Rachel both looked forward to and dreaded the rest of the week. Whenever she questioned Cash further, she received a predatory look, which had her both nervous and excited. When she broached the subject with Lily, a worried frown was her only response, leading her to believe she might be better off not knowing.
Friday morning wasn’t starting off great. She had woken late, forcing her to skip her morning tea. Then she had almost fallen and broken her kneecap when she had tripped over a new end table Mag had purchased at a flea market with her neighbor, Janet. Rachel was seriously thinking of threatening Janet with bodily harm if she pulled over for another flea market.
She had finally managed to make it to her car, only to run into a ditch halfway down the mountain when she had swerved to miss a deer. Shaken, she had called Lyle, the tow driver, and was sitting, waiting for his truck, hoping he hadn’t gone on another binge and would actually show up.
Seeing the tow truck pull up behind her, Rachel got expectantly out of her car. She was shocked to see Jo, Lyle’s daughter, climb out of the big truck.
“When did you get back in town?” Rachel asked, coming to stand beside her, looking at the damage to her car.
“A week ago. Dad’s laid up with a broken leg, so I’m pitching in until he’s better.”
Rachel stared at the pretty brunette woman wearing overalls smeared with dirt and oil. The oversized overalls did little to hide the curvy body underneath. Jo had been born and raised in Treepoint until her mother had dealt with enough when Jo was a sophomore in high school. Being the daughter of the town drunk had made Jo the brunt of many jokes and the prey of the less scrupulous. Her mother had divorced Lyle and left town after a popular senior had tried to rape Jo following a football game.
She and Rachel had been friends since birth. The backwoods had been their playground and four wheelers their toys. She had missed her after she had left.
“Let’s go out to dinner tomorrow night and catch up,” Rachel said.
“Sounds good. Let’s get your car out.”
Jo climbed back into the truck, doing a u-turn and backing up to the car, briefly blocking the road as she made the maneuver. As she worked, Rachel heard the familiar sounds of a group of motorcycles headed down the mountain. She turned bright red when The Last Riders turned the curve and she saw them. Her hope that they would pass by was dashed as they pulled over.
Cash and Rider got off their bikes, watching the truck expertly drive.
“Why didn’t you call me? We could have gotten your car out,” Cash said.
“Because I don’t need you or my brothers to handle things I can do myself. As you can see, I have everything under control.”
Jo climbed out of the tow truck, going to the back and getting the heavy chains. The men stood there gaping as the woman hooked the car up and then pressed a button that slowly started pulling the car out of the ditch. When the car was once again on firm pavement, she unhooked the chains, placing them back in the truck.
Jo went to her truck and grabbed her clipboard before coming back to Rachel.
“That’ll be sixty, Rachel.”
Rachel started to reach inside the car for her purse, but Cash had already pulled out his wallet. He handed Jo a hundred.
“Just a second and I’ll get your change.”
“That’s okay, keep the change.” Cash smiled.
Rachel watched him suspiciously, yet she saw no interest for the woman on his face.
“Sweet. Thanks.” She slid the hundred into the top pocket of her overall. “See you tomorrow night for dinner, Rachel.”
“Can I come?” Rider quipped. “I know all the best places.”
Jo’s friendly gaze turned frosty as she surveyed Rider from head to toe. “As there are only five places to eat in the whole town, I think we can manage on our own.”
“You don’t know what you’re missing out on.”
Rachel enjoyed the show of Rider making an ass of himself. Jo was no Holly, to become easily embarrassed or overwhelmed by Rider’s flirtatious behavior.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I do. Bye, Rachel.”
“Bye, Jo.”
Jo ignored the men’s presence, turning on her heel, climbing back into the tow truck, and driving away.
Rider stood frowning as she pulled away. “She’s not very friendly, is she?” he complained.
“Depends,” Rachel said, getting back in her car and rolling her window down.
“On what?”
“On whether you’re a man or woman.”
“That explains it. All the good-looking women are always lesbians,” he said, turning on his heel in disappointment before going back to his bike.
“Is he really that big of an ass?”
“Yes,” Cash admitted, leaning in her window. “You sneaked out again last night.”
Rachel looked down at her hands on the steering wheel. “I wanted to get home to Mag.”
“Then I’ll make sure I get someone to spend the night with her tonight.”
Rachel started to argue but was cut off when his mouth covered hers. “I’ll pick you up at eight.” He walked away without another word.