Page 23 of Reckoning with the Cowboy
Her sister glanced down at their vehicles parked side by side. “Well, you aren’t going anywhere in your SUV.”
Josie looked and felt her heart drop as she saw that her left rear tire was flat.
“Take mine,” Amy Sue said. “I’ll see about getting your tire fixed while you are gone.”
“Are you sure?” Josie had a bad feeling about all of this. The tire hadn’t felt as if it was going flat on the drive there. She found herself questioning if she should even go now. “Maybe I should—”
“For once will you let me do something for you instead of you always having to do for everyone else,” her sister snapped.
She had never been good at taking help, she knew. “Fine. Thank you.”
Her sister smiled. “Now, was that so hard?”
It was hard. “I just have this feeling—”
“Oh, don’t start with the vibes, please,” Amy Sue said. “My car’s insured if you’re worried about wrecking it. Just drive carefully and don’t worry for a change. Can you do that?”
She nodded, even as she knew she couldn’t. But her sister was right. Josie needed to go. She needed to talk to Esther. That feeling was stronger than the one that made her hesitate. “I’ll try not to wreck it. You…just be careful,” she said, looking around.
Amy Sue laughed and shook her head as she handed over the keys. As Josie climbed behind the wheel of her sister’s SUV, all she could hope was that Esther’s prying and meddling would be an advantage this one and only time.
“Be careful,” her sister said before she could start the engine. “You’re the one with the ESP, but Esther gives me the creeps.”
Josie started to explain for the hundredth time that she didn’t have visions, but she wished she did. Instead, she smiled and promised to be careful as she started the engine and left.
She felt off-balance, suddenly scared as her vision darkened for a moment and she had this feeling that Amy Sue was in trouble. It was so strong that she almost turned around and went back. Instead, she called her, using her cell since she wasn’t hooked up to her sister’s hands-free calling.
Amy Sue answered giggling. It was strange to hear. Not as strange as hearing a male voice in the background. “What now, Josie?” she demanded.
“Is there someone there with you?”
“What if there was?”
“Amy Sue, I’m going to turn around—”
“Don’t be ridiculous. It was just the TV. I turned it off.”
Josie listened, hearing nothing in the background now. “I know you think I’m silly.”
“Silly is putting it mildly. I have something on the stove,” her sister said. “I have to go.”
She disconnected, still afraid, but knowing if she turned around and went back, Amy Sue would be furious with her. Whatever was coming, it felt as if it was already here. But her second sight had never been very precise. Still, she hurriedly called Goldie.
“Can’t talk right now, swamped,” Goldie said when she answered. “Call me later.” With that, she was gone.
Josie tried to relax. Goldie was working a double at the café since the other waitress had called in sick so she’d probably be busy all day. Still, she wished she’d talked Goldie into coming with her and blowing off work. Not that her friend would ever do that since it would mean closing the café. Goldie couldn’t let anyone who needed a meal go away hungry.
But Josie had one of her feelings she often had that made her anxious. She reminded herself that her friend wasn’t at the café alone. Her teenage cook, Ronnie, and it sounded like half the town was there, as well.
Still, unable to throw off her uneasy feeling, Josie called the Dry Gulch Sheriff’s Department and asked to speak to the deputy. When Rance came on the line, she said, “Could you keep an eye on Goldie? She’s working a double shift down at the café today.”
“The sheriff already has me keeping an eye on her,” the deputy said. “Had breakfast down there. Ronnie’s there cooking. The place is hoppin’. Not sure what you think is going to happen in broad daylight. Anyway, I thought Max told you. Everything is fine now.”
If only she could believe that, Josie thought as she thanked him and disconnected. The Grass Range turnoff was ahead.
* * *
Esther lived ina senior apartment complex. The smell of boiled cabbage this early in the morning made Josie wrinkle her nose. According to the mailboxes and directory by the entrance, Esther’s apartment was on the fourth floor. Josie only half-heartedly considered the small elevator, before taking the stairs.
