SAGE (2 page)

“Settle down.” I held the fork.

His arm shook from the pressure.

“Apologize to her.”  I said calmly.

He mumbled and I smacked him across the face.

“You gotta do better than that.” 

I glanced at the other men.

They gave Mallory a hurried but humble apology.

“Leave a generous tip.”  

I waited as the men dropped bills on the table.

I glared at them. I wanted to see more gratitude. 

They emptied their wallets.  

“Alright then.” I pulled the bloody fork out of his hand.

“Be on your way.”  

I stepped back to give them space. 

The men slid out of the booth.

They eased around me and rushed out the diner. 

I noticed Sheriff Wilson at a table in the corner.

I shook my head and set the fork on a napkin.

Mallory came over to clear the table.

Shawna put a “Do not use.” sign in front of it.

The booth needed a good cleaning.

I glanced to the kitchen.

Junior waved and Miles smiled.

I took a deep breath. 

This felt like home.

I left the diner.

I went outside and walked over to my truck.

“Sage wait!” 

I glanced over my shoulder. 

Mallory and Shawna ran up to me. 

“Where are you going?”  Shawna asked me. 

“I have stuff to do.” 

They knew I wouldn’t explain more. 

“Will you be back?”   Mallory asked. 

“No.”  I saw the tears in her eyes.

Shawna put her arm around Mallory. 

“C’mon now.”  I told them.  “I hate goodbyes.”

Cindy came outside. 

She walked over to us.

“Miles told me. Sage thanks for being nice to me.”  

“Cindy you can’t be everything to everybody.”  

I smiled. “Take care of you sometimes.”  

She nodded. “I’ll work harder. I want to get better.”

I glanced at Shawna.

She touched Cindy’s arm.

“We’ll help but you gotta pay attention.” 

Shawna said. “Don’t leave us with all the work.” 

Cindy smiled. “Thanks and I won’t.”

I nodded at Shawna.

Mallory burst into tears. 

“Cut it out.” I told her.

She laughed and cried more.

“We sure are gonna miss you Sage.” 

I let them hug me because they needed it.

Hell, I needed it too.

I got into ole Betsy, started her up, and left.

I didn’t look back.

I knew they girls were still there watching me leave.

I was good at the leaving part.

Maybe I shouldn’t try to stay in one place.

I glanced in the rear view mirror.

For Miles and Miles diner would be a memory like the other places over the years. I would think about it less and it would fade. I had to end the dream of having a normal life. It was good while it lasted. I stared at the road ahead. I would drive to the cottage.  It wouldn’t take long for me to pack my things. I didn’t have a lot of clothes and I didn’t keep anything of value.

I had to open the crawlspace under the wooden floor in the living room. I needed the old worn out suitcase filled with money. I wanted to thank Miss Sue but the pain of leaving was about all I could stand. 

My rent was paid until the next month.

I would and put it in the envelope with the keys.

I would drop them in the office mailbox.

I had a lot of miles to drive.

I would make it.

Damn it Billy! 

CHAPTER THREE

RAMSEY

New Orleans, Louisiana.

I woke up to the faint sounds of the automatic wrench and sander. The auto shop downstairs was busy.  My mechanic days were behind me. I sold the shop to Brian for the lowest price possible but he still gives me damn grief. He said I should move into a real place and live like a normal person. Nah. I didn’t want to leave, not yet. I sat up on the worn leather couch. Sage lived with me and for a while this was home. I rubbed my face and tried to shake it off. My head felt fuzzy. The dreams felt real. She haunts me. Sage is the sweetest fucking nightmare. The old scar on my shoulder felt sore. It happens when I think about her. I stretched. My stomach wouldn’t hold up for another night of drinking. I didn’t get hangovers but my liver needed a break. I wasn’t in the mood for sex. It sounded crazy. Hell insane but the substitutes were no comparison.

I had two choices. I could move on or I could find her. I stood up. Yeah I needed a shower and more rest. I glanced around the place. I had to clean up too. She always kept things right. I couldn’t sleep in the bed without her. I couldn’t go on like this. I left the couch and went over to the office windows. I stared at the shop below. I watched them work for a minute.

The metal doors were open. The sunlight streamed in. Yeah, I would miss this. Greg came in and whistled. I saw the men behind him. I rushed out of the door. I ran down a few steps and jumped to the steel landing. I didn’t take the next flight. I hopped the metal rail and landed on the shop floor as the men came in. Brian and the guys came from around the cars and the heavy machinery. I shook my head as the men threw Billy down at my feet. 

“Ramsey!” Billy coughed. “Help me!” 

I bent down. He was in bad shape. 

“Not this time.” I stood up. 

“You’re wasting your time.” I told the men.

“Hey stole from our employer.” 

They showed me their guns.

The boys in the shop were ready.

Pipes, baseball bat, blow torch.

We had equipment here, things that will hurt.

I heard the sound of the metal doors slam shut. 

I smiled when the men realized how this would go.

They drew their guns.

“We don’t want trouble!”

“Take him and leave.” I said calmly.

Two men rushed forward and snatched up Billy. My boys back up but not much. The men’s exit would be narrow. The tension in the shop meant they were about to get fucked up. They pulled Billy to the doors.

“Wait. Ramsey!” Billy yelled. “I called Sage!” 

Brian blocked the metal doors.

The men stopped.

I walked up to Billy.

“Where is she?”

