keys while he was in the shower. Not that she was sure he was actually in the shower, she thought. Mary couldnât imagine he was in shape to manage such a task. But everyone kept saying he was just fine, she reminded herself and started to open the RV door, only to pause with it barely cracked as she realized the sound of rushing water was gone.
Sheâd just wait for him to come out, Mary decided, easing the door closed again as she heard movement inside. The hum of the generator stopped and she shifted nervously, wondering what she should say when he did come out. If he came out. Surely he would come out?
Bailey whined beside her and nosed at the door, suggesting she thought Mary should go in, but Mary shook her head. âWeâll wait,â she said quietly, turning her back to the door, and watching idly as a speeding black van slowed abruptly on the highway and put on its blinker, indicating its intention to turn into the lot. It would have a bit of a wait, she noted. The oncoming traffic was pretty thick, perhaps from the ramp onto the I-10 just up the road. Then she whirled toward the RV door again with horror as she heard the engine start up.
âOh, no freaking way,â Mary muttered, and dragged the door open to rush in. She had just stepped off the automatically descending metal steps and onto the wooden ones inside when she was nearly knocked off her feet by Bailey as the shepherd raced past her to get inside first.
Grabbing for the counter on her left and the passenger seat on her right to steady herself, Mary scowledat the dog, who had settled in her customary position between the driverâs and passengerâs seats. The dumb dog didnât seem to realize that the man at the wheel shouldnât be there. In fact, Bailey was staring up at him with something like worship, her tail thumping the floor and tongue hanging out.
Sheâd have to have a talk with the dog later, Mary decided as she moved away from the door and stepped up onto the RV floor to scowl at the young man in the driverâs seat.
Maryâs scowl was replaced by shock as she noted the change in him. Gone was the pallid, blood-soaked victim struggling for breath that sheâd first spotted in her bedroom. This man was flush with color, his long dark hair wet from the shower and slicked back from his face. He was no longer dragging in raspy, labored breaths, but breathing just fine. He also didnât have a drop of blood on him . . . any where. Mary knew that for certain because the one thing that hadnât changed was that he was still buck naked, and his bare ass was presently in her driverâs seat.
Three
âW hat the hell do you think youâre doing?â Mary snapped, moving forward to loom threateningly over the young man. She would do him some serious harm if she had to, but no one was taking her RV from her. âGet your bloody arse out of my seat!â
âI showered the blood off. Sit down.â Even as he spoke the calm response, the RV jerked forward, nearly sending her tumbling to the floor. Catching the edge of the dinette table, Mary steadied herself and then grabbed the back of the driverâs seat to hold on as she scowled down at the seated man.
âI realize you showered,â she said with irritation. âI wasnât being literal. Just get out of myâcrap!â she muttered as he jerked the steering wheel right and she lost her hold on the driverâs chair and stumbled sideways, her hip hitting the side of the table. Then he swerved back again and she tumbled to the right thistime, toward the steps. He reached out and grabbed her arm, saving her from a nasty tumble, and then steered her toward the passenger chair. Mary dropped into the seat for safetyâs sake, but immediately turned to scowl at the young man.
âLook,â she began, finding it difficult to be stern after heâd just saved her from possible broken bones.
âI apologize