Author Note: After a long stint of finals, jobs and such, I am free to post an update! I am so sorry for the delay to update, but here it is, another episode of Tangled Trail. WARNING: Things are going to start getting very tangled. Please, have patience, all will be explained! Have fun! Thanks for your patience!
The end was in sight. Strip smiled to himself triumphantly, he'd almost completed the cumbersome task. Absently he wiped sweat away from his face and parked Bessie. It was time for a well-deserved water break. He didn't want to move; the misery of the heat was apparent as not even the kids had ventured out into the scorching sun.
Sheriff was reclining under the shade of a tall oak; a glass of ice cold lemonade was perched in his right hand and a hat was laying on his lap. With a sigh Strip exited his mobile sauna. His shirt stuck to his back and he was sure his socks would be soaked in a few minutes. He couldn't wait to be done with the road.
"Too hot for you?" Sheriff spoke in a solemn tone. His eyes bore into the racer, ever since Strip's initial declaration the law officer had rarely spoke to him. When he did it was clipped and with no pleasantries. "Don't go getting any ideas of skipping town."
"Wasn't planning on it. We have a conversation that's long overdue."
"Perhaps."
They sipped their drinks in contemplative silence. A few minutes passed before Strip went back to work. Sheriff stayed glued to the shade, his mind lost in thought. It was years back when he'd lost Delanie. He swallowed harshly as memories of the day that the letters and phone calls from his only child had stopped. If it hadn't been for little Mater he'd have become bitter.
He still wanted to know what had happened to his daughter. His little girl with the coppery brown curls and curious grey eyes. He sipped his drink again. Sooner or later he'd get answers, the officer had been relentless in his search for answers over the past few years. He'd pulled all the strings he knew to pull. Everything was a dead end.
Strip let out a whoop of excitement as he came to the end of the road. He'd finished it finally! It had taken him a week, but it was done. He knew where to take the cumbersome Bessie. Excitement bubbling up in his chest he deposited Bessie in the shelter built just for her. The excited racer was making his way to talk to Sheriff when he heard it. He started running towards the familiar sound. It had to be the Dinoco helicopter! Tex had come through again! He grinned and hurried over to where Sheriff was still lounging.
With a grunt Sheriff sat his cup aside and left the comfort of the shade. He squinted and was able to make out the word Dinoco. He scowled in the direction of the prisoner running towards him. It seemed that the hotshot had called in the cavalry.
"So, they finally came to pick you up." Sheriff snorted and shook his head at the racer. "I better make sure you did the road right." He stalked off to check the road. There was no way that he was getting away without doing his job.
The copter landed and as soon as the blades had stopped out came Tex Dinoco, Rotor, and a fancy dressed man. Strip grinned as Tex made his way over.
"How on earth do you get into such trouble?" Tex clapped him on the back.
"No clue. I mean, I had Lynda with me." Strip grinned. It was a relief to see his friend and sponsor. "You didn't have to come all the way out here."
"Sure, I did. I want to get the whole story." Thunder rumbled overhead and Tex looked up at the darkening sky.
"Better head over to Flo's before it comes a downpour." Sheriff grumbled. "I think everyone's congregated there." He collected his lemonade glass and headed to his cruiser.
The other men stared after the obviously agitated officer.
"Don't mind him. He's just a little testy." Strip grinned. The officer had begun to grow on him…despite his previous status as a prisoner.
"I ain't waitin' all day. Y'all want a ride or not?" Sheriff yelled.
More thunder and lightning cut off Strip's reply. Without a second thought the whole group made a dash to the waiting cruiser. Haphazardly they all piled in. Sheriff pressed on the gas and the car rushed forward. Tex grabbed hold of a seat and let out a whoop.
"Ever think of becoming a racer?" Tex grinned as the officer glanced in the rearview mirror.
"There's enough hotshots in this world." Sheriff scoffed and turned a corner throwing Strip into Rotor.
"Would you mind slowing down?" The fancy dressed man spoke at last.
