“You’re paying.”
“And?”
“And people don’t do that for free.”
He looked at Chloe.
Then at me.
“Your daughter tried.”
I had no answer.
Grant continued.
“She offered a stranger half the money she owned.”
He nodded toward the growing total.
“If she can do it without keeping score, maybe we can too.”
Tears threatened again.
I hated that man.
Not really.
But close.
The tank clicked full.
Thirty-six dollars and eighty-seven cents.
More money than I had.
More distance than I thought I could afford.
Grant handed me the receipt.
I stared.
“What’s this?”
“So you know nobody bought anything else.”
I almost smiled.
Trust was apparently built from strange little details.
The sheriff’s vehicle pulled out first.
My Honda followed.
Fifteen motorcycles came behind us.
Chloe twisted in her seat.
“Mommy.”
“Seat belt.”
“It’s on.”
“Then face forward.”
“But look.”
“I’m driving.”
“There’s so many.”
“I know.”
“They’re like dragons.”
I looked in the mirror.
Chrome.
Black leather.
Headlights stretching behind us.
“Quiet dragons.”
They were not quiet.
Chloe laughed.
I had not heard that sound in days.
We drove west.
For the first forty miles, I watched every mirror constantly.
No SUV.
The sheriff turned back at the county line.
The motorcycles remained.
Not too close.
Not surrounding us.
Grant had meant what he said.
I led.
At a rest stop, I pulled over because Chloe needed a bathroom.
Every biker stopped too.
Grant remained near his motorcycle.
He did not approach until I did.
“Everything okay?”
“Yes.”
“You sure?”
“I have to get used to answering that question.”
He nodded.
Chloe came running out of the restroom.
“Mr. Grant!”
I flinched.
I had not realized she learned his name.
Grant crouched.
She opened Mr. Buttons’ pocket.
The lucky two-dollar bill.
“I changed my mind.”
Grant looked at her.
“About?”
“You can keep it.”
He glanced at me.
I shrugged.
Her choice.
Grant said, “I told you, kid. Lucky money stays with you.”
Chloe frowned.
“But you helped us.”
“That doesn’t mean you pay me.”
“Then it’s not paying.”
“What is it?”
“A present.”
Grant became very quiet.
Chloe placed the bill in his hand.
“You have one from your girl.”
My heart stopped.
How did she know?
Apparently children hear everything even when you think they are eating crackers in another room.
Chloe continued.
“Now you have one from me.”
Grant stared at the bill.
His eyes became glassy.
One biker behind him suddenly found the horizon extremely interesting.
Another turned away.
Grant slowly pressed Chloe’s bill over his heart.
“All right.”
He swallowed.
“I’ll keep it.”