Page 43 of River Ride

Travis pulled into a burger place to feed us and while we ate cheeseburgers and fries, we figured out how long it would take to get home going through Idaho and into Montana that way.

“You made the right decision, Dad,” said Virge. “Tammy is not fixed, and the hospital made a huge mistake telling the court and the parole board she could function on her own in the real world.”

“Yeah, they made a mistake,” said Travis. “A deadly one, if Tammy killed that guy in the cabin.”

“Tammy is showing us where her head is really at and she’s right back there acting crazy on Bobby Prescott. She’s obsessed with him, and the hospital didn’t get that out of her head like they thought they did.”

“I agree with you, Virge,” I said. “She’s our sister and we love her, but she’s also dangerous to herself and to others.”

“Copy that, bro.”

Moses Lake. Washington.

4:00 p.m.

Tammy drove through Moses Lake and when they were clear of the town, she pulled into the first rest area she came to on the highway. “Bathroom break, Eldon.”

“I could use one, Tammy. I’m glad we’re stopping.”

Tammy parked and turned off the engine. She twisted around in her seat to talk to Bobby. “I’m going into the washroom building to use the ladies’ room then I’ll come back and get you. You’ll have to pee down in the woods where the doggie area is. I can’t trust you to use the men’s room alone and come back to me.”

“That’s fine with me, Tammy. Whatever suits you. I do have to take a leak, so don’t take too long.”

“I’ll be quick, sweetheart. I’m happy we’re getting along better now. Soon, we’ll be as happy as we used to be when we first met.”

“I can’t wait until that happens, Tammy. We had some good times, didn’t we?”

Tammy smiled at him. “We sure did, Eldon. That’s why I want to spend the rest of my life married to you. For the good times.”

Bobby waited for her to get out of the truck and go to the washroom facility. He had to have a solid plan in place when she came back and drove him down to the big rig parking area.

Having no weapon himself, and Tammy being in possession of both a gun and a taser, Bobby was at a definite disadvantage. He would have to use his size and weight to overpower her, then get the truck keys and take off.

He had to leave her behind as soon as he could. It was the only way for him to survive.

Surprised at how quickly Tammy was back from the washroom, Bobby took a couple of deep breaths and got ready for what he had to do.

Tammy had cans of Coke and bags of Lay’s potato chips for both of them. “I got us a snack, Eldon. You can drink your soda after you pee in the woods.”

“Thanks, Tammy.” Bobby used his softest voice and smiled at her, keeping up his little charade.

Tammy slid behind the wheel and drove the squad down to the parking area where four eighteen-wheelers were lined up in a row.

She stopped close to the sign for the dog walk and got out of the Bronco. Tammy opened Bobby’s door and bent down to release his ankle from the D-ring. She straightened up and pulled out the key to remove the cuffs.

“You be nice when I take the cuffs off, Eldon. I don’t want to hurt you again. You have a nasty gash on the side of your head from the last time you acted mean.”

Tammy gently touched the gash.

Bobby smiled at the warning. “I’m going to be sweet to you, Tammy. There’s no point in us fighting anymore. We were happy once.”

Relaxed and all smiles at Bobby’s new attitude, Tammy stuck the key in the lock and released the cuffs.

As soon as his hands were free, Bobby was out of the truck and on her like a wolf on a doe. He drove his fist into her throat as hard as he could and while Tammy gagged and choked and gasped for breath, he yanked the taser off her belt.

Prongs to the neck, Bobby pulled the trigger and Tammy squirmed and was out. He grabbed her gun and the truck keys, slid into the driver’s seat and he was gone.

“Wake up, girl. Are you okay? Was that your boyfriend you were fighting with?”

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