Title: The Stranger

By: greygoose70

Chapter Three

The girls have just headed up the stairs for their nap Lily saying she wanted to take hers in the big bed with mommy Kate of course letting her. Rick went to the kitchen grabbed a bottle of water from the frig and headed to the office to get some writing done. First thing he did was open the previous chapter, refresh himself with where he left off then began typing.

One Week later

After crossing the Tennessee/Kentucky state line he took the first exit he came to, SH27, he wanted to open the Mopar 305-cid, 500-bhp motor to her full potential, something he could not do in the I-75. Pressing down on the accelerator the burnt orange with black accents Challenger T/A began smoothly gathering speed. As he watched the tachometer start to reach the 2000 rpm mark, he floored it allowing the huge rear ports on the Carter Thermo-Quad carburetor to open supplying the motor with the fuel/air mixture it required.

The car was running along smoothly the racing suspension handling the turns without a problem. Suddenly he heard a loud whine coming from under the hood, so he slowed down but the noise continued. He pulled off to the side of the road and shut off the motor. He remembers seeing a Baskerville 5 miles sign some ways back but not sure how far back that was, hopefully far enough where he would not have to push his car far.

He had been pushing for about an hour when he saw the Marathon sign then saw someone jogging toward him. As the person got closer, he could see it was a girl, so he stopped pushing and waited. She did not introduce herself just told him "you push I'll steer," so he moved to the rear of the car while she took over his place at the open driver's door. As they moved along, she turned her head to him saying, "nice car, what year is it?"

"Nineteen Seventy," he answered.

"Wow its older than me." she commented. "I've got socks older than you," he commented back with a sheepish grin.

As they got closer, he noticed the station was a little run down, but it did have a repair shop with two bays. They pushed the Challenger in front of the empty bay where the girl got inside applied the brakes then put the selector in PARK.

A man with a noticeable limp supporting himself with a cane came over and introduced himself as Brent Carlson then introduced the girl as his daughter, Jennifer "Jen" to everybody. It was Jen who asked him, "Do you have a name?"

"Marlowe," he replied. "First name?" She then inquired. He said nothing just gave her a 'don't ask' look.

Marlowe and Brent began discussing the repairs to the Challengers transmission, Brent suggesting towing it to London where there was a full-service repair shop; Marlowe told Brent he would rather have the repairs done here in his shop. "Okay," Brent replied they would start on it in the morning.

As they were talking a white Cadillac came roaring into the station bringing a cloud of dust along with it before screeching to a stop at the pumps. "It's one of Pierce's men," Jen said rather disgustedly. "Just go see what he wants and don't start anything," her father told her.

"Did I hear her say Pierce, as in Carson Pierce," Marlowe commented. "You know him," Brent responded back. "Heard of him, supposed to be some kind of real estate developer."

"Well, he showed up here about a year ago immediately bought the Sanderson ranch, been buying up land ever since."

"For what purpose?" Marlowe inquired. "Don't know, so far all he's done is buy. And from what I hear he doesn't care how he goes about it."

Just then they heard the squeal of tires as the Caddy went roaring out of the station. "Blackwell, what an asshole," Jen grunted coming back to join the two men.

Ding, ding, ding his laptop sounded. It was the timer he had set on the computers clock letting him know his two hours was up, so true to the promise he made Kate he saved his work, closed the lid, and exited the office.

As he headed for the kitchen, he saw Kate coming down the stairs, so he stopped and waited for her. "Taking a break," she said. "Nope, my two hours are up," he replied.

Reaching the next to last step which put their faces level Kate flung her arms over his shoulders leaned in and kissed him. Pulling away she said, "Rick, if you want to keep…"

"No Kate, we're only here for a month and I want to spend as much time with my girls that I can." He then grabbed her butt and lifter her up Kate instantly wrapping her long shapely legs around him then leaning in planted her lips to his in a passionate kiss. Rick turned carried her into the kitchen and set her down on one of the bar stools maintaining their kiss the entire way.

"I love you," they said simultaneously when they separated chuckling at how in sync they always are. "What would you like for dinner?" They then said, again as one causing them to break out in hysterical laughter.

"Wed beans and wice," came a voice from the archway.

Rick and Kate turned their heads toward the voice seeing a bed headed Lily standing there. Rick reached down picked her up gave her a peck to the cheek then asked if she wanted sausage with it, "yeth," she answered.

With dinner complete, the dishes done Kate took Lily up for her bath while Rick went into the living room, turned on the TV turning it to a local news station. Their lead story this evening being the passing of 89-year-old U.S. Supreme Court Judge Juliana Breckenridge, that a special on the judge would be shown following their regular broadcast.

As the reporter switched to the next news item, he heard the elevator doors open and a giggling Lily Castle come running out leaping into his lap shouting "movie daddy movie."

"Okay munchkin what movie you want to watch tonight?"

"Frozen, watch Frozen," she replied excitedly. "I'll get it," Kate told them rising going to the DVD cabinet.

"Looks like you're going to be pretty busy when you go back to DC Kate."

"Oh yeah," she replied inserting the disc into the player. "Yeah, Judge Breckenridge passed away," he told her.

"Really. God she was what, 90."

"89 actually, been a sitting judge for 45 years, who do you think Newt will nominate as her replacement?"

"Not sure, I know he has a short list prepared." Just as Kate finished a "Shh" was heard, Lily letting them know the movie started. Ninety minutes later as the credits rolled on to the screen Lily let out a yawn. "Looks like it's our little girl is tired Kate."

"Come on Lily let's get you to bed," Kate said taking her by the hand leading her to the elevator. "I'm going to turn in to Rick."

"Okay, I'll be up shortly after taking care of everything down here," he responded.

Rick opened his eyes, turned to see what time it was, seeing it was a little past two. This was his norm whenever inspiration struck, when he knew he had to get it down on paper. He slowly crawled out of bed careful not to disturb his sleeping wife slipped on his robe and headed down to the office.

TBC