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“She really is.” Martha spoke through her teeth. “One of a kind.”
“She’s eighty? That’s quite something. She was telling me about your adventure.”
As long as that was all she’d told him. If she’d mentioned that Martha needed a rebound relationship Kathleen’s next adventure on Route 66 would be a dip in the Big Piney River. Forget Devil’s Elbow, it would be courtesy of Martha’s Elbow. In her ribs.
“Yes, it’s been a dream of hers to do Route 66. I applied for the job of driving her, so here we are. How about you?” She needed to fill the time until Kathleen came back, and she’d rather they talked about him than her.
“I—needed a change of scenery.” He drained a can of soda and tossed it into the bin, his aim perfect. “This seemed as good a way of getting it as any.”
Why had he needed a change of scenery? None of your business, Martha. She wasn’t interested, she really wasn’t. “You’ve come from Chicago?”
“Vermont. I was staying with friends.”
“You hitchhiked all that way? Isn’t that dangerous?”
He shrugged. “Not so far. Everyone has been friendly and helpful.”
“I suppose having muscles helps,” she said and then saw amusement in his eyes and her face grew hot. “I just meant that you probably don’t have to worry too much about—Oh never mind.”
Her mind was going in directions she didn’t want it to.
She was definitely going to kill Kathleen.
“How about you?” He leaned against the wall, as comfortable as she was uncomfortable. “How are you finding the driving?”
“It’s been great,” she lied. “A bit hair-raising in Chicago, but getting easier.”
“You have a nice set of wheels there, that’s for sure.” Josh nodded to the car and she was relieved that Kathleen had insisted on hiring a small, sporty car rather than a big SUV. There was no room for an additional passenger.
Finally Kathleen emerged and Martha decided this was her cue to end this exchange before something embarrassing happened.
“Safe travels, Josh.”
He held her gaze for a moment. “Perhaps we’ll meet again farther down the road.”
Her heart was beating a little too fast. The heat in her cheeks had nothing to do with the sun. “Yeah, maybe. Take care.” She gave an awkward smile and slid her arm into Kathleen’s, propelling her along so that she didn’t linger. “We’re walking to the river. It’s so pretty here and I want to feast my eyes on Ozark scenery.”
Kathleen didn’t protest but she did glance over her shoulder at Josh. “One wonders what a man like that is doing alone? It seems like an opportunity.”
“It seems like a warning. Maybe he’s a serial killer and he doesn’t like accomplices.” Martha handed over a bag. “Sandwich. Eat. Food will help your brain function and hopefully stop you plotting.”
“I’m enjoying plotting. And it’s beautiful here. A perfect place to stop, you clever girl.” Kathleen stared down at the sun shimmering across the surface of the river. Trees stretched into the distance and overhung the water, creating shadows and shade. “The Ozarks, you say.”
“Mmm.” Martha had a mouth full of delicious pulled pork but that didn’t stop her from enjoying the view.
They stood in companionable silence, both of them eating.
Finally Kathleen spoke. “Josh seems delightful. It’s hard to believe we struc
k lucky so quickly, don’t you think?”
Martha managed to swallow before she choked. “We did not strike lucky. We greeted a fellow traveler. That’s it.”
“It doesn’t look as if anyone has stopped for the poor man. We should offer him a ride.”
“Kathleen, he is not a poor man, and we are not picking up a hitchhiker.”
“Have you ever picked up a hitchhiker before?”
