There wasn't a nerve in Earl's body that didn't light on fire at the sound of a woman pleading for help. It wasn't in his nature to stand by - not when he could do something.

"Is anyone there?" the woman's voice cried. "Can you-"

He threw the cab door wide, narrowly avoiding knocking the woman and her companion onto the pavement. Their black dresses and white headscarves billowed as they stepped backwards.

"Tell me what you need, ladies," Earl said. He did want to help, but dammit, he was just a man after all. He most especially wanted to get Blossom into his den of desire as soon as possible. Blinking at them again, he readjusted his mindset. These weren't ladies. "Sisters."

Now that they saw him, they seemed hesitant to ask for his help. The two nuns glanced back and forth at each other, wringing their hands as one stuttered something about a car and calling the police.

Blossom elbowed her way to Earl's side. Her sweet perfume and womanly scent washed over him and he breathed her in. She put her hand on his shoulder to see what was going on.

I need her in my den or this truck will go up in smoke.

"Are you all right?" Blossom asked. "What happened?"

The sight of another woman let loose a torrent of words.

"A thief, a man, he stole our car!"

"Not one minute ago!"

"He took the chalice!"

"It's in the car and we have to get it back safely! A relic of that worth!

"He came out of nowhere and threw Sister Angelica on the ground and then he drove off!

Earl waved his hand, desperate to get a word in edge-wise. "I'll call the police, right now. What's the license plate number?"

The sisters pursed their lips sheepishly. "It's a Maryland license. The number is 328-"

"It started with a 6," the other whispered.

"A six? Are you sure?"

"Six one zero-"

He held up a hand to stop them. His finger hovered over the call button, the numbers 9-1-1 on his screen. This was a waste of time.

"You want your car and this chalice back?"

"Yes! It's a lovely crystal chalice, with a pinky bone of St. Francesca Romana in the base."

"And a figure of a palace on the side."

"Wait," Blossom said. "The thief stole the chalice from the palace?"

"Yes!" the cried in unison.

Earl sat up, nudging Blossom back and beckoned to the sisters. "Did you see which way he went?" he asked. They nodded. "Then get in and buckle your seat belts."

Blossom moved to the single back seat while the nuns clambered up. Earl didn't wait for them to finish strapping in. He revved the engine to life, making it purr under his hands and headed down the road, following the pointing fingers and hurried explanations.

Blue car. Dark blue. Small. Rust on the fender. No air-conditioning, and the vents smelled of old socks and Mother Mary's hand lotion. Might be a Honda. But probably a Ford. The clutch always stuck in third. Otherwise a very lovely little car, except that it froze up every winter.

No problem. He made a few quick contacts on his radio as they careened down the road, passing camping cars and mini-vans whenever they were behind one going too slow. Hmpf. Sunday drivers.

The nuns, one was Sister Angelica and the other Sister Sophia, screamed and threw their hands over their eyes whenever he passed cars or took a corner too fast.

But Blossom leaned forward. She gripped his shoulder and her moist lips parted with excitement. A keen glint was in her eye when he risked a glance at her. She was devouring the sight of him driving the same as his truck was tearing down the road. A flush rose to her cheeks when she noticed him looking at her a second time, but she licked her lips and smiled coyly.

"Do you think we'll catch him?" she asked.

He downshifted and pressed the pedal to the floor to accelerate around a Mercedes. "We'll catch him."

Her breath caught in her throat and her fingers dug in the soft flesh of his shoulder. Those nails. He wanted them under his flannel shirt.

Both sisters cowered on the front seat, crossing themselves.

A crackling voice came over his radio as he pulled back in the right lane, just avoiding an oncoming tour bus.

"We got him. Blue Ford. At Mike's Moonshine Stop and Go."

"With a little help from my friends," Earl said, "we got him."

White road lines flashed by faster than lightening streaks and within seconds a sign appeared through the tree tops, grinning like a second grader.

M ke's Mo ns ine

S op & Go

In the parking lot, two other trucks were fencing in a blue Ford Taurus from the 80's, and two burly, tattooed, hairy men had a scrawny one in custody.

Sister Sophia clapped and shouted in happiness. The sisters were unbuckled and had the door open before Earl could come to a full stop. He was impressed. The way they jumped out and ran across the parking lot in their robes was not something he would ever forget.

