Warm & Willing

“Maybe you should wait with me,” Sarah suggested.

“I need to get back to the motel. But I can come back up here ’round noon,” Hattie offered. “If you’re still here, I’ll take you back. Don’t worry, there aren’t any man-eatin’ wolves or bears in these parts. And there’ll be a few cars comin’ by if you need help before then. Just wave one down.”

Sarah nodded, then popped the trunk and got out of the car. She dragged her suitcase to the side of the road, then waved to Hattie as the woman made a U-turn and headed back toward town.

With a soft curse, she sat down on the edge of her bag and contemplated what she’d say to Charlie when she saw him again. First, she’d tell him exactly what she thought of his business practices. And then, she’d warn him that if he ever touched her again, he could say goodbye to the family jewels. And for good measure, she’d insult his prowess in bed. A man with such an inflated ego deserved to be taken down a peg or two.

The muffled sound of a cell phone broke the silence, startling Sarah. She jumped up and pushed her suitcase flat, then unzipped it. The phone hadn’t worked since she’d arrived in Sutter Gap. She found it buried beneath her underwear and flipped it open. “Hello?”

“Where were you last night?” Libby demanded. “I called your room four times and then I fell asleep. And when I called the motel a few minutes ago, the lady said you’d left. I figured maybe you were on your way home. That’s why I tried your cell phone.”