Chasing a Dream Read Free Page A

Jimmy into drive. While she waited for a truck to pass and allow her room to pull out, she glanced again at the lonely figure of the man hiking along the side of the road.
    He may have saved your life, but you have to look out for your well-being. You’re on your own now.
    On her own. The thought stuck in her mind. She hated the idea of being alone, of being vulnerable. Randall’s men would be looking for a woman traveling by herself.
    A woman traveling by herself.
    Her breath caught. Her good Samaritan’s presence would provide a decoy, protecting her from the men looking for her. Her hands squeezed the steering wheel, and her head swam as she considered her options.
    How dangerous could a man carrying a guitar be? Would a man with any intent to hurt her have bothered changing her tire? When he’d had a chance to harm her, he hadn’t. He’d proven himself a help, not a hazard. Having the cowboy riding beside her would help throw Randall’s men off her trail and aid her escape.
    Her mind set, Tess blasted the horn and eased the Jimmy up beside the man.
    He cast her a sidelong glance and slowed his pace. When she stopped and rolled down the passenger window, he stepped up to the Jimmy and ducked his head to peer inside.
    “Yes, ma’am?”
    “Would you like a ride?” She wondered if he heard the tremor in her voice. Clearing her throat, she squared her shoulders and added, “It’s the least I can do to repay you.”
    Running a hand over his face to wipe away the rivulets of rain dripping from his hair, the cowboy tugged his mouth in a lopsided grin. “You don’t owe me nothin’. Glad to help.”
    She knitted her brow and regarded him warily. “You don’t want a ride? But . . . but it’s raining and—”
    “I never said I didn’t want a lift, just that you don’t owe me one.” Bracing a hand on the passenger door, he leaned down to meet her gaze more directly. “You sure you don’t mind? I’m awfully wet.”
    Her cheeks twitched nervously when she tried to smile. “That makes two of us.” She licked her lips and nodded. “I’m sure. You can put your pack in the back.”
    For several seconds he studied her. His piercing gaze sent shivers skittering through her, and she shifted uneasily. “Is something wrong?”
    Her question snapped him from his daze, and he shook his head, his easy-going grin returning. “Naw.”
    Moving to the back door, he slid the guitar case across the seat and unloaded the backpack from his shoulders with a fatigued sigh. She watched with interest as he pulled back the protective rain-flap at the top of his backpack and extracted a dry shirt. Next, he removed the plastic grocery bag he’d torn and draped over the top of the guitar case. Using the shirt, he wiped the guitar case dry then opened it to check the instrument. Apparently satisfied everything was all right, he snapped the case shut and closed the back door. Before climbing into the front seat, he removed his cowboy hat, shook the excess rain from it and tossed it on the backseat.
    When he climbed in the passenger’s seat, he turned a kind smile to her and fastened his seatbelt. “Where you headed?”
    “Where are you headed?”
    “I asked you first.” His eyes brightened in good humor, and he flashed her a roguish grin.
    Tess responded with a tight-lipped frown and a cool glance. Anxiety squelched her sense of humor and spawned uncharacteristic impatience in her. She glanced in her side mirror as she pulled back onto the road in front of a large camper that lumbered slowly toward them. “See that camper behind us?”
    He checked the mirror on the passenger-side door. “Yeah.”
    “That’s my parents,” Tess lied, causing an uneasy quiver in her stomach. The fib chafed her conscience. “They just saw you get in my car, and they’ll be behind us every inch of the way.”
    The cowboy faced her with a keen gaze, and Tess’s heartbeat stumbled. Could he tell she was lying?
    “So they’d know, right off,