Page 2

“You run into trouble?” A lanky man with grease-stained jeans and a wad of tobacco in his jaw strolled toward the tire.

“I did. Do you think you can get the tire changed for me?”

He lifted a ball cap from his head and scratched what little bit of hair he had. “Nobody told me nothin’ about a tire. I got a call you needed a tow.”

“That’s not possible. I specifically told the woman on the phone the trailer tire was flat.” I wanted to call her back and lay into her, but I had bigger problems. This was the help they sent, and now that he was standing four feet away, I wasn’t sure he would be able to do much of anything.

He spat from the side of his mouth, sending brown bits of tobacco into the grass and gravel. I tried not to stare, but this couldn’t be happening. I had to get to South Padre. I had to start my life with Cole. This man was one more thing standing in my way.

“Don’t know what to tell ya. I don’t got a tire. I’ll roll back up to town, pick you up one, and I’ll be back.” He looked at his watch. “Gimme an hour.”

“An hour? You’re going to leave me here for another hour? I’ve been sitting here two hours already.”

“You can ride with me.” He pointed to the cab. “Sally there’ll move over for ya.” In the front seat was a long-haired golden retriever. I liked dogs, but I wasn’t about to let one I didn’t know sit in my lap.

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; I weighed my options. I could stay with the truck, keep an eye on my life’s possessions, and get harassed by every man who drove past; or I could ride with Frank the tow truck driver with Sally on my lap into a town I’d never heard of, and leave everything I own in this world on the side of a Louisiana back road.

Frank stepped toward his truck. “You comin’?”

“No. I think I’ll stay with the truck.”

“Suit yourself.” He opened the door. “Be back real soon.”

“Ok. Thank you.” I tried to smile, but knew I didn’t have much faith in Frank. He didn’t seem like a take-charge kind of guy.

I climbed into the truck, locked the doors, and turned on the radio. I don’t know how much time passed before I saw Frank’s truck pull up again. He waved as he pulled behind the trailer.

“Got you a tire.” He beamed as he stepped out of the truck.

“Good. I was starting to worry about you, Frank.”

He walked to the back of his truck and retrieved a tire, slung it to the ground, and began rolling it toward me.

“This was the only one we had left in that trailer size.” He pointed to the flat. “Why don’t you scoot, and let me git this on here?”

I hopped from the ledge and watched as he began the process. Sally must have seen this a hundred times. She pulled her head in from the window and folded herself in the front seat.

After twenty minutes, Frank had finished and stepped back to admire his work. “That oughtta do ya.” He smiled widely, and I noticed he had several teeth missing.

“Thank you. I really appreciate the help.”

“Sure thing.” He tipped his hat and walked to the truck. “Be careful out there.”

“I will.” I almost jogged to the driver side. I was ready to get the last part of the trip underway. Nine hours and I would be in Cole’s arms.

2

Cole

I never liked the plan.

There was no way in hell I would have agreed to it if I had an option for Grayson. But Amber had just left Texas. I couldn’t leave my son when his mother had left him behind. How was I supposed to explain to him she was studying poetry and not tucking him in at night? That I had custody because she was more like a gypsy and less like a mother? And Kaitlyn was right—it was too much driving and sitting for him.

He would be restless and go through all the snacks before I even crossed over the Texas state line.

It didn’t mean I liked it her idea. I hated it. It didn’t feel right.