by Alexis Gold
Delaney took the clothes and went into the bathroom. John had given her a navy blue skirt and matching blazer, pantyhose, an off-white blouse, and a shoulder-length blonde wig. She sighed as she pulled her blouse up and over her head. This was going to be interesting. She rolled the pantyhose up her legs, zipped up the skirt, and tucked the blouse in.
As she slipped her arms into the blazer and fastened the buttons, she looked at herself in the mirror, fully dressed in Betty’s old clothing. The skirt fit well. The blazer was snug across the chest and the arms were too long, but it would work. She curled her braid on the top of her head, and secured the blonde wig in place on top of it. I look like a flight attendant, she thought.
The lighter hair paled her skin tone, but made her blue eyes pop brightly. She slipped into her black shoes—they didn’t quite go with the outfit, but weren’t atrocious—and then applied red lipstick as a finishing touch. She was ready.
Wade and John were arguing in the living room about some detail of the plan when she returned. They both stopped and stared at her when she entered the room.
“Wow,” Wade breathed.
“Wow is right,” John agreed. “You look just like Betty. It’s incredible. How did you do it?”
“What do you mean, how did I do it? I just put on the clothes you gave me.”
The two men couldn’t shake their shock from the eerie resemblance. John came over to her and touched the hair and squeezed the shoulder pads.
“You even smell like her.”
“Well, that’s just the clothes!”
“Okay, enough,” Wade finally chimed in.
John leaned in for one last sniff, and Delaney frowned at him.
“Where’s Jacob?” Wade asked John.
“He’s already out in the stables getting the horses ready to go.”
“Okay, great.”
“I’ve got my mask, and a big coat. I think we’re all ready to go.”
“Agreed.”
Wade looked around the room one last time as John led the way out the front door. Delaney smoothed her skirt, and took a deep breath. Here we go, she said to herself.
The Final Chapter
Wade parked the car approximately a block away from the bank in front of the local supermarket. It was a gloomy day, but the clouds had broken, allowing the sun to stream down and light their way to the bank, almost as if on purpose. It was Thursday morning, and only a few people were on the street. That was lucky.
Delaney checked her red lipstick in the car door mirror and reapplied. Wade unloaded his gun, storing the ammunition in the glove compartment.
“Well, this is it,” John marveled as he watched Wade and Delaney get ready.
“We’ve got this one chance. Our timing has to be exact. Do you two remember what to do?”
“Of course we remember, Wade,” John said, scoffing at him. “I think the most important thing is to act nonchalant. Delaney, you are a woman going into the bank to open up an account; it would cause concern if you were incredibly nervous. All you have to do is behave casually, and then be terrified when Wade comes in. It will be over before you know it.”
“I’ve got it,” Delaney said, nodding like a soldier.
“And you know what you’re doing, John?”
“I sure do. I’ve always said I would rob a bank someday, and now here I am doing it!”
Something had lifted inside John when he decided to help rob the bank. It gave him a sense of purpose and motivation that he hadn’t felt in a long time. Before he’d spent all his time reminiscing, getting lost in nostalgia, remembering Betty. He didn’t have much hope or reason to get off the couch. Now, he had to help save the ranch. The fact that their chance of succeeding seemed slim was of no consequence.
At least they were doing something. His coughing seemed to lessen and he had more energy. Plus, he got to do something with Wade again. He missed the days when they would go out riding together, so he was grateful this was something he could manage to do.
“All right then,” Wade said, ignoring John’s last comment; he was too nervous to laugh.
“Let’s go.”
Delaney left the car first. As she walked down the street, she attempted to match her walk with how she imagined a wealthy, independent woman in her thirties would carry herself. She moved forward with grace and ease. The bright sunshine caused her to squint so she held her hand up daintily to shield her eyes. A very tall man passed by her, and turned his head to look after her.
The bank loomed ahead, its large wooden doors a menacing height. Standing for a moment in front of them, she took three deep breaths. This was it. The bankers had to not only believe she wanted to open an account, but also that she was genuinely terrified of Wade.
She had a moment of panic when she realized she could never be terrified of Wade, and then she thought to herself, “But I can act.” And act was what she must do. With more confidence than she actually possessed, she took a step forward and then another, until she was pushing the doors of the bank open and a man in a suit asked if he could help her. He had a shaved head and a round face; he resembled her uncle, and for some reason, Delaney thought that was a bad sign.
“Yes, I’d like to open an account here. Can you help me with that?”
“Of course we can,” he said, through big teeth and thin lips.
Delaney followed, clutching her purse at her side. She was the only female customer, and that made her feel self-conscious. The man who greeted her asked her to sit down to wait and told her someone would be with her shortly.
