Page 64 of Love and Memories

“Wow. That’s a pretty quick decision. Did you just want to get away from your parents?” she asked, hoping she wasn’t overstepping any invisible lines.

“That was part of it.”

Travis leaned forward slightly, and Bella turned her attention to the road ahead. An older car was stopped on the side of the road, and a woman bounced a squirming infant on her hip as she tried to press a phone between her shoulder and ear.

Travis slowed as they approached the car.

“Do you think she needs help?” Bella asked.

“Only one way to find out.” Travis slowly drove up behind the car and parked.

The woman straightened and held the baby tighter.

“I’ll go with you,” Bella said.

“It might make her feel more comfortable accepting help from a stranger.”

Bella got out of the truck at the same time as Travis and bunched the skirt of her dress into one hand. Tall grass brushed against her ankles as she stepped carefully in her low heels.

Travis slowed his steps to stay by her side as they approached the woman.

“Hey. Do you need some help?” Travis asked.

With the phone still pressed to her ear, she took a small step back. “I have a flat tire, but my husband is going to walk me through how to change it.”

“I’d be happy to do that for you. I’m Travis, and this is Bella.”

Bella gave her a small wave and a smile. The woman was wound up tight, and as much as she could use the help, she was terrified of accepting help from a man on a remote road without witnesses.

“Would you like for me to hold your baby while you talk to your husband? I’m sure Travis could have your tire changed out in no time.”

The woman held up a finger and spoke quietly to her husband on the phone. After a few seconds, she looked back up at Travis. “My husband wants to talk to you.”

Travis took the phone from her and lifted it to his ear. “Hello.”

Bella waited patiently as Travis talked to the man on the phone. A minute later, he handed the phone back to the woman.

Travis stepped behind Bella and opened the trunk. The woman ended the call and switched the crying baby to her other side.

“Travis knows what he’s doing,” Bella said.

The woman’s dark hair was pulled back in a ponytail, and her eyes had shadows beneath them. Was it only a month ago that Bella had looked just as haunted?

“Thanks for stopping. I’m on my way home from visiting my parents for the weekend, and I still have a long way to go.”

Travis pulled a spare tire and a jack out of the back and came around the side of the car. “I told your husband I’d follow you to my friend’s garage where we could get you a new one put on. It’s not safe to drive that far on the spare. Bella, do you have Beau’s number?”

“I don’t think I do.”

Travis handed her his phone. “Can you call him and tell him we’ll be at the garage in about thirty minutes?”

Bella did as he asked and handed the phone back to him. “He’s there waiting for us.”

“I hate to make someone come in to work on a Sunday,” the woman said.

“My friend would hate to know someone was stuck on the side of the road when he could help,” Travis said.

“That’s true,” Bella confirmed. “And you’re guaranteed a good price. Beau is a good guy.”

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