“Did he at least pay?” Bridget rested an elbow on the armrest waiting for an answer.
“Yes, with a very generous tip to his credit, but I couldn’t get over the pet rock.” Enough time had passed that she could find amusement in the memory now, but it had been an interesting date, nonetheless.
The laughter released endorphins and her spirits picked up. The chance to take two months off and travel the country with her best friends was a onetime event. She wouldn’t allow her father to ruin this road trip for her in addition to all the other problems he’d caused.
Conversation switched from the lack of romance in her life to recollections of the trip’s events thus far, including the men each of her friends had found along the way. Rain had reunited with an old boyfriend, Luke Avery, in Nashville. Bridget met retired soldier, James, in Hot Springs, Arkansas, then in Oklahoma Lark met storm chaser, Cody. During their stop in Amarillo, Jessica found Kevin—who she discovered was actually Griffin—and fell in love again. What an adventure they’d all had so far.
Amid giggles, an acrid smell reached Cassidy’s nostrils. “Does anyone else smell that?”
“Pull over,” Bridget screeched, pointing out the front window. “It’s smoking.”
Smoke clouded Cassidy’s front vision.Thank you, Lord, for having me in the right lane already. She checked her side mirrors before pulling onto the shoulder and coming to a stop. After she cut off the engine, she stared at her friends. “What now?”
“Anyone know anything about vehicles?” Rain glanced at each of them with a hopeful expression but was met with shaking heads.
“Maybe it overheated, and we just need to sit for a few minutes.” Jessica leaned forward, peering out the front window.
“Pop the hood.” Lark reached for her door handle. “I’ll see if anything stands out.”
They all jumped out of the car and stared under the hood at the lingering traces of smoke. Unfortunately, none of them had a clue.
Cassidy offered them a weak smile. “Too bad it wasn’t a flat tire. That I could have fixed.”
“The rental comes with roadside assistance.” Bridget reached into the SUV and grabbed a packet from the glove department. “I’ll get someone out here to look at it and call the rental company.”
A small measure of relief soothed Cassidy’s nerves as she watched the cars whiz by at speeds exceeding eighty miles per hour. The sooner they were back on the road, the better.
Bridget pulled out her phone and entered the number for roadside assistance. Seconds later, her lips contorted to a frown. “I have no signal. Do any of you?”
Clamoring for their phones, one by one they realized nobody had reception.
When Bridget raised her arm with the phone in hand, and stood on her tiptoes, craning her neck to see if a signal appeared, Cassidy couldn’t help laughing.
Scowling, Bridget continued her attempt to gain a signal. “What’s so funny?”
Cassidy pointed to her friend’s upstretched arm. “You could star in one of those cell phone commercials.”
“I’m glad you find this amusing.” Bridget lowered her arm and walked along the road several feet, staring at her phone, then came back. “It’s useless. We’re stranded in the middle of nowhere Arizona.”
“Come on, girls.” Rain’s smiled radiated to the rest of them. “So, we’ve hit a snag, but it won’t keep us down. Why don’t we try to make it to the next exit and get help there?”
“Good idea.” Jessica jumped back in the SUV first, and the others soon followed.
Sitting behind the wheel, Cassidy started the engine, and a collective sigh of relief filled the air. She moved the gearshift into drive and pressed the gas pedal. Nothing happened. “Um, we have a problem.”
“What?” A hint of trepidation marked Lark’s question.
“It won’t shift into gear.” Cassidy bit down on her bottom lip as the reality of their predicament dawned on her.
“Turn it off and try again,” Jessica suggested.
She doubted it would do any good, but Cassidy gave it a try. What could it hurt at this point? Still nothing.
Bridget took charge, apparently having recovered from her initial panic. “We have two choices. Wave someone down, or walk to the nearest exit.”
“How far is that?” Rain’s forehead wrinkled.
Lark pulled out a roadmap she’d picked up at the Arizona Welcome Center last week. “Fifteen miles.”