She took a seat and crossed her legs. It took a lot of effort not to fidget or jerk her head up every time someone entered. In another ten minutes John would cause his scene in front of the door, and Wade would race in and the whole plan would unfold.
Not only was she the only woman present, but she also was the youngest and best-dressed person. All the other customers were cowboys or something of the like. She hoped she didn’t stand out too much. The woman at the desk in front of her finally looked up and said, “All right, miss. Why don’t you come on over and we can see what we can do for you.”
Delaney stood up and smoothed her skirt. “Thank you,” she said, hoping the bank teller didn’t notice her quivering voice. She was led to a simple and highly organized desk with a gold plaque on it that read Mrs. Margaret Blanch. Blanch, Delaney thought. What a terrible name.
“How can I help you today?” Mrs. Margaret Blanch had pale skin and a slight double chin. The smell of hairspray wafted around her like a cloud. Delaney did her best to breathe out of her mouth.
“I would like to open an account,” Delaney explained. “I’m new to town, and my husband will be traveling for a month or so yet. I need to get our affairs in order,” she added, trying to sound convincing.
Right at that moment she heard a loud thud, and then John’s boisterous hollering.
“Goodness me,” Delaney commented, as if she were really disturbed. “What in the world was that?”
“One moment, ma’am.” Mrs. Blanch stood up and conferred with the man who greeted her, and he hurried to the front doors. A hooded figure sneaked past him. Delaney made eye contact with Wade, and then she turned around quickly until she felt the barrel of the gun near her temple.
* * *
After Delaney left to go inside the bank, Wade and John silently sat in the car. They had ten minutes before they followed. Wade went over the steps of the plan one last time and focused on his breathing. John looked out the window, imagining Betty sitting in the seat next to him, and that thought gave him strength.
“So,” he started, “you really like this Delaney girl, don’t you?”
Wade was surprised. “What makes you say that?”
“Not only have I seen the way you look at her, but you’ve really changed in these last few days, really coming out of your shell and stepping up.”
“You think so?”
“I think she’s the best thing that has happened to you
in years.”
“I do too. It’s pretty amazing how she swooped into my life so quickly,” Wade confessed. “I just hope today goes well because I don’t want to lose her. I just can’t.”
“I know, Wade. And you won’t. I’m sure of it. She’s doing this for you, and for herself. I think she’s too strong of a woman to do this simply because you need her to. She must have her own reasons.”
“Thank you for saying that, John. And thank you for everything. I don’t know where I’d be without you.”
“To see you grow into the man you are now has been one of the most rewarding things in my whole life. There is no need to thank me.”
Wade couldn’t remember the last time he cried, but he suddenly felt tears springing to his eyes. As he wiped his sleeve over his face, the sun was lost behind a big gray cloud slowly filling the sky.
“It looks like storms are brewing up again.”
“Sure does,” Wade agreed as he rubbed his eyes. “I think it’s about time. Are you ready?”
“Yes. Let’s do this.”
Wade positioned his gun in the back of his pants and followed behind John about thirty paces. The storm was coming in fast. Wade felt two big drops land on his forehead. He pulled his hood up and clutched the ski mask in his pocket. There was a risk of people recognizing him on the street, and he didn’t want anyone to see him anywhere near the bank today.
They were already running that risk with John, but he would never actually go inside the bank, so it was less chancy. His pace quickened as they got closer to the bank—he needed to slip past John just as he fell down. The old man held up five fingers behind his back, then four, then three, then two, then one.
That was the signal. Wade pulled the ski mask over his face, flipped the hood of his coat back up, hurried past John, and slammed the bank doors shut behind him. He heard John hollering, and then there was a loud thud as he hit the ground. It sounded so real, Wade wondered if he actually fell or if he’d managed to fake it. Quickly, he glanced around the bank, saw Delaney, and made a beeline for her.
His heart was pounding in his ears and he felt the blood rush to his face. A warm bubble enclosed his senses, and all he was aware of was his breath, of Delaney, and of his task at hand. He reached the desk where Delaney sat, seemingly unaware of his presence, though she had made eye contact with him right as he came through the doors.
He slipped his gun out of his belt and into his hand. His finger found the trigger, and he pushed the barrel into Delaney’s temple. She screamed shrilly and his heart broke. Part of him couldn’t believe he was holding a gun to the head of the girl he loved, and the other part of him hated himself. How could he do this to her? How could she let him?
Dragging her out of her seat by her hair, she resisted him, pulling against his strength and shrieking like a banshee. He rammed the gun hard against the side of her head and she went quiet. Were those real tears in her eyes? He had a moment of hesitation, but Delaney squeezed his thigh and whispered, “Come on,” and he was back in character.
