It was almost like a game. As it turned out, his little rabbit was better at hiding than he’d figured. Which made the hunt for her kind of fun. Especially when he knew he would win this game.
She’d run clear to Montana to hide in this little hick town, teaching kindergarten in a small school where there were hardly any neighbors, the large spreads were so far apart.
Montana had big open spaces. He liked that.
Much easier to grab her if there aren’t a lot of people around. Better than a big city.
Satisfied he’d found her; he drove back to his motel where he could indulge himself by looking at her pictures and taking care of his current needs.
He still had the one he’d taken of her nude, in her college dorm room. She’d been trying on a new swimsuit. He liked looking at her bikini waxed body and her breasts. They were even bigger now. She was older and more filled out. He couldn’t wait to see them soon and to get his hands on them.
Tomorrow after he checked out, he’d return the rental car and then pick up his van. Everything in the van was ready for her. All he needed was the right moment to grab her, then they’d be gone.
He’d located a cabin where no one would think to look for her.
We could hide out there for years, just the two of us.
* * *
Ellen wasat her new dentist’s office, having her teeth cleaned, when Hank Patterson walked past the room, headed to his appointment. He backed up, and poked his head in. “Hey, there, Ellen, how are you doing?” he asked.
The dental hygienist, paused, so Ellen could answer. “Good. Just having a cleaning. No cavities.”
“Good deal,” he said. “Hey, Sadie has been wanting to invite you, Travis and his boy over for dinner one night.”
“That’s sweet of her,” Ellen said.
“Expect a call from her soon,” he said. “Good to see you.”
“Likewise,” she said, and her dental cleaning resumed as Hank moved on to the other room for his appointment.
Ellen hardly ever got calls on her new number because few people had it. The staff at Three C’s, Janelle, the school she worked at, her bank, her new dentist, and Travis were the only ones who did.
It would be nice to hear from Hank’s wife.
She was lonely for a female friend since Janelle had moved away and Sadie was really nice.
I hope Janelle is doing all right. She promised to call.
But Ellen had yet to hear from her.
Ellen got home from the dentist and looked in the mirror at her teeth. It had been over a year since she’d had them cleaned and her mouth was sore, but her teeth were sparkly again, just in time for the big date, Friday.
She couldn’t wait. Travis was taking her to Blacksmith Italian in Bozeman because he’d learned she loved Italian food. She’d ordered a new dress and it had arrived today, so she was anxious to try it on.
Careful to open the package, in case she had to send it back, she pulled the soft, cream-colored dress from the package. This was the most adult dress she’d ever owned. As she slipped it on, the fabric smoothed down over her body, fitting just right everywhere. She stepped back to look into the mirror which hung on the bathroom door.
Oh wow. I look like a new woman.
With a soft V in the front, showing just a hint of cleavage, and soft gathers just under her breasts, her figure was emphasized. If she wore the single pearl necklace that her grandmother had given her when she turned eighteen, it would lie perfectly in that V. She’d bought herself pearl earrings to go with it the year she graduated college. Her grandmother had passed by then, but she liked to think that would have made her happy.
The shoes she’d ordered were in the next package. For the first time in her life, she’d bought shoes online. Sticking to a brand and the size in that brand she’d worn before, she’d hoped there was a good chance they would fit.
She opened the box, looked them over and then slipped them on.
Everything fits perfectly. That must be a sign. Travis is so handsome; I wonder how he will look dressed up. He already looks good in jeans. This is going to be a special evening, I hope. I hope my bad luck with dates is over. College was a long time ago.
She hadn’t been on a date since college and that had been four years ago.
