Wild, Hard, Sweet | Page 3

over.
'Hot damn,' Charley said, coming out from under the tarp and swinging down to the ground.
'Gotta get you out of here!' She seemed pleased in the dark.
'I guess. Can't go to Portland. I'm afraid of the Boston bus station. I don't know. Worcester, maybe. I doubt they'd be over there. When do you have to be back?'
'Lunch shift tomorrow.'
'You up for Worcester?'
'Why not' Had the day off, didn't do anything.'
'How about we go over to New Hampshire the back way, then head south?'
'O.K.'
'I'll stay down until we get to a diner somewhere out of state. Then maybe you could get us something to eat. How's the gas?'
'Half, three quarters.'
'Good deal.' He climbed back into the truck. 'You're a princess.'
Charley had eaten the rest of his food earlier; he was hungry when Darlene stopped outside of North Conway. He handed her one of Harry's bills. 'One of everything and whatever you want.'
'Big spender.'
'Maybe a western sandwich and a roast beef sandwich, mayo, the works. Large coffee, regular. I'd better stay out here. I think I can ride up front, though.'
'What about pie?'
'Yeah, pie.'
Darlene bounced through the door. She looked free, not hung up at all about harboring a fugitive or whatever she was doing. She was a year behind him and Ginny in school, on the chubby side, good natured. He hadn't paid much attention to her. A lot of the girls put on weight after graduation. She'd lost some. Looked better, actually. Probably working all those shifts at Jack's. She had that straight scar that ran past the corner of her mouth, made her look serious. When she smiled, the scar was like an elevator going up, and she seemed twice as cheerful. Kicked by a skate when she was little.
Darlene shouldered her way outside with a bag under her arm and a cup in each hand. He leaned over and opened the door. He took the cups and straightened. 'Smells good.'
She got in and opened the bag. 'Which one you want first?'
'Western.' He ate half of it in two bites and took a long swallow of coffee. 'Finest kind! Damn, I'm hungry.' He took another bite. 'What did you get?'
'Red beans and rice, chef's salad.' She reached into the pocket of her blouse. 'Here's the change.'
'You better keep that.'
'I don't want your money, Charley.'
'Shit, Darlene--at least take it for gas, the truck, and stuff.'
'You got enough to get on?'
'Plenty.'
'All right.' She put the money in her wallet. 'I don't want to feel bought, is all.'
'No way,' Charley said, relieved. 'You know, maybe you shouldn't say anything to Ginny right away, maybe let the cops get off her back. I could give you a note. You could say you found it under the door.'
'I'll just wait 'til no one's around and tell her. She won't say anything. Not Ginny.'
'It's crazy,' he said. 'Who gives a shit about a couple of joints?'
'I heard you were buying a boat load.'
'I guess that's what pisses them off.' He bit into the roast beef. 'Making money off it. No taxes. It was a dumb idea, though.'
'What are you going to do?'
'Don't know. But I'm not going to Thomaston--not unless they catch me. We get to Worcester, I'll take a bus somewhere, I guess. Pie's a little gooey.'
'Canned apples,' she said, 'some kind of sin in September.'
'Not too bad, though,' he said.
It was three in the morning when they stopped outside a Howard Johnson's in Worcester, too late to rent a room. They dozed in the cab until the first gray light. They'd been in a good mood driving down, talking about the old days, but they weren't smiling when they woke up.
'The bus station isn't far, might as well get out here.' He went around and pulled his blanket roll from the back. He wanted to give her more money, but he knew she wouldn't take it. Darlene came to him and hugged him hard. She pulled her head back.
'Could I have a kiss?'
Their mouths met, awkwardly and then firmly, saying hello and goodbye in a long honest meeting. 'I always wanted to kiss you, Charley,' she said.
'Yeah,' he said. 'You take care of yourself.' He shook his head. He could get used to kisses like that. 'Getting light. You don't want to be seen with me.' He stepped back and put the blanket roll over his shoulder. 'Getting attached to this thing.' He raised one hand. 'Thanks, Darlene.'
Two tears rolled down her cheeks. "Bye, Charley."
'You're a beauty,' he said and turned away. He walked around the corner and stopped, listening for the sound of her truck. He heard her start it, back it around, and drive in the other direction. The sound echoed and died away. He was weak in the knees. If she had followed him, he didn't know what he would