The show was about her traveling across the country, stopping at small towns, eating the local favorite foods, and socializing with the people. All of it called for a non-glamorous look and makeup-free face.
Lena hated it.
She felt more naked without makeup than when she was actually naked.
Since no one would see her, she applied a little more to her face. She was certain she wouldn’t be on camera.
The camera crew had gone ahead to meet them in Nevada and never realized her mini tour bus had broken down on the old highway. They’d decided they weren’t stopping at Griffin, especially after Lena heard rumors about some gun-toting woman and a sex-crazed chief of police.
They were planning to breeze right through. At least the camera crew did. Just before the small town, Lena’s bus broke down. The phones didn’t work so the driver had walked for help.
That was two hours ago.
Lena was sure he was dead or something.
The last she heard from him was a weird text. She tried several times but the messages went unanswered. Reiterating her fear that he was dead.
The cell service was spotty so she was shocked when her video messaging rang.
“John!” she gushed upon seeing her husband’s name. She answered it. “John!”
“Hey, sweetie.” He was handsome, an actor with a beaming smiling face. They were without a doubt the most beautiful Hollywood couple. “Wait. Why are you wearing makeup?”
“Oh, John, the most horrible thing happened.”
“What?’
“This thing I am riding in.”
“The short bus”
“It broke down.”
“Oh no,” John said. “Where?’
“Right outside that horrid little town we were going to avoid. It’s there, John, a mile up ahead.”
“At least you’re close to help.”
“The driver left two hours ago to get help. The phones keeping going in and out. I’m alone, John. Alone on the side of the road.”
“Where is the camera crew bus?” he asked.
“They went ahead.”
“You wouldn’t have this problem if you rode in the same bus.”
“I can’t do that,” Lena said. “That means sharing a bathroom. No.”
“Are you okay?” John asked
“No, it’s hot in here.”
“Step outside.”
“Oh my God! I can’t do that. Look.” She aimed the phone.
“What am I looking at?”
“We broke down right in front of someone’s property. See the house in the distance.”
“Oh, yeah. Go knock on the door.”
“What!” she blasted and turned the phone back around. “They’re probably wearing masks made of skin. In fact, my driver is probably in the basement of that house chained up, ready to be someone’s lunch.”
“Lena…”
“And they’re eyeing me for dinner. You know I have that extra ten pounds.”
John laughed. “Lena…”
“Or worse, it could be that sex-craved chief of police’s house.”
“I’m sure it’s fine, Lena. Really.”
A triple loud rapping on the door caused Lena to jump and shriek.
“What? What is it?” John asked.
“Someone’s banging on the door.”
“Is it the driver? Did you lock him out?”
“Yes, but no, he has the keys. I think. Let me look.” Lena peered against the window and gasped. “Oh my God there’s a woman out there. She looks like my Aunt Macy. John, she has this fantastic shade of auburn hair. I’m sure it’s natural, but she has an awful cut. One of those short but not short and poufy…”
“Lena, stop.”
“John, she has a big gun! John, it’s the gun lady.”
The three knocks rang out again. And then she yelled, “I know you’re in there. I see you looking out. Open the door, please.”
“She’s knocking again. What do I do?”
“I just heard her say open the door, please,” John replied. “I’m pretty sure if she was going to shoot you, she wouldn’t knock or say please.”
“I can’t even call the police because the chief will want to have his way with me.”
“Lena, enough, open the damn door and see what she wants.”
“Stay on the line?” she asked.
“Yes, I will stay…”
Beep-beep-beep rang out followed by a message on the phone that the call was lost.
Lena wanted to cry. She was scared, but she had faith in what John said about the woman probably not wanting to kill her.
Nervous, she crept toward the door, pausing to take a shot of whiskey, then before opening it, she called out, “Please don’t shoot me.”
“Why would I shoot you?” the woman asked.
“You have a gun.”
“I always have a gun. It’s my right.”
“In public?” Lena asked.
“Actually it’s my property so technically I’m not in public.”
“I’m not trespassing,” Lena told her.
“Why in God’s name are we having this conversation through the door? Open up. I thought you knew I was coming.”
“How would I know that?” Lena asked.
“Scott sent you a text. I was there. You replied with okay.”
“Who is Scott?”
“Your bus driver.”
Lena gasped and opened the door. “I’m so sorry.”
“That’s alright, he gave the heads-up.” She walked past Lena and up the steps. “It’s really hot in here. Boy this is decked out. I never saw a short tour bus.”
“I like it. It’s broke.”
“I know.”
“You said my driver texted me you were coming?” Lena grabbed her phone and read. “He didn’t say. All he said was ‘Ada is coming for you. I’m out.’”
“Yep.” Ada smiled smugly. “That’s me. I’m Ada.”
“Oh!” She sang the word in revelation. “I thought he meant something else.”
“Like?” Ada asked.
“I thought he mean the American Disabilities Act people were coming for me. You know because of Sam’s limp.”
“Who is Sam?”
“My bus driver.”
“His name is Scott.”
“Yes.” Lena nodded. “And I bet you get that a lot. The American Disabilities Act.”
“It happens,” Ada said.
“Where is my driver?”
“He left,” Ada said. “Hitched a ride with a couple that were finishing their meal at the diner.”
“That’s not very safe. Don’t you have a mechanic in town?”
“We have the best.”
“So why would he leave town?” Lena asked.
“Honey, he said he was out, that means…” Ada paused.
“What?”
“Probably out of money and had to go to another town to get more,” Ada said. “Our ATMs only accept local debit.”
“Aw, I see, well, he should have told me. I have credit cards. So are you going to help me?”
“I am. I am gonna take you into town. Walt is coming out to tow this and we can figure out what to do with you from there.”
“Sounds perfect. How long will it take him to do a repair, since he’s the best.”
“It depends what’s wrong with it,” Ada replied. “Could be a few hours or a few days. Don’t worry. You won’t be stranded.”
“Should I get my things?” Lena asked.
“You can leave stuff on here. Maybe take your purse and anything that can break during the tow.”
Lena nodded once and gave a thumbs-up. She scurried for her purse, her lip gloss case, and on her away back to Ada, grabbed the bottle of whiskey.
“That works,” Ada said and held the bus door opened for her.
“Ada, you don’t think the police chief will try to do something with me? I heard the rumors about him.”
“Only if you get arrested.”
Lena was sure that wouldn’t happen. Even though she had never been in trouble in her life, the rumors about the police chief were enough to make anyone into a law-abiding citizen in Griffin.