Searching for a New Home (2 page)

As she cries she thinks back over the last
twenty-four hours. Cybil had gotten a phone call. She went into the
study and closed the door but Dani still heard her yelling at
whoever it was that called. She was real nervous after she hung up.
She told Dani they were going on a road trip and she made it sound
so exciting. They would drive down to Casper, do some shopping, see
a movie, and stay in a hotel. But when Dani had asked to call her
Daddy, Cybil yelled at her. Once they were on the road Cybil was
grouchy, snapping at her if she even asked a question, or said she
needed to go to the bathroom. Lunch had been horrible. Cybil
embarrassed her in the restaurant yelling at the server because her
coffee was cold and the bread stale. Dani was hardly able to eat
anything. Then the manager told them to leave because of how mean
she was being to the server.

When they got to this truck stop just outside
of Casper, Cybil told Dani to get out of the car. She said she
would be back in a little while. She told Dani she needed to see a
friend. Then she drove away leaving Dani all alone. Dani is so
scared, she hates being alone. She sat on the cold stone bench in
front of the convenience store shivering in the cool night air and
watching for Cybil to come back for her. A dirty smelly man kept
walking by her, staring, and when he sat down on the bench next to
her, Dani fled to the bathroom. Now she is wedged in the corner of
this stall trying to hide. Sobs wrack her little body again.

******

I have been on the road for five days now.
Once I made it to Colorado, I left the interstate highways and took
the back roads looking for a town that feels like home. The
mountains of Colorado are absolutely magnificent. The towering
peaks covered in snow take my breath away. The lakes as smooth as
glass reflecting the brilliant blue of the sky warm my soul. The
rivers rushing through the narrow gorges over rocks and cascading
down steep cliffs to puddle in serene pools at the bottom stir my
emotions. I have traveled every winding road I can find searching
for that illusive place, my new home. I have seen deer, elk, even a
bear. I have been through tiny little villages where I walked down
cobble stone streets peeking in shop windows and dining in sidewalk
cafes and through big bustling cities where I didn't bother to even
stop, but nothing ever felt right. I crossed over the border into
Wyoming a few hours back and now I have an urgent need for a
bathroom and a sandwich.

I can't believe my luck ... a truck stop, in
the middle of nowhere. After filling my car with gas, I pull up to
the convenience store and restaurant and head for the bathroom. As
I am washing my hands I hear what sounds like a kitten mewling in
the corner. I slowly push open the door of the stall so as not to
scare the kitten and am shocked to see a small girl cowering in the
corner, a look of sheer terror on her face. The child has long,
dark brown pig tails that brush her shoulders, a pixie face, and
big brown eyes swollen from crying, and a runny nose.

My heart clenches painfully at the sight.
What could have caused this child to cower in the corner of a
bathroom stall? Has someone hurt her? I force a smile to my face
and softly ask, "Sweetie, are you all right?"

Dani is shaking like a leaf in a strong wind.
She can feel her heart pounding and wonders if the pretty stranger
can hear it. She is so afraid of strangers. What's she going to do
now? Is this stranger going to call the police? Is she going to
take her away again? Will her Daddy be able to find her if she
does? When the woman smiles warmly, Dani feels herself relax a
fraction. She is going to have to trust somebody because she can't
just stay here with no food and no money. She makes a decision.
"N..N..No." she whispers.

"My name is Jana. What's yours?" This poor
child is scared to death.

"Dani ... Dani Murray," she stammers.

"Hi Dani, I am about to get a sandwich in the
restaurant next door. Are you hungry?" I smile again. Maybe if I
can get her out of the restroom I can help her.

"Yes, but I don't have any money." Dani says
shyly as her stomach growls loudly.

"Oh, I see. That's all right. I have money.
Come on and I'll buy you a sandwich and we'll see what I can do to
help you, all right?" I smile encouragingly.

Dani hesitates, she is so scared but she
knows she can't continue to hide in the bathroom in a truck stop,
her Daddy will never find her here. Cybil obviously isn't coming
back for her. Maybe this lady will help. She only hopes she doesn't
take her away like they did before. Dani slowly slides out from
behind the toilet and stands. Her legs are wobbly from sitting for
so long. She swipes her hands at her eyes and takes a deep breath.
She is still scared and shaking some but the prospect of food is
more temptation than her little body can stand.