"Come on," Blossom urged, taking his hand. "Let's make sure they are all right."

He nodded and let her lead so he could have the pleasure of watching her generous curves as she crawled out of his cab.

"Hey," his buddy, one of the other drivers hollered. "This it?"

The sisters nodded, saying yes, yes.

"Thought so. Not sure what Mother Mary's hand lotion smells like, but the vents give off old sock and that clutch is in terrible shape."

Earl clapped the other truck drivers on the shoulders and nodded curtly in thanks.

Sister Angelica eyed the thief sharply and went around to pop the trunk and check the contents. When the hood lifted, she gasped and fell to her knees.

"Sister Angelica!" Sister Sophia rushed to help her, but gasped out loud in turn, covering her heart with her hand.

In a split second, Earl reached them both. The chalice must be broken. Damn it, these good sisters didn't deserve this kind of bad luck.

He peered in the trunk. Big brown eyes, rimmed with red and shining with tears blinked back at him.

"I'm sorry," a tiny voice whispered.

"Maria!" Sister Sophia cried. "What are you doing in there?"

Maria, dressed in simpler robes of white, lifted up a large crystal glass. "I wanted so badly to go with you and see when they placed the chalice in the new altar that I hid in the trunk. When I realized it wasn't you driving the car, I prayed to St. Francesca to send help."

A string of Saints' names and thanks erupted from the sisters, accompanied by agitated chest crossing. Earl helped the girl from the trunk.

One of the truckers kicked the car thief. "That could've ended badly," he muttered.

Blossom slipped her hand into Earl's. "Just think if the police hadn't found the car in time. I bet you saved that novice's life."

"They should be here soon," the other trucker said. "Thought about not calling them, but I know my missus wouldn't approve of me handling things personally."

"Oh, thank you all! Thank you so much!" Sister Angelica said. She would have taken the truckers' hands, but they backed away, intimidated by the black robes.

"No need to thank us." They hauled the thief off to the side to wait for the policemen.

"But how can we repay you?" Sister Sophia asked.

"Could you pray for Earl's safety while he's on the road?" Blossom asked.

They said yes, tears in their eyes.

"You hungry?" Earl asked Blossom, suddenly realizing that she hadn't had a chance to eat when they ran into her ex.

She tried to say no, but he took her hand. "Sisters, we'll be in the diner if the police need us. Blossom," he said, turning to the lovely brunette. "They have chilidogs for two that I can't finish on my own."

"Really? I am a bit peckish."

"Come on," he said. She would need nourishment. There was a Motel 6 just a block away and he wasn't letting her escape him this time. No power on Earth, from above or below would cheat him.

Her eyes locked into his, as though she could read the lustful thoughts running through his head. She retreated into a hushed, expectant silence, letting him choose the chilidog and booth to sit at. He offered her a morsel of bun with cheese and she nipped his fingers. The police came and went, but he hardly noticed. She was the only thing in his sights. Like an oncoming car in the night, the shining beams in her eyes blinded him to everything else.

When she was done, he led her slowly to the Motel. At the entry way, she toed the frayed carpet, fiddling with her jacket zipper.

"Earl." Her voice was a lonely train whistle in the far distance.

"Remember when I said you've never been with a real man?" he asked.

She swayed and he reached for her waist.

"Well, this is your chance. Take or leave it, I'll still drive you home."

She swallowed and then turned for the door to their room.

He stepped in behind her and walked up to her turned back. He leaned down to shower her nape with tiny kisses. She sighed and tilted her head, inviting more.

"You have to trust me completely, Blossom."

"I do," she whispered. He spun her around to gaze at her face, to see if she was telling the truth. She was.

"As much as I love these beautiful eyes that remind me of wet pavement, I think you've seen enough," he whispered, lightly kissing her eager lips. He took his bandana from a pocket and rolled it diagonally.

The slight musty smell of the Motel 6 room and the lingering scent of the chili dog they had shared at the truck stop tickled his nose as he slowly slipped the blindfold over her eyes.

***

Well, that got hot all of a sudden? What will he do to her now that the blindfold is on? Wouldn't you like to know... :-)