Page 323 of The Cowbears of Curvy Bear Ranch

“Outta sight,” shemurmured.

Her best friend Meadow climbed out of the bus. As she twirled to check out the town, her tie-dyed skirt twisted around her legs in a kaleidoscope ofcolor.

“I knew it was going to be small,” Meadow said. “But I didn’t know it would be thispretty.”

“Far out,” River said as he stuck his head out of the passenger window. “We should just camp in the forest and toke outtonight.”

“We can’t,” Andy said. He circled around the front of the bus from the driver’s side. “It’s supposed to rain tonight and we haven’t slept in a bed since LasVegas.”

“Okay old man,” Daisy stuck her tongue out at her brother. “I guess it’s only right that you get a few good nights of sleep before we get toCanada.”

“We could all use a shower too,”Meadowsaid.

Daisy ran her fingers through her stringy hair and sighed. Back in San Francisco, she never would have gone this long without a bath. But they hadn’t wanted to waste money. Although warm summer weather had made sleeping under the stars fun, she couldn’t wait to take awarmbath.

“Which one should we stay at?” sheasked.

“That one.” River pointed at a motel with a white brick façade and a steep gun-metalgrayroof.

“Looks cheap enough,”shesaid.

“Looks clean,” Meadowadded.

“All right, let’s check it out,”Andysaid.

River lead the group down the street. When they reached the office, he held open the glass door while they piled in. A man in his mid-forties with balding hair and a beer gut leaned back in a chair. He lounged with his boots resting on the counter. CBS news blared from thetelevisionset.

“In just ten days, a historic event will take place in this great country. American astronauts will walk on the moon. Preparations are underway at NASA’s mission control for a livebroadcast.”

“What do you want?” the desk clerk snapped. He turned and glared at them through thick black-rimmedglasses.

“We want a room for the night,”Andysaid.

“For all fourofyou?”

“Yes.”

“We don’t have one,” theclerksaid.

“It says vacancy outside,”Daisysaid.

“Sign’swrong.”

“There aren’t that many cars in the parking lot,” Daisy said. “Can you checkagain?”

“No. Now get out,” themansaid.

She huffed and turned to follow the rest of her groupoutside.

“Asshole,” Andy said as the door slammed behind him. “Whatever. There’s another hotel at the end of the block. Let’s scopeitout.”

As they strolled along the road, a group of men on motorcycles roared past. One of them threw a beer bottle. It smashed against the ground right in front of Daisy. She yelped andjumpedback.

“What the hell, man?” Riveryelled.

The leather-clad bikers revved their engines and roared off into the dying light. She shuddered. At least the gang hadn’t stopped. Ever since she’d seenThe Wild Angelsin the movie theater, she hadn’t been able to shake her revulsion toward anyone riding amotorcycle.

“Whatever, forget them,” Meadow said. “Let’s just get a room. I’mtired.”