Page 62 of Longest Ride

Carl went inside to get ready, and I jumped into the truck to get his money. I crawled into the sleeper and opened the cupboard where Eldon kept his lockbox full of cash.

I knew the combination, but I tried to hurry and made a mistake. I started over and Eldon woke up.

“What are you doing, Tammy?”

“Getting the money to pay our guide.”

“Where is he gonna guide us to? Have you gone completely nuts, Tammy?”

“Nope. I’m getting us to a safe place, and you should be thanking me, Eldon.”

“I thought you were a smart girl when I first met you, but now you’re different—and not in a good way.”

“You’ve changed too, Eldon. You said we were getting married and now you say we’re not. Broke my heart when you said that to me, but I love you and I’m still trying to help save your life.”

“You’re not helping me or yourself, girl. You shot a fuckin Texas Ranger and every cop and sheriff across the fuckin country is looking for us.”

I laughed. “We’re just like Bonnie and Clyde, Eldon. Did you know they died in Louisiana? That’s why I came here.”

“Jesus, Tammy. You have gone bonkers.”

Carl stomped out of his house carrying a duffel. He tossed his bag into his truck and strode over to my window. He grinned at me and held out his hand for his money, giving me kind of a creepy feeling.

I handed him the two hundred. He counted it and nodded before shoving it into the pocket of his overalls.

“Follow me. The road will get narrow and rough in a bit. When we get to the boat launch, you’ll have to park the truck and leave it.”

“Okay. I can lock it up. Let’s go.” I started the truck and waited for Carl to back out onto the road.

“I don’t want to die in a stinking swamp, Tammy.”

I smiled in the rearview and ignored Eldon. He was going to thank me later.

Dry Run Roadhouse. Montana.

On the way home from the station, Travis and Billy stopped in for a pitcher of Miller. They sat in a booth and talked about Harry Fleming’s funeral the following day.

“We have to go to the funeral,” said Billy. “We might pick something up from Paula or Tim. We need something, Travis. We need a goddamned suspect.”

“Yeah, we’ll definitely go. The killer or killers—plural—will probably be there. All we have to do is pick them out.”

“Shouldn’t be too hard,” said Billy.

Travis waved Tessa over and ordered a second pitcher, and she was back with it when Olivia called.

“Olivia?”

“Travis,” was the only word she said before sobbing.

“Aw, Jesus.” Travis couldn’t talk to her and ended the call. He stared at the screen feeling worthless and full of guilt.

“What’s going on?” asked Billy.

“No more women for me, Billy. I’m done.”

Billy smiled. “Until the next one.”

Travis glared. “Don’t piss me off, Billy. I fuckin mean it.”

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