Chapter 8

I waited several minutes to see what she would do. She didn’t talk to anyone or move more than her knee, which she bounced too energetically given her periodic yawns.

My lack of sleep had me yawning in return while I wondered what to do. If I ditched the bike to board the train, I’d be in a fair amount of trouble. Borrowing would be forgiven. Stealing would not. Also, staying inconspicuous on a train would be an issue. Without a doubt, she would see me eventually, and given her reactions up to this point, I didn’t want to try another public discussion so soon after the last failed attempt. The other option was to follow the train’s route with the bike and check every stop. I worried she wouldn’t be safe enough on a train by herself, though. And if she did leave the train before her ticketed destination, how long would she be on her own before I caught up to her?

Rubbing my gritty eyes, I settled on following her with the bike. With a bit of luck, she wouldn’t make me chase her for too long. Hoping she’d be all right on her own for a while, I left to get the bike. People glanced at me as I ran by at an impressive, yet human, speed. The machine started with a growl, and I eased from the lot.

Driving as quickly as traffic would allow, I made it to the station a few minutes later and parked. My heart raced as I jogged back to where I’d last seen her. Worry ate at me until I saw her. She was still where I left her, but a bit more slumped in her seat.

An older man sat on a bench near hers and seemed to be watching over her as she dozed. I walked over.

“Thanks for keeping an eye on her,” I said, as I sat beside her.

“It’s not the best place for a nap.” His voice didn’t hold censure, only concern as he nodded his grey head at a group of men at the far end of the station. My gaze followed his and locked with one of the men. After a moment, the man looked away in apparent disinterest.

“No. It’s not,” I agreed. “She hasn’t been sleeping well, though.”

She moaned in her sleep, proving my words true. I pulled her close so her head rested on my shoulder. She nestled in and quieted.

“I never sleep well before I travel. Too many what-if’s running through my head,” the man said.

“Yeah. The unknowns can rob you of the moment if you let them.”

“Very true. Where you two headed?”

“She’s headed to the west coast.” I opened her bag and tucked a few more folded bills next to her tickets.

“Alone?” the man eyed Bethony again, probably guessing her age.

“Unfortunately.”

“I’ll keep an eye on her for you.”

“Thank you.” His promise gave me a small measure of ease. She’d have someone looking after her while she rode the train, but what would happen when she departed? I’d just need to be there at each stop. The bike went fast. It shouldn’t be a problem.

Just before the train was due, I eased her off my arm.

“Thanks again for looking out for her.”

“You’re not staying till she boards?”

“I can’t, but wish you both safe travels,” I said, standing.

“You too, friend.”

As I walked away, the train approached the station, its brakes emitting a high pitched squeal. I turned to watch Bethony and the older man board. I hoped she’d stay safe. While I waited for the train to depart, I got the list of scheduled stops.

Several hours later, I realized my mistake as I pulled up to the first stop the train was scheduled to make. I was almost an hour behind the train. Traffic and roads that tended to meander had slowed me down.

Getting off the bike, I walked the station, checking for Bethony’s scent. The crisscrossing flood of smells slowed me down further as I meticulously filtered through them. After a thorough search, I got back on the road confident she’d continued on.

However, at each stop, I fell further behind the train, and when it came to finding a scent trail, time was my enemy. My worry started to climb at the third stop when I scented werewolf. I combed the area twice for her scent but found nothing.

With a new sense of urgency, I pushed on through the night.

****

I parked the bike and stretched my shoulders, trying to relieve the tension. My eyes felt gritty, but riding all night wasn’t what bothered me. The worry did. Walking in the direction of the station, I inhaled deeply, searching for her scent. I wasn’t expecting it when I found it.

Stopping, I inhaled again to pinpoint the direction. The station was at the head of a busy T intersection. Traffic flowed by, polluting her trail, but not as badly as it could have if I’d arrived after rush hour. Turning, I eyed the road behind me. The sidewalk ran along the parking area toward a district with restaurants, hotels, and other attractions.

It would make sense for her to go that way. I walked several blocks to make sure and caught her scent frequently.

In front of a hotel, her scent grew stronger. I approached the doors. Yep, she’d been there.

Going inside, I ignored the front desk man and followed the trail up the stairs and to a door. I knocked and waited several minutes, but she didn’t answer.

I went back down to the lobby.

“Good morning. Can you ring room two-oh-four for me, please?”

The man looked down at his computer.

“Who are you trying to reach?”

“Dee,” I said, giving her fake name. “Tell her Luke is here.”

I knew I was taking a risk. There were a hundred ways this could go wrong. She might tell the man to call the police. Or the call might cause her to run again. However, considering she was underage and using false identification to procure a room, I doubted she’d care for police involvement. And, as for her running, I was becoming rather used to following her.

“I’m sorry, sir. That room is empty.”

“You must be mistaken. She said she would be here.”

“She was, but she checked out already.”

I barely refrained from swearing as I turned from the desk. Of the things that could have gone wrong, this is what I’d feared most. Where had she gone and was she safe? Outside the door, I paced left than right, trying to pick up her scent. Taking the right, I continued down the sidewalk and hoped I was following the right trail. The track led me right to another bus stop in a rather disreputable area.

Jaw clenched, I read the posted bus stops then hurried back to my bike.

It took several hours to pick up her trail again. And when I did, it was at a gas station in a small town. The bus had stopped there and Bethony had departed. But in which direction? Panic gripped me. She’d gotten into one strange car already. How would I track her now?

I ignored the man at the pump and paced near the road, trying to decide how to handle the situation. A tease of cinnamon slowed me before I strode along the shoulder. Inhaling her scent, I growled. She’d taken off on foot, heading out of town. It was freezing outside, and all she had was the hoodie I’d given her.

Unsure which was worse, hitch-hiking or walking with inadequate covering, I jogged back to the bike.

Whether she liked it or not, when I caught up with her, I was sticking with her. She obviously couldn’t fend for herself.