Page 48 of River Ride

“I was worried about that too. As soon as Dad decided he wasn’t going to chase Tammy any farther, we turned for Montana and beat it home.”

“I’m sad about my sister,” said Lucy, “but I don’t think the hospital fixed her. She wouldn’t even talk to me.” Lucy rubbed her neck, and a tear came to her eye. “Before she ran away from the ranch, Tammy tasered me and stole my wallet.”

“Don’t think about that now, Lucy,” said Rowdy. “Keep your head clear and think only about the first race.”

“I will, Rowdy. I’m focused.”

He grinned. “Good girl.”

Junction Truck Stop. Provo. Utah.

When Tammy and Darryl went back to the truck after eating lunch, Tammy used her sweet voice and asked Darryl if she could drive the truck for a while.

Darryl laughed. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, Tammy. I’ll have to give you a driver’s test first to see if you can handle a rig like you claim.”

“I’m going to offer you a little bribe, Darryl.”

“What kind of a bribe, girl? I don’t change my mind easily.”

Tammy stretched over across the console as Darryl pulled the Freightliner out of the truck stop parking lot. She eased the zipper down on Darryl’s jeans and worked her magic on him.

It wasn’t long after the bribe that Darryl let Tammy drive on a quiet stretch of highway. He was impressed with how well she drove the truck with the trailer on behind. “You are an experienced driver, Tammy. Another surprise. You’re full of them.”

Tammy smiled. She was starting to like Darryl. He wasn’t a chick magnet like Eldon was, but he was a sweet person and seemed kind and thoughtful.

She sorted the two of them out in her head and figured Darryl would be nicer to her in the long run than Eldon. “Where are we headed with this load, Darryl?”

“Umm…we’ll drop it off at the depot in Dallas and go home from there.”

“Where do you live in Texas?”

“Why? Are you thinking of coming with me, Tammy?”

“No. You have your own life, Darryl. It was only a question.”

“I’m not against you coming with me, Tammy. I figured you had someplace better to go than hanging out with a boring truck driver like me.”

“After breaking up with Eldon, I might need some recovery time, Darryl. Time to relax.”

“I’ll be home for two days before I pick up my next load. Why don’t you stay for two days and see how you like it?”

Tammy smiled. “Okeydokey. Two-day trial run.”

Darryl laughed. “I might not survive two days with you, Tammy. You take a lot of energy.”

Tammy giggled as she eyed the truck keys dangling in the ignition.

Great Falls Barrel Racing Competition. Montana.

After a hot day of excruciating rounds of competition, Lucy Sturgess emerged victorious and received the first-place trophy and the championship banner to wear across her chest.

There were tears in Rowdy’s big brown eyes as he watched Lucy run to the center of the arena to receive her prize and the congratulations of the rodeo convenor and the other girls.

Travis watched as Annie hugged Rowdy the way she used to hug him before he screwed their relationship up beyond repair.

He had only himself to blame for the way many things had turned out in his life. Olivia for one. He had a long way to go before he’d recover from her death.

As we left the arena and headed for the field where the horse trailers were parked, a bunch of fans—guys and girls both—ran after Lucy asking for her autograph.

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