Page 67 of Longest Ride

Three guys jumped from the dock into the boat and hauled me out. I fought against them, kicking, and screaming. They yanked the gun out of my hand and cracked me on the head with it.

I felt kind of limp and dizzy as the carried me up the hill to one of their shacks.

The last thing I heard was the sound of Pierre’s boat speeding up the river.

Lafayette. Louisiana.

On one of the Lafayette exits on the Interstate, Annie pulled into a restaurant and parked. “I bet you boys are hungry.”

“I’m like gut-starved,” said Virgil, “but I didn’t want to say nothing in case we never catch up to Tammy.”

“I admire your self-sacrificing attitude, sweetheart, but we have to consider the possibility that we might never be lucky enough to catch up with her. In the off chance that we do, it will mean somebody, or something slowed her down.”

“Or she’s dead?” I asked. “Is that what you’re hinting, Mom?”

“I’m not hinting, honey. Tammy has pulled some unbelievably stupid moves and put herself in a life-threatening position.”

“Everything Tammy did is not like her at all,” I said. “Can’t believe any of this shit is happening.”

“Life can turn on a dime,” said Annie. “You’re going along okay thinking you have smooth sailing and thenbang—a tsunami hits your boat and throws you into the middle of the ocean.”

“Huh. Eldon must’ve done that to Tammy,” said Virge.

“I’m not sure it was Eldon,” said Annie, “as much as the kidnappers. Tibor’s brother.”

“Yeah,” I said, “that was rough too.”

Annie changed the subject trying to get our minds off Tammy. “Have you boys ever had Cajun cooking?”

“Nope,” said Virge.

“Might burn your tongue,” said Mick.

The hostess took us to a table, and we sat down.

“The food can be pretty spicy,” said Annie, “so be aware of what y’all are ordering.”

Annie ordered beer for us and then she picked out the food me and Virge should try. Mick ordered his own food. The server brought our order in a few minutes, and it was fantastic. We found out that we both loved Cajun food.

After gassing up the truck, I drove for a while. Virge rode in the front with me. Annie had a rest in the back with Mick. He didn’t talk much, and I didn’t know why Annie brought him with us. She probably had a reason.

Houma. Louisiana.

Hunched over in the driver’s seat, his body wracked with pain, Bobby could hardly hold his head high enough to see over the steering wheel. He needed a driver in the worst way and kept aneye on the side of the highway for a hitchhiker.

Turning north outside of Houma, Bobby finally saw a guy wanting a ride. Guitar slung over his shoulder and a plastic bag in his hand, the guy looked down-and-out, possibly homeless, but he could probably drive.

The air brakes hissed as the big Freightliner slowed down and veered towards the shoulder.

A smile on his face, the guy hopped up on the side-step, opened the door and jumped in. He put his guitar behind the seat and tossed the plastic bag into the foot well.

“Thanks for stopping.” He looked hard at Bobby slumped over the wheel and asked, “You okay, buddy?”

“Nope. Not okay. Need you to drive.”

“Never drove a rig before. Might take me a few minutes to get used to her.”

“I’ll tell you what to do,” said Bobby. “I can’t drive any more today. Come around to this side and we’ll change places.”

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