“Okay.”
He walked toward his truck. The glove box had popped open. He made like he was going to close it, but something slid out and hit the floorboard. He picked it up and in the dim light I caught the flash of a bright blue cigarette pack, looked like Player’s light—king-sized. That was Crystal’s brand.
He got back into his truck and drove off, giving me a wave out the window.
The minute I couldn’t hear the truck anymore, I climbed into my car and drove fast back to town. I parked behind the school again, changed out of my damp clothes and into my jogging pants and sweatshirt, and curled up into a ball, but I was still shivering. I couldn’t stop thinking about that pack of cigarettes—I didn’t know any guys who smoked king-sized—and his pack had been red. I couldn’t leave yet. I had to find a way to search around his property.
I decided to give myself one more day. If nothing turned up, I’d call Mom and get out of town.
*
The next morning I cleaned the barn again, then Theo had me picking up rocks in the horse corrals. It was backbreaking work, bending and lifting, tossing the rocks into the wheelbarrow, then dumping them out in a pile behind the barn. My hands were so dried out I thought the skin would crack, and my nails were chipped and broken. I’d never appreciated my job at the gym so much before. I wanted to quit a million times, but I was waiting for my chance. I hadn’t seen Riley all day and was starting to get worried that I might not be able to get a tour and ask him about warehouses. I had to find a way to get down to Gavin’s somehow.
He’d been giving me creepy looks all day and kept coming into the barn or walking by the corral, though I didn’t think he even needed to be there.
“You doing okay?” he’d ask every time.
“I’m fine, thanks.” I’d say, relieved when he’d walk away.
Once he leaned on the corral fence and had a cigarette, smoking it slowly while he watched me.
“Sure is hot out today.”
“Yeah.” I tried to angle myself so he couldn’t see my butt when I bent over, but I could still feel him staring.
“Well, I better get back to work,” he said, finally leaving me alone.
Around three o’clock a woman came out of the main house with the young girl who resembled me. They got into a truck and pulled way. The girl gave me a curious look as they passed, then waved. I waved back, my face flushed. Did she notice we looked alike?
I slipped behind the barn to go to the bathroom, and startled when I heard Gavin’s voice close to me until I realized he was in the feed room talking to Theo.
“How’d your date go?” Theo said.
“Bitch never showed,” Gavin said.
“Fuck her anyway, right?” Theo said.
“Damn right.” Gavin was laughing—but too hard, like something was just funny to him, his private joke. Theo laughed along but you could sort of tell he didn’t really know what was so funny. Gavin seemed like the kind of guy who’d brag, not the kind who’d admit someone had stood him up. He had to be lying. Who was he talking about? I hoped Gavin would reveal something else, but they started talking about the ranch and one of the tractors that had broken down.
“I’ll take a look at it tonight,” Gavin said, then he told Theo he had to go check in with Brian, that angry tone back in his voice. I waited behind the barn, peeking around the corner, and watched him walk toward the main house.
He was going to be busy tonight. It might be my only chance, but I had to be sure. When I was finished at five, I washed my hands under the hose, wincing as the water stung my blisters, then got my payment from Theo.
“I heard your tractor is broken down,” I said, trying to keep my voice casual, like I was just making conversation.
“Yeah, Gavin’s working on it now. He’ll get it fixed.”
“Okay, see you in the morning.”
*
I was starving but I didn’t want to waste time driving into town to get food. I had no idea how long Gavin would be and I had to make this fast. I left the ranch and drove down the driveway, debating what to do. Should I park at the creek and hike up over the field? It was probably more than a fifteen-minute walk.
Once I hit the road I turned right but drove slowly, looking to see if there were any side roads close to the ranch where I could park. I spotted a dirt road about fifty feet down. I pulled off the main road onto the smaller one, going down a couple of feet and parking on the side. It didn’t seem to be a driveway, at least there was no mailbox, but I didn’t plan on being that long anyway.