“No. I had to cut back to the minimum.”
“Well, I’ll call him anyway. You can’t just leave it on the shoulder.”
“I’m not sure I can pay him.”
“I’ll cover it and you can pay me back—”
She snorted.
He paused. “What?”
“If I can’t afford a tow, what makes you think I can pay you back?”
“I understand what you’re saying but you can’t leave it sit here. You’ll get a ticket and they’ll tow it anyway. Right now, I’m your only hope. Let me call Chuck for you. Leave the keys in it, but you should leave whatever is in it, until you find a place to stay. Go sit in my truck and get out of the heat.”
****
Aftyn leaned against the passenger door and watched him. He was hard not to stare at. The T-shirt, the jeans, even the boots. They weren’t fashion boots. The leather was soft and worn, the toes scuffed from actual use, and she found that more attractive than she wanted to admit.
He snapped the hood shut, finished his call, walked back to the truck and slid into the driver’s seat.
“Chuck will be here in about fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you. Really.”
“It’s what we do out here.” He turned up the air and settled back against the door. “Were you heading to Clifton or further on?”
“I’m not sure yet,” she said.
He glanced at her. “You’re not sure?”
“It’s a long story.”
“Yes, ma’am.” He left it at that.
She looked out at the scorched fields. “What do you do out here besides keep angry steers?”
The corner of his mouth moved. “I train reining horses. And grow Beckett Feed.”
“Beckett Feed?”
“Best livestock feed you can buy. Around here, anyway.”
“How many siblings do you have?”
“Two younger brothers. You?”
“A sister.” She paused. “She’s why I can’t pay for anything.”
Aftyn stared out the windshield. She wasn’t sure how much she wanted to share, so she kept some of it back. “I let her move in after she lost her job. I was working double shifts while she slept until noon. Then one night she just vanished. Took my credit cards, debit cards, driver’s license, and almost every dollar of cash I had in the house.”
She shook her head. “I didn’t even realize she was gone until the next morning. Her car was still in the driveway when I left for work, so I figured she was sleeping in again. It wasn’t until I stopped for gas that I noticed my wallet was missing. I drove back home and the minute I walked in I knew. Too quiet. I went to her room, and it was cleaned out.”
“She left her car behind,” Aftyn continued. “Which meant she left another way. I knocked on a few doors, and a neighbor had seen a truck parked at the end of the street around two in the morning. I knew it was my ex. He’s never been a good man, but I have no doubt Avery talked him into it.” She exhaled. “I had a little cash hidden that she didn’t find. Not much, but enough to get me moving. I have an aunt I can call if it comes to that.”
He glanced at her, then back out the windshield. “So how much cash do you have on you?”
“Not enough.”
