JACK KNIFED by Christopher Greyson Read Free Book Online Page B

like that?
    “Mr. Stratton?” The innkeeper softly touched his arm, and his eyes flashed open.
    “I’m sorry,” he mumbled as he tried to get control of himself.
    The expression on her face changed from slightly concerned to fearful as she looked at him. Jack tried to smile, but his rage still burned.
    “I’m sorry. Excuse me.” He turned and hurried down the stairs.
    He took a right at the front desk and hurried over to the large room with four, small, round tables and chairs set for breakfast. Jack stood in the doorway, but Replacement was nowhere to be seen. A young couple sat at the first table to the left. They were so close together, they were practically sitting in each other’s laps. They were in their early twenties, and the girl kept her hand on the boy’s thigh as they talked and stared into each other’s eyes.
    An open doorway was at the end of the room, on the right wall, and Jack assumed that was where the food was, confirmed by Replacement’s appearance. She slowly walked into view, with both hands carefully holding a huge breakfast plate, supporting a mountain of food. She looked up at him and grinned as if she’d caught a prizewinning fish. Jack motioned to the table nearest her, and they both sat down.
    “You won’t believe how much food they have in there,” she gushed.
    “Is there any left?”
    “Tons. Pray. I can’t wait to try this.”
    Jack bowed his head but sat there for a moment. “God…I…help me figure this out.”
    “That prayer stinks,” Replacement mumbled as she took a gigantic bite of eggs.
    “I don’t think you’re supposed to rate prayers.”
    Replacement moaned. “These eggs are so good. Why can’t you rate a prayer? Help you? Is God your assistant?” She shoved another large forkful into her mouth.
    “I didn’t mean it that way. I asked for help.”
    “You should say something like: ‘God, show me the way.’ You’re just a tool that He’ll use. And, you didn’t say in Jesus’s name. I always end my prayers like that. I read it. ‘Ask anything in my name.’ That’s what Jesus told the disciples. Try this.”
    She stuck a slab of buttered brown bread into his mouth. His eyes flashed in anger, but then he tasted it. The bread was delicious, and the butter had just a hint of honey. Jack’s eyes glassed over, his mouth watered, and Replacement nodded knowingly.
    “It rocks, huh?” She smiled from ear to ear. “Aren’t you going to get a plate?”
    Jack laughed. “I thought you got enough for both of us.”
    Replacement ate with her arm on the table, and she pulled the plate closer to herself. “I wanted to try everything.”
    “You can keep going up.” Jack suppressed another laugh at Replacement’s shocked expression.
    Her frown quickly flipped to a huge grin. “Okay. Help with this, and I’ll go for seconds.”
    Jack wanted more of the brown bread but she’d already finished it off. He grabbed a fork and took a bite of some pancakes. He almost dropped the fork; they were the best pancakes he’d ever tried.
    “Is everything to your liking?” Ms. Foster, the hostess from the front desk, appeared at his side.
    He looked up at her and gave a shy nod. Her graceful, floral dress had a slight scent of spring, and Jack leaned closer to her.
    “This food is unbelievable.” Replacement held up a forkful of what Jack supposed was an omelet.
    “Thank you. We try our best to adhere to tradition, and all of the recipes and ingredients are historically accurate.”
    “The pancakes are the best I’ve ever had.” Jack shifted in his seat.
    “They’re made with low-hanging blueberries. They just came into season. They tap the syrup on the farm down the road. Did you sleep well last night?”
    “I did. That bed is so soft I could sleep all day. Jack slept on—” Replacement winced as Jack stepped on her foot.
    “It was fine, thank you.” Jack forced a smile.
    The woman smiled but raised an eyebrow slightly. “If you need any information