"Oh, Strip. This here is your lawyer, Rodney Fairtred."
"Pleasure." Strip tried to sit up only for Sheriff to take another sharp turn. "Ain't this the long way?"
"Don't know what you mean." Sheriff slammed on his breaks and threw the car into park. A smirk was plastered on his lips as he slipped out of the cruiser and opened the back doors, so his passengers could get out.
"Strip! You've been teaching him to drive." Tex grinned at his friend.
"Actually, I think Lightning might be the one who did that."
Thunder rumbled overhead effectively disturbing the conversation. They all made a mad dash inside as the rain began to fall. Unfortunately, all of them were soaked except Sheriff, he seemed to take great delight in that.
Everyone had decided to gather inside of Flo's. The sound of laughter, background music and the scent of home cooking made the picture complete. Tex smiled, he liked the down to earth, hometown feeling of the place. Locals milled about at the tables and a blonde teen was chasing a younger boy.
"Look Sally!" Mater rushed Tex as if to try and bowl him over. Tex was ready for the child and swung him up into his arms. It was pure instinct.
"Howdy. Now were you trying to knock me over?" Tex grinned at the snaggle tooth smile the child gave him.
"Nawwww, I couldn't stop in time. Sheriff says my brakes are rusty." The child tilted his head and looked confused. "But I'm a kid, not a car. I don't have brakes."
"And what's your name? Mine is Tex." He maneuvered the child to his hip and walked over to sit beside Lynda and a dripping Strip.
"Tommy. But everyone calls me Mater."
"Mater. That's an interesting name."
"I like it." He wiggled out of Tex's hold and ran over to press his face against the diner's door. "Where's Lightning?"
"He's probably sulking." Cal commented as he sipped on a soda.
"I thought he was coming with you?" Lynda frowned at the boy as he made a slurping sound.
"I don' know." Cal shrugged. "He's been moody lately."
"Wouldn't have anything to do with the itching powder you put in his socks?" Lynda's lips twitched. She'd pulled her fair share of pranks when she was younger.
"THERE'S LIGHTNING!" Mater gripped the door and ran outside to greet the redhead.
"Hey, Mater." Lightning scooped up the child and made a fast dash into the diner.
"I told you that his stomach would win out honey." Flo grinned and smacked Ramone on the arm.
"Sure did." He kissed her on the cheek and went to sit beside Luigi.
"Now, here you are…leaking all over the floor." Flo tutted and fussed before grabbing a towel from the back and wrapping it around Lightning.
The redhead sent her a small smile, but he seemed rather distant. Lynda frowned to herself, that was odd. She couldn't help but watch him as he sat down in an empty seat at the table beside them. Doc was watching the proceedings with a critical eye, more than once Lynda caught him watching Lightning. It was a curious look that was on the doctor's face, it made her wonder if he recognized something in his face…some clue to his parentage. She shook her head and stood.
"Flo, I'll help you." She went into the kitchen.
"Aww, honey ain't no need to help me."
"Sure, there is. There are extra mouths out there to feed. Let me help." She turned to stir something on the stove. A big whiff of one of Flo's dishes made her pale.
"You alright sugar?" Flo laid a gentle hand on Lynda's arm.
"Yeah…I am. Just that smell."
"Smell?" Flo paused and looked from the food to Lynda and back again. "Oh, honey." A smile crossed her face. "You're gonna have a baby."
"Shh, I haven't told anyone…other than Strip." Lynda trailed off and a soft blush tinted her cheeks.
"Oh, don't you worry. I won't say a word." Her voice dropped to a whisper. "I have my own secret to inform my Ramone about."
"Really?" Lynda looked more closely at her. "You too?"
"Yes. We been married a long time." Flo turned to stir a pot. "I'm waitin' to tell him."
Lynda felt a connection with the woman. Radiator Springs had been growing on her through the past few days. She turned to fix a few plates to take out to the others. With a soft sigh she let her mind wander as she helped deposit the meals to everyone. Hopefully there wouldn't be any drama during the evening meal.