“Nobody move!” he shouted. “Everybody stay calm and still, and this will all be over in a few minutes.” He nodded toward the bank teller he had talked to when he came in before, the same woman who was helping Delaney, Mrs. Blanch. “You. Fill up these bags with money.” He threw three cloth bags onto the floor in front of her.
“What money?” She asked, frozen in place, her eyes big and round, her lips quivering. Wade realized she was scared, actually scared.
“What do you mean, ‘What money?’ This is a robbery. Fill them up with bank money. Do it. Now!”
Mrs. Blanch went to collect the bags off the floor, and fell because she was shaking so much.
“Get up!” Wade yelled at her. She didn’t move, huddled on the floor like a scared dog. Wade kicked her in the side. Not too rough, but enough to get the message across. Delaney whimpered empathetically, as if she felt the kick herself. Wade realized how horrible this all was, but then he reminded himself of the ranch, of Jacob’s ranch, of the bigger picture.
“Get up now and get me the money or this young woman here gets shot in the head.” It didn’t feel like his own voice coming out of his mouth. He felt as if he were channeling a bank robber from the movies. Mrs. Blanch collected the bags off the floor and hurried to the large safe at the back of the room. Not a soul moved. It was so silent the rain could be heard pitter-pattering on the roof.
Then John’s howls came again. “Get off me, I can stand on my own, thank you very much,” he hollered. It was a signal. Wade only had a minute or two left before he had to get out of there. John would be getting the car soon.
“Hurry it up,” Wade yelled to Mrs. Blanch. She was stuffing the second bag, and now, the third. Wade chanced a glance down at Delaney. Her face was wet with tears. Either she was actually scared or she was a really good actress. Probably both, Wade realized. He looked around the room. Nobody moved.
There were six customers, including Delaney, and seven employees, including Mrs. Blanch. Everyone had their heads down; no one dared look at him. “Hurry up!” Wade called again. He was losing precious time. About a minute left.
Mrs. Blanch hobbled toward him with the three bundles of money under her arms. Wade realized tears were streaming down her face as well. He remembered how cold she had been to him when he came into the bank to try to resolve this. He couldn’t believe how far it had escalated. He couldn’t believe he was robbing the bank.
“Hand the money to her,” Wade growled, indicating Delaney. He almost said her name, but caught himself just in time.
Mrs. Blanch fumbled with the bags as she placed them in Delaney’s arms.
“Now, nobody move a muscle!” He kept the gun firmly pointed at Delaney’s temple. She was shaking as he guided her back toward the door. A man, who Wade thought he recognized from the diner, reached for a phone on one of the desks. “Don’t move! Or I will shoot this woman right here and now!” Wade yelled, beginning to panic.
But he was only ten feet away from the door. He had this. A few more steps and he would be there. He pushed Delaney out the door and followed her, kicking the door shut behind them. He returned the gun to his pants, and looked around wildly for John.
“Where is he?” Delaney said. She was breathing hard.
“I don’t know,” Wade replied, beginning to lose his cool, his heart pounding out of control. He was sweating, but it was too soon to take off his mask. “He should be here by now.” The oversized doors of the bank started to open, but Wade leaned against them with all his force. “We’ve got to get out of here.”
“Let’s run toward where we parked,” Delaney suggested.
“Yes, go!”
And they were off, running through the rain, down the block like their lives depended on it. Then they saw John speeding down the block. He almost drove right past them, but Delaney ran out into the middle of the street and forced him to stop. Wade was right behind her. Delaney jumped into the back seat with the three bags, and Wade slid into the front seat. John was driving before the doors were all shut. He blazed through town and was on the highway within minutes.
“Woo-hoo!” John exclaimed, rolling down the window and putting his hand out, letting rain and cold air into the car. It felt good.
Sirens blared in the distance, but they were too far ahead to be caught now. The rain came down hard on the windshield, big, fat drops that the window wipers had a hard time clearing. Wade had no idea how John could see where he was going.
He closed his eyes, and melted into the seat. They did it. He couldn’t believe they really did it, that it had all gone according to plan. It was too good to be true. Again, he felt tears coming on, but he took a deep breath and wiped his eyes.
Delaney stuffed the bags under the front seats, and reached for Wade’s shoulder.
“We’re safe now,” she said quietly. Wade put a hand on top of hers.
“Almost. We’ve got to abandon this car first, and then get home. Only then
will I feel safe.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m just fine,” she comforted him, and didn’t let go of his shoulder.
“And I’m great!” John laughed. “I can’t believe you two pulled it off!”
He turned off the highway. They were almost at the abandoned farm. When they pulled up, Wade hopped out of the car and ran inside. Jacob was waiting with the two horses, sitting on a milk crate and drinking a beer, with a little gas lantern for light. When he saw Wade barge in, and he realized the plan had worked, Jacob smiled broadly.
