Gemma hefted the laundry basket onto her hip and headed out to the clothes line. She could see Jessica playing with the other kids across the yard. They'd been at the farmhouse for three days and Jessica had been thriving. Peggy had been right, there was never a shortage of kids for her to interact with. Peggy had an open house, people came and went constantly.
"Da'Oh! Da'Oh heww!" Jessica cried out as the rusty truck pulled into the drive. Warrick had ridden into town with one of the guys, to pitch in at the pizza parlor the family owned and ran. Warrick climbed out of the passenger side, his fake dreads swinging loosely in a band on his back. He grinned broadly and caught Jess as she charged to him. He swung her up above his head, bringing her down for a loud smacking kiss.
"Where's your Ma?"
"Dewe!" Jess pointed her out. Warrick made his way to Gemma while Jessica jabbered about her day. He paused to greet the other kids as they came up to greet him. The kids all seemed to be drawn to him.
"Hi!" Gemma smiled up from him as she pinned the clothes to the line.
"We gotta move on." He sighed. "There's people sniffing around town, asking about Peggy."
"How could it be them? How would they find us?" Gemma gasped. Warrick set Jessica down and sent her off to play. After the girl disappeared, he pulled the distraught woman into his embrace.
"They knew where we last were. They checked the bus schedules. They most likely have people looking into everyone who rode our bus. No matter how hard you try to hide, someone is bound to see you." He explained, rubbing her back, trying to soothe her.
"Hey, you've got flour on your neck." Gemma chuckled dryly, rubbing it off with her palm. Warrick took her trembling hand in his and brought it to his lips, kissing the warm palm.
"We will be okay." He promised in a raspy voice."
"You two lovebirds come in here." Peggy beckoned from the back door. With a grin, Warrick pulled Gemma along with him, still holding her hand.
"You'll change your names and your looks?" Peggy questioned. She'd already heard that people were looking for them in town. There wasn't anything that Peggy didn't hear about.
"Yes Ma'am." When around Peggy, Warrick didn't pretend to be anyone other than himself. The only thing he didn't do was tell her his real name and their story of woes.
"I'll need to know what names to write to my friend, Joyce."
"Pardon?"
"I've got a friend from my childhood, who live in Montana. She runs a Bed and Breakfast. I'll write her a letter, telling her you're my nephew on his honeymoon." Peggy informed him.
"I can't ask that of you." Warrick disagreed with a grimace.
"I didn't hear you ask me. I'm telling you. No one knows about her. It's a good place to disappear." Peggy insisted, "My cousin Lester has a truck in the barn that you can take. You just tell me the names you'll be using and I'll write the letter while you pack."
"I have to finish the laundry." Gemma jumped up and ran out of the house, not wanting either of her companions to see her crying. She didn't want to leave this place. It was the most comfortable she'd been in years. It felt like home.
Warrick watched her go, knowing what she was feeling and hating that he had to take this from her. Turning back to Peggy, he found her watching him. "Tobias Monroe and my wife Olivia. And her son Jesse."
"She's a good woman."
"Yes, she is." Warrick agreed, his eyes drifting out the window to watch Gemma as she finished the laundry.
"Here boy, You'll need this to fool Joyce." Peggy passed something across the table. Warrick force his attention from Gemma and looked down to find a diamond wedding band.
"No."
"Yes Honey-child. It was my sisters. She had no children when she died. She had no one to pass it down to. She gave it to me to do as I see fit. I'm telling Joyce that you are Rachel's boy."
"I can't take that! It's a family heirloom." Warrick frowned.
"Consider it a wedding gift. When this is all over, you use it to do right by the girl. She deserves a good man who can treat her right." Peggy pushed it to the hand he had laying on the table. "It'll fit her, I can tell."
With a heavy sigh, Warrick picked it up and looked at it. "Thank you."
Warrick checked out the truck Peggy was lending them. It wasn't much to look at, but it had a good engine from what he could tell. It wouldn't be comfortable for sleeping in but there was actually plenty of leg room. Peggy was also able to provide a child seat for Jessica. The old Ford had two gas tanks, and he took it to town to have it filled before he loaded all there stuff in. It was dusk by the time they pulled out of the driveway. Peggy stood on the porch, having hugged and kissed them all. She waved until he could no longer see her.
Gemma stared out the window, not wanting to let him see her tears. "When this is all over, you can come back." He offered, trying to console her.
"She told me that. I like it here, so does Jess." Gemma sniffed, wiping away her tears. "I think I might, when this is over. If I'm able."
"You will." Warrick promised. "Try to get some rest, I'll let you drive the next shift. I want to get as many miles away from there as we can. We'll drive straight through."
"All the way to Montana?"
"I looked it up at Peg's." Warrick nodded. "It's about 20 hours without stopping."
"Okay." Gemma nodded.
"Well stop later to change."
"You'll have to forgive us. We don't have a regular room available for you. The room we have open belonged to my son. Would that be okay?" Joyce Peterson looked apologetic.
"We don't want to put anyone out." Warrick used a finger to push his black rimmed glasses back, He'd changed his contacts from the dark brown to a lighter shade of brown. "Aunt Peg-"
"Nonsense! The room is yours for the week." Joyce interrupted, with a disapproving look to Warrick. "My son moved out a year ago. College man now. We have a toddler bed in the attic that we can set up in your room."
"That would be lovely." Gemma cut in, wrapping her arms around Warrick's arm. "This place is perfect!" She gave a flirty smile to her pretend husband. The woman's harsh expression melted away into a smile. "Let me show you the room."
"I don't think the woman likes me." Warrick muttered as he tossed his pillow on the floor in front of the door.
"This bed is plenty big enough for the both of us." Gemma frowned. "Sleep up here."
Warrick looked at the bed as if it were full of snakes. "No." He grimaces as he settled onto the hard wood floor. "The could've at least had carpet."
"And Joyce doesn't dislike you. It's probably just make her think of a tax auditor." Gemma chuckled. She had chuckled every time she looked at him since he'd changed. It was hard to imagine this was the same man. Gone were the dreads, replaced by tight curls, shaved close to the head. Goatee and stubble were shaved clean. The loose, flowing clothes were also gone. In their places were slacks, a button up shirt and tie. Topped with the thick glasses, he looked like an IRS agent, young and high strung.
"Hey, at least I don't look like a high school cheerleader" Warrick countered. Peggy had cut her hair into a short bob. Dyed a golden brown that was set off by her brown contacts, she indeed looked like a teenager. "Remind me to get you some pom-poms next trip to town." he snickered. His answer was a pillow upside the head. "Thanks!" he chortled, tucking the second pillow under his head.