Page 76 of Final Ride

“Been a long day, boys, and this old man is beat. We’ll get the internet set up tomorrow and y’all will be able to get games and whatnot on the TV. Harlan will be able to use his computer and catch up on his emails.”

“Me and Virge will do the grocery shopping tomorrow, Dad. We need to find the best market around here. We’ll go see what kind of stores Lincoln Texas has to offer the new arrivals.”

“Yeah, I’ll leave that in your hands, Harlan. I won’t be moving around much for the next few days. I don’t want to be ripping out the stitches that are holding me together.”

“You think the bikers will be mad you killed some of their guys?” asked Corb. “They won’t come here, will they?”

“Might come for payback, Corb,” said Travis. “If they do come, I want you to stay inside the house. Promise me.”

“Okay. I will. I don’t know how to shoot like Virge.”

“Yeah,” said Virge. “Few people ever get to my level.”

I punched him in the gut and doubled him over.

“Soon as we get organized, I’ll teach you how to shoot and defend yourself,” said Travis. “Lessons you need to learn to survive.”

“Thanks. I wouldn’t mind learning how to shoot a gun.”

Maynooth. Northern Ontario.

When night fell and the bear left the cave to hunt, Tammy left the tiny spot between the rocks she had squeezed into. She’d hidden herself at the back of the cave and hadn’t made a sound for hours.

When the bear left to hunt for food, Tammy came out of her hiding spot and ran off into the forest.

Trying to remember which way the bear had dragged her the night before, she peered through the trees looking for a light from the cabin.

Every time she heard growling, she turned and ran the opposite way. The best part was knowing that Eldon had come looking for her and he thanked her for the truck. She heard him holler to her and wanted to answer him, but she couldn’t give herself away.

That means he still loves me. I can’t wait until we’re back together as a couple.

A horrendous growl right behind her set Tammy off running at full speed. She ran through the woods for what felt like a mile, then climbed up the side of a rocky ravine as fast as she could go.

When she reached the top, she saw the light from the cabin.

Growling and snarling and running up the steep bank on all fours, the bear was right on her heels. The truck was parked directly in her path, and she didn’t have a chance to make it as far as the cabin.

Tammy jumped up on the sidestep, slid in the passenger door and slammed it shut. She climbed into the sleeper and flopped down to catch her breath.

That was close.

Chapter Eighteen

Saturday, August 30th.

River Bend Ranch. Lincoln. Texas.

Me, Virge and Corb were up at daylight to feed the horses. Our new bedrooms felt a little different. Virge and I were used to sleeping in the same room and we were gonna ask Dad if we could do that again. Free up a room for Corb and we liked to be together.

Never had our own rooms before and it felt weird and kind of lonely.

We left Dad sleeping and headed for the barn. Everything had been unloaded from the horse trailer but there was a ton of work to do to get all of the tack organized.

We’d brought some hay, oats and straw with us, but used most of it up on the trip.

“We need to find the closest feed store, Harlan. Put in an order for hay, straw and oats, and set up an account so we can call in.”

“Yeah, we’ll do that today, Virge.” I was in the process of making a mental list when Lucy texted me.

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