Page 61 of Longest Ride

“Thank you.” I checked the small piece of cork board glued to the wall and took the card.

I gave the old guy a wave and ran to the truck. Eldon didn’t wake up when I jumped in and slammed the door.

Reading from the card, I punched in the new address and cranked up the engine.

Levron Residence. Calumet. Louisiana.

Carl Levron, the best guide around, lived in a little shack on a dirt road outside of Calumet.

A pickup took up all the space in his short driveway and I had to park my truck on the side of the road. That left a space so narrow, I figured nobody could get by until I moved the truck.

I knocked on the door and when it opened, I took a step back. Carl was a huge guy with a black beard and bushy black hair. Small black piggy eyes. He wore denim overalls and a flannel shirt even though it was about a hundred fuckin degrees in Louisiana.

Sweat dripped down the back of my neck from under my long hair and I felt like cutting it off. Maybe it was a good idea. Nobody would recognize me. I’d dye my hair blonde and be home free.

Big Carl boomed out a question, “What you want, little girl on my step?”

I held up his card in my defense. “I’m looking for a guide, Carl. Are you available?”

“Huh. You don’t look like no fisherman to me.”

“I don’t want to fish. I want you to take me to a safe place where nobody can find me or my husband.”

“You running from the cops?”

“Maybe. I need a quiet, safe place where Eldon can heal up.”

“What’s wrong with your man?”

“He got himself shot and he ain’t better yet.”

“You got money? I don’t work for free.”

“How much do you charge?”

“Two hundred a day plus boat rental.”

“How long will it take to get there?”

Carl shrugged. “Depends where I decide to take you, I guess. Probably about a day and a half from here. Five hundred cash should cover all of it.”

“Okay. Seems like a reasonable amount. Can we go soon?”

Carl laughed. “How close are the cops on your beautiful ass, little girl?”

“Haven’t seen any yet, so I think I’m way ahead of them.”

“Best way to be,” said Carl. “Let me get some gear together and we can shove off. Can I ask why the fuck you’re driving a Freightliner into the bayou?”

“It’s our truck. Mine and Eldon’s. We’re long haulers.”

“Until he got shot,” said Carl.

“Yeah, until he got shot.”

“Wait in the truck and I want the first two hundred before I turn a wheel.”

“I’ll get the money for you.”

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