Trucker Daddy (Working Man Series Book 3) Page 15

  “I’ll get her,” said Cal. “Just give me the yardstick.”

  “I need to go to Maggie,” said Tuesday, not understanding a word of what the truckers were saying. As she went back to try to calm the baby, she heard Red give Cal a number and figured yardstick must mean mile marker.

  “Hush, Maggie,” she said, getting a bottle for the baby. She had just gotten Maggie calmed down when Cal pulled the truck over to the side of the road and stopped.

  “What’s the matter?” she called out. “Why did we stop? Is it because of the storm?”

  “There’s a stranded motorist hitchhiking. Red can’t pick her up because it is against company policy. He’s not insured for that.”

  “So you’re going to pick her up?” asked Tuesday in surprise.

  “I own my own rig and can do what I want,” he told her. “Stay here. I’m going to help the girl inside.”

  “Whatever,” she said, not liking the idea, but feeling bad for anyone who was stuck out in this storm.

  The passenger door opened and Tuesday heard a female voice. Then Cal got back in the driver’s seat. Burrito hurried over to the passenger and Tuesday heard the girl giggle.

  “You’ve got a dog,” she said. “I love dogs.”

  “Cal?” Tuesday walked up with the baby in her arms.

  “Twiggy, this is Ronnie. She ran out of gas and is stranded so we’re going to give her a ride to the next gas station,” said Cal, pulling a long-sleeved shirt out from under his seat and handing it to the girl. “Here, put this on to keep warm since you are soaked to the skin.”

  Tuesday looked over to the passenger’s seat to see a young girl who couldn’t have been twenty years old, dressed in a short skirt, and tank top and some kind of army-looking boots. She had tattoos covering her body, blue, short-cropped hair and a nose ring.

  “You ran out of gas?” asked Tuesday, thinking it was very irresponsible to be out on desolate roads by herself and not even making sure she had enough gas to get to where she was going. “We didn’t pass any cars on the side of the road.”

  “My car is on the other side. I was going the opposite direction.”

  It sounded fishy to Tuesday, but she supposed it could be true, even though for the life of her she couldn’t understand why the girl would risk crossing the highway.

  “I see,” Tuesday answered.

  “Oh, you have a baby?” The girl’s eyes lit up. “I love babies. I can’t wait until I have a baby of my own. Actually, I was pregnant but lost it, and my boyfriend just left me.”

  “Really.” Tuesday wasn’t surprised that the girl got knocked up, with the way she dressed. And if her boyfriend left her, it was probably because she was pregnant.

  “Can I hold her?” she asked with outstretched arms.

  Cal pulled back out on the highway.

  “You two, go in back with the baby. It’s raining like a devil and isn’t safe up here with her,” Cal told them.

  Something told Tuesday not to trust the girl. Still, she didn’t really have a choice. “Are you hungry?” she asked. “We’ve got some leftovers in the fridge.”

  “No, not really,” said the girl, jumping up and following Tuesday to the back of the truck. “Oh, can I feed her?” Her arms were out again.

  “Sure,” said Cal from the front seat. “It’ll give Twiggy a break. Thanks.”

  “Twiggy?” The girl looked up at her with a half-dazed look. “Is that your name?”

  “No. That’s just what he calls me. My name is Tuesday.”

  “Wow, that’s even neater,” she said, scooping little Maggie out of Tuesday’s arms as she plopped her wet body down on the bed. It all felt so invasive to Tuesday. It didn’t feel right at all seeing another girl holding the baby or even sitting on Cal’s bed. It was bad enough the stranger was wearing Cal’s shirt!

  “Twiggy, come up here,” Cal told her.

  She reluctantly did so, and the dog went back by the stranger.

  Sitting down in the passenger seat, she leaned over and whispered to Cal. “I don’t like her.”

  “Huh?” he asked and chuckled. “You don’t even know her.”

  “I know her type and she’s not to be trusted,” she warned him.

  “What type? With piercings, tattoos and colored hair?”

  “That’s right.”

  “Hmmm. Sounds a lot like your best friend, Charlotte, to me.”

