Free Escape From Fear by Gloria Skurzynski Page B

the Park Headquarters building.
    â€œI hope Mom and Dad won’t get mad that we went to see Cimmaron without them,” Ashley began, taking a bite of the pale green pie filling. When she saw Forrest’s expression, she quickly added, “But I know it’ll be fine. They’ll probably help you find her again—if you want that. Do you still want to see Cimmaron?”
    Forrest shrugged. His eyes were fixed on his glass again, and this time he dropped bits of napkin into the cherry remains. What a messy thing to do, Jack thought. He was just thinking he should leave the waitress an extra tip when he heard an old blue Chevrolet rattle loudly up the street. He watched as it squeezed into a space that was too small for its size, rocking forward, then back, until it stopped with only inches to spare. The driver of the car got out and slammed the door, slinging a macramé purse over her shoulder. Her hair was unbound and wild, and her jewel-green sarong seemed alive in the ocean breeze.
    Cimmaron had come.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    â€œS o you waited for me. You have tenacity.” Dropping into Denise’s empty chair, Cimmaron raised her hand to signal the waitress, who trotted over immediately. “Iced tea, please, with a twist of lemon.”
    â€œCertainly.” Flipping out her order book, the waitress scribbled quickly, asking, “Would you like a menu?”
    â€œNo, thank you. I will not be staying.”
    Forrest’s eyes—the same almond-shaped eyes as Cimmaron had—bored into her, but Cimmaron didn’t return his gaze. She looked different out of uniform. Freed from the ponytail, her hair was much longer than Jack would have guessed, halfway down her back and tight with curls. A wooden necklace of sea creatures hung just past her collarbone, set off by earrings in the shape of starfish and a bracelet stamped with sand dollars. Cranberry lipstick had been painted carefully on her full lips, and there was a faint blush of color on her high cheekbones, yet she wore no eye makeup. An exotic mixture of gardenia and spice made her smell heavenly. The only thing that betrayed a life of hard work was her hands. The skin was dry and cracked, and her knuckles looked too large for her fingers.
    It was Ashley who flared up. Rocking forward, her elbows on the table, she looked sternly at Cimmaron. “What do you mean, you’re not staying? Why not? And why did you make Forrest sit here, wondering the whole time if you were coming? You should have seen him, staring at every car that went by. It was awful!”
    â€œAshley—” Jack began, sending his sister a warning look. He knew how her heart went out to anything hurt or injured. From abandoned wild creatures to kids at school who’d been bullied, she was always standing up for them and taking their part. But this was different. This was an adult she was ripping into.
    Ignoring him, Ashley pushed on. “You know what? We almost left before you got here. What if we had gone? You don’t even know where to find Forrest! He would have flown back to Denver thinking you didn’t even care!”
    â€œI don’t answer to you, girl,” Cimmaron said coolly. “I answer to no one but myself.”
    Forrest shot Ashley a grateful look that at the same time was a warning. “It’s all right, Ashley. Really.”
    The waitress suddenly appeared, setting down the glass of iced tea and chirping, “Is there anything else I can get you?” to which Cimmaron smiled and replied, “No. Thank you.”
    â€œOK, then, have a nice day!” She tucked the bill on the table and left. Forrest grabbed it before Cimmaron had a chance to, sliding it quickly into his pocket.
    â€œGive that to me!” Cimmaron demanded, thrusting her palm at Forrest. “I pay my own way. I don’t let no one do for me, not unless I ask, and I’m not asking.”
    â€œI can afford to buy you a glass of iced