“What time is it?"
“Not quite four."
“Let's wait until six or so to eat."
“Suits me."
Silence returned and again it was Randy who broke it. “Jo, I'm sorry about the baby."
“It's my own damn fault. I was so sure I would never want to have children."
“You never did tell me exactly what the specialist said."
“Yes I did. He agreed with Mary Lou. Because I am near the end of my childbearing years and my tubes were tied ten years ago, he felt the reversal procedure had little chance of success."
“What does the time of your tubal ligation have to do with it?"
“He said the procedure was different back then—more difficult to reverse, and he said there was undoubtedly a large amount of scar tissue which would further complicate the procedure."
“Do you think we should get a second opinion?"
“Maybe."
“We could always adopt."
“Maybe, maybe not. My past would not look all that good to an adoption agency."
“Hey, we've always got Lucky."
She put her hand on his thigh and squeezed, but she did not join him in laughter. “My batting record isn't very good, Randy. I didn't get your mother to move in with us and I can't have the reversal procedure."
“Hey,” he replied only half joking, “you got me to sleep with you. That was a hell of an accomplishment."
“Thanks for the compliment,” she said dryly.
The truck's motor continued its monotonous roar, the engine fumes continued to fill the cab and the aging springs continued to fail to cushion adequately the pothole-caused jostling.
“I had a nightmare last night,” Randy said, again breaking the silence.
Jo did not respond.
“I dreamed you left me. It was horrible. I can't begin to describe the sense of desperate despair I felt."
“Is that why you were so amorous during the night?"
“Yes, you old grouch."
“Look, Randy. I don't mind you waking me in the middle of the night if you want to screw me, but all you did was stroke me until I was wide awake. The next thing I knew, you were snoring."
“I don't snore."
“The hell you don't."
The engine droned on. A light rain began to fall. Randy searched for the windshield wiper control, found it and switched it on. The glass immediately streaked so badly he could hardly see the road in front of him.
“Atta-boy, Rocket Scientist,” she laughed. “Better pull over."
“It's raining harder now,” he said. “That'll clear the windshield."
The engine droned and the wipers swished.
“Your mother did say she would visit us sometimes,” Jo commented absently.
Randy smiled. “I was just thinking about that. If we can get her to spend a little time and make damn sure she enjoys herself, maybe she'll change her mind and move in with us permanently."
“I want to set up her bedroom just like she used to have it. Do you remember the details?” Jo asked.
“Afraid not. I imagine there are some photos in all that junk we loaded on the truck. Making the room look like home would be a classy touch."
“Everybody on the road is passing you, Randy."
“I'm in a hurry to get home too, Jo, but I'm not going to exceed the speed limit. It's not that I am such a law-abiding citizen. I just think this old truck will blow up if I go any faster. Would you like to drive for a while?"
She laughed. “Hell, no. Backing up to the storage building this morning was enough driving for me."
“Hey,” he joked. “You just knocked over one trashcan."
“And almost smashed your foot,” she added.
Dirty water sloshed against the windshield as a late model black Nissan flew past, closely followed by a gray and black North Carolina State Highway Patrol cruiser, blue lights flashing and siren screaming.
“Damn,” Jo exclaimed. “That jerk must have been doing ninety. When the trooper catches him I hope they put him underneath the jail."
Fifteen minutes later traffic congestion slowed their pace to a crawl. “Wonder what's going on?” Randy said as he braked the truck to a stop.
“Could be a license check,” she said. “You do have your driver's license with you, don't you?"
“In my wallet.”
Randy eased the truck forward and stopped again. “Flashing lights all over the place,” he said as he pulled his head back inside the driver's side window. “Looks like they're stopping every vehicle."
Jo rolled down her window and stuck her head out into the drizzle that was still falling. “Shit,” she said. “That Nissan that passed us is on its top out in a field."
When they edged closer to the troopers, who indeed were stopping every car, they could see attendants loading someone into an ambulance. “Sucker must have been hurt badly,” Jo commented. “Serves him right, but I hope he's not dead."
