Secrets in the Sand by Carolyn Brown

            Angel giggled softly at the crazy notion, but hey, it had kept her from worrying for a few minutes.

            By what should have been daylight, they had crossed the state line into Alabama and had only traveled sixty miles in three hours. The rain slacked up enough to make it possible to see the road signs and the yellow line down the middle of the highway. Angel’s stomach grumbled loudly enough that Clancy turned to look at her.

            “Hungry?” he asked. “I’m starving. Want to stop at the next exit? I caught a glimpse of an advertisement a few miles back that said there was a McDonald’s up ahead. I’d do anything for a cup of coffee.”

            Angel sighed. “Yes. I want mine black and strong. And one of those biscuits with eggs and ham and cheese, and a hash brown. Do you think it’s going to rain on us all the way home?”

            Clancy nodded. “Probably.” He eased the car off the exit ramp, noticed a McDonald’s sign to the left, and after a quarter of a mile saw the familiar arches. “We’re going to get soaked.” He parked the car, turned off the engine, and just sat there.

            “Are you all right?” Angel asked.

            “My hands hurt from gripping this steering wheel so hard, and my shoulders feel like someone beat me,” he admitted.

            She reached across the console and patted him on the back. “Thank you for getting us out of there. I’m strong, but I’m sure glad I didn’t have to drive in all this rain.”

            “You are welcome. Do you want to go to the drive-through window and eat in the car?” he asked.

            She unbuckled her seat belt. “I’m going in. I’ve got to go to the restroom. Better to be wet with rainwater than with what would happen if I don’t find the ladies’ room. Besides, I’m not sugar or salt, and I won’t melt. All that will happen is my curly hair will frizz up and I’ll look like a string mop left out in the sun.”

            “Then let’s make a run for it. Betcha I can beat you,” he teased.

            “Oh yeah?” She took the challenge. “On your mark, open the door, go!” Angel splashed through the water, ignored all the mud puddles, and laughed all the way. When Clancy reached the door, she was holding it open for him like a butler. “Come right in, Clancy Morgan. You just lost the race. So, you can buy breakfast. Besides, I left my purse in the car. I’ll be sitting at that booth after I dry off with paper towels in the restroom.” She pointed to the back and left him standing in a puddle.

            “Yes, ma’am.” He grinned.

            When she returned, he motioned to her from a booth where their breakfast was sitting in the middle of the table. Her shirt clung to every curve, and there wasn’t a dry patch of cloth on her body. She took off her shoes and set them on the seat beside her.

            “Breakfast is served, ma’am.” Clancy pointed at the tray between them. “Chow down. The lady at the register said it’s a hundred miles to Montgomery and there’s not a dry inch of ground between here and there. We might make it by lunchtime if we’re lucky.”

            “Umm.” She tasted the coffee first, holding it in her mouth, enjoying the warmth and the flavor. “Thanks for this. Want me to drive a while? How far is it by car to Dallas from Alabama, anyway?”

            “Depends on where you start from, but we’ve got two weeks to get there, don’t we?” he said.

            “No.” She bit into the biscuit. “I might keep company with you for two weeks in a resort, but not in a car. We can drive straight through until we get there. You can sleep while I drive, and I’ll sleep while you drive. A day, two days?”

            “Two if the rain stops. One night in a motel on the way,” he answered. “You’re off work for two weeks, though. Let’s take our time.”

            “I’m goin’ home, Clancy,” Angel declared as if that would make it final. “You can drop me in Denison on your way.”

            “Is your car at the airport?” he asked.

            “Patty drove me to DFW,” she said between bites. “I should call her. She’ll think we both got blown away by this storm.”

            “When we drop this car off at the airport and get my truck, I’d love it if you’d come home with me for the rest of the vacation. Mama would love to see you,” he asked.