Violets in February by Clare Revell Read Free Book Online Page B

left arm. That was one of his favorites, despite having been done after a long session with the blokes that left him blind drunk. No doubt, the nosy sheila would want to know the story behind the tattoos, but if he told anyone it wouldn’t be her. With a bit of luck, she’d sleep all the way to the city.
    He dried off, then wrung out his clothes and put them back on. In this heat, he’d dry fast. Thunder rolled again. He glanced through the window at the clouds building in the distance. “Just give me two days,” he muttered. “Just hold off for two days.”
    He headed back to the clinic and looked at Lucy. “Ready?”
    “I’m not going anywhere,” she snapped. “Why won’t anyone listen to me?”
    “Shut up. I took a shower, washed my hair and my clothes, just to take you out. So you jolly well are coming if I have to drag you all the way to the city myself. Have they packed for you?” As she shook her head, he heaved a heavy sigh and stomped off towards her room.
    As he flung open the drawers and grabbed a backpack, he could hear her moving slowly down the hallway.
    “Don’t you go through my drawers,” she called, not bothering to hide the irritation in her voice.
    “I wouldn’t go through your drawers if you paid me, darl’,” he yelled back, deliberately using innuendo. He flung her underwear into the bag, followed by shirts, shorts and a very short nightshirt. He turned around, grabbing her hair brush.
    Lucy appeared in the doorway. “I beg your pardon!”
    “Granted, but like you said the other day, darl’, you ain’t got nothing I haven’t seen a dozen times.”
    Her jaw dropped. “How…how dare you?”
    He smirked. “I think the expression you’re looking for is how very dare you, actually. Where’s your wash bag and toothbrush?”
    “Over there.”
    Jed shoved those into the pack as well. “I’ll come back for ya in a sec.” He brushed past her and took her bag out to the Ute. He slung it in the back.
    Mani came out with a crate. “Some food, water, and meds.”
    Jed nodded. “Cheers.” He noticed the pot of violets in the side of the crate, but didn’t say anything. “Set it in the back. I’ll go get the doc.”
    He headed back inside and swung Lucy into his arms.
    She struggled, managing to keep hold of the crutches. “Hey, I can walk.”
    “I beg to differ.” He strode to the Ute and dumped her unceremoniously into the passenger seat. “Sit there and belt up.”
    “Belt up?” Fire briefly replaced the pain in her eyes.
    “Take it both ways, lady. She’ll be apples, you’ll see.” He scurried around the vehicle. Sooner he bailed the better.
    “What have apples got to do with anything?” she sighed, struggling with the belt.
    Jed tried to start the Ute. “Means it’ll be OK.”
    Tim ran over. “Before you go…” He leaned in through the window and took Lucy’s hand. “Lord, God, I pray for protection on the road for Lucy and Jed…”
    Jed shook his head and tuned out Tim, turning the engine over and over until it caught. God sure hadn’t protected him in the past, and he didn’t see how that was about to change now. He cast one eye over the darkening sky to the west.
    Two more days. Just give me two more days before you fall, rain.
    He raised his hand in farewell, as Tim finished speaking, slammed the Ute into gear and left a trail of dust behind him.

5
    Lucy grabbed the dashboard and held on for dear life as the truck lurched over the rough road. “I thought bouncing on roads was a metaphor,” she gasped.
    Jed stopped chewing the piece of gum long enough to shake his head. “Nope.”
    Could the man not do two things at once? “Can’t we use the main road?”
    His chewing grew louder. “Nope.” He turned up the music.
    Lucy turned it down immediately. “Why not?”
    “Guerillas.” He spat something out of the window, hopefully the gum, and then twisted and stretched across Lucy. He pulled open the glove box and drew out a pack of cigarettes.