  “That’s different. Charlotte is . . . she is –” Tuesday didn’t know how to answer. Some of her best friends in high school looked exactly like this.

  “We’re only taking her to the gas station and then she’s gone, so stop worrying.”

  “I guess you’re right.” Tuesday glanced back at the strange girl. She was coddling Maggie and petting the dog at the same time. Oh, why couldn’t Maggie start crying and the dog start howling right now?

  Fifteen minutes later, they pulled into the gas station. “I’ll get you a gas can and fill it up and find another trucker going back your way to give you a lift,” Cal offered.

  “Wait.” Tuesday’s hand shot out to stop him. “Don’t leave me here with the girl,” she whispered.

  “I’ll be right back,” he told her. “Besides, Burrito is here to guard you and the baby. What are you afraid of?”

  “Cal, tell her to get out.”

  “She can wait here for a moment. Hopefully, the rain will slow down.” Cal got out and left Tuesday feeling awkward and all alone with this stranger. Maggie started crying, and Tuesday went to her.

  “Give me the baby,” she demanded.

  “She’s really hot,” said the girl. “Feel her forehead.”

  “What?” Tuesday’s heart jumped. Sure enough, Tuesday felt little Maggie’s head. “She must have a fever since she’s teething. Dang, I should have told Cal to pick up a thermometer and some baby aspirin.” She glanced out the front window but Cal was nowhere to be seen.

  “Why don’t you run and get some now?” asked the girl. “I’m sure since he’s a trucker, he won’t want to be put behind schedule by staying here too long.”

  “No. I can’t leave the baby, and I don’t want to take her out in the rain when she’s running a temp.”

  Maggie started crying louder. Her face turned redder and redder. Burrito started howling along with her. Tuesday paced back and forth.

  “I’d get it for you, but I’m shivering I’m so cold from the rain. Plus, I twisted my ankle a little and it really hurts to walk. Why don’t you run and get it and I’ll watch Maggie until you get back?” the girl suggested.

  “No. I can’t do that.”

  “I think her fever is getting worse,” said the girl, sounding as if she were truly concerned. “We need to do something. Just go fast, and you can be back before Cal.”

  Tuesday struggled with her decision. She didn’t want to leave the truck, but like the girl said, Cal would probably think they were wasting too much time and he would want to get back on the road quickly. She didn’t want little Maggie to suffer. Something needed to be done.

  “Well, I guess it’ll be all right,” she said, remembering that Cal said the dog would guard the baby. “I won’t be but a minute. Please just try to calm her until I return.”

  “Of course,” said the girl with a wide smile.

  “Burrito, stay with Maggie and watch her,” said Tuesday, grabbing her purse and hurrying outside. Running through the rain, she headed to the convenience store part of the gas station. Along the way, she passed a woman filling up her little red car with gas. Since the storm was still in progress, the woman left her car running and ran into the store, too.

  Tuesday grabbed a digital thermometer, a Sippy cup, and some baby aspirin. When she got to the counter, she was right behind the woman with the red car, who was buying cigarettes.

  The woman left, and Tuesday paid for the items, hearing Cal’s voice inside the store.

  “Cal?” she asked, turning around to see him with a filled gas can and a cup carrier with three c
ups of coffee in it.

  “Twiggy, what are you doing in here?”

  “Getting supplies for the baby. What are you doing?”

  “I figured I’d get us all some coffee to warm up from the rain. I still haven’t found anyone to take Ronnie back to her car yet.” He slid the coffee onto the counter to pay for it, just as the door burst open and the woman who bought cigarettes ran in, screaming.

  “Thief! Thief! Someone just stole my car!” She pointed out the window as that little red car sped away, tires squealing in the rain.

  “Someone, call the police,” Cal said. “What kind of car was it?”

  “I have a Toyota Corolla,” said the woman.

  “Got it,” said the cashier, picking up her cell phone.

  Through the open door, Tuesday heard Burrito barking. When she looked over to the truck, she gasped to see the passenger door of Cal’s rig wide open. Burrito was outside the truck and took off chasing the red car.

  “Maggie!” she cried, running out the door with Cal right behind her.

