Elana clamped her mouth shut. The last thing she wanted was to get into an argument. Shoving her hurt feelings aside, she went to the back of the van and opened the door. She stood there for a minute, looking around for where the spare tire might be.
Elana gritted her teeth and searched for the tire. She felt a sense ofsatisfactionwhen she found it along with a jack and whatever the tool was called to get the lug nuts off the car.
Grandma Cecilia reached for the tire. “Here, let me help...”
But Elana gently pushed her away. “No. I’ve got it.”She hefted the tire out and rolled it onto the ground.
Grandma Cecilia sighed heavily and parked her hands on her hips. “Have you ever changed a tire?”
Elana lifted her chin. “No, but how hard can it be?”
Hergrandmotherpulled out her cell phone. “I think we should call someone.”
Elana blinked and pulled out her own phone. “I think I’ll just google how to change a tire.”
She quickly found a video on You Tube. Turning her phone around she showed it to hergrandmother.
“If you really want to help, look updirectionsto the nearest tire place. Hopefully they can get us in quickly and we will be on our way.”
Elana watched the video a couple of times before she felt confident enough to do it herself.
Grandma Cecilia sighed and then began searching for tire places on her phone.
Elana put the jack under the van, then attemptedto raise the van enough to change the tire.
“Need some help?”
Elana jerked upright at the male voice. She had been so focused on the job she hadn’t realized someone had stopped behind them.
She looked up at the old man in a cowboy hat dressed in dirty jeans, a plaid shirt, and muddy cowboy boots. Looking over his shoulder, she spotted the old pickup truck he was driving.
“We had a flat.”
He grinned and shoved his hat back on his head. “I see that.”He cocked his head. “Ever change a tire before?”
Lifting her chin, she crossed her arms over her chest. “I watched a video.”
He chuckled. “I’m happy to help.”
Elana was sure he was being nice, but she didn’t want to appear helpless. “I think I can manage.”
He took his hat off and scratched his head. “How about someconstructivecriticism?”
She narrowed her eyes. “Criticism?”
He barked out a laugh. “How did I know that was the only word you would pick up on? It’s okay to ask for help, young lady.”
Elana glanced over at Grandma Cecilia, who was watching them both carefully.
Elana cleared her throat. “Did you find a tire place?”
Grandma Cecilia shrugged. “There are three that I found.”
The cowboy shook his head. “The only place I would use is Gadley’s.”
Her grandma frowned. “That didn’t come up when I googled it.”
He snorted. “If you want someone to fix that tire, Gadley’s is the best in town. All the locals use them.”
