Runaways (Orphans 5)

He put the water can into the trunk, closed his garage door, and then got in and started the engine. It sounded a low growl.

"Pretty, ain't it?" he asked as though we were listening to a symphony orchestra. "Not as pretty as you, of course." This time it was his turn to look away shyly.

His compliment left me speechless, and we drove in silence until the wagon came into view. "That's you?" He nodded at our broken-down vehicle.

"Yes," I said and he made a U-turn and backed up. Then we got out.

"Don't get too close, girls," he said as he started fiddling with the hoses. "The water coming out of here is pretty hot. Uh oh. Looks like your water pump is shot, too."

I could tell by the look on his face that we were in serious car trouble.

"Can you fix it for us?" Raven asked. He glanced at her and then he turned to me. It was the first time I ever saw a boy take more interest in me than in Raven.

"I'll tow you back to my station. The nearest parts place is thirty miles to Grover," he explained.

"We don't have a lot of money," I said quietly. "You wouldn't take a credit card, would you?"

"We don't take credit cards anymore. It's just me and my dad and he's hardly at the station." He thought a moment and then said, "Let me ask around. I could probably get a deal for you."

"Great," I said, my eyes brightening.

He shut the hood and opened his trunk to get out a chain. Raven looked at me and through her sign language indicated she thought he was a hunk as he attached the chain underneath and then attached it to his own vehicle. I ignored her.

"Get behind the wheel and put it into neutral," he told me.

I got in and Raven quickly followed.

"Where's he taking us?" Crystal asked and I explained.

"He seems really nice, Brooke," Raven commented as he got into his car and started to tow us. "He's nice enough," I said.

When Raven saw his garage, she moaned. "Maybe we should go someplace else."

"Beggars can't be choosers," Crystal said. "Let's just see if he can fix it."

We all got out when he stopped.

"The junkyard's about fifteen miles away," he said. He looked at his garage. "I was thinking they may have the part."

He turned to me with a warm smile on his face. "Why don't you come with me? If you guys want, you can wait in the office," he suggested to the others. He unlocked the door and turned to us. "There's some cokes in the refrigerator, some cookies and stuff, too. There are a few magazines, but I don't think they'll interest you much," he added with a devilish little smile.

Raven tossed her hair over her shoulder and widened her eyes.

"Probably not," she said.

"Thank you," Crystal said. She and Butterfly headed for the office.

"Just answer the phone for me, will you?" he asked.

"Of course," she told him.

"How long is this going to take?" Raven asked.

"Could be a while," he said. "First we've got to find a pump that works and then we've got to install it. Matter of fact, you girls might have to stay over."

"Stay over? Where?" She glanced down the deserted road.

"I don't know the rates around here anymore, but there's a place called the Woodside, sort of a bed and breakfast, about two miles north of here," he indicated. "Nice old lady runs it, Mrs. Slater. Look it up in the phone book while we're away."