Page 2 of Big Daddy Mountain Man

Before Mr. Reyes could say anything else, his daughter, Reneta, came in holding a bag that she offered to Amber.

“I made you tamales for your trip,” she said. Having been born in Texas, she didn’t share her father’s thick accent.

“Perfect!” Manuel said. “Now you will not be hungry. I also filled a bag for you. But it will not be as good as Reneta’s tamales.” He picked up a sack from the cluttered desk and gave it to Amber.

She opened it to see fruit and tortillas.

He looked sheepish. “I wanted things that would not spoil,” he explained with a shrug. “But those tamales will keep just fine, mija. Is it a long bus ride to where you are going?”

“No,” she said. “Only five hours, and that’s just because of the stops. Really, Big Cedar is just a few hours from here.”

The kind man’s eyes twinkled. “Ah. Then that means you can come back for a visit sometimes. No?”

“I’ll be back. I promise.” She threw her arms around Manuel Reyes one more time and then turned her affections to Reneta, giving her a big hug too.

“Vaya con Dios,” Mr. Reyes told her. “And remember you always have friends right here.”

The words continued to warm Amber’s heart as she told them goodbye, walked through the kitchen, and said her farewells to the rest of the staff.

“Wait!” Mr. Reyes called out when Amber was almost at the restaurant’s front door.

She turned to see him hurrying toward her with keys in hand. “How did I forget? You need a ride to the bus station!”

Amber laughed. “I was just going to hop on a crosstown bus that would take me to the Greyhound?—”

Mr. Reyes shook his head vigorously. “No, no. This is no good. I will drive you, mija.”

There was no arguing with Mr. Reyes once he’d made up his mind, so Amber didn’t even bother trying. Instead, she gave him a relenting nod and said, “Thank you. But I need to swing by my apartment and grab my stuff on my way.”

He waved it off. “Why do you act like this is an inconvenience? It gives me more time with you. Come, come. We will go now. And we’ll stop and cash that check on our way.”

They walked to the rear parking lot, got in his car, and she gave directions to her apartment.

She was so thankful to finally be starting her new adventure. In just about an hour, she’d be on the road to her new life in Big Cedar.

But first, she just needed what few possessions she had from her apartment. That wasn’t too big of a deal. In theory.

She knew, though, that Donnie might think differently.

Yuck! When it came to Donnie, everything became a big deal.

And the potential for danger went through the roof.

CHAPTER TWO

Down in Big Cedar, Sawyer Greystone sat at the bar of his favorite watering hole, the Thirsty Logger, nursing a beer and minding his own business.

At least, that’s what he was trying to do. Some jackass was over at the pool table, mouthing off loudly to his buddy who was sitting in one of the tall chairs, leaning on his pool cue, as he waited for his turn.

“Dude, you should have seen her when I was done with her,” the guy at the pool table said. “I mean, I can show you. I took pictures on my phone.”

His friend laughed. “Shit. I gotta see that.”

Sawyer’s nostrils flared as he stared into the mirror straight ahead of him.

Keep calm. No sense in letting this guy get to you. Just finish your beer and go home.

Despite what he told himself, he knew if that idiot started flashing pictures around of a woman he’d hurt, Sawyer would break the phone, break the guy’s nose, and probably break the friend’s face for even looking at the image.

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