Christmas Knight

by Kimberly Llewellyn

  "Thanks anyway, but that won't do me any good right now. Not when I should be on the road, a long ways from here by now." Tori sniffled and held the quilt more tightly to stop her uncontrollable shaking that had started up again. "I'm sorry. I'm not usually like this. Thank you for your help. I'll just sit in the car until those authorities show up and find me."

  Zach helplessly watched her swipe at her tears until her words rang in his head. An image formed in his mind of her sitting and freezing in that flimsy shirt and jacket in her unheated car until dawn.

  She'll never make it.

  "I'll be sure to radio for help as soon as I can. It'll take me a while to walk back to the truck, but sure a trooper will be along after that. Now, let's get you back in the car."

  Tori did an about-face to obey his orders. She sat in her Ford, and then lowered her head. "I promised I'd be home. How can I break that promise?" Again, she started with the waterworks.

  What could be so important that she could get herself this worked up? Looking down at her, he could see she was in no condition to discuss it. Besides, he convinced himself, if she wanted him to know, she would have told him.

  He stood wordless and watched Tori drop her head into her hands. He fought the urge to ask if she'd like to sit with him in his warm cab and wait, or even like a ride. He simply had no room for some girl pumped up on caffeine, who cried at the drop of a hat.

  Space was tight enough with him and his dog, Spike. Besides, after the incident with the mace, he knew she wouldn't be crazy enough to hop in a truck and drive off into the night with a stranger and his dog, anyway. Why bother asking?

  Despite his thoughts, his lips parted, ready to ask that very question. What harm could it really do? It would just be an offer. An offer she'd definitely refuse. But before Zach could ask, Tori drew her sorrowful expression to his.

  "Thanks for the offer of the money. But I can't accept it. Don't worry, I'll find a way home." She choked back another sob.

  Zach shut his lips tight, nodded, and closed the car door. He shut down the hood of the vehicle, gave a low wave, and headed back up the road.

  "Zach!"

  He turned around to see Tori's head poking out of her car window. He walked back over to her. "I want to thank you for stopping." She brought one arm out from under her jacket and extended it through the opened window to shake hands. He took care not to hold on too tightly for fear of crushing her dainty fingers.

  Although she shivered in the cold, her hand felt warm against his. And soft and velvety and comforting on a cold winter's night.

  "And thanks for putting up with the way I treated you at first," she added.

  "No problem. How else should you treat a stranger on a dark road?" He allowed her fingers to slip from his, conscious of the oil on his hands. She didn't seem to care about that and made no motion to wipe his touch from her palm.

  She pointed to his head and said, "Oh, and I'm really sorry about that bump." When she looked up at him, he could see the faint outline of a smile on her lips.

  "Don't worry about it. I almost forgot I even had a headache. Now shut out those headlights before you kill the battery, too," he gently commanded, amusement in his voice. He looked down at her one last time. Even in the dark night, he somehow noticed a new moistness welling in her eyes. She immediately brushed away the wet glint with one hand.

  "Are you going to be okay?" he asked.

  "I'll be fine. It's been a rough few weeks. There's no sense in getting all worked up, though. What's done is done."

  Tori sucked in a big gulp of air, thanked Zach once more and rolled up her window.

  Zach hiked back toward his rig. He recalled reaming her for not having oil in her car. And when her tears came, he'd offered no solace. What a heel.

  You just stood there and let her cry. Then left her all alone. Now get out of here fast before you do something really stupid, like drag her into your life.

  He raised the collar of his heavy flannel shirt up around his neck to keep out the occasional gusts of biting wind. The cold usually didn't affect him so much as it had tonight, but something different lingered in the air. If only he could put his finger on it. He forced himself to stop thinking about Tori Adams and instead, dwell on meeting his delivery deadline.

  Free from taking on the responsibility of such a beautiful, high-strung passenger, Zach hiked with long, impatient strides back to his truck. He had to put the thought of Tori, her great smelling hair, and her petite, shapely body out of his mind and get on the road to make up for this lost precious time. He also had to remind himself he couldn't risk taking in a passenger, anyway. Not for this trip. Besides, a woman like Tori Adams would never set foot in his rig if she knew it was stolen.

