Holy Water and Whiskey Scars by Ali Spooner

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

“Holy Shit.” Faith Wilson cried loudly as her hand clutched the panic bar above the passenger’s side door. Her left hand pressed into the edge of the dash as her butt cheeks grabbed for the seat. She cursed Logan’s choice of leather seats as she felt her body sliding toward the driver’s side. Faith looked at Logan. “You remember we have already made our delivery, right?”

Logan grinned at Faith. “Yeah, I know. I just can’t help myself. I love fucking with these guys. They have tried to catch Lightning for years but never do. I don’t plan to change that tonight.” Logan pulled into the cover of thick trees and cut her engine.

Several long seconds later, they saw the blue lights flashing between the branches as the sirens echoed through the forest. Faith straightened in her seat and looked at Logan. Her dark eyes were shining with excitement. “Why were they even chasing us?”

“I was running about fifteen miles over the limit.” Logan shrugged. “It really gets their goat that those buffoons can’t catch me. I give them a chase every time I can.”

Faith shook her head. “You know that’s going to land you in jail one day. Or worse. What will happen when they buy one of the supercharged cruisers, Ms. Bronson?”

Logan laughed. “It’s not the cars. Never has been. It’s the skill of the driver and lack of confidence that has kept them from catching me. They’ve never gotten close enough to get a tag number or even a good description of Lightning.” Logan reached down and turned a button. The crackle of a police scanner filled the truck cab.

“The Ghost has slipped through our fingers again.” They heard an irritated male voice report over the radio.

“The Ghost?”

“That is their name for me. I disappear like a ghost when they get close. Those guys don’t realize I know every inch of these state and county roads. Even some that are no longer on any map.” Logan reached over to brush a strand of loose hair from Faith’s face. “I can drive every switchback within three counties with my eyes closed and never hit my brakes. These guys need to slow down for fear of taking a tumble down the mountain.”

“You are crazy. You know that?”

“I’ve been called much worse. It’s what I’m good at. You didn’t have to come.”

“I need to meet the buyer occasionally, but you’ve made my heart race tonight with that chase.”

Logan scooted closer to Faith. “I thought my incredible good looks made your heart race, or my sexy eyes?” Logan wiggled her eyebrows for emphasis.

“Oh, they do. But they don’t compare to the sound of your tires sliding on the gravel as you take the curves at full speed or the rush of the guard rails as you brush past them.”

“You have such a way with words, Ms. Wilson,” Logan teased. She leaned into Faith and kissed her. “We can stay here and fog up the windows, or I can deliver you safely to your bed before the sun rises?”

“Is it safe to get back on the road?”

“Who said anything about getting back on the road?”

Logan smiled and reached down to turn the key. She eased the truck forward until they reached an old logging trail. She drove through the forest for a half hour before reaching a paved county road. Fifteen minutes later, Logan turned down the path that led past an abandoned church to a small house.

“May I cook you breakfast in the morning?” Faith asked.

Logan cocked an eyebrow as she looked at the clock and then at Faith.

Faith chuckled. “Do you expect me to sleep after that exciting adventure? Come on, let’s go.”

 

†

 

Faith locked the door behind them and led Logan into the bedroom she had grown up in. Orphaned at three, Faith had been raised by her fraternal grandparents. Her grandfather, a Baptist Preacher, held weekly services at the church across the yard until his death four years ago. Faith’s grandma had died years earlier, just after Faith had graduated from college. Faith had remained in the city for a few years, teaching school until her grandfather fell ill, and she returned to care for him. The small township was filled with sharecropper families or others trying to eke out a living in the foothills of the Appalachians. A small general store and gas station were the oldest surviving businesses in town, along with Miss Ruth’s Café.

Logan’s family owned the gas station and garage. Logan’s father had given up on having a son after his wife gave him two daughters, so he taught Logan everything he had learned about being a mechanic. If it had wheels, they could fix it.