I point toward the sink, "Let's wash your
face and hands. That ought to help you feel a little better." I
lead her to the bathroom sink and watch as she washes her face and
hands. This poor child! She is scared to death!

While Dani is washing her hands she prays
that this lady won't take her away.
Please
God, help me. Don't let her take me away again.

Once that is done, Dani follows me into the
restaurant where we pick a table in the far back corner away from
the other guests. Sitting at the table across from the child I
carefully assess the situation. Dani appears to be about seven or
eight years old. She is about average height and weight so she
doesn't appear to have been on her own too long. Her clothes are
high quality and well kept. They are still reasonably clean
considering she has been hiding in a truck stop restroom. The child
seems to be terrified but I am not sure why just yet. She is
visibly shaking and my heart constricts with sympathy.

After ordering a couple of hamburgers with
fries and chocolate shakes, I smile again. "So Dani, why don't you
tell me what's wrong and we'll see what I can do to help you?"

Dani is still scared, but not shaking as
badly as she was. She licks her dry lips. This lady, Jana, seems
nice, but you never know. After all, Cybil had seemed nice too as
long as her Daddy was around. And those people that took her away
when her Mommie died seemed nice too. But it took forever for her
Daddy to find her that time. She wrings her little hands in her
lap. She wishes Uncle Jason or Aunt Jenny were here. They would
know what to do. She reminds herself to tell the truth. Her Mommie
had taught her to always tell the truth, even when she is
scared.

"Cybil, my Daddy's girlfriend left me here."
Dani is speaking so softly I can barely hear her.

"What?" I am stunned. I notice that Dani is
wringing her hands and her eyes keep darting around the restaurant
like she is afraid someone is going to grab her.

"Last night, Cybil left me here. She said
she'd be back in a little while, but she hasn't come back." Dani
says, a little louder this time, her voice stronger.

I clench my hands and feel my nails jab into
my palms. I am livid and the pain helps me maintain a neutral
expression. No wonder this child is terrified! What kind of a woman
would be so heartless as to leave this beautiful little girl alone
in a truck stop? What possible reason could she have had to do
something like that? I drag in a deep breath to calm my anger and
ask, "Where's your Dad?"

Dani's eyes fill with tears, "He's on a trip
to Texas to buy horses. Cybil was babysitting me while he is gone."
I reach across the table and pat Dani's little hand. I really think
the guy must be some kind of major idiot if he isn't a better judge
of character than to leave his child with someone like this Cybil
person.

"Where is your Mom?"

Dani drops her eyes to the table, tears
escaping down her cheeks. A look of profound sadness crosses her
face and she takes a deep breath and says, "My Mommie died when I
was four."

"Oh Baby, I'm so sorry. I know how hard that
is. My Mom died too. I really miss her a lot." Pausing to give the
child time to compose herself I ask, "Where do you live Dani?"

"We live on a ranch outside of Cody Wyoming.
It's a long way from here," she replies shakily.

"Do you live with your Dad and Cybil?"

"No, I live with Daddy, Uncle Jason, Aunt
Jenny and Mr. Bob. Cybil doesn't live with us. I hope she never
does, I hate her! She's mean!"

I ignore that little outburst and say
instead, "Where are your Uncle Jason and Aunt Jenny? Why were you
with Cybil instead of them?"

"They're in Europe. They went on vacation
before the baby comes." I notice Dani's voice is getting stronger
with every response.

"So did Cybil drive you here yesterday?"

"Yes ma'am" she answers.

"How old are you Dani?"

"I'm eight," replies Dani.

I wait while the server places our food in
front of us. I watch as Dani begins devouring the food like she
hasn't eaten in days.

After a few minutes, I ask, "When was the
last time you had something to eat?"

Waiting to speak until she swallowed her
food, Dani replies, "Lunch yesterday but I really didn't eat much.
Cybil was being mean to the server and they made us leave."

I again let that piece of information pass
but notice that Dani seems to have very good table manners. "Did
Cybil say where she was going when she left you here?"

"She didn't say where she was going, just
that she needed to see a friend." Dani replies dipping another fry
in her ketchup and stuffing it in her mouth.

