Ride Free by Debra Kayn Page A

a few days.”
    “What are we going to do?” She licked her fingers and handed the other cinnamon roll in the bag to Reefer.
    He cocked an eyebrow. “Well, during the day I thought we’d hang around here. You can play with Junior.” He winked. “At night, we can hit the town…and later, show Junior how to give you a good time.”
    “Oh, that’s the way it works, huh?” She wrinkled her nose. “Do you think Junior—is that his real name?—would mind if I hold him?”
    “Maybe. After I make a quick phone call.” He stood and stepped over to where his bag lay on the floor at the foot of the bed. “I need to call my buddy in Arizona and let him know we’re on for next week. He’s got a painting job for me, should last a week. How does hot, sunny weather sound to you?”
    “Exciting. I’ve never been there.” She moved her bag and jacket off the other chair and threw them on the bed.
    She sat down in the chair to wait for Reefer’s phone call to end. Reefer paced while he talked on the phone, and she studied him. His hair fell around his face, and his free hand motioned through the air while he talked. Having never experienced true love before now, she got caught up in the way he talked, smiled, ate his food, and even how he brushed his hair out of his eyes all the time.
    Every day was a new adventure; she learned things about him every hour. Right now, she found out he owned a cell phone. Maybe later she’d phone the reservation and find out how her da was getting along. She tried to phone every few days to keep tabs on him.
    Reefer leaned over the bed, picked up her jacket, and glared in her direction. “Sawyer, I’ll call you back. Something just came up.”
    Sarah stood, alarmed at the way he stared at her with such contempt in his eyes. “What happened?”
    “Where the hell did this come from?” He held the jacket up in front of her.
    She frowned. “You bought it for me.” She stepped toward him.
    “Stop right there.” He shook the jacket. “The pin. Which one of the members gave it to you?”
    She shook her head. “None of them—”
    “Don’t lie! Who?” He threw the coat across the room.
    Sarah backed up into the door. “You’re scaring me—”
    “Damn it, Sarah. It isn’t a difficult question. Did Sunflower give it to you?” He stepped toward her.
    The doorknob dug into her side. She scrambled to open the door and ran out. She hurried down the steps, around the office building, and searched for somewhere to hide.
    Spotting a bench in a small grassy area lined with trees, she marched over and sat down. She gazed over at the motel, and the tears broke free over her lower lashes.
    She didn’t understand any of this. Why was Reefer mad that she’d pinned her jacket? She’d seen others in the family wear them. One simple little decoration from a friend, and he blew up. All he needed to do was ask and she’d take it off if he didn’t want her to wear it.
    The way his face twisted in anger and the accusation in his voice when he asked who gave her the pin resembled the ugly way her da acted. Such violence waiting to explode, scared her. She swiped her face with her arm. No, Reefer is not my da!
     
     
     
    Chapter Thirteen
     

     
    Sarah sat outside in the sun for a long time. The skin on her arms grew uncomfortable, but she put off going back to the motel room. She always hated any type of confrontation.
    She stood, moved into the shadow of a tree, and sank down on the grass. With her back against the trunk, she closed her eyes and replayed everything that had happened up in the room, yet she still failed to figure out what bothered Reefer. It doesn’t make sense.
    The only possible explanation was that he thought she’d stolen from another member. Maybe one of the others owned a pin just like the one Ellen gave her. That must be it!
    She opened her eyes and found Reefer standing in front of her, his hands shoved deep in his pockets and his mouth set in a firm line.
    “Can we