Faith spun Logan around to sit on the edge of her deep feather bed. She began unbuttoning Logan’s shirt as Logan’s eyes glowed with excitement. Faith pushed the shirt off her shoulders and lifted the sports bra over her head. The skin on Logan’s broad, tanned shoulders was flawless, and Faith enjoyed the feel of her skin under her hands as she caressed her lover.

Logan’s hands snaked under Faith’s blouse and lifted it above her head. Her fingers traced down Faith’s collarbone, through the valley of her cleavage to the front enclosure of her bra. Logan’s tongue circled her lips as Faith’s breasts were uncovered. She leaned forward to bury her face in Faith’s skin. She parted her lips to take a breast into her mouth and moaned as her tongue circled an erect nipple.

Faith’s hands were filled with Logan’s short dark hair. She closed her eyes and enjoyed the attention Logan’s mouth was giving her breast. When she opened her eyes, Logan was smiling at her.

“Mama always said I was a titty baby,” Logan said as she caressed Faith’s breast with her cheek.

“I am so glad you are. I love how you make me feel.” Faith fumbled to unfasten her jeans until Logan’s calm hands took over and slid her pants and panties down her legs.

“You are so beautiful,” Logan whispered against her skin.

Faith stepped back and held out her hands. “You have too many clothes on.”

Logan stood, pushed her jeans down her body, and kicked them away with her shoes. “Better?”

Faith nodded and allowed Logan to place her on the bed before lying on top of her.

Logan’s hands and mouth were eager to hear Faith’s moans of pleasure. Her hands cupped Faith’s breasts as her tongue licked a fiery trail down to her center. Logan’s fingers teased her nipples as Faith spread her legs, inviting her lover to feast.

Logan welcomed the invitation and took her leisure, bringing Faith to a climax with her face buried between her legs. An hour later, Faith curled up in Logan’s arms. “I’ve missed this,” she said as her fingertips trailed down Logan’s jaw.

“I have, too,” Logan admitted. “We’ve both been staying busy. Dad is slowing down, so I have to pick up the slack. You have a book deadline approaching, too, don’t you?”

“Don’t remind me,” Faith said. “Let’s catch a few hours of sleep, and I’ll cook that breakfast I promised you.”

“That sounds great.” Logan set the alarm and kissed the top of Faith’s head.

 

†

 

Three hours later, the alarm sounded. Logan rolled over to silence it and crept from the bed. She leaned down to kiss Faith. “I’m going to take a shower.”

“I’ll get breakfast started,” Faith said as she sat up.

“I can grab something at the diner if you need more sleep.”

Faith smiled at her. “A promise is a promise.”

Logan nodded and disappeared into the bathroom. Faith climbed from the bed and stepped into her house shoes, smiling at the disarray of clothes across the room. Slipping into a robe, she collected the clothes and took them to the hamper. She took the roll of bills out of her pocket and stuffed two into her robe.

Faith was cooking breakfast when she felt Logan’s arms circle her waist. “That smells good.”

“You do, too,” Faith said. She reached into her pocket and pulled out the bills, handing them to Logan. “I almost forgot to pay you for last night.”

Logan accepted the money and smiled. “I’m almost embarrassed for taking your money. It’s so much fun making the run. I should be paying you.”

“You have gas and maintenance on Lightning to cover.”

“This recession has hit folks hard, so we have to barter goods for payments. Don’t buy any eggs or bacon on your next grocery run. Our refrigerator is getting full.”

“I’ll gladly take any fruit you get. It would be nice to mix things up a bit.”

Logan kissed her neck. “You know that may upset some of your regular customers.”

“Maybe so, but I think others may appreciate a change. I need to make some grocery runs for supplies. Do you think you can help me? I know it’s your only day off from the garage.”

“There is no one else I’d rather spend it with. What time?”

“Early if you can. I’d like to make the run to the city and make it back in time for deliveries,” Faith replied.

“Is seven good for you?”

“It’s perfect, thanks. Pour some coffee and juice, and I’ll bring breakfast.”

