Part 12 (1/2)

”You bought them burgers?” These were the men who'd frightened her out of several years of her life, and her daughter-in-law wanted to feed them?

Bethanne brought the bag over to the bikers who were, thankfully, dressed by now. At least Bethanne had been spared that that sight. sight.

”You should know Grandma there tried to abscond with our clothes,” Rooster said as he helped himself to a burger and a bag of fries. His eyes twinkled with merriment. ”She a.s.sumed that was a major threat.”

”We showed her,” Willie said.

”That's just it,” Ruth snapped, unwilling to be the b.u.t.t of their jokes. ”You did did show me-you exposed yourselves. There's laws against that. I should've made a citizen's arrest.” show me-you exposed yourselves. There's laws against that. I should've made a citizen's arrest.”

Bethanne grinned, and Ruth decided it would be best to simply drop the matter.

Annie distributed the rest of the food, and the men sat together while the three women went off to relax under the tree.

Ruth hadn't realized how thirsty she was until she drank a bottle of the water Bethanne had brought back. They'd already eaten lunch, but even if she'd been ravenous, she couldn't have managed a bite-and the thought of a greasy burger was singularly unappealing. Not so with the bikers and the tow truck driver, who wolfed down their food so fast it made her feel nauseous.

Bethanne and Annie thanked everyone for their help. Although the men on bikes hadn't turned out to be ax murderers, Ruth let the other two women do the talking.

Fortunately, the tow truck had a backseat so they could all fit inside. During the ride into town Bethanne seemed unusually quiet and Ruth could only speculate on what she was thinking.

”Those bikers weren't so bad, now, were they?” Annie said.

Ruth nodded reluctantly. ”They weren't as bad as I feared.”

”Oh, Grandma, admit it. They were cool guys, helping us like that.”

”Cool guys?” Ruth glanced at Bethanne. She could do with some reinforcement in case her daughter-in-law hadn't noticed.

”Actually, Max was a real gentleman,” Bethanne said.

”A gentleman?” Well, okay, maybe she'd been wrong, but Ruth always figured it was better to be prepared.

Eleven.

There wasn't much to recommend Wells, Nevada, as a tourist destination. The entire town consisted of two casinos, gas stations, a fast-food joint and a few watering holes. After the vehicle was repaired, with the promise of a replacement once they reached Las Vegas, Bethanne, Ruth and Annie found a room for the night.

”I think we should call Dad,” Annie said, sitting cross-legged on one of the two queen-size beds. ”He should know where we are.”

”You can if you want,” Bethanne told her daughter. She propped her suitcase up on the luggage holder, unzipped it and took out what she needed for the night.

”He's not going to be too happy with us,” Annie murmured, looking thoughtful. She nibbled on her lower lip. ”Maybe I should wait until we're in Vegas.”

Bethanne made a noncommittal sound.

”We might as well face the music,” Ruth said. ”Get it over with.” She sat on the edge of the bed, obviously worn-out from their unexpected adventure. ”Guaranteed, Grant will mention it to Robin and then we'll all get read the riot act.”

”The riot act, Grandma? What's that?”

”Oh, it's an expression based on an old English law. It just means Robin's going to be furious-and she's going to let us know it. I don't care. She can say what she wants. We're safe now and that's all that matters.” Ruth set her pajamas on the second bed and sank into the mattress. ”I don't mind telling you, after a day like this, I'm completely exhausted.”

”Me, too,” Bethanne said. Both Ruth and Annie had questioned her repeatedly about the time she'd spent with Max. It wasn't that she didn't have an answer, because she did. Her thoughts, however, were ones she wanted to keep to herself. Although she was unlikely to see Max again, she couldn't help being curious about him. She'd wanted to ask about his wife, Kate, and what had compelled him to take to the road three years ago-and stay there.

Annie glanced from one to the other and frowned, disappointment flas.h.i.+ng from her eyes. ”You're going to bed? Now? Don't you want to go downstairs and gamble?”

”Tonight?” Ruth asked. ”Not me.”

”Me, neither,” Bethanne concurred.

”You mean we're spending the night in a casino hotel and no one wants to play the slot machines?”

”Not tonight, sweetie,” Ruth said again, and yawned.

”I'll wait until Vegas,” Bethanne added. She was tired; besides, she'd already promised herself a forty-dollar limit, the money she'd earned in tips, and didn't want to start spending it yet. ”But, Annie, if you want to check out the casino, go ahead.”

”Okay,” her daughter muttered, but she didn't sound enthusiastic. In fact, she stayed where she was, her expression perplexed and a bit glum.

Ruth took the first shower and Bethanne went next, brus.h.i.+ng her teeth and changing into her pajamas. When she came out of the bathroom, Annie was on the phone, talking to Grant.

With her cell against her ear, Annie paced the room, looking guilty as soon as she saw Bethanne.

”Mom's here now. Do you want to talk to her?”

Apparently, Grant did, because Annie thrust the phone at her. Bethanne hesitated, then reluctantly took it. She didn't owe Grant any explanations and she didn't plan on listening to his complaints, either.

”h.e.l.lo, Grant.”

”It seems the three of you had quite an adventure,” he said. Although his comment was mild enough, Bethanne sensed his concern, mingled with irritation.

”We're fine.”

”Bethanne, don't you realize what a crazy risk you took?”

”Like I said, we're fine. Nothing happened.” She didn't want or need a lecture from him.

”You rode off with a biker? A biker? biker?”

”His name is Max, and like I told your mother and Annie, he was a perfect gentleman.”

Grant was silent for a moment, as though weighing how best to continue. ”Annie suggested they might be Wild Hogs. You remember the movie? Businessmen escaping the corporate world? She even said they went skinny-dipping, just like in the movie.”

”I...don't know about that. What I do know is that they came to our rescue and I'm grateful.”

Again he paused. ”Promise me you won't do anything that foolish again.”

”Grant, I'm not a child.” She appreciated his concern but at the same time found his reaction condescending. She hadn't been in any danger; her instincts told her as much. Grant still didn't seem to grasp that she was an independent woman now. While she understood his feelings, she wasn't about to let him scold her.