Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 
   Chapter Six
   We all took a shower and for the first time in a long time, we slept
naked and didn't even make love.
   As much as I like making love to each of them, and as much fun as we
have fucking like wild animals, I like sleeping naked next to the ones I
love, just as much.
   Bobby and I woke up as the sun shone through the east window.  He and I
both drank a cup of coffee from the small pot in the room as we sat on the
balcony overlooking the river a few blocks away.
   Maren came out a few minutes later, with a cup and hugged Bobby; then
sat naked across my lap.
   We sipped our coffee in the warm morning air that carried the smell of
the sea, the river and the ever lingering smell of a two hundred year old
city.
   La Nouvelle-Orléans, as the French named it in 1718; after Phillipe II,
Duke of Orleans.
   Some of the richest history in America lies in this city, built below
sea level; it also harbors some of the seediest history as well.
   "Maren, Bobby and I are going down to check the bus out, we'll met you
and the others in the dining room in an hour or so, take your time, we're
in no hurry." I said as she lay her head on my shoulder.
   When she stood up, she sat right back down, across Bobby's legs now, and
they cuddled for a few minutes while I was pulling on my clean shorts and
shirt.
   I was dressed when they came in from the balcony, grinning at some
closely shared secret or joke.
   As I looked at them, I couldn't help the swelling of pride inside my
chest.  I love Bobby as much as if he sprouted from my own seed, and Maren
was the most perfect fit for a teacher and traveling companion we could
have possibly found in a lifetime.
   Bobby was dressed in a flash, he could dress or undress as fast as
anyone I had ever seen.
   "Murphy, where are we headed now, you got a place in mind or are we just
going to go until we see a place we like.?
   "I think we will just go west on I-10 until we find a place we think
looks like fun and stop to check it out, what do you think?"
   "I'm with you, I just love this shit, don't you?" He said, and I had to
laugh out loud, he looked at me and laughed too.
   We checked the bus from front to back, the tow dolly and the little
Subaru were faring well from being dragged all up and down the coast and
into the city of New Orleans.
   "Hey Beautiful Ladies, may we join you for breakfast?" I said as we
walked in the dining room to find Meghan, Maren and Kelly sitting at a
table, laughing and talking as if they had been up for hours.
   It seems we had started a tradition, one that we kept up for years. 
When Bobby and I, or either of us alone, for that matter, walks into a room
where these three were, they all stand and we each kiss and hug.
   We were a close family now, sharing the love of our bodies and our
hearts.
   The same parking attendant that was here yesterday; was on duty and I
slipped him a ten.
   "Yas'suh Boss Man, y'all jus' swang that big wagon 'round heah and I'll
be watchin out for y'all.
   "Ride easy on down th' road and y'all come on back to see us sometime,
ya' heah."
   He stopped traffic both ways as we pulled out wide into the street and
headed back over to Canal Street.
   Soon we were on I-10B, and on our way out of downtown New Orleans.
   "Where are we headed now Murphy?" Meghan asked as she sat beside me in
the little buddy seat.
   "I thought we would stay on I-10 all the way to San Antonio, maybe drive
out to see The Alamo tomorrow and then swing down to Corpus Christi for a
day.  That sound alright with you?"
   "That sounds great, hey Bobby, we're going to the Alamo tomorrow." She
yelled back to where Bobby and Maren were heads down in their books and
laptops.
   "WoooooHooooo," He yelled from the back.
   Meghan got her laptop fired up and looked at the map to see where we
were going and how to get there.
   "It's 544 miles and a little over eight hours to San Antonio from New
Orleans, but I'm sure you will shave some off that." She smiled and
smooched me a kiss with her lips.
   The speed limit in Louisiana is 70 mph on the interstate, but the
traffic was eating us up, so I kicked it up to 78 and we stayed right with
them.
   A few minutes before 1:00, we crossed into Texas.  Not bad, four hours
from downtown New Orleans, I thought.
   "Murphy, when we get through Beaumont, pull over and let me drive some."
Kelly said
   "Kelly, are you sure, we'll only be a few miles form Houston when we get
to Beaumont."
   "OH DANG, then after we get through Houston, I'll drive, I sure don't
want to be driving when we get to Houston." Kelly laughed.