“She’ll meet up with us!” 

I glanced at the men with him. 

“Yeah he called his sister.”

Fuck.  I knew she would come for him. 

“What did he steal?”  I asked them. 

They told me the name of the painting.

I wanted to kill him myself. 

The men said Sage would bring money.

I shook my head. It wasn’t enough and she knew it. 

“What’s the job?” 

“My boss will tell you if you agree to meet him.”  

“Ramsey, if you can give them the money...” 

I smacked Billy.

“You stole a priceless painting.”

Billy eyes grew wide.

“No it’s worth a few hundred thousand.”

I gave him a cold stare.

He fell silent.

I told the men I’ll meet them outside in ten minutes.

I took the steel steps two at a time. I threw clothes into a duffel bag and then opened the hidden safe. I pulled out banded stacks of bills and tossed them into the bag. I needed money to maintain. Cash is hard to trace if used properly. It’s also a universal language everyone understands. I closed and locked the safe, zipped the bag, grabbed it, and picked up my keys. I locked up and went down the steel steps. Brian was outside. He had a big ass wrench tucked under his arm. I tossed him the keys to the apartment.

“You should cut this and her loose.” 

He watched the men.

“Billy is an asshole. He’ll get you and his sister killed.”

“B, I need her.”

Brian shook his head. 

“This woman will be the fucking death of you man!” 

“Oh shut up Brian.” Sal hit him in the chest.

“You big fucking lug!”  She walked around him.

Brian blushed and I chuckled. 

“We know you love her.” Sal hugged me.

“Whatever you need, you know we’ll be there.”

She kissed my cheek.

“Thanks Sal.”  I smiled. 

She walked past Brian.

“Finish up and come on!”

“Yes Ma’am.” Brian said

“She has you trained.” I laughed. 

“Shut up man! “ Brian laughed at himself. 

“Greg got the plates.” He said quietly.

“Good.” I nodded. “Hit me up.” 

I walked up to the men.

They opened the truck door.

I laughed at them. What kind of girly shit were they into. I’m not a female. I won’t be in the backseat of a damn transport vehicle. I asked for the meet up point. I went around the side of the auto shop.

I pulled the tarp off my motorcycle.

A few minutes later, my stuff was secure on the back.

I put on a hooded sweatshirt.

I started the engine and the men flinched.  I shook my head. Billy couldn’t fend for himself with these punks. I waited for them to get in the trucks.

They pulled onto the road.

I came out behind them.

Brian watched from metal doors.

He knew I could handle it.

I picked up speed and followed the trucks.

Now I didn’t have to look for Sage.

She would come to me.

I didn’t care about Billy.

I would do this for her.

I pushed Sage out of my mind.

I had to focus on the road.

CHAPTER FOUR

SAGE

Darby, Montana.

I spent almost twenty three hours on the road. I used the rest stops when I had to. Those quick naps didn’t do anything. The fatigue set in six hours into the drive. I hadn’t felt this hopeless and down on luck in a while. I wanted to call Ramsey but my pride was all I had. Well that and two hundred dollars. The suitcase of money wasn’t mine anymore. I should have said no and let Billy deal. There wasn’t time for regret.

I saw the sign.

“
Welcome to Montana’s Bitterroot Valley and Darby
.”

It was a cool forty eight degrees but I rolled down the window. I felt the air hit my face and the wind in my hair. I turned into a gas station and pulled to a stop in front of a pump. I went inside to pay. I grabbed bottles of water and snacks. I asked for directions.

The guy behind the counter told me it was a resort. I couldn’t believe it. This asshole wanted to meet at a high priced place. I thanked the guy, paid for my stuff, and went outside to pump the gas.  I filled up the tank, put the pump on the hook, and then got in the truck. I checked the temperature gauge. The needle was still high. The truck would run hot soon. If it overheats, that’s it. I had to get there quick. I drove through town. The charm of the place made me miss the cottage

I felt that familiar twinge in my chest. 

I wanted to be back in Oklahoma with my friends. I could drive to New Orleans. I wondered if Ramsey still had the auto shop. I wiped my eyes. I had to be done with this weak shit. I saw the turn. I made it and then drove up the tree lined road. It opened to a lavished clearing. The ranch style resort was amazing. 

My thought – 

Why didn’t I experience life when I had the chance?”

I drove through the entrance and pulled into a parking space close to the Main lodge. I called Billy’s phone and the guy answered. I told him I was there. He said we would meet in the morning. He told me to pay for a room. It would be a two day stay. I ended the call and tried to control my temper. I put my forehead on the steering wheel and did my best to breathe through it. The pain began to fade. I got out the truck and went inside. I reminded myself to be polite. I requested a one bedroom luxury cabin for two nights. I answered questions and was glad when they told me I could pay with cash. They asked for my license. I didn’t mind. There wasn’t much about me that was real. I paid the deposit for incidentals. It meant I had to pay if I wrecked the place. I didn’t plan on it but at the rate I was going, you never know. I was given   keys to the cabin and a cute map of the resort. I had to smile because this was a pleasant experience. I could count how many good interactions I’ve had with people. I went to the truck, got inside, and checked the map. Maybe for the night I could pretend I was here to visit. Tomorrow it would be over but that’s quite alright. I drove through the resort and then turned onto the small marked road. The cabin was at the top of the hill nestled under pine trees. The mountains were in the distance. It was blue sky, trees, and open space.