  Chapter 2

  Tori sat in her driver's seat and watched another car pass by, its headlights brightening up the view before it. That view included Zach's long, lean form trekking along the snowy road. She expected the car to stop and offer assistance the same way Zach had. But it didn't. It merely drove on. Not everyone, she thought ruefully, was like Zach Endicott.

  She watched until the car passed him, causing the back of his body to finally fade into the blackness. Suddenly isolated, a violent shiver shook her.

  She pulled the quilt more tightly around her while she waited for help. With this kind of weather, it would take a patrol car or tow truck quite some time to get out and help her, especially if other snowbound victims on more treacherous roads warranted attention first.

  At least Zach said he'd call for help as soon as he made it back to his truck. Tori held onto the quilt, but another shiver coursed through her. She brought the material around her face and inhaled its familiar scent. She could still smell little Stephen on it. She thought back to when her son had been small enough for her to wrap him in it several times over. She found it hard to imagine he was four years old already.

  It had been several agonizing months since she'd last seen him. Never had she been apart from him for so long. Agreeing to have her parents watch him was the hardest decision of her life. But they were right. Taking up residency in a college with a busy schedule of classes and dance training left no time to work to pay for day care. The invitation to study dance full time was an opportunity of a lifetime.

  But it came with its sacrifices. She'd missed Stephen's birthday. She'd missed his Halloween costume. She also ended up having to cancel her visit home for Thanksgiving. And now, she realized bleakly, she would miss Christmas, despite her promise.

  Tori nuzzled the quilt along her face, stroking its soft worn edge against her skin. She missed him terribly. She had to get home to see him at any cost. What kind of mom would break her promise? How could she miss his awestruck face as he tore into his gifts Christmas morning and seeing that same face covered in cranberry sauce by that afternoon?

  She couldn't.

  She looked through the windshield, into the darkness of night and hated the helplessness filling her. Helplessness over not getting home. But she couldn't have it. She simply had to see her son in time for Christmas. But how?

  "Zach," Tori whispered.

  She peered harder into the night to try to get one final glimpse of the man who'd stopped to help her. She saw nothing. Clutching the small quilt, she opened her car door. She grabbed her duffel bag, along with an armful of gifts, and abandoned the safety of her car.

  * * *

  Zach lifted the snow-encrusted door handle of his truck several times to try and break the sticking door free. From inside the cab, Spike barked while viewing his master through the foggy window. Upon hearing a faint shout in the distance, Zach stopped his action.

  "Zach!"

  He stopped and looked down the road to see Tori lugging her bundles and running toward him. He watched her pause to pick up a wrapped package that slipped and landed on the snow. He groaned and walked back toward her to help her with her things.

  "What are you doing?" He grabbed the heavy duffel bag from her and swung it acros
s his shoulder with ease.

  "I got worried. I didn't like being alone all of a sudden. I wasn't sure whether you'd remember to call for help."

  "I thought I told you to stay in your car." He turned and headed toward the truck. Tori tagged along, trying to keep up with his long stride.

  "Did you call yet?" She spoke louder to make up for the increased distance between them.

  Zach didn't slow down, nor did he bother to turn around. "No. No, I didn't. I haven't even made it into the cab yet," he announced over his shoulder.

  "But you were going to call, right?"

  Zach didn't respond. Instead, he tried to figure out what to do now that Tori had latched onto him. Stopping to see if she was okay was one thing, but he couldn't afford to babysit her. Babysitting was out of the question. Time was too short as it was.

  "What's the matter?" she finally called out from behind him.

  Zach halted and turned to her. He stood and waited for her to catch up. "You want know what's the matter? I have a deadline and I'm already behind schedule. You shouldn't have followed me. You'll only hold me up."

