Page 47 of Midnight Ride

“Nothing. Only the chewed-up body. Worst one yet. He’s been out here longer than the others.”

“I’ll call the doc and get him started driving up here. We’ll have to meet him at the road and show him where the body is.”

“Gonna be a long walk for the Doc,” said Tammy.

Coyote Creek Inn.

Travis made another trip to the Inn after he got rid of Miller Ravary. The guy was a cling-on and Olivia Best deserved a lot better.

She deserves better than me too.

When he arrived at the Inn, he sat in the parking lot for a minute admiring what Olivia and her mother had done with the old farmhouse that was original to the beautiful, treed property the Inn was part of.

Travis’ uncle, the former sheriff for many years, had amassed quite a fortune in the town of Coyote Creek, and several mortgages had passed to Travis when his Uncle Carson died. The mortgage on the Inn being one of them.

Olivia wasn’t in the dining room or at the reception desk in the lobby. Travis kept walking towards the back of the building. He opened the door of Olivia’s private apartment and gave her a shout out.

“Livvy, it’s me.”

“Travis. Come in. I’m making a sandwich. Would you like one?”

“Yeah, okay. I didn’t eat breakfast.” He sat down at the kitchen table and Olivia smiled at him.

“Coffee?”

“Black, thanks.”

She poured him a cup, set it on the placemat and stroked his long hair. “You seem stressed.”

“Ravary came to my office.”

“Why would he do that?”

“He dropped in to tell me I ruined his life.”

“Not true. It was time for me to give that relationship up. It should have happened months ago when you showed me what kind of person he was. That’s when it should have ended.”

“What was it that kept you hanging on to him, Livvy? A pity romance? The guy is a dick, girl. Does he still owe you money?”

“Not anymore. One more reason it was time to let him go.”

“Uh huh. That sounds like you were using your head. He’ll probably call you and whine a bit. Let me know if that happens and I’ll make sure he never calls you again.”

“My hero.” Olivia leaned down and kissed him.

“I’m nobody’s hero, Liv. You know me for what I am. Few people do.”

“And I love you in spite of it. Can’t help myself.” She set a sandwich in front of Travis with a dill pickle on the side along with a serving of coleslaw.

“Thanks. I like the food here.”

“Are you okay? Your eyes don’t look too clear.”

“I have a bad headache. Huge hangover. All my fault—nobody else’s. Sometimes when I’m pissed off, I don’t think too far ahead.”

“I’ll get you some Advil.”

Wild Stallion Ranch.

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