He smiled sweetly. “Yes, but I thought I’d save your delicate sensibilities. If you’re not sitting here, waiting, not looking at anyone when I get back, I’ll shoot you.”
“No, you won’t.”
No, he wouldn’t, but he didn’t like her knowing that. “I’m on my very last nerv
e, Evangeline.” With that warning he headed to the restrooms.
Chapter Ten
He was going to find it, Evangeline thought, trying not to panic. No sense of decency would keep him from going into the ladies’ room: he’d see the note she’d scrawled on the mirror with the crayon she’d stolen from one of the tables set up for kids, complete with kids’ placemats. That was probably why Bishop had chosen this table—someone had been in the midst of cleaning it off and would know not to put kids’ stuff out. She wouldn’t put it past him—he seemed aware of the smallest details.
She didn’t like thinking about what his reaction was going to be. She could hope someone had gotten there first, but there were only two other women in the place, plus two waitresses, so it was unlikely anyone had gotten in there that quickly.
So far her luck had not been good. There was nothing she could do this time, just face the music. He wouldn’t shoot her, they both knew it, but after that she wasn’t sure what his limits were. She stretched her leg out on the banquette seat and rubbed her shin. His kick had hurt, damn it, enough so that she was having a hard time not limping when she came back.
Someone slid into the seat opposite her, and she looked up, expecting Bishop, only to find it was one of the truckers who’d been watching her while she ate. He’d been at the end of the counter, so Bishop, with his back to the wall, hadn’t been able to see him, but she had, and it had been uncomfortable. Worse when she came back from the restroom.
“Hey, little lady, you don’t look like you’re too happy,” he drawled in a cigarette voice just two packs short of cancer. He stunk of them, as well as sweat and diesel. So much for her Knight of the Road fantasy. “Your man been giving you trouble?”
“He’s not my man,” she said instantly, then regretted it as the trucker smiled, exposing nicotine-stained teeth that hadn’t seen a toothbrush in weeks, maybe months.
“Well, then, sugar, I’m your man. How’d you like a ride to Vegas? Lots going on there. Pretty girl like you could get work, no problem.”
Shit, Bishop was going to be furious. He’d told her not to talk to anyone, but this wasn’t her fault. “No, thank you,” she said politely.
“But why not? If he ain’t your man, he still treats you like shit. Couldn’t hear what you were saying, but I know when a women ain’t happy.”
I bet you do, she thought. She thought fast. “He’s taking me to see my grandmother. She’s dying. Of lung cancer,” she added for good effect.
“Damned shame. Where’s she live?”
Fuck, she wasn’t good at instant lies. “Albuquerque.”
“Well, hell, honey, why didn’t you say so? I’m my own boss, and this load’s supposed to end up in Albuquerque. I can bypass Vegas for a pretty little lady like you.”
“No, thanks. He’s my brother, and we never got along.”
“He doesn’t act like . . .” His words trailed off, and Evangeline knew why. Bishop was back, and he’d be in a very testy mood after seeing the message in the ladies’ room. Especially when he’d told her not to talk to anyone.
She turned and looked up at him. His face was completely blank, which made him very dangerous indeed. He wouldn’t shoot her, but she couldn’t count on him not shooting the trucker. “Hi,” she said brightly. “This gentleman sat down with me and offered to take me to Albuquerque to see Grandma, but I explained she’s your grandmother too, and even though you and I never got along, I’d still rather go with you. But he was very nice, and you don’t . . .”
“Get up,” Bishop said in a soft voice, and Evangeline was about to move when she realized he was talking to the trucker, who, idiotically, didn’t look afraid.
He was a burly man, with big, ham-like fists that he’d probably used on those unhappy women he’d mentioned, and he rose, all belligerence. Bishop was taller, but lacked his bulk, and all the other truckers had stopped eating, stopped talking, as the scene unfolded in front of them.
“You got a problem with me?” the trucker demanded. “Just passing time with the little lady. Didn’t look like she was too happy with you, and I was offering her an alternative. Out of the goodness of my heart,” he added.
Bishop didn’t speak, didn’t move. Then he did, and it was so fast Evangeline couldn’t see what he did, but the trucker ended up on the floor of the diner, groaning.
Bishop turned to look at the men who’d been following this. “Anyone else?” he said in an amiable voice.
They all looked away, mumbling denials. Bishop scooped up the containers of food and shoved them in a plastic bag he must have gotten from the waitress, and then he grabbed her arm and hauled her to her feet. At least that was what it felt like—the others would see it as a combination of ownership and solicitude. Fortunately he’d taken her left arm, and it was her left leg that was aching, so she didn’t have to worry about trying to disguise her limp.
No one said anything as they left the diner. No one said anything when he took her to the passenger side of the truck, opened the door for Merlin to jump out, then shoved her up into the seat, some of his temper coming through. “If you have an ounce of sense left in your overeducated brain, you’ll stay put and keep quiet. I don’t want excuses, I don’t want apologies, and I sure the fuck don’t want any more attitude. I’m going to feed Merlin, give him some exercise and then we’ll be off. Do I need to bind and gag you? Just shake your head—I don’t want to hear you speak right now.”
She should be afraid, very afraid. She’d never seen him this mad, and she knew just how dangerous he could be. She had to make that try in the bathroom—surely he’d understand that? She wasn’t some helpless female about to go gently into that dark night.
She did as she was told. Her arm hurt where he’d grabbed her, and she’d probably have bruises, but that was the least of her worries. Her leg was still aching, but she knew better than to complain, and watching Merlin caper about almost made her smile. Almost.