   The speed limit in Texas is 75 and I kicked it on up to 80 like all the
other mad drivers.  The traffic on I-10 through the middle of Houston
wasn't bad, we caught it at the right time of the day, or we could have
been there for a day.
   I saw a sign that said Katy, TX, twenty-five miles, and figured that was
as good a place as any to stop and let Kelly drive some.  We would have
basically an open road with no major cities until San Antonio, and she
could get some good experience driving.
   I took the second Katy exit, and hit a service road parallel to I-10,
and stopped at a small mini-mall, with a large parking lot.  I saw signs
ahead that led back to I-10, and knew Kelly would be fine getting back into
traffic again.
   "Kelly, this is as simple as driving your car; it's just bigger, the
transmission is automatic, so there's no shifting.  Remember, that we have
the Subaru behind us, and you'll have to allow plenty of room when you
pass."
   I showed her where the parking brake was, and how to release it, I
cautioned her, about applying the brakes too hard, to keep us all from
sitting in her lap, when she got stopped.
   "OK, I'm ready, ALL ABOARD!" Kelly yelled, and laughed, as she released
the brakes, and eased the bus slowly back out onto the service road.
   I was sitting beside Kelly, watching as she drove; not really paying
attention to the road, as much as I was her.
   She slammed on the brakes, and nearly threw me out of my seat.
   "What happened, Kelly?" I asked, as she reached across me, and hit the
lever that opened the door.
   I looked down to see a young girl, carrying a cardboard sign with: 'San
Antonio, PLEASE!' written on it.  She was carrying a large duffel bag, and
I took it, as she started up the steps.  She was dressed in a pair of cut
off jeans, and a t-shirt, just as we were.
   "Hop in here, and make yourself at home, Honey, we'll be in San Antonio
before dark," Kelly said, as she smiled at the girl.
   "Hey, thanks, I've been out here since before noon, and no one would
stop.  I am Gabriella Sanchez, my friends call me Gabby," the girl said
with a pretty smile.
   I moved over to let her by, and Meghan grabbed her, and pulled her down
onto the seat next to her, 'here we go', I thought, as Kelly closed the
door, and hammered the bus.  She wheeled back into traffic, and was soon
passing all but the fastest of the big rigs.
   I looked at the dash clock, and it was now 4:00 p.m., we'd be in San
Antonio before 7:00 with ease, the way Kelly was handling the bus.
   I sat beside Kelly, and listened as Gabby and Meghan talked.  Soon,
Meghan had her talking as if they were old friends, just as I knew she
would.
   She was on her way to live with her older sister.  Their Mom had died
two months before, and she had stayed to get her estate taken care of.  Her
Mom wanted to be cremated, and she had her ashes in a sealed urn in her
duffel bag.
   I looked back, and Gabby looked up at me, and smiled; she had long
straight black hair, pulled back, and tied with a red scarf.  She must have
Mexican in her ancestry, she was darker than we were, and her eyes were
almost black, as I looked at her.
   Her eyes flashed from one point to another, as she looked around the
bus, and at each of us.
   I heard her tell Meghan she had graduated from high school last spring,
and was hoping to find a good job in San Antonio so she could help her
sister take care of her two small kids.
   This sounded like another sob story, and I instantly threw up the
defenses, as well as the fences.
   Gabby told Meghan that her sister's husband was in Iraq, and was serving
his second tour.  He was scheduled to be home in December.  This all
sounded alright, and I lowered the defenses; just a little.
   I looked back, to see Bobby eyeing the girl, he looked her over
carefully, and I watched, as their eyes met for a few seconds, Bobby smiled
a slight smile, and nodded at her, he then went right back to his laptop,
as he sat next to Maren.
   "Aren't you afraid to travel alone like this, with all the crazy people
running around these days?" Meghan asked her.
   "Yes, but I didn't have the money to buy a bus ticket, so I had no
choice.  I caught a ride with a man in a pickup before I got out of
Houston, and he started in on me about sex, as soon as we started out on
the four lane; I pulled my knife, and told him I would cut his dick off, if
he messed with me." Gabby said, and pulled her knife out from under her
t-shirt, where she had it stuffed inside the waist of her shorts.
   The knife was short, with a small handle, and a double edged blade.
   I looked at Meghan, at the same time she looked at me.