Logan plucked a strip of bacon and placed it in her mouth, and tucked the bills into her pocket.

 

†

 

Faith walked Logan to her truck and returned to the porch to watch her pull away. She sat in a rocker and sipped her coffee as the sun crested the trees. She sighed when Logan tossed her hand out the window in a wave. Faith had hoped that Logan would change her mind about moving in with her, but her resolve had remained firm. There was no doubt they loved one another, but Logan needed to stay close to her father. That thought pulled Faith’s eyes to the church. The community couldn’t locate a new preacher when her grandfather passed, so the church was closed. Faith had considered several uses for the building, but it remained uninhabited, with its doors and windows locked. Her grandfather wasn’t a rich man by anyone’s standards, but he left the house, church, and a few acres to Faith with a small insurance inheritance. With the money she had saved from her teaching, Faith was comfortable, and the royalties from her books paid the utilities for the house. During his last days on earth, her grandfather had spent hours talking to Faith. He shared with her how he had supported his family and the needy families in the community for the last ten years. The memory of her grandfather brought tears to her eyes and reminded her how lonesome it was living alone.

 

†

 

Logan took her time returning to their small town. The morning fog enveloped her in a thick blanket as she drove. She took a sip of the coffee Faith had sent her off with and felt a smile form on her lips. It was getting hard leaving Faith behind, but her commitment to her dad and the business called to her. One day she would accept Faith’s offer to join her, but now was not that time. She parked beside the garage bay and walked inside to greet her dad.

“Good morning, Dad,” she called out as she refilled her mug from the fresh pot of coffee.

“Morning, Logan,” he called from inside the mechanic’s bay.

“What’s on tap for this morning?” she asked. “Do you need coffee?”

“I could use a refill,” Curtis replied, handing her an empty mug. “I’m working on rebuilding this engine for Charlie’s tractor. Ray is bringing in his old Chevy for an oil change and tune-up.”

“That Chevy is older than me.” Logan chuckled as she filled his mug.

“We’ve kept it running for this long. There’s no way Ray could afford to buy a new one.”

“I can handle that if you want to stay on the rebuild. Does Ray still have a crib full of field corn?”

Curtis wiped the grease from his hands and picked up his mug. “Probably so. The damn corn prices are at rock bottom. What are you thinking?”

“I’ll do the maintenance on his truck for a few bags of cracked corn if he can get it shelled. I’m sure Faith could use whatever he is willing to sell. Do you mind if I ask him about it when he comes in? I’ll spring for the parts and oil if he agrees.”

“He would be a fool to pass on that offer.”

A bell rang in the garage to notify them a customer had arrived. “I’ll get it.” Logan placed her mug on the tool bench and walked back through the office to the gas pumps. A young woman was behind the wheel when Logan walked up.

“What can I get for you?”

“Fill it up, please.” The woman handed Logan two twenty-dollar bills.

“Sure thing,” Logan said and took the money from the woman. She was able to squeeze thirty- six dollars into the tank and walked inside for the change. The woman smiled as Logan handed her the ones.

“Keep it for a tip,” the woman said with a wink. “Is there someplace to eat?”

Logan nodded. “Miss Ruth’s Café. A quarter of a mile on the right. She’ll fill you right up.” Logan chuckled and walked away. She placed the bills back into the register and returned to the bay. “Some stranger for a gas up,” she told her dad.

“I’m sure their money spends just as well.”

“I’m taking Faith to town tomorrow for supplies. Is there anything we need?”

“We could use a couple cases of oil, some plugs, and filters,” Curtis answered. “I’ll give you the money when we close up tonight.”

“I’ve got this, Dad,” Logan answered. “I made a run for Faith last night.”

Curtis frowned. “I know the money is good, but I worry about you getting caught.”

“They haven’t found anyone that can keep up with Lightning and me,” Logan bragged.

“Don’t get too cocky. That’s usually what gets you caught.”