He reached behind the seat, found the umbrella Chloe insisted they keep in the truck after he once forgot hers during a school field trip, and climbed into the rain.
He was soaked below the knees before he reached the shelter.
The young woman heard his boots.
Her posture changed immediately.
The cane came up across her body.
Not dramatically.
Efficiently.
A barrier.
Daniel stopped six feet away.
“I’m the guy from the truck.”
“I know.”
“I’m standing about six feet in front of you.”
She nodded once.
“I’m holding an umbrella. I’m going to come closer, but I won't touch you.”
Another small nod.
Daniel stepped forward and positioned the umbrella over her.
Rain immediately soaked his own shoulder.
The woman lifted her face slightly.
“You're getting wet.”
“I've survived water before.”
No response.
Daniel crouched enough that his voice would not come from somewhere above her.
“My name is Daniel Hayes.”
Her fingers tightened around the cane.
It was slight.
But Daniel saw it.
“Hayes?”
“Yes.”
She repeated the name as if tasting something dangerous.
“Daniel Hayes?”
Now it was his turn to become wary.
“Have we met?”
“No.”
“Then how do you know my first name?”
“I didn't.”
Daniel stared.
She lowered the cane fractionally.
“My name is Nora.”
“Nora what?”
“Nora Whitfield.”
“Okay, Nora.”
He glanced at the suitcase again.
“Do you have somewhere I can take you?”
“No.”
“A hotel?”
“No.”
“Friend?”
She gave a small, humorless laugh.
“No.”
“Family?”
That made her face change.
Daniel noticed.
Nora looked down.
“I thought I did.”
The answer carried enough weight that he did not immediately ask more.
A pickup passed, tires hissing on wet pavement.
Daniel waited.
Finally Nora said, “How do I know you're safe?”
The question made something inside him soften.
Blind.
Abandoned.
Freezing.
And still thinking.
Good.
“You don't.”
Her face lifted.
“I could tell you I'm safe. A dangerous person could say exactly the same thing.”
Nora’s mouth moved slightly.
Not quite a smile.
Daniel continued.
“I have a daughter at home. She's nine. She's currently threatening to eat all the ice cream if I die before I get back.”
A tiny laugh escaped Nora.
First evidence that there was someone alive beneath the shock.
Daniel pulled out his phone.
“I can call the sheriff's office and wait here until somebody comes.”
“No.”
The answer came too quickly.
He stopped.
“Okay.”
She took a breath.
“I don't want police.”
“Any particular reason?”
“No.”
Another pause.
“Just not tonight.”
Daniel accepted that for now.
“You can photograph my license plate.”
She raised one eyebrow.
Daniel closed his eyes.
“Right.”
Nora surprised him by smiling.
“I can use a phone camera.”
Daniel opened his eyes.
“Sorry.”