Free Dorothy Garlock - [Route 66] by Hopes Highway

given half a chance,” Mona mouthed to her brother.
    “Mona would give her eyeteeth to ride with him,” Sugar said to Foley in a low, confidential tone. “But, darling, we must be careful with our young lady. I think he’s a little too old and too experienced for her. A footloose man will take advantage of a
green
girl if he gets a chance.”
    “I think you’re jumping the gun, but if it will make you any happier, I’ll keep an eye on her.”
    In the backseat Mona clenched her hands into fists. Her face was set in hard, angry lines. She rolled angry eyes toward her brother. He shook his head, silently asking her not to let Sugar goad her into another set-to that would just upset their father.
    When Foley pulled over and stopped to check the radiator, Brady pulled in behind them. Foley had already lifted the hood by the time Brady got out. The stop also gave Blackie a chance to get out and sniff around.
    “Lost any water?” Brady asked.
    “Not a drop,” Foley said, grinning.
    “Then it looks like it’ll hold. Save your tinfoil, though, just in case.”
    With the hood up so that the men couldn’t see inside the car, Sugar turned and thumbed her nose at Mona.
    “You’re a bitch!” Mona said softly.
    “Yes, I am,” Sugar agreed with a wide, pleased smile. “And it’s a hell of a lot of fun!”
    Brady was enjoying Rusty’s company. The miles flew by while they discussed everything from music to politics. Rusty was well informed.
    “I’m not sure Roosevelt’s New Deal is going to get the country back on its feet. I think what will do it will be the jobs created by making war supplies for England and France. That Hitler fellow has got absolute power in Germany now. He says he’s going to purify Germany both ethnically and politically. What that means, I think, is that he wants to get rid of everyone who isn’t a German. I’d bet my bottom dollar that he’s gettin’ ready to start a shootin’ war.”
    “I’ve been kind of out of touch with what’s going on for several months now,” Brady admitted.
    “I listened to all the news broadcasts when we were home. I’m missing it on this trip.”
    “Have you thought of getting a battery-powered radio?”
    “They’re big, bulky and expensive. I told Pa not to bother. I’ll catch up when we get to where we’re going.”
    “And where is that?”
    “A town just south of Bakersfield. Pa, Mr. Kinnard and Foley Luker plan to start up an ice business. Out there ice sells year-round. In Missouri there’s a lull during the winter months. Folks don’t use much ice when it freezes every night.”
    “How long has Alvin known Mr. Kinnard?”
    “He doesn’t really know him. They met because they were in the same business and hitched up this plan with Foley Luker. Foley wasn’t married then.”
    “He’s hooked now.” Brady followed his remark with a snorting sound.
    “Ma gave me her version of his new wife.” Rusty chuckled. “My mother can be a bit catty at times. She’s got definite opinions on some things. I don’t think she was far off the mark about Mrs. Luker. I asked Margie, and she said almost the same, only in a softer way.”
    “Luker seems to be a pretty levelheaded guy except where she’s concerned. A woman who’d flirt with another man behind her husband’s back isn’t worth shootin’, to my way of thinkin’.”
    “She flirt with you, did she?”
    Brady nodded, then realized Rusty couldn’t see him. “Yeah,” he said. “And with Andy Payne too. Andy said that she reminded him of a black widow spider. She scared the crap out of him. He couldn’t get away from her fast enough.”
    “She’s sure to give Mr. Luker trouble.” Rusty reached back to scratch Blackie, who was lying on a crate behind the front seat. “He doesn’t know it now, or maybe he doesn’t care, but he’ll lose his kids over her if he doesn’t change his ways soon. Neither one of them will put up with her much longer.”
    “Mona is a pretty