  He knew where this was going. He'd wind up with a beautiful little stowaway if he weren't careful and he couldn't have that happen. He had to get mean. Be firm. He could not let Tori come along for the ride. Not under the circumstances. It was too risky.

  "I had no choice. I had to follow you."

  Zach brought his face down closer to meet hers. He willed himself to go tough on her. It was for her own good. "Because you're here now, I have to wait around even longer until someone picks you up. I only stopped to see if you were okay. And you look okay to me."

  He turned back around and headed toward the truck. Maybe Tori would get the message she had to leave him alone, and then return to her car. Maybe not. He hopped onto the ledge of the rig's trailer and inspected the door. Tori marched up alongside him, the gifts again spilling from her grasp. With her loose bundles at her feet, she stood silent and frowned up at him.

  "I'm not okay. I need your help. I can't wait around for help. It could be hours. I've got to get home, or die trying. Normally, I'd never take a ride from a stranger, but I'm desperate. You're on the same road as I am, so can't you take me as far as you can? I promise I won't be any trouble. Please. Take me with you."

  "You don't even know where I'm headed."

  "I'll bet you're going to St. Louis, just like me."

  "What makes you say that?"

  "It's no coincidence. Not on this road. It's the only one headed that way. It's a straight twenty-four-hour drive there. To get there at a reasonable time, you leave at three in the morning, while there's not a soul on the road. How am I doing so far?"

  "Sounds like you've made this drive before," he grumbled.

  "Once or twice," she said. "Either you're going to St. Louis or passing through there. Which is it?"

  With reluctance, he chuckled. "You know, you'd make a great trucker someday."

  "So I am right! You'll take me?" she asked, hopefulness in her voice.

  "You don't want a ride from me. Trust me. I'm no good."

  "You can't be all that bad. Four cars had passed me and none of them stopped... except you. That tells me a lot. So please? I'll sit quiet and stay out of your way."

  Zach thought about the consequences of having her along. Being stuck with Tori waiting hours and hours for help was one thing, but actually having her tag along was a whole new situation. He looked at the young woman in need, who stood surrounded by cascading snow while grappling with her things. She came prepared to risk her life by riding with a man she didn't know.

  "You must have a pretty good reason to want to climb into a rig with a perfect stranger."

  "I do."

  Zach saw no sense in pushing any harder for a better answer. He knew, if she felt comfortable enough, she would have explained. She was smart not to reveal all of her business.

  "I also happen to know that men like you are known as Knights of the Highway. For good reason. My dad still believes they exist and now I have proof."

  He looked at this tiny damsel in distress. She was right; they all weren't drugged out, speeding lawbreakers seen in the movies. She sure was the playing the "honor" card but he couldn't let her get away with it.

  "Still, you don't want a ride from me. You know nothing about me. Besides, quarters are cramped—I have my dog with me. He doesn't like women."

  "I can handle a dog," she answered enthusiastically. Another small parcel fell from her grip and Zach bent down to pick it up from the snowy ground. Before handing it back to her, he tapped it a few times on the palm of his hand. He regarded her thoughtfully.

  He didn't like her alternatives if he did abandon her. Sure, he pulled over only to see if she needed help, but what about the next guy? Would his intentions be as noble?

  Lord help him for his decision, but he finally said, "You can ride with me. My truck's been running all this time to keep the cab warm. The heat hardly works, but it's warmer than any other option of yours."

  "So you want me? To come?"

  Zach never remembered saying he didn't want her. Who wouldn't want her? He just didn't want some woman tagging along causing problems for the entire route. "If it's gonna keep you from freezing to death, then yeah, you can come. But just be careful of Spike."

  "Spike?"

  "My dog. Remember my warning, he doesn't like women."

  Tori nodded with a bit less energy. From her slowing actions, Zach could tell her coffee high was gradually ebbing. Zach picked the duffel bag from the ground. As he trudged toward the door of the truck once again, Zach explained that she had to follow his rules of the road and that he'd discuss them once they got settled. Tori nodded in complete understanding.