Another few minutes pass as we enjoy our
meal. Then I ask, "Dani, do you know your Dad's cell phone number?
We can call him."

"Really? You'll let me call my Daddy?" asks
Dani, a beautiful smile curving her lips.

"Yes, really. Do you know the number?" I am
pleased to see her smile for the first time.

Dani confidently calls out the number. After
keying the number into my cell phone and hitting send, I hand the
phone to Dani.

With tears streaming down her face, Dani
cries, "Daddy? Cybil left me." After those few words she becomes
incoherent so I reach for the phone.

"Mr. Murray? My name is Jana Bowen. I found
Dani hiding in the restroom at the Longest Mile Truck Stop outside
of Casper Wyoming."

"Oh, my God!! Is she all right? She's not
hurt is she?" exclaims Jacob, his heart pounding with fear for his
precious daughter.

"No, she's fine, just very scared and hungry.
We're eating now. Evidently she has been here since sometime last
night. She said Cybil dropped her off and told her she would be
back in a little while then never returned,"

"Did you say you're outside of Casper? We
live near Cody, I wonder what they were even doing down near Casper
in the first place?" Jacob wonders out loud, anger bubbling beneath
the surface.

"Dani said Cybil told her she needed to see a
friend when she left her here." I am trying to provide him with as
much information as I can.

"Damn woman!" he curses, anger flowing
through his veins.

"Excuse me?" I am not really shocked by his
outburst. I am furious at the woman too and I don't even know
Cybil.

"Oh, I'm sorry, I was thinking of Cybil." He
pauses for several seconds while getting his anger under control.
He uses the time to think over his options. Calling the police
would only upset Dani and he doesn't know anyone in Casper he can
call. With trepidation shivering down his spine he makes the only
decision he feels he can and then says,

"Ms. Bowen, Jana, I know this is asking a lot
since we are perfect strangers but would you mind staying with Dani
until I can get to Casper? Dani seems to trust you and that is
saying a lot. She doesn't trust strangers easily. I should be able
to get to Casper by sometime later tonight. Just get a room
somewhere and let me know the details. I'll reimburse you when I
get to Casper."

"Of course, I will stay with her. But
wouldn't you rather I take her to the police or something?" I am
confused that this man is asking a perfect stranger to stay with
his daughter instead of taking her to the authorities.

Dani screams, "No! No police!!" and starts to
get up out of the booth. I reach out and grab her arm. "Wait Dani,
It's all right, no police, I promise." Slowly Dani slides back into
the booth shaking again. I glance around the restaurant to make
sure no one is paying attention.

Speaking at the same time as Dani, Jacob
says, "No! Don't do that. It will be too traumatic for her!" He
drags in a deep breath. "Dani is terrified of the police. It's a
long story that I'll explain when I get to Casper. Please, just
take her to a hotel. Call me when you are settled and give me the
name of the hotel and room number. I'll come straight to the hotel
from the airport when I get in. And thank you." Jacob shakes his
head still silently cursing Cybil and chastising himself for
trusting her. He has failed Dani again! How much more can his
precious daughter endure?

"All right, that's not a problem. I'll call
you once we get settled. Here's Dani." I hand the phone back to
Dani.

"Daddy?" asks Dani.

"Hey Pumpkin, listen to Daddy, you go with
Jana, all right? She's going to stay with you until Daddy can get
to Casper. I'll be there to get you before you wake up in the
morning, I promise." Jacob says.

"All right, Daddy. I love you." responds
Dani.

"Daddy loves you too Pumpkin." Jacob
disconnects furiously chastising himself for allowing Dani to be
hurt again. Silently, he issues a plea to the heavens for Dani's
safety.

Frank Gibbons slouches down in the seat of
his beat up blue pickup. Jana hasn't seen him, he is sure of that.
He can't believe their paths have crossed again after all this
time. It must be fate. He wonders what has brought her all the way
to Wyoming from Texas. She's looking mighty fine too. She is so
pretty with beautiful hair and he always loved that delectable
body. He watches as she and a little girl leave the restaurant and
get into a small SUV that is loaded to the gills with clothes and
stuff. The kid can't be hers. She didn't have any kids when they
were together two years ago and this kid has to be at least six or
seven.