Page 32 of Longest Ride

“Looking forward to seeing you, sweetheart.” Olivia’s voice was soft and gentle, just like her.

I do love her…in a way.

“I’m a mess, Livvy. A goddamned mess. Never been worse.”

“We’ll talk about it when you get here. I love you.”

“Thanks, babe. Love you too.”

When it was time to pack up and quit for the day, Travis said, “Good news, boys. Olivia is making dinner for us.”

Virge’s eyes lit up. “I like eating at her place, Dad. I love her cooking.”

“Same. Best place to eat for miles around.”

Coyote Creek Inn.

We got to the inn after six and Olivia had a table set up for us in her fancy dining room. There wasn’t enough room for all of us in her tiny kitchen in her private quarters. I knew because I’d eaten in there a couple of times with Dad.

She treated us like special customers and fed us roast beef and gravy, mashed potatoes, and lots of other good stuff.

Eating great food like this made me miss Annie. She was our step-mom. I never had a mom of my own. Foster mothers didn’t count.

Prescott Residence. Midway. Texas.

Fletch was parked across the road from the Prescott house, sleeping in his truck. The noise of the big Freightliner roused him and half-asleep, he watched it pull into the driveway.

Giving his head a shake, he got ready to do what he was there for. Help Annie’s step-daughter with the wounded Bobby Prescott and keep Tammy safe until Annie caught up.

The truck engine shut down and Fletch waited until he saw the young girl step out the driver’s door. She left the door of the truck open but Fletch figured she couldn’t get Bobby Prescott out of the sleeper by herself. Annie had warned him that Prescott would be dead or close to it by the time the girl got him to Midway.

Fletch jumped out of his pickup and strolled across the road. Not wishing to scare the girl, he said, “Tammy, don’t be afraid. I’m a cop. My name is Fletcher Bowden and your mom sent me to help you.”

“How did Mama know I was coming here?”

“She’s your mom, and she knows things like that. Why don’t we call an ambulance and have those medical boys take Bobby to a hospital?”

“Yes, please.” Tammy started to cry. “I shouldn’t have taken him out of the ICU at that other hospital. If Eldon dies, it’s my fault.”

Fletch called for an ambulance and gave them the address in Midway—a town too small to have a hospital of its own.

“Why don’t we sit in the truck until the ambulance comes? Are you okay? That was a long drive for you all the way from northern British Columbia.”

“Did Mama tell you that?”

“She did.”

“I didn’t know it was so far, but Eldon wanted to come home. That was before he went unconscious and didn’t talk to me no more.”

“It must have been a grueling trip for you.”

“The longest ride of my life.” Tammy began to sob. “I’m sorry to be crying, but I’m so tired and I can’t help it. Is Mama mad at me?”

“She’s worried, Tammy. A worried mother is someone not to be messed with.” Fletch pulled out his cell. “I’m going to call and tell her you’re here and we’re waiting for an ambulance for Bobby.”

“Okay. I know his real name is Bobby, but I got used to calling him Eldon before he told me the whole story.”

“What did he tell you about himself, Tammy?”

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