I took the bag, opened it, and blinked at the contents: toothbrushes, toothpaste, new socks, and t-shirts for all three of us.
“Thank you,” I murmured, not looking up. Gratitude warred with suspicion. He’d bought us things. He didn’t even know us but saw our need and shopped for us. Instead of trying to resolve my feelings over his kind gesture, I nudged the boys toward the bathroom.
While the three of us crowded around the sink and brushed our teeth, Emmitt set the food out on the table.
The boys brushed longer than usual to make up for the missed brushings—Liam’s idea. I smiled at them. When they finished, we closed the door so they could change into their new clothes. The best part was the clean socks. Aden’s little feet got so sweaty when he had to wear shoes for an extended period.
Emmitt leaned against the wall near the motel door, looking relaxed with a hand in his pocket as he drank his coffee. Two fast food wrappers already littered the garbage.
The boys settled at the table and tentatively reached for some food. I went straight for the coffee then sat on the edge of the bed. I finally glanced at the bedside clock. I’d slept for five hours. Good enough for now, but it would catch up with me fast. At least I could think better.
Suspicions I should have already considered continued to creep in. Why would a complete stranger want to help me to the extent he had? Was it just chance he’d hung around so long at the diner? Feeling watched, I glanced at Emmitt and met his gaze. Did something lay hidden there? I couldn’t tell anything beyond the intensity in which he watched me.
“Sorry for waking you up so soon. I could hear the boys saying they were hungry,” he said quietly, shifting his gaze to look at my brothers.
Having his attention diverted brought relief. Perhaps I was just being paranoid, but it felt like he constantly watched me. Maybe he just wanted to figure out what he’d gotten himself into. Or maybe he already knew. The suspicion that he’d been planted at the diner rose in my mind, but I quickly killed it. David had been following me. I’d picked directions at random, never knowing where I wanted to go until I turned. He’d been halfway through his meal when we’d arrived. There was no way he could have been there for me.
I followed his gaze and smiled at the boys. They took huge bites, plowing through their burgers.
“Slow down, you two, or you’re going to choke,” I warned them. I glanced back at Emmitt. “We haven’t been eating right, so it’s good that you woke me. They needed this.”
“And you need more sleep.”
The soft concern in his voice made my stomach do a very large, very crazy spiral, and I decided to change the subject.
“I’m rested enough for you to tell me who you are and why you’re helping me.”
He nodded. “Name’s Emmitt Cole. I was recently discharged from the military. Now, I’m just taking my time seeing the country as I make my way home to Montana. And I’m helping you because, back at the restaurant, you looked like you could use someone on your side.” He paused a long moment. “As long as it wasn’t anything illegal, I had no reason not to help.”
I sipped the coffee in quiet thought, very aware the boys listened as they ate.
“I appreciate what you did. I wasn’t doing anything illegal.” In the parking lot, anyway. “They had no right to take us back with them.”
He studied me and nodded. “I figured as much from what David was saying. I’m guessing you’re running. Going anywhere particular?” His gaze flicked to the boys briefly. “I’d be happy to tag along to make sure you safely get to where you need to be.”
His question brought a pang of guilt, and I waged another silent war with myself. The boys were counting on me. Could I really keep them safe on my own? Blake had changed before my eyes. He wasn’t normal. Didn’t appear human. My hand holding the coffee shook slightly. I wrapped my other hand around the cup, too, trying to steady it and my thoughts. How could I hide from what I didn’t know, from what I didn’t understand? I needed help. But, could I trust a stranger? Even if I did, was it fair to put him in danger, too?
“Emmitt, we could use help, but I don’t think it’d be right to accept it.” I looked at the boys. “There’s a lot going on that I can’t explain.”
He didn’t say anything as he studied me.
I took another sip of coffee then answered his original question. “I didn’t have a place in mind when I left.”
“Can I make a suggestion?”
I nodded. Never hurt to listen.
“Keep moving. As long as you’re awake, get further from the last place they found you. He knows you’re exhausted. He’s going to count on you needing to stop. If I were him, judging from how rundown you looked, I’d bet you would crash hard, too. He’s going to start checking likely places where you might have stopped, calling and asking for you by name.”