Page 34 of River Ride

“You boys are in luck,” said Travis. “This truck stop offers an all-day breakfast.”

“I’m ordering pancakes,” said Virgil. “That will keep me going for a while.”

“Check the menu, son, you might want to order more than just pancakes.”

The server was quick to bring coffee and fill our cups and I was dying for caffeine. “What are you ordering, Dad?” I added a creamer to my coffee and took a sip.

“Don’t feel much like eating, Harlan.” Dad wiped the sweat off his forehead and pushed his long hair back from his face.

I glanced at Virge, and he nodded. Dad was showing all the signs Billy warned us about. He was coming undone, and it was all Tammy’s fault.

When we caught up to her, I planned to give her a good calling down for causing our dad so much fuckin stress. Didn’t she care about the man who saved her fuckin life and gave her a home?

After polishing off our big breakfast, me and Virge leashed Max and Sarge and walked them around the huge truck stop property. We made sure they drank water before putting them back into the Jeep. Hot as hell in Canada in July. No idea why I thought Canada would be cold all year long.

My turn to drive and I was turning the key to start the Jeep when Annie called to see how we were doing so far. Dad put the call on speaker so we could all hear her talking to us.

“I wasn’t sure you had Chance Fielding’s number with you, Travis. Do you want to write it down? You many need to call him when you find Tammy.”

“I’ll write it down,” said Virge in the back seat. “I’ve got a pen. Go, Mom.”

Annie recited the cell number and Virge got it down.

“Could you call him, Annie-girl, and explain what happened so far? I don’t think I can handle talking to him this morning.”

“Okay. I’ll try to get ahold of him and call you back.”

“Thanks.” Dad put his head in his hands and stayed that way while I drove north on route two heading for Calgary.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

12:00 Noon.

After talking to Travis and hearing the shakiness in his voice, Annie called Lakeview Hospital to talk to Chance Fielding, Tammy’s psychiatrist. She relayed all the new developments and when she was finished, the doctor was clearly surprised.

“I’m absolutely stunned this is happening, Annie. I was positive Tammy was ready to leave the hospital.”

“She’s devious, Chance, and a lot smarter than she likes to let on. I believe she had you snowed for quite some time.”

“I hate to think any patient could fool me to that degree. I’m trained to see through their lies and deceptions. I’ll go back over my notes from her last two months of sessions and see what I can pick up.”

“Okay, thanks. Let me know if you come up with any clues as soon as you find them.”

“I will.”

Stampede Truck Stop. Calgary. Alberta.

12:00 Noon

Ray and Bobby stopped for lunch in Calgary. Thousands of tourists were pouring into the city for the stampede and traffic was heavy on all the major highways.

The ten-day yearly rodeo competition Calgary was famous for was underway and the city was geared up for it. Banners and signs everywhere you looked.

They ordered the lunch special and every time the waitress came to their table, Bobby flirted with her. A cute girl with short dark hair and dimples, she came by when they finished eating, asked about dessert and Bobby ordered cherry pie.

While she was gone to get the pie, Ray shook his head. “You shouldn’t be flirting with the servers, Bobby. That will make them remember you and that’s the last thing you want if the cops are nosing around.”

“How do you know what I want, Ray? Ever think I might want to wait until Linda has a break, then take her out to the truck for a quickie?” Bobby laughed. “Guess she’d be remembering me then, wouldn’t she?”

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