Chasing the Tumbleweed Read Online Free Page A

over and turned away from her.
    The next morning a rustle woke Laurie and she opened her eyes. A few feet away a small doe nibbled at some brush. The wonder of the sight increased her contentment at being snuggled in Brent’s arms.
    Brent? In the woods?
    Shit!
    She registered the olive green shirt, pushed herself out from under Jeff’s protective arm and looked at him.
    His eyes were wide open and a smile wreathed his face. “I wondered when you  would wake up.”
    Double shit! She jumped up and brushed the pine needles from her clothes. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to get that close.”
    “No problem. I slept just fine.” He rolled over, stood up and began to scatter their bower.
    The deer had long since disappeared.
    Her stomach rumbled and her mouth was dry. I probably have the worst morning breath.
    “Don’t suppose there’s a coffee shop nearby where we could get some breakfast,” she said, grabbing her tote and walking toward her boulder bathroom.
    “Only if you want to walk to Austin.”
    “We may have to if your backup doesn’t show up.”
    He grunted.
    Once she’d finished her morning toilet, she returned to the clearing. A few seconds later Jeff appeared from behind another boulder, tucking his shirt into his pants.
    She offered him a disinfectant wipe.
    His lips twitched, but he took it from her.  Once he was done with it, he folded it carefully and stuck it in a back pocket.  “No littering.” He grinned. “I am the local law enforcement, you know.”
    “Maybe we can get some food in Grantsville,” she said as an  image of a fat bun oozing with cinnamon  appeared in her mind.
    “Hardly,” he said and started walking. “It’s a ghost town.”
    “Then why the hell are we going there?” She followed.
    “It’s a state park and there might be people visiting....people with cars.”
    “And food.”
    He chuckled. “And maybe food.”
    She followed him up the hill. “How come you’re so down on love?”
    “Experience.”
    “I know about being dumped, but they say you recover.”
    He snorted. “Whoever they are.”
    “But how long ago were you dumped? You were dumped weren’t you?” Oops . She’d probably crossed a line. They were total strangers and here she was asking intimate questions.
    “Eight years.”
    “Wow.” She took a few more steps. “Don’t you think you should try again?”
    He stopped, turned and glared at her. “I think you should mind your own business.”
    An hour later all she could think about was the emptiness in her stomach and her aching feet. They had followed the line of the hill to a ravine where Jeff hoped to find water, but the Nevada summer had evaporated the stream into a briny, fly-infested soup.
    They started their assent up the next ridge toward Grantville.
    “How much farther?” She forced the words out of her parched throat.
    “’Bout two hours;  less if we’re lucky.” He turned to look at her. “I don’t normally come this way.” He smiled. “How are you doing?”
    Terrible. “I’m okay.”
    “Yeah, I can see that. I wish I could make it easier...but...”
    “I know. I’ll go back to dreaming about scrambled eggs, bacon and a huge glass of water.”
    “Once we get to Austin, I’ll make sure you get those. I know the perfect place...as long as you like mango in your pancakes.” He chuckled ruefully.
    Laurie put her mind back on autopilot and trudged after him.
    Less than the promised two hours later, she saw the first of the town’s ramshackle buildings, the remains of an old brick home.
    Now if there were only people here.
    Their pace picked up as Jeff led the way to the parking lot.
    They were approaching the most intact house she’d seen so far, when a shot rang out.
    “Go!” Jeff shouted and unholstered his gun .
    Laurie summoned the last of her energy and ran toward the building.  Another shot reverberated.
    “Damn!” Jeff said and shoved her into the building.”Down!” He pulled her below the level of the