Chapter Seven

The night was clear and star-strewn. The full moon reflected softly over the fields stretching along the side of the road for as far as Kate could see. And that was all she could see; fields, the occasional tractor or abandoned farmhouse, every now and then a car passing in the opposite lane. Frustration was slowly eating away at Kate, bit by slow bit. It never took her this long to find what she was looking for. With every minute that passed, she felt she was tempting terrible unknown lurking in the darkness to come forward, to ruin everything once more.

A golden light near the horizon slowly began to grow as the bus moved forward. Kate watched, crossing her fingers that it might suit her purposes. She was quite relieved to find out that it did. The light gradually defined itself as a twenty-four hour truck stop; the perfect place for her and Sawyer to get what they needed.

For her and Sawyer to get what they needed? When had she unconsciously decided that they would go on the run together? Wouldn't it be safer if they separated? Even though she hated to admit it, a small part of her didn't want Sawyer to go his own way. It would be nice to have some company for a change, even if his wasn't the most desirable at all times. She didn't much care what was safe anymore either. What could be more reckless than stealing a prison bus? That wasn't likely to go unnoticed by authorities for too long. Once they didn't arrive in Iowa on time, the hunt would begin. That gave them around six hours before they had to disappear. There it was again, them.

The bus proceeded past the gas station and Kate immediately began another search again. She combed the sides of the road for any small unused turnoffs she could find. Luckily, this time she spotted a small overgrown dirt road not a hundred yards from the truck stop. The weeds of the abandoned field grew nearly six feet high and the road dipped down from the main highway. All of these factors didn't entirely hide the bus, but it did provide adequate coverage.

Kate methodically started to turn the vehicle onto the dirt path. The path was not even close to accommodating the wide girth. The deeply rooted ruts provided surprising jolts and jars, throwing the passengers this way and that accordingly.

A particularly violent jerk sent Sawyer's head slamming into the bus window for the second time that day.

"What the hell do you think you're doin' anyway, Freckles?" Sawyer exclaimed, rubbing the new knot forming at the base of his skull. "Don't ya think we should have just pulled in at the gas station back there? I'm pretty sure they have better parking spaces then this overgrown place."

"Don't ya think they have security cameras, too," Kate retorted, mimicking Sawyer's southern drawl.

"Little miss smart aleck now, aren't we?" Sawyer said as he stood up and stretched.

Kate shook her head as she grabbed her bag from under the front seat. Thankfully, they had both been allowed to keep a couple of civilian outfits for their court appearances. Kate quickly grabbed the first pieces of clothing that she laid hands to. All of her attire was professional and she was worried that it would draw unnecessary attention, but then again entering the gas station in bright orange might be just a bit too conspicuous.

"Turn around," Kate told Sawyer.

"For what?" Sawyer asked in his normal lazy tones that Kate recognized as those he used when he likely wasn't going to do what you wanted him to.

"I need to change and you do too."

Amazingly, Sawyer slowly stood up and faced the back of the bus. Kate realized that Sawyer really was letting her take control. He would have never complied so easily with her demands on the island. Even if he did, he rarely gave up the opportunity to send some warped remark her way.

Kate was about ready to start changing when she noticed that the guard and driver were still facing her. She froze immediately and gave both of them menacing stares. Sawyer must have heard her hesitation.

"And what do ya think you two are doing?" Sawyer said, directing his threatening comment toward the two men.

Both hostages acted completely in unison, turning around just as Sawyer had moments ago. Kate proceeded to swap her prison garments for those of her own. She was appreciative of Sawyer's concern but was quite certain that she felt his gaze on her back more a few times.

"So, sweetheart, what are we going to do with these two?" Sawyer questioned as Kate was stuffing the jumpsuit into her bag.

"Well, we can't take them with us, so we leave them here."

"Isn't that a bit risky, 'cause as soon as they're found, they'll blab everything they know."

"There's no other choice, Sawyer. We'll just have to make it difficult for them to be found."

As Kate said this she walked back to the driver, unlocked a leg cuff, and securing the chain safely around the seat leg. She then tossed the keys to Sawyer who followed suit, anchoring the guard.

"Are you sure you have it?" Kate asked Sawyer for the third time as they made their way to the gas station.

"We need scissors, ball caps, and anything else I think we need like food," Sawyer answered lethargically.

Kate nodded her head satisfied with his answers.

"If you don't mind me askin' Freckles, why do we need the scissors?"

"You'll see," Kate told him was a mischievous smile. Then she added, "I'll wait around back of the store."

They neared the entrance and Sawyer walked toward the door while Kate headed to the darkened parking lot. She commenced peering into car windows and tugging on door handles. There weren't many vehicles in the lot, but she was pretty sure she would find a car that had carelessly been left unlocked. She walked over to an old, beat-up Pontiac Grand-Prix askew in its parking place. As she glanced in the window she saw that the keys had been left in the passenger seat and beer cans were strewn on the dashboard. Well, at least he won't miss it, she thought. Quickly, she hopped into the driver's seat and released the emergency brake, letting the car silently roll back, guiding it toward the far side of the gas station.

Sawyer hastily made his way to the stolen vehicle not many moments later with plastic bags. It was then a thought struck Kate, Where in the world had he gotten the money to pay for the stuff? She couldn't help but voice the thought aloud.

"You didn't think that I left those assholes back there with their wallets, did ya?" Sawyer replied in typical fashion. Kate wasn't even sure why she even had to ask anymore.

"And I figured out why you wanted the scissors and it ain't goin' happen," Sawyer said emphatically.

"What's that Sawyer?"

"You think you're goin' to make me cut my hair. I'm tellin' ya now, it's not happenin'." Kate let out a sigh, knowing that this was going to be a fight.

"Are you really that attached to your hair, Sawyer," Kate teased in hopes of coaxing him to see how silly this battle was.

"Yes I am. I got used to it on the island and I'm not willin' to give it up," he replied stubbornly.

"So you'd rather have your hair than your freedom?" Kate asked incredulously.

Sawyer sat there in silence, as inflexible as he was before.

"If you don't cut your hair, Sawyer, you're not traveling with me. I don't want to risk being caught on account of your fondness for your hair," she said seriously, knowing that he would take it as an ultimatum.

"Well, maybe I'll just have to leave then, Freckles."

"Fine," Kate said, knowing from his huffy mood that his threats held no seriousness.

She started to pull off to the side of the road, unlocking the doors in the process.

"This is your stop then, Sawyer."

Sawyer stared at her, not believing that she would leave him on the side of the road.

"Time's ticking Sawyer, if you're going, get out," Kate said gravely.

"All right, Freckles, you win again! Just go now," Sawyer said, defeated once again.

Kate pulled back onto the road smiling triumphantly.