Page 12 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“I can’t get it tostart.”

“Popthehood.”

The hood snapped open. He circled around to the front of the car and peeked in at the engine. After wiggling and checking the connections, he stood back and closedthehood.

Rachel leaned out of the window. “What do youthink?”

“My guess would be the battery. I have jumper cables in my truck. I’ll berightback.”

“You can’t drive right now. You just drank a bunchofbeer.”

He shrugged. “Yeah. My plan was to stay until closing so I could sober up. But now, I just want to get home and sleepthisoff.”

“Where’syourcar?”

“Around thecorner.”

“We’ll walk over there together and I’ll drive your truck. After we jump mine, I’ll drive you home. One of your brothers can bring you back in the morning to get yourtruck.”

“I can just call one of them to pick me up. I wouldn’t want to putyouout.”

“Either way, I just want you to get homesafely.”

“Thanks.”

She followed him to the alley behind the bar. He jumped into the truck’s bed and opened a metal locker. After rooting around for a minute, he cursed under his breath. The one time he needed the damn things and they weren’t in thetruck.

“I could have sworn I had cables with me,” hemuttered.

“It’s okay. Icanwalk.”

He locked the lid then jumped down. “Where are you staying tonight? Your mom’s? That’s close enough towalkto.”

She shook her head. “No. I’m staying at the Morning Glory Econo Lodge. My mom’s studioistiny.”

“Do you need to pick up your sontonight?”

“No. I told her I’d be back in the morning. I just needed anightoff.”

“Kids are a lot ofwork,huh?”

“Yeah, but totallyworthit.”

He shrugged. “Wouldn’tknow.”

“You never had any withanyoneelse?”

“There hasn’t been anyone else.” At least not anyone important. Sure, he’d had the occasional fling, but nothing resembling a relationship. Nothing like what they’d shared together before he’d joined theMarines.

She said, “Well, I’d be happy to drive you home inyourcar.”

“You can’t staywithme.”

She frowned. “I didn’t ask to stay. Look, if you don’t want my help. No problem. Stay here and sober up. I can walk to the EconoLodge.”

“It’s on the other sideoftown.”

“The town’s only four blocks square. I’m sure I can walk there without aproblem.”