Page 26 of Stormy Ride

“Umm… it started after you left. After you and I got together… and then you left to go back to Texas…I kind of fell apart.”

“So, it is true then?”

“I’m not going to lie to you, Travis. I’ve been seeing Miller casually for several months. I was thinking of breaking it off with him before I ever knew you were coming back to Montana. That’s the truth.”

“Here’s the big one, Olivia—does Ravary have a key to your apartment?”

Tears welled up in her eyes and she couldn’t answer.

“Okay. I’ve got the picture.”

Dry Run Roadhouse. Coyote Creek.

I left my broken heart at the Inn and dropped into the roadhouse for my pitcher of beer—seriously thinking of changing brands—and to bring Jack up to date on what had gone on during the day. He was stuck behind the bar and liked to know what was going on in the outside world.

I need to put Olivia out of my head and getting wasted is a quick way to do it.

We were laughing at one of Jack’s bad jokes when the smile vanished from his face. “Look out. She’s got you in her sights.”

I didn’t turn my head but in the mirror behind the bar I could see Glenda heading my way. “Aw, shit. I’ve got no time for this.”

“But you’ve got time for dinner at the Inn.” Jack winked at me.

No use denying it. Somehow Jack knew about Olivia. “Yeah, I did, but now I don’t. Don’t ask.”

“Aw, dammit, Travis. Tell me later.”

Glenda sat down on the stool next to me. “You working on the murder today, Travis?”

“Yes. All day. Where’s your sister?”

“Coming later. She went to visit Billy at the hospital first.”

“I saw him earlier and he’s getting out tomorrow.”

“Brenda wants him to go to her place,” said Glenda. “She wants to take care of him.”

“I think his mother has dibs on him for a few days,” I said. “That’s what he told me.”

Jack jumped in with an amused look on his face. “What are you drinking, Glenda?”

“I’ll have a margarita if Travis is buying.”

“I’m good for one, Jack,” I said. “Then I’ve got to get home and chop firewood. My house is like an igloo.”

“I guess you don’t have Billy doing your work for you anymore, Travis. You have to man up.”

Glenda continued to snipe at me, and I wanted to get as far away from her as possible. One glance in the mirror and I was saved from a fate worse than death.

Ted Wallace walked in alone. I turned my head watching where he was going to sit, then I picked up my pitcher and my glass and I followed him.

“Where you going?” Glenda called after me.

“Business. Stay there.”

I sat down across from Ted, and he grinned. Big tall guy with short, dark hair, face weathered from sun and wind. Tow truck driver operating out of Peterson’s service center and Ted was always outdoors.

“Nice to see you back, Travis.”

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