West of Nowhere Read Online Free Page B

better if I had one of these,” she said, indicating the truck camper.
    “I know what you mean. Sometimes I feel like a turtle carrying my house around.”
    When Joy finished her lunch, she stretched her long frame upward to grab the crossbeam of their picnic shelter, and in a sudden burst, did three quick pull-ups before dusting her hands and tossing her trash in the bin.
    Amber almost laughed aloud to realize the biggest difference between Joy and the other girls she’d hung out with—none of them did pull-ups on a whim. Joy was probably gay.

Chapter Three
     
    “I’m really sorry, Joy.”
    “It’s okay. I’ll have it mopped up in no time.” Joy had opened the refrigerator to a mess because Amber forgot to secure the iced tea in the drink compartment.
    There was still another half hour of daylight, but she liked checking into the RV park before dark. It was easier to handle the electrical and water hookups, and to get acclimated to the amenities, like the Wi-Fi network and the store. The amenity that mattered most was the shower, and she was looking forward to a hot one before bed.
    Amber was sitting at the picnic table outside scrolling through Joy’s laptop for a listing of motels in Limon. Skippy’s leash was looped around her bench.
    “Did you figure out how to get in touch with your friend?”
    “Looks like they have about ten motels but I can’t tell which one is hers. I don’t think it’s one of the chains.”
    “You should start calling them and asking if she works there. You’re welcome to use my phone.”
    Joy chopped a small onion to brown with ground beef, and then stirred in a package of frozen chopped broccoli, a can of mushroom soup, water and rice. The savory dish took only twelve minutes on the stove. It was a simple recipe on the side of the rice bag, but Madison had suggested one final touch—grated cheese on top. Joy sprinkled it around and covered the pan so it would melt down through the dish.
    “I need to walk over to the camp store for a couple of things. Want me to pick up some dog food?”
    “I’ll come with you,” Amber said. She quickly untied Skippy’s leash from the bench and fell into step with Joy.
    “You know, I probably should set that laptop inside the camper and lock up.” Even Madison, a fourth-grader, knew better than to leave valuables lying around in the open. “Might not be a bad idea to put Skippy in there too, since they don’t allow dogs in the store.”
    At the store, she replenished her breakfast supplies, enough to last the rest of her trip, since she’d be dropping Amber in Limon the next day. Eating out of the camper instead of a restaurant would save her at least an hour a day, enough that if she pushed it, she might get into Oakland late Friday night. That would give her two full days to arrange home care for her dad.
    Amber tapped her foot impatiently as the clerk, a dour-faced woman in stretch pants and mismatched floral top, took her time restocking a ChapStick display beside the cash register.
    “Anything else?” the woman asked gruffly as she rang up the box of dog food.
    “Pack of Marlboro Lights.” Amber caught the box as it slid off the counter after the woman’s careless toss. Her voice heavy with sarcasm, she added, “If it’s not too much trouble.”
    Joy shot her a wink when she turned and rolled her eyes.
    “Will that be all?” the clerk barked to Joy.
    “Yes, ma’am. Thank you very much.” Joy counted out exact change and helped bag her groceries. Then she joined Amber on the porch, where she’d already lit a cigarette.
    “I can’t believe you were so polite to that woman. What a crab!”
    “When you grow up in a military household, respect for your elders gets drummed into you from the time you learn to speak.”
    “My folks tried that with me but it didn’t take. Respect is something you have to earn.”
    “I usually try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. It takes a lot less energy. Maybe I’d feel