“I meant sightseeing.”
“Well, that’s a sight I’d like to see.”
“Kathleen, are you going to embarrass me when we stop?”
“I aim to try. That was a pretty drive, by the way.”
Unable to shift the conversation, Martha pulled up at Devil’s Elbow and parked. “We’re going for a stroll to see the bridge and the Big Piney River and then we’ll get something to eat. We’re right in the middle of the Ozarks. Loggers used to float the logs down the river here and they had to negotiate this horrid bend, which is why it’s called Devil’s Elbow. I read that they didn’t have a barrier on the road originally. I think we both know where I would have ended up. Floating down the Big Piney River along with the logs.”
Kathleen was staring along the dusty road. “We appear to have struck lucky. And so soon! Over there—” She pointed. “That man is handsome, although no doubt you would use a different word. What would you call him? Cute?”
“I’d call him a stranger.” Was Kathleen really going to do this? Martha had assumed she was joking. “Could you at least not point?”
“How else will you know who I’ve identified? It would be terrible if you picked the wrong man.”
“Yeah, well I’m good at that.” Martha locked the car and glanced over at the man. He was leaning against a wall, deep in conversation with another man. His jeans rode snugly around strong legs and his shoulders were broad and solid. He held himself with a certain relaxed confidence that was undeniably attractive. Hot, she thought. She’d call him hot, but there was no way she was admitting that. Kathleen was already out of control. And also watching Martha closely.
“What do you think? His hair could do with a cut, and he needs a shave but he’s probably been traveling like us, so we’ll forgive him that.”
Martha slipped the car keys into her bag. “He’s too far away for me to see his face.”
“We’ll move closer.”
“No way. I’m buying us food and we’re going to walk to the river and eat there. Any preferences? Are you coming in with me?”
“I’ll stay with the car.”
When Martha came back loaded with food and drink Kathleen was deep in conversation with the man she’d identified as “cute.”
“Martha!” Kathleen waved. “Over here.”
“I’m going to kill her.” Martha tried to find a reason not to join her, but failed to find one that didn’t sound rude so she gave in to pressure and joined Kathleen and her new friend.
“Josh here was telling me that we absolutely have to stay an extra day in Arizona and see the Grand Canyon. He’s doing Route 66 too, can you believe that?”
Martha didn’t point out that since they were, in fact, on the old section of Route 66 that point was pretty obvious. Nor that they already had a visit to the Grand Canyon planned. “What a coincidence.”
His eyes crinkled at the corners and he extended a hand. “Josh Ryder. Kathleen here has been telling me all about your trip so far. Traveling with her must be an eye-opener.”
“In more ways than you can possibly imagine.”
Kathleen winked at her.
Subtlety, Martha thought, wasn’t one of her skills. “I bought us both a pulled pork sandwich. I thought we could eat it near the river. Goodbye, Josh. Safe travels.”
“Josh is hitchhiking,” Kathleen said. “Isn’t that intrepid?”
“Very.” Martha waved the bag and Josh smiled.
“Smells good.”
Okay so he was very sexy, Kathleen wasn’t wrong about that.
“I need to visit the restroom. You two young things get to know each other in my absence.” Kathleen headed away from them and Martha stared after her with exasperation, which mounted when she turned and found Josh laughing.
“It’s been a while since I was described as a ‘young thing’. She’s quite a character.”
No kidding.
“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.”