  With one determined pull, Zach yanked open the half-frozen cab door. Spike barked uncontrollably despite Zach's attempts to force him back and prepare him for their guest. Tori waited outside until Zach completely hopped in and finished quieting the animal. He gave Tori the signal for her to slowly walk closer toward the truck's driver's side door.

  As the dog caught sight of Tori standing there, he began scrambling and growling again to get at the intruder. Tori halted upon hearing the growling and barking, but once she caught sight of the small animal, she let down her fearful defense.

  "So that's Spike? The one that doesn't like women?" She stifled a giggle.

  "Yes, this is Spike," he answered, offended by her reaction. "He also doesn't like cats or kids. He'd eat them alive if he could. What kind of dog were you expecting?"

  "I don't know, a Doberman pinscher? German shepherd? Not a cute little doggie like him." This time, Tori didn't bother holding back her laugh.

  "I'll have you know," Zach said over the dog's whiny yelps, "this doggie—as you call him—is a beagle mix of some kind. And he's a rescue. He was out on the streets so he happens to think he's a pit bull."

  "He does, does he? I'd say you're the one who thinks he's a pit bull. And maybe you're the one who doesn't like women, cats, and kids."

  "Aw, just pass me your things. We'll put them here in the cab with us for now," Zach barked while he held back the dog. Tori lifted her belongings up to him. He then stretched out one hand to pull Tori up into the truck.

  "Where am I going to sit? On your lap?"

  "No. But if I get out, Spike will jump out, too. And if Spike sees you with me, maybe he won't chew on your arm for a snack."

  "Why can't I use the passenger-side door like a normal person?"

  "Can't. I'm butted up against the guardrail."

  Tori nodded in acceptance of his reason. She brought one leg up on the running board notch and with one outstretched arm, quietly allowed Zach to help her into the truck. He expected her to squeal the way most women did when grabbed by a man's hands. But she didn't. As he wrapped his arms about her tiny waist, he could feel her ribcage beneath his hands.

  But he felt more than that—he felt one sinewy, tight body. She had nothing but muscle
clinging to her ribs under her shirt and small jacket, except maybe for the layer of skin.

  He lifted her up faster than he had expected to—she was about as light as Spike. As Zach raised her, she kept her quiet poise. Spike's growling and yelping turned into higher-pitched cries accompanied by his wagging tail.

  "Spike, be good... Spike!" Zach commanded the dog. Tori started to climb over Zach in order to assume her position on the passenger side, her hair brushing against a small exposed area of skin on his neck. Her hair again. He didn't even know her, and yet her hair constantly teased him.

  As she climbed, her body interlocked with his. Zach stiffened upon feeling each of her knees shift with no regard on the seat between his thighs. Amidst the confusion of the excited dog and climbing over Zach, Tori grabbed the seat's back behind Zach's head. She attempted to get leverage to keep her from losing her balance and wedging herself under the steering wheel.

  In a reflex, Zach's hands went on Tori's hips to help prevent such a mishap. Her hips were slim and rocked back and forth while she continued to climb over him. Tori sucked in a deep breath of air as though to say something this time, until her obvious realization of why he had to grab her. Once Tori assumed the position on the passenger side, Zach tightened body relaxed, now spared of any embarrassing pain she could have inflicted on him with her careless knees.

  Spike stopped his barking and broke from Zach's side to pounce on Tori. His front paws landed on her chest while he eagerly licked her face between high-pitched whimpers.

  Tori laughed while catching her breath and stroking the friendly animal. Zach gave up yelling at the dog and sat in silence, shocked by his own pet's betrayal. How could that dog worship another human being besides him? A female one, at that?

  "All right already, get off her, Spike." Zach reached over to grab the dog by the red bandanna around his neck to ease him off Tori's chest.

  "Oh, no, it's okay. He's so warm and soft." Her attention turned back to the dog in her arms and she cooed to the animal. Zach snickered. He'd like to see Tori allow a guy like him slobber on her like that. But that would never happen, he was sure. Maybe he should have been born a dog.