All they could tell the grim-faced trooper who questioned them was that the Nissan, with the trooper not far behind, passed them at a high rate of speed. They did not even get a glimpse of the driver.
Shortly after resuming highway speed Jo said, “Randy, there's a diner up ahead. It's close to six. Maybe we'd better stop. The sign we just passed said Interstate 40 is just fifteen miles ahead and I'd rather eat before we get on the Interstate."
“I was hungry two hours ago,” he said, easing off the accelerator and pulling into the parking lot. “Let's just get a burger or hotdog and get back on the road. The longer we stay here the later we'll be getting home."
Fifteen minutes later, they were ready to resume the trip. Randy opened the truck's passenger door for Jo, but before she could get in, an oily-skinned, greasy black-haired man wearing jeans and a black jacket stuck the business end of an AK-47 rifle in Randy's side.
“I've just killed a cop. Killing two more bastards won't faze me a bit. Bitch, get on the floorboard and you, Fucker, when you've finished pissing in your pants, get in the driver's seat. You now have a passenger and if you don't want the bitch's brains blown out you'll be very obedient."
After they complied with his instructions, the stranger asked, “Where are you headed?
“A little town called Dot,” Tim replied through clenched teeth.
“Where the hell is that?"
“About thirty miles north-east of Charlotte."
“That'll do,” the man said, pointing the assault rifle at Randy. “Get moving."
Randy cranked the engine, turned on the headlights, put the truck in gear and pulled out onto the highway, desperately hoping to find one of the State Patrol cruisers that were so plentiful just minutes earlier.
The man stared at Jo, crouched at his feet. “What's your name, bitch?"
“Jo,” she replied.
“You married to this fucker?” he asked as he forced the toe of his brogan between her legs.
She nodded.
“He any good in bed?"
Randy jerked to attention. It was difficult to tell in the darkness of the overcast sky, but it looked as if the car approaching from the rear had bubble lights on the top. It could be a wrecker or some good ol’ boy in a pick-up, but he prayed for a trooper. He glanced at the passenger whose left hand was now groping inside Jo's jacket.
“Nice tits,” the man said. “Ain't felt up a woman in a long time. I asked you a question, bitch. Is your man any good in bed?"
Jo caught Randy's glance. She spread the front of her jacket and ripped open her shirt, letting the man have an unobstructed view of her full breasts. “He's the best,” she replied.
Randy took advantage of the distraction. He tapped the brake pedal three times quickly, three times slowly and three more times quickly again. He hoped the driver behind him, whoever it was, knew Morse code. The trailing vehicle continued to close quickly.
“No he ain't baby. I'm the best."
“Sure you are,” she mocked. “I'll be
t your dick is so small you have to jerk off with tweezers."
He pinched her nipple savagely. “Take it out, baby, and slide it in your fuckin’ throat."
Jo raised up slightly. He held on to her breast. She unbuckled his belt, unsnapped his jeans, and slowly pulled down the zipper. He lifted his buttocks as she pulled his jeans and boxer shorts to his ankles. He did not notice Randy's foot again tapping the brake pedal.
The trailing vehicle slowed, dropped back about four car lengths and then matched Randy's speed.
“Man, was I ever wrong about you,” Jo gushed. “That's the finest looking cock I ever saw. How long is that thing, eighteen inches?"
“Never mind, bitch. Just suck it. If at first you don't suck cum, keep on sucking ’til you do suck some,” he said and laughed at his attempt at poetry.
“I want that bad boy in my pussy,” she moaned, making sure that he could see her clutching the crotch of her jeans. “I'm all juicy just looking at it,” she said as she fondled his testicles with her left hand and ran her right hand up and down the shaft of his penis. “We can pull over long enough for us to get in the back. Man, I want you to fuck me."
Randy cringed. He could not force himself to look. What the hell is she doing? he wondered.