  “Burrito, come here,” called Cal, putting down the gas can. The dog came running over. “How did you get out?”

  “Cal, something’s wrong. We need to check the baby!” cried Tuesday.

  She ran back to the truck but Cal and Burrito beat her there. By the time she pulled herself up to the passenger seat, Cal was already coming from the sleeper compartment with a wrapper in his hand.

  “What is it? Where’s the baby?” Tuesday pushed past him to find the sleeper compartment empty and the fridge wide open. Ronnie and Maggie were gone and so was the baby carrier.

  “They’re gone,” said Cal, dropping the paper from the food. “I think I now know who stole that woman’s car because she also just kidnapped Maggie.”

  Chapter 13

  “Oh God!” cried Tuesday, collapsing upon the bed. “It’s all my fault. I never should have left that stranger here alone with Maggie. I just wanted to get a thermometer and aspirin for the baby. I never trusted the girl in the first place but thought it was okay since Burrito was with her.”

  “She must have distracted Burrito with food and then left with the baby and stole that woman’s car.” Cal was on the phone, already reporting the kidnapping to the cops, telling them the make of the car.

  Tears streamed down Tuesday’s cheeks and her body shook like a leaf. Maggie was gone, and it was all her fault. “Oh, Cal! She stole our baby. I am so frightened. We’re never going to see little Maggie again.”

  Cal clicked off the phone and pulled Tuesday into his arms trying to calm her as she cried uncontrollably. God, why was this happening? And how could he have been such a fool to fall for the damsel in distress routine by that girl?

  “No, it’s my fault, not yours,” he told her. “I never should have picked up the girl in the first place. Damn, why was I so stupid?”

  Anger filled him, and he never felt as scared as he did right now. Burrito lay on the floor and looked up at them with wide eyes.

  “We’ve got to do something, Cal,” said Twiggy.

  “Don’t worry, I am. I promise you, I will get Maggie back safe and sound if it’s the last thing I ever do.”

  “But she’s gone. What can you possibly do to find her?”

  “She can’t have gotten far.” He guided Tuesday back to the passenger seat. “Strap yourself in, because you are in for a ride of your life.”

  “Cal, she’s got a good head start. We’ll never catch her,” said Twiggy.

  “Hell, we won’t. I’ve got friends, and I promise you, I will get Maggie back if I have to die trying.”

  Burrito now sat on the floor in front of Tuesday and she petted him, craning her neck to see out the window. “Oh, Cal, I hope she strapped Maggie into the car seat. But I’m sure she didn’t have time to secure the seat. I’m so scared.”

  “Quiet, Twiggy,” said Cal picking up and talking into the CB. “Calling all drivers, this is an emergency and I need your help.”

  “You got it, Buddy,” answered one.

  “What’s up?” asked another.

  “My baby daughter has been kidnapped. Watch for a red Toyota Corolla, headed south on 183.”

  “What’s your twenty?” asked another.

  He told the man his location.

  “Tex, it’s me,” came the voice of Red Ringer.

  “I’m here, too,” said Breadman.

  “I thought you two would be long gone by now,” Cal answered.

  “I had to pay the water bill,” said Red.

  “Stopped for a cuppa Joe,” answered Breadman.

  Tuesday looked at him and he mouthed the words bathroom and coffee.

  “We’ve got to catch her,” said Cal.

  “We’ll get her, don’t worry,” Red assured him. “We’ve all got our eyes open.”

  All the truckers continued to talk and then someone else broke in.

  “Breaker, breaker, I’m headed northbound and spied a little red Toyota that just blew my doors off going south on 183 at the 34 yardstick.”

  “I’m just up ahead of that,” said Breadman. “Red Ringer, are you close?”

  “I’ve got the back door,” said Red.

  A few other truckers joined in.

  “Get her in a rocking chair,” Cal shouted. “I’ll be right there and we’ll run her off the road.” He stepped on the gas and Tuesday’s fingers dug into the seat to hold on. She swore Cal was going at least 90 miles per hour if that was even possible for such a large truck.

  Through the rain, Tuesday started to see a lot of trucks showing up all around them. Then Cal got in the left lane and blew his horn. Any other cars moved aside to let him pass. “I’ve got the pedal to the metal in the hammer lane,” Cal reported. “I’ll be right there.”

