Page 46 of Rocky Ride

“Yep. These are the addresses on their sheets. Both of them are supposed to be staying with kin in Cut Bank.”

“We’ll bring them in tomorrow morning,” said Billy. “Nice work, Ted.”

“Thanks, boss. That package store is one fuckin mess. I feel sorry for the owner. He’s a nice guy.”

“Yeah, he is nice. I hope his insurance helps him out. Vandalism is costly and a huge piss off.”

Coyote Creek Market.

Before going home for the day, I drove Sunday to the market at the other end of Main Street. Dad gave me his credit card and told me to get whatever Sunday wanted in the way of groceries.

I pushed the cart around the store while Sunday scanned the shelves and did the shopping. When we checked out, I saw a cute girl on cash. Her nametag saidPenny Darkers. Long dark hair and brown eyes. She was the prettiest girl I’d seen in Coyote Creek, and I’d never seen her at the market before.

Sunday ran back to get a couple more things she’d forgotten, and while she was gone, I asked Penny for her number. “Mind if I text you?”

She smiled. “Nope. Go ahead, Harlan.”

“You know my name?”

“Sure do. All the girls in town know your name.”

Sunday came back with two more things to add to our bill and Penny gave me the total. I paid with Dad’s credit card and Butch, the kid who bagged the groceries, wheeled the load out and helped me put it all in the back of the Jeep.

Couldn’t hardly believe I had Penny’s number. For some reason, I already liked her way better than Brooke.

Chapter Ten

Tuesday, October 22nd.

Wild Stallion Ranch.

In the barn I talked to Virge about Penny Darkers, the girl I met at the grocery store. “Never seen her before. She’s prettier than Brooke and she gave me her number and now I don’t want to take Brooke out like I promised. What should I do?”

“Umm…I’m not sure, Harlan. I’m taking more dirty clothes to the laundromat so I can talk to Vicki some more. She’s contrary but I like her a lot. Funny too.” Virge smiled.

“Are you gonna take her someplace?”

Virge shrugged. “Thinking about it.”

“Take her to the movies in Shelby and buy her some popcorn. That will make her like you.”

“I’m pretty sure she likes me already.”

“You kiss her yet?”

“I’m working up to it. I’ll do it next time I’m in there when there’s no customers.”

“You might get her into trouble.”

“Don’t think so. Her mother owns the business and she put Vicki in there to run it. She does what she wants all day long. That’s what she told me.”

“Huh. Nice job—doing what you want.”

While the boys were at the barn, Billy talked to Travis in private about Sunday. “I wanted to ask you about Sunday.”

“Sure. What about her?”

“I like her a lot and I have to ask you what happened at the cabin and if you and her were…more than friends.”

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