Free Collision Course by David Crawford Page B

again that it was okay. Hannah’s happy face briefly brought a smile to his lips. She was the love of his life. Ten years younger than Gabe, she had swept him off his feet. Her family didn’t like him, especially now. They’d tried to talk Hannah out of marrying the older man, but she had assured them that the love she felt was forever. After Michael was born, things seemed to get better with her family. God, how he missed them. Gabe was just about to pour another glass of whiskey when he heard a truck door slam.
    He looked out the window and spotted Jane Walker coming toward his trailer. He wondered what she wanted now. A second later, he heard the knock. Gabe set the bottle down and opened the door.
    There she stood. He said nothing.
    Her nose scrunched up. “Have you been drinking?” she asked.
    â€œSome,” he mumbled.
    â€œAre you drunk?”
    Gabe shook his head. “No, not really. Why?”
    â€œBecause Robby and I need to go to town and get a few things. The way things are, I thought it would be safer if a man went with us. I figured you could probably use some things, too,” she said.
    â€œYou don’t want me.”
    â€œIt’s not about want. It’s about need. Now, go change your clothes and put on some cologne or something. I don’t want my boy smelling alcohol on you.”
    Gabe hung his head and trudged into his bedroom. He didn’t know why, but somehow he was compelled to do as the woman said. He gargled some mouthwash, applied a generous portion of Aqua Velva to his body, and put on clean clothes. When he walked back into the living room, he found Jane looking at the picture.
    When she saw him, she put the picture back down where she’d found it. The old look, the one Gabe hated, was back in her eyes. He gazed down at the floor. She walked up to him, a little closer than he was comfortable with. He heard her sniff.
    â€œThat’s better,” she said. “Let’s go.”
    Gabe followed her out the door, locking it behind him. He climbed into the passenger seat as the teenage boy scooted into the middle. The young teen’s eyes held the hatred and disgust to which Gabe had grown accustomed. No one said a word as Jane drove them into town.
    When they pulled into the parking lot of the small local grocer, Gabe was surprised at how full the lot was. Jane found an empty space on the far edge of the lot and parked. The trio got out of the truck and walked toward the store. A long line extended from the entry door around to the side of the store. In front of the exit door was a table with two men and a sheriff’s deputy standing beside it. It seemed to be the checkout station. A young couple was first in that line. One of the men was taking their items out of the basket and calling off prices to the other man, who had a calculator in his hand. The deputy was watching intently, and every once in a while, he’d look nervously around the parking lot. A second deputy was pushing an empty cart out of the lot and toward the entry door.
    There were two hand-painted signs posted on the front of the store, close to the entryway. The one with the biggest lettering said $50 LIMITPERHOUSEHOLD . CASHONLY. As they got closer, Gabe could read the other. It said A LL FOOD IS FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED . N O FIGHTING. A NYONE CAUSING ANY PROBLEM WILL BE ASKED TO LEAVE WITHOUT ANYTHING . N O EXCEPTIONS.
    â€œDo you see the sign, Mom? You think people are fighting over the food?” Robby asked.
    â€œI don’t know, son. What do you think, Mr. Horne?”
    Gabe just shrugged. Her face looked disappointed when he didn’t speak. “Maybe,” he said quietly. “People fight over stupid stuff all the time.”
    â€œThat’s true,” the boy said as he turned and looked at his mother. Gabe saw the look on the young man’s face and wondered if he was referring to some of the fights Gabe had had when he was drunk. Gabe