Page 45 of River Ride

“You try to get some rest while Virgie drives, Harlan.”

“Yeah, Dad. I’ll close my eyes. Don’t crash us while I’m sleeping, Virgie.”

“Yeah, like that would happen.”

Home Depot. Walla Walla. Washington.

7:00 p.m.

Anxious to get clear of the sheriff’s squad, Bobby drove along looking for a place to dump the Bronco where it wouldn’t be noticed right away.

He picked a Home Depot parking lot in Walla Walla and parked the squad in a solid line of parked vehicles.

Standing at the back with the hatch open, Bobby transferred the bricks of cash into his two suitcases. Leaving all of Tammy’s stuff in the back of the truck, he lugged his suitcases to the front of the store and stood in front of the garden center waiting for a cab.

The taxi driver took him to a Best Western and Bobby felt a flutter of freedom. No Ray nagging at him, and no Tammy threatening to end his life. He was free at last.

Best Western Hotel. Walla Walla. Washington.

8:00 p.m.

Bobby hadn’t regained all of his former strength after his medical traumas and carrying two heavy suitcases was more than he could manage. When he checked in at the registration desk, he asked for a bell boy to help him with his luggage and that was a much easier route for him.

Once he was alone in his room, Bobby took a long hot shower to restore what little energy Tammy had left him.

The hot water in the shower opened up the gash on his head and it bled a little more. He didn’t need stitches, but he could use a large Band-Aid to cover it.

That girl nearly wiped him out every time she came around and Bobby fervently hoped he’d seen the last of her.

The safe in the closet of his room was barely big enough to hold the bricks of money he received from the sale of his property, but he managed to cram it all in before setting the code.

Wearing clean clothes, his hair washed and brushed, Bobby glanced in the mirror before leaving the room to find some dinner.

I look okay. Nobody will notice me.

He ate in the restaurant attached to the hotel, drank two cups of coffee, then strolled down the road to a Target where hebought a coded aluminum briefcase large enough to carry the cabin money.

While he was there he also bought a package of Band-Aids and a container of extra-strength Advil to help with the on-going headache.

Feeling pretty happy about how everything was going for him since he’d dumped Tammy, Bobby took the elevator up to his room and slept like a log.

Whitefish. Montana.

8:15 p.m.

“We’re in Montana,” said Virge. “Won’t take us long now. We’re only a few miles from Columbia Falls and we know how far that is from home. We just drove it the other day.”

Travis smiled at his boys. They were so happy to be almost back to the ranch. His head was filled with a lot of worries about Tammy’s future, but he was guiltless in all of it. That’s what he told himself.

I have to let Tammy go and hold myself together for the boys. They’re depending on me. There’s nothing more I can do for Tammy. She’s lost to me.

They changed drivers again after a drive-thru meal in Whitefish and Harlan took the wheel to drive them the rest of the way to the ranch.

Virge rode up front to watch the GPS and Travis got into the back seat with his dogs. Emotionally drained after letting go of the Tammy situation, Travis was beyond exhausted. He leaned on Max and Sarge and slept.

Wild Stallion Ranch. Montana.

11:30 p.m.

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