Page 22 of More Than a Pretty Face

A coupleof months go by, and while thoughts of Bottle Caps still fill my head, there haven’t been any random sightings.That seems like progress.

I park outside the main house, and Beau waves as he walks toward my truck.“Tyler, thanks for coming so quick.Sutton doesn’t have the piece we need at the store, but a place up the highway has it.Will you run and get it?”

“Sure.Yeah.”

“And I need it as quick as you can get it.I’m not asking you to break the law to make that happen.”He chuckles, which he does more often now that he’s married.“But I do need it quick.”

“Be back in a flash.”I back away from the house, turn the truck around, then head toward the highway.

Several miles down the road, I exit and wait for the light to turn green before making a left.So much of my life is spent in the few miles around the ranch, the change of scenery is nice.The speed limit drops in ten-mile increments as I get closer to the center of town.Creeping along at thirty-five miles per hour, I take notice of the shops along the road.There’s a gift shop, a pet store with a giant sign about freshly made dog treats, and a yoga studio on the left.On the right is a bank, an old car dealership that’s been remade into an art gallery, and a diner.

I stop when the light turns red, which gives me more time to look around.

A woman walks across the parking lot, and I lean over.That looks like Grayson’s girlfriend.She lives somewhere around here, I think.

A honk snaps my attention back to the light, and I wave to the car behind me as I go.How long had it been green?Probably only a second.

I’m in the hardware store two minutes, then back on the road headed to the ranch.As I pass the diner, another woman catches my attention.She looks just like Jasmine.

I hit the brakes and turn into the lot.Beau needs the part, but what will it hurt to just run in?As I’m pulling into a parking space, my phone dings.

Clint:You get the part?Any problems?

Me:On my way.

I need to get back to the ranch.What are the chances it’s Jasmine?

And maybe I’m crazy.But slim as the chances may be, I’ll come back here when I’m not in a rush.Just in case.

My fading hope has a renewed sense of energy, and I’m happy about that.

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