Page 18 of Ash

As soon as she stepped into the hallway just outside the bathroom doors, Suzannah gave a start.

"The bus!" Her heart shot into her throat, and she moved into the main room of the Diner.

There was an 18-wheeler standing in the place where the bus had been.

Alice was there, rubbing her back. "Hey, it's okay. Things like this happen."

Suzannah turned her head to look at Alice. "But my bags. All of my things." Panic was stirring up to a fever pitch. "I'm going to lose everything!"

Alice moved Suzannah back to her seat at the counter. Her glass of water was still there, but the ice cubes had melted. And there was a brown paper bag sitting on the counter in front of her seat. She sat down heavily and stared at the brown paper bag. "You must have thought I left without paying you."

"Actually," Alice gently rubbed her back, "I was worried that something happened to you. We had a handful of rigs come through. A bunch of guys so I never knew that the women's bathroom door was locked. By the time we finished getting those men fed and on their way, I noticed that... that horrible man had left and when I didn't see you-"

Suzannah swallowed hard, knowing exactly what she was saying. "I... I locked myself in because he... he tried to push me into the bathroom, he was-"

Her voice went silent as her throat squeezed tight.

"You did the right thing. I'm... I'm sorry I didn't see him follow you."

Suzannah turned on the stool and struggled to speak. "You couldn't know."

Alice crouched down to look her straight in the eye. "I'm sorry you were afraid. That's horrible."

A man cleared his throat and Suzannah looked up to see the chef standing in the doorway to the kitchen. "I'm never letting him in here ever again." He looked over at Alice. "I'm not going to let him anywhere near you, honey."

Alice's cheeks blushed with a rosy pink.

Suzannah saw Don turn to look at her again. "Can we call someone for you?"

Suzannah started to shake her head before she remembered that "I have a letter in my purse." Opening the front of her loosebutton-down blouse she'd layered over her red and white dress, she twisted the messenger bag she was wearing and unzippered the top. Reaching in, she pulled out the letter from the attorney. Even though she knew she was safe, her hands were shaking.

"Here," Don stepped up and gingerly took the envelope from her hands, "I'll make a call for you."

He moved to the wall and picked up the handset and dialed the number off of the letterhead. Suzannah sat there waiting as Alice moved around the diner. By the time the call was finished, she had a new glass of ice-cold water and a bowl of chili with crackers beside it.

Don gave her a smile. "They have someone coming to get you. They should be here in an hour or so."

Suzannah couldn't figure out the math on that. "An hour? On the bus it would have been the better part of four!"

Don shrugged. "They said they had a feeling something was wrong, so they sent you a ride before I even called." He looked at Alice. "I guess that makes sense for a place called Mystic Mountain, right?"

Alice's smile at her husband warmed Suzannah's heart. "I would have driven her there if they weren't already sending a ride."

Don nodded and Suzannah knew that this wasn't a shock to the man.

"I would have gone with you, honey. If only to hear you sing the radio."

Alice laughed. "You know I can't carry a tune!"

"Yeah." Don laughed along with her. "But you smile so brightly when you sing. It makes me smile."

Alice turned back to Suzannah. "Go ahead," she encouraged her, "eat up. Don will make you another sandwich to take with you."

Suzannah reached for her purse and her money. "I'm so sorry-"

Alice stilled her hands with a touch. "Don't worry. You don't need to pay us. On the house. It'll be good just to make sure you get where you need to go."

Suzannah bit into her lip feeling embarrassed. "I didn't mean to be a problem."

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