Chapter 1

I was on the interstate, just outside of flagstaff. I am an automotive mechanic by trade and was driving back from a training class that was being held at my employer's regional office in Oklahoma City. My home is in Phoenix, so I was on the last leg of my thousand-mile trip and was looking forward to getting back home. The class was one of those three-week ball busters that seemed like 6 months to get through. Not that the training was hard. It's the boredom of being in a strange city with not a lot to do after class.

I am a single 40-year-old man that has sowed many wild oats in his time. I've just broke up for good with a long time relationship of three years. When my girlfriend finally realized that I was not going to marry her, she broke our relationship off after she found a man that that she could spend the rest of her life with. She's married now and seems happy.

It was early in March and the weather had turned cold and rainy. I pulled into a rest area to leak my lizard, stretch and grab a bite to eat before the last 125 miles left to get home.

After relieving my bladder, I dug out some munchies and had settled down on a picnic table to eat. I don't know why, but I got this feeling like I was being stared at. My intuition was right when turned my head and saw these two females. One looked to be about 19 or so, the other was younger, maybe fifteen or so. They were wrapped in a blanket together and sitting at another table about 30 feet away. The older one was just staring off into space. Her daughter was doing the staring. Actually, the little girl was looking at the box of cheese crackers that I had in my hand. She shivered a little and snuggled in a little closer to her mom. Her eyes broke away from my snack and went to my face. She had such a sad expression, all cold and miserable. I smiled at her and she smiled back at me, then nudged her mother and said something to her. The older woman turned to look at me, then her hand that had been around the girls shoulder came out from under the blanked that wrapped them and up to the girl's face. She pulled the girls gaze away from my food and into her chest. They were obviously hungry. My heart went out to them. Normally, I stick to myself when traveling but I had to at least offer them something to eat. I figured that I'd better not try to walk over to their table, so I just sat where I was and made my offering.

"Pardon me miss?"

Both women turned a d looked at me.

"I couldn't help but notice. Your daughter looks hungry. Would you like some of these crackers?"

Her daughters face lit up with expectation, then hooked up to her mom for her answer.

"No thanks, we've just eaten." She pulled the girls disappointed gaze away from my food again then stood up and walked over to this poor old decrepit Pinto that had been sideswiped on the passenger side, opened the drivers door with a loud pop groan of metal and the two of them climbed in.

Being a mechanic, I couldn't help but notice the door drop about an inch as it opened. She leaned over to get a good pull at the door, then tried to slam it shut. It just made a bang, then bounced back open.

"GAWD! I hate Pintos!" I mumbled under my breath. "I'm surprised too see one of those old pieces of shit still on the road."

She rolled down the window, put her hand under the top of the window guide, lifted, and then slammed the door again. This time, the door partially latched. I could see the frustration in her body language as she pulled in the handle, slammed her shoulder to the door to try to open it. The poor woman had to reach her hand to the outside door handle and lifted it with rehearsed practice, drove her shoulder to the door and it opened.

I my heart strings were pulled as she left the door open and reached for the ignition to start the car.

Click, click, click, was all that came from under the hood.

I saw her head slump and go forward to the steering wheel. Her shoulders were shaking. She was obviously crying. I had to do something.

I know how defensive people can get with strangers especially while traveling alone, so I got up and walked around to the drivers side keeping a safe distance between us so as not to alarm them.

"Pardon me miss?"

"WHAT!" she yelled in frustration as she jerked her head up bore into me with watery, frustrated eyes.

I jumped a little in surprise at the response. "I know you're leery of strangers, and rightfully so, especially at a rest area with your daughter, But I'm a mechanic. Maybe I can help."

She looked at me, her glare softened a little. Her head went back to the steering wheel. "She's not my daughter"

"Pardon"

Once again she raised her head and looked at me, resignation in her expression. "I said, she's not my daughter. She's my little sister."

"Oh! Sorry. My mistake." I looked at her then said "Maybe there's someone we can call?"

"We're all alone!" her daughter... oops sister said to me from the passenger seat. "Tina might get a job in Phoenix!"

"SHHHHH! " She angrily said to her little sister, then slapped her face. The poor little frightened girl let out a wail and cowered as far away as she could from her sister.

"OH Lisa! I'm sorry!" She reached over and pulled the little girl to her and held her. She rocked them both back and forth for comfort.

"YOU HIT ME!" I could hear Lisa's muffled voice as Tina held her head to her breast.

"I'm so sorry! It's just that you should NEVER tell anyone that we're alone! Especially out in this god-forsaken place! Remember what I told you about answering the phone when you were alone back home?

"Yeah!" Came the muffled response.