“Maybe later,” the fugitive said as he wrapped his fingers in her hair and pulled her head towards his jerking penis. “But first you're gonna suck me off."
Randy dropped his left hand between the seat and door searching for anything he could use as a weapon. His probing fingers found nothing. He forced himself to glance at the drama unfolding in the seat beside him. Jo's tongue was tracing circles on the head of the man's penis.
“Mmm,” she purred. “You are ready. You're leaking and you taste delicious, but you don't know what you're missing by not sucking the juices out of my cunt.” She ran her tongue up and down the shaft of his penis as her fingers continued to caress his testicles. His kept his left hand tightly wrapped in her hair, and brutally mauled her breasts with his right.
Where's the damned gun? Randy thought, and then he saw it, jammed between the passenger seat and door. He dropped his right hand beside his seat and the gearbox, fingers searching. He felt something cold. He didn't know what it was, but it was metal and heavy. He clutched it tightly, waiting for an opportunity to use it.
“That's it baby,” the man groaned. “Let me feel that tongue moving while you suck me. That's the way. Now take a little more in your hungry mouth. Oh, yeah. Suck it harder, bitch. That's my girl. Oh, yeah. I can feel the back of your throat. That's it, honey. I want it in your throat."
Randy eased back on the accelerator, slowing to fifty miles an hour. The stranger didn't notice. The trailing car slowed to match his speed. He heard Jo gag and glanced back at the nightmare unfolding beside him. He stared in amazement. She continued to gag but did not spit out the penis. Instead, she was gently stuffing the man's testicles in her mouth.
The gunman gripped her head with both hands and pushed his head against the back of his seat, eyes closed. “Oh, baby,” the man groaned. “You are good. You missed your calling. You should have been a whore. Honey, you keep it up and you'll get your wish. I'll fuck the shit out of your juicy little cunt and make your old man lick my balls while I do it."
Jo pulled her tightly closed lips back along the shaft of his penis and concentrated on the bundle of nerves in its head.
Randy cut his speed to forty and quietly extracted the crowbar and placed it in his lap, still gripping it firmly in his right hand.
The man's scream ripped the air. Blood spouted. Randy swung the crowbar with all his might, crushing the right side of the gunman's head. He gripped the steering wheel and brought the careening truck under control. Blue lights flashed. A siren wailed. And Jo spit the end of the man's penis out of her mouth onto the floorboard.
Chapter Twelve
Penny knocked on Mack's study door and entered without waiting for him to respond. Her skin was glistening with perspiration. “Are you angry with me, Mack?"
He looked at the beautiful woman/child, her breasts heaving as she breathed heavily. “Of course not, Penny. It's just that, uh ... Penny, I'm sorry. What I did yesterday was wrong. It was very wrong. My hormones got the best of me."
“So that's why you haven't come out of your hole all day,” she said as she sprawled in the chair opposite his desk letting her knees fall apart. “Whew,” she said, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand. It may still be January, but it's hot enough outside today to be June. The sweats I was wearing while Billy and I played basketball were too much. It sure feels good to get back into my skirt."
Mack smiled. The miniskirt allowed him to see more than just a glimpse of her pink panties.
“Mack, I honestly don't know what you are so concerned about. What we did, we both wanted to do. We're not pretending to be in love and our relationship is no threat to your marriage. I'm sure that when your wife starts having sex with you again you'll forget all about me."
“I don't think so,” he grinned.
She leaned forward and rubbed her right calf. “Cramps,” she explained. “Look, if I am embarrassing you I'll leave, but I have a couple of things I would really like to talk with you about.” She worked her hand up to her thigh.
“Tell me you forgive me for taking advantage of you."
“Mack, you didn't take advantage of me. It was wonderful. Now drop it, please."
“What do you want to talk about?"
“Uncle Amos, to start with. He is okay with me continuing to work here as long as I get up every morning at five and work with him a couple of hours on weekdays and all day on weekends."
“That's going to give you a very full schedule."
