"Are you all right, honey?" the waitress asked.

"Yes," I said quickly. "Just a little tired."

"Where are you going?"

"To see my uncle," I said.

"You better be careful driving in this weather if you're that tired," she said.

The demands of the other customers prevented her from asking any more or giving any more advice. I was happy about that but disgusted at myself once again.

I began to eat. The young truck driver slipped out of his booth and came over to mint. He was tall and lean, with very dark brown eyes and a sharp nose and jaw line. I saw he had a small scar on his chin. His brown hair was cut very close on the sides.

"You were dead asleep a few moments ago," he said. "You feeling sick?"

"No," I said. "I'm fine. I was just a little tired.."

"How far have you driven?"

I glanced at the other drivers in his booth. They were all looking at us and smiling.

"She's too young for you.. Dirk," one of them called, and they all laughed when someone else said. "That's how he likes 'em. Fresh eggs."

Dirk slipped in across from me and folded his hands on the table, "How far?" he asked,

"From Memphis." I said.

He nodded and looked impressed. "Where you going?"

"I'm going to El Paso." I replied. I was too tired to think of any lies, and I didn't care about what he thought, anyway. I continued to eat.

"All by yourself?"

I thought about Brenda and especially about Celia and how she would react to some man just making himself at home in her booth and poking into her business.

"You see anyone else with me?" I shot back at him.

"Whoa," he said, looking away. "You're a tough one. huh?"

"No. I didn't ask you to sit here," I added. My blood was rising into my neck. I was very frightened but battled down anything that would show it.

"I'm just making conversation." he said. "You know how to get to where you're going?"

"Yes, thank you," I said.

"It's not a few hours away, you know. If you want a suggestion about where to stop, there's a motel about seventy-five miles west of here I'd recommend. It's inexpensive and clean. It's called Dryer's. Owner's name is Fred Dryer, and either he or his son Skip runs the office."

I didn't say anything. I kept eating. The food was okay but quite bland. It was nothing special to me. Daddy wasn't right. His rule wasn't always true. Was this what would happen to me my whole life, making discoveries that contradicted the things my daddy had told me and I had treated like gospel?

"How old are you?" Dirk asked.

"Do you mind?" I answered, and glared back at him, trying to look as tough as I could.

"Suit yourself. Just trying to be helpful," he said. rising.

His friends rode him with jeers and laughter as he returned to their booth. I was happy to see

them all leave before I was finished.

Tags: V.C. Andrews Shadows Horror
Source: readsnovelonline.net