   "Gabby, would you mind if I put your knife in your duffel bag, as long
as you are here on the bus with us?  Not that we don't trust you, but just
so you, and all of us, will know there is no need for weapons, as long as
you ride with us." I told her.
   "Sure, I didn't mean for you to think I was a bad person when I showed
it to you, I just wanted to get it out of my shorts." She said, with a
smile, and handed me the knife, handle first.
   "When is your sister expecting you, Gabby?" Meghan asked.
   "She doesn't even know I'm coming; I told her I may stay with Uncle Carl
and Aunt Iris, and try to find a job there; but after a week of him trying
to get in bed with me at night, I decided I'd just take my chances on the
road.  That's when I took the knife out of the drawer in his gun cabinet,
and hid it in my duffel bag."
   "Do you have your sister's phone number?" Meghan asked, I knew she was
still trying to find out if the girl could be trusted, and if her story was
true.
   "No, but her name is Valeria Shuman, and I know what street she lives
on, I can find her when I get there."
   "What's her husband's name, I'll look her up for you, and get her phone
number; we can call her, and let her know you're coming.  Murphy said we
would be there before dark today."
   "His name is Stephen, Stephen J.  Shuman.  I remember seeing his name in
the paper, when he was wounded on his first tour of duty.  Valeria sent Mom
a newspaper clipping with his picture, telling about him."
   Meghan grabbed her laptop, and tried to get a connection, but we were
too far out in the country now, for her wireless card to work.
   She took the cell phone, and dialed the operator.  After pushing buttons
forever, she had a live operator, and started asking for information on the
names Gabby had given her.
   It took her a good five minutes, but she had the right one, with the
address on the street Gabby had said her sister lived on.
   Meghan dialed the number herself, and listened for a long time.
   "Here, we got her voice mail; tell her you will be there tonight."
   "Val, this is Gabby, I am on my way to see you, I will be there late
today, I love you.  I am riding with the best people in the world; see you
soon." Gabby was crying now.  I mean, she was sobbing as her whole body
shook with her sobs, and she was heaving, until I thought she was going to
either vomit, or hyperventilate.
   Meghan grabbed her, and held her tight, as Gabby turned to Meghan, and
locked her arms around her, in a death grip.
   Meghan was crying now, and I saw Bobby and Maren come over to help
console the girl.
   "It's okay, Gabby, it's okay, Hon, you just cry it all out, and you'll
feel better; we are here, and you will be alright now."
   "I was so afraid; I just knew something bad was going to happen to me, I
felt so alone, and I didn't know anyone to help me.  I don't mean to cry
all over you, but I just need to hold you for a minute, please." Gabby
sobbed, and cried out loud now.
   Maren jumped up, and ran to the bathroom, and got a wet wash cloth,
Bobby got her a cold Coke, and put it in her hand.  She smiled at him, and
he smiled at her, with tears in his eyes now.
   Maren washed Gabbys' face, and, with the wet cloth, she wiped her coarse
black hair back from her face and eyes.
   She was finally able to control the sobs, and she looked around at all
of us.  She had tears in her eyes, but she was smiling now, though an
unexpected sob would jerk her body, making her look so frail and helpless.
   I turned back to Kelly, and watched the road now; I lay my hand on
Kelly's thigh, and she patted the back of my hand.
   "She'll be alright now." Kelly said; and I agreed.  I couldn't help but
wonder what would have happened to her, if we had not stopped; would she
have gotten help, or would she have been raped, or even killed?
   I know I'm not the best person on God's earth; I've got a lot of faults,
but I do believe in helping people.  I thanked Him just now, for those He's
put in my life, for me to love; and for those He sent us to help, along our
way.
   Kelly pulled into a rest area, and I was proud of the way she handled
the bus, as she drove to the back, and parked in one of the pull-through
parking spaces.
   We all got out, stretched our legs, and used the restrooms.
   Kelly and I went to Gabby, now, and made ourselves known to her, we had
a hard time explaining who we were to each other, but she finally smiled,
as she understood.
   "I really like you people, I can never thank you enough, just for
stopping, and letting me ride."
   "We're just glad that we were there at the right time to help you,
Gabby." Kelly said, as she now got her chance to hug her, and hold her
tight.
