Page 70 of Midnight Ride

Billy left the Tucker house and before going back to the station, he stopped by the lumberyard and verified that Jim had been working when Earl Clarkson was murdered.

Huh. You should never jump to conclusions.

As soon as Travis got back from Canada, they’d sit down together and figure it out.

If it wasn’t Jimmy Tucker, who was it?

Swift Current. Saskatchewan. Canada.

Eldon stopped for breakfast at a truck stop outside of Swift Current and he held my hand as we strolled into the restaurant.

“It smells so good in here,” I said. “Coffee and bacon. I wonder if they have pancakes.”

Eldon grinned. “Sure they do. I’ll get you a big stack and you can drown them in syrup.”

We sat down at an empty table and while I was looking at the breakfast menu, a couple of guys who knew Eldon came overand spoke to him. They stared at me, but Eldon didn’t tell them my name. Maybe he was being protective. Whatever his reason, I respected it. Eldon was my man.

The waitress who served our table also seemed to know Eldon quite well and I figured she had a thing for him. Just the way she rushed over with coffee wearing a big smile put me on edge for some crazy reason.

“She got the hots for you, sugar?”

He chuckled. “I get my share of chances.”

“I believe that. You’re a goddamned chick magnet, for chrissakes.”

Eldon laughed and shook his head.

“Where do we go after we unload in Winnipeg?”

“We pick up a load for B.C., drive all the way to the west coast and then have a couple of days off at home before we load up and do it all again.”

“You have a home besides the truck?”

“Uh huh. I bought a cabin in a peaceful spot near Sicamous. I love it there and I’d like to show it to you, Tammy.”

“I’ve never been to British Columbia, but I heard it’s beautiful.”

“It is. Lots of snow in the winter and the roads get bad often, but it’s not much different than Montana.”

The waitress returned and took our order and refilled our coffee. She didn’t seem happy I was with Eldon, and I wasn’t happy she was drooling over him either.

We were eating our pancakes when a couple of cops walked in and sat at the counter. Eldon glanced at them but didn’t seem bothered by them.

He smiled at me and said, “Now that you’re coming with me, I’m anxious to get home and have some time off. Just you and me.”

“I want to see your place too, Eldon. I like to cook, and I could make you roast beef and a pie.”

“I love pie.” He grinned at me, and it made my heart pound in my chest.

Am I in love with Eldon Fontana? How would I know?

Sheriff’s Office. Coyote Creek.

Dad was depressed and barely talking by the time we drove back from Canada without Tammy. I had no idea how I’d get through the day knowing I might never see her again.

Billy stepped out of his office and wanted to see Travis right away. They went into the office and closed the door. Virge and I couldn’t hear what was going on, so we went to the squad room to tell Molly about the search for Tammy. She would want to know all the details.

Tears in her eyes, she shook her head. “What are we going to do, boys?”

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