Page 72 of Final Ride

“You mind if I catch a ride to wherever you’re going, Glen? I won’t cause you any trouble. I promise you that.”

Glen laughed. “I don’t see how you could cause anybody too much trouble, girl. You’re pale and look as weak as a kitten. I believe your story about being in the hospital.”

“I was in the ICU for days.” Tammy took a bite of the sandwich the server brought her. “Not sure how long I was in there. They said I was in a coma.”

Glen’s eyes widened. “How did you get here from the hospital? I know how far it is from the highway.”

“I walked.”

“Jesus, Tammy. No wonder you look like walking death.”

General Store. Gray Hill. Northern Ontario.

Bobby and Cleo drove down the highway heading for Bancroft to do grocery shopping at one of the bigger markets.

As they passed the little general store not far from their cabin, Cleo barked at all the cars and vans clustered around the store and parked on both sides of the road.

Cops were milling around and stringing yellow tape all over the place.

Bobby slowed right down and hung his head out the driver’s side window. He hollered to one of the looky-loos and asked what was going on.

“Somebody killed the old guy who runs the store. Smashed his head in.”

“Huh,” said Bobby. “Too bad. I liked that old fart.”

“Yep. It’s a damned shame. He’s owned that store for as long as I can remember.”

“Yep. Damned shame.” Bobby turned to Cleo, “I guess he won’t be making any phone calls to Texas anytime soon.”

Cleo wagged her tail.

Coulter-Ross Ranch. La Grange. Texas.

Virge drove Travis home from the hospital full of stitches, covered in bandages, high on pain meds and barely able to move.

Harlan ran down off the porch to help Virge get Travis out of the Jeep. “Jesus Christ, Dad, why did you leave me at home? I could’ve helped you and Virge with the fucking bikers.”

Travis gave Harlan a drugged glance. “Didn’t expect them in broad daylight, son. Never crossed my mind.”

“Six of them, Harlan,” said Corb. “Virge did good. He shot them like them crazy cops do on TV.”

“Yep, I’m sure he did. Know how I know that? Because my father is still alive. That’s how.” Harlan was pretty worked up.

Virge on one side and Harlan on the other, they walked Travis up the porch steps and sat him down in one of the wicker chairs.

Annie came running out with a coffee and a shot of whiskey for him. “Here, drink this, honey bun. Harlan told me what happened.”

“Thanks.” Travis tossed back the shot and then sipped the hot coffee. “Yeah, six of them. Good thing I had Virgie with me.”

“They’re coming at you pretty aggressively in broad daylight, sugar pop.”

“Yeah,” Travis sighed. “Blacky is going to pursue the attack at the top of the club level. He warned me to step away from it.”

“That’s exactly what you should do. If Blaine says he’s on it, then his boys will go to Houston and do what they do best.”

“Not sure I can let somebody fight my battles for me, Annie-girl. It’s my fight.”

“Yours and mine,” said Annie. “They just don’t know about me.”

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