   While we were stopped, Meghan and Maren fixed sandwiches for all of us,
and we ate a light snack of sandwiches, chips, and a drink.
   I drove the rest of the way, with Meghan now back in the co-pilots seat;
on her laptop as soon as we got close to San Antonio.  She got reception on
her wireless when we hit Seguin; we were only a few miles from San Antonio
now.
   "We can spend the night at the Ramada near the intersection of I-10 and
I-37, then we can get Gabby over to her sisters tonight and we can go to
the Alamo in the morning." Meghan said.
   "Sounds good to me, you might need to get reservations, we never know
what's going on in these big cities."
   Meghan was on the phone, and in no time, she had reservations for
adjoining suites at the Ramada she wanted.
   With her directions and her helping look for the street signs, we were
soon parked to the side of the Ramada.  We were getting better at this, and
I was more relaxed now that I knew Meghan could find a needle in a
haystack, using the cell phone and her laptop.
   I carried Gabbys duffel bag and Bobby carried our one bag again.  Meghan
tried to get to the reservations desk first, but Kelly jumped in front of
her and they were laughing and giggling like school girls.
   "We have reservations, we're the Murphy's." Kelly said proudly.
   "Yes, Ms.  Murphy, we have you down for adjoining suites on the top
floor, how long will you be staying with us?"
   "Well, tonight and tomorrow for sure, and we will let you know if there
is any change."
   "That will be fine, we have the rooms reserved for the next weekend, so
you may stay until Friday morning, if you like."
   "Thanks, and we'll let you know for sure, we want to see the Alamo, and
I know we'll want to see The River Walk too, while we're here."
   "Just let us know, we have shuttles leaving at different times for both
the Alamo, and the River Walk." The girl said as Kelly handed her a debit
card, and signed the papers.
   The girl placed the blue card on the counter near my hand, and I
couldn't help but notice the name on it.  I picked it up and handed it to
Meghan.
   "You're behind," I said as she read the name: 'Kelly M.  Murphy'
   "Really now," Meghan said, as she pulled her card clip out, and laid it
open for me to see all her cards.
   'Meghan D.  Murphy', it read.
   "What's the 'D' for?" I asked.
   "Danfield; that's my maiden name, I didn't want anything to do with the
name Robertson, ever again." She smiled, and grabbed me and kissed me,
swabbing my mouth out with her tongue.
   "Get a room!" Bobby said, and laughed.
   "We just did." Meghan smiled.
   We made our way to our suites, and opened the connecting door between
rooms that were as fancy as the W we stayed in last night.  We even had
more room, not that we needed it.  We did have company, and, until she was
safe with her sister, we did have to respect her privacy.
   Meghan hit redial on the number to Gabbys sister, and got the same
recording.
   She hit redial once more, and handed the phone to Gabby, we all looked
at her like she was going crazy, but I knew better.
   "Tell your sister to call this number, when she gets this message."
Meghan told her.
   We decided to take the shuttle over to the River Walk, and eat at one of
the Mexican Restaurants there.  We took several brochures from the room and
left to catch a shuttle.  It was now 7:00; we had made really good time.
   Meghan and Kelly had picked the Casa Rio Restaurant, on East Commerce,
and the shuttle driver dropped us off, with a map that showed where the
shuttle return station was, and the times of departure.
   "Could we be seated on the patio, next to the river, please, there are
six of us." I said as I walked up to the hostess.  The place was very busy,
as we were here, with the usual dinner crowd.  I slipped her three twenties
and that didn't hurt.
   "What was the name, again?" She asked, as she looked on her check-in
sheet.
   "Murphy, party of six," I said.
   "Yes, here you are, Mr.  Murphy, step this way, please." She said and
waved us right on in.
   She seated us at a table that was just a few feet from the water, and
Bobby grabbed Gabbys hand, and pulled her over to look at the passing
boats.
   They were talking now, and she was more relaxed than she was earlier. 
Bobby took her hand and led her back to the table, their places were left
open, on the side nearest the water.
   I was seated next to Bobby, and saw Gabby lean over with the menu
covering both their faces, and whisper to him, he smiled, and reached in
his pocket.  I didn't see what he gave her, but he stuffed some money into
the front pocket of her denim shorts.
