Chapter XIV
She’s going into hypothermia," Jack muttered quietly to the other two," I got to get her near some heat." Krista pulled back and struck jack square face as hard as she could.
Jack struggled to keep his balance after the blow and wiped the blood escaping from the side of his mouth.
"You brought us out here and made us walk for miles without ever stopping to see if she was alright! And now...Mary’s gonna die!"
Jack shook his head and rushed towards the side of the highway, “I don’t have time for this," He Said Tiredly as he thrust Krista to the side.
His teeth chattering in the harsh cold, Jack lifted up his hand and stuck out his thumb.
"I've only got a ride twice that a can remember so pray we get lucky." There wasn’t much talking afterwards, partially because Krista was so sure that Jack would say something smart and walk off that she was taken a bit off guard.
After several minutes a blue Dodge Charger finally began to slow down as its innermost tires crunched the gravel. "There is a God," Mina muttered coldly.
"No he was already there," Jack replied equally grim, “But he’s actually through messing with us for now."
Suddenly they heard the low pitched hum of a window rolling down. A middle aged Black woman wearing a purple sweat-shirt peered out the window as she placed her coffee mug in a cup holder.
She was the kind of person that would wear too much makeup no matter how many people told her she looked much better without it, and indeed, she was wearing way too much.
"What are you kids doing out here, its freezing cold," she said in that semi-worried matter-of-fact tone that most people in they’re 30's do.
Krista opened her mouth to speak, “We---Then Jack cut her off, “Our Car broke down ma'am and we need a ride to Statesville. We would have sent for a tow truck or called the police but we didn’t have a cell phone on us, I left mine at the house."
The woman gave a sort of thoughtful grin, “In that place you can use my cell phone to call for a tow truck, and if you want then I can drop you guys off in Statesville."
"Thank very much Ma'am," Jack said in a warm tone, "I’m Jack Johansson, and this is Mina, Mary and Krista."
"I’m Janet,” She replied, “Glad help you kids out."
Jack had been worried that The woman would wonder why she shouldn’t just drop them off by they’re "wrecked Vehicle" or at least call the police.
Even then he had at least expected the girls to say something, but they hadn't at this point.
Now he had one last item to take care of: the fake phone call to the tow truck company.
---
"Yes sir. Um---its down on liledoun road--mm Hmm--Ye...Yes sir. No, thank you sir. Bye," Jack finished as he pretended to press the "end call" button.
The worst was over, and apparently Janet, and even the girls had bought it. He really hated lying, for two reasons.
It made his conscience itch and he wasn’t too terribly good at it. it appeared to him that the more he had to make up the worse he was at finishing it.
Of course, being accused of a crime he didn’t commit he was doing allot of it lately. Janet had noticed Mary shivering and helped her into the car and briskly turned on the cars heater.
Being the kind lady that she was she even produced some blankets out of the trunk and wrapped the young girl in them.
She could barely breath, but she was warming up quickly and her teeth began to un-clench.
Soon everyone had loaded into the car and Janet turned the keys in the ignition.
Jack knew from experience that long car trips usually produce conversations. Conversations about what they’re names were and where they were from.
His troubles were far from over.
---
again, thank you for you're readership.
Piece
