Page 100 of His Road Dog

He chuckled, amusement filling his gaze, and washed for her. Then, he led the way out of the bathroom. The low crunch of gravel permeated the house through the open windows. Excitement filled her.

"They're here." She headed toward the entryway. "Come on, let's go outside and meet them."

In the driveway, a minivan pulled up. She waved her arm over her head and reached out for Priest at the same time. Everything would be okay.

Her mom exited the van first and hurried toward her. She wrapped her mom in an embrace, swaying her side to side.

"I'm so glad you're here." She pulled back, holding on to her mom. "Was the trip okay? No problems?"

"The car overheated in Oregon, but your dad fixed it." Her mom stroked Nicole's face. "Look at you. You look so beautiful."

She hugged her mom again, then went to her dad. Nicole hung on extra-long, trying to prepare or maybe warn her dad about what was to come.

"You've gotten skinny, Dad." She poked him in the ribs. "You need to hit McDonald's while you're away from home."

"Your mother." Her dad raised his brows in her mom's direction. "Brought good food along for the trip."

Dressed in jeans and a T-shirt with a faded picture of The Grateful Dead that she was sure her dad had before she was born twenty-five years ago, her dad walked her up to the house where Priest waited.

"Thanks for letting us crash here, man." Her dad held out his hand to Priest.

Priest shook. "No trouble?"

"Nah. All's good." Her dad walked into the house with Priest, followed by her and her mom.

Once inside, she got a beer for her dad and Priest, juice for her and her mom, and started putting grapes and cheese on a platter to hold them until she started cooking them dinner. She smiled at the way her mom stared out the window.

"Gorgeous, isn't it?" Nicole carried the platter into the living room. "Look out this way. You can see forever in the distance."

"Oh, my..." Her mom hurried over to the big windows. "I bet this is what it feels like to look out of an airplane."

She laughed. "I thought the same thing the first time I came here. It almost makes you dizzy until you get used to the high view."

Her mom looked over her shoulder at Nicole. "You're happy."

"I am." She joined her mom on the other side of the room. Spotting Priest talking to her dad, her stomach cramped. "Mom?"

She needed to talk to someone who would understand her side of what was happening. Her fear that she would lose Priest's love and her dad's respect was too much for her to handle on her own.

"Yes, honey?"

"Priest is going to ask dad about the marijuana," she blurted. "I didn't tell him about what happens in the commune. He's very attuned to things and realized what was happening when he came to pick me up a few months ago. You weren't there at the time, but Dad gave Priest a couple of joints for the road. I don't want Dad to think I shared how everyone makes a living or the magnitude of the crops, or that it was my idea that influenced Priest."

Her mom frowned. "We wouldn't think that."

"I would never share what happens at home with others." She swallowed. "The thing is Priest wants to buy or own the crops. I don't know what that entails, but I made him promise not to hurt you guys."

"Honey." Her mom came to her and held her hands. "Let the men talk. You don't need to worry about what happens between them. Your dad can take care of himself, and from what I've seen of Priest, he's more than capable of speaking up for himself."

"But—"

"Nicole." Her mom's mouth softened. "Your dad knew what he was doing when he gave the pot to your man."

"What do you mean?"

Her mom waved her hand at her shoulder. "It's hard work. It's dangerous work. Your dad wants to rest and not always be looking over his shoulder."

"He wants to quit producing the crops?"

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