Free Finding Kate Huntley by Theresa Ragan

him. “We just need a ride into town.”
    Apparently the man didn’t believe her.
    Kate shrugged and continued toward the car. Reaching inside, she grabbed the keys from the ignition. She turned toward Jack and jangled the keys in the air. “We’ve got a ride.” Making her way to the back of the car, she opened the trunk and pulled out the spare tire.
    Jack caught up to her. He leaned into the car, shoved the gear into neutral, and moved the car to the side of the road, all the while muttering words like “guns” and “crazy woman” and “prison.” He put the vehicle into park before joining her at the back of the car. He pulled the jack out of the trunk.
    They had the tire changed in minutes.
    Kate left the driver’s water bottle on the side of the street in case he decided to come back. By the time she shut the trunk, Jack was already at the wheel, his mouth crimped in annoyance. She slid into the passenger seat and for the next five to ten minutes the only sound was the smooth hum of the car’s engine. Kate looked over at him and let out a long sigh. “What’s your problem?”
    “I don’t have a problem.”
    “Then why are you acting like a two-year old?”
    A maniacal laugh erupted. “I’d say that’s calling the kettle black, wouldn’t you? A woman who shoots first, asks questions later; swears like a sailor; and steals cars at gunpoint?”
    “Did I put a gun to your head and force you into this car?”
    He snorted.
    “In case you forgot, if you hadn’t come after me, none of this would have happened.” She crossed her arms. “You’re living in a fantasy world, Jack. It’s never going to be the same again. You’re a fugitive. Just like me. It’s all about survival now. Welcome to my world.”
    “Okay, maybe you’re right, this is all my fault,” he ground out. “But you can’t go around firing bullets every time somebody pisses you off.”
    She sighed. “If we want to stay alive we’re going to have to play by our rules.”
    Neither of them said a word after that.
    For the next fifteen minutes they watched the desert sweep by in a blur. It wasn’t long before they reached town. Jack pulled into the parking lot of a K-Mart. He reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and counted his money. “We have one hundred and sixty-two dollars. We’re going to have to make it last until we figure out what to do next.”
    Kate shuffled through her bag and found Ben Sheldon’s wallet. Inside the leather tri-fold were five crisp one-hundred-dollar bills. “Make that six hundred and sixty-two dollars.”
    Jack reached over her, his hand brushing against her leg as he opened the glove box, searching for something to write on. He snatched a pen from the compartment between the seats and proceeded to make a grocery list.
    A strange sensation washed over Kate, a sense of normalcy, as if they were a regular everyday couple running to the store to pick up a few things. As if she knew what normal was. She shook her head at her wayward thinking.
    When Jack finished writing, he looked at her. “Are you okay?”
    “Why do you ask?”
    “I guess I just wish it could have been different for you.” He reached out a hand and brushed loose strands of hair from her eyes. “I wanted to bring you back to the States and help you, not make things more difficult.”
    “It’s not your fault.” She took the list. “You stay here and I’ll get what we need. People would take one look at you and call the police.” She leaned into him so she could take a look at herself in the rearview mirror. She combed her fingers through her hair before turning to face him. Another hot wave swept through her belly. Being close to Jack Coffey made her wish he would take her in his arms and make her forget what they were running from. She lifted her chin. “How do I look?”
    “Like a million bucks.”
    She smiled and scooted back to her own seat.
    “You might want to leave the gun and the knives behind,” he