"What would you say to a stranger that calls on the phone while I'm not there and asks for your mommy or daddy?"

"Not to tell them that they died, and just say that your mommy is sleeping. That I mommy told me don't want to wake her for another hour."

Tina looked at me with imploring eyes. "And why is that honey? " Why don't we want strangers to know that we're alone?"

"Ca... cause there are bad people in the world. They might hurt me If they knew I was all alone. But he's okay Tina!" The looked up to me with conviction in her voice.

"Well Lisa, I guess we're gonna have to trust him. Especially now that he knows all about us." She looked at me then grasped Lisa's face forcing her look at her. "Just THINK before you open your face to a stranger again OKAY?"

Lisa put her head back to her sister's breast "I'm sorry Tina! Please don't be mad at me anymore! I can't stand it when you're mad at me!"

"Well, I never can stay mad at you for long munchkin!" Tina playfully poked little Lisa in the ribs, then ruffled her long brown hair." Lisa looked up at her sister with admiration, then to me with a smile.

"My name's Larry. " Maybe that will help." I smiled at the siblings pointed towards my truck. "Why don' you pop the hood while I get some tools."

Tina held out her hand "Glad to meet ya Larry I'm Tina and this here is Lisa, my big mouthed little sister."

I smiled, walked forward, took her hand in greeting. I held out the box of cheese crackers I was carrying and squatted to be eye level with the stranded girls 'Maybe Lisa could hold these while I look at your car?"

Lisa let out a little squeal and bounced forward to snatch the food before her sister could object. I let out a little laugh, smiled at the pair. 'I'll be right back. Will you pop the hood So.'s I can take a look-see? "

I heard the hood pop while I was heading to the truck. Lisa said, "I think he's cute! Don't you Tina?"

"SHHHHH!" Then a giggle came from the pair.

I had them hit the ignition when I returned with my tools. The starter just clicked like before. "Turn on your lights okay Tina?"

The lights came on nice and bright. "Okay! Try it again."

Click, buzz. The lights dimmed way down. "Okay, turn your lights off now."

I pulled out the oil dipstick. It had no oil showing on it. I frowned then went to Tina and showed it to her. "When was the last time you put oil in your engine?"

"We put in the last of the oil in Denver, Had to save our money for gas to make it to Phoenix. This old heap has always smoked pretty badly! It was rattling like crazy and smoke was coming from under the hood when we stopped here."

"OH shit!" I mumbled under my breath and shook my head in disapproval. I picked up a breaker bar and socket from my toolbox, put it on the bolt in the front of the crankshaft and tugged. The engine was frozen tight.

I walked over to the driver's door. "Tina, you need to see this."

"I'm cold!" Little Lisa said as her sister started to get out. They both had jackets on but obviously had been out in the weather a while because the engine was stone cold. Tina turned, pulled the blanket from the back seat and draped it around Lisa.

"Here Munchkin, This'll help."

She got out and came around to the front of the car.

I gathered my thoughts, then turned to her. "Now, I know you're in a bad spot. You got absolutely no reason to trust my word on this, so I'm gonna show you. " I put the breaker bar and socket back on the crankshaft bolt and gave a stout pull. "Your engine is frozen up, see? Normally it should turn when I do this. It ran out of oil and that's what did the deed."

Her arms were pulled in tight, hugging herself from the cold biting wind. She looked up at me, realized the truth in my words. She looked over the hood to her little sister huddled under the blanket. Her face gave way and she started to cry.

I reached out to her and gently pulled her to me. She resisted a little, then put her arms around me and started to sob. Her body shook as she sobbed on my shoulder, racked with abandon to her plight.

"Did Larry fix it Tina? Can I turn the heater on now?"

Tina turned her face away from my neck, leaving it cold from the wetness of her tears. "Just a minute Munchkin! I think it's just about fixed."

"It's cold!" Lisa's little voice piped up from inside.

The weight of Tina's body against me was getting heavier as her knees bent. The poor girl had came to the end of her rope.

Now I was getting angry. Not with her, but with the world. I firmly grabbed her by the shoulders. Her head was down and rolling back and forth, she was lost in grief. I shook her roughly, no response. Up went my hand and I slapped her across the face.

Instantly, her head shot up as the shock brought her back to reality. Furiously, the brought her hand up to strike me, I easily grabbed her wrists, then forced both arms to her side. With anger in my voice I said, "Now I NEVER HAVE HIT A WOMAN!" I lowered my voice after I got her attention. "But you need help." I shook her to add authority to my voice. "YOU AND YOUR SISTER ARE GONNA GET IN MY TRUCK. I'M GONNA LOAD EVERYTHING OF YOURS OUTTA THIS PIECE OF SHIT CAR OF YOURS AND PUT IN THE BACK OF MY TRUCK!"

Feebly, she shook her head "no".

I turned her around, shifting my grip to her shoulders, then guided her to her door. Releasing Tina, I squatted and looked through the open door of the Pinto and smiled at Lisa. Get your stuff hun, You and Tina are Gonna ride with me to Phoenix in my truck.

"She looked at Tina. "Are we Tina? Does he have a heater that works?"

Lisa and I looked at her waiting for her response. She paused, then gave a single nod of her head in the affirmative.

Lisa gave a little squeal and came bounding out of the dead car, ending up with her arms around my legs and innocently, her cheek against my crotch. She then smiled up at me with adoration.

"Now you two pop open the hatch and start getting your stuff out. I'm gonna go bring my truck over here so we can get the hell outta here."

As soon as I started up my little S10 pickup, I turned up the heater to full blast and moved it along side sisters. I leaned over and unlocked the passenger door, slid the window to the camper shell open and put a few items in the back to make room. Lisa had the door open in and a flash and scooting over to make room for her sister. I climbed out, shut the door, and then went around to the passenger side. I shut the other door to capture the inside heat. Tina and I loaded their worldly belongings into my truck. When we were finished loading, She looked up at me, put her arms around me and hugged me.

"Thank you Larry." She turned and started to open the passenger door but my hand stopped her.

"Before we get started, where are you gonna stay in Phoenix?"

"OH! Well, I found this hotel that I can rent by the week. We have enough money to make it till I get paid."

"Good, What's the address?"

She opened her purse, pulled out a piece of paper and handed it to me. The address was at 20th Street and Van Buren.

I shook my head "Tina, I'll take you by this place so you can see for yourself, but this area is VERY seedy!"

She nodded her head in agreement. "I sorta thought it might be, but it's what we can afford."

The license plates on her car were from Iowa, Maybe she really didn't know just how seedy, seedy can get.

I gave her a disapproving look "Where in Iowa are you from? What city?"

"Oh you've never heard of it I'm sure. Its called Rothville. Population a whopping 6,000 very nosey inhabitants. No jobs there unless you want to travel 30 miles to work at the Wal-Mart."

I pointed to the address on the paper she gave me. "Tina, this hotel is right in the middle of prostituteville!" I looked at the name of the motel. "Yup, I even recognize this name. This place was on the news several times last month. The owner is in jail. He's a big time pimp and drug dealer."

Her hand shot up to cover her open mouth. She looked me in the eyes, determined not to lose control of her emotions again.

I put my hands on her upper arms and gently squeezed to show her I meant business. "Tonight you and Lisa are gonna sleep at my place. NO! No arguments! You'll sleep on the hideabed.

I reached for the door handle to show that the discussion was over, then stopped. She looked at me, trying to gauge my intentions.

"I've got to warn you though, I'm a confirmed bachelor, I haven't been there for three weeks. The place was a real mess when I left for Oklahoma City to go to school."

"You can pay me back by cleaning it up okay? I know you are a proud girl. To tell you the truth, cleaning that place up will be a real challenge. Believe me, you'll earn your stay till we can find you and your little sis a place to stay." I opened the door for her to show her that the decision was over and so were the objections. Heat bellowed out from the open door. She signaled her acceptance by climbing in.

The little cab of my truck was toasty warm when I climbed in and buckled up. I put er in gear and we took off. Before long, we had shed our jackets. Lisa was starting to nod off until we reached Flagstaff. Lisa looked at Tina, and pulled on the sleeve of her blouse. Tina bent towards her and Tina whispered in her ear not too quietly.

"I'm Hunnnnngry!"

Hearing this, I patted little Lisa on the knee, How bout we stop at the store and get some groceries? My cupboard is bare at home and we'll need something when we get up in the morning anyway."

She looked at her older sister, then to me. "Are you gonna be my Uncle like Uncle Ron was?"

"LISA MARIE!!!!"

I looked over to see Tina turning a bright shade of red.

NO! He's not gonna be your uncle!"

"BUT?"

"We are gonna spend the night there okay? Just one night, tomorrow we'll move in to that motel I told you about!"

"Do I have to sleep alone again? Or can I sleep with yo0u guy's?"

I interrupted before poor Tina could say anything. "No, Lisa, You and your sister will have a bed all to yourselves. I'll be the one that's sleeping alone."

She looked from me to her sister. "Well, Larry, You can call me munchkin. Even if you and Tina aren't gonna sleep together."

"Okay, munchkin! You got a deal! I like that name."

"It's gonna be like before then Tina? Before mommy and daddy disappeared?"

Tina looked at me with a confounded expression. She opened her mouth to speak, but no words came forth.