He nodded and went back to the hardware store.
I had a couple of options. I could call up Tyrus and ask if I could stay the night, but he and his mate had kids and one more on the way. The last thing they probably wanted was company. Tyrus and Patrick would take me in instantly, but I would feel like I was imposing.
Another option. I could go to the birthing center and stay there. There were beds and a shower and, the most important to me, running water, but I’d just sterilized everything hours before and didn’t want to do that again.
One other option—the Mates Motel. The only accommodations in town.
I could go there for the night. Eat a meal at the diner. Take a hot shower.
I’d heard the place was well kept, despite its out-of-date exterior. Maybe it was time to find out.
I packed a bag quickly, climbed into my car, and made my way to the Mates Motel.
Chapter Three
Edris
“I have good news and bad news.”
The next day, Jesse, the town mechanic for this backwater, showered me with apologies, none of which made the report he shared any easier to swallow. Just harder to get mad at him about.
“Start with the good.” I’d hitched a ride from the motel with someone who was headed that way after waiting around the motel.
“I was just about to call you,” he said. “So, the good news is, I found the problem.”
“And the bad?” Tensed, I watched his face, trying to read how awful it would be. What if it wasn’t fixable at all? Or if somehow the warranty didn’t apply. I hadn’t done anything to violate it, so far as I knew, but the paperwork I’d filled out had been extensive, and who reads all of the fine print? Maybe I should have.
But he shook his head. “Totally fixable, and the warranty will cover all of it. You bought the fancy plan, I guess.”
“I did. It’s my first brand-new car, and I didn’t want to take any chances.” Relief eased tense muscles in my neck. “So, all done, then?”
“Remember, the bad news?” He was wiping his hands on a towel as he spoke. “That fancy plan you bought? I can’t just go to my regular guy for the parts. They are insisting on shipping them to me, and it will be a few days before they arrive.”
“A few days? I’m already a day late for the conference, and the city paid for it. They are not going to be happy with me. I can’t wait.”
“The repair is not difficult. Apparently, it’s a common problem and once I get the parts, it won’t take me long at all to fix it.”
“How about if I pay for the part myself? You could maybe make the trip in the morning and grab it from your regular guy?”
“Two reasons we can’t. First, here is what it would cost.” He pulled out his phone and tapped on the screen then held it up to me.
“Oh, that’s a lot.” Thousands for a couple of tiny parts. I started doing math in my head but before I reached the inevitable conclusion, Jesse dropped the next bomb.
“If you don’t use dealer parts, from them, you void the entire warranty.”
Of course, I would.
“Is there a car rental agency in town?” I wasn’t sure if that would work, but, since I was basically halfway between home and my destination, if I could get a car right away, I could get to the conference for the last day or so then return the rental and pick up my own repaired vehicle.
But Jesse shut down that last option with a pitying shake of his head. “Not for a hundred miles.”
“Okay, then that isn’t happening. And busses…”
“We’re off the beaten track, here. I’m so sorry, but unless you have someone to come and pick you up, all I can do is promise to fix your car the moment I get the parts from the company.”
“Thank you. I think I’ll go get something to eat and then catch a lift to the motel.” I kept my voice level, but inside, my frustration level peaked. Again. What was it about this town? Had I walked into some sort of triangle where people were captured and never seen again? Aliens perhaps? Many people didn’t believe shifters were real, but I knew they were, so why not aliens?
“All right. If you can’t find a way back, call me and I’ll see what I can do.”