  “I’m keeping her at my back door but there is an exit coming up,” said Breadman. “I’ll hold her here, but I need help. Not sure if she’s going to get off.”

  “I see her. I’m right behind her,” said Red. “Tex, you takin’ a nap back there or what?”

  “No, I’m coming as fast as I can,” shouted Cal into the mic, driving much too fast in the pouring rain. Still, Tuesday didn’t care. They had to do whatever they could to catch this thief. If anything happened to Maggie, Tuesday would never forgive herself.

  “Faster, Cal. Faster,” cried Tuesday. “We’ve got to catch them. Poor Maggie, she must be so scared.”

  “Damn it, this rig is going to fall apart if I go any faster. Shit, why does it have to be raining?”

  “Bear in the air,” reported one of the drivers.

  Tuesday heard sirens and looked out her side mirror to see flashing red and blue lights.

  “Smokey on my donkey,” Cal reported. “I’m going to lead them right to her.” He clicked off the radio and looked over to Tuesday.

  “Cal? What’s going on?”

  “We’ve got law enforcement on our ass, but I’m not sure they’re going after the right person. I’m going to bring them in.”

  “They’re flashing a side light at you. Shouldn’t you pull over?”

  “No. I see the car with Maggie up ahead. Hold on to the dog, I’m going in.”

  Tuesday kept her mouth closed and held on to Burrito. They were not only being chased by the police, but going much too fast in the rain. She hoped to hell they didn’t crash. Still, it would all be worth it if they could get to Maggie in time.

  “I’m coming up beside her. Got her in the rocking chair,” Cal reported with a determined look on his face.

  “Ten-four. What do you want us to do?” asked Breadman.

  “I’m going to push her over to the exit. We need to slow her down and force her to stop. Red Ringer and Breadman stay in position and stop once you get off the road. I’ll pull away at the last minute when I’m sure she did what we want her to.”

  “Cal, isn’t that dangerous?” asked Tuesday.

  “I don’t care,” said Cal, peering out the window.

  “Remember, Maggie
is in that car.”

  “I know that, sweetheart. I would never do anything to intentionally hurt my daughter. However, I won’t let anyone else hurt her either.”

  “I know, Cal.”

  The rain continued to pour down around them. “I’d do anything at all to save Maggie. I’d give my life for her if that’s what it took.”

  “Me, too,” said Tuesday, biting her lip, trying to keep from crying, but it just didn’t work. “Let’s get her, Cal. I’m with you all the way.”

  Burrito howled his approval as Cal pulled up next to the red car that Breadman and Red Ringer had trapped in between them.

  “I see Maggie. She’s in the car seat but in the front,” reported Tuesday. She rolled down her window and shouted to the kidnapper. “Pull over! Do it, now!” Burrito jumped up on the seat with her, half-hanging out the window.

  “I’m going to bump her to force her to take the exit,” Cal told her.

  “No. Don’t! You might cause an accident. Maggie’s in there. We need to be careful.”

  “Then I’ll just get really close and she’ll move over on her own. Now keep your arms inside, and get Burrito back in here. Close the damned window, Twiggy. Now!”

  She did as she was told as the rain continued to pour down. The helicopter overhead shone a light on them while the flashing lights of the cop followed close behind them. Then, thankfully, the little red car pulled over, taking the exit. Cal stopped on the shoulder and opened his door.

  “Stay here!” he called out, taking off at a run back toward the exit.

  Tuesday rolled down the window and could hear the cops using megaphones calling out now, threatening Cal to stop. One semi truck was parked in front of the red car and another was right behind her, wedging in the car so tightly that it couldn’t move.

  Burrito barked and barked. Before Tuesday knew it, the dog jumped out the window.

  “Burrito, no!” she cried, swinging open the door and taking off on foot after him, running in the rain until they got to the red car.

  She saw Cal rip open the door and pull out the girl named Ronnie, and slam her up against the side of the car. The cops were out on foot now with their guns drawn. The two truckers who had wedged her in came running to join them.