   She looked at him, wide eyed, in shock.  I heard her whisper, "I can't
take this Bobby; you're going to make me cry." She said, still holding the
menu up.
   "If you start crying, I'm going to tickle you, and when you look at me,
I am going to kiss you." He whispered, and she laughed at his craziness.
   We all ordered beer, except for Bobby and Gabby, they both ordered Coke.
   The waitress came with our drinks, and was ready to take our order.
   "Gabby, since you are our guest, you go first." Meghan said, as she
looked at Bobby.  and smiled.
   "I'll order for Gabby and myself..." Bobby said, quickly, and just as
quickly he picked up the menu they had been looking at, and ordered.
   "Gabby and I want the Casa Rio Deluxe Dinner, and we would like some
cheese dip, to go with our salsa and chips." He said, and I saw her squeeze
his hand, as she looked at him.
   Meghan, Maren, and Kelly had all decided on the Fajita Taco Salad, with
the lime vinaigrette dressing, I ordered the Casa Rio Deluxe Dinner, as
Bobby and Gabby had.
   We were talking, and enjoying the view in the light from the river
lights, and the late evening sun.
   My cell phone rang, and Meghan grabbed it.  "Hello, this is Meghan
Murphy."
   Damn, I loved the sound of that.
   "Yes, she's with us now, we're all sitting down to eat; here, she can
talk to you." Meghan handed the phone to Gabby.
   "It's your sister, Valeria, Gabby."
   "Hello, Valeria, I know, I am so sorry to cause you trouble.  I know,
but I didn't have any money, and I didn't know where else to go." She burst
into tears, and ran from the table, with the phone still to her ear.
   "Go with her, Bobby." I told him, as he stood looking to see where she
had gone.
   "I wonder what that was about?  I hope her sister isn't telling her
she's not welcome after she came all the way here, to be with her." Kelly
said.
   "She better not tell her that, she'll have me to answer to." Meghan
said.
   "Now, hold on, you're both jumping to conclusions, I'm sure there's a
better answer, than the one you just now came up with.  Maybe she's out of
town, or something." I tried to calm them down.
   "Then how did she get the messages, and know to call us?" Kelly asked.
   "She could have called home, and got her messages, gotten the number,
and called." I said.
   "Well, maybe.  But she better not treat that girl badly, after all she's
been through." Meghan said.
   Bobby came back to the table in a rush.  "Murphy, how long do you think
we'll be in this part of Texas?" He asked me in a hurry.
   "I haven't really thought about it, Bobby, I was thinking we'd drive
down to Corpus Christi, for a day, I'd like to see the King Ranch; then on
down to Brownsville; go the South Padre Island, one day, and over into
Mexico for some souvenirs, why"
   "Can Gabby go with us, and then could we bring her back here?"
   "Sure, but what's going ...  on?" I asked, as he ran away from the
table.
   They both came back, and they were both laughing, and being teenagers
now.
   "Gabby, are you alright, is everything okay with your sister?" I asked,
as she handed me the phone, and scooted her chair closer to Bobby's.
   "Yes, Valeria was upset with me, because I hitchhiked here with
strangers; and she didn't know I was coming.  She is in Waco, for the next
ten days.  Stephen's Mom had surgery; and she and the babies are up there
taking care of her."
   "So you can go with us, for the next ten days?" Meghan asked, and
smiled.
   "Yes; that is if you are all sure you don't mind, Bobby talked to my
sister, and they were laughing, and talking crazy stuff, she likes Bobby."
   "Everyone likes Bobby, Gabby; and we demand you stay with us, as our
guest, for the next ten days, at least." Kelly said, and grinned.
   Now we were all standing around the table, and the hugging started
again. She was one of us, and the poor girl had no idea what she was in
for; with Meghan, Maren, and Kelly around her.  Hell, they will smother the
girl to death
   "I'm proud of you, Bobby." I said, as he and I stood back, and let the
women hug on each other.  I hugged him to me, and he returned my hug.
   "I've had a good teacher in the past few weeks, Murphy." He smiled.
   "Yes, I agree, Maren is the best." I grinned, and he did too.
   The End of Book Four
   Next...  Murhpy-Book 5, Taking Brides
  
JRyter's Murphy-Book 4 Chap. 06