI’m glad you have Leia.”

He returned her hug. “Me, too.”

“Thank you, Leia,” Kix said, holding out hishand.

“You don’t have to thank me,” she replied asshe took hold of it and shook firmly.

“If you need anything, anything at all, justlet me know. I am in your debt.”

Leia hugged Piper and Martha before Brimhanded her a spare helmet. He climbed on the bike and waited forher to settle in behind him.

“Cardinal is about two hours away,” Brimtold her. “You going to be okay for that long?”

She wrapped her arms around his waist. “I’llhold on tight.”

He grinned, patted her hand, then broughthis bike to life. With a wave at Kix, Piper, and Martha, Brimrevved the engine and off they went.

Chapter Eleven

Once again, the vibration of the motorcyclelulled her into a mindless, numb state. The wind whipped over her.She held onto Brim, enjoying the freedom of the ride. For themoment, she was one with the bike. One with Brim. As he sped downthe road, weaving around cars, Leia could forget everything. Shenow realized the attraction Brim had for the motorcycle.

Eventually they pulled into the smallMissouri town of Cardinal, population a little under four thousand,according to the designation sign. The freeway continued on, butthey turned onto the off ramp that led to the Wal-Mart. He rumbledto the front of the store, parking in the designated area forbikes.

“Get what you need,” Brim said as he pushedout the kickstand. “I’m buying.”

Leia dismounted from the bike, took off herhelmet and hung it on the handlebar. It took a moment for her kneesto stop feeling weak. “I need clothes and some toiletries.”

“That’s fine,” he said, getting off thebike. “We can dump everything at my house before heading to theclub.”

She blinked. “You have a house?”

“Yeah. Where do you think I live?”

“Well … at the club.”

“I used to when I was a young man, but everyyear that passes I need the soft comfort of my memory foam bed. Notto mention quiet. The club has neither.”

She grinned. “Are you saying you’re an oldman?”

He narrowed his eyes. “Watch it, missy.You’ll be my age one day.”

“Yes. Many … many … years fromnow.”

He slapped her on her rear end. “Don’t getcheeky on me.”

She chuckled as they walked side by sideinto Wal-Mart. Leia grabbed a cart before heading toward theclothing department. Brim told her he would catch up with her in afew minutes. As she made her way into the store, she got theuncomfortable feeling that she was being watched. Assurreptitiously as possible, Leia glanced around, trying to see ifher intuition was right. In another aisle, a blonde woman lookedover a rack of clothes. Leia hesitated because she looked vaguelyfamiliar. She racked her brain trying to remember. Maybe fromthe bar? Although that seemed like a long shot since the barwas so far away. As she stared, the woman glanced at her. Purehatred shone in the woman’s ice-cold gaze. It was so frighteningand unexpected that Leia hurried away, not wanting to disturb thewoman further.

Turning down another section where the jeanswere neatly folded, Leia picked a new pair before grabbing a fewt-shirts. She moved on to the feminine undergarments and once morethe feeling she was being watched returned. Leia looked behind herand saw the woman had followed her, not even pretending to shopanymore. She simply stared, and a prickly unease traveled downLeia’s spine. She chose a pack of panties and hurried on.

But the woman followed her, always stayingfar enough away to not pose too much of a risk yet staring withunadulterated loathing. Leia quickly chose a small toothpaste,toothbrush, and deodorant, needing to get far away from the woman.She wanted no part of whatever poison festered in the woman’s soul.Leia walked briskly toward the checkout.

“Leia,” Brim called out.

She paused and looked around until she sawhim walking toward her. “I’m ready to go.”

He cocked his head. “You okay?”

It was on the tip of her tongue to tell himabout the woman, but something held her back. Maybe it was becausethey were in a public place. Maybe because she just couldn’tremember where she’d seen the woman before.

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