Liza stepped in between Mrs. Jenkins and me. “How far is your place? We’re very low on gas.”
She smiled at Liza. “I’m about three miles down the road. I have gas, so we can get you topped off enough to get you to the gas station. Now let’s get you off the side of the road. Can you follow me?”
Liza glared at me. “If you don’t mind, may I ride with you Mrs. Jenkins?”
I grabbed Liza’s arm. “Your dad would be pissed if I let you go off with a stranger.”
Her eyes searched my entire face before she looked me in the eye. “I’ve been with one for the last hour.”
I dropped her arm and she walked over to Mrs. Jenkins’ trucks and got in. I got in the truck, started it, and pulled out behind Mrs. Jenkins. I followed her almost exactly two miles to a long, paved driveway. The driveway itself must have been three miles long. As we drove, we passed dirt roads that branched off. Those must have led to the cabins Mrs. Jenkins had mentioned. Finally, we pulled up to a large house. There were two couples sitting on the front porch—one sitting on a swing and the other in rocking chairs. I put the truck in park and grabbed my bag and Liza’s from the backseat. As I made my way to the porch, Mrs. Jenkins was already introducing Liza to the two couples.
“We’re here for our honeymoon,” The lady on the swing said as she looked at the guy sitting next to her.
“Ten year anniversary for us,” The guy in the rocking chair said.
Liza smiled and reached her hand out. Mrs. Jenkins introduced me and after a few minutes of small talk we followed her into the house.
“I turned the house into a bed and breakfast after my husband died.” Mrs. Jenkins said as we entered the house. She walked around a counter and pulled down a key, which she handed to us. “Breakfast will be served at seven sharp. You have your own private bathroom, so you can clean up and get some sleep.”
I looked down at the key. “Do you have two rooms? I mean, we’ll pay of course.”
She frowned. “No, I only have the one. But there is a queen bed in there.” She winked and turned as she headed to the stairs. “Now follow me. I’ll show you to your room.”
As I followed Mrs. Jenkins and Liza—who looked like she was about to be sick—up the stairs, I couldn’t decide who was going to be more pissed about Liza and me sharing a room: Layton or Jessica.
MRS. JENKINS SHUT THE door as she smiled at Walker and me. We stood there staring at the door for way too long before we finally accepted our fate.
Walker seemed to be evaluating the room, same as me. There was no sofa, no other chairs. Nothing but a bed.
“I’ll just sleep on the floor.” He dropped the bags and walked through the bathroom door. “Do you mind if I take a shower first?”
I shook my head “no” as I sat down on the bed. I was tired. Hungry. Angry. Upset. And, most of all, confused. A part of me was happy that Walker and I were stuck here alone together. The other part was feeling guilty about this happiness.
I pulled out my phone and found that we still had no signal, so I used the landline to call my father’s cell. When he picked up, I took a deep breath.
“Daddy, it’s me, Liza.”
“Liza! Where the hell are y’all? I’ve been calling both of your phones and getting nothing.”
“I’m so sorry, Daddy. I must have put the wrong address in the GPS. We got so lost. We’re about an hour from the ranch. Walker is just torn up inside, Daddy, and it’s all my fault.”
“It’s okay, sweetheart. As long as you’re both okay. Where are you?”
“We’re at a little bed and breakfast out in the middle of nowhere. The owner, Mrs. Jenkins, was nice enough to put us up for the night. She’s going to get us back on the right path tomorrow. Do you think you could give Walker a few hours tomorrow morning? You k
now, to look over the horses before you get there?”
“Yes, of course. I know how much this trip meant to him. Just make sure you eat and get some sleep darlin’. I love you.”
I smiled. “I will, Daddy. I’m sorry I messed this up for Walker.”
My father chuckled. “It’s okay honey. I know he’s going to do great tomorrow. Sleep well. I’ll see you tomorrow. Late morning or early afternoon.”
I smiled. “Thank you, Daddy. Night. Love you.”
“Love you, too.”
I hung up the phone and let out a sigh.