“I don't mind if it makes him happy. I'm concerned about him, Mack. Death is on his mind. He's planned his whole funeral—has it down on paper. He showed it to me last night and made me promise to carry out his wishes. I know he has been to see Dr. McGee several times recently. He must be very sick, but he won't talk with me about it. I was wondering if you would ask your wife what is wrong with him?"
“I will ask, but she won't tell me anything."
“Patient confidentiality?"
“Exactly. Do you have cramps in both legs?"
“Yeah,” she said as she rubbed the other calf. “A doctor in Florida told me I have a potassium deficiency. I usually eat a banana every day, and that takes care of it, but the Dot Grocery was out the last time I went shopping."
“What else do you have on your mind this afternoon?"
“Billy is coming today for his initial reading lesson. I'm a little nervous about it. One of the first things I need to teach him is to tell time. He's going to hang around the church today until I get off work at four. I thought we would use one of the Sunday School rooms, if that's okay."
“Sure,” Mack agreed.
“Ouch,” she cried out while grabbing the calf of her left leg. The painful contortion of her face alarmed Mack and he rushed to her side.
“You're really in pain, Penny. Is there anything I can do?"
“Yeah,” she whimpered. “Rub my calf muscle."
He knelt in front of her.
“Relax, relax, relax,” she told herself.
His fingers were already trembling when they touched her leg. He could not remove his eyes from her crotch. Her sweaty aroma caused him to salivate.
“Oh, yeah,” she said. “Move up a little higher.” She sank back in the chair, picked up the paper bag she had dropped on the floor beside it, and pulled out a Timex watch. She held it where Mack could see it without interrupting his soothing massage. “I know he's not ready for it, but I bought this for Billy. I thought it might motivate him to learn to tell time. There's nothing wrong with me giving Billy little gifts, is there?"
Mack realized he was too close to her panties and switched to the opposite calf. “I don't think so, Penny. I think it is most commendable that you have this interest in Billy."
&nb
sp; “Do you have any further thoughts about the laboratory demonstration?"
“Not really. Just be careful.” He moved his large hands to her thigh.
“I bought you something, too, Mack,” she said as she removed a box of condoms from the bag.
“My God!” he exclaimed, jumping to his feet. “Don't tell me you're not on the pill."
“Not since moving to Dot. I didn't think I would need birth control here. Now it's too late. What would your wife think if I asked her for a prescription?"
“Oh, God,” he repeated, running his fingers through his hair.
“Don't worry, Mack. I'm not ovulating. But I thought the next time we should take precautions."
“There's not going to be a next time,” he exclaimed.
“That's up to you,” she said as she stood up. She hobbled towards the door. “I hope you change your mind.” She reached for the doorknob and hesitated. She turned the latch into the locked position. She moved to him, put her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.
He pushed her away. “I can't do it, Penny. I won't do it. You are a gorgeous woman, but I'm a married man—a preacher—your pastor. I was a fool yesterday."
“Mack,” she pleaded. “A woman has needs just like a man. You turn me on. I turn you on. What's the harm?"
“No,” he said as he retreated behind his desk.
She knew he meant it.
* * * *
“Okay, Billy,” she said to the youth who loitered in the hallway all afternoon. “I'm off work now. Just let me lock the office door. Come on. I thought we'd use the Men's Bible classroom downstairs."
As they walked pass the pastor's study, Billy took her hand in his. “Billy got a surprise for Penny.” He giggled.
“What kind of surprise?” she asked.
He tightened his grip on her hand. Something she hadn't expected stirred inside her. “You wait,” Billy said as they descended the stairs.
Penny snapped on the classroom light. “I have a surprise for you, too,” she said motioning towards the desk she had set up near the chalkboard. “This is called a composition book, Billy,” she said, picking up and handing him the ruled notebook. “Of course you know that these are pencils. I want you to use these pencils and this composition book to practice writing your ABCs."
Sintown Chronicles I: Behind Closed Doors Page 61
