The girl on the Road
Chapter Three: Why are you here?
"Ask questions from your heart and you will be answered from the heart"
Omaha tribal saying
'Pat's Café' had seen better days; unfortunately those days were in its distant past; the blinds had been pulled to block the sun, the result only left it dark and forlorn. It was also empty save a tourist family at one table, the mother trying to keep the toddler quiet. Their eyes adjusted to the dim light; several men sat at the counter. Shaggy figured these to be hands from some nearby ranch. Laughter from the table in the back drew their attention: two guys enjoying lunch and a joke together. No one looked up at their entrance except the guys in the back. One tapped the others arm, pointing at the good looking girl and the guy who had just walked in.
They picked out a table, a buxom blond waitress sauntered over with menus and two glasses of water. "Don't mind those two, they're harmless. What can I get you two to drink?"
"Iced tea" they harmonized and laughed. "And lots of ice please" Shaggy added.
The waitress walked away wondering about her new patrons…
Husband-wife---no, no rings on either.
Boy/girl friend---unlikely, they sat opposite each other, not together.
That left hitchhiker-driver but which was the hitchhiker and who in their right mind would be hitchhiking in this heat around here?---no matter, another three hours and her shift would be over; she would be back this evening to split the days take with Bud, including what he had taken off her new patrons.
She took their teas to their table, taking their food order: 6 hamburgers with all the trimmings including two 'to go' in a doggie bag. With tip she wished she had more patrons like these two.
"I'm not suggesting anything so don't jump to conclusions and take this the wrong way but I think we both could do with a hot shower and a good nights sleep" Shaggy began when the waitress had left.
"Way ahead of you…don't be angry but I arranged a room at the 'Desert Star' for us while you waited at the town hall. It even has a pool, can you believe it? a pool! I could use a shower and sleep also."
'No sleep for me tonight…I do have that appointment tonight' she added to herself.
"Why is a pretty girl like you with a skinny guy like this? why don't you dump him and let me show you some fun." One of the guys from the back table interrupted. Shaggy turned to look into the face of one tough hombre. Big, dark haired and muscles that stretched the short sleeves of his T-shirt, a pack of cigarettes had been rolled up in one sleeve; Shaggy knew that at best he would stand no chance except to run and run very fast. But that would leave Kathie alone with him and no doubt his partner watching and smiling from the back table.
From the corner of his eye he caught a flash that lasted maybe two or three seconds but he couldn't determine from where the flash had originated.
"Leave the customers alone Jack! Go back to your table and finish your lunch or I'll throw you out!" their waitress called out.
"You and what army Flo?" 'Jack' called back but hurriedly returned to his friend.
The family decided they needed to get on the road…now!
Shaggy breathed a sigh of relief, turning back to look at Kathie.
"Wonder what changed his mind?" Shaggy wondered.
"Maybe he thought of a better place to be?" Kathie smiled at him.
'No, that look was pure terror regardless of the brave front he put on for Flo and he had been looking at…Kathie!' Shaggy thought.
"Do me a favor…look at this ticket I got this morning, notice the date…now look at the receipt I got after paying said ticket." Shaggy pulled the ticket and receipt from his pocket.
"November 18, 1967…so?" she took the offered items.
"Now look at my driver's license. Note the date of birth…Kathie; if those dates are correct…I won't be born for another sixteen years!"
"Well, look at it this way…The ticket won't be on your permanent record."
Shaggy started to laugh and found he couldn't stop!
---------Xxxxxx
With check in after two pm, they found they had some time to kill and Scooby needed a walk. It didn't take that long to 'walk the town' and they soon found themselves at the trading post. From Aspirin to a three foot stuffed Zebra of all things to find in the desert, the trading post had about everything anyone had run out of or had forgotten.
"Don't forget the pool. You need a suit?" Shaggy asked sheepishly.
"yes as a matter of fact I do, you going to help me pick one out? You need help picking one out for yourself?" Kathie teased.
It was the first time he had seen her really smile. Oh, there had been hints of a smile, corners of her lips curling up into an 'almost smile' but this had been a real smile. It made him glad for some strange reason.
She selected her suit and a new hair brush that supposedly was made from Elk antler bone. Shaggy had an old suit in the van somewhere if he could find it but opted for a new one at Kathie's insistence.
They walked out of the trading post with their bags; she didn't withdraw her hand when Shaggy reached for and took her hand, walking the short distance to the van, calling Scooby.
No one had ever held her hand! Was this a ritual? If she accepted, would it lead to something else? This wasn't her first mission; she had seen other couples doing a lot more than holding hands! She found she enjoyed the feel of his hand, the strange feelings and she found herself wondering what his lips would feel like… she wondered…
She reached for his hand once they were situated in the van for the short drive to the motel and waited for him as he registered.
He unlocked the door, letting her and Scooby go in first.
"With nothing but sagebrush and tumbleweeds from horizon to horizon, why is the room so small?" Shaggy observed the tiny room with two double beds, TV, and a small desk supporting a lamp, there was no phone. "I need to get Scooby some fresh water; why don't you use the shower first?"
"See if you can find some ice for our drinks?" Kathie headed for the shower.
She closed the door, turning on the shower to warm up while she disrobed. She stepped into the brisk stream; letting the water knead her tight shoulder muscles.
She began to cry.
"Why Shaggy!? Why are you here? You are a complication I don't want or need. Why are you so nice? Why did you hold my hand, making me feel those things? Is this the beginning of love I feel for you? What my Order warned us of? Why couldn't you be mean and nasty like that jerk at the café; he was so frightened when I let him glimpse at what was in store if he continued?" She turned toward the shower head, letting the water wash away her tears. "I have the mission! The mission comes first and you aren't part of the mission! Why are you here?"
No sign of tears could be seen when she opened the door, combing her hair with her new brush. The first thing she saw besides Shaggy was the stuffed animal sitting propped up in the middle of the bed. "Your turn, I did leave some hot water, and what is that?" she used her brush to point.
"That Kathie is what is known as a Jack-a-lope. Part Jackrabbit, part Antelope. A mythological creature known to populate the great Southwest. I thought you'd like a souvenir."
"He's so cute with the horns sticking out of his head. Do you like the suit I picked out?" she turned around modeling the suit; a black one piece that clung to every curve, cut high on the sides, drawing attention to the legs Shaggy had admired when he picked her up on the road. "I like, I like."
Scooby looked up woofing his approval before placing his head back on his paws. "And Scooby likes it too; it'll have all the coyotes howling tonight."
"If you plan on doing any howling you better get in there and take your turn" she whispered, pushing him toward the shower.
Shaggy stepped into the hot water, grabbing the soap and washcloth…
"Why are you here, Kathie, Why are you so darn cute with those beautiful green eyes? This was supposed to be a simple road trip; and then you show up out of nowhere? Where did you come from… and why are you here?" Shaggy wondered.