Page 6 of The Hitchhikers
Jenny stared after her. Did she say something wrong? When Alice was finished in the bathroom, she came out and began putting away the glasses. Alice seemed fine, but Jenny didn’t want to possibly upset her again, so she washed the last plate and slipped outside.
While Jenny gathered her backpack, she listened to Tom telling Simon about the Winnebago. “It’s the smallest of the models, just twenty-three feet, but good enough for what we need. See the windshield there? It’s slanted six degrees, so it blends with the side windows, gives you views all around. Got a reserve gas tank and a V8 engine. It’ll climb mountains.”
Simon spotted Tom’s fishing rods, and the subject changed to fly fishing—something Tom was learning. Simon knew everything about fishing, in all types of water. Jenny tensed when Tom asked Simon how he’d gained so much experience, but Simon only muttered, “My dad.”
After they’d loaded the RV with their gear, Tom gave them a tour inside. Simon asked about the carpeted hump between the two front seats, and Tom explained that it covered the engine. He showed them how the passenger’s seat spun, but not the driver’sbecause it was blocked by the dinette, then had them try the seats so they could feel how comfortable they were.
When they were ready to leave, Simon ran to the bathroom, while Tom and Alice sat up front, looking over their map and discussing the day—where they would stop for lunch, where to get gas. Jenny waited at the table, facing the front of the RV so she could watch for Simon.
The RV was running when Simon jogged back, his eyes bright and excited looking. He sat beside Jenny at the table and dropped his arms around her shoulder. Tom slowly drove out of the campsite. As they passed the washrooms, Alice made a surprised sound.
“I thought those men would still be sleeping it off.”
Jenny looked out the window. Two of the motorcycles with the low handlebars were parked in the shade at the side of the washroom.
Alice turned in her seat. “Did they give you any trouble, Simon? They look rough.”
“Must have just missed them.”
When Tom and Alice began talking to each other again, Simon leaned closer to Jenny and whispered into her ear. “Found cash in one of their saddlebags.”
Jenny stared at Simon. Why would he take a risk like that? He could’ve been caught, gotten hurt.
“And this.” Simon lifted his shirt to show her the hunting knife clipped onto the waistband of his jeans. Abigknife, with a carved antler bone handle and an intricate scroll design on the leather sheath. It looked important. Like it had mattered to someone.
Jenny turned away, trying to catch her breath. She regretted all the food she had eaten, the overly sweet coffee and pancakes that now sat heavy in her stomach.
“No one saw me,” Simon murmured, and she nodded, but she couldn’t meet his eyes, too scared that he might see her upset.He might think she doubted him, or, worse, that she couldn’t handle their new life on the run. Up in the front, Alice spun the radio dial. Jenny’s thoughts flipped into new fears. She hadn’t thought about the radio. Would they be on the news? It would give their descriptions. Alice and Tom would figure it out. They would turn them in.
“I have a headache,” Jenny said. “Do you mind if we don’t listen to music?”
“Of course.” Alice reached over and shut off the radio.
CHAPTER 3ALICE
Alice listened to Blue and Ocean playing Uno at the table behind her, but it didn’t seem like Ocean was enjoying it. She spoke so softly Alice could barely hear her. She should offer something for Ocean’s headache, suggest she drink more water. She was probably making them feel unwelcome. When the couple fell completely silent, Alice looked over her shoulder.
Ocean was resting her head against Blue’s bicep, her eyes closed. Her strapless blue terry-cloth romper revealed her delicate clavicle and shoulders, the flatness of her upper chest. If Alice hadn’t seen the girl eat two helpings of pancakes, she would be deeply concerned about her health. She must be one of those naturally thin types.
Alice turned back around. Tom’s arm was on the edge of his open window, his mouth curved in a contented smile. He hadn’t noticed that Alice was annoyed. It was fine. Really. Tom loved helping people and he was spontaneous. He’d never even shown her the RV before he brought it home, just tied a ribbon around the keys and handed them to her with a grin.
They’d have company for only a little while longer, and then it would be the two of them again. Alice settled into her seat and focused on the stunning scenery. It was easy to do. Mountain ranges stretched in every direction, jutting from the earth, andsplitting the canyon. Some of the mountains were forested—hazy blue and green in the distance with a hint of snowcapped peaks. Others were jagged rocks and sheer stone faces that plunged into the river, then rose high on the other side. A few stubborn trees and bushes clung to the gray stone, while waterfalls forced their way through cracks. The single-lane highway snaked high above it all with only a low concrete meridian on one side protecting them from tumbling over the edge.
“Do you play any sports, Blue?” The sudden sound of Tom’s voice gave Alice a jolt. She glanced over her shoulder at Blue, waiting for his answer.
“Never had time,” he said. “I worked.”
“Nothing at all?” Tom said. “Not even hockey?” Alice smiled at the surprise in his voice. Her husband believed that every child should play on a team, the way he had growing up.
He shrugged. “Sometimes in the winter when the lake freezes over.”
“What about you, Ocean?” Tom said.
“My mom didn’t think girls should play sports.”
“Was she scared you might get hurt?” Alice said.
“Sort of.” Ocean dropped her gaze to the table, a slight flush blooming in her cheeks, and Alice regretted her question. It was clearly a